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VK7AX > BCAST 07.07.24 04:43l 545 Lines 23902 Bytes #229 (0) @ WW
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VK7 Amateur Radio News 07Jul24
Text edition:
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VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 7th July 2024
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Welcome to the VK7 Amateur Radio News.
This was first broadcast on Sunday, July 7th, 2024 and we bring you the latest from the world of amateur radio in VK7.
This week, joining you from the Tasmanian Amateur Radio News desk is Mike VK7FB.
Tune in as we share updates and insights across VK7, broadcast through an array of platforms and frequencies:
On DMR Talk Group 5 and D-Star Reflector 91C, managed by Phil, VK3PG.
On Medium and high frequency rebroadcasts thanks to our dedicated operators:
1.862 MHz by Graham, VK7GS
3.670 MHz by Justin, VK7TW
7.140 MHz by Peter, VK7TPE
14.130 MHz by Ross, VK7ALH
28.525 MHz by Garry, VK7JGD and
UHF CB Channel 24 in the Hobart area, hosted by Mark, VK7FMAC
If you missed todayâ€Ös broadcast then you can catch the replay on Tuesday night at 8:00pm on repeaters VK7RAA in Northern VK7 and VK7RHT and UHFCB24 in Southern VK7.
Thank you for tuning in and enjoy the broadcast!
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Contest News
Winter VHF/UHF Field Day
Hello all from Richard VK7ZBX,
Reminder to put your Field Day log into the WIA Contest Logger that can be found at the link on the email edition of the broadcast.
https://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/upload/
73, Richard, VK7ZBX
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Statewide News
QSL Update
Report - from Herman VK7HW Manager of the WIA VK7 Inwards QSL Bureau
The updated list of QSL cards held as at 4 July 2024 is in the email version of the broadcast.
Club Secretaries if you would like Club members' cards to be sent to your Club Rooms please let Herman know the mailing address.
If you have any questions re QSL cards, please contact Herman by email. herman(at)ozemail.com.au
73, Herman, VK7HW, WIA Manager VK7 Inwards QSL Bureau
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Cards held at 4 July 2024 ( Any errors in the listing are mine, I sometimes miss culling a call sign)
AAA, AAC, AAD, AAE, AAH, AAP, AAR, AB, ACE, ACG, ACN, ADE, AED, AG(2014), AGC, AHT, AIR, AJC, AKK, ALZ, AM, ANC, AO, APZ, AS, ATH, AXZ, AY
BA, BB, BBW, BD, BPV, BT, BU, BYE
CA, CBK, CBR, CH/T, CJ, CMV, CV, CX
DD, DHT, DI, DN, DO, DQ, DT, DY, DZ
EA, EG, EI, EK, ER, EV
FADZ, FALX (alx), FAZZ, FCIA, FF, FG, FGGT, FKLW, FLAR, FMI, FPRN, FTAS
GA, GEL, GGZ, GM, GR, GU
HCH, HDM, HL, HOB, HRS, HSA, HSD, HSJ, HVK, HZ
IR, IS
JA, JAB, JAZ, JB, JCR, JOK, JP, JS, JW, JX
KAC, KAM, KBA, KD, KDO, KJ, KKR, KL, KQ, KRJ, KT, KW
LA, LCW, LDH, LJ, LL, LLL, LM, LT, LVH
MA, MAG, MAT, MBD, MBP, MD, MEL, MET, MJ, MRS, MS
NA, NB, NC, ND, NEC, NET, NIK, NRF, NSE, NSS, NTE, NVH, NWT, NX
OB, OT
PAF, PBD, PM, PRN, PSH, PSJ, PSZ, PW
QK
RJ, RN
SN, SV, SZ
TCE, TED, TK, TL, TO, TPE, TR, TS, TUX, TX, TZ
UT
VA, VAC, VAO, VAZ, VDC, VEK, VH, VI75G, VK7/AG9A9Mark), VR, VTM
WA, WC, WIA, WL, WO, WT, WUU
XV
Y, YN
ZE, ZJJ, ZK, ZM, ZT, ZX
â€ö-------
Cards in QSL Card Box at REAST WAGS @ 3 July - AZ, DC, HSD, SD, STO, VKT, WN
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TassieHamECon
Innovation in Amateur Radio - Bookings Now Open
The Tassie Ham Conference is being held on the 2nd and 3rd of November 2024 and is being held at the Sir Stanley Burbury Theatre on the Sandy Bay Campus of UTAS.
