May Spectrum 2015 - QSL.net · ZL1BQ Trustee John Dunn ZL1JD 473 9514 021 731 907 [email protected] Repeater Trustee John Dunn ZL1JD 473 9514 021 731 907 [email protected]

SPECTRUM h p://www.qsl.net/zl1bq 1 Vol 52 May 2015

SPECTRUM May 2015 Vol. 52 No. 5

The Official Newsletter of the

Auckland VHF Group Inc.

Spectrum

Slow Scan Television.

By Ken ZL1TD

SPECTRUM is the official journal of the Auckland VHF Group Inc. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect club points of view.

The closing date for SPECTRUM articles is by the 1st of each month. Articles to be submit-ted to the editor Steve ZL1TPH [email protected]

Office Name Call sign Home Work / Mobile E‐mail

President Peter Loveridge ZL1UKG 377 3398 [email protected]

Vice President Grant Taylor ZL1WTT 021 02 340 270 zl1w [email protected]

Secretary Adam Cumberlege ZL1CCA 410 8923 [email protected]

Treasurer Doug Cooke ZL1TTE 846 6075 0274 978 121 d‐[email protected]

Commi ee Vaughan Henderson ZL1VH 418 1071 021 844 804 [email protected]

Merv Thomas ZL1SK 828‐7174 27‐499‐0262 [email protected] John Dunn ZL1JD 473 9514 021 731 907 [email protected]

George Marr ZL1TUJ 524 6075 [email protected] Ross Hannah ZL1UGZ 832 2655 [email protected] AREC Sec on Leader Laurie Mathews ZL1ICU 634 5130 0274 817 463 [email protected] Deputy Sec on George Raffles ZL1TUX 626 6944 021 735 361 [email protected] ZL1BQ Trustee John Dunn ZL1JD 473 9514 021 731 907 [email protected] Repeater Trustee John Dunn ZL1JD 473 9514 021 731 907 [email protected] Klondyke Managers ZL1VH / ZL1BK 690 Manager Dennis Seymour ZL1UET 532 8666

850/670 Manager Vaughan Henderson ZL1VH 418 1071 021 844 804 [email protected]

ATV/Beacons Grant Taylor ZL1WTT 021 234 0270 zl1w [email protected]

Spectrum Editor Stephen Hayman ZL1TPH 0274 732663 [email protected]

Trading Table Vaughan Henderson ZL1VH [email protected] Hon Auditor Raequel Probine 630 8044

Webmaster Terry Corin ZL1BPA [email protected] Club Web Page h p://www.qsl.net/zl1bq ATV Interest Group h p://www.qsl.net/zl1qf/atvug/ATVusers.html ZL1VHD Dstar gateway administrator; Laurie ZL1ICU 634 5130 0274 [email protected] Dstar gateway registra on URL: h p://zl1vhd.dstar.org.nz


Auckland VHF Group Inc. Branch 66 NZART

PO Box 10138, Dominion Rd, Auckland 1446 Clubrooms: Hazel Ave, Mt Roskil

Club News and Net:

The combined Auckland VHF Group and Auckland Regional Branch News and Net are held on 146.625 MHz and 439.875 MHz at 8.15 pm each Sunday or after the ZL6A National Broadcast on the last Sunday of the month. Club meetings are held at the Clubrooms at Hazel Avenue, on the second Monday of each month at 7.30 pm. For other details, listen to the News and Net each Sunday evening.


From the President

The May meeting will as usual consider the Remits to the NZART Conference in Hamilton. This will be followed by the annual “Show & Tell” evening where members bring along their current project to show what they are up to and inspire our members to try something different after seeing how the presenters have solved their problems. A prize will be awarded for the best presentation. This advance notice will give you time to organise your ideas. I see it as a way to show the enthusiasm and strength of the club.

I reported last month that the VHF Group is considering a new repeater site in the south of Auckland. The Group has been approached to consider taking over the management of an es-tablished repeater site in the same region. There would be less investment in making this site ready for new applications but it would have a higher operating cost as it would be expected that the current services would be maintained. The details of the services it contains and obliga-tions of ownership and maintenance have yet to be confirmed.

The Unitary Plan Mediation meeting has tak-en place. A partial summary is now available on the web site https://hearings.aupihp.govt.nz/hearings . Select Topic 042 and click on Documents. Select the Joint Mediation Statement. This docu-ment shows the “Marked Up” position of the Council prior to the start of Mediation. Ama-teur Radio is still “Restricted Discretion”. At the Mediation on Friday 24 April it appeared that “Permitted” will be acceptable but the detail of what is Permitted will be in the “Development Controls”. A meeting has been held with a Council Planner and Legal Representative where NZART requirements were explained to them. May will be a busy month as the NZART Team must now nego-tiate with Council Planners on the Limits for what is to be Permitted. Where agreement

cant be reached evidence for the Hearing on topics not settled by Mediation is required by 03 June. The Hearing will begin on 25 June.

