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RagChew

Edition 30/2024

New

Deep

on the Ubiquitous

Mutta-who

e Today
e

Deep

Winter

Frequencies
dah-di-di-dah-dit

what?

in History’s

International

New

Sibling

Pixie Day

Feedback on the Feedback

Tower

Zero

e CQ QRS
e An

Group Traffic Report 23Jul24

Intangible Cultural

Heritage

Nice Hi-Mound

Keys for Sale

Ross’

Maritime

Reminder for 30Jul24

Marconi

It just gets better and better!

365EZ

CQ QRS

Net

| was late to the party on Tuesday,

ball both from home with my wide-as-the-side-of-barn

nearly 50 year old

TS-120S from home, the two Southern

Electronics Group Remotes

and the VK6QS

KiwiSDRs.

and Tecsun web-based

the joy and comfort of slow CW;

what fun!

but had a

So many

in WA

people enjoying

And this week there was a

push by a number of our team to crack-out their favourite QRP transmitters
and have some

bare-bones milli-Watt fun - megga

what fun!

So because of the the locally-declared International Pixie Day initiative of
our Sydney-side comedians Chris VK2NAP and George VK2AOE...
recent Bourke Street nature of our 40m
segment of our net;
7040kHz.

plus the

net, we’ve now expanded the 40m

the net will now be held between

Dangerously close to the DX area of 40m

7020KkHz and

| Know.... so if you’re

RSS

not comfortable being called by someone who doesn’t respect our value of
replying no faster than the calling station, perhaps call at the top end of
our segment.... but of course, don’t forget to listen out for those Pixies on
7023kHz and say g’day.
ps I’m hoping to see a new Wikipedia entry for International Pixie Day from
one of our comedians soon too.
Last Tuesday’s

Net

So back to the matter at hand... here’s this week’s list of the 54 stations
heard on air (including 39 of our team stations) on Tuesday evening:
CQQRS

Team
Member

VK/MONNK |

gsoi | ags02 | as03 | as04 | Qs05 | Qs06 | Qs07 | aso8s

Tried 40m | VKGKHZ

VK2ASB

[Worked 40m)

VKSKFG

VK2ASB

Heard40m)

VKYTA | VK2DLF | VKSDBD | VK2EBN |

VK2ASB

Heard40m | VK6GG | VK3DRQ|

VK2DI

(Worked 40m)

VK2ZEBN |

VK2KI

VK2DI

Heard 40m)

VK3AE

|VK6KD/4|

VK2DI

Tried 40m | WKS3AE

VK2DLF

Worked 40m

VK2EBN =

[Worked 40m) VK3DBD

VWK/TA

VKSLA

#L3TK | VK3ADX | VKSLA

VK4PN | VKSKFG | VKSFD
VK3DRQ|

ZL3TK

ZL3TK | VK3DAX)

WT]

VK2GAS

= |Worked40m)

VKZICC

Heard on air

ZLIAJY | ZL1PX

VK2KI

Worked 40m}

VK2KI

VK2KI

Worked 80m| VKGKD/4|

VWK2DI

| VK6KD/4
VK6RR |

VK2KI

Heard 20m)

VK2TER

Heard on air

VK3ACU

Worked 40m)

VK3ADXK =

[Heard on air

VK3AE

|Worked4om)

WK7TA

VK3AE

Heard40m)

ZL3TK

|VK6KD/4|

VK3ADX | VK6RR | VK3DRQ

VK3DBD

Heard on air

VK3DRQ = =

[Worked 40m)

VK3RU

fL3TK

VK6RR | VKSKFG | VKSFD

VK3DRQ

Heard 40m | VKAPN

WT]

VK3RU

Heard on air

VK3SVMM _

VK6QI

[Heard on air

VKSLA

VKAT)

| VK6KD/4

VK4DRK

Heard on air

VK4EK

Worked 40m)

ZL3TK

VK5FD

(Worked 40m)

VK2TER | VK3DROQ.

VK5FD

VK5FD

Heard40m)

VK/TA |

VK5FD

Worked 0m)

VKSLA

VKSKFG

[Worked 40m) VK3DRQ|

VKSKFG = [Worked 80m)

ZL3TK | VK4PN

VKADRK | VKSLA

ZL1AJ¥

VK4TY | VKSKFG | VK6RR

ZL3TK

VK2ASB

VKSLA

|Worked 40m) VKSADX | VK6GKHZ | VKSPH

VKSLA

Heard 40m |

VK6IS

VKSLA

(Worked 20m)

VKSFD | VKSKFG | VK6PZT |

VKSLA

Heard 80m | VKADRK | VELICT

VK5PH

Heard on air

VK7ZA | VK3SACU |)

#ZL3TK

#L1PX

WT)

VK6FN | VK6MK | VK2ASB

VK6FN

Heard on air

VKG6GHRC

[Worked 40m)

VK6HRC

Heard40m)

VK6BMK | VK/ZA | VKSLA

VKGHRC

Worked 80m)

VK6KHZ | VKGFN

VK2KI

VKGKHZ | VK6NW

VK6HRC

Tried 80m | VKGPZT

VK6ISs

Heard on air

|VCK3SACU)

VK6Q]

VK6QI

VK6KD/4 = [Worked 40m)

VK6QI

VK2KI

VK6KD/4

Heard 40m |

VK2DI

VK6KD/4

[Worked 80m)

VK2KI

VK6KD/4

Heard 80m | WKGFT

VK6KHZ

Heard on air

| VKSDRQ
VK2DLF | VKSLA

VK6MK/P

[Worked 40m) VK6KHZ |

VK6IS

VK6RR

VK6MK/P | Heard 40m | VKENW
VK6MK/P

New

| Tried 80m | VK6FN

VKENW =

[Worked 40m) VKGKHZ | VKGHRC |

VK6ENW

Heard 40m | VK6MK

VKENW

Tried 40m

VK6PZT

= [Worked 40m)

VK6QI

Worked 40m!

VK6IS

VK6FN | VK6WE

|VK3VMM
VK6Ql

| VKGHRC|

VEKSLA

VK6PZT | VKGHRC | VK6KD/4

VK6QI

Heard 40m | VK6KHZ | VK6WE | VK3AE

VK6QI

Worked 80m) VKADRK

VK6QI

Heard 80m]

VK6QI

Tried 80m | VK6KD/4

VK6RR

Worked 40m)

VK6RR

Heard 40m | VK6FN

VK6WE

Worked 40m) VK6KHZ | VK6NW

VK7TA

Worked 40m]

VK7TA

Heard 40m | VK2GAS|

ZL3TK | VK3DBD|

VK7WW

Heard 40m | VK3DRQ|}

VKSLA

VK7WW

Heard 80m | VK6KHZ | VK4FN

VKI7A

Heard on air

TFLIAJY

Heard on air

VK6IS | VK6MK | VKEBNW

|VK3VMM

VK2KI
VK6MK | VK3ADX | VK3DROQ
VK6IS

VK6LW | VK6KHZ|

ZLSTK

VK2TM | VK2DLF | ZL1AJ¥Y | VK3AE
VK6IS?

VK7ZA | VK3RU

ZL3TK | VK6MK |

VK6RR |

KSBTV

WT]

ZLIAIY

|VK4MNC

FLIPX

Heard on air

ZL3TK

Worked 40m)

ZL3TK

Heard 40m | VK2TM | VK3ADX | VK3RU | VK6FN

ZL3TK

Heard 40m | VK6PZT | VK6QI

Team

Member

VK2DLF | VK2JCC | VK3DRQ|
VE/ZA

VK4EK | VK4PN |
VK6IS

VKSLA

VK6KD | VKGHRC | VKENW

ZLIPX

And this week, I’m really excited to introduce Sergio LU7YS, our first
Argentinian team

member!

Sergio caught up with Grant ZL2GD

net on 80m two weeks ago.
sometimes open between

Sergio tells me that 40m

during our

and 80m are

South America and Oceania during our net times

at the moment - and he’s keen to have

some QRS contacts with our team;
Sergio’s pair of phased vertical
antennas for 40m
Welcome

will help!

Sergio and | look forward

to you becoming

a regular!

See

Sergio’s note and superb images In
Other News below.

