Mt. Granya activation

On Saturday 4 May 2024 a few ARARC members activated Mt. Granya. Most people got there around 10am, except Mike who took the scenic drive via Mt.Beauty. VK3GAZ, VK2TCM and VK3ERW set up portable HF stations with various antennas, radios and battery configurations, all operating QRP. VK2JMJ brought some 2mt beams to work distant repeaters. VK2AEC, VK2GS and Marko (latest […]

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Club Portable Repeater

The club’s old portable repeater developed an intermittent problem so we’ve decided to replace it using slightly more modern technology. After a generous and appreciated donation by VK3TIM of the key parts for our new repeater, the new system is almost complete.

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Changes to lightning protection at VK2RAY

Lightning protection has been moved from inside the container to an ideal “bulkhead” installation. Several reasons – this gets the cable entry on the other side of the mast where we don’t have to avoid it while raising or lowering the mast, it gives us about 500 mm or so more slack to raise the mast a little further, and […]

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VK2RAY 15th August

Erwin checks the 70cm cavities before we bring up the repeater on it’s new frequencies. We replaced the network cable, power injection system. Replaced and rerouted the microwave link cabling, moved the LV dc switching, mounted the ethernet switch, added battery temperature compensation, added a dedicated battery sense wire for the charge controller and did some improvements to the telemetry […]

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More VK2RAY relocation activity

More on VK2RAY relocation activity. 13th July – Garoni’s truck arrived at 9:15 am and we had the container in place at Ross’ place by 10:30 am. Photos 1 – 4 – The whole operation went exactly as planned and was completed just before the rain set in. Over the next few weeks we’ll reinstall the solar panels, then rebuild […]

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VK2RAY update

Some of you may have noticed a brief VK2RAY repeater outage on Wednesday. Due to unforeseen circumstances we were required to replace the IRLP hardware for VK2RAY linked repeater system on Wednesday 15 July. New logic and filter boards were hurriedly assembled and installed, without any opportunity to test, tweak or adjust. As a result, there was a slight tone […]

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VK2RAY photo update

Here are a couple more photos submitted by Erwin VK3ERW. The left photo shows the old site after cleanup. Tom handed the site back to Albury Council, so we are no longer liable for rent. The right photo shows this weekend’s achievements: Solar panels mounted and batteries are back on charge Telescopic mast with X300 antenna deployed with improved water […]

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VK2RAY relocated!

Over the weekend some hardworking AWAR volunteers finalised relocating VK2RAY, from Lake Hume to Red Light Hill in Lavington. Below are photos taken by Ross VK2DGY of the successful transfer of the container/RAY. Photos should be self-explanatory but you’ll see the container being loaded onto the truck and then unloaded at Red Light Hill. Below is a quote from Ross; […]

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Australia’s own amateur radio handbook now locally available

For the first time in years Australia’s 14 000 radio amateurs can easily buy a hard-copy handbook written for local conditions. Up to now the Australian Ham Radio Handbook had only been available as an ebook via Amazon. Author Peter Parker VK3YE says “It’s clear that Australians wanted a paperback version that was available locally at a good price”. “I’m […]

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Lake Hume repeater repair

On Saturday 22nd September six members held a working bee at the repeater site at Lake Hume village. We needed to update the software to run the C4FM protocol of the 70 centimetre repeater and to repair the main aerial on the site, due to it having a high SWR. We lowered the tower and removed the antenna. Then disassembled […]

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RAY Working Bee

Here are a few photos from a working bee held last weekend at RAY the repeater site. The guys got the mast erected for our C4FM repeater connection. The tower now in use originally belonged to Mal McRae VK3FO. Present were Erwin, VK3ERW, Russ VK2BJP, Ron VK2TRL, Peter VK2CIM, Phil VK2CPR and Alex VK3FRED. Great work!

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