Author Archives: Stuart VK2FSTU

Ex professional photographer now a passionate hobby, love gold detecting and 4x4 out in the Gold Fields of Aus, also as all on here love Amateur Radio, long days in the sun at a good beach and body surfing, as well as passionate coffee roaster and grower.

Museum Ship ‘Notorious’ Open Days at Laurieton United Services Club Jetty

Stuart VK2FSTU says:

Do yourselves a favour and take a gander at the Notorious, maybe not as big or well-known as the Bounty, but one of a kind up this neck of the woods.

23rd and 24th at the Laurieton United Services Club Jetty from 10am till 4pm.

Cheers
VK2FSTU

Notorious at Ulladulla July 2013 - Photo by Lisa Hardwick
Notorious at Ulladulla July 2013 – Photo by Lisa Hardwick

‘NOTORIOUS’ is a recreation of a 1480’s caravel, researched, designed and constructed by Graeme Wylie. The ten year project used 300 tons of reclaimed timber.  ‘NOTORIOUS’ was launched in February 2011 at Port Fairy.

Admission is $5 for Adults, $2 for Children (2-15 years old).  Onboard and below deck, all are welcome.  Children must be supervised by an accompanying adult.

Read the Camden Haven Courier story about its visit, visit the Ship’s Facebook page and invite other Facebook users to see the ship during its LUSC Jetty visit at the Facebook event page.

D66D Comoro Islands DXpedition 09/2016

Stuart VK2FSTU has spotted this rare activation that’s scheduled for September – mark your calendars and keep an eye on the DXpedition’s website for further news closer to the activation date.

Comoro Island MapPavel OK1FPS, Petr OK1FCJ and David OK6DJ will be active from Comoro Islands (IOTA AF-007) second half of September 2016 as D66D.  They will operate on HF Bands.   QSL via OK6DJ, LOTW, eQSL. Direct QSL to David Beran, Dolni Kamenice 55, Holysov 34562, Czech Republic.

Comoros D66D 2David, OK6DJ writes:

We are pleased to announce a new Czech DXpedition.  We have obtained permission of activate D6 – Comoros Island.  It took us 6 months of negotiations to activate such a rare country, currently on Club Log – rank number 89.

Activity is scheduled for the second half of September. We will activate new prefix D66D.  Operators are Pavel OK1FPS, Petr OK1FCJ & David OK6DJ.  Operation will be on the HF bands, antennas are Spiderbeams and verticals for the lower bands.

Equipment: 3 x Elecraft K3, 2x PA, Antennas 2 x Spiderbeam incl WARC, 1 x vertical 40/30m, 1 vertical 160/80m + special RX ant for low bands.

To successfully manage the project and preserve the prestige of Czech radio amateurs in the world donations are welcome.  Donate the DXpedition via paypal.  Do not forget to provide your NAME and CALLSIGN and Email when donating:  antsat (at) atlas (dot) cz

Comoros D66D 1Uploaded QSO on LOTW EQsl immediately after expedition.
Direct QSL card to be obtained shortly after the expedition.

Local Man Does, In Fact, Own The Frequency

Via HamHijinks.com, original post here.

Own The FrequencyBy WBØRUR, on the scene.

PORT O’ GLOOM, GEORGIA — A Chickasaw County man has become the first amateur radio operator to officially purchase an HF radio frequency, the Federal Communications Commission announced today in a noon hour media luncheon.

Between bites of cucumber sandwiches and small squares of bread slathered with pimento cheese, FCC spokesman Pontus “Smokey” Blumenthal told reporters gathered at the Tri-County Technical College dining hall that the sale is “…part of the government’s plan to generate revenue from ‘under-performing’ slices of the radio spectrum.”

Using a lottery system, local ham radio operator Buzz Sanders (175 Fisherman’s Landing), accepted purchase of 14.281 MHz in the 20 meter amateur radio band.

A retired auto industry worker, Sanders says he’ll pay $2500 for the frequency over 35 monthly payments with a large balloon payment in month 36.

“It seemed like a fair deal to me,” he said. “When I get ready to work a contest, have a rag chew, want to tune up on the air, or just create some random QRM, I can use 14.281.  And if someone gets belligerent, I’ll remind them that as a matter of fact I DO own the frequency!”

Sanders says he’s already thinking about subletting the frequency after several large contesting organizations contacted him in recent days.

Blumenthal shared that the FCC is also considering a “lease-to-own” frequency program, with the option to return the frequency to the government at the end of the lease term if propagation isn’t suitable to the operator.

ORARC Car Stickers

RW Club Sticker

Stuart VK2FSTU writes:

I have a car sticker in red on white background – will have Black and Gold soon, but these are available to club members for $4.00 each and other clubs and public for $5.00 each.  I will have them at the next club meeting and at the Field Day in June.  Please try to have the correct change available.  There is a profit to be made by sale of these for our club, while never large, it’s an addition and not subtraction of funds.