Masthead
Memo

Image

to me... don’t carry kilos and kilos of crap when walking up the

seemingly gentle access road to Bobbara

Hill (near Boorowa

NSW).

| did

get to wear my silly hat and got to sign /p though (the significance of this
last bit will become

clear as you read through this edition of RagChew).

Thanks to Ms E for carrying much

of the load (and me!) up the hill.

Reports
As uSual, after next Tuesday’s net, please send me a

list of who you

worked and / or who you heard using our web form here:

bit.ly/COORSNET

Getting reports from stations and
listeners is important to me - even if
you listened and didn’t hear anyone
or weren't able to copy anything the fact that you had a go needs to
get recorded so we know that the
net is working and attracting new
and old team

members to have a

go.

Cheers,
mb
Mark Bosma
VK2KI / VK6QI

Beautiful South Bowning NSW
mark.bosma@icloud.com

non impediti ratione cogitationis

Reports

& Comments

Here’s this week’s

reports.

The spreadsheets above show the known stations on last Tuesday’s net.
Comments

from the reports I’ve received are below:

Comments:

From Ross VK/MONNK

at Exeter UK via Perth WA

[40m]
« VK6SR

remote access radio in Perth not connected to the internet.

« VK6CRO

remote access radio in Carnarvon WA has sidetone and all

the
controls function but no transmit.
* So, I've been unable to get on the air.

From Wayne

VK6NW

at Bridgetown, WA

[40m]
* Some

QSB at the start but sigs came good.

From Nic VK7WW

at Legana, TAS

[40m]
¢ | wonder if OPS read about the
Pixie fx? | guess not, from the
strong signals operating on the fx...
pity | was really looking forward to

stretching my hearing ©.
[80m]
¢ Most activity on 3.555, not much
else anywhere.

From

Stan

ZL3TK

at Waitarere

[40m]
e Had an unexpected

'clip the ticket and run’ QSO with Randy W7T]J in

Spokane Washington.
e Unexpected

because

| thought he'd been calling 'CQ WASH' just

prior.
e Also had a chatty QSO with the OM
encountered

Sava VK4PN

whom

I've only ever

on the 80 m NZ Net.

e Was unable to listen long enough to identify from which of the 18
countries
with callsigns beginning with 4 that VK6KD/4 was operating.
e Does anybody know?
e There were no ‘Today in History’ messages

nor RG-style 5-letter

groups
sent,

too-short notice, unsuitable punters and others in too much of a

hurry to sign off.
e Nonetheless, a highly successful two-way exchange of QTCs with
the OM
Manny VK3DRQ

took place on sked at ~ 0940Z, one QTC even

included a
three-word Gaelic place name.
¢ Hope these traffic events are providing a useful insight for listeners
into
what was being achieved

hundreds of times every day by historic

maritime
radio operators on land and sea, equipped

initially with only ‘sparks’

and
a coherer.
e We have it so jolly cushy these days!.
[80m]
e Not a dicky-bird seen or heard on 80 m.

From

lan VK7TA

at Latrobe

[40m]
e | started early at 1700 and didn't hear much so called CQ.
¢ Got a reply and had a very nice chat with Trev VK2TM.
e He didn't know about our net.
e Later on | thought | could make out VK6IS down

in the noise.

[80m]
e | tried using a remote tuner and the 40m vertical on 80m.
e | heard nothing.
e | put out a brief call that maybe someone would have heard if they
were
driving past!.

From

David

McSweeney

VK6PYN

at Chittering,

[40m]
¢ A bit of QSB on some signals.
[80m]
¢ Some of the earlier ones were a
bit fast but | started to make out
some (some letters, e.g. CQ) of the
later ones.
[Good start David, thanks for your
first report mate.]

From Allen VK5FD

at Blakeview

[40m]
e My QSO with VK2TER was short-lived owing to his signal being
swallowed
up In QRM.

e Sorry OM, maybe

next time.

From

near Sydney

Mark VK2DI

[40m]
e Living in an apartment | don't have a home station with aerials.
¢ Tonight | set up on my balcony and attached a small base loaded
whip
antenna to my IC/05.

¢ | bought the antenna

recently ona

trip to Japan and, given its
compromised
design, it works surprisingly well.
e Mine is a northerly facing balcony
SO no surprises that Brian VK2EBN
(in Newcastle) gave me a much
better report than Mark VK2KI to the
South.
[Might also have something to do
with my noise level and 50 year old
rig mate!]

From Arthur VK2ASB

at Wentworth

Falls NSW

[40m]
e G5RV still down.
e WX too wild for anyone to climb a 10m tree to anchor a new
halyard.
e | listened on my GP (a DSE whip originally designed for CB operation
but
Shortened for the 10m

band) thru a LDG tuner.

¢ To my amazement

it worked with 599 each way.

e Alas | decided to try it too late in the evening.
e Can't comment

on conditions for obvious reasons.

[Interesting - challenge Arthur.
was the noise level?

Looks like you worked into VK5 OK.

S/N better or worse than the G5RV?

How

Good luck with

getting the doublet back up soon. ]

From Andy VKS5LA at Winkie S.A
[40m]
e Another great night on the QRS net on 40m

and also 80m,

now |

have a
decent antenna that actually radiates on that band.
e Worked

ZL3TK first-up but my pen died and had QRM

getting
Stan too good.

so wasn’t

e Next was Jordan 3ACU

on a Pixie with 500mW

and he was a genuine

559
much to my surprise!

Good QSOs on 40 until dinner time and then

came
back and worked some 80m with good strong sigs.
e Another look at 40 and worked 6PZT on 5 Watts, and to my
amazement

was

called by Randy, W/7T] from Spokane, Washington,

579 both ways!

Finished
off the night with Mark, 2KI on 80m with a nice QSO and catchup.
e Great fun and great condx, not a lot of static crashes on 80 which
helps
with RX.
e See you next week!,
[Woo hoo!]

From

Richard

VK6PZT

at Bunbury

[40m]
¢ Great to get my first ever QSO on
my home

brew Rockmite 40,

LWatt
crystal CW

rig limited to two

frequencies on 40m.

Only 6-7 years

from
build to first contact!
e Thanks for the help Mark and
Richard!.
[80m]
¢ No luck on 80m tonight.
[Bunbury to Carnarvon

on 1 Watt -

c’est bon!]

From Jordan VK3ACU

at Meredith

[40m]
e 23rd (Pixie day) | dug out one of the Pixie kits | had put together, |
was
putting out 500mW

- QRO compared

to some of the CW contacts I've

had in
recent times.
e | had a contact with VK5LA and VK4T].
e The receive on this particular pixie is silly wide and BC interference
with
774ABC

Melbourne smashing

in on top of the CW signals this just

makes for
a fun challenge.

e | was intending to get out the

49'er kit after dinner
unfortunately | lost the battle with
my headache and ended

Naving an early night.
¢ Hope to make a few more
contacts next week.

SSN:173

SFI:185 A:9 K:1

New Zealdnd
Aotearoa

™

Leaflet |©O

Consider supporting the RBN!
630m

160m

80m

60m

40m

30m

20m

17m

15m

12m

10m

| Unfreeze

Max rows:

OvUuU0VHBOVOO0O0O0U000D
cw

rity

psk31

Show Spotters | Advanced
CW

@ Spotted

spotter-callsign

Min {all |

URL to Cli

(dx)

| vk3acu

® spotted

ZL3X

Speed:

Copy

® Spotter (de)

® spotter

[| Hot
New

psk63

Ll
cq L) px LJ Ben LJ vB L) NcDxF
callsign

Max age:

distance km

type

snr

speed

2482 km

10 dB

11 wpm

VK3ACU

time
0755z 23 Jul

31 minutes ago

Version: v2.2.5

[Thanks for Joining in on the inaugural International Pixie Day Jordan.

And

you made it to the Reverse Beacon Network receiver in Christchurch as
well!

Next year, Pixie-to-Pixie perhaps?]

