HADARC’s mid monthly meeting was packed out. We had three visitors and a larger than usual membership turnout. 

The focus was on what software we can use to enhance our radio experiences and aid in the shack. Before we discuss what we learned, I must say there was a distraction as we opened up a storage cupboard and went through some old books and magazines. It was indeed popular and many were taken home to be read and enjoyed. Some dated back to the 1960’s.

Let’s have a look at some of the helpful Apps that were kindly shared by members and especially Carmel VK2CAR.

DMR Brandmeister Hoseline App. This app allows you to listen to many digital modes across the world. It runs on Android but not IOS.

Droidstar App. This software connects to M17, Fusion, DMR, P25, NXDN, D-STAR reflectors and AllStar nodes. Runs on Android by not IOS.

Windy App. This App allows weather analysis and visualisation and is really helpful to show lightening with sound and shaking of the phone when a strike hits anywhere across Australia. It Runs on Android and IOS.

Peanut App. On the Peanut you can talk with HAM amateurs around the world via an Android device, network radio or Windows PC. It’s not for IOS.

Spectoid App. Spectroid is a real-time audio spectrum analyzer with reasonable frequency resolution across the entire frequency spectrum. Runs on Andriod by not IOS.

Blitortung App provides real time lightening visualisation. Its runs on Android but not IOS.

So, if you want to find the source of that lightening crash, try an App. If you want to listen to some digital without spending a penny, then try one of these Apps.

HADARC Monthly meeting

Did you know that Commercial RTTY systems were in active service between San Francisco and Honolulu as early as April 1932 and between San Francisco and New York City by 1934? Hasn't digital radio come a long way since then!

Next Monthly meeting is to be held on March 28th at Mount Colah. We will hear from Rob VK2DIO. Rob will be presenting on Digital and how to use this new frontier of radio. Rob will be accompanied by Tony VK2BTL who will talk about the practicalities of his DMR, including the good the bad and ugly of the setup process. 

Finally, HADARC is pleased to have another new member join the club. Poojith YU3YPP is studying in Australia for a year and has joined HADARC to share his international and local experience on radio. Welcome Poojith !

We look forward to welcoming you joining at HADARC.

73’s for now. Let’s keep radio Active!

Matt VK2BAI

After the last successful Monthly Meeting discussing the Australian Signal Directorate 75 year anniversary, Nuclear Reactors and Morse Decoding we are all ready to get our hands dirty with the mid monthly experimenters evening.

This coming Tuesday we will be looking at Apps and Software to support Amateur Radio. We are sure that many club members will have tried loads of different software, so your experience and stories will be in great demand. Not just the good stories but what to avoid as well. Maybe it's a weather App or a SDR App or perhaps a great piece of software for modelling electronics. HADARC wants to know all about it.

Please bring you Phone, you Laptop or your computer to demonstrate what you like best and what actually works well. We will trade ideas and see how to make sure we have the best tools to take back home and test in the shack.

This week on the HADARC 40 Meter Net Rod VK2DAY was challenging members to make sure their antennas were metric vs imperial. He suggested metric antennas give more gain so I went outside and measured my vertical. It is indeed a metric antenna, so im feeling better it has improved gain. And of course there is no difference, but this is just a good example of how much fun the HADARC nets are each week.

Why not stop by and add you stories to the fun we already have.

Finally, Stay tuned for the next Monthly meeting in April – Rob VK2DIO will be taking us into the unexplored and exciting word of Digital Radio.

73’ for now, we look forward to chatting on air.

Lets keep radio active !

Matt VK2BAI

2023 launched with a big monthly Club evening at HADARC. The night started with an overview of the Australian Signal Directorate 75 year anniversary.

Did you know it was only in 2013 that the name Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) was established? Its origins were in the second world war, where we needed to intercept critical radio signals. In 1947 the Defence Signal Bureau was established in Melbourne. In 1992 it moved to Canberra.

ASD and Amateur Radio have a lot of parallels, with a shared history of Morse code, Radio and Communications. Signals Intelligence of course keep progressing and the use of Codes from Bletchley park to our own cyber code management continues to this day.

For those with an interest in this history, ASD have released a 75 year book, available on their web site

The Evening then moved to looking at a range of Technologies.

Chris VK2YMW lamented over the money spent on the development or nuclear power and reviewed its history. Chris presented the offer of a nuclear powered car that of course never eventuated he also showed us the 1958 vision pf a zero energy reactor, then in 1968 and enhanced reactor. I didn’t stop; in 1978 billions were being spent but no material results. Finally, Chris showed us a national Ignition Facility that used fission into a small target. It was nice to see 2 megajoules in and 3 megajoules out from the small device.

In conclusion Chris felt a just a few too many billions had been spent to date.

The meeting then moved to Decoding Morse. Matt VK2BAI ran a live survey and it was clear the largest issue preventing the use of morse was decoding it. People just found this hard. A solution was presented using the App call the Hot Paw Morse Decoder. This software worked well on a smart phone or on a iPad. A live demonstration was setup for people to decide their own morse code.