Addressing feedback from the last conference - this 2024 event is fully catered - there will be endless tea, coffee and other beverages, morning and afternoon tea and lunch on Saturday and morning tea and lunch on Sunday provided as part of the conference fee.
On the Friday night we are holding a pre-conference social gathering BBQ at the REAST Clubrooms and then Saturday and the first half of Sunday is a fun-filled conference of presentations and activities centred around the theme of “Innovation in Amateur Radio”.
We have also locked in some great sponsors and some VERY impressive raffle prizes. Watch the Tassie HamECon web pages for more details as they come to hand.
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/tassie-ham-radio-conference/
73, TassieHamECon Organising Committee
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Statewide News
Thursday Night SSTV Nets
Another busy net night that saw the following participants, VK7s –
EV, FGGT, NMH, AAR, ZAB, TW, ZGK, KT, OO and ZSB all sharing over forty photos.
The various subjects were:
A Platypus and Spotted Quoll
Shafts of light at Mofo
HF beams on towers and a camper van
Ham radio shacks
CW keys, external loudspeakers and a test monitor
A home brew HF antenna matching unit
Test equipment from NTARCâ€Ös Tech Night – AVO meters and vacuum tube tester. Cathode Ray Tube tester and rejuvenator
A transit of Mercury across the Sun. The next time it will be visible from Earth is November 2032
Departure for Hogwarts at Kingâ€Ös Cross platform 9 Âľ
An unknown brand of Whiskey and mixing single malt with Coke
Disbelief that some people do not drink whisky
A notice to people with beards
A confusing parking sign
And 73 from the next generation
Remember Ken VK7KRJâ€Ös and Steve VK7OOâ€Ös fully automatic 24/7 monitoring sites that allow anyone who has sent an SSTV picture the ability to check them on their pages almost immediately, any time, both South and North Tasmania.
Also if you missed the net there are archives of all SSTV nights. These photos can be seen on Kenâ€Ös and Steveâ€Ös SSTV websites or on NTARCâ€Ös website under blogs and arranged as weekly nets.
There is no suggested theme for next weekâ€Ös net.
SSTV VK7OO Tasmania Australia (tasme.com)
VK7KRJ's 2m SSTV scrolling web gallery
Blog 3 â€ö NTARC Inc.
73 from Andreâ€Ö VK7ZAB
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NEWS FROM THE NORTH
SOTA/WWFF PARKS GROUP
The Summits On The Air/World Wide Flora and Fauna parks group meets twice weekly – Mondays and Fridays 10.30AM till 12.00 at the Glebe Gardens Cafe, Henry Street, Launceston.
For more information contact Al on 0417 354 410.
73, Al, VK7AN
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Northern Tasmanian Amateur Radio Club Incorporated
www.ntarc.net
First up this week is a correction to the Ben Lomond repeater site update made last broadcast. Yes the change of call sign to VK7RBL is correct. But I must apologise to Barry Hill for not using his correct callsign, which should have been VK7BE. Thank you to all that brought the error to my attention. Thank you also to Barry for recording the new Repeater ID, in recognition of his original ownership of the repeater.
NTARC live Clubrooms presentation was by Lionel VK7ZLB, covering Megger and AVO test instrument beginnings plus the famous AVO valve testers in particular. There is no way I can comprehensively cover below the surface of this expansive two hour coverage, but if you missed the presentation, sorry!
