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

This week saw HADARC Members participating in the Great November Recalibrate.

At this session we used top-of-the-line test gear to accurately check Voltage, Current and Resistance. We had nice gear including a Fluke 1664FC meter accurate to 10 milli-ohms and also a Yokogawa CA-11E care of Walter VK2WB as a very accurate way to source voltage. We put our meters to the test and found that our Fluke multi-meters were indeed very accurate but others may round up or round down and are less accurate.

We had a lot of fun using a Power supply from a electronics retailer that had a digital voltage display and used 5 separate Multi-meters to see what voltage each meter read. Yes, all five meters showed different voltages, but three of the well regarded branded meters were indeed very close to one another. In all cases the display on the power supply did not match the 5 multi-meters. It was over stated. When was the last time you checked your own power supply voltages? Its certainly worth the check to make sure it’s still a solid 13.8Volts.

Then we moved to resistance testing of leads. We found poor leads had 1.4 ohms resistance and good leads were close to zero ohms. Please go check your leads today ! Maybe its time to do a re-solder and resolve those losses away prior to Christmas.

All in all it was a good night.

Next monthly meeting HADARC will enter the realm of Aerospace engineering and hear from a real Rocket Scientist. This is truly a unique event where 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.

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

This week saw HADARC Members participating in the CQ World Wide contest. Peter VK2PX using his event callsign VL2W, took on the contest with enthusiasm. He worked Morocco, Alaska and Point Verde to name a few. Conditions on 20 meters, 15 meters and 10 meters were outstanding and for those who listened or exchanged country numbers, it was a great way to engage in amateur radio.

Have you noticed conditions are improving? Perhaps it’s time to get your antenna just a bit higher or replace that somewhat patchy patch lead.

With thanks to Stephen, VK2KHA and Andrew, VK2TAN HADARC has recently made updates to its Web site. The site now contains many helpful links to amateur radio resources. Resource sections include Antennas, Electronics and even a “Just Interesting” section was added as well. Please have a look at our site and perhaps in your own Club add a section for links to topics that promote Amateur Radio.

Next HADARC meeting is our mid-monthly meeting taking place next Tuesday the 8th November at 8pm. We are calling this meeting the “Great November Recalibrate”. We will have top-of-the-line test gear to accurately check Voltage, Current and Resistance. So bring your analogue or digital multi-meters, wire or other leads and alligator clips and see how lossy cables are or how accurate your test gear is vs precision test gear.

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

73’s - Let’s keep radio-active!

Matt / VK2BAI

HADARC President

Due to a late plane fight we had to defer HADARC’s  Rocket Scientist presentation. Alexander Ryan, CEO of VXB Aerospace will now present at our November meeting, so stay tuned for updates as we get closer to the event.

This week we heard from Stephen, VK2KHA who outlined recent updates to the HADARC Web site. The site now contains many helpful links to amateur radio resources. Sections include Antennas, Electronics and even a “Just Interesting” section was added as well. Please have a look at our site and perhaps in your own Club add a section for links to topics that promote Amateur Radio as well.

Also in the meeting we heard from Chris, VK2YMW outlining his recent overseas trip. He showed us the Radio Room of the USS Iowa warship and an amazing presentation showing its massive size and capability. The main conning tower control room armour is 17.3 inches thick – just incredible.

We heard from Matt, VK2BAI on the setup and design of the Hy-Gain AV-640 antenna. This design optimised RF performance by placing coil at the top of the antenna and has 4 levels of capacitive loading hats.

Finally, Rod VK2DAY auctioned off some great gear and perhaps questionable old gear for bargain prices. This was a great way to wrap up a top evening.  

We were pleased to have another new member join HADARC. Welcome to Kevin, VK2VKB.

Next meeting is our mid-monthly meeting taking place on 8th November. We are calling this meeting the “Great November Recalibrate”. We will have top of the line test gear to accurately check Voltage, Current and Resistance. So bring your multi-meters, wire or other leads and alligator clips and see how lossy cables are or how accurate your gear is vs precision test gear.    

HADARC welcomes Members and guests to attend all its meetings.  

73’s - Let’s keep radio-active.

Matt / VK2BAI

HADARC President

This week, HADARC members plugged in their soldering irons and made up some 1:1 Baluns. It was impressive to see VK2XWB’s efforts were rewarded after testing his balun to 30Mhz and having an SWR of 1.2:1 – nice work Walter.

Rod VK2DAY has always been influential, but this time he has taken HADARC’s next event to Galactic levels. Yes, Rod has secured an influential Rocket Scientist for the Monthly meeting on 25th October, starting at 8pm at Mount Colah.

Alexander Ryan 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. Has previously developed and tested a small rf plasma thruster. His UHF engineering and simulation of plasma skills are cutting edge.

Alex will be presenting where Australia stands in the ever-growing Aerospace Industry.

Don't miss this unique event where HADARC Members are invited to bring a guest or friends who have an interest in Science, Rockets and Radio! 

Let’s keep radio-active.

Matt / VK2BAI

HADARC President