The Completed “Q” Antenna ready for use. It does look like a Pool Q!
This antenna was recently developed by Laurie, ZL2TC as a Club project for the Napier Amateur Radio Club. The design brief was for a simple, rugged 2 M/ 70 Cm antenna that is easily constructed by club members in an evening. We ended up with a repeatable design that acts as an end-fed half-wave dipole on 2 M and a 3 dB gain collinear antenna on 70 Cm. The SWR is unity on 2M and less than 2:1 on 70cm and is very effective in triggering local repeaters. The stiff 2M long tapered fibreglass housing is UV resistant, waterproof and the base of the antenna is a 28mm alloy tubing for mounting.
The 28mm Alloy base mounting TubeThe Waterproof Choke WindingThe Top Choke Sleeve
The kit comes complete with Step by Step instructions and all parts including cut to length coaxial cable, the pre-drilled fibreglass tube outer casing, alloy mounting tube, heat shrink tubing and waterproof tip.
This antenna kit would make a great project for a club evening construction evening. The price is very reasonable at $40.00 plus another $15 P&P within NZ. You can pay via Direct Credit or by cheque or by cash.The NARC has a limited number of these for sale.
Hosted by the Napier Amateur Radio Club Incorporated
After kicking around ideas during the past year the Napier Amateur radio club decided to to host the first ever North Island Hamfest during the weekend of April 4th and 5th. Planning over the past 3 months paid off! Emails were sent to 40 clubs around the North island with an attached Flyer which was kindly forwarded to their club members. Thank you to the hard working club secretaries! The Friday night get-together renewing old acquaintances and meeting new ones before the hamfest allowed hams to register before the opening the next day.
The Nelson Park Cricket Club Venue
The Nelson Park Cricket Club in Napier was a great venue but the weather looked a bit ominous. But typical of Hawke’s Bay, the heavy weekend rain forecast turned into an insignificant shower Saturday morning. Over 60 hams including many that traveled very long distances checked in with Karl ZL1TJ, our secretary by the 10 Am Hamfest start. A short welcome to all and a quick prize draw saw the conference open with the first speaker Jan ZL2CZE on SDR technology
NARC Club Secretary Karl ZL1TJ checks in the attendeesEarly Morning Car Boot Sale opens the HamfestJan, ZL2CZE explains SDR Receiver technologyRob, ZL2AN talks about measurement and matching issues with Yagi antennas and how to solve the problems involved.Dave, ZL2MQ talking about his beautifully constructed low noise 2m preamps and KW solid state amplifier used for moonbounce work on 2MDave ZL2MQ’s professionally construction 2M KW amplifier for EMEInside the ZL2MQ Amplifier!Propagation 101 – Lee ZL2AL explains how the sun can be your best friend to help you work rare DX.How to efficiently install HF and VHF mobile radios and antennas was explained by Laurie ZL2TC to an attentive audience
After lunch, Bob Sutton ZL1RS, a notable EME Dxer made a presention on his trips to Africa, the Pacific and other parts of the world operating EME for the past 25 years. Bob and Chris ZL2DX then did a live on screen demonstration of EME contacts using JT65B mode on 2M into the USA with his antenna array set up outside the venue.
Bob showing pictures of his trips to Africa, the Pacific and other parts of the world operating EME for the past 25 years.Bob explains how the JT65B mode operates as his setup operated by Chris ZL2DX was working stations in the USA via the moon. Impressive Bob!!Bob’s homebrew solid state KW 2M Amplifier does it’s thing bouncing signals off the moon to the USA at moonrise just after lunch. His portable yagi antenna array pointed to the moon (lower left)Bob’s 1 KW on 2M Have a look at the aluminium heat sink base!About 20 hams and a few of their YLs stayed on and enjoyed the hospitality of the Napier RSA on Saturday night before traveling home the next day.
Many raffles and draws took place during the day with prizes of the new 2M VHF/UHF antenna kit developed by the NARC which will soon be offered for sale to the ham community. Other prizes included an SDR receiver dongle and ICOM hats and calendars Thanks to ICOM NZ for their prize donations. The day ended with a few drinks and a few farewells to those who had travelled long distances.
The Napier Amateur Radio club wishes to thank the six speaker/presenters and all the amateurs who helped us make the event so successful. In addition we say thank you for the support by local amateurs and those who traveled long distances to be with us on the day.