Lionel brought a selection of his Megger and AVO portable test instruments to help refresh our memories. The scene was set with a brief introduction covering the early history Megger Group Limited and AVO.
Megger started when Sydney Evershed and Ernest Vignoles bought the instrument section of Golden Trotter and formed Evershed & Vignoles Limited on 5 February 1895.
Sydney Evershed applied for several patents one of which was for a "hand dynamo", this allowed the generation of high voltages from the hand turning of a crank handle. These high voltages could be used to measure insulation resistance in the higher megohm range. This was combined into a portable instrument and was named the Megger, this trademark name was registered in 1903.
The term “Megger” now days is common language for checking insulation resistance. However there would be a hundred manufacturers or rebranded models on the market now. Like the English expression “to hoover” the floor, it has taken on the original manufacturers name for the actual function being performed. To Megger something has passed into our language lexicon. Lionelâ€Ös pristine condition “Wee Megger” is an excellent example of one of the earliest compact Bakelite constructed units manufactured.
On the AVO side of things Donald Macradie is credited for the combining of multiple instruments and inventing what we now take for granted, the multimeter, which he patented in 1923.
He even came up with the brilliant name for such a device…. AVO standing for Amps Volts Ohms.
Just think, at the time, there was no combination or multifunction meters available.
According to Wikipedia, “The AVO-Meter, the worldâ€Ös first multi-meter, was launched in 1923. AVO multi-meters were to remain in continuous production for more than 85 years. Every product range eventually comes to the end of its life and late in 2008, production of the iconic AVO 8 Mk7 analogue multi-meter finally ceased. Production did not cease due to lack of demand but came about due to the impossibility of obtaining components needed to build it.”
This whole presentation came about because of Lionelâ€Ös need to test a few valves for the club.
Having an AVO - VCM 2 valve tester, physically in excellent condition, complete with “Valve Data Manual 2” it would seem a relatively easy process. There was one known resistor that smoked rather heavily a few years earlier but it should only be a five minute repair… Deep down I have a feeling that Lionel knew that these were Famous Last Words! Hihi
Seeing the AVO – VCM 1 was brought out in 1948 and this model 2 was manufactured in 1951 it had 73 years under its belt. Thatâ€Ös a long time especially where precision component longevity was needed for measurement accuracy and repeatability. Fixing the blown resistor was just the start. Lionel walked us through the steps required to repair and re calibrate the AVO valve tester starting at step 1: Check the main meter. The magnet has probably lost some of its mojo or magnetism. Well thatâ€Ös one that wasnâ€Öt uppermost in my mind and proved to be a very important place to start. When Lionel tested his meter for Full Scale Deflection or FSD, current had increased from 440 uA when manufactured to about 600 uA when tested, thatâ€Ös a large variation. Adjusting R24 for FSD fixes where the needle is but upsets the entire meters calibration. Just think of the number of component divider chains……
Lionel continued through his component testing and replacement and we were finally taken through the testing of an actual valve provided by Peter VK7KPC, from his WW2 Wireless Set 62. The valve passed!
Thank you Lionel, this was an amazingly interesting journey, some things just arenâ€Öt as easy as they look initially to an outsider!
To be carried over till next week: we have a battery powered temperature controlled soldering station and a Ten-Tec Jupiter transceiver. Plus have a look at the picture of the mystery device, possibly a single valve something? Any ideas?
As always, pictures will be available on the NTARC Web site under “Blogs” for this broadcast. NTARC Blogs
https://www.ntarc.net/blogs
NTARC QSL Cards - Andrew VK7DW, our QSL manager has advised me that there has been a recent delivery of QSL cards to the club rooms for the following. VK7â€Ös AT, AU, DON, GC, HBR, JFD, KW, MAT, MX, ZPE and ZR. If you just heard your call-sign then there are cards waiting at the NTARC club rooms for collection on the next Coffee morning or Technical Night. Thank you Herman for your continued support regarding QSL deliveries and thank you Andrew for the update.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Mid-year Club get-together and meal – This coming Wednesday night, the 10th of July. The venue is the Iron Horse Bar and Grill located at 468 Westbury Rd, Prospect Vale, Launceston. We will be arriving at 6pm for a 6:30 meal. If you have made a last minute decision to attend, please e-mail or notify the Secretary by Wednesday mid-afternoon so catering can be adjusted. See you there.