It must be said that Barry VK2AAB skills in morse is second to none. Barry almost melted the keyer with his morse sending, which was over 25 words per minute.

HADARC was pleased to have it members all together again at the Club rooms where we also signed up a new member.

We look forward to chatting on air or at a Club meeting.

Lets keep radio active !

73’s Matt VK2BAI

2023 has started well, with HADARC’s January BBQ still in the short term memory of Club members. It went so well that HADARC also decided that Valentine’s Day would be best served by a dinner at Magpies Waitara, with a strong member turnout. While no new romances were reported, there were some great conversations and many YL’s in attendance.

Next Monthly meeting will be on Tuesday 28th February. HADARC will be looking at Digital Communication. Rob VK2DIO and Tony VK2BTL will look at the theory and practical ways to use DMR and wider digital modes.

And DMR has been a hot topic of conversation lately with the changes to the VKDMR network. The time is right for a refresher on DMR. What do all those terms like Talkgroups, Timeslots and Codeplugs really mean? What is the difference between DMR+ and Brandmeister? How do Hotspots work? Rob VK2DIO will attempt to make sense of it all and provide a pragmatic approach to getting started with DMR. And making sure Rob does not get carried away, Tony VK2BTL will tell how he went setting up his DMR radio – the good, the bad and the ugly. Together the digital dynamic duo will certainly be a Club evening not to miss.

So please join us at the next Monthly at HADARC on the  28th February at 8pm at Mount Colah – please add it to your calendar.

Other HADARC news

HADARC was successful in receiving a NSW Government grant for a Solar upgrade to its Story Park repeater site. While we wait for the funds to arrive in our accounts, project plans are being developed for this exciting initiative.

Do you work hard on learning Morse Code? I stumbled across a very helpful site that has a lot of ways to learn or try Morse. You can type text and it will replay morse. You can speak and it will send morse. Finally, you can send morse using your mouse or keyboard. Why not have a look and try this easy and risk free way to learn some morse. Please stop by the HADARC Web site to click the link under our Links page for this great tool.

If you want to try it direct, the site is: morsecode.world

That's all for this week.

Let keep Radio Active,

73’s

Matt VK2BAI

HADARC will hold its “start the year” BBQ next Tuesday the 24th January at the Hornsby Manly Target Rifle Club, Rosamond St, Hornsby. Grant VK2ZOO has kindly worked with the club to allow us to use the facilities. The BBQ will start at 6pm – please come and join in a great evening of fine sausage dining and radio stories.

In December, HADARC President, Matthew VK2BAI, was pleased to receive a letter from the NSW Government approving funding for a solar and battery upgrade to the VK2RNS Storey Park repeater site. Rob VK2DIO will lead a team to project manage the upgrade and how to best use the funds for the long term benefit of all Amateurs.

In January, Rob VK2DIO and Steve VK2AAV replaced the VK2RNS 2 meter repeater with a Tait transceiver. Feedback has been excellent and we would welcome Amateurs across Sydney trying the repeater and provide us feedback via the HADARC web site. VK2RNS repeater is on 147.250 so please let us know signal strengths at your QTH.

HADARC looks forward to catching up with Club members and guests on the weekly Club nets.

73’s - Let’s keep radio-active!

In January, it is customary that HADARC holds a BBQ get together to start the new year. We have locked in January 24th for the BBQ and will meet at the Hornsby Manly Target Rifle Club, Rosamond St, Hornsby. Grant VK2ZOO has kindly worked with the club to allow us to use the facilities. Please see the HADARC Web site and QUA Magazine for further details.

Starting a new year brings new opportunities for Amateurs. At HADARC, Tony VK2BTL has been working on a new DMR setup. We are looking forward to hearing more of his lessons at the next meeting in February. We also have early news from Jack VK2PCH that his new antenna setup coupled with a common mode balun choke as reduced his home QTH noise floor by 1-2 ‘S-points’. Nice work Jack.

In the past 10 days, Rob VK2DIO and Steve VK2AAV replaced the VK2RNS 2 meter repeater with a Tait transceiver. Feedback has been excellent and we would welcome Amateurs across Sydney trying the repeater and provide us feedback via the HADARC web site. VK2RNS repeater is on 147.250 so please let us know signal strengths at your QTH.

HADARC looks forward to catching up with Club members and guests on the weekly Club nets. Given it's a new year, maybe it’s time to consider starting a 2023 Radio project.

73’s - Let’s keep radio-active!

HADARC its Club Christmas lunch at Magpies and had a whopping 28 people attend. Many 807’s were consumed and radio stories seemed to get amplified as the afternoon went on. Apart from awards being presented, its was a great way to celebrate a big year and catchup with friends.

At the Christmas party, the HADRAC Committee was pleased to make a special announcement. A letter from the NSW Premier, Mr Dominic Perrottet confirmed that HADARC’s detailed grant application for solar panels and battery storage at the Story Park repeater site has been approved. HADARC also gained Hornsby Council approval via the Mayor’s office. This is the largest Government investment in HADARC’s history.

