The Illawarra Amateur Radio Society currently has a construction competition running.   Entry is open to IARS club members and  other amateur radio operators within VK.   There  will be prizes awarded in both categories.

Entry is easy, just build a crystal set.   Judging will be based on some simple rules:-

• The crystal set must work ie receive a transmitted signal.
• The crystal set can receive either commercial, broadcast or amateur signals.
• No external power other than the received signal can be used.
• Additional points will be gained by utilizing recycled parts, or home made components.
• Additional points will be gained for Innovative design, and unique concepts.
• The finished article does not need to be ascetically pleasing.
• Testing will be carried out at Industry World Centre, Wollongong.
• The judges decision will be final.

The judging of the contest will be at the IARS November meeting.   The Crystal set will need to be bought to the meeting on this evening, alternatively they can be posted to the Secretary Illawarra amateur radio society, by the meeting date which is 8^th November 2011.  Correct postage and packaging cost must be included if you require the project to be returned after the competition.

Why not put together a club entry?

Old hands, why not take a newer member of the hobby under your wing and show then how construction was done when you first joined the hobby.

Results and awards will be presented at the December 2011 meeting.

PRIZES

There are two categories to enter. 

Cat 1:- Financial members of the IARS 

• First Prize :- 2 metre Handheld radio
• Second Prize:- Quality Screwdriver Set
• Third Prize:- Lightweight Headphone Set
• Numerous consulation prizes such as mouse mats, baseball caps

Cat 2:- All other VK Hams

• First Prize:- 2 metre Handheld Radio
• Second Prize:- Quality Screwdriver Set
• Third Prize:- Lightweight Headphone Set

Saturday 10 September 2011

The IARS is planning a barbecue/picnic for club members, other interested amateurs, and their families at Blackbutt Forest Reserve in Shellharbour.  Further details will be provided soon.

Regards,
Your IARS Committee

100 Years of Amateur Radio in Australia

The Illawarra Amateur Radio Society is pleased to announce a fantastic opportunity to set up a live Amateur Radio station at the world renowned – Wollongong Science Centre. This will be held on Sunday August 15th 2010 between 10am and 4pm. Wollongong Science Centre is located on Squires Way at Fairy Meadow. Ph 42865000

The Institute of Wireless Telegraphy of Australia, was established at a meeting in Sydney on 11 March 1910, Later to become the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) making it the world’s oldest continuing organization of its kind.

During World War I and World War 2 those who had gained experience as amateur wireless experimenters were called to duty as radio operators in the Australian Armed forces. Many brave amateur radio operators provided vital communications and many lost their lives in these wars.

The Illawarra Amateur Radio Society is honoured to have received permission to air the special event call sign VK100WIA. This call sign commemorates 100 Years of organised amateur radio operation in Australia.

This practical demonstration day will be held to celebrate 100 Years of Amateur Radio in Australia. Amateur radio is also commonly known as Ham Radio. Ham radio has been used for emergency communications on many occasions such as the Cyclone Tracy disaster in Darwin, The Indonesian Tsunami, the Earthquake in China and Haiti and the Victorian Bush Fires to name a few.

So come along to the Science Centre Sunday 15th August and listen to the big wide world of Amateur Radio. Better still, pick up a microphone and with some simple coaching, and have a radio conversation aided by our experienced Licensed Radio Operators. Unlike CB Radio, Amateur Radio provides world wide communications so who knows you may end up in conversation with Antarctica or some other exotic location.

The Illawarra Amateur Radio Society would like to thank the Wollongong Science Centre for their valued support in celebrating this momentous event and providing a prime location in the Centre for Science excellence in Australia.

We look forward to seeing you all there for a fun day.

Regards,
Tony Stone VK2TS
President – Illawarra Amateur Radio Society

We need six people to man the barbeque, take and fill orders, and so on.  We operate from about 8:30 am to 3pm on the day, however you wouldn’t necessarily need to be there the whole time.

If you can spare some time on the 29 November, please let our illustrious Secretary and sausage coordinator Maeva Bennett VK2HUG know on 4297 6065 (email to Maeva is not working at the moment due to a nasty electrical storm last week).  It would be great to get some fresh faces involved.

Hope to see you there!

Neil VK2VNJ for Maeva VK2HUG

As in past years, the Illawarra Amateur Radio Society and the Blue Mountains Amateur Radio Club, will again be manning the Point Perpendicular Lighthouse at Jervis Bay to celebrate this historic event.    The unmanned solar light will be switched off and the ‘old’ original light will again be lit by our friends from Lighthouses of Australia, 

From it’s 93 metre vantage point atop the cliff face at Jervis Bay, the 1,200,000 candle power beam of the Point Perpendicular light will again be seen for 42 kilometres.  This is only the third time the light has been lit since it’s decommissioning 1993 when the new smaller solar powered light was commissioned.  The volunteers from Lighthouses of Australia work tirelessly throughout the year in the preservation of the historic lights dotting the Australian coastline. 

The IARS will be manning all bands from 160 through to 23cm.  Listen for us around the call channels or use the Coast Link Repeater System for liaison, we’ll be using and listening out for the club callsign, VK2AMW on:-  146.650 MHz south to Bateman’s Bay, 146.975 MHz in the Nowra /Southern Highlands area, and 146.850 MHz in the Wollongong / Sydney area.   IRLP node 6018 and Echolink Node 325276 will also be in operation onsite.   The station will be manned around the clock for the event.