Finally - A reminder to all members that if you have any items of news you would like added to our weekly roundup, no matter how trivial, then please email them to the Secretary at the following address news(at)ntarc.net all items to be received no later than 5 pm on the Friday prior to the Broadcast.
Thatâ€Ös all folks,
73 from Stefan, VK7ZSB, Secretary NTARC Inc.
--------------------------------
NEWS FROM THE SOUTH
Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmania
https://www.reast.asn.au/
https://www.facebook.com/reasttas/
https://www.youtube.com/reasthobart/
July Fun Activity - Amateur Radio Quiz Night
Last Wednesday night was a great fun night of the REAST Amateur Radio Quiz Night. Hosted by Hayden VK7HH from Ham Radio DX fame there were four rounds starting with a Tassie Ham Radio quiz round. The winner of that round was Juzzie. We then went into the next round called “This is Rigged” and the winner was Yeti Radio. The third round was REAST Presentation Nights and the winner was Greg VK7GM and the fourth round was Ham General Knowledge and the winner was Lance VK7ZA and received a golden crown!
We tested peopleâ€Ös knowledge, had some great fun and we even had some fantastic prizes including two sports cars, frozen ice-cream from NASA and a no-expense spared golden jewel encrusted crown thanks to Xavier VK7XHJ.
Thanks to Hayden VK7HH and Kyle AA0Z for the use of his Kahoot Account.
If you missed the action then there is a video that can be found on Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMwffYXq2tw
73, Justin, VK7TW
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July Forum Night - Contesting
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/upcoming-events/?event_id1=2313
This forum night will focus on amateur radio contesting in all its forms.
It will be held in the Queen's Domain clubrooms from 7:30pm and will be streamed.
Come along with your stories of contesting, award certificates, special contesting hardware and software and show them to the eager forum crowd.
Be prepared to share your experiences, special tricks of the trade and contest folklore.
7:30pm, Wednesday 10th July, 2024 in the Queen's Domain Clubrooms and Streamed.
See you there.
73, REAST Committee
--------------------------------
August Presentation
My Life in the Lighthouse Service with Mike VK7FB
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/upcoming-events/?event_id1=2204
To coincide with the International Lighthouse and LightShip Weekend (ILLW) - REAST's August Presentation night will be a wonderful wander through the life of Mike Jenner VK7FB and focus on his time with the Lighthouse Service.
Mike was lighthouse keeper on four of Tasmania's Lighthouses and Mike will take us through his experience in words, pictures and video.
A huge thank you to Mike and this should be a fascinating insight into life when lighthouses had people stationed at the actual lighthouses to looking after and maintaining the lights.
See you there on 7th August 2024 from 7:30pm in the Queen's Domain clubrooms and the presentation will also be streamed via the REAST YouTube Streaming channel.
73, REAST Committee
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August Forum Night - DX Chasing
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/upcoming-events/?event_id1=2337
This forum night will focus on chasing that DX contact - rare, not-rare or just extending your signalâ€Ös distance.
Did you know DX literally means “Long Distance” and so bring your experiences, skills and equipment that you use to get your signal even further around the globe.
It will be held in the Queen's Domain clubrooms from 7:30pm and will be streamed.
Come along with your stories of “that” DX contact, bring along your award certificates, special DX hardware and software and show them to the eager forum crowd.
Be prepared to share your experiences, special tricks of the trade and DX mythology.
7:30pm, Wednesday 14th August, 2024 in the Queen's Domain Clubrooms and Streamed.
See you there.
