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VK4ZZ > NEWS 28.12.25 13:45l 381 Lines 16624 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 13678_VK4OT
Subj: 20251228 News from NE Australia
Path: IZ3LSV<IK6IHL<IK7NXU<HB9ON<DK0WUE<PD0LPM<VE3CGR<PA8F<PI8LAP<GB7BED<
ZL2BAU<VK4OT
Sent: 251228/1223Z @:VK4OT.#NQ.QLD.AUS.OC #:13678 [Townsville] $:13678_VK4OT
From: VK4ZZ@VK4OT.#NQ.QLD.AUS.OC
To : NEWS@WW
ZCZC
News from the North
from 28th December 2025
sent to undisclosed recipients
this is also sent Packet Radio world wide
as YYYYMMDD News from NE Australia
> The VK4OO West End Townsville Yaesu Fusion 2 Repeater
438.750MHz linked to AUS-REPEATER-NET is currently running low power
transmit. Gary/VK4OO found that users out in Fusion-land
(it's also an issue with DMR, P25, D-Star, Echolink & AllStarLink ops)
do not allow enough time between overs to allow timeout timers and nodes
to reset - in this instance the repeater was transmitting nearly all the
time and nuked it's final amp. VK4OO is currently operating on 10watts output
and Gary is waiting on replacement final amp components to arrive. <
- News from Central Queensland
- News from North Queensland
- Townsville Nets Callbacks
- Regional Activities
- Buy Swap and Sell and Australias Most Wanted
- Regional Communications Support Events
- ACMA Amateur Radio Assessments Information
- Holiday planning
- Wireless Institute of Australia Civil Emergency Network
- Regional Nets
- ANZA DX Net
- North Queensland Internet Gateways
- WIANews sources
- News from Central Queensland
- Clairview Gathering 2026
The Clairview Gathering is a yearly event where Radio Amateurs meet
at a spot on the coast between Rockhampton and Mackay to relax, talk
radio, re-establish acquaintances and participate in the world renown
Saturday Night Mega-Auction. There might even be some fox-hunting and
there will definitely be RAFFLES !
The Gathering is one of the main revenue raisers amateur radio clubs
in the region
It happens in 2026 from
Friday arvo 8th to Sunday 10th May, with most of the action happening
on Saturday 9th May.
Those who are keen to chill out completely in one of the most relaxing
and laid back venues in the cosmos arrive earlier and stay later.
To book your camping spot contact the BarraCrab Caravan Park Clairview
on 07 49560190
When you arrive at the Barracrab for the Gathering let them know about your
catering numbers for the Saturday Night feed-up.
Plan Ahead
2027 Friday arvo 7th to Monday morn 10th May
2028 Friday arvo 6th to Monday morn 9th May
2029 Friday arvo 11th to Monday morn 14th May
2030 Friday arvo 10th to Monday morn 13th May
2031 Friday arvo 9th to Monday morn 12th May
- News from North Queensland
- TARC Club Meeting Recess
theTARCinc has a meeting recess from the December 16th Social Meeting until the
Management Meeting on Tuesday 3rd February.
There will be other activities happening though, including the
January Ann Renton Memorial Ladies Net (37th Anniversary), the Sunday Morning WIANews 2m Net,
the Sunday evening North Queensland Net on 3605.4kHz and 2m and
the Australia Day Long Week Family Radio Camp amongst other things
- keep your eyes glued to this dispatch and your ear glued to the news transmissions.
- Tech On The Air Net this Wednesday
This Wednesday, 31st December is the fifth Wednesday
of the month and that means only one thing -
The Tech on the Air Net will be happening from 0930UTC (1930K)
until when the Net Controller Peter/VK4PQ decides all is done.
The Net will be happening on the Townsville VHF Voice Repeater VK4RAT 146.7MHz
along with the following nodes -
- VK4PQ AllStarLink Gateway Kelso NQLD which interfaces with VK4RAT VHF Repeater H24
Node 49806 Echolink VK4PQ-R 956580
- VK4GDN AllStarLink Gateway Charters Towers NQLD linked with VK4PQ 49806 H24
Node 54043 145.145MHz 91.5Hz Tone H24.
