QDG Digipeat

*** QDG DIGIPEAT August 2010 ***

Digipeat is the Official Newsletter of the Queensland Digital Group.


August General Meeting

The August QDG general meeting will be held on Friday August 20 at the Chermside Library, room 2a.
The meeting will start at 7:30pm; if you arrive late, please push the buzzer for entry.
The library is near the shops on the corner of Hamilton Rd and Kittyhawk Dr (enter from Kittyhawk Dr).

Location map:
http://my247.com.au/brisbane/Chermside-Library.6803

Three Brisbane area clubs meet to improve Amateur Television

A meeting was held at the home of Richard VK4XRL on Saturday July 10 to look at combining the resources of
three Amateur radio clubs interested in improving ATV repeaters in the greater Brisbane area.
The three clubs are :-
South East Queensland ATV group
Brisbane Digital ATV group
Queensland Digital Group

The BDATV group and SEQATV group are each running an ATV repeater; these are located within a few hundred
metres of each other North West of Brisbane at Ocean View.

Meeting attendees:-
Richard VK4XRL (BDATV, QDG)
Martin VK4JVC (SEQATV)
Alan VK4NA (QDG, SEQATV, BDATV)
Tim VK4TIM (SEQATV, QDG)
Peter VK4YAC (SEQATV)
Bruce VK4EHT (QDG, SEQATV)
Bill VK4ZWJ (QDG)

Those present agreed that combining equipment and sites is in the best interests of all ATV operators in
Brisbane.

VK4RKC is now transmitting Digital ATV on 428.5 MHz. Both 1250 FM and DATV are being received.

The *preferred* choice of frequency should be 442-450 as we expect to loose 420 to 430 MHz in the future.
As a result of the ACMA’s re-structuring of the UHF Bands, it may be that commercial users will move into
440 – 450 MHz ‘on a temporary basis’, subject to agreement from the Department of Defence. Shifts are to occur
before Dec 2012. This is more likely to occur in high density areas such as Capital Cities.
The meeting decided that we would at this stage plan to use a repeater output of 446.5 MHz Australian standard
digital with two output streams. Inputs of 1250 MHz and 1283 MHz FM will be the minimum receive requirement.
A new repeater rack with these requirements has already be built by Richard VK4XRL and was demonstrated at the
meeting.

Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks.

Sunfest 2010

Saturday the 11th of September, starting time is 07:00 for table holders and 09:00 doors open to the public.
Contact Harry VK4TK

Gold Coast Hamfest 2010

It will be held this year on Saturday, 13 November at the usual venue, the
Albert Waterways Hall, Broadbeach.

ACMA Proposes Temporary Use of 70cm

On Monday the 19th July WIA directors Peter Young, VK3MV, and Phil Wait, VK2ASD, attended a briefing
presentation by the ACMA on the proposed re-arrangements for the 400 MHz band (403 - 520 MHz) that
includes the 70cm amateur spectrum and the UHF CBRS band.
The WIA has made written submissions to the ACMA in respect to the 70cm amateur Secondary Service
allocation, detailing amateur use of the 400MHz spectrum and expressing its concerns.
The presentation to 100 radiocommunications industry members, emergency and government users, follows
on from an ACMA paper "The Way Ahead - Decisions and Implementation Options for the 400 MHz Band,"
released in April 2010, (a copy can be obtained from the ACMA website). The ACMA's Executive Manager,
Spectrum Infrastructure Branch, Andrew Kerans, provided background to the re-arrangements and to the
series of discussion papers that have been released on this issue over the past 2 years. Of particular interest
to the amateur community, the ACMA confirmed the need for the temporary ad-hoc use of the spectrum
segment 440 to 450 MHz by affected land-mobile licensees.
Clearing out parts of the land mobile spectrum at 400MHz is necessary for an orderly transition from a 9.5
MHz to a 10 MHz transmit/receive frequency split, and those affected land-mobile users need somewhere to
go within the tuning range of their existing radios. The temporary use of the 440 to 450 MHz amateur band
will be contained to the top and bottom 500 kHz, (440-440.5MHz and 449.5-450MHz, i.e. either side of the
70cm ATV segment), and most likely will be confined to the heavily congested areas of Sydney, Melbourne
and Brisbane.
The ACMA has indicated that the temporary use arrangements could last up to 3 years.
The temporary use of 440 - 450 MHz has been utilised in the past for major sporting events and has not
resulted in any reported interference issues. The WIA will be working with the ACMA's Operations Branch
that will have carriage with the implementation arrangements.
The ACMA will be holding briefing sessions in all the capital cities and regional centres over the next coming
weeks. The WIA will have representation at most of these sessions.