From

Manny

VK3DRQ

at Blackburn

[40m]

e | found it nice to chat and conditions from my QTH were not bad.
¢ Occasionally, would have QRM

from foreigners (DX) managed

to S/R

2 QTCS
with OM
e From

Stan.
the six QSOs

the hardest one, was

David, VK6KD/4

Muttaburra:

it took me 24 minutes just to copy his name and QTH.
¢ He was only RSN 265!/QSB.
[80m]
e As above, only S/7 noise.

From

David

VK6KD/4

at Muttaburra

QLD

[40m]
¢ Great night of activity on 40m
from Mutaburra QLD using a 5' whip
on 50W.
[80m]
¢ | was distracted on 40m
was so much

as there

activity.

¢ 80m was opening

up at 11:30pm

QLD time but was getting a bit cold
in my
car, hihi.
e Hope to concentrate more on 80m
next week.
[Great to work you from VK6 on
that little whip David - next time
80m perhaps?

With a suitable

coupler and a few decent ground
radials, you might have had some
luck loading-up the two sculptures
mate!]

From Richard VK6HRC

at Padbury

[40m]
e Remembered

to listen out on 7.023 for the Pixies and was lucky

enough
to catch the end of a QSO

between Jordan VK3ACU

and another

Station.
¢ Signals not that strong into Perth so listened on Ironstone Range
SDR
- unfortunately missed the callsign of the other station.
e Later on spotted a WhatsApp

alert from Mark VK6QI and once again

used
the SDR to follow

the VK2KI and VK2DI contact.

[80m]
e Was great to hear Richard VK6PZT on his one-Watt special - we
Started off
fine but got wiped-out by a strong SSB signal!

From me VK2KI

at Beautiful South Bowning

[40m]
e | was late to the party on Tuesday after attending a meeting;

| think

|
was a bit pumped-up from the meeting and found myself sending at
my
normal character speed

(guessing around

15 words per minute) but

failing to
leave nice Farnsworth gaps to slow the effective speed - sorry to
anyone
struggling with the Code - my motor response was apparently winning
the
battle with my logical brain half!.
e First up with the help of the Tecsun

KiwiSDR at Araluen

NSW,

| heard

Brian
VK2EBN

up at Newcastle chatting to Mark VK2DI just East of Sydney.

e | also heard Ron VK6KHZ

at Yangebup working

Daniel VK6WE

Cottesloe,
and Alan VK1AO

with a big signal from Narabundah.

¢ | went on to hook up with Mark - and fell off my standing desk when
| saw
on our WhatsApp

group what he was using for an antenna...

1m base-

loaded whip sitting on the outdoor setting on his verandah - what a
view!
Mark wasn’t strong into my barn-side wide TS-120S,

but gets the

scenic
operating location award for the night for sure!.
¢« Next up | was called by David VK6KD/4

up at Muttaburra,

in the ded

centre
of Queensland

about 100km

North East of Longreach on the Lake

Dunn
Sculpture Trail - perhaps attending this week’s Muttaburra Sculpture
Competition & Festival?

David had a much

nicer signal this time

compard to
last week when

he was just out of Longreach.

e After David | heard Manny VK3DRQ

at Blackburn with a huge signal

chatting
to Roy VK6RR at Geraldton who had apparently worked out that our
net was on Tuesdays,

not Mondays.

* | also listened to two old mates Stan ZL3TK at Waitarére Beach and
Sava
VK4PN

at Mount Ommaney

catching up;

Stan assured

me the next

day on
Richard’s Post Morseum

call-in, that I'd heard VK4PN,

not VK3PN

as |

decoded.
« | then tuned in to Andy VK5LA at Winkie chatting to Merv VK3ADX

Ballarat
before Stan caught up with Bob VK4EK at Ipswich.
¢ | got busy on the Remotes

in WA for a while then slid down for a bit

of 80m
fun.
[80m]
* On 80m

| chatted again to David VK6KD/4, then Derek VK4DRK

called in
after returning home to Toowoomba

from a cold game of tennis.

¢ Then to round out the night nicely | caught up again with Andy
VK5LA at
Winkie in the Riverlands area near the SA/VIC/NSW border;

Andy

reported
that he was having lots of fun back on the Tuesday night net.
¢ By then it was about time for this old bloke to head off to bed after a
really enjoyable evening of relaxed and relaxing CW.

Also from
Remote

VK6QI

via the VK6QS

KiwiSDR

near Brookton,

at Carnarvon

and the VK6SR

Remote

at Bedfordale

VK6CRO

[40m]
« On the VK6QS

KiwiSDR near Brookton

| heard Ron VK6KHZ

Yangebup
chatting to Daniel VK6WE

at Cottesloe, and also heard a big signal

coming
into WA from Dylan VK3AE at Ballarat.
¢ | also heard Peter VK6IS at Wundowie

working Stuart VK6MK/p,

but |

didn’t
pick up how far South Stuart had progressed since last week;
picked

then |

up Wayne VK6NW

from Bridgetown chatting to Michael VK3VMM

Ballarat.
¢ | also noticed the post from Richard VK6PZT at Dalyellup with advice
that
his Strepsils-tin transmitter couldn’t get to the newly-declared
International Pixie Day (23/07, 07/23 or 7023

if you're dyslexic)

frequency
of 7023, but was calling on 7029.1.
¢ Richard was barely visible / audible on the Brookton SDR, and the
Southern
Electronics Group’s Bedfordale VK6SR Remote was still off air after
the
storms in the hills, so we gave the VK6CRO

Remote at Carnarvon a

go.
* Someone

had left the Space Museum

display lights on so there was

an S9
noise level on the Remote - but despite everything

| was just able to

copy
Richard’s 1 Watt signal on the QSB peaks.
¢ Actually “copy” might be stretching the imagination a

bit - it was

more
like | could sense his signal, and could just feel his RST report;
intuition at
work perhaps?

After that | listened to t’other Richard VK6HRC

Padbury
having a go with 1000mW

Richard, before he and | had a chat;

boy

Padbury
Richard had a really nice signal into Carnarvon - well above the S$9+
noise....
until one of our Northern neighbours decided to come up of frequency
singing to himself with SSB... helpful!
¢ | had sent Rob VK6LD an SMS asking for the VK6SR remote to be reconnected after the day’s storms, and he was able to fix things.
¢ | brought the Remote

up and managed

to hook up with David

VK6KD/4
again just after hearing him say he was QSYing to 80m.
« We

managed

a quick exchange of RSTs before a new SEG

member

loggedin to the Remote, and not noticing that | was on air.... proceeded to
change
frequencies,

modes and bands mid-QSO

(I figured he didn’t recognise

David’s dulcet tones as a form of amateur communication

- HI);

c’est

la vie!
¢ Surprise surprise - I'd done the same thing to Ross MONNK and Mike
DL3YZ twice in previous weeks... so a bit of my own

medicine back!

Tricks
for shared Remote operators.
* The next day at my request, Rob VK6LD who operates the Remote
turned
on the dreaded

May/ Tune the Remote? pop-up again - the better of

the two evils for CW operators on the Remote.
¢« Anyway, through the luxury of our WhatsApp group and the magic
of the
cellular network,

| was able to let David in the dead-centre of

Queensland’s outback know why | disappeared suddenly.
[80m]
¢ After working
give hima
try from WA.

David VK6KD/4 from my home

in NSW,

| thought I'd

e | could read David on QSB

peaks only, but signals just weren't

strong

enough to complete an exchange.
e Similarly after I'd worked

Derek VK4DRK from home we tried from

WA;
Signals were marginal but with repeated

repeats, RSTs were

exchanged.
e Later when

| was chatting to Andy VK5LA at Wilkie from home,

| was

able to
listen in to both our signals nicely in WA... but it was time for bed, so
we
didn’t go for that one last exchange!.

From

Roy VK6RR

at Geraldton

[80m]
e Another great evening.
[There you go - Roy Is one of our many old-time commercial CW operators
- and he’s summed up our net just so well!

From Stuart VK6MK//p

Thank you mate!]

at Portable 20km

East of Tom

Price

[40m]
e Couple of good contacts on 40.
[80m]
e Heard Max on 80m

but nothing

back.
e Cheers, Stuart.

VK6PZT
From

Stan

- 1 Watt

from

VK6

to ZL3

ZL3TK

Wednesday’s

Post Morsum

management

of Richard VK6HRC

came

into its own under the expert
when

it was revealed that last night

Richard VK6PZT was running a mere 1 Won
The comment

struck a chord.

he was, then it all came

back.

