Author Archives: Ray - VK6ZRW

Roleystone – Q1 2012 Working Bee

The Roleystone Repeater site requires another Working Bee to do a bit of a tidy up and make some improvements to the installation.

With the installation of 3 new LDF5-50 up the 80m mast, the old rigid line needs to be removed and sold/disposed of.

Cable tray is required to tidy up the coax runs between the Radio Shack and the Tower. Ray VK6ZRW is looking into a source for materials.

After a prolonged ‘Mains Failure” around August 2011, two spare 80W Solar Panels were placed flat on the roof and connected to the main batteries by Heath VK6TWO. These will have to be mounted in a more robust and efficient way. Some redesign of the DC power/Batteries would also be worthwhile.

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Warradarge – New site for coverage to Geraldton

In November, Martin VK6ZMS, Heath VK6TWO and Monique VK6FMON traveled to a potential new site in Warradarge to assess the suitability for extending 2m Voice and APRS coverage up to Geraldton.

Warradarge is aproximately 260km north of Perth along the Brand Highway, and about 180km NLOS SSE of Geraldton.

A 10m mast was raised to enable some propagation/coverage testing from the 290m HASL Warradarge Hill.

The VK6RPT  2m APRS Digipeater was installed, along with 4.5dB antenna, deep cycle battery and 80W solar.

APRS packets from Warradarge have been received by VK6RCT, VK6RTH, VK6REX and VK6RAV.

Performance from the site has been much less than expected so a higher gain antenna will replace the current one to better assess the site for suitability.

Great thanks goes to Craig VK6FLAM who did a lot of the prep-work for this trip, but unfortunately had a last minute emergency which stopped him from attending.

It’s expected that 2012 should see permanent APRS and 2m Voice in this area, enabling coverage from Geraldton through to Cateby.

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WARG Shop – LDF4-50 and LDF5-50 DIN connectors for sale – CHEAP

We currently have a very large supply of NEW DIN connectors suitable for LDF4-50 and LDF5-50 Coax.

We are looking for a Commercial / Bulk purchaser who may be interested in purchasing these connectors.

DIN connectors are used for high power coax connections in many commercial installations such as Telstra/Optus/Vodaphone base station sites, FM and TV broadcast sites etc.

All connectors are NEW, sealed in individual plastic bags, with instructions and individual boxes.

We also have many NEW mast/tower feedline securing brackets to suit LDF4-50, LDF5-50, LDF6-50, LDF7-50.

Lengths of LDF4-50 may also be available for purchase.

If you know of a company or individual who may be interested in purchasing some or all of these connectors, please get in contact with us for a list of model numbers and quantities.

Thanks to Bob VK6KW and Heath VK6TWO for the aquisition.

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Fremantle VK6RFM – Lightning Strike & New QTH

There has been an ongoing effort by many to find a new site for the Fremantle Repeater VK6RFM. Don VK6UT has hosted the Fremantle reapeater for many years at his QTH, however due to unfortunate circumstances, wouldn’t be able to host it for too much longer. WARG is very greatful for Don’s hospitality.

Several letters were sent to site owners around the Frementle area by Anthony VK6AXB, Craig VK6FLAM, Ian VK6SKY in an attempt to find the repeater a new home.

Bob VK6KW who lives in the vicinity of the existing repeater location, offered to host the repeater at his QTH, however it was preferred that the repeater went to a more suitable and permanent location.

December saw a lighning strike to the repeater which took it off air. Fault finding by John VK6JAH and Bob VK6KW resulted in the repair of the repeater back to operation, though it’s suspected that there may still be an issue with the cavity filters.

Once the repeater was returned to an operational state, it was installed to it’s new home at Bob VK6KW’s QTH.

Thanks to John Don VK6UT, Anthony VK6AXB, Craig VK6FLAM, Ian VK6SKY, VK6JAH, Bob VK6KW.

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Fundraising – WARG Chocolate Drive

WARG are continuing to run the fundraiser chocolate drive in 2012 to help fund many of the ongoing WARG projects.

If you think that you can sell some chocolates to raise some funds for WARG, or would like to purchase them for yourself, please contact the Treasurer – Monique VK6FMON.

Thanks to Monique VK6FMON.

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Constitution – New Rules of Association

Q2 2011 saw a Special General Meeting to Vote on an update/upgrade the WARG Rules of Association (Constitution).

The new Rules were acepted unanamously and submitted to the Department of Commerce which was officially excepted by them.

The update to the ‘Constitution’ was required to bring it up to the new standards for Associations under the Associations Incorporations Act based on the “Guide for Associations“.

Members are encouraged to read the guide.

A new membership form will soon be available on the website (Q1 2012). The new membership form will have updated information re the new Constitution.

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VK6RTH Tic Hill – Break-in

Late November 2011 during a routine site visit to Tic Hill by Ron VK6ZRW and Mitch VK6FLEX (WAFN), it was discovered that there had been a Break-in at the site.

It appears that a portable angle grinder was used to cut the two padlocks on the outer gate and were nowhere to be seen. The hinges on the main door had also been cut.

Entry to the shack had been gained and the tools from the site toolbox had been stolen. No other items appeared to be missing. The offenders were even nice enough to close the door/gate when they were done.

Some of the barbed wire on the ‘windmil’ tower had also been cut but no other damage was noticed.

Temporary replacement padlocks were installed to secure the shack.

Cameras were installed to remotely monitor the site for future unauthorised access.

Thanks to Ray VK6ZRW and Mitch VK6FLEX for their attendance.

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VK6RTH Tic Hill – 70cm Voice Repeater

VK6RTH Tic Hill 70cm Voice Repeater was removed from site in 2011 due to LIPD interference.

Anthony VK6AXB has now installed a CTCSS board to cobat the problem.

An issue with the audio circuitry was also found and being investigated.

The repeater should be retruned to site/service early 2012.

Thanks to Anthony VK6AXB for his benchwork.

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VK6RBP – NCDXF – International HF Beacon

VK6RBP NCDXF International HF Beacon  is now back in service.

After extensive onsite testing by Graham VK6LV and Heath VK6TWO the HF beacon was found to be faulty and removed from service for repair.

Anthony VK6AXB has now repaired the faulty TS-50 with input from the NCDXF and Will VK6UU. The issue was found to be a common problem with the ALC circuitry.

The Beacon went back into service in Jan 2012.

Thanks to VK6LV, VK6TWO, VK6AXB, VK6UU, NCDXF.

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