look out—christmas is coming!!!...and hopes that you are successful every time you are looking for...

© Southern Peninsula Amateur Radio Club Inc. , November Edition , 2008

The SPARC Christmas Lunch is going to be held at

the Rye RSL (Nelson Street) commencing at noon

on Thursday 11 December 2008.

All partners are welcome, with numbers attending

needing to be notified to me by the week before,

being Thursday December 4.

The cost of lunch is $17 for a 2 course meal and

drinks are at bar prices. Payment will be collected

from the tables on the day.

There will be a booking sheet at the clubrooms on

which members can indicate their attendance but

those who don't attend the clubrooms are asked

to advise me by 4 December if they wish to attend.

The Committee would like to wish everybody a

safe lead up to the busy Christmas Festivity period,

and hopes that you are successful every time you

are looking for a car park at the shopping centres!

John Ross; VK3BJR

Honorary Secretary.

The newsletter from S.P.A.R.C. The Southern Peninsula Amateur Radio Club !

November Edition, 2008

Inside this issue:

New Member 2222

Social BBQ and Sale Day 3333

J.O.T.A. 2008 4

Club Library 6

Towers! 7

Int’l Lighthouse

Weekend 8

Get to know your

fellow member! 9

RG-213 For Sale 10

Joke of the Month 11

Look Out—Christmas is Coming!!!


A Word from our Sponsors:

Killerwatts Electrical

Contractor

(VK3BC—Owen Clarke)

If club members need a 12 or

240 volt “S.P.A.R.C.” in their

system—these are the guys to

call on#.

Mobile Battery Service

(VK3YGE—Graham Eldridge)

Listen Up !!!

These guys are sponsoring 60% of the S.P.A.R.C. annual contribution to the Community House for the

provision of the ADSL Broadband service that the club enjoys.

Re-pay the favour by calling them FIRST for your electrical repairs, alterations or standby batteries to

keep you on the air when the 240 volts goes down…...

Welcome to a New Club Member:

A very warm welcome to our newest Club Member, Julien Beaumont VK3MK.

Julien lives in Mt Eliza, and is making a comeback to Amateur Radio. He was previously very involved with

amateur radio via satellite and knows Richard VK3RR quite well. He has very fine equipment which

can operate on HF, 2 metres and 70 cm. He is in the process of making antennas now to get back on the

air and hopes to be operational shortly on VHF and UHF.

We would like to thank “KILLERWATTS ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS” for sponsoring

the provision of the BBQ meat at the Social and Sale Day held recently at the SPARC

Clubrooms. Thank You Owen!!


Clearance Sale and Social BBQ:

Remaining Goodies from the Sale…...:

Sunday November 9, 2008 saw the SPARC clearance sale of

pre loved equipment and anything else that wasn’t nailed

down.

The day began with the obligatory BBQ cooked by the

Electrical Chef, President and Master of Ceremonies Owen

(VK3BC).

The large crowd of buyers and interested spectators were

appreciative of the culinary skills of Owen, although we are

still wondering if Neil (VK3YS) taking off in the truck every

five minutes was due to the cooking or some other reason.

Neil actually hung around long enough to pick up a bargain

basement buy, although he did have to settle for a

Kenwood, Ashley got the steal of the day with a well under

priced radio of class, a Yaesu.

John Remington (VK3FACO) filled the back of his extended

ute with all sort of goodies, look out for him as a stall

holder at Dromana Drive-in Sunday market in the future.

It was disappointing to see only one XYL at the sale, maybe

the others ran out of money at the Kmart sale during the

week?

Following the sale Richard (VK3RR) demonstrated his new

equipment, analyzing firstly the 80M antenna, then the 2M

one, both coming up as excellent.

Unfortunately the photographer let the team down, failing to check that he had well charged batteries,

resulting in only two usable photos.

All in all, a good time was had by all and the items remaining at the end of the day will stay for one more

week for those who missed out.

Colin Schultz VK3COL.

Includes some test equipment, a large floodlight, numerous telephones, a communications receiver, FL50

transmitter and many home brew items. There are also numerous editions of magazines such as Amateur

Radio, Amateur Radio Action and computer magazines.