40m.

Interrogated my log and sure enough there
| had heard him rather well but missed

including him in my online report so immediately added

him to the list of

Stations heard.
Although

not possible to quote his strength, got to thinking about why his

Signal was so clear and put it down to the magic digital signal processing
intrinsic to the IC-7300.

One can achieve a similar degree of noise

elimination and bring signals to the fore as If using an external in-line
phase-inversion noise canceller by simply reducing the RF gain, regardless
of whether either of the RF pre-amplifiers is switched on.

It may be

necessary to increase the preset waterfall level a little to view the noise
threshold and see signals, otherwise there's no drama.
The great circle distance between

Dalyellup Beach and Waitarere Beach

IS 5.230 Mm, an excellent km/W achievement by the OM

Richard.

73 de Stan ZL3TK

Post Morseum

Report

by Richard VK6HRC
Hello Mark;

a short and sweet net this morning which ended well before

we got into overtime territory!
On today :

e VK6KHZ

Ron

e VK6FN

Max

e ZL3TK

Stan

VK6QI

Mark

e VKOGAL

Gary

e VK6LD

Rob

e VK6KRC

Bob

e VK6KD/4

David ( late shift ! ) ©

e VK6HRC

C’est mois!

Ron enjoyed the net in spite of the noisy conditions and let us know that
Ross M@NNK was off on holiday again, so won't be on the net for a week or
two;

enjoy the break Ross.

Max managed

to get a decent amount of calls in the log apart from the key

having a mind of its own!
Stan got a good

haul on 40Mx

but nothing on 80Mx from AU.

Mark missed the early part of the net with another commitment
busy working stations, sending WhatsApp

alerts and making

but got

use of

multiple SDR receivers and generally trying to keep us in order!
David called in after the net and fortunately Mark was still around to get
the latest from the happy wanderer in outback Muttaburra central
Queensland.
| also enjoyed the net, listened on the Ironstone Range SDR when
much was happening

not

locally, as usual thanks to all.

73
Richard VK6HRC
[Thank you for running the Post Morseum call-in and your excellent report
again Richard.

For those who'd like to say g’day,

Wednesday morning at 6am

we’re on each

WA time (2200z Tuesday) on the WA AllStar

network on 2m & 70cm FM Repeaters and hotspots across the West, plus a
few outlets in other places like New Zealand,
South Bowning (if anyone in Canberra
and I'll increase the power).

the UK and even Beautiful

wants to give it a try, let me know

We’d love to hear from you.

If you don’t have

an AllStar node or phone App, you can use Echolink on your phone or
computer to connect to the *VK6-HUB* or VK6RMH-L Echolink nodes that
automatically come out on the WA network. ]

Other

News

Other things
Reciprocal

I’ve received

from

our 190-odd

readers.

Callsigns - or NOT - as the Circumstances

Dictate

(Reply to ZL3TK’s 29/2024 article)
by Ross MONNK
You may be disappointed to hear that I’m not going to disagree with
anything Stan says - he’s the Antipodean Expert as far as I'm concerned.
So my comments

are just from a visitor’s perspective.

My callsign (MONNK)

is constructed somewhat differently from the

Australian and New Zealand ones.
e The “M” is a regional code and indicates that | operate in England. If |
operated

in Wales,

| would use MWONNK;

in Scotland,

MMONNK;

etc.

e The zero indicates that | am the holder of a Full license.
e

“NNK”

is my individual identifier.

The UK regulations say, “Any suffix, following the ‘slash’ (‘/’) symbol

may

be added to the transmitted call sign, so long as the station remains
identifiable.”

So, /M, /MM, /P, /QRP are all acceptable in the UK.

said that, I’ve stopped using suffixes as | think they make

Having

my callsign

difficult to copy and, as Stan says, this information is best conveyed
QSO

itself.

If Stan says that suffixes are not permitted

in the

in Australia and

New Zealand then | will go with what he says.
My former professional life taught me always to look at the original
regulations, and this is what | did before transmitting in Australia...
The UK regulations also say, “If operating overseas under CEPT
Recommendation T/R 61-01, you are required to use the appropriate
country prefix before your call sign".
even though

I'm definitely operating overseas

I'm not overseas myself.

Neither Australia nor New Zealand
are members

of CEPT (the European

Conference of Postal and

Telecommunications
Administrations),

[ :ECC

| [ ComTU | [ CeRe

but they have

both adopted

CEPT Recommendation

T/R 61-01, and thus participate in the CEPT radio

amateur licensing systems regulations.

As such, they are required to

“provide the call sign prefix to be used by visiting radio amateurs
details of any special conditions relating to the implementation
Recommendation

in the country concerned”.

... and

of this

In Australia’s case, the ACMA

has allocated the prefix “VK” and has specified that, “the class licence
allows holders of a CEPT amateur radio licence to operate in Australia for
up to 365 days on all allocated amateur bands without the requirement to
obtain any additional approvals from, or register with, the regulator”.
As for the semantics of where | am myself versus where I’m transmitting
from, | think this is covered
2.3:

by CEPT Recommendation

T/R 61-01 paragraph

“When transmitting in the visited country the licence holder must use

his national call sign preceded

by the call sign prefix of the visited country

as indicated in Annex 2 and Annex 4.
call sign must be separated
“stroke” (telephony)”.

The call sign prefix and the national

by the character “/” (telegraphy) or the word

Mic

——

~ VK6SR- Southern Electronics Group (www.hamradio.org.au)
* Licensed Callsigns Only *

However, the regulations don’t
really take account of remote
access radios - when
VK6SR

using the

radio, I’m transmitting in

Australia but I’m not actually
visiting the country.

Paragraph 2.2 says:

“The licence holder shall observe the provisions of the

ITU Radio Regulations, this Recommendation
In the country visited.” So I’m bound

and the regulations in force

by both the UK and the Australian

regulations.
Phew - that’s a lot of words about stuff that doesn’t concern most of the
team.

But it might help to explain why | use the VK/ prefix, and why | don’t

use any suffix.
[Thanks for your excellent analysis Ross;

I’m sure future visitors will find

your research useful.
Well | was surprised that Stan’s contentious article on reciprocal licensing
and the use of /o, /m etc didn’t elicit a flood of replies and comments from
other oldies like me.
Back in around 1971

when

was old enough to attempt the amateur license

tests, the Regulations specifically stating that /m, /mm, /am and /t were to
be used;

of course, my original Regulations manual went to the tip, along

with a collection of treasures when | joined the Air Force and left home... so
[can’t confirm my recollection.

The earliest version | have

(1978 edition)

talks about /n to designate the State of operation, but strangely doesn’t
mention the use of the other suffixes;

| wonder if a new ITU resolution

caused the previous direction to be canned?
Of course the reason why VKFF PARKS and SOTA

operators like me use /p

Is because our signals are often weak and rather than a receiving station
thinking to themselves....

“too weak so they’re unlikely to hear my reply...

so! won't bother” or “him again - nothing new here, so | won't bother”.... if
the operator knew the calling station was out In a gale running milliWatts
to a bit of wire slung up a tree and fingers frozen to the key... hoping to
catch somebody,

anybody..., they might make to effort to say g’day.

So there we have it.

Will! continue to use /o when operating portable?

Will you?]

From

David

VK6KD

- Portable

at Muttaburra

QLD

G’day Mark & CW

mates.

Great catch up on both 40m and
80m

last night on CW and this

morning via Echolink from my
portable location at Muttaburra
QLD.
Wife and | are travelling Oz and
spent a couple of days checking out
the sculpture trail from Aramac 200km

loop road.

Here is just one of the many
sculptures.

Just working out wave

length between statues, hihi.
Regards, David VK6KD/4

Z
Today

in History’s

New

Sibling

denne

- Starting

NOW

by Stan ZL3TK
The splendid CW activity known

as ‘RandomGram’

(RG) has become

extremely popular throughout the United States since OM
launched

it eighteen events ago.

Not so in Oceania.

Drew AF2Z

The lack of uptake is

only partly due to RG events often held at unsociable hours for we downunder operators.