It was a weekend of fun, absorbing new technology and refreshing old ones. The bonus was renewing old acquaintances and meeting new ones. Ham radio was the winner on the day.
The Hawke’s Bay Amateur radio Club organized a “Debby Day” on Saturday 1st March. The occasion was to meet and greet Debby Morgan ZL2DM from NZART Headquarters. It was also a chance to have a social gathering of many local hams for some fun and a BBQ provided by Rob ZL2US, President of the HBARC. Debby spoke at some length about her career in nursing and switching to be secretary of NZART and her role as secretary and ARX for our association.
Debby explaining how NZART membership needs to keep increasing
She also stressed how vital it is for our membership to continue increasing. Debby led a discussion on the current finances of NZART which triggered further discussions and suggestions on future directions and initiatives for NZART.
Locals hams listening to the future directions of NZART
Several local hams joined the association after her talk. Rob, ZL2US thanks Debby for her visit and very informative talk. A BBQ followed and a great time was had by all.
Revell ZL2SS and Peter ZL2LF outside the NARC Clubrooms after the exam. Revell is the one with the happy smile!
The 18th of January saw Revell Troy turn up at the NARC Clubrooms to sit his radio amateur’s exam. No need to worry. Peter ZL2LF and Lee ZL2AL assured him that it wasn’t all that difficult. It wasn’t and Revell flew through the exam in short order and passed. A few days later he was assigned ZL2SS. Well done Revell We will expect to hear you on the air soon.
Stan ZL2ST in the ShackNot Happy not Having a Tower
Stan ZL2ST has been my neighbour across Auckland Road in Greenmeadows for the past 8 years. It’s been fun but Stan is downsizing and moving to another part of Napier after 14 years. His tower originally had a fine Tri-Band yagi on top but a snarky neighbour two houses away decided he didn’t like the look of it and the NCC was unforgiving of course and the yagi came down. The tower didn’t so Stan made the best of a bad situation and worked DX the hard way with wire antennas over the past many years. There wasn’t a lot of DX that got by him.
It was interesting at times with the two of us after the same rare station on the same band at the same time. Both of us ran high power but somehow we ended up taking turns calling and we both usually worked the DX. When I heard something interesting on, a quick phone call and Stan would be in the hunt. I called AFTER I worked the DX of course!
A crane makes short work of the tower removalNearly there
Unfortunately, the tower is not making the trip to the new abode and has been donated to another local ham. It only took an hour to be removed. A crane made short work of the job and was soon seen driving away.
I could see Stan’s tower each time I walked out my front door.
Off to a New Home
It just doesn’t seem the same any more with that big gap in the sky.
Good luck with your move Stan. I will miss your extreme DX signals from across the road.
The last Channel 1 Television transmitter is due to close down at the end of November and RSM has advised that from 6th December 2013 onwards (just in time for the annual VHF/UHF/SHF Field Day Contest) Amateurs throughout New Zealand will have access to the bottom end of the 6 metre band (50 to 51 MHz) without needing to apply for a permit.
Note that the management right under which the channel 1 television transmitters operated does not expire until August 2015 so 50 – 51 MHz can not appear on the Amateur General User Radio Licence until after this date. Instead RSM are putting in place licence No 4122 which will say that “Persons who hold a New Zealand General Amateur Operator’s Certificate of Competency and a callsign issued pursuant to the Radiocommunications Regulations 2001 may operate an amateur radio station under this licence”. The power on the licence will be 30 dBW (1 kW) to bring it into line with the power on the General User Radio Licence for Amateur Operators.
When Management Right 47 expires on the 30 August 2015, 50/51 MHz will be added to the General User Radio Licence for Amateur Operators.
MINUTES OF THE NAPIER AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Meeting on Wednesday 2 October 2013 at the Clubrooms 123 Latham Street
Chair: Laurie ZL2TC, the meeting started at 7:30 pm. Laurie welcomed visitor Marty ZL2PX.
Apologies: ZL2ST.
Present: Lee ZL2AL, Dave ZL2DW, Rob ZL2US, Sue ZL2DC, Peter ZL2LF, Jan ZL2CZE,
Mike ZL2MY, Willy ZL2AGD, Wally ZL2MO, Bert ZL2OC, Revell Troy, visitor Marty ZL2PX and Karl ZL1TJ.
Minutes of the previous meeting, confirmed correct: ZL2MO, ZL2TC.