The Working Bee at the Clubrooms to photograph, measure and weigh some of the more valua-ble items with a view to advertising them for sale was poorly attended. At this stage there isn’t enough planning in place to take stock to the REG Market Day at the Glenview Club, 211 Pea-cockes Road, Hamilton. By the time you read this an email will have been sent out asking if those planning to attend are able to help with a VHF Group stand at the Market.

A date has not been set yet for a pre-Winter Working Bee at Klondyke. This will need 2-3 tow-er climbers to address the worst of the rust areas with wire brushes and protective paint. We


hope that last year’s long Autumn will occur again this year. More information should be avail-able about this by the General Meeting on Monday 10 May.

One possible project for the year is to initiate a North Fest to provide a Forum for our region and the activities of local amateurs within a 2-3 hour driving radius. The initial approach to pos-sible speakers did not yield a full program. A notice has been sent to other clubs within the re-gion to see if any of the good speakers at their General Meetings would like to do a repeat and share the material with people who attend the North Fest. The Fest won’t go ahead until we can get the speaker program in place.

Peter Loveridge 04 May 2015


Auckland VHF Group (Inc) Branch 66

Meeting notice

11th May 2015 7.30pm, Hazel Avenue Club Rooms

(Located on left at the end of Hazel Avenue)

The Evenings Subject:

Discuss Remits to the NZART Conference in Hamilton

This will be followed by “Show & Tell” presentations from members of their current projects. The idea is to inspire others and show the enthusiasm and strength of the club. There will be a prize for the best presentation voted by the audience.

Another meeting not to be missed!

EVERYBODY WELCOME


VHF Group General Meeting Minutes : Monday 13th April 2015

Attendance: As per attendance book Apologies: ZL1TAY, George Mars ZL1TUJ, Ross Hanah ZL1UGZ, Margaret Dingly ZL1AYB General Business Jumbo Challenge Indoor Bowling at the Albany Village Hall – Wed 15 April at 7:30 pm

(4) Working bee at Klondyke – Update on Working Bee date and tasks (to be announced) North-Fest - Need to advertise the upcoming event, need topics (1 so far), Working Bee at Clubrooms – Sat 2nd May to document recent donations for Market Days

and Trade Me. First market day - Hamilton Market Day – Sat 9th May - any help appreciated Update of Auckland Unitary Plan given by Peter ZL1UKG. Next step Fri 24th April is

mediation session

Next general meeting will discuss Remits to the NZART AGM This will be followed by the annual Show & Tell presentation about the work of members of the Group.

Vaughan - GPS receivers – NMEA + 1 pulse per second, available $20 each

Grant to present ATV Form 10 documents (4) for the Nihotupu site 3 licences 3.3 - 3.4

GHz. Situated at Nihotupu. Plus 1 licence for 506 Mhz (ch 25 UHF) . Want to use data and ATV modes.

Latest issue of Break-In has details of restructure of FMTAG (towards rear of magazine) Correspondence: Newsletters: Hamilton -12, Hibiscus Coast - 80 Break-In General: Offer to take over 147.325 MHz repeater site

Tonight’s Topic:

Tonight’s talk was given by the illustrious Dr Gary Bold now retired from active duties but none-the-less a very busy young lad. Gary’s chosen subjects were: -


1. Writing Technical Articles for magazines such as those that fill the pages of Break In or your club magazine - and telling us that we all have a story within us just waiting to be put into print. 2. Next article was Compact Antennae (or is that antenna’s as we are talking about single antenna used in multiple situations…?). This is relevant to those older operators who may be contemplating having to downsize to a "Retirement Complex". It was a subject of interest to us all (given or ever-increasing ages).