From WIANEWS Sunday July 25

Ham Radio Information and Resources

Links to Ham Radio sites
http://www.easyapplianceparts.com/resources/Ham-Radio-Information-And-Resources.aspx

Lunar Eavesdropping in Louisville, Kentuky
http://legacy.jefferson.kctcs.edu/observatory/apollo11/

Remote Receiver

Listen to and control a short-wave receiver located at the amateur radio club ETGD at the University of Twente.
In contrast to other web-controlled receivers, this receiver can be tuned by multiple users simultaneously,
thanks to the use of Software-Defined Radio.
http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/

Finding Parts

One of the great frustrations of electrical engineering is part obsolescence, price and scarcity. In accordance
with engineering law, half of what's ordered is never used and the other half's not enough. The most popular style
of EE hacking that I've seen is a pack-rat approach where everyone amasses 'a few of everything', preferably for
free or scavenged. Granted, IC's are relatively cheap for their functionality, ranging from $.60 for a 555 to $15
for a high-speed digital signal processor, but they add up fast. (Especially since you'll need at least 2 of
everything in case you short one out.) Passives add a few dollars too, and connectors can end up biting you if
they're not spec'd well.
http://www.ladyada.net/resources/procure/index.html

Homebrew transceivers by radio amateurs

* Multiband homebrew HF transceivers
* 160m (1.8 MHz) homebrew transceivers
* 80m (3.5 MHz) homebrew transceivers
* 40m (7 MHz) homebrew transceivers
* 30m (10 MHz) homebrew transceivers
* 20m (14 MHz) homebrew transceivers
* 15m (21 MHz) homebrew transceivers
* 10m (28 MHz) homebrew transceivers
* Other homebrew transceivers
* Hambrew / homebrew / homemade links
* CDG2000 Transceiver
http://www.vanyi.net/homemade/homebrew-hf-ssb-transceivers/#80m-3.5Mhz-transceivers

Free Partition Manager

Partition Wizard Home Edition is a free partition manager software designed by MT Solution Ltd.
Partition Manager supports 32/64 bit Windows Operating System including Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.
Home users can perform complicated partition operations by using this powerful yet free partition manager to
manage their hard disk. Functions include: Resizing partitions, Copying partitions, Create partition, Delete partition,
Format partition, Convert partition, Explore partition, Hide partition, Change drive letter, Set active partition,
Partition Recovery.
http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html

Microwaves101.com

Your numero-uno source for microwave information since the previous unenlightened century.
It's safe, effective, all natural, and it works! Results may vary...
http://www.microwaves101.com/index.cfm

Mini-kits

Check out the new products from Mini-kits
http://www.minikits.com.au/

Earthing

Earth Resistance Measurement
http://www.gcl.in/tsd/doc/26_earthing_concepts.pdf

Ground Resistance Testing Principle
http://www.dranetz-bmi.com/pdf/groundprinciples.pdf

AURFACAN

Australia's Premier Radio Communications Monitoring Forum
http://www.aurfscan.com.au/

Shockwave Antennas

Peter at Shock Wave Antennas makes high quality antenna's,masting and bracketing.
From 1/2 waves and 5/8's to Yagi's and Ringo's the Shock Wave range is extensive.
- Repairs of antennas are also possible.
Peter will make any other type of antenna you may want just give him a call.
http://www.aurfscan.com.au/pages.php?pageid=4

Build your own antenna

Cantenna instructions
http://www.rfshop.com.au/ContactUs/Bloggs/tabid/648/EntryID/2/Default.aspx

ECLECTIC AETHER - Adventures in Amateur Radio

Good information on interference issues, antenna and other radio related information
http://g8jnj.webs.com/

Find Internet plans

yourBroadband.com.au radically changes the concept of searching for broadband in Australia. Unlike other websites
that try and help you find Internet plans we calculate what plans are available at your address to find every
suitable form of broadband available. ADSL1 or ADSL2, NakedDSL, Wireless, 3G and Satellite services. The site is
free to use and easy to explore. The site is constantly being updated with the latest provider details so it's a
very comprehensive public resource.
http://www.yourbroadband.com.au/

Digipeat Humour

Bill and John are working on a field day site.
Bill says to John "I'm gonna have the day off,
I'm gonna pretend I'm mad!"
He climbs up the trees, hangs upside down and shouts

"I'M A LIGHTBULB! I'M A LIGHTBULB!"

John watches in amazement!

The organiser shouts "Bill you're mad, go home"

So he leaves the site.

John starts packing his gear up to leave as well.

"Where the hell are you going?" asks the organiser.

"I can't work in the friggin' dark!" says John. :)

Membership

Membership is presently free.
At the time of writing the QDG has 44 members.
Information and a list of members are up on the web site http://www.qdg.org.au/ "membership" tab.
Membership forms are on the web site.

Membership services

QDG 2010 members may receive a membership card that can be used to obtain discounts at an Australia wide electronic
supplier. Details and cards are available at QDG meetings.

Sound Card to Radio Interface

This computer to radio interface can be used for any audio mode including voice.
The SCI provides isolation to remove earth loops as well as providing switching and level adjustment.

Richard VK4ZA is taking orders for a new run, contact Richard VK4ZA on 07 3376 5231, email vk4za at qdg.org.au or via the QDG web site.
Please contact Richard if you are interested in a dual interface PC board or a mark 2 version with modified connections.

QDG information

Club contact: Alan Wills VK4NA
Digipeat Editor: Alan Wills VK4NA
Web site: Alan Wills VK4NA
Supper: Alan Wills VK4NA
JOTA: Richard VK4ZA

Phone Alan Wills VK4NA after hours on 61 07 3351 1673

Email: qdg@gdq.org.au

Web site: http://www.qdg.org.au


Enjoy your hobby!

73 Alan VK4YAR / VK4NA

*** Queensland Digital Group ***
** Supporting Radio Communications in VK4 **

Originally sent out via packet radio and teletype before the internet, the QDG's magazine "Digipeat" is emailed to members and posted on this web site every month.

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