Arising: Dave ZL2DW was informed by Collin Robertson ZL4KJ ‘s daughter that she intends to keep her dad’s callsign ‘in the family’ through obtaining an amateur radio operators licence.
Dave also referred to preparations for the planned annual combined radio club’s end of year dinner, a list of those wishing to participate to be started by the undersigned.
Correspondence: None
Finance: No financial transactions.
General business: a reminder from Lee ZL2AL, the Oceania phone contest is on this weekend, see the web site for information and rules: http://www.oceaniadxcontest.com/ .
Rob ZL2US mentioned the need for amateur radio operators to be available for the annual Labour weekend Jota event. See http://www.jotajoti2013.tk/ for information.
Laurie ZL2TC and Lee ZL2AL presented some ideas for the proposed Hamfest to be held the 1st weekend of April, 2014. Suggested names sofar: Bayfest, Baywave Hamfets. Format to be similar to previously held Hamfests such as Westfest and Eastfest. A brief equipment market or junk sale late morning, afternoon speakers on current topics and a shared meal of sorts after. Possibly another social or sightseeing activity the following morning for those interested. Cost to be as low as possible.
The meeting closed at 7:45 pm. Possibly the briefest meeting in the club’s history!
Then followed by Laurie’s guess the mistery object competition and Lee’s annual quiz.
The first was won by Revell who guessed that the round, complex and fairly aged (valves) gizmo was the amplifier and transmitter section of a post World War II Sonar Boy. These were dropped in great numbers from aircraft into the sea to keep an ear out for potentially hostile submarines.
Lee’s quiz was fun as usual, 24 questions mostly to do with radio but livened up with the likes of: “Who played the role of Boss Cartwright in Bonanza” Graham Green, Lorne Green or Charles Green? A bit tough on the younger members but the undersigned got that one right! (Lorne).
Scoring 22 out of 24 were both Laurie ZL2TC and Peter ZL2LF. The toss of a coin decided the bottle of wine went to Laurie, Sorry Pete!
Laurie, ZL2TC Was The Winner On The Night!
Supper followed with fresh buttered buns provided by Laurie. Very nice.
A few years ago local amateur Phil Moore became a silent key. His son-in-law, Barry Wilson asked if the Napier Amateur Radio Club would like the mast. Yes was the answer and Sunday morning August 4th saw Laurie ZL2TC, Karl ZL1TJ, Michael ZL2MY, Lee ZL2AL and Barry assemble at Phil’s old home to remove the mast. It was a tiltover design about 11 metres in height and fastened to the side of the garage. The lower section 8m was 100mm diameter and the upper 3m section slightly less. The beam at the top of the mast looked like a G4ZU Mini-beam design but due to corrosion and it being a very old design with questionable gain, we decided to scrap it. It is hoped that the new Tri-bander which will desider on top of the mast at the club rooms will be a Hygain TH3 Mk Mk1. The team got to work with spanners and a small grinder with a cutoff wheel. A few hours later the mast was lowered and loaded on to Lee’s van and trundled off to the club rooms.Karl ZL1TJ, Barry Wilson, Laurie ZL2TC, Michael ZL2MY ready to roll with mast on the roof racks. Lee ZL2AL is behind the camera!
The plan is to re-assemble the mast and erect it at the clubrooms with a Triband Yagi on top to add a new dimension to our club station. A great job guys. Thanks to all who braved the Sunday morning Hawke’s Bay drizzle.
Our magnificent site at Haumoana under blue skies and no rain!
Some weeks back the build-up banter began between contestants and some “stretching of the truth” was embarked upon. Prior arrangements came together on a great weather weekend and off went the ZL2GT Team to Moore Rd, Haumoana to be active in the
ZL – VK competition on 80m CW and 160m phone.
The very expensive 30 Metre dipole centre insulator
Our crane……….yes crane, arrived early and soon after we had our Inverted Vee ant’s up and going. The 30m high hook provided the support for our rope halyard and we were easily able to pull up the two aerials. The 80m aerial was suspended about 6m below the 160m aerial and was at right angles to it, we had little or no interaction between the two bands. RG213 coax fed both aerials. We were well ready with plenty of spare time.
We also erected 40/20 m dipole for Randall to enjoy a brief guided tour around a band not often used (yet). Lots of time too for a cuppa and a catch-up.
A bulk package of Fish and Chips arrived and duly enjoyed before “the business” began.
Not so many participants on 160m this year and sadly we had a “standing crash” level of about S9 so this put paid to some contacts that might otherwise have been easily made.