There are also the twin handicaps of geographic

and not-ideal propagation.

isolation

Nonetheless, the two regular South Pacific

participants and our cohort OM

Hiro JJ1FXF, find every RG event a

challenging and thoroughly rewarding experience.

An introduction to the

RG experience is now available to the CQ QRS Group.
While ‘Today in History’ (TDIH) fulfils a contextual
education experience, it’s not needed

niche in the CW

by the those longer in the CW-tooth

who are perfectly capable of handling straight-forward contextual QSOs.
RG is at a different level,

though

in no way should this be taken as an

exclusion of new-comers;

au contraire, anyone who wants to test and

grow their skills in a less-conventional

manner is most welcome to have a

go.
So on Tuesday 23 July, an alternative to TDIH was offered in the form of
ten 5-letter groups, similar to a multi-contact RG, without the waiting.
Don’t balk - 50 letters is somewhat shorter than the average TDIH.
The opening gambit will invite you to make a choice, simply follow this
instruction:

NW A MESSAGE
TODAY

FER U TO RX AND

IN HISTORY OR TEN

TEN, OK?

RETURN.

RANDOM

INDICATE

GROUPS.

IF PREFER ONE

PSE REPLY WITH

ONE OR

Speed will be as slow as needed to get the job done;

as usual, success

through accuracy is the issue here, it’s neither a race nor time-limited.
Interested?

Listen out for me on Tuesday’s CQQRS

net and if you like, I'll

be happy to give you a taste of this new challenge.
Stan

ZL3TK

International

Pixie Day

Tuesday is the 23rd of July was International Pixie Day - 7/23 in freedom
dates (remarkably similar to 7023).

It’s the day of the year where we all

get out and dust off our Chinese QRP crystal locked to 7023KHz
transmitters / transceivers and try to make a QSO.

George and | did a video last year
where we put 3 pixies up against
each other.
httos://youtu.be/yobLSKLKypA0?
si=FDYysYatXqrO3FOY

e One that George made that just refused to receive, but smashed

out a

Watt and a half.
e One that | built which managed
smoked

to punch out almost a Watt but

up whilst testing antennas,

e The third one, built by my son when
managed

and
he was 9 years old, which we

2 QSOs on.

Hopefully this Tuesday people brought out their home
novelties and other neglected

brew monstrosities,

projects and broken dreams, and got them

on the air.
73 DE VK2NAP
dit dit
[Hopefully a few of our team saw this in my email on Tuesday mate.
year?]

Jordan VK3ACU Clarke

Richard VK6PZT & Shelley Ayre

not a pixie

Pixie day hey cq7023

but only 1 w

and xtl

locked to 7028.7
ae

..... =

8:41 pm

[Well looks like at least two of the team saw the note about International

Pixie Day on 7/23 - 7023 in my reminder email. ]

Feedback

the

Feedback

True to the stated paradigm
RagChew

of the CQ QRS Group,

my observations in

edition 25/2024 were not intended to cast judgement whatsoever

upon those beginners who are exhibiting ‘sheer guts and determination’ to
get on the air with their nacent CW.

Quote from RagChew

editor:

“Our net

has always attracted new operators who were taking their first steps,
knowing they won’t be judged.”

And that is indubitably still the case!

7 Secrets of Personal Development
SitepeA Tem ets (oa Wether e4

Contrary to fuelling fear of having
:

judgement passed, | have never
been anything but encouraging, and
.

in the famous
words of Dale
a
.
:

Carnegie,

and

lavish

learners

can

take

char,

‘a

parenebbirnnpelins
ee
a
piesa)
where you le;

py lena

skills will make you a better

communicator.
oe Cae

praise” for the endeavours of

others,

you

2: Development is a personal

laces

“... am hearty in my

approbation

1; Only

saphena
eae
Ay pn

ae oman

batchvary 41 Eg

Demereceeet
rr
is a “trial and error” process.

or otherwise.

MattMeWilliams.com/carn

Constructive criticism should always

be welcomed.

As an example,

| am forever grateful to the fellow who taught me that word

spaces need to be a minimum

of seven dot periods, nine even better.

Yet some still chose to misinterpret my reflections, so allow me to point out
again who is responsible for such observations on the matter of sending
quality being possible at all.
There are those who are already experienced

but have become

lax, and

those who have come up through the CQ QRS Group ranks and now
believe, quite erroneously, that they are capable of increased speed.
in those categories, and there are only two or three at the moment,
become

over-confident and unconcerned

are thus heard setting bad examples.

Folk
have

about respecting learners, and

These over-confident guys are the ones who will happily quote that old
chestnut,

‘practice makes perfect’, failing to understand that by repeating

their huge collection of errors - as they do - simply concretes those errors
into their psyche, and unfortunately makes their CW unnecessarily difficult
to copy, or even un-copyable.
Vincent Lombardi, the famous American football coach
said, “Winners never quit, and quitters never win”,

had it right when

but more importantly

he adroitly observed, ‘Practice does not make perfect, only perfect practice
makes

perfect’.

That is why all who participate in the Tuesday CQ QRS Group free-for-all
should be setting the best possible examples for the majority to follow,
the learners, by sending
mark:space

Morse only with as-near-perfect-as-possible

ratio, and not demonstrate incompetence

by operating outside

one’s limited capability.
My suggestion is that everyone

make

regular recordings of themselves,

listen and self-judge before expressing

righteous indignation at someone

else’s verifiable observations, then decide based on fact whether slowing
down and taking care is indeed the proper thing to do.
the paragraph written by the RagChew
heading ‘Speed’,

Stan

ZL3TK

North

West

Perhaps reading

editor under the emboldened

might re-focus attention on the Group’s paradigm.

Adventure

From Craig VK5QA / VK3CLD
Couldn’t be on the net on Tuesday.... was busy dealing with this mess.

Finally get this tyre off - had to
resort to breaker bars and extra
help.

With the spare fitted | decided

to check the other rear tyre; also
FUBAR!
A long and slow trip (limping) back
to Port Hedland only to find they
have no tyres in stock.

A new set

should arrive from Perth on Friday
and be fitted, then we'll be off
again.
The

morale

booked

of this is that | was

in to have

new

tyres fitted in Broome!

caravan

This could help on the net a bit, at 1-2 MW to boot!
[Bad luck with the tyres mate - so why would the rears scrub out on the
outside on the tandem

van with a solid axle, rather than all-over?

Are they

rubbing up on the fender when each side moves up perhaps?
North West Cape antenna doesn’t look much from that distance - but the
centre tower (‘Tower Zero’) is 387.4 metres tall (1,271 feet for aviators).
recall visiting the station (and the nearby solar observatory) in a previous
life forty years ago, but amazingly, | don’t remember much about the
technical side of the station.
There was a 2m amateur repeater up the top of Tower Zero at one stage,
as Will VK6UU explains below.]

Tower Zero 2m

Repeater

by Will VK6UU
The repeater was turned on Monday the 19th of March
was at the site until around
When

decommissioned,

apart and showed

1984 at 13:02 and

1989.

the 6db antenna was removed

internal corrosion.

and was taken

Being so high it is surprising that it

did not suffer some form of lightning damage - a direct hit would
shattered the fibreglass antenna as happened

at Cataby,

have

but lightning

corona can cause less obvious damage - eg the Tic Hill antenna was of the
Same design and had a small burn hole that allowed water in.
| wrote an article about the Exmouth

installation for AR magazine - and I'll

be happy to share it with the team - send me an email if you’d like to read
it:

will2@iinet.net.au

Regards
Will

Above: Tower Zero Exmouth

Photo taken

(antenna

Photo Shopped

in).

Mal VK6LC (SK)

Above:

Top of tower Zero

Exmouth.

VK6REX

antenna

(white) far left - 6dB collinear -

Above:

Metal cabinet housing

VK6REX,

12V power supply,

duplexer & 12V battery.

higher than the lightning arrestors
(one is behind John - painted with
Red Lead).

