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7285kHz AM?
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VK3 microwave activity day |
Posted by: VK3ALB - 17-03-2018, 12:54 PM - Forum: Contests, Field Days, Portable Operation, JOTA, SOTA
- Replies (2)
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Hi All,
Rob VK3MQ has called a microwave activity day on the morning of April 2nd. Yes, that's Easter Monday but it is what it is and I'm sure we could all do with a bit more fun on the bands. You may have read about it on the Yahoo VK-Microwave mailing list but for those that are not members here is the gist of it
Hi Folks,
It has been some years now since the last VK3 2.4GHz QSO Party, but now it is BACK.
This time with 1296MHz and 3398MHz or anything else you might like to try.
The event will be held on Easter Monday 2018, April 2, between the hours 1000 and 1200 E.A.S.T.
Liaison Frequencies: 144.180 MHz USB, 146.500MHz FM simplex and 147.000MHz FM (VK3RGL repeater)
Calling Frequencies: xxxx.150 Mhz USB, xxxx.225 MHz JT4f (or FT8?)
You can use the time to test a new portable location, evaluate a new rig or antenna, swap a picture on SSTV, try a digital mode or just have FUN!
I look forward to working you all.
73's Rob VK3MQ
Three of us, Matt VK3PP and Chris VK3ACG and myself will be operating from the hills above Portarlington (QF21HV70) on the Bellarine Peninsula. We have a magnificent view of the bay and the hills surrounding Melbourne out to Ballarat, the You Yangs, Mt Macedon, Kinglake, the Dandenongs and around to the Mornington Peninsula and beyond. The view to our west is obscured by our hill but you never know, we may just hear you.
Don't forget to register your intentions on Contest Radar so people know where you are. I suggest you register no later than Sunday night to give those without internet access in the field a chance to download and print a list of stations first thing Monday morning.
The chance of interstate contacts is probably minimal but that shouldn't stop anyone from doing their own thing in their own region. You may recall the chatter that came out of the the 3.4GHz days a few years ago. I reckon we could all do with a bit more happiness like that.
Thanks to Rob VK3MQ for his initiative and showing us that it's pretty easy to get an activity day running. Tell your friends and hope to hear you out there.
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MW Broadcast QRM on 160m |
Posted by: VK4AQJ - 17-03-2018, 08:59 AM - Forum: LF, HF, MF
- Replies (8)
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I have a problem with this one local broadcaster on 927kHz AM. it's about time they phased out MW AM like they are doing in Europe. The sound quality is abysmal anyway. (rant over). That's the only one that causes problems for me. Being local, the strength of the signal is obviously swamping the bandpass filters in the rig.
I have had thoughts about using an L-C series resonant circuit at 927 kHz. So the 927kHz signal would be intercepted and sent to ground.
I've seen examples of high pass filters being used, but I also operate on 630m, and don't want to have to switch the filter in and out every time I change bands.
Has anybody else had experience with eliminating AM broadcast QRM? I will probably have to use a relay circuit to bypass the filter on transmit.
The other concern is that even though the second harmonic from the broadcaster is reported as 50dB down, that may not be enough, and no amount of filtering at 927kHz will address a second harmonic at 1854kHz.
- Jim
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A GASH IN THE SUN'S ATMOSPHERE - March 2018 |
Posted by: VK4ADC - 14-03-2018, 01:16 PM - Forum: Propagation and Solar Cycle News
- Replies (2)
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A GASH IN THE SUN'S ATMOSPHERE:
A canyon-like hole has opened in the sun's atmosphere, and it is spewing a broad stream of solar wind toward Earth. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory is monitoring the structure:
This is a "coronal hole"--a region where the sun's magnetic field opens up and allows solar wind to escape. Coronal holes appear, in various shapes and forms, several times each month. This one is unusually wide, stretching more than 800,000 km across the face of the sun.
NOAA forecasters say there is a 55% chance of G1-class geomagnetic storms when the solar wind stream arrives on March 14th or 15th. G1-class storms are relatively minor and have little effect on satellites and global power grids. However, they can disorient animals that migrate using magnetic cues at high latitudes and usually spark bright auroras around the Arctic Circle.
From http://www.spaceweather.com/
PS :
Some media outlets have reported that Earth is expecting a “massive magnetic storm” on March 18. That’s wrong, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). And they would know: Not only does NOAA help people build forecasts for weather here on Earth, they also predict space weather events like geomagnetic storms.
"This story is not plausible in any way, shape or form," Bob Rutledge, who leads NOAA's Space Weather Forecast Center, told Newsweek via e-mail. "Things are all quiet for space weather, and the sun is essentially spotless."
The magnetic storm’s “imminent” arrival was one of Monday morning’s top science news stories, according to Google News. But most coverage appeared to be based on a misinterpretation of a chart posted on Russia’s Lebedev Institute’s website showing a minor uptick in geomagnetic activity on the 18th. That elevated activity is expected to be a minor storm at most. (NOAA’s forecast shows similar readings.)
From : http://www.newsweek.com/no-massive-geoma...-18-840647
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PSK31 Where Has It Gone ?? |
Posted by: VK4CCV - 10-03-2018, 09:26 PM - Forum: Digital Modes
- Replies (6)
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Hi All,
Have had a short break from Amateur Radio (2 Years).