Dave ZL2DW (left) getting to grips with N1MM while Mike ZL2VM looks on
This year we introduced computer logging (N1MM), were shown the deep end and got on with it. As usual, something put off for some time turns into something we wish we’d done years ago. Thanks to Peter ZL2LF for his persistence, encouragement, PC’s and wry smile.
Peter, ZL2MS Looking for those elusive VKs
We logged 42 contacts on 160m SSB and 69 contacts on 80m CW. Last year we logged 62 contacts on 160m and 79 contacts on 80 m CW.
The event adds to the experience level and we can now embark upon plans for next year.
Happy punters at Moore Road were: David ZL2DW, Peter ZL2LF, Peter ZL2MS, Graham ZL2BCK, Randall ZL1NW, Rob ZL2US, Sue, ZL2DC, Bill ZL2UBG and me, ZL2VM. Not all stayed overnight.
Peter, ZL2LF looking at the numbers on N1MM Logger
Where did the other Trap and wire element go????About 80PSI should do it Laurie!
The Trans Tasman contest is a unique test dreamed up by the VKs to test how well each country can perform against the other. The rules and scoring are interesting and have many hooks. Michael ZL2MY and I decided to do the six hour Saturday night contest a few months ago. Saturday 20th July at 9Am saw us gather at the club rooms to repair the existing 80M antenna and erect a new inverted “L” antenna for 160M. Our Prez Laurie, ZL2TC showed up to help us with the antennas. Thanks Laurie! He discovered that vandals had made off with one of the 80/40M traps and most of the wire element. We decided to ignore the trap and add enough wire to make it work on 80 and replace the trap at a later date. A couple of spuds and a bit of pumping by Laurie and the spud gun fired a line over the treetops. The 80M was up and working, resonant on 3600 Khz.
If I an just get through that little hole in the canopy, it should exit the top
Suspect Antenna
The 160M inverted L element was raised to height with a few more spud gun shots and the 3 radials were strung out around the clubhouse and surrounding park. A quick check showed that the antenna showed a very high SWR with a minor resonance at 1900 Khz. We added 6 feet to the upright “L” and it came down to 1.805 Mhz where we wanted it. The impedance was around 200 ohms with an SWR of over 5 to 1. Quite ridiculous! I made the decision to cut our losses and tune the beast with the antenna tuner and hope for the best. We really wouldn’t know how well it worked until we were well into the contest.
Contest Start
Last minute checks were made and the contest started at 8 Pm local time. We very soon found we were leading the pack with our serial numbers. That was quite surprising as our urban noise levels were high and that combined with some mediocre antennas should have seen us at the end of the pack.
Michael Looking For Rare VKs!
Hour two from 9 Pm to 10 Pm was the most productive and by midnight, only a few hardy ZLs were still around. It was great catching old contest friends and meeting new ones. Michael and I have never done the Trans Tasman previously. Pulling the VKs out of the noise was a bit a of a trial at times but we did manage to work a fair number on SSB and CW. We used an adaptation of the N1MM logging program set up in the JWFD mode and simply ignored branch numbers. The VKCL program was not used as there was no CW message interface written.
That was 5W1SA!
Our club secretary Karl, ZL1TJ dropped in for a natter around 9.30 Pm and watched the proceedings while doing some video of the station in operation.
And suddenly it was all over at 2 Am Sunday morning. Michael was into it and pulled down the 160M antenna from the trees and rolled up the radials and considerable lengths of rope. I wonder if the neighbours were watching the crazies in the park in the middle of the night?
Summary
I looked at our QSO totals and it appears we are definitely in with a chance. Our last S/N was 109 (with 1 DUPE) and the highest S/N we encountered was 79. There are many categories of the contest a team can enter and the scoring is rather bizarre so we really won’t know how well we have actually done until the contest organizer declares the winners of the categories.
Statistics:
65 x 80M CW QSOs
5 x 160M CW QSOs
38 x 160M SSB QSOs
68 x ZLs worked
39 x VKs worked
TOTAL QSOs = 108
1 x 5W DX station worked in Samoa
Groupings? – Many but haven’t worked them out yet
Radio: FT1000MP Mk5
Logging: N1MM with K1EL Keyer, Heil Headset
Antennas: 80M single trap dipole and 160M Inverted L up about 15M
Michael and I really enjoyed the contest. It was great fun and highly recommended for next year.