Any items not sold within the next week or so will be disposed of! If you were not able to attend on

Sunday, perhaps get down to the Clubrooms on Thursday morning to check out what is left.

Hilda Schultz, Julien VK3MK,

Alan VK3SQ and John VK3BJR.

Richard's (VK3RR) antenna analyser

displaying results for one of the

SPARC antennas at the clubrooms.


Jamboree on the Air 2008:

Despite only being given very short notice to participate in this year's JOTA, SPARC

members rallied and provided an excellent station and associated activities for the Scouts

at Joseph Harris Park at Mt Martha over the weekend of 18 and 19 October 2008.

The Scouts were participating in a Camping Competition weekend at the Park and the

JOTA activities became a part of their weekend.

Approximately 60 Scouts were present and the organisers had rostered groups of about 6 Scouts at a

time to come and visit the SPARC JOTA station.

Members combined some equipment from the Clubrooms with their own rigs and set it all up in the

ACSHACK in the grounds of Joseph Harris Park. The equipment included HF, VHF and UHF transceivers

and an all band communications receiver. In addition, several 70 cm hand helds were present and proved

very useful tools in keeping the Scouts occupied. The antennas which were used were all verticals

supported by tripods which were made available by President Owen.

In addition, Paul VK3DPW set up his very impressive WICEN station about 50 metres away from the

main SPARC station. Paul has a great set up with a portable mast forming the mainstay of his antenna

configuration. An inverted V antenna strung from the mast to a tree at each end gave him a suitable

antenna for several contacts on 40 metres. Many scouts who visited Paul's portable station spoke to

other Scouts around Australia.

Those Scouts who attended the main SPARC Station were given an introduction to JOTA by John

VK3BJR, who then explained the equipment which was set up. Some very good aids were prepared by

Paul VK3DPW which introduced the Scouts to the Phonetic Alphabet and provided some topics for them

to consider when they talked on air to other Scouts.

The activity got under way early on Saturday afternoon and went through until about 9.30 on Saturday

night and then again from 9 a.m until 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Many Scouts had an opportunity to talk on air. The most notable contacts were with Girl Guides at a

Camp in the Dandenong Police Paddocks, a Canadian Truck Driver in Manitoba (via IRLP) and an amateur

in Northern England (via IRLP) who had been a Scout in his younger

days.

John VK3BJR

taking a break

at Paul

VK3DPW’s

Portable

WICEN

Station, which

was

established

alongside the

SPARC Club

Station.


Jamboree on the Air 2008 continued:

The SPARC Christmas Lunch is going to be held at the Rye RSL (Nelson Street)

commencing at noon on Thursday 11 December 2008.

All partners are welcome, with numbers attending needing to be notified to me by

the week before, being Thursday December 4.

The cost of lunch is $17 for a 2 course meal and drinks are at bar prices. Payment

will be collected from the tables on the day.

There will be a booking sheet at the clubrooms on which members can indicate

their attendance but those who don't attend the clubrooms are asked to advise me

by 4 December if they wish to attend.

John Ross VK3BJR

SPARC End of Year / Christmas Lunch:

When things were a bit quiet on air and particularly after dark on Saturday night, SPARC

members took groups of Scouts around the Scout Camp on a Treasure Hunt but instead

of having to bring back articles they had to call back to the SPARC Station via 70 cm

handhelds with the answers to various questions relating to places within the Park. This

activity was very popular and also provided another opportunity for the Scouts to practise

their use of the Phonetic Alphabet as they spelt out words on signs etc.

Catering for the SPARC attendees was very capably handled by President Owen.

Thanks to all those who participated being: Owen VK3BC, John VK3BJR, Graeme

VK3TGA, Ashley VK3AFS, Neil VK3YS, Paul VK3DPW, Daniel VK3FDAN and John

VK3FACO. It was a great experience for those who participated and already suggestions

are being made as to how we can improve on the activity next year.

John Ross, VK3BJR.

John VK3BJR alongside the SPARC

station within the Activity Shack. Quite

a comprehensive setup!

Photos supplied by Paul VK3DPW.


National Competency Recognition for Amateur Radio Certificate of Proficiency:

Club Library:

(The following was originally posted on the Amateur Radio Study group list (on 30.08.08—Yahoo.com.au)

by Ron Bertrand, VK2DQ, and is reproduced here for the benefit of the membership.)