73, REAST Committee
--------------------------------
September Presentation Night - Visit to CMS
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/upcoming-events/?event_id1=2341
REAST members have been invited to visit the Channel Men's Shed (CMS) at.
The CMS is a huge facility filled with metal, wood, plastics, electronics and amateur radio tools. They even have a huge commercial kitchen where they prepare meals for Kingston Helping Hands.
https://www.channelmenshed.org.au/
We have have been invited for a guided tour of the shed and a sausage sizzle ($2 a snag).
There are many of their members who are also a member of REAST and they are keen to show off their impressive facilities.
See you there from 6:30pm on Wednesday 4th September 2024 at 24 Van Morey Road Margate.
If you need a ride let a committee member know and we will organise a lift down to Margate.
73, REAST Committee.
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September Forum Night - Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/upcoming-events/?event_id1=2348
This forum night will focus on the role of amateur radio when the apocalypse hits!
How prepared are we as amateur radio operators for when that Extreme Space Weather event - like the 1859 Carrington Event hits, power off for extended periods, HF propagation is poor, EFTPOS doesn't work, internet not available, mobile phones and communications systems fail.
It will be held in the Queen's Domain clubrooms from 7:30pm and will be streamed.
Come along with your show and tell, batteries, solar panels/charging systems, generators, emergency radios, emergency power solutions. Bring your stories of fighting off the zombie apocalypse - Cargo Style! https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3860916/
Be prepared to share your experiences, special tricks of the trade and zombie folklore.
7:30pm, Wednesday 11th September, 2024 in the Queen's Domain Clubrooms and Streamed.
See you there.
73, REAST Committee
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Wednesday Experimenter's Group
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2rbftJJojg
We are in recess for two weeks as we have our forum night this week.
See you back in the studio on 17th July 2024.
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/live-stream/
https://www.reast.asn.au/special-interest-groups/amateur-tv/
https://www.youtube.com/c/ReastHobart/
See you there or on the stream.
73, Justin, VK7TW
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REAST Training and Assessments Update
Foundation Training and Assessment Days are held every two months.
Standard, Advanced, and Regulations licence assessments held on the alternate months. Dates can be found on the REAST Events Page.
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/upcoming-events/
The upcoming assessment dates for Standard, Advanced, and Regulations Licence Assessment Days (Saturdays):
27 July 2024
28 September 2024
30 November 2024
Foundation Training and Assessment Days (Saturdays):
24 August 2024
26 October 2024
For Bookings, Queries, and Questions:
Email: reast.assessor(at)gmail.com
This email is forwarded to the Learning Organiser, who will respond to all requests.
Next Standard, Advanced, or Regulations Licence Assessment Day:
Saturday, 27th July 2024, from 10 am.
Please inform the team ASAP via email at reast.assessor(at)gmail.com or by calling Reg Emmett (VK7KK), REAST Learning Organiser, at 0417 391 607.
Foundation Licence Training Videos:
These have been updated to reflect the new Class Licence arrangements. Available on the REAST YouTube Training and Assessment Playlist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiSE6GEhcXU&list=PLsnsP_zjw831mdC6sY4XqavRUY-53ZWUn
Additional Resources:
Check out the WIA Foundation Trial Exams.
https://www.wia.org.au/licenses/foundation/onlineexams/foundation.php
73, Reg, VK7KK
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Regular VK7 gatherings and events over the coming months:
Regular gatherings:
Sewing Circle Net – Daily on 3.640MHz commences at 6:30pm AEST.
Statewide SSTV Net - held every Thursday night via the North/South Link on VK7RAF/VK7RJG from 7:30pm. In the North and North West - VK7RJG on 438.55 -7MHz and in the South - VK7RAF (146.650 -600kHz) CTCSS tone 141.3Hz to link RAF North-South.
State-wide – MICROWAVE QSO Party – following the Sunday broadcast call-back on 1296.15 MHz FM. One group in the greater Hobart area and another in the greater Launceston area.
