CCARC NEWS 15-06
THE PERIODIC NEWSLETTER OF THE CENTRAL COAST AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
ISSUE No 15-06 27th February 2015
In this Issue:
- Wyong Field Day
- ARNSW Field Day, Sunday the 8th of March
- Enjoying Morse Code
- New Project HF Transceiver Kit
- RadioShack Closes Stores in Struggle to Survive
- History This Week
- Broke & fixed
- Reminders
1. Wyong Field Day
Wyong Field Day successfully completed for 2015. Many thanks to all volunteers who help make the event a success. Unfortunately the weather was unkind to us this year, putting a dampener on attendance, but it was still an enjoyable day.
Ed DD5LP/VK2JI has spotted this video of the Field Day on YouTube.
Shane VK2ABZ has uploaded these images taken at education on Saturday: http://coaic.smugmug.com/CCARC/Fieldday-Training-Day-201502/n-t2vvh/
From Mark VK2MP – We had a total of 16 people successfully gain/upgrade their licence during the field day weekend.
2. ARNSW Field Day, Sunday the 8th of March 2015
AR NSW is having their next field day here at Dural on Sunday the 8th of March 2015.
The topic is ‘digital modes’ and we are having three ‘world-class’ ‘speakers well versed in their respective fields.
The subjects are :-
P25
DMR radio
And D-star
Gates open at 9 am and first presentation at 10 am Free lunch with ice cream
Also, members may have the chance to order kevlar antenna wire or purchase some 1:1 and 4:1 baluns
Indicate your interest by email to fieldday@arnsw.org.au To order antenna wire or baluns, send an email to balun@arnsw.org.au and you can collect the order on the day.
Advised by Al Hirschel VK2KAM, Event commander for ARNSW.
3. Enjoying Morse Code
Morse Code Shiraz 2012. For the enjoyment of all. Best results achieved when used on both the transmitting and receiving end.
Exceedingly useful at CCARC barbeques.
Also see http://www.quintessentialwines.com/Morse-Code-Shiraz
Available from http://www.wine-searcher.com/wine-48135-0001-henry-s-drive-morse-code-shiraz-padthaway-australia
Contributed by Ken VK2HBM
4. New Project HF Transceiver Kit
Projects Officer Sam VK2ZZ has proposed an excellent new project. There is an article in Feb 2015 QST magazine on a kit for a portable HF transceiver from YouKits.
The TJ2B 2015 HF SSB CW Handheld Transceiver.
- Scheduled shipment time: Beginning of Mar. 2015
- TX:3 Ham band(40m/20m/17m) covering
- RX:5-25MHz
- New S meter display on screen
- CW function (added as so many request)
Sam is asking for expressions of interest for building the kit. Please contact Sam at faber dot sam at gmail dot com.
See YouKits TJ2B
5. RadioShack Closes Stores in Struggle to Survive
News reports recently cast a dark shadow over the future of RadioShack, which may not survive 2015.
Bloomberg Business reported that Radio Shack has lost money for eight straight quarters, and The Wall Street Journal said that the company is preparing for bankruptcy protection. RadioShack’s management responded to continuing losses by announcing it will close up to 1,100 stores across the United States. That will still leave the retailer with 4,000 U.S. stores, but the numbers are not particularly favorable toward the remaining stores.
The hard times that have befallen RadioShack seem to be the result of both shifting demographics and consumer tastes. When the company prospered in the 1970s and 1980s, it was one of the few reliable mainstream sources for popular items like CB radios, car stereos and audio components. For a long time, RadioShack had its own popular house brands for these products: Realistic and Optimus.
– See more at: http://www.tvtechnology.com/news/0086/radioshack-closes-stores-in-struggle-to-survive/274445
Contributed by Bob VK2XRF
History This Week
A look back at events that made history this week – compiled by the Summerland Amateur Radio Club of Lismore, NSW
Monday, 23 February, 2015
1675 – John Flamsteed appointed 1st Astronomer Royal of England
1790 – The modern shoestring (string and shoe holes) invented in England.
1837 – Thomas Davenport patented the first practical electrical motor.
1839 – W.S. Otis, Philadelphia, Penn., was issued a U.S. patent for the steam shovel
1885 – Eastman Film Co manufactures 1st commercial motion picture film.
1886 – Aluminum manufacturing process developed
1886 – London Times publishes world’s 1st classified ad.
1891 – London-Paris telephone connection opens.
1893 – Carborundum was patented by Edward G. Acheson of Monongahela, Penn.
1908 – Dutch scientists produce solid helium.
BROKE & FIXED
No items for Broke & Fixed this week – all CCARC infrastructure is operational.
REMINDERS
This section lists important announcements and possibly items from previous CCARC NEWS editions that are still current and may need your input:
Jaycar Tuggerah & Erina will give CCARC members a trade discount – approx 10% on purchases over $25. Make sure you ask for it.
Anyone reading this on the website who is not yet a member of the CCARC, please consider joining by emailing ccarc at ccarc dot org dot au for full details.
For submissions to this newsletter from CCARC club members please email the editor news-editor at ccarc dot org dot au
For what’s coming up in the next few months at the CCARC, please check the club calendar, accessible from the header on any page on the website.
Dave VK2DLS … News & Publicity Officer …