I used to work PSK31 regularly, but on my return I am having trouble
finding PSK31.
It appears that it has been replaced my another mode, which is very common where PSK used to run.
What mode would this be?
Pete
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How do newcomers in VK become radio amateurs? (some history) |
Posted by: VK4ADC - 10-03-2018, 05:41 PM - Forum: W.I.A. / ITU / IARU
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How do newcomers become radio amateurs?
At the 2002 WIA Convention, a visitor from the RSGB, Geoffrey Booth G8DZJ as I recall, described the RSGBs new education system. At that time, the Australian system had 5 levels. Morse was on its way out world-wide; without Morse, the Australian system would devolve to three levels. The RSGB system had three levels, and its lowest level was below Australias entry level - a ready-made, new, entry course, Woo Hoo!
Education in the UK is based on the Education Act of 1870, which was really a way of saving children from death by factory. It is a competitive system, based on Teaching Objectives. Your achievement was measured by closed-book responses in a fixed time - so, it measured recall and literacy, rather than technical knowledge. You got graded outcome levels, like FAIL, PASS, CREDIT
In 1990, TAFE was pioneering Competency-based Training (CBT); it was another form of competitive education, this time with only two outcomes - Competent or Not Yet Competent. Assessment did not require a fixed time. Competence was demonstrated by your getting a certain percentage of the Learning Outcomes correct.
Note: Teaching Objectives are what the teacher wants to achieve; Learning Outcomes are what students want to achieve. Theyre seldom the same.
Ron Smith, VK4AGS (now SK) was also at that 2002 Convention. He was the WIA Federal Education Co-ordinator and ran the Education column in AR mag for several years till his untimely death. As a senior lecturer in engineering at UCQ, Ron had hands-on experience with Problem-Based Learning (PBL). He sent me many PBL research papers from teaching colleagues around the world - I found strong resonance: For my motor vehicle racing licence, my peers, on the track at the same time as me, assessed me. When doing my MBA at UNSW, my fellow students assessed me in some subjects. During my research in hospitals, I saw budding clinicians assessed by their peers. While training to be a Lawn Tennis coach, once again, I was assessed by my peers. Under PBL, the teacher is really a facilitator; students decide their own learning outcomes and methods, and their peers assess them - hence, the Learning and Assessment go together; PBL is a co-operative system. Research shows that students set and attain higher levels of competence than in the monolithic-classroom model. Another beauty of PBL is that students can choose their own areas of expertise - whether EME, ATV, SatComms, SDR, FT-8, JT65, Morse, RTTY, construction ... or ... camouflaged back-hand top-spin lob??
By 2004 we had three models - the RSGBs, TAFEs CBT and PBL. Whether due diligence was done on any, I dont know, but the WIA bought the RSGBs system and persuaded the ACA, it was a good thing. The WIA set up a Registered Training Organisation to administer this new system of Education and Assessment - allegedly along CBT lines, but with the UK notion of knowledge questions answered closed-book within a fixed time.
Any modern-day teacher can tell you that the present syllabus really just lists of teaching plan topics - is not equivalent to CBT Learning Outcomes. The present three-tier, linear model offers a single path to a hilltop that few new radio amateurs seek. Just look at the conversion rates from Foundation to Standard or Advanced. Some believe that 3 levels provide an incentive for candidates to access more bands and use more power. Did anyone ask candidates whether they saw graded levels as an incentive, or wanted the extra bands and power??
The theory in the present Foundation learning material pre-dates Einstein, Bohr, Heisenberg and Planck - but who needs atomic theory anyway? Is a radio amateur going to design a BJT, a FET or an IC? And there is not a skerrick of computing or digital comms at any AOCP level.
The new system has one benefit - new candidates for all levels must demonstrate practical ability to connect up a radio, and proper communication protocols. However, along with these safety-style items are open-book Regulations knowledge items that pen and paper, multi-guess could test, rather than invigilated surveillance of page turning.
In summary, I believe that we need to change the Learning Outcomes and the modes of Learning and Assessment: the present antediluvian syllabus needs flexibility and relevance Learning and Assessment must go hand in hand.
73 from Brian, VK2GCE.
From text edition for March 11 2018 - VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA : http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/wianews/
Also in MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2018-03-11.mp3
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Guy Fletcher Gridsquares Table Update |
Posted by: VK3HZ - 07-03-2018, 03:35 PM - Forum: Contests, Field Days, Portable Operation, JOTA, SOTA
- No Replies
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I plan to publish the next Gridsquares Table update on Sunday 25 March 2018.
Cutoff date for updates: Friday 23 March (midnight).
Early updates are appreciated, late updates cannot be included.
Note that stations should submit a total for all modes and/or a total for each single mode with an indication of the mode (Rule 3).
To make my life a little simpler, can you please only submit totals that have changed since the last update.
While normally any station not confirming his/her status at least once a year may be omitted from the table, that will obviously not apply in this instance.
Even if your total has not changed, you need to email me so I can reconfirm your interest in remaining in the table.
The guidelines are available on the Guy Fletcher Gridsquares Table page at: http://www.vk3hz.net/gridsquares/
Regards,
Dave
VK3HZ
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