The net starts with the latest edition of the NZART News, followed by the establishment
of a net call-in then the fielding of technical questions with and without notice.
New Years Eve on-air Countdown
In conjunction with the December Tech On The Air Net happening on New Years Eve 31st December
theTARCinc will be counting down the minutes and seconds until 2026
utilising the original Talking Clock and beaming out on the Townsville VHF Repeater
along the VK4PQ AllStarLink and Echolink Nodes at Kelso North Queensland
and the VK4GDN AllStarLink Node at Charters Towers North Queensland.
To cater with the multiple time zones on the Australian eastern seaboard
there will be two countdowns - one starting at 2345 Australian Eastern
Daylight Time (1245UTC) and the other starting at 2345 Australian Eastern
Standard Time (1345UTC).
See you on the air to help see 2025 out and bring 2026 in !
- TARC Australia Day Long Week Family Radio Camp 2025
Happening from Thursday late morning 22nd to Monday lunchtime 26th January 2026 at :
Girl Guides Association of Queensland Campsite and Training Centre,
46-56 Toolakea Beach Road, Bluewater.
AX4WIT will be on-air from the camp on Australia Day to provide directions and contact.
Activities will include:
Cooking of the dampers, scones and other bush recipes,
(bring your camp oven or use the comprehensive kitchen facilities plus bring
your favourite recipes and ingredients),
Raising of the Flag
(and try to remember all the words to the National Anthem),
Throwing of the Infernal Thong (release that pent up stress!)
Hopefully some Swimming (bring year cozzies and inflatables for swimming in the Bluewater Creek),
Antenna building and tweaking, balun making and measuring,
Demonstrations and setting up of digital computer modes, Radio programming,
Bushwalking along the well marked trekking trails.
plus much, much more.
Donâ€Öt get the wrong idea though, this long week will be a VERY relaxing one –
and its an all-weather event !
Cost of a powered camp site or a bed in Bluewater House is $15 per person per night.
Day visitors using the facilities pay $10 per person.
The Leaders Room has been snaffled by Romana and The Master.
You need to supply your own condiments such as salt and pepper and also bring
your own washing up detergent and tea towels.
For those also using the Bluewater House accommodation you need to bring your
own pillow and linen.
Glamping so far - VK4ZZ & VK4ZM, VK4PQV, Doris & VK4WSG, VK4PAL & VK4IGM,
Need more info ? Then call or text og VK4ZZ on 0427182469
Plan ahead
2027 Fri 22nd to Tuesday 26th January
2028 Wed 26th to Sunday 30th January
2029 Wed 24th to Sunday 28th January
2030 Wed 23rd to Sunday 27th January
2031 Thur 23rd to Monday 27th January
- TARC does the 2026 Defence Welcome to Townsville Expo
theTARCinc will yet again be involved with the Defence Welcome and Information Expo
run by the Townsville office of the Defence Member and Family Support Section.
It will be happening on Saturday 31st January at Murray Stadium from 9-30am to 12pm.
The Club will be drawing on expertise gained from participation in previous Expos
to show Defence members and their families currently residing or new to the region
some of the aspects of the wonderful world of Amateur Radio.
It is hoped to demonstrate the hobby through a mixture of static, dynamic and interactive displays,
with members experienced in many facets of the hobby able to provide meaningful
answers and guidance for those attending the Expo.
The display will be put in place from 7-30am to 8-45am and packed away from 12pm to 1pm.
If you want to be part of the TARC team on display then please contact
The Master - Iain/VK4IGM on telephone 07-47214083 or on the air.
- TARC Communications Support
There is a full programme of Communications Support events that you can get involved with
and have some radio fun !
If you can help out please contact og/VK4ZZ on 0427182469 or on the radio
Thu 2 April to Mon 6 April - B2B Blue Hills Bash Easter Horse Endurance Rides 5/20/40/80km
with possible 120 and 160km rides - Fri 3 to Mon 6 April inclusive.