During the talk there were numerous links to web sites and applications that Gary found useful - these are listed below:

Free Word counter http://www.countofwords.com/ Free screen capturer: http://screencapturer.com To get LTspice, Google on "LTspice". To get LaTeX (you probably don't want it). The version I use is "WinEDT". Google on name. Robbie's web-page (for Android Morse learning App I demonstrated on my phone, this is really impressive) http://qsl.net/g0hyn/ You'll have to download an APK file and install it, I had help to do this, but you clever jokers will do it no trouble. Download chapter 1 of my Network theory text from a link on my website, front page, at www.qsl.net/zl1an To get W9CF's high-pass tuner applet, go to http://fermi.la.asu.edu/w9cf/tuner/tuner.html As explained in the text, download "tuner.jar" and follow instructions. Download "Audacity", the audio editor, from http://audacity.1800download.com/?c=48gclid=CJWFt5Tn9MQCFQYGvAodD58AZg Download "FSQ" (new, simple QSO-mode software) from Murray Greenman's website http://www.qsl.net/zl1bpu/MFSK/FSQWeb.htm Capture videos playing with "Replay Video Capture" http://applian.com/replay-video-capture/

Many thanks Gary for a delightful evening

Adam Cumberlege ZL1CCA


AREC photos rally of Whangarei

Day 1 Saturday position 4B


Day 2 Sunday poition 11a - George ZL1TUX having breakfast


Slow Scan Television

By Ken ZL1TD

It is an interesting mode in the hobby of Amateur Radio, a crossover between Radio and Com-puters. It has come a long way from slow persistence cathode ray tubes, to Digital pictures of today, from when the hardware had to be built. Projects like the ZL1LH Scanvertor for Black and White, then Colour, 3 times the scan for Red, Blue and Green.

Over the years there have been various SSTV nets in the Auckland area, both simplex and re-peater. We have recently received permission to use the 146.900 Bombay repeater for a SSTV net on a Wednesday evenings 19.45 hrs to 20.45 hrs.

It is hoped that it will give access to more interested in the mode. A good result via a repeater lets users of the past and those wanting to try it, the chance to learn the programs, before trying on the HF bands.

The software is readily available for analogue programs like MMSSTV [1].

Those are the tone sig-nals we hear as the im-age is scanned building the picture from the top down. The images are good but small. Not so good if trying enlarge after receiving.

Caption: MMSSTV analogue. A working screen.

The Digital programs like EasyPal can produce larger image size [2].

The Digital signals sound like data noise. A valid signal is received and after processing the complete picture is displayed. This mode requires a computer with reasonable speed processor.


Interested?

To try with MMSSTV, a lead from a 2 m radio speaker to computer soundcard will work.

Although a simple interface with isolated paths is recommended and needed for transmitting SSTV with PTT.

Caption: MMSSTV analogue: Some of the compilation techniques in the program.

Caption: EasyPal digital: Crocus a big picture. Can also be view in Full screen size.


Caption: EasyPal digital: Close up definition of a Fly.

References

[1] http://hamsoft.ca/pages/mmsstv.php

[2] http://www.g6hoq.com/easypal.htm

Have a listen.

Call in on the net.

We can tell you more.

Ken ZL1TD

*****


Results of the 2015 Low Band contest - 11/12 April

VHF-UHF-SHF-EHF Contests, as administered by the Auckland VHF Group Inc.

Overall Winner Station Points

ZL1GSG 216 *

Band winner Station Points

2 m (144 MHz) ZL1GSG 94 *

Band winner Station Points

70 cm (432 MHz) ZL1GSG 122 *

Greatest DX Station Distance

2 m ZL1GSG-ZL1IU 197 km

70 cm ZL1GSG-ZL1IU 197 km

Active Stations 5 in total

ZL1AKW ZL1HD ZL1IU ZL1TPH

VHF managers’ comments

Greg ZL1GSG operated portable along the Scenic Drive near the Arataki Visitors Center, Waiatarua in the Waitakere ranges. Station equipment was an FT290R + 40 Watt PA and 9 el portable Tonna Yagi and 70 cm a TF790 + 20 Watt PA feeding a 13 el Flexa Yagi.

The rules for VHF-UHF-SHF-EHF Contests, as administered by the Auckland VHF Group; on behalf of all VHF groups are available on the NZART website: http://www.nzart.org.nz/activities/contest-rules/rules-vhf-and-above/

All contest logs should be sent, to arrive within two weeks, to: [email protected]

Or by mail to: Contest Manager, PO Box 10138, Dominion Road, Auckland 1446.

Stephen Hayman - ZL1TPH


Recent - AREC get together


Amateur Radio Emergency Communication. Volunteers in radio communications.

Using our resources to help the community.

INFORMATION

The Auckland VHF Group has an active AREC section that works closely with Auckland City Civil Defence. They provide advice, resources and manpower to assist in times of need. The

Auckland VHF Group clubrooms provide a backup system to complement the existing systems maintained by Auckland City Council Civil Defence.

