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VK7AX > BCAST 17.05.26 06:33l 422 Lines 24481 Bytes #60 (0) @ WW
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VK7 Amateur Radio News 17May26
Text edition:
VK7 AMATEUR RADIO NEWS
SUNDAY 17th May 2026
Welcome to the VK7 Amateur Radio News for the 17th day of May 2026, your gateway to whatâ€Ös happening across the airwaves in Tasmania and beyond.
Coming to you from the Tasmanian Amateur Radio News Desk is Justin, VK7TW with the latest updates, stories, and insights from our amateur radio community.
Weâ€Öre broadcasting far and wide thanks to our dedicated team:
DMR Talk Group 5 & D-Star Reflector 91C via the Digital Group
MF & HF relays:
476kHz - Trial transmission NW VK7 - Brenton VK7HP
1.860 MHz – Any Takers
3.670 MHz – Justin, VK7TW
7.140 MHz – Ross, VK7ALH
14.130 MHz – Any Takers
28.525 MHz – Garry, VK7JGD
And locally in Hobart on UHF CB Ch.24 - Mark VK7FMAC and HFCB24 with Luke (no Callsign).
Missed it live? Catch the replay Tuesday 8pm on repeaters VK7RAA (North), VK7RHT, and on UHFCB24/HFCB24 (South).
Stay tuned, and enjoy the news!
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WIA News
2.3GHz Usage
The WIA is looking to gain an understanding of the usage of the 2300-2302MHz part of the 13cm band within Australia. If you are an amateur radio operator who currently uses this band or are looking to use this band, can you please let us know the following information:
What amateur services are you currently operating in the 2300 – 2302 MHz band and an idea of the typical configuration details
Locations or geographic areas where this spectrum is actively used
Please email Justin Giles-Clark VK7TW who leads the WIA Spectrum Strategy Committee at email justingc@ozemail.com.au by the end of May.
Thanks 73,
Justin, VK7TW
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Tassie Ham-E-Con Radio Conference
Bookings are OPEN!!
The theme for Tassie Ham-E-Con 2026 is Hack the Ether: Education, Ingenuity, Connection â€ö a nod to the experimental DNA of amateur radio, where learning meets invention and curiosity drives everything forward.
This yearâ€Ös conference is all about moving beyond nostalgia and building what comes next. It brings together amateurs, experimenters, educators and storytellers for a fully catered weekend of practical learning, creative collaboration and ideas that actually go somewhere.
The program is built around four key streams: Hack the Mind exploring education and learning futures… Hack the System diving into ingenuity and experimentation… Hack the Culture focused on engagement and connection… and Hack the Future, tackling leadership and purpose. The preliminary program is online and bookings ARE OPEN.
It all happens Saturday the 7th and Sunday the 8th of November 2026 at the Sir Stanley Burbury Theatre at UTAS Sandy Bay, with pre and post-conference events in the works. Keep an eye on the conference website as more details roll out.
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/tassie-ham-radio-conference/
73, Conference Organising Group.
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WWFF, SOTA, POTA, LLOTA and IOTA Weekly Wrap Up
Another busy week on the air and on the trails for VK7 activators, with plenty of parks and summits handed out across Tasmania and some impressive DX logged along the way.
Lance has had a very busy week, ticking off a park activation and two SOTA summits. Armed with his trusty CW key, Lance first activated the Lea Conservation Area, located just outside Kingston. Later in the week, he headed for the hills, activating Benders Hill near Kellevie, before continuing on to MacGregor Peak at Eaglehawk Neck.
Xavier, VK7XHJ, and Jim, VK7JZ, made their way to the summit of Mt Phipps, located not far from Runnymede. Operating on 15m, 20m, and 40m, they logged 14 contacts each. Their log featured an impressive mix of VK and DX contacts, including stations from New Zealand, Japan, Sweden, Poland, and France. A very nice spread of contacts!
Travis, VK7VXT, tackled the very steep climb to the summit of Mt Amos. The hike is certainly no easy feat, especially for a summit worth only a single SOTA point. Despite the challenging ascent, Travis operated on both SSB and CW from the summit.
Al, VK7AN, Rodney, VK7HAM, and Peter, VK7ZPE, headed in a north-westerly direction to activate the Franklin Rivulet Conservation Area. Running the Icom IC-7300, the team enjoyed a steady stream of contacts and a supply of jam scones to keep energy levels high throughout the activation.
Great to see so much portable activity taking place around the state, with activators enjoying good conditions, solid contact numbers, and the consumption of jam scones along the way.
73, Matt, VK7MAT
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Statewide SSTV Nights
A quiet net night that saw the following participants, VK7s – AX, ZAB, PAK, OO and ZSB, all sharing forty five photos.
