Category Archives: Club News

April Meeting Notes

Milgauss Green

Hello All,

Following on from the (not long) concluded April meeting, here are some points of interest:

  • Daylight Saving Time ends tomorrow (Sunday) in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and the ACT at 2am, so before you go to bed don’t forget to switch your clocks BACK one hour before you switch off the lights. Though these days, most Apple and Android phones do the work for you automatically (as long as you use the automatically set network rather than a manual setting).
  • The Sunday Morning Net will stay on the VK2RCN Telegraph Point repeater for the time being.  There is some contention as to the best repeater for the Sunday Morning Net, with some members only able to access one repeater or the other.  The continued home of the Sunday Net will be discussed (again) at the May meeting.
  • Also in regards to the Sunday Morning Net, there was a motion put to the meeting to leave the Sunday Net at 9am, as opposed to returning it to its regular non-daylight savings time of 8:30am.  This motion was past almost unanimously.  This still ties in nicely with the VK2WI broadcast that begins at 10am.

So – Wind your clocks BACK tonight and see you on tomorrow’s net on VK2RCN (Telegraph Point 147MHz) at 9am!

Event Reminders: John Moyle Field Day + Friday Night Get Together

Henry VK2ZHE writes:

Just a reminder that the Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club station VK2BOR will be operating from the club’s Communications Caravan at McInherney Park all day on Saturday the 19th of March 2016.  Club members and visitors are invited to participate in an enjoyable day.

The caravan will be set up from 8 am onwards in the car park at McInherney Park.  Come and help with the set up and enjoy a delicious bacon and egg breakfast from the barbeque expertly prepared by Richard VK2CHC who will also prepare a delicious sausage sizzle lunch on the barbeque under the covered picnic area in the park.  Tea, coffee and soft drinks will be available in the caravan all day.  The Field Day contest operation commences at mid day.  The club will operate for 6 hours.

To get to McInherney Park simply follow Park Street past Settlement City.  Immediately after crossing the bridge, turn left at River Park Road which is the turn off to Jordan’s Boatshed.  Follow River Park Road but turn right at McInherney Close which is just before the end of River Park Road.  If you end up at the end of River Park Road you have gone too far.  McInherney Close is a short street and just before Jordan’s Boatshed you will see the club’s caravan in the park car park on your left hand side.  Park in the car park and join in the activities.

Don’t forget the club’s Friday get together at 7 pm on Friday night the 18th of March 2016 in the SES building in Central Road Port Macquarie.  It will be an interesting evening.  You might get a chance to look at the new Raspberry Pi 3.  The logistics and strategy for the John Moyle Memorial Field Day on Saturday will be discussed.  Enjoy a tea or coffee in great company.  Members and visitors are all welcome.

Henry VK2ZHE
Secretary, ORARC

January Meeting Notes

Repeaters

Hello All,

Following on from the (not long) concluded January meeting, here are some points of interest:

  • Some members missed out on the initial allocation of 2016 WIA Callbooks, and expressions of interest are being sought for a second batch – please contact Henry VK2ZHE as a matter of priority to register your interest if you’d like to be included in this (final) order.
  • In the wake of the continued interference that plagues the VK2RPM Middle Brother repeater (which was particularly bad this last Thursday evening), a motion was passed to temporarily move the Sunday Morning Net to the VK2RCN Telegraph Point repeater until the interference is rectified.  The move is slated for evaluation at the February meeting where member input will be welcome.
  • ORARC will participate in the Summer VHF/UHF Field Day on the 9th of January at John Downes Park.  The Fox Hunt Practice day (that was to occur at Sancrox Reserve) has been rolled in with this event.  See here for details.
  • The Valentine’s Day Fox Hunt / Antenna Shootout is to be held at the Tuffins Lane Sports Fields.  Council permission is currently being sought and the event page will be updated as soon as we know which of the 26 fields we’ll be using!