CQ QRS

Group Traffic Report 23Jul24

from Stan ZL3TK
To widen everyones’ CW experience,
<=

10 wpm

formal traffic is being exchanged

during the CQ QRS Group free-for-all on Tuesdays,

intentionally a comfortable speed for learners.
for-all is not a net, the messages
be deemed

a broadcast.

fact open for anyone.
a call on 7.0277

So although the QTC appears limited, they are in

Feel free to compose your own QTC in reply and give

MHz at the appointed

hour to send it. Anyone

to participate and time is not an impediment,
may be requested

Because the Group's free-

must have an addressee, else they would

is welcome

any number of word repeats

using the concise protocol published previously.

Here is the simple structure to use for composing your own Wireless
Telegram, you don't need a form.

It demonstrates

carriage-return, line-feed (CRLF) command
notional teletype machine.
efficient.

how

is the

to control paper feed through a

It's quite old-fashioned really, yet extremely

TEMPLATE
QTC
NR 21

R VK3DRQ

CK 22/20

BLACKBURN

1250Z

12JUL24

ZL3TK =
ANSWER TO YOUR
USED

NR 90 STOP BUILDINGS AND SWIMMING

BY USSR AS TRAINING

VK3DRQ

QRU

Note: the QRU

POOL

FACILITY FOR 1980 OLYMPICS

QSL?

and QSL? are optional and variable according to information

the sender wishes to impart.

| &
ye

CQO ORS

Group

Tuesday
09402

1.0277 Miz

WIRELESS TELEGRAM

PREt

HX.

STATION

CHRNGIN

CHECK,

PLAC

CPR Bor

TIME

CATE

osvc

OTC}

| VEKSDRQ

| 2e/2d

BLACKBURN

12502

12JUL24

ZL3TK

MESSAGE:

ANSWER TO YOUR NR 9@ STOP
BUILDINGS AND SWIMMING POOL
USED BY USSR AS TRAINING
FACILITY FOR 198@ OLYMPICS

FROM:
RECEIVED

SESDRG
AT

FROM

THME

ZL3TK | VESDROQ

BATE

SENT FROM

| TO

Here is the formal version of the above template,
It is OM
speed

Manny's reply to the QTC/QNC
~ 10 wom.

TIME

BATE

69472 | 23 JUL24

printed for the records.

sent Tuesday 15 July at QRS Group

Data in any of the eight back-office management fields

at the bottom of the form is not part of the message

but filled in manually

after the event.
And now to this week's QTC/QNC for those who didn't copy it in real time
it's another invitation to dip your toe into traffic handling while in the safe
environment of the CQ QRS Group.

| ie

VK CQ ORS Group

?
| ay ee

QTC
/

;

PRED

Tuesday
09402

WIRELESS TELEGRAM
HX

ONC Lo.

STATION

ZL3TE

CARIOUS,

CHECK

| 27/25

PLACT

OR DOIN

7.0277 MHz
TIME.

WAITARERE

@558Z

DATE

23JUL24

VK3DRQ

MESSAGE:

GIVE THE ENGLISH NAME FOR CAOLAS NA HEARADH
WHICH FLOWS BETWEEN ATLANTIC OCEAN AND
SKOTLANDSFJORD AND NAME THE TWO LARGE
WESTERN HEBRIDEAN ISLANDS IT SEPARATES

FROM:
RECEIVED

ZL3TK
AT

RROM

TIME

DATE

SENT FROM

ZL3TK

| VK3DRQ

TIME

DATE

/8956Z | 23JUL24

Thanks to search engines which are consulted before composing
answers are uSually easy to find.

a QTC,

Then compose your own QTC based on

the template above.
Everyone has to start somewhere,

this kind of exchange can be a real

boost in your journey to becoming

a competent and confident CW operator

which regular QSOs cannot provide.
Anyone wanting to practice off-air may email for an echolink
Sked:

zi3tk@qsl.net

Too easy:

all that's needed

is a key and an audio

oscillator with speaker.

Stan

Intangible Cultural

Heritage

From Roy VK6ORR
Morse Code Telegraphy in the Netherlands and Germany
declared as an /ntangible Cultural Heritage.
is based on the principles laid down

is officially

The assessment of this state

in the Convention for the Safeguarding

of Intangible Cultural
Heritage by UNESCO.
But Morse Code Telegraphy is not yet declared by UNESCO

being an

Intangible Cultural Heritage on an international level. Nevertheless, the
bearers of an intangible
cultural form recognized at a national level are expected to look after their
cultural heritage.
In practice, such care of their cultural assets for Morse telegraphy almost
only takes place in amateur radio.
We are a small group of four former radio officers of the German
marine. Although we are all radio amateurs (DJ7ZY; DL9CM;
DL7AAQ)

we are dedicated to keeping

Morse telegraphy generally known.

On the back of the Reichstag building’ on

Intangible Cultural Heritage of Morse Code
From the German Commission for UNESCO e. V. (DUK),
Morse telegraphy was included in the nationwide register
of intangible cultural heritage in 2014 as a cultural form
worthy of protection. Since then, the two cultural

“eS

<—

a ee

—_

sae—rm

institutions entered in the directory mentioned have been

campaigning for the care and a nomination by DUK at
UNESCO. In the long history of message transmission in
the Morse system, the Morse distress signal SOS has
served all countries on earth to a special degree.

_
~» ”) oxy

nee

; y"

)

y T&G

See:

aD)

a ‘5

Nez

(

Gy | “3, Novant
1906 " SS
// wurde im Reichstagsgebiude YAO

rf lf
Cc"

eI}

and

Friedrich-Ebert-Platz facing the Spree,
there is a memorial plate in the form of a
metal manhole cover to commemorate
the international introduction of the

Morse distress signal SOS

merchant

DL8HCI

das Morse-Notzeichen SOS

m Cc

\\\ ”

“zur weltweiten Nutzung festgelegt. \\ | \

| HE

ol | @@

0 GD

‘5

CONE

@ @ rl

\ (Cs

ri "a

rea

ONO

CAG
Cr@®G

0\\ \

was established for worldwide p/
use on November 3, 1906

//¢le

O47 IN.
In this parliament
| q, VA.
@ 0 ys
building. 2
J \ 9

©)

i
amy f=

oi i=

Plo\ \The SOS Morse code distress signal /}} | ps Hf

Site

Oe
0

}

CC 3

e
P A XKn
nnSs
Co
Y YU
i “Bupa | KL

BK
»

Suggested by the Friends of Cultural Heritage of
Morse telegraphy, the company ACO Tiefbau together
with the Berliner Wasserbetriebe, have produced the
memorial plaque, donated it and laid it in the ground.
This is a contribution to the cultural remembrance.

The radio frequency of 500 kHz served as the distress
radio frequency for all mobile radio services for 100
years. There was radio silence on it every hour in the
minutes 15 to 18 and 45 to 48 in order not to overhear
distress radio transmissions with the distinctive
character string of the SOS.

We have also created a commemorative

floor plaque, in which we have

paid particular attention to the Morse distress signal SOS.
version of the flyer is in German,

The original

as we have distributed it to many places

in Germany that have had to do with Morse telegraphy in the past.
What is still missing now is recognition of CW as a cultural heritage by
UNESCO

at an international level, because there is probably no other

intangible cultural form as widespread

in all countries of the world as

Morse telegraphy was.
73, Norbert Gabriel
OUR FACEBOOK

PAGE:

https://www.facebook.com/groups//07451009311335/
[Thanks for passing this on Roy.]

Introducing

Sergio LU7YS

from San Martin de los andes, Argentina

Hi Mark,

It's great that you found a way to attract your colleagues to the CW.
wonderful!
| would

Congratulations.

It is

Send my regards to Grant ZL2GD!!!

love to join the group. | have been practicing the CW since | was 16

(I'm now 60!)
Did you know that we have excellent propagation conditions between
Zealand, Australia and Patagonia every day between
on 80 and 40 meters?

New

10:00 and 12:00 UTC

| think it would be a great opportunity for those new

to the CW to make a contact at 80 meters QRS, | can see it on RBN.

| usually call on 3505 most
mornings local time, so I'm
available for Sked.
Greetings to all.
73 is DX by Sergio, LU7YS

[Thanks for joining in Sergio - I’m looking forward to hearing your success
in joining in on our QRS fun.]