The AREC section is headed by Section Leader Laurie Mathews ZL1ICU.

From time to time the VHF Group has training sessions and exercises. Members also assist with

sports events, parades and Rally NZ.

For further information about AREC please see the NZART web site.

JOIN BRANCH 66 AREC

All members of the Auckland VHF Group are encouraged to join the AREC section. Your con-tribution, large or small is appreciated by all involved.

For further information about joining branch 66 AREC contact the Section Leader or his Deputy.

AREC: Section Leader; Laurie Mathews ZL1ICU 634 5130 0274 817 463 [email protected]

Deputy Section; George Raffles ZL1TUX 626 6944 021 735 361 [email protected]

*****

AUCKLAND VHF GROUP (INC)

SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF THE VHF GROUP THROUGH YOUR SUBSCRIPTION

SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR 2015

THE SUBS GO TOWARDS;

Maintenance and on-going improvements to beacons, repeaters and linking systems for the national system, including the Klondyke repeater site.

Provides on-time and free access to spectrum magazine as soon as it is available.

Provides facilities for good speakers and lecturers at our general meetings

Discounted access to our trading table goodies

Access to test equipment and technical help when needed

FULL MEMBERSHIP $30.00

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP $26.00

FAMILY MEMBERSHIP ADDITIONAL $4.00

SEE ATTACHED MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FORM (next page)

REMEMBER TO KEEP US INFORMED OF YOUR INTERNET ADDRESS! OTHER-WISE WE CANNOT SEND YOU SPECTRUM!



NAME Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms Christian or given Surname

Mr

Address

Phone: (home)

Phone: (work)

Phone (Cell)

Email

Occupation: Callsign

NZART Member Branch assigned

AREC Member Branch assigned

Category To pay

Membership Full $30.00 $

New/Renewal/Change Associate $26.00 $

Receipt # Family Add $4.00 $

Donations Auckland ATV $

Auckland/Klondyke $

Brynderwyn $

Data/D-Star $

IRLP $

Beacon/Repeater/Links/ATV Licences $

Other $

Total $

Payment

Circle one --> Cash Cheque Internet deposit

Invoice/Statement re-quired Please Advise Treasurer

Internet To account ASB 12-3020-0473626-00. Account name is: Auckland VHF Group Inc. Include your Name/Callsign for us to track. Note: this form needs to be returned to update records. FAX to 028 25544801 or Email [email protected]

Post The Treasurer, Auckland VHF Group Inc., PO Box 10138, Dominion Road, Auckland 1446.

In Person Bring this form and payment to the next club meeting, 2nd Monday of the month or to the Committee meeting last Monday of the month.


The Auckland VHF Group Inc Branch 66 NZART grate-fully acknowledges the sponsorship of Branch 66 Beacons, Repeaters and Fixed

Links license fees and the Group’s repeater operations by the following radio am-ateurs and NZART Branches for 2015:

Repeater frequency Repeater Sponsorship Amou

nt

and name location advised for 2015 paid

53.725 Repeater Klondyke Road Gwynne Rowe ZL1AAR $50.00

144.253 Beacon Nihotupu Under repair

145.625 Data Rptr Klondyke Road NON-operational

145.650 Dstar repeater Klondyke Road Laurie Mathews ZL1ICU $50.00

146.625 Repeater Klondyke Road Laurie Mathews ZL1ICU $50.00

146.700 Repeater Ruaotuwhenua Dennis Thornton ZL1TAY $50.00

146.900 Repeater Mt Puketutu Radio Franklin Branch ZL1SA $50.00

432.253 Beacon Nihotupu Under repair

438.175 Dstar repeater Klondyke Road Laurie Mathews ZL1ICU $50.00

438.500 Repeater North Head Franklin Branch ZL1SA $50.00

439.850 Link Tx to Kaimai Klondyke Road Franklin Branch ZL1SA $50.00

439.875 Ak Nat Sys Rptr Klondyke Road David probine ZL1TND $50.00

439.900 Link Tx to Egmont Klondyke Road Adam Cumberlege

ZL1CCA $50.00

439.950 Link Tx to Brynderwyn Klondyke Road John Dunn ZL1JD $50.00

1291.9 Repeater 217 Glenfield Rd

Total Sponsorship $550

NZART Inc: Branch dona-tions

Franklin Radio Club. Br: 10 $50.00

Papakura Radio Club. Br: 65 $300.00

Auckland Radio Club. Br: 02 $100.00

Manukau Radio Club. Br: 21 $100.00

Donations $550.00

Prepared by Merv Thomas ZL1SK and current as at 31/03/2015


TRADING TABLE

Currently our Trading Table is only open on meeting nights. Opening on Saturdays may re-sume later in the year so keep an eye out for announcements in Spectrum.