Operators so far - VK4ZZ, VK4ZM, VK4ME, VK4CUZ, VK4HSV, VK4IGM, Doris & VK4WSG, more operators needed.
Sat 18 to Sun 19 April - NQORA Gold Cityating VK4WIT
from theTARCinc Club Rooms, West End, North Queensland
VK4KDB Kerry and Sharon/VK4SDB at Toowoomba
VK4CMR Chad at Pink Lily near Rockhapton
VK4CWL Bob and Cherie at Emerald
VK4ME Snow and Sharon at Kirwan
VK4CMW Mick and Kerry at Collinsville
VK4PQ Peter and Ruth at Kelso
VK4PQV Richard at Cranbrook
VK4FNQ John and Cheryl/VK4FRYL at Majestic Towers
VK4AER Tony at Millstream near Ravenshoe
VK4EKA Dougal near Toowoomba
Regional Events -
December
- Tech On The Air Net Wed 31st Dec from 7-30pm on Tsvl VHF Repeater and VK4PQ AllStarLink & Echolink Nodes
- New Years Day Countdown - Wed 31st December - from 1245UTC for Daylight Saving, from 1345UTC for proper time
January 2026
- Australir Sale
Very active 27MHz CB Operator Dave Jenkins recently went
Silent Key in Ayr, North Queensland.
His daughter Kylie would like to sell to good homes the following
27MHz CB Transceivers, with pick-up from Ayr.
- Pearce Simpson President tabletop base AM/SSB 27MHz Transceiver
- Wagner 510 tabletop base AM/SSB 27MHz Transceiver
For more information or to seal the deal, text - yes text Kylie on
0408 617223. Pick up only from Ayr by prior arrangement.
- Make an offer for this Tower and Antenna combo
The following is offered from a deceased estate and is being administered by John/VK4FNQ.
Approx 40foot 4 post tower with rotator and the following antennas -
- 5 element 6metre yagi
- 10 element 2metre yagi
- 17 element 70centimetre yagi
- 5 element 2metre vertical yagi
- 80metre inverted V dipole
The successful purchaser will remove the tower and equipment
which is located in the Charters Towers area.
The combination will not be split - it is a package deal.
A very good local Franna crane operator is available and is reasonably priced.
Contact John/VK4FNQ on 0409 631624 to make the deal or find out more.
- Solar Panels !
Hairy Richard/VK4ZMB has these gorgeous6am or earlier for the Morse (2000Z),
3600kHz LSB Voice happens after the Morse
Every Morning - Coral Coast Early Birds Net - 7093kHz starting 6am (2000Z)
Every Morning - Coral Coast Net - 7093kHz starting 7am (2100Z), 6-45AM (2145Z)
during Summer, right after the Early Birds Net
Every Afternoon - WIA Travellers Net - 14116kHz Check Ins from 0200Z - Callbacks from 0300Z
National Co-ordinator 0421043009 - more information on WIA Website.
Every Afternoon - Ron's Net - in memory of Ron/VK4BRG SK - 7100kHz from 0700Z
Every Afternoon - The Kandos Net - check your gear and let everyone know you are still active !
On 7093kHz from 1630local (0630Z normal, 0530Z DST) - Tom/VK2KF net control
alternate net controllers Peter/VK2QF or Tom/VK4ATH
- ANZA DX Net
Australia, New Zealand and Africa DX Net
20m, 14.183 MHz, 0515 UTC, daily
15m, 21.205 MHz, 0415 UTC, Saturday
The net works on a list operation, say your sign, stand by
The net runs for about 1 hour, all operators are welcome
A QSO is brief exchange of call sign and signal report
Please do not spot the net on clusters or skimmers !
Net Leader - Col/VK4CC
The ANZA Net needs your skill as net controller
We offer an opportunity to put something back into ham radio
Give it a try.