Then North-south digital contacts on 1296.2MHz using Q65-60B.
Stations in the Launceston area transmitting on the odd minute. Southern stations on the even minute.
REAST - WAGs - Wednesday Afternoon Group from 12 noon in the REAST Clubrooms Queenâ€Ös Domain.
REAST - WEGs - Wednesday Experimenterâ€Ös Group from around 6pm with DATV show starting at 7:30pm in the REAST Clubrooms Queenâ€Ös Domain.
SOTA/WWFF Group – Meeting Mondays and Fridays 10.30-12.00 midday at Glebe Gardens Cafe, Henry St, Launceston.
NTARC - TestNet and TechNet sessions every Wednesday night. TestNet/CW course on 3.580MHz from 7pm till 7.30pm and a TechNet on 3.567MHz from 7.30pm till about 8.30pm
NTARC Coffee Mornings held every Friday in the NTARC Club rooms. Time is from 10am to noon in the Rocherlea Clubrooms.
NW VK7 – Wednesday from 8:00pm local – NW Tassie Amateur Repeater Group Net on 2m VK7RMD - Input 146.025 output 146.625 tone 141.3
NW VK7 - Thursday commencing at 8:30pm local - N.W. Tassie 2m DX Net 144.190 USB
Events:
NTARC - July 10 - Mid-year Club get-together and meal at the Iron Horse Bar and Grill located at 468 Westbury Rd, Prospect Vale from 6pm.
REAST - July 10 - Contesting Forum from 7:30pm - Queenâ€Ös Domain clubrooms and streamed.
REAST - August 7 - My life as a Lighthouse Keeper with Mike VK7FB from 7:30pm in the Queen's Domain clubrooms and via the REAST YouTube streaming channel.
REAST - August 14 - DX Chasing Forum from 7:30pm - Queenâ€Ös Domain clubrooms and streamed.
REAST - September 4 - REAST visits the Channel Menâ€Ös Shed 24 Van Morey Road Margate from 6:30pm
REAST - September 11 - Surviving the Apocalypse - Radio Prepper / EmComm Forum from 7:30pm - Queens Domain clubrooms and streamed
VK - November 2-3 - Tassie Ham Conference - Innovation in Amateur Radio - Sandy Bay Campus UTAS
--------------------------------
A reminder to those people rostered for next weekâ€Ös broadcast:
Newsreader: VK7ZIR
Repeaters: REAST, NTARC and in the NW thanks to N W T A R C, West Coast Radio Group, Cradle Coast Radio Amateur Radio Club, VK7AX, VK7JH and VK7DC
160m: VK7GS
80m: VK7TPE
40m: VK7ALH
20m: VK7JGD
10m: VK7DG
UHFCB24: VK7FMAC
DMR: Talk Group 5 and D-Star: Reflector 91C VK3PG
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A huge thank you to all people and organisations that assisted with this broadcast.
--------------------------------
That wraps up this week's edition of the VK7 Amateur Radio News. We hope you found it informative and enjoyable?
You've been listening to VK7WI, or if youâ€Öve just tuned in, you've just missed our live broadcast. But donâ€Öt worry! You can catch the
rebroadcast on Tuesday night at 8:00pm on repeaters VK7RAA in Northern VK7 and VK7RHT and UHFCB24 in the South.
We encourage you to share your news, stories, and updates with us. Email your contributions to vk7arnews(at)gmail.com.
For more information about the broadcast and to join the discussion, visit our VK7 Amateur Radio News Groups.IO Group.
groups.io/g/vk7arnews.
Remember, the deadline for submissions is 21:00 on the Friday before the Sunday broadcast.
Stay tuned for callbacks on the frequency youâ€Öre currently listening to. Relay stations will use their own callsigns during this time.
On behalf of the entire VK7 Amateur Radio News Team, this is Mike, VK7FB, wishing you 73. Stay safe and have a fantastic week!
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(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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