A Nationally recognised competency has been accredited for Amateur Radio. This competency is in the

Electro technology Training Package UEE06. The competency standard is located in Volume 2 Part 2.1B, B

-Broadcast.

The title of the competency is UEENEEB001A Operate and maintain an amateur radio communication

station. This competency aligns closely with the qualification held for a Standard or Advanced Certificate

of Proficiency.

If you wish to have National recognition for your amateur radio certificate

of proficiency please request information by email to

[email protected]

Why get a Nationally Accredited Certificate?

If you are seeking a career in Electro technology your certificate of

proficiency is NOT recognised by Educational institutions or Industry

training boards.

As I understand it getting yourself a nationally accredited competency based on your existing Amateur

Certificate is low cost and not complicated. This is a way to utilise what you have learned with your

Amateur Radio studies in a career path in Electro technology.

For more information email: [email protected]

Regards

Ron VK2DQ

Many of you may not be aware that at the Clubrooms we have an extensive library, from which books

may be borrowed on a short term loan.

Amongst the most popular books are various ARRL Handbooks and a variety of antenna books.

Don VK3FJI has recently made available for borrowing by interested members his own copies of " A

History of Radio in South Australia 1897-1977" and also "Australian Radio -The Technical Story 1923-

1983."

We thank Don for making these books available for other members to read; they are keenly sought after

as they outline the history of radio in Australia.

Please see John VK3BCR at the clubrooms to arrange book loans.


Callsigns—Changes and Upgrades:

Tower Happenings:

We have several members whose callsigns have been changed either through licence upgrade or through

the 2 letter callsign ballot that was held recently.

Owen, VK3XAX became VK3BC several months ago; much more recently we have Neil VK3TNB

becoming VK3YS, and Richard VK3ARR becoming VK3RR.

John, our esteemed Club Secretary took the plunge and has upgraded from VK3NJR to VK3BJR, after

successfully completing a full call examination.

Is this a timely hint for some of our other Standard and Foundation call members to seriously think about

doing the same thing ???

SPARC Club members would like to pass on to Grant VK3 FACT their condolences at the

recent passing of his Father.

These photos were taken back in June when SPARC

members dismantled Phil VK3AAM's tower after he

moved from his house in Rye to Mt Martha Valley

Lodge.A big “thank you” to the helpers on the day for

making the job safe and successful.

The tower on the ground prior to loading onto the tray truck.

Neil VK3YS, Ashley VK3AFS, Danny son of Owen

VK3BC and John VK3BCR. Phil's daughter is in the

foreground with her back to the camera The other

person who was also working on the project was

cameraman Owen VK3BC.

Successfully loaded and ready to roll.


International Lighthouse Weekend—A participants view:

Well it is over and most of you missed it.

It was a good weekend for a Field Day, food, fun,

fellowship and friends. The only SPARC Club

members who attended were Lewis VK3FLPL,

Graham VK3KMG and John VK3BCR.

Representatives of other Clubs were Gerard

VK3GER & David VK3EW from EM&DRC and Ian

VK3IFM from FAMPARC.

We started off at 10 am on Saturday 16th August by

rigging antennas and preparing the station

equipment. Two metres was established as a talking

liaison channel.

We commenced operation about noon on 80 metres with

a half wave dipole slung between some of the big trees,

then during the afternoon we erected a 40m co axial

double bazooka dipole which had been borrowed from

FAMPARC.

Before evening came the bazooka had failed and Graham

produced a replacement out of his kit that was a full wave

80m loop which we found was found tuned very well on

80m, 40m, and 20m.

In the background we had Marine Channel 12 (156.600

MHz ) running to monitor the comings and goings of the

ships that passed right in front of us.

We talked to Light Houses and listened to their

stories about where they were and how they set

up their stations, some of them had hiked to their

light carrying their equipment, setting up their

stations in tents or camping on stone floors.

At the Yacht Club we had none of these

hardships. We had furniture, electric light, a gas

heater and a fully equipped kitchen. We certainly

did it much better than some of the others.

