News Brief for Sun 1st October 2023

Hello Club Members, Fellow Amateur Operators, and Everyone,
This is John, VK5RJ with this week’s news from AHARS.

The analysis on the questionnaire has been performed, and once the committee has had a chance to discuss and absorb the results, we may publish them for all to read… Stay tuned!

The presentation on Project Horus and the Balloon Launches by the AREG club was really interesting. A great presentation, thanks Mark (VK5QI), and Mark has given us the URL for where we can look at the slides. 

Go to
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1npKo7lpk6nhOFOPPoNSjpB84wlNHGJtHEilcx3XQzLE/edit?usp=sharing

I have heard on the grapevine from Tony (VK5FBIC) who visited Phil (VK5SRP) in Modbury Hospital today that he is doing quite well. We all wish him the best and as speedy a recovery as can be possibly had in his current situation. I am sure we all feel deeply concerned for Pat and Phil at this time!
There will be NO October Saturday Tech Session held, due to a prior booking for the Hall. So take the day off and mow the lawn instead!

Also, don’t forget that if you would be interested in taking part in a workshop with Kieth (VK5OQ) to build a balun suitable for an Off-Centre-Fed (OCF) dipole to drop me an email at president@AHARS.au. We are planning to have this as our Saturday Session for December, and we are hoping to put together a whole kit to assemble on the day. We are hoping that the kit will be in the vicinity of $30-35 for everything.

We are still firming up the details for the follow-up “Telescopes in the Park” evening with Kym Thalassoudis, The plan is to hold it on a Saturday Evening (proposed for Sat 21st October) at the Goodwood Orphanage park. A Chicken, Chips and Salad sumptuous repast for a modest fee of around $5 each will be provided.  Wives and partners definitely invited. There will be a limited number of places available (approximately 30 people), and it is planned to have a number of telescopes for people to have a look through, as well as a large screen monitor to show Kym’s Electronically Enhanced Astronomy software output in real time.  There will be a special booking site (Eventbrite) to register on, and it is expected that those wishing to participate will pre-pay by direct deposit into the AHARS Bank account. There will be an emergency number advertised in case the weather turns inclement and the event cannot go ahead.  Clouds and rain do not mix with telescopes outside! Bring your chairs and a table to make it easier to eat your dinner!

The AHARS Annual Dinner is to be held on the 19th of November this year at the Belair Hotel.

Unfortunately due to building renovations, we may not be in the same location as previous years, but we are sure that they will do all they can to accommodate us appropriately as a group.

After a flurry of emails when Gaggle mail was opened up last weekend, it has all seemed to settle down and I feel that it can be used in a respectful manner so as to not cause too much spam to the general membership. The moderators will try to keep it all under control and within reasonable bounds.

The information for our regular weekly nets is:

Monday night AHARS 2 metre net. 
147.00MHz on VK5RAD at 20:00 It is a general chat about what we have all been doing and anything that is of interest. It is open to all registered Amateur Operators, and we especially welcome new and recently licensed people, to join in and become comfortable with being on air.  Also interstate and other visiting operators are welcome. You don’t have to be an AHARS Member to join in, so come up and make yourself known.

Boat Anchor Net. 
Conducted by VK5LB (Dean) on 3.62 MHz every Tuesday evening at 19:30   One of the longest running Nets on the airwaves anywhere!  Come up and say Hello if you have 80 metre capability!

ANZA DX Net
The ANZA (Australian, New Zealand and Africa) net runs every day on 14.183MHZ at 0515UTC with an early check in at 0500UTC.  It is a list net, so you have to wait your turn to give reports, etc. There are check-ins from all over the world (anywhere from 15 to 35 per day) and it would be a great platform for those working towards their DXCC awards.  Paul, VK5PAS and Shirley VK5YL alternate as net controllers on Thursday, which is Ladies Day, but all are welcome any day.

As always, if you have anything of interest, or any exciting news, please let me know so we can share things with all our members.

And don’t forget to check out the AHARS web-site and the AHARS Facebook Group page.

Well, that's all for now from me, so stay happy and keep making contacts, and stay away from COVID and other nasty bugs.
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Cheers & 73 from VK5RJ and AHARS for this week.