Month: September 2015

MINUTES OF THE NAPIER AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Meeting on Wednesday 2 September 2015 at the Clubrooms 123 Latham Street

Chair: Laurie ZL2TC, the meeting started at 7:30 pm.
Laurie welcomed newly licensed ham Paul ZL2HB.

Present: Erroll ZL2IT, Revell ZL2SS, Peter ZL2CD, Dave ZL2DW, Paul ZL2HB, Mike ZL2MY, Rob ZL2US, Bert ZL2OC, Blue ZL3TT, Jan ZL2CZE, Karl ZL1TJ, Peter ZL2CD and Stan ZL2ST.
Apologies: ZL2IK, ZL2VM, ZL2MO, ZL2DC.

Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed correct: ZL2OC, ZL2US.

Arising: Rob reported the outcome of the two day ham licensing course organised by Branch 13 and held at his QTH over the previous weekend. As well as Paul ZL2HB a further 4 candidates passed the test and were issued callsigns. The youngest: Holger ZL3IO’s daughter Xenia (14).

Correspondence: Email correspondence dealing with the transfer of the Club’s website control, agenda items, Break-Out and the ham training weekend were tabled.
Finance: Received account for materials used in the ongoing clubroom upgrade by Wallie ZL2MO.

General Business: Dave ZL2DW introduced the proposed D-Star repeater to be located on Mt.Threave, south of Hastings. Primarily a Branch 13 project support is sought from Branch 25. There is substantial support from a number of club members. D-Star works over the Internet, like IRLP, but is considerably more sophisticated and provides a gateway to the World.
All about D-Star at http://www.dstarinfo.com/

Laurie reported that the 725 repeater antenna needs repairs. A job to be done when spring is here.
Dave reminded us that it is Branch 25’s turn to organize he annual combined branches Xmas tea.
Rob reported that the 725 IRLP gateway is undergoing repairs and is being re-located to Branch 13’s clubrooms at Pakowai Hall. Much of the work is being done by Jan ZL2CZE. The node should be up and running again within a few weeks.

Laurie is seeking commitments from speakers for the proposed April 2016 East Hamfest.
Suggested by Dave: Gary Hinson ZL2IFB.

Laurie reminded the gathering that he will be re-locating to Wanganui and will be relinquishing the Branch 25 presidency at the November AGM. A new repeater trustee etc. will also be needed.

The meeting closed at 8:10 pm.

And was followed by Laurie sharing his considerable knowledge of Yagi Antennas and how to build your own. First requisite is having the right tools and Laurie presented several home made jigs.

Building a functional yagi is actually not easy as it is a precision job. There are a number of designs available, the most obvious ones found in the RSGB and ARRL publications. In addition there are websites with calculators etc. run by VK5JD, YU7EF and DK7ZB.

Lauries lecture generated a number of good questions and an informative discussion.

Karl ZL1TJ, Secretary Branch 25.

MINUTES OF THE NAPIER AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Meeting on Wednesday 5 August 2015 at the Clubrooms 123 Latham Street

Chair: Laurie ZL2TC, the meeting started at 7:30 pm.

Apologies: ZL1TJ, ZL2VM, ZL3TT, ZL2DW.

Present: Wally ZL2MO, Revell ZL2SS, Peter ZL2CD, Dave ZL2MQ, Marty ZL2PX, Ray ZL2RB, Rob ZL2US, Bert ZL2OC, Paul (nt), Jan ZL2CZE, and Stan ZL2ST.

Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed correct: ZL2CD, ZL2TC.

Arising: Jan ZL2CZE has backed up the website of the late Lee ZL2AL.
Laurie ZL2TC advised that because of the passing of Lee ZL2AL, there have been some changes to the proposed meeting programme. The September meeting will be a presentation from Peter ZL2IK from Northland who will be in Napier at the time.

Correspondence: nil.

Finance: No financial transactions were reported.

General Business: Rob ZL2US reported that Hawkes Bay Branch are holding a weekend ham exam training session and test on 29/30 August. So far six are enrolled for the weekend and there is room for more.

Laurie ZL2TC advised that the club is looking for a cheap rotator for the triband beam at the clubrooms.

Wally ZL2MO advised that recently he checked the clubrooms when passing and noticed a strange noise from inside. It turned out to be caused by the morse paddle being stuck and was sending a string of code.

The meeting closed at 7.50 pm.

This was followed by a fibre optic splicing and cable joining demonstration by Jan ZL2CZE.

Stan ZL2ST, Acting Secretary NARC .

MINUTES OF THE NAPIER AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Meeting on Wednesday 1 July 2015 at the Clubrooms 123 Latham Street

Chair: Laurie ZL2TC, the meeting started at 7:30 pm.

Apologies: ZL2IT, ZL2VM, ZL2ST, ZL2DC.
Present: Wally ZL2MO, Revell ZL2SS, Peter ZL2CD, Dave ZL2DW, Blue ZL3TT, Mike ZL2MY, Dave ZL2MQ, Rob ZL2US, Bert ZL2OC, Jan ZL2CZE, and Karl ZL1TJ.
A brief moment of contemplation was observed to mark the passing of Lee Jennings ZL2AL and also the passing of Allen Chong ZL2AVC.

Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed correct: ZL2OC, ZL3TT.
Arising: Laurie anounced that Dave ZL2MQ has stepped forward to take Lee’s place
as NZART examination supervisor. Also available, in a standby position, is Ray Barlow ZL2RB.

Correspondence: acknowledgement and receipt from Branch 88 for our $100.00 contribution.
Emails from and to Dave ZL2DW, Peter ZL2VF and NZART regarding the Examination Supervisor position.
Finance: No financial transactions were reported.

General business: Laurie brought up the need to maintain and update the club’s Website.
Set up and run by Lee ZL2AL since it’s beginning it has become an important connection with the wider world of Ham Radio. Also discussed was the future of Lee’s own website which could well be considered to be a memorial to the life of a remarkable man and should be preserved in some form or other. Jan ZL2CZE was asked and agreed to look after the club’s website and also consider ways of preserving Lee’s.

Laurie proposed the club organise another Hawke’s Bay Hamfest along the lines of the one held in 2014 and asked for suggestions for content, topics and presenters. To be followed up.
Also discussed were presentations and topics for the next few club meetings. Both the August and September planned presentations are somewhat uncertain due to presenters being away.
Jan ZL2CZE offered to demonstrate fibre optic splicing and cable joining.

Rob ZL2US and Dave ZL2DW (Branch 13) are organising a Gold Card Club bus tour from Hastings to Napier and back. This is to be modelled on the ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ concept only with handheld transceivers instead of cigars and wineglasses. To be held when the fruit trees are blossoming, only Gold Card holders are eligible, book with Rob or Dave.

The meeting closed at 8pm.

And was followed by a ‘Show And Tell’ session in which Dave ZL2DW elaborated further on his experimentation with long wire across farm gully style antenna systems, Laurie showing and explaining his latest acquisition, a ‘Tigertronics’ digital computer/radio interface, which uses a USB port and comes with the necessary cable and plugs for whatever rig you have ($180), and Karl presenting his latest toy which is a $15 Arduino mini computer board which can be programmed to do all sorts of control tasks both in amateur radio as in the wider world.

Most stayed on for a cup of tea and a chat, no doubt the club’s very effective space heater contributed to that.

Karl ZL1TJ, Secretary NARC .

MINUTES OF THE NAPIER AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Meeting on Wednesday 3 June 2015 at the Clubrooms 123 Latham Street

Chair: Laurie ZL2TC, the meeting started at 7:30 pm.

Apologies: ZL2AL, ZL2DC.
Present: Wally ZL2MO, Revell ZL2SS, Peter ZL2CD, Dave ZL2DW, Blue ZL3TT, Stan ZL2ST, Mike ZL2MY, Dave ZL2MQ, Mike ZL2VM, Rob ZL2US, Bert ZL2OC, Jan ZL2CZE, Jon ZL1CQO and Karl ZL1TJ.
Laurie welcomed visitor Jon ZL1CQO

Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed correct: ZL2TC, ZL2MO.
Arising: The Editor of Break Out ZL2VAF was asked and agreed to list ECI information.

Correspondence: Call Book update form sent to NZART. Enquiry to Debbie, NZART regarding the Club’s missing Break-In Library copy. Correspondence regarding the Arthur Godfrey Award for Lee ZL2AL. Various responses to these mails received.

Finance: Stan reported severe fluctuations in the current account balance due to purchases and receipts connected with the Club’s antenna switch kitset project. A donation of $100 as a contribution to the expenses involved in combatting the local Council’s proposed District Plan was made to Branch 88, Tauranga.

General business: David 2DW asked those present to consider taking on the role of NZART Examination Supervisor. A few questions such as ‘what is involved’ were asked and answered.
The job entails participation in week-end courses which are held occasionally when a (minimum) number of candidates have signed up. Usually only once or twice a year. A great way to support Amateur Radio.

Laurie reported on attending the NZART Annual Conference held in Hamilton the previous weekend. Detailed information is available on the NZART website and in the latest ‘Infoline’.
Lee Jennings ZL2AL was awarded the Arthur Godfrey Award for services to Amateur Radio.
Stan reported seeing Lee who is now back once again in hospital for further medical support as his health continues to deteriorate. The news made all who know Lee well reflect.

The meeting closed at 8pm.

The 2002 DX-Pedition (VP8THU) to the South Sandwich Islands was next.
Another high quality video by James Brooks.
The trusted vessel Braveheart made it all the way from New Zealand to the Atlantic Ocean’s Sub Antartic region where these dismal Islands, occupied by millions of penguins (who live on accumulated excrement said to be meters thick), are.
The heroic participants lasted a whole five days and I take my hat off to them.
The conditions were attrocious for a number of reasons, the abovementioned penguins and poop probably the least.
But, they did do it and help a large number of our fellow hams to get a bit closer the coveted DXCC qualification and got away with no doubt ever lasting memories.

A cup of tea and chat after rounded the evening off.

Karl ZL1TJ, Secretary NARC .