The main themes were:
Iconic attractions like Dove Lake, Cradle Mountain, Launcestonâ€Ös Cataract Gorge and a cloud covered Mt Roland
Decoded SSTV from ARISS of Series 32 photos
Decoded SSTV photos from UmKA-1, a CubeSat that was assembled by a Russian high school
And other highlights were:
Various birds, crayfish, a joey and cute family pets
A danger sign for when it rains
A speed camera honesty box
And 73 from an Ikea self-assemble book - itâ€Ös a book book!
Again Tony VK7AX interconnected VK7RJG to his SSTV International Gateway and VK7s exchanged photos with PD0KOK, PC1K and PD0A in the Netherlands and DJ0ZK in Germany. Please remember to leave a 30 second break between transmissions to allow the European countries a chance to send photos.
Note - Ken VK7KRJâ€Ös and Steve VK7OOâ€Ös fully automatic 24/7 monitoring sites that allows anyone testing, to send a picture and the ability to check their transmission on these pages almost immediately, any time, both South and North Tasmania.
If you missed the net there are archives of these SSTV nights on Kenâ€Ös and Steveâ€Ös websites or on NTARCâ€Ös website under blogs.
https://vk7oo.tasme.com/vhfsstv/
https://sstv.vk7krj.com/scrolling%20web%20gallery.html
https://www.ntarc.net/blogs
https://www.qsl.net/vk7ax/sstvgate3/index.html
73 from Andreâ€Ö VK7ZAB
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NEWS FROM THE NORTH
SOTA/WWFF PARKS GROUP
The Summits On The Air/World Wide Flora and Fauna parks group meets twice weekly – Mondays and Fridays 10.30AM till 12.00 at the Glebe Gardens Cafe, Henry Street, Launceston.
For more information contact Al on 0417 354 410.
73, Al, VK7AN
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Northern Tasmanian Amateur Radio Club Incorporated
www.ntarc.net
Letâ€Ös start this week with some good news. Adam, VK7AJP, has successfully upgraded his amateur radio qualification. He sat the advanced theory and regulations exams on Monday evening at the clubrooms and, by the sound of it, passed with distinction. He plans to keep the VK7AJP call sign, and heâ€Öll also be applying for a two-letter call. Adam has been very active on the HF bands over the past year or so, and Iâ€Öm sure heâ€Ös now looking forward to making use of the extra bands and privileges that come with the upgrade.
Last Wednesday evening, the NTARC clubrooms hosted the fortnightly Technical Night, which included a live presentation on the REAST YouTube channel titled “Our New Band Plans.” Around a dozen members arrived well before 7:30, grabbed a drink, picked up a slice of cake or two, and settled in for the session.
It turned out to be a very informative evening, with Justin, VK7TW delivering an excellent overview of the proposed band-plan changes along with a valuable refresher on the current usage structure.
Thanks go to REAST for providing the feed for the forum. If you missed it, itâ€Ös well worth a visit to their YouTube channel for a catch up.
Andrew VK7DW, brought along a striking collection of printed Slow Scan TV images he received from the International Space Station as part of the ARISS Series 32 transmissions. The pictures were neatly presented on a laminated A3 display sheet and looked fantastic.
He also shared a confirmation from the Sakha Science Academy for a QSO with the RS18S CubeSat, with the successful decode verified via an eQSL card from Andrei, R0QAV.
All of the images were of impressive quality; no doubt the noise floor was helped by Andrewâ€Ös computer controlled, auto-tracking, quad-bay Yagi array.
Just for interest, this little RS18S CubeSat is the first satellite of the Sakha Republic, which if your geography is a little rusty like mine, is located in the Russian Far East, along the Arctic Ocean. They are currently heading into summer leaving its regular winter averages of below -35 °C behind them!
It was launched just after Christmas last year and didnâ€Öt begin SSTV transmissions until mid-February this year. The “1U” CubeSat was built around SPUTNIX Orbicraft-Pro bus. Its payload includes a cluster of 12 Arduino compatible microcontrollers, a scintillation gamma spectrometer, a camera, and a set of sun sensors for an experimental coarse attitude determination algorithm. Remember all this is packed into a 100 mm x 100 mm x 100 mm cube - the entire “1U” form factor in action.
The really great thing is school students of the Republic will be able to upload firmware to the payload Arduino microcontrollers to conduct their own experiments. Now thatâ€Ös pretty cool!
As usual pictures will be available on the NTARC Web site under “Blogs” for this broadcast.
https://www.ntarc.net/blogs
UPCOMING EVENTS
On Air Test and Technical Net session - Every Wednesday night, Test-Net and CW course on 3.580 MHz from 7 pm, then a Technical Net on 3.567 MHz from 7.30 pm till 8.30 pm. Your host for the evening is Nic, VK7WW.
Club Room Technical night - The next session will be Wednesday the 27th May and will commence at the usual time of 6.30 pm at the Club Room Archer Street, Rocherlea.
Coffee Morning - Held every Friday in the NTARC Club rooms. Time is from 10 am to noon.
Finally - If you have any items of news please email them to the Secretary at the following address news@ntarc.net all items to be received no later than 5 pm on the Friday prior to the Broadcast.