If you would like to visit the historic lighthouse and take up the very rare opportunity to actually see the light in operation, or visit the IARS station and see how radio communications are carried out around the world, follow these directions to the lighthouse .   Day trip visitors are very welcome, bring the family and have a good day out.   If you would like to register to stay overnight at the station you need to attend the IARS meeting on Tuesday evening at 7.30pm at Industry World Visitors Centre, Springhill Road, Coniston to register or contact the Secretary or Assistant Secretary.  There are strictly limited places overnight.  Remember this meeting is also our AGM, support your club attend the AGM.  

Further information:- secretary

To register your club or station for the ILLW event, or to see what other lighthouses are involved this year, follow this link to the Official International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend web site.

The Illawarra Amateur Radio Society sincerley thanks the Department of Defence for the use of the Point Perpendicular facilities for this important international event. The Royal Australian Navy are the custodians of the Point Perpendicular Light and do a sterling job in the preservation of this important historic building.

Look forward to seeing you all there.

Cheers, Tony VK2TS

To find Blackbutt Reserve, Blackbutt (a Wollongong southern suburb) follow the directions below.

 Travel along Shellharbour Road to Woodlands Drive, then travel along Woodlands Drive to the T intersection and turn left into Blackbutt Way.  Follow the road into the reserve to the right past the water reservoir to the car parking area.   Follow the IARS signs that are sign posted on power poles along the way.  See Link below for Map to location.

 Start time 09:30 Hrs, Lunch 12 Midday, Mini Auction starting at 1pm.

Map to Blackbutt Reserve for IARS

The workshop will again be held in the premises of Rivers Solar Pty Ltd at 4 Mineral Road, Oak Flats, NSW.  We thank VK2TSB for the use of his facilities once again.  The start time for the workshop will be 10am.  

The project this week is the “Differential Time of Arrival – Radio Direction Finding Fox Hunt Unit”.  All amateur’s and prospective amateurs are welcome.   You don’t need to be a member of the IAR’s club to attend this workshop.   The workshop will be tailored for both experienced kit builders and those that have never picked up a soldering iron before.  

The workshop has been prepared by our inhouse project expert Paul, VK2FE.

There will be a sausage sizzle for lunch at a friend of the family price, as well as soft drinks.

There will be kits of parts available for sale at cost price of $30.00.  The IARS will subsidise the cost of kits for financial club members.  The price to Financial club members will be $22.00.   No thongs or open footwear will be allowed.  All tools will be provided, bring you own along if you wish. 

You will need to book for the workshop, please call or text your details to 0405 444 644 or email the following address.  technical_workshop

Come along and have a fun time, and go home with a working project.  Courtesy of the Illawarra Amateur Radio Society, the progressive amateur radio club.

The following is an extract of the notification release by the club.

Valê

 Howard Booth, VK2AMD.

Howard Booth, VK2AMD, passed away last Sunday afternoon 25th May 2008, at the age of 100.  Howard was the Inaugural President of the first radio club in Wollongong, in those days known as “The Wollongong Amateur Radio Club”.

Howard received his Australian licence, under the callsign VK2AMD, in September 1948. Being born in
Leeds, England he was also licenced as U.K. callsign G2AS, Howard held both licences until his passing.   Howard and his family lived in Ocean St Windang.  Howard turned 100 years old on the 6th  March this year making him one of the oldest amateur operator’s on the bands in Australia.

During the formation of the amateur radio club, Howard told of building the clubs transmitter and receiver at his place of work, which was HG Palmer’s Electrical and Radio Store.  Here, Howard was able to obtain the parts required for the transmitter.  It consisted of two 807 valves, in push-pull configuration in the final. The transmitter was built over a period of about 24 hours.  It was of course, crystal controlled with the crystals being ground from watch glasses.   Howard said “the parts of the original transmitter cost us about ten bob”! ($­­­1.00).  When asked about the crystal being ground from watch glasses, he replied, “That’s just how it was done in those days”.

The original transceiver operated on 40 metres, and later, when a doubler stage was added it could operate on 20 metres.  Latter further modifications were made to allow access to the 80 metre band.

It’s a sad time for the present Illawarra Amateur Radio Club, with their sixtieth birthday celebrations only a month away.   Without the strong guidance of Howard in the early days the present prosperous club would no doubt be a very different organisation than it is today.

The Executive Committee, and the membership of the Illawarra Amateur Radio Society express their deepest sympathy to the members of Howards’ surviving family.

Farewell friend.

Valê

Howard Booth, VK2AMD, Silent Key.

This workshop is open to all amateurs and interested persons.  You don’t need to be a member of the Illawarra Amateur Radio Society to attend.

The workshop will commence at 10am and finish around 2pm.  It will be held at Unit 2 / 4 Mineral Road, Oak Flats.   This is the workshop of Rivers Solar.   We thank Steve VK2TSB for the use of his workshop facilities.

The workshop will include a tutorial on soldering techniques, electronic component identification, kit construction, and the practical construction of a tape measure antenna for fox hunting.

There will be a sausage sizzle for lunch, at a “friend of the family” price.

All parts required for the workshop will be provided on the day.   All tools required will be provided.   Please wear shoes,  no thongs or open style footwear will be allowed.

The cost of the kit of parts is still being worked out, but it should be less than $10

People must register for the workshop.  there are a number of ways to register:

• Use this email address
• Email, phone or contact the Secretary Steve VK2TSB or Assistant Secretary Ross VK2VVV
• Phone VK2VVV (02) 9605 5555