Message Col on [qrm] seahawk55 [at] optusnet [dot] com [dot] au [qrm]
(making sure to release the countermeasures first)
- North Queensland Internet Gateways
H24 = 24 Hour Ops unless offline for maintenance or updates
H8 = 8 Hour Ops - hours of ops defined by operator
Hx = indeterminate hours of ops - normally when operator in radio shack or out and about
Yaesu Fusion Gateways
- VK4JPA YSF Node Rangewood NQLD 145.350MHz Digital Access H24 Room 24105
>> back on the air <<
- VK4OO YSF/FM Repeater West End NQLD Input 431.750MHz Output 438.750MHz 91.5Hz Tone H24 Room 69571
AllStarLink Gateways
- VK4TUB AllStarLink Gateway Kirwan NQLD interfaces with VK4RAT UHF Repeater H24
Node 46740 Echolink VK4TUB-R 837219
- VK4PQ AllStarLink Gateway Kelso NQLD interfaces with VK4RAT VHF Repeater H24
Node 49806 Echolink VK4PQ-R 956580
- VK4GDN AllStarLink Gateway Charters Towers NQLD linked with VK4TUB 46740 H24
Node 56808 439.150MHz 91.5Hz Tone H24
- VK4GDN AllStarLink Gateway Charters Towers NQLD linked with VK4PQ 49806 H24
Node 54043 145.145MHz 91.5Hz Tone H24
- VK4HSV AllStarLink Portable Gateway Douglas NQLD Hx 439.125MHz 81.5Hz CTCSS Access Tone Node 54607
- VK4BDE AllStarLink Gateway Condon NQLD H24 145.390MHz 91.5Hz CTCSS Access Tone Node 40381
- VK4TAZ AllStarLink Gateway Heatley NQLD H24 439.325MHz
- VK4GEO AllStarLink Gateway Mount Isa NQLD H24 441.000MHz 91.5Hz CTCSS Access Tone Node 62387
- VK2TRD AllStarLink Gateway Cloncurry NQLD H24 441.250MHz 91.5Hz CTCSS Access Tone Node 512582
AX-25 APRS 1200Bd Gateways
- VK4ZZ APRS Vincent NQLD 145.175MHz H24
AX-25 Packet 1200Bd Wormholes
- VK4OT-3 FBBS Heatley NQLD 145.175MHz H24 or Telnet vk4ot.ddns.net port 6300
Echolink Gateways
- VK4PQ-R Echolink Kelso NQLD Node 956580 interfaces with VK4RAT VHF Repeater H24
- VK4MIC-L Echolink Mount Isa NQLD Node 971321 interfaces with VK4RMI VHF Repeater H24
- VK4TUB-R Echolink Kirwan NQLD Node 837219 interfaces with VK4RAT UHF Repeater H24
- VK4OT-L Echolink Heatley NQLD Node 715822 439.330MHz Simplex
- VK4BDE-L Echolink Condon NQLD Node 607952 145.390MHz Simplex
IRLP Gateways
- VK4MIC IRLP Mount Isa NQLD Node 6921 interfaces with VK4RMI VHF Repeater H24
DMR High Power Gateways
- VK4YWG MMDVM DMR BrandMeister Cranbrook NQLD Node 5050130 441.5MHz simplex
DMR <> AllStarLink Bridge
- VK4CK BM 20415 DMR <> AllStarLink 512584 Bridge
BM 20415 Color Code 1 Time Slot 2 permalinked with TubbyNet AllStarLink Node 46740
and any other connected nodes plus VK4RAT UHF Repeater H24 - 3 minute timeout
Radio Beacons in Central, North and Far North Queensland (O = Operational, N = Non Operational)
VK4DJC Mount Morgan 28.285 MHz (O)
VK4RAR Rockhampton 432.540 MHz (N) 1296.448 MHz (N)
VK4RTL Townsville 28.270 MHz (N) 50.282 MHz (N) 144.444 MHz (N) 432.444 MHz (N)
VK4RTL Townsville 1296.444 MHz (O) 2403.444 MHz (N) 5760.444 MHz (N) 10368.444 MHz (N) 24048.444 MHz (N)
VK4RHT Mareeba 28.274 MHz (N) 50.281 MHz (O) 144.446 MHz (N)
WSPR Beacons in Central and North Queensland
VK4WCH Mosquito Creek QH46bi 50294 28126 24926 21096 18106 14097 10140 7040kHz
VK4ATV Vincent QH30jr 3570 7040 14097 21096 28126 50294kHz
Central Queensland Winlink Remote Message Systems - centre frequencies in kHz
(subtract 1.5kHz for the dial frequency)
VK4DJC Mount Morgan QG56ei H24 scan 7052.0 10146.5 14112.5 28101.5 mode VARA VARA2750
VK4DJC Mount Morgan QG56ei H24 main 144075 mode VARA-FM
VK4GED Laguna Quays QG49ij H24 main 7052.0 and on request 3569.5 10146.5 28101.5 mode VARA VARA2750
also peer-to-peer mode is available on request.
