Broadcast - 31 August 2025
A couple of Friday mornings ago Justin VK7TW dropped in to the NTARC club rooms for morning tea while passing through, but more on the passing through later. It was great to see Justin and catch up on all the happenings, but it was also great because he brought goodies with him! He had his recently assembled display board of a working telegraph station from the days of the PMG or Postmaster-General’s Department. Justin had been busy restoring parts and combining a Morse Key, Line Relay and Sounder onto an easily transported working display board for demonstration. He even had to re-manufacture the sounder enclosure. The enclosure is not unlike a back shell found behind outdoor sound stages for musicians, except a miniature version. It helps direct the incoming Morse code sound towards the operator. Overall a beautifully presented piece of history. These particular antique parts made up the original telegraph backup emergency link from the GPO in Hobart to the original Hobart Telephone Exchange that was on the corner of Sandy Bay Road and Davey Street. It was part of a communications backup system if everything else fell over.
This display board was recently featured on a REAST - DATV Experimenters Night. The display unit looked great on TV, but it looks even better in the flesh, or should I say in this case in the brass. If you are interested in old telegraph equipment watch the episode as Justin’s guest, Denis Bowden, takes you through an excellent back story of its history. REAST - DATV Link
I mentioned that Justin was passing through the clubrooms, because this makes an excellent Segue, as he was on his way to assist at the Equine Endurance ride held at Santarena Park, Scottsdale last weekend. After morning tea the communications trailer also departed the club rooms and was delivered and set up in the main grounds on the Friday morning. The portable 2 Metre repeater and antenna was quickly located at a nearby farm shed on a section of very well elevated land. The afternoon saw the remainder of the crew arriving and soon departing again to familiarise themselves with the location of their Check Points, followed by testing their voice communications back to Ride Base. No electronic tracking was employed so everything relied on 2 Metre voice communications. Justin and Roger were the only members to stay overnight and brave the cold. On the event day Ride Base was manned by VK7s Andre’ ZAB and Idris ZIR with field members being Ken KKV, Justin TW, Roger ARN and Stefan ZSB, covering the three ride Check Points. There were 80, 40, 20 and 5 kilo-metre individual events with 68 riders with their mounts entering. This event had an amazing age range of participating riders, from 6 to 94 years.
The weather on Saturday was the exact opposite to that experienced during last month’s event. We had a beautiful blue sky and a gentle breeze throughout the day. Not one tent peg was ripped out or any vehicle awnings destroyed. Operationally the day went smoothly without any horse or rider mishaps. Thanks to all for the assistance given.
And now a date to remember - Saturday 20 September
Mowbray Hotel - 11.30am
VK7HKN will be 70 on the 20 September 2025.
To help him celebrate, you are invited to have lunch with him on Saturday, 20 September at the Mowbray Hotel. Lunch will be at your own expense. Please, no presents, as your presence will be more than enough and we are hoping to keep it quiet so it will be a surprise for him.
It is important that numbers are confirmed, so please contact Lyn VK7FROG either by telephone 0408549634 or email norrislyn@gmail.com by Sunday 7 September.
Looking forward to seeing you there
VK7FROG –Lyn
Thanks Lyn, this is certainly a special occasion and I hope that many of us that know Kevin will try our hardest to be there for this great surprise. Lyn’s telephone number once again is 0408 549 634.
NTARC club rooms will be opening up to watch the REAST “How to use your NanoVNA” presentation on Wednesday the 10th of September. Doors will be open by 7:00 pm, with the live REAST YouTube channel on line by 7:30 pm. See you there.
As always pictures will be available on the NTARC Web site under “Blogs” for this broadcast. NTARC - Blogs
Updates on Mt Arthur VK7RAA repeaters unplanned outage can also be found on the NTARC website under “Notices”. NTARC - Notices
UPCOMING EVENTS
On Air Test and Technical Net session - Every Wednesday, Test-Net and CW course on 3.580 MHz from 7 pm, then a Technical Net on 3.567 MHz from 7.30 pm till 8.30 pm. Your host for the evening is Nic VK7WW.
Club Room Technical night - The next session will be on Wednesday the 3rd of September and will commence at the usual time of 6.30 pm at the Club Room Archer Street, Rocherlea.
Special Club Room night session - Wednesday the 10th. September, live stream of REAST “How to use your NanoVNA”, doors open at 7:00 pm.
Coffee Morning - Held every Friday in the NTARC Club rooms. Time is from 10 am to noon.
Finally – If you have any items of news please email them to the Secretary at the following address news@ntarc.net all items to be received no later than 5 pm on the Friday prior to the Broadcast.
That’s all folks,
73, Stefan VK7ZSB.