For Sale - Hi-Mound

HK-707

Telegraph

Key

a ee

TELEGRAPH
KEY

MODEL
HI-MOUND

HK-707
ELECTRO

TOKYO

VKClassifieds.net.au

Hi-Mound

HK-707 Telegraph

for sale - never used.
original box.

CO.,LTD.

JAPAN

ViClassifieds.net.au

Key

New in the

$150.

kees.vanderspek@netspeed.com.
au
VKClassifieds.net.au

For Sale - Hi-Mound

HK-705 Telegraph

Key

VkClassifieds.net.au

VkClassifieds.netau

Hi-Mound

HK-705 Telegraph

on high-profile base.

Key

Comes with

transparent cover which not
standard for this key but helps to
keep things dust-free.

Also fitted

with non-standard elevated so-

called navy knob with skirt.
$150.
kees.vanderspek@netspeed.com.
au

Morse Training
Nic VK7WW

Net

runs a Slow Morse training net every Wednesday

at 7om

EDST

on 3580 for 30 mins. He uses the callsign of the Northern Tasmania
Amateur Radio Club VK7TAZ
Many of our team

on that net.

learned Morse code with the support of Nic, and the

weekly training session comes

highly recommended

for anyone who wants

to learn the Code, or simply brush up.

Everyone’s welcome - 3580kHz at

7pm

The NTARC

Eastern time every Wednesday.

also feeds the CW

live

via the Discord phone / computer audio stream, and previous weeks’
recordings are available.
Contact Nic VK7WW

for more info nicholaschantler@hotmail.com

- or just

join in on Wednesdays.

Northern

Corridor Radio Group

Raffle

A number of our team are members
in Perth;

of the Northern Corridor Radio Group

the Group’s Hamfest raffle is available to purchasers in NSW,

QLD, SA, TAS, VIC & WA;

sorry, not available to our NZ friends :(
NCRG HAMFEST RAFFLE 2024

Sponsors

SSS ow

Prizes
ist Prize valued at $2,000

TRT-BMTBON

Click here to purchase tickets: https://rafflelink.com.au/hamfest-raffle-2024
Prizes:

First

Prize:

An Andrews

Communications

Voucher worth

$2000.

Use

it to

get whatever you desire from Andrews Communications.
Second Prize: A Yaesu FTM300 transceiver valued at $699. This
transceiver offers stable 50W RF power output, real dual-band operation, a
high-resolution display, and built-in Bluetooth.
Third

Prize:

A Yaesu

Fourth

Prize:

FT7ODR

handheld transceiver priced at $299.

A Horizon Antennas

$100

Voucher.

Ticket Information:
Cost:

$5 per ticket.

Packages:
- 2 tickets for $10
- 4 tickets for $20
- 8 tickets for $40

- 16 tickets for $80
- 20 tickets for $100
- 50 tickets for $250
Raffle Dates:
Start:

June

25, 2024

End: August 25, 2024
Draw: August 25, 2024, at 12 PM during the Hamfest 2024 event.
Raffle results will be displayed on:
NCRG

website:

ncrg.info/WP/rafflel(http://ncrg.info/WP/raffle)

RaffleLink:

rafflelink.com.au/hamfest-2024]

(http://rafflelink.com.au/hamfest-2024)
Ticket packages adhere to WA DRGLS rules and are available in lots of $5 each.
The

raffle is hosted

via http://rafflelink.com.au

This Week’s
Marconi

by Ross MONNK

for The

Northern

Corridor Radio

Group

Topic of Interest
Maritime

365EZ

INC.

I've been an admirer of the 365 series for some time (see CQQRS
28/2024... bottom

line - “Il want one!”).

| think it's those HUGE

RagChew

ball bearing

races...

They’re far bigger than any possible need;
flourish than a

more an unusual aesthetic

strictly functional feature.

| can't be their only admirer because the prices they go for are eyewatering.

And sol resigned myself to waiting for a win on the lottery...

Then, as regular readers of RagChew
the radio museum

will be aware, | recently paid a visit to

at Poldhu... where my appetite was suitably wet!

Well, | finally got my hands on one... a 365A in rather sad condition.
dear - they really are that good.
Museum,

So when

| found myself looking at the eBay listings for one of those

mythical bargains...and found one!
not mean

Now,

"a bargain" in 365 terms does

cheap, merely less eye-wateringly expensive.

But, hey, you only

live once... and at 67 years of age, I'm getting worryingly close to my
‘three score years and ten’... so, CLICK... done.
My key new was dirty but, apart from missing one of the two spare
contacts and the pigtail jack lead, it was complete.

Remarkably, the

electrical anti-key-click circuitry was all intact and working.
es

| returned home from Poldhu

lt even has its original cast
aluminium cover with the
manufacturer's serial number,
would

but It

be a crime to hide this beauty

under a plain black box.
After a good clean and lubrication (|
chickened out and didn't dismantle
it fully), | added a new pigtail lead
with a 3.5 mm

jack and a P-clip for

Strain relief.

This is one of the later models and would probably have been
manufactured

in the early 1970s, starting its working life in the radio room

of a British merchant ship. Where
no idea. It shows some

it's been over the past 50 years, | have

modest signs of abuse, but then it was (at least to

Start with) a workaday tool.
‘Buyer's remorse’ is a common
purchase...

side effect of an expensive impulse

but not in this case - | absolutely love this key!

cleaned and lubricated my humble WT 8 Amp
and it’s much

I've now also

key (see previous RagChew)

better than it was... but it's never going to come close to the

classy performance of this marvellous Marconi

Maritime 365.

You beauty!
[You beauty indeed!

Thanks Ross - | hope we hear it on air via the VK6SR

Remote soon.]/]

lf you'd like to share projects, ideas or thoughts with our team of about
190 readers, in a future RagChew,

email to cggrsnet@gqmail.com

Brain Teaser
How

did you go?

Jules Perrin JP VK3JFP has created a terrific resource to help guide learning
for all levels of amateur radio licenses:
https ://www.julesworkshop.net/Amateur%20Radio.htm!
Jules has sent through the following:

The free training material for the Advanced Licence at htips://www.julesworkshop.net/Zero%20to0%20Advanced.himl is updated to
reflect the amended ACMA syllabus dated February 2024.
| encourage feed back and tell me how to improve the site and expand on any critical information | missed.
Let me know if you have members or anyone interested who may use the site.
Also worth noting, there is an error in the advanced formula sheet provided with the examination. See attached sheet.
Thank you
Jules Perrin JP
0457585974
VK3JFP
www julesworkshop.net

*
s
Support our veterans.

Formula Sheet.
This formula

sheet will be provided to candidates in the Advanced

Theory examination and

answer any question.

E
Rt = R1 + R2 + R3..0n

1
1
1
1
— = —4—4—
4
Rte
Ril
R2~
R3

_e€
A=

1
tf

y=
©

Le =L14+12+13..n
]

—=
Lt

—+
{1

— +
f2

—
4&3

E..

1
2nfC

JR?

ras

= Vpeak
6

r=cr=<

lL, = i=
N,

Np
Ne

_
=

FE?
P= El =—=fR
R

Eine = Epox SinB

X, = 2nfL

¢=3x10%m/s

1
Peroid = ———_—_
frequency

= power x gain (linear)

1 . 1 . 1
€1
ca"

be used to

1
f=

ERP

Ct =C€14+C2+C3.n

may

Za" = Zee

Loc

i...

Zp
Z,

2nfcR

—
ke

x
swe

= *—
JP

+./P

vi
J P

Voltage gain
sis 20Logso

Image

= signal + (2x IF)

Power gain

748

E, = VK)C)R)BW

= 10Log,,

—

—Al,

2(AF nex

Af)

aw = Q

Here’s this week’s quiz questions from Jules’ Workshop example test
questions:

Exam

Questions:

What is the final stage of a transmitter?
The

purpose of the capacitor in this filter circuit is to:

pass the low frequency

eee

bypass the high frequencies

[

attenuate the low frequencies
amplify the high frequencies

In an SSB transmitter the balanced

modulator suppresses

both sidebands
the carrier and one sideband
one side band
the carrier

How did you go?

Answers

next week.