A total of 41 Light House Stations were worked

on 80m, 40m and 20m most of these VK stations

along with a few ZL's.

The plan is to do this again next year when the DX is a little better, and if there is enough interest we

might even use a club call sign.

Graham VK3KMG & Gerard VK3GER

Gerard VK3GER, Graham VK3KMG &

Lewis VK3FLPL

Graham VK3KMG

Graham Mason, VK3KMG.


Get to Know your Fellow Member:

Max Morris VK3GMM—Would you trust this man?

The subject of this months “Get To Know Your

Fellow Member” is Max Morris VK3GMM, a

retired Real Estate agent and genuine nice

bloke.

Max entered this world on the 26/08/1931 in

Melbourne, growing up in Northcote. After

leaving Northcote High School he started his

working life as machinist, before realising that

there was a licence to print money called Real

Estate. Morris Real Estate was formed in

Greensborough in 1960, later expanding to

Bundoora before retiring on the first of January

1980.

Max was first introduced to Amateur Radio in 1947.

To quote from the May edition SPARC Newsletter:

“Divine Messenger: (or how Max Morris got hooked on radio…)

As a choir boy at St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church in East Brunswick around 1947, I was called to the Amateur

Radio Fraternity by Norm Foxcroft VK3UQ.

I refer to Norm as a “Divine Messenger” because he “called” me to the Hobby during a solemn part of a Church

service. No tap on the shoulder, but a deafening call over the P.A. system.

“CQ CQ 40 Metres” called Norm….over and over UNTIL our choir master rushed to the amplifier and shut it

down….oh dear!

The vicar was at a loss as the congregation bobbed up in silence. After the Service, my curiosity was obvious as the

red-faced choir master explained to me that VK3 “Uncle Queen” was his tenant, some two hundred yards from

the Church!

My eagerness prompted the embarrassed man to invite me back to the QTH as another witness to the affair.

Suffice to say, Norm was duly ticked off, and I was invited into the shack and put on the air to a station in Sydney.

I was hooked!!!

Although not obtaining an Amateur licence until 1990, Max had the use of Amateur equipment thanks to

his Brother In Law Ron Forde (VK3YBE), therefore keeping up an interest in the hobby.

He also was a founding member of the Victorian UHF CB Radio club.

In later life Max moved to Sorrento, before settling in Rye in 1990 with his new bride, the lovely Wilma

(VK3AWM). Max was coached to his licence by former SPARC member Vick Vickery, obviously very

successfully as he then went on to coaching Wilma to her Full Call.

(Continued…)

Max, VK3GMM and Wilma, VK3AWM


Get to Know your Fellow Member: (Continued)

(Member Profiles are compiled by Colin Schultz VK3COL)

Retirement brought new hobbies, photography and exchanging of audio tapes, mainly for the visually

impaired, which continues to this day.

As one of the more active on air of the SPARC club members, Max started the Gara Masala net on 80M

before it was hijacked to 40M. Even today, with only the slightest excuse, such as a rise in noise level, or

“the wheels are falling off” he is off to 80M and the Gara Masala net returns to 80M.

This has been one of the most pleasant

interviews that I have done in this series due to

also having grown up and worked in the

Greensborough area. It was great to reminisce

about old times and enjoy Wilma’s culinary

delights over a cuppa.

Thanks Wilma and Max.

The gear in the shack!

For those of you that are planning either antenna system upgrades and maintenance, or perhaps a new

installation, to save you driving up the line to get your RG-213 cable, you can now purchase it directly

from your Club. We now have good quality RG-213 cable available for purchase at the Clubrooms, at the

price of $4.00 per metre. Purchases can be made on a Thursday morning at the Clubrooms, or by

arrangement at other times with the Club Secretary, John, VK3BJR.

The Cable / Loss table shown below gives you a good idea of the benefits of using RG-213 as against the

RG-58 variants.

RG-213 Cable Available for Purchase:


Joke of the Month:

Club Net Controllers Needed:

Our club currently runs two nets a week, one on Tuesday evenings on 70cm

(VK3RPU) and the other on Sunday mornings on 2m (VK3RSP).