NEW – NEW - NEW

We have heaps of parts from dismantled commercial analog TV gear – transmitters, filters, cir-culators, patch panels, power supplies, cabinets. Too much to list individually, so come along to the clubrooms and have a look

And there’s

more….


Motorola Oncore VP GPS Receivers

The VP Oncore is Motorola’s original credit card-sized 8-channel GPS receiver. It

measures just 2” x 3 1/4” x 1/2”, has very low power requirements, and is well suited

for embedded applications. The VP Oncore has the capability of acting as a DGPS reference station for greater position accuracy.

The units on offer have been in storage for some time, and the tinplate screen covers show some signs of corrosion – see photo. Most of the units have a sticker attached saying “Prog NMEA” and are likely to output data in NMEA V2.0 serial format.

Interface is via a 10-pin board header – see reference below for pinout details. Power supply is 5.0v +/-0.25V. Module requires an external active GPS antenna (5V power supplied by receiv-er module). GPS connector is a snap-on type OSX. Output data includes a 1PPS (one pulse per second) output and TTL level Tx and Rx data lines.

More details can be found at : ftp://ftp.tapr.org/gps/motorola/oncore.eng.notes.pdf

$20.00 each – limited quantity.


Other coaxial connectors available from the Trading Table:

Please note we have sold out of TNC connectors – these are no longer available.

BNC plugs 50 ohm for RG58 coax (solder/clamp type) $2.50 each

BNC plugs 50 ohm for RG58 coax (crimp on type) $2.50 each

BNC sockets 75 ohm – single hole mounting $1.50 each

N Type male solder on suit RG213 coax $4.00 each

N Type male right angle, suit RG213 coax $4.00 each

N Type male crimp on suit RG213 coax ** $3.00 each

N Type socket crimp on suit RG213 coax ** $3.00 each

N Type male right angle, solder on suit RG213 coax $4.00 each

N Type male sliver plated solder/clamp on suit RG58 coax $3.00 each

N Type male crimp on suit RG58 coax ** $2.50 each

N-Type adaptor Male to Male $3.00 each Adaptor TNC Male to UHF Female $3.00 each ** Crimping service available for these at club meetings. Heatsinks for TO-220 transistors: These are Thermalloy THM-6071 top hat type with cutout.

20c each

N-Type connectors for LMR-400

Crimp-on only. $5.00 each


DATA MODES & UTILITIES CD

Version 12.09 has even more updates and new programmes on this latest release. This is an ex-cellent selection of software, notes, links to web sites compiled by the late Doug ZL1AVY and this latest edition has over 300 applications, references and notes. These cover all digital modes, useful software applications for your pc, contest logging and e-qso programmes, radio interfaces, software defined radio information, slow scan tv software, test equipment utilities, satellite tracking software, and much, much more. Still only $10.00

SMD Quartz Crystals: In addition to our selection of leaded holders, now have 6MHz and 20MHz crystals in SMD style housings:

6.0000 MHz HC49S SMD package 20pF load capacitance $1.00 each

20.0000 MHz HC49S SMD package P/No. 7D20000183BSAF25Q3 1.00 each

Capacitors, Surface Mount – most are 1206 size. Packed in bags of 10 for 50c

NPO 50V working: 0.68pF, 1.2pF, 1.8pF, 2.2pF, 5.6pF, 6.8pF, 8.2pF, 10pF, 15pF,

22pF, 33pF, 68pF, 82pF, 270pF, 470pF, 100nF.

63V working: 10pF, 47pF, 100pF, 270pF, 330pF, 470pF, 1nF, 1.2nF, 2.2nF, 4.7nF, 10nF 10uF 25V electrolytic

Capacitors, Metal Clad Mica (Unelco, Semco) $2.20 each

Values (in pF): Or 10 up for $2.00 each

3.9, 4.7, 6.8, 10, 12,15, 20, 22, 24, 27, 30, 33, 34, 47, 51, 62, 82, 100, 120, 130, 150, 220, 240, 300, 360, 680pF Most are rated 350V working ±5% tolerance. Similar to illustration, tab does not have hole:

Mixers:

Mini-Circuits Model TFM-2-408-1: 5 – 1000MHz 6dB insertion loss, +17dBm LO drive, 40dB isolation $25.00 each

Note: some of these mixers are labeled TFM-2-408-2. They are identical to the TFM-2-408-1.