VK4UI Rockhampton QG56gp H24 scan 7058.5 10146.8 14111.0 mode VARA VARA2750 Hybrid
VK2HL Yeppoon QG56iu H24 scan 3625.0 7040.0 10132.0 14090.0 18098.0 mode VARA VARA2750 Hybrid
(subtract 1.5kHz for the dial frequency) using USB.
- Townsville source News Nets
Tune North Queensland Net throughout Queensland and PNG
from 7-30pm Sundays on -
HF: 3605.4kHz
and in Townsville/Thuringowa 8pm Sundays on
VHF: 146.100 / 146.700 MHz
(the VK4RAT 2m repeater)
Tune WIANEWS in North Queensland on Sundays
(with Daylight Savings corrections for NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS, SA) -
HF : from VK7 2200Z 3570 / 7140 / 14130 / 28525kHz
HF : from VK5 2230Z 1843 / 3550 / 7135kHz
HF : from VK2 2300Z 1845 / 3595/ 5425/ 7146 / 10125 / 14170.2 / 18125 / 28320kHz
HF : from VK4 2300Z 1843 / 3605 / 7070 / 7130 / 7190kHz
HF : from VK3 2330Z 3615 / 7158 / 10130kHz
HF : from VK8 2330Z 3555 / 7193 / 10137 / 14337kHz
HF : from VK6 0001Z 7088
HF : from VK6 0001Z 3583 / 7149 / 10125 / 14130 / 29680kHz
6m: from VK7 2200Z 53825kHz FM
6m: from VK5 2230Z 53100kHz AM
6m: from VK2 2300Z 52525kHz FM
6m: from VK6 0100Z 53800kHz FM
2m: from Townsville 2300Z 146700kHz FM
2m: from Rockhampton 2300Z 146700kHz FM
Timeline for monitoring.
2200Z 3570, 7140, 14130, 28525, 53825kHz
2230Z 1843, 3550, 7135, 28470, 53100kHz
2300Z 1843, 1845, 3595, 3605, 5425, 7070, 7130, 7146, 7190, 10125, 14170.4, 28320, 52525kHz
2330Z 3555, 3615, 7158, 7193, 10130, 10137, 14337kHz
0001Z 3583, 7088, 7140, 10120, 14130, 29680, 53800kHz
Frequency List for transceiver memory
1843, 1845,
3550, 3555, 3570, 3583, 3595, 3605, 3615,
5425,
7070, 7088, 7130, 7135, 7140, 7146, 7158, 7193
10125, 10132.8, 10127,
14130, 14170.4, 14337,
28320, 28525, 28537, 29680
52525, 53100, 53650, 53725, 53725, 53800, 53825kHz
Daylight Saving for NSW VIC ACT SA TAS
begins 20251004-1600UTC - ends 20260404-1600UTC
--------------------------------------------------------------------
end of file
See you at New Years Eve Countdown
and cheers from Gavin/VK4ZZ
NNNN
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