We need more club operators to take a turn at being the net controller so the

job can be shared around amongst several people. If 8 people volunteer, that

works out to one turn each per month—not a big commitment, is it??? It isn’t a

difficult job, and as the nets usually run for 45 minutes to an hour, its not a huge

time commitment either. The nets can be run from your home QTH using the

Club call sign (VK3BSP/Portable), or from the Clubrooms.

The “pre” and “post” text is supplied ready to go, which makes this a very easy way to

contribute something back to the Club. Operators are sought for both nets, so please let

John VK3BCR know if you are interested in one or the other or both so that rosters can

then be drawn up.

Mick and Paddy were walking home from the pub.

Mick says to Paddy, 'I can't be bothered to walk all that way.'

'I know,' says Paddy, 'but we've no money for a cab and we've missed the last bus

home.' 'We could steal a bus from the depot,' Mick suggests.

They arrive at the bus depot and Mick tells Paddy to go in and get a bus while he

keeps a look-out.

After shuffling around for ages, Mick shouts, 'Paddy, what are you doing? Have you

not found one yet?'

Paddy shouts back, 'I can't find a Number 91'

'Oh Jeysus Christ, ye thick sod, take the Number 14 and we'll walk from the

roundabout'

Olympus micro-cassette recorder. Genuine unwanted gift - brand

new in box with spare cassettes. $35.00

Contact Max VK3 GMM

Item For Sale:


Meetings and Nets:

Club meetings:

These are held every Thursday morning from 9.30 a.m. until 12 noon, and

every Tuesday night from 7 p.m. until 9.30 p.m. at the SPARC Clubrooms,

which are located near the corner of Boneo Road and Besgrove Street, Rose-

bud, adjacent to Rosebud Community House.

Club Nets:

SPARC members conduct a 2 metre net every Sunday morning at 9.30 a.m. via

VK3RSP on Mt Martha which has an output frequency of 146.675 MHz and a

negative offset of 600 kHz. VK3RSP is sponsored and maintained by SPARC as

a service to Amateur Radio operators in the area and also provides a free ac-

cess IRLP Node, Node 6330 connected via this repeater.

SPARC members also conduct a 70 cm net every Tuesday evening at 7.30 p.m.

via VK3RPU on Arthur's Seat which has an output frequency of 439.825 MHz

and an access tone of 91.5 Hz with a negative offset of 5MHz.

Club Meetings

and Nets are

held for all

members to

participate in...

Newsletter Contributions:

Contributions to the Newsletter are always welcome; it would be fantastic if

we can have at least two member contributions each month.

Articles, Items for Sale or Wanted, or other items for inclusion need to be

sent in by the 20th of each month.

Please forward any suitable items to either:

John Ross VK3BJR, [email protected]

Tim Mc Bain VK3MIT, [email protected]

Items for Sale:

Private advertisers:

If you have items for sale, or are looking for that radio “something” in particular,

send your advertisement request to either John Ross VK3BJR or Timothy Mc Bain

VK3MIT so it can be included in the next edition.

Commercial Advertisers / Club Sponsors:

If you wish to place an advertisement on a regular basis in the newsletter, please

forward the full details including the proposed copy to our Secretary, John Ross, for

assessment at the next committee meeting. A sponsorship fee would be payable to

the Club.


Owen Clarke

VK3BC

John Ross

VK3BJR

Timothy Mc Bain

VK3MIT

Graeme Armstrong

VK3TGA

John Vardanega

VK3BCR

Ashley Foster

VK3AFS

Colin Schultz

VK3COL

Timothy Mc Bain

VK3MIT

Our Addresses:

Clubrooms—

111 Boneo Road (Cnr Besgrove Street) Rosebud Victoria Melway Ref 170 A4

Postal—

Post Office Box 206 Rosebud Victoria 3939

Email—

[email protected]

IRLP—

Node 6330, attached to the club repeater VK3 RSP 146.675, located at Mt Martha

Repeater maintenance Group —

Paul Whitaker VK3DPW & Richard Robbins VK3RR

President

Secretary

Assistant Secretary

Treasurer

Committee

Committee

QSL Manager

Newsletter Editor

Our Committee and Club Contacts:

The Premier Radio Club on the Mornington Peninsula

look out—christmas is coming!!!...and hopes that you are successful every time you are looking for...

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