Answers

from

last week’s

Quiz:

Three aspects of a receiver are sensitivity, selectivity and stability. What
does each term mean?
Answer:

Sensitivity is the ability to receive a weak signal. Selectivity is

the ability to select a station from other stations near the same frequency.
Stability is the ability to remain on frequency.
Four 10 ohm

resistors are connected

in series. The total

resistance

2.5 Ohms

e 40Ohms
e

10 Ohms

e 40 Ohms
Answer:

40 Ohms

Tropospheric ducting may
e cause high frequency signals to fade suddenly
e allow long distance VHF communications
® occur as a result of meteor showers or auroral activity
e occur more frequently at HF than at VHF
Answer:

allow long distance VHF communications

How did you go?

Di-dah-di-dah-dit
Here

So back to the Slow CW QSO
Next Tuesday’s

go.

practice net.

Net

Our CQ QRS Net will be on as always on Tuesday from around 0700z until
about 1300z;

note we've extended the 40m

segment by 5KkHz to help

make a bit of elbow room - see below for details.
Doesn't matter whether you’re brand new and want to try just exchanging
callsigns and RST reports, or you’re ready for a good old rag chew.
have fun.

Reports

We'll

Please let me know via our Reports form bit.ly/CQORSNET who you work or
hear on Tuesday’s net.
Post

Morsum

Richard VK6HRC

will run our Post Morsum

on the South West AllStar net

(via repeaters and hotspots all over WA) from 0600 WA time.

If you’re in

WA, all you need is an FM 2m or 70cm transceiver and an AllStar node
nearby.

If you’re elsewhere in the world, you may be able to connect your

local AllStar-enabled

repeater to the net, or you can connect via Echolink.

Let me know (cggrsnet@gmail.com)

if | can help with that.

Teamwork

Thank you so much to our team of 32 RagChew
LU7YS, VK/MONNK,
VK2GAS,

VK1KVS, VK2AOE, VK2ASB, VK2DI, VK2DLF, VK2EBN,

VK2NAP, VK3ACU,

VK3AE, VK3DRQ,

VK5KFG, VK5LA, VK5QA/VK3CLD,
VK6NW,

contributors this week:

VK3JFP, VK4EK, VK5FD,

VK6BAP, VK6HRC,

VK6KD/4, VK6MK/P,

VK6PYN, VK6PZT, VK6QI, VK6RR, VK6UU, VK6WE,

and ZL3TK.

Thank you team;

VK7TA, VK7WW

lots of people have said they really enjoy

reading our newsletter - and without doubt it’s the variety of contributions
that make
€U CW

it such a good

read.

next Tuesday - see below for the new details.

mb
Mark

Bosma

VK2KI / VK6QI
Beautiful South Bowning NSW
mark.bosma@icloud.com
non impediti ratione cogitationis

Ode

to CW

- thanks to David VK3RU:

In days of old, when ops were bold,
And sideband was not invented,
=

—

Lae

Words were passed by pounding brass,

{ S

wo!

——

And all were quite contented.
- Unknown

About

the CQ
Here’s

the

author

QRS

Net

details.

The team will be on again for our usual Tuesday arvo / evening Practice
QSO

Net.

Frequencies

and Times

CQQRS NET - DEEP DEEP WINTER TIMETABLE
Coordinated Universal Time

Australia

0700z to 13002

Western Australia Time

UTC+8

1500 to 2100

4Central Australia
Time UTC+9.5 | 1630t02230
EasternTime ~=—suTC+10 | 1700to2300
New Zealand

NZ Time

UTC +12

1900 to 0100

Time

Band

Frequency

07002 to 0900z

40m

7020kHz - 7040kHz

se 4om | 7020kHz-7040kH2

O900Z2 to 11002

frrvrrrenseseesereerereseeapeseesenecscantesescesnesenerateseseassassnananescestaneaney
80m
3540kHz - 3570kHz

| 3 090021013002 ~=siéd|:S 80m =| «5 40KH2-3570KH2
Tune around and call anyone you hear, or find yourself a quiet spot in the
designated segment,

send “QRL?” and if the frequency is quiet, start

calling CQ QRS at about 75% of the speed you're comfortable receiving at;
hopefully responders will match
we’re on 40m

(or send slower to their comfort level).

and you can hear that the band is open outside Australasia,

perhaps consider calling 500Hz above each

1kHz slot - to minimise the

chance of having to copy our team through QRQ

QRM that’s often dead-on

the kHz markers.... and if you’re worried about DX stations calling you at
hell-for-leather speeds..... either be prepared to respond with ‘PSE QRS PSE
QRS’, or stick to calling CQ up the top end.

And if someone

doesn’t

(sometimes can’t) respond to your QRS request... keep replying with SRI
PSE QRS... eventually they’ll understand - or go away to annoy someone
else!

Speed
And in-turn, if you’re proficient at CW and can race along at 20 or 30wpm
terrific, but please remember, the net’s aim is to encourage,
fast you can hammer the key.

not show how

Please send slowly where you can and

concentrate on rhythm - listen to your side-tone, get that wrist action going
and make a special effort to make

it sound like perfect CW;

the longer we

go with our net, the more | understand just how many non-transmitting
listeners we have - and they will most likely appreciate your QRS!

So, if

you’re an experienced operator, please try to send nicely balanced slow
CW to give them a chance to practice and gain confidence.... they'll reward
you one day by coming
that?

up on air to say g’day and thanks - how good

And if you’re new or like me, just rusty.... ignore the above... just

have a go - the lather of sweat will be worth it and there’s plenty of time to
get the details sorted out as you practice.
Matching
And also for the oldies like me, when you hear someone
their sending speed - or slower.

new, please match

The person you’re replying to may not be

as deft on the decoding as you - it may be their first ever CW QSO remember your first?

Lather of sweat, key that refuses to send that you

tell it, brain that refuses to decode those complex
there half an hour ago, etc!

letters that were right

PSE

QRS

And if someone

is sending too fast to comfortably copy - “PSE RPT PSE

QRS” or “AGN?

PSE QRS” will make

life easier for everyone.... and might

just encourage other listeners to have a go themselves.

The other thing to

remember - most operators are writing down what they hear... so when
you put it back to them, expect a delay while they read your words of
wisdom,

before replying.

Whose

frequency

is this anyway?

The aim is to give everyone a go at
contacting others - no-one owns
their calling frequency on this net.
So unlike working
someone

DX, if you hear

signing off - jump in and

call - doesn’t matter who was first
on the frequency - we really are all
good

mates on this net.... and

besides, at the speed we’re
sending, after a QSO

most of us will

have forgotten who was first!

If you really want to move off frequency (eg because of a spurious switch
mode

power supply signal that’s just drifted into the conversation), you

could try sending an abridged callsign of the person you’re after, followed
by “UP 5” or “DN 5” then K;

then call that person on the designated

frequency and keep your fingers crossed, they may have understood you
and followed... or not.
Landing

Zone

If the band goes really quiet, call and listen on 7032KkHz (7028kHz
secondary) or 3555kHz.
enjoy the frequency.

If you catch someone, there’s no need to QSY -

But don’t forget to tune around if it’s quiet - we have

lots of operators with crystal locked transmitters - and they could be
anywhere within the segments.

For those who are locked, or can only

transmit outside the segments,

send a message on our WhatsApp

CQ QRS

- Alerts group advising of your current frequency.
And of course, put the frequencies in a memory so outside of the net, if
you’re not tuning around, leave your receiver on one of the primary
frequencies - you never know who you'll hear (7032

is used in VK and ZL

for SOTA/ PARKS during the day so you'll often hear activity there).
CW Tips
As always, for newbies, operating suggestions are available from the
operating hints link here:
httos://www.parg.org.au/
files/ugd/ebe236_ 3ca5ca08bb38429db4eee524b
da2f97a.pdf.
There's usually people around until after 1300z - so keep calling until you
catch someone.

| should be on as usual from home

in NSW and via the

Remote at Bedfordale WA, and I'll also be watching the proceedings using
the VK6QS and Tecsun SDRs in WA and NSW

respectively.

Cheers,
mb

VK2KI / VK6QI

The

opinions expressed

The

opinions

Send

in the

RagChew

do not necessarily

comments

newsletter are those

of the individual contributors.

reflect that of the editor or of the CQ

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