In January, it is customary that HADARC hold a BBQ get together to start the new year. We have locked in January 24th for the HADARC BBQ and will meet at the Hornsby Manly Target Rifle Club who have kindly allowed us to use their club facility. Please see the HADARC Web site and QUA Magazine for further details.

Over the coming weeks with no formal activities planned, please make sure you keep in contact with Club members on the weekly Club nets and by a friendly phone call to say hello. Maybe it’s time to finish a project and call a colleague to give you a hand sorting out any shack problems.

The HADARC Committee wishes all its members and the wider Radio Community a relaxing and well deserved Christmas holiday season.

On a final note, did you know that new antennas and radio gear are all approved by Santa to put under your tree. Let’s hope you manage to sneak a new piece of gear under the tree from a mystery relative.

73’s - Let’s keep radio-active!

HADARC will hold its Club Christmas lunch this weekend at Magpies in Waitara. This is our last formal Club function this year. It will be a fun afternoon of great radio stories over a relaxed lunch and a few 807’s. There are rumours that a few special things will happen at this event, so please come long and join in the festivities.

In January it is customary that HADARC hold a BBQ get together to start the new year. As the details are finalised, we will communicate this to Members via the Broadcast, QUA Magazine and the HADARC Web site.

Over the coming weeks with no formal activities planned, please make sure you keep in contact with Club members on the weekly Club nets and by a friendly phone call to say hello. Maybe it’s time to finish a project and call a colleague to give you a hand sorting out any shack problems.

The HADARC Committee wishes all its members and the wider Radio Community a relaxing and well deserved holiday season.

On a final note, did you know that new antennas and radio gear are all approved by Santa to put under your tree. Let’s hope you manage to sneak a new piece of gear under the tree from a mystery relative.

73’s - Let’s keep radio-active!

HADARC opened this week’s meeting hearing from ChrisVK2YMW. Chris reflected on the massive Carrington Event in 1859 where a massive CME blew industrial size transformers and caused such an over-load that many systems failed. Chris suggested this was a good way to stop online scammers, but alas waiting for the next CME event may be a while, so perhaps just to keep your software up to date.  

This week HADARC members were treated to some of the most exciting and interesting use of Radio seen in a long time. Mr Alexander Ryan has developed and tested an RF plasma thruster using some of the most cutting edge processes known. Alex discussed the differences between chemical propulsion and electrical propulsion. Using accelerated charged particles in a electrical field, Alex was able to show the efficiency gains he was able to achieve. He mentioned it was 10 times more efficient to use this new technology. In his work, he developed a plasma soup and then used electrons and ions in the soup to be directed using an electrical field. He then described how he used tungsten to generate thermionic emissions and control the plasma. It sounded a lot like radio valves taken to the next level.

Finally, Alex discussed how he designed a helical antenna within a chamber and using a RF fields at 13.56Mhz, could generate a 600 watt thruster. What he had shown was that RF and plasma together could provide highly valuable propulsion for small satellites and payloads in space. Just incredible that radio is being used at the very frontiers of space.

We also found out that Alex’s grandfather was a past president of the WIA.

A special note of thanks to Rod VK2DAY, whom worked with Alex to attend HADARC. Rods work on the QUA Magazine is first class and his contribution to the club is greatly appreciated.

We are inching closer to the end of the year and HADARC will hold is Christmas function on the 10th December at Magpies in Waitara. Please contact Chris VK2YMW for your registration for a fun afternoon of your best radio stories over a relaxed lunch and a few 807’s. There are rumours that a few special things will happen at this event, so please stay posted.

HADARC welcomes Members and guests to attend all its regular meetings. Please see the Web site for details.

73’s - Let’s keep radio-active!

Matt / VK2BAI

HADARC President

We seem to be inching closer to the end of the year and HADARC will hold is Christmas function on the 10th December at Magpies in Waitara. Please contact Chris VK2YMW for your registration for a fun afternoon of your best radio stories over a relaxed lunch and a few 807’s. There are rumours that a few special things will happen at this event, so please stay posted.

Next monthly meeting HADARC, taking place this Tuesday will enter the realm of Aerospace engineering and hear from a real Rocket Scientist. This is the last monthly meeting of the year. At this is truly unique event, we will hear from Alexander Ryan. Alex is CEO of VXB Aerospace and an experienced Aerospace Engineer. He is in the final stages of his PhD in Aerospace Engineering and Physics at the University of Sydney.

Alex designs electric propulsion systems and has previously developed and tested a small RF plasma thruster. His UHF engineering and plasma skills are cutting edge.

Alex will be presenting where Australia stands in the ever-growing Aerospace Industry. We think the meeting will be a ‘blast’ and yes the pun was intended.

Please joint as a guest and ask your friends to attend as well. This is a great way to introduce people to radio with a great talk.

HADARC welcomes Members and guests to attend all its regular meetings.

73’s - Let’s keep radio-active!

Matt / VK2BAI

HADARC President