Thatâ€Ös all folks,
73 from Stefan, VK7ZSB, Secretary NTARC Inc.
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NEWS FROM THE NORTH WEST
Sunday Broadcast to be transmitted on 476khz
Club member Brenton VK7HP, whose QTH is at Melrose in the North West. Has designed and manufactured a 476khz valve transmitter, The unit was tested during the week, and received in Ulverstone at Devonport quite strong, considering the two receiving stations, were using antennas whose lowest operating frequency is 80 metres.
This Sunday Brenton will trial transmitting the WIA broadcast on 476khz, so if you have the time or capability please listen in.
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North West Tasmania Amateur Radio Club Inc.
NWTARC Meeting
The next club meeting will be commencing at 1.30pm on Saturday 6th June 2026, at our usual venue, the Scout Hall, 73 Alexandra Road, Ulverstone. Afternoon tea will also be held.
Members are encouraged to bring items for show & tell, and club rooms are open till 6pm for members to socialise.
We have at least two members bringing along interesting items for show and tell at the meeting.
A small plate of afternoon tea would be appreciated and we have Tea, Coffee etc available for members and guests. Visitors are most welcome to attend.
If you have any cold or flu symptoms, or are unwell, or been in contact with a confirmed COVID case, then please do not attend the meeting.
--------------------------------
Bakers Beach Challenge Safety Communications
Last Saturday the 9th of May, 11 Amateurs and a member of Ulverstone Radio Operators Club (UROC), provided safety comms for the Bakers Beach Challenge Equine Endurance ride, in the Dazzler Range and Bakers Beach area. The event started with a brisk 6am start for those club members volunteering, Brenton VK7HP, Andrew VK7XR, Rob VK7ARG, Stefan VK7ZSB, Jim VK7JDO, Idris VK7ZIR, Roger VK7ARN, Andre VK7ZAB, and from NTARC Peter VK7SP, REAST Justin VK7TW and from UROC Johan. There was a base and 5 checkpoints. At checkpoint 5 the juniors did a 6km training event on their ponies. Primary communications were via 2 metre on the Mt Duncan repeater, with backup communications were on the VK7RDR 70cm repeater. A simplex frequency was used by members acting as beach marshalls, coordinating riders travelling a narrow track, to get on to the beach.
It was an absolute cracker of a day, and participants had the added bonus of part of the course being on the beach. A strong turnout of riders with 71 participating. The event finished around 1800hrs. One rider required Tas Ambulance attendance and was taking to hospital with no major injuries.
A big thank you to all amateurs who assisted, there is no phone coverage in much of the area the event was run on, so amateurs got up very early and provided safety comms, to allow the event to operate safely.
Photos of the event will be posted on the VK7 Amateur Radio Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1ETYU6dX49/
73, Eric, VK7EV
News Officer, NWTARC Inc.
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NEWS FROM THE SOUTH
Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmania
https://www.reast.asn.au/
https://www.facebook.com/reasttas/
https://www.youtube.com/reasthobart/
May Forum Night - New Band Plans
Last Wednesday night was a deep dive into one of the most important foundations of amateur radio operation, the new 2026 Australian Amateur Radio Band Plans. The session unpacked why band plans exist in the first place, how they provide structure and order across the amateur service, and how they help different modes and activities coexist. The presentation explained primary and secondary allocations, band use categories, how band plans are developed through consultation, and the role of international harmonisation efforts using the example of the 40 metre band.
We ran through a band by band comparison with what has changed across LF, HF, VHF and microwave allocations, including the important 23 centimetre GNSS interference discussions and proposed operating arrangements.
We showed the new graphical LF-HF and VHF-SHF A3 band plan posters, explained the supporting RALI documents that underpin amateur operating arrangements in Australia, and finished with an open questions-and-answers session.
2026 Band Plan - https://www.wia.org.au/members/tac/consultation/documents/WIA%20Australian%20Band%20Plan%202026.pdf
LF-HF A3 Poster - https://www.wia.org.au/members/tac/consultation/documents/WIA%20AUSTRALIA%20LF-HF%20BAND%20PLANS%202026%20-%20POSTER.pdf
VHF-SHF A3 Poster - https://www.wia.org.au/members/tac/consultation/documents/WIA%20AUSTRALIA%20VHF-SHF%20BAND%20PLANS%202026%20-%20POSTER.pdf
73, Justin, VK7TW
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June Presentation
Lets move further up the Electromagnetic Spectrum to light and ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY!
https://www.reast.asn.au/event/from-radio-waves-to-the-stars-an-evening-of-astrophotography/
Our June presentation night promises to take members far beyond the radio horizon and deep into the night sky, as Lisa VK7SGZ shares her fascinating journey into the world of astrophotography.
Lisa will explore how a curiosity about the universe evolved into a passion for capturing breathtaking images of nebulae, galaxies, star clusters and other astronomical wonders. Lisa's presentation will cover the equipment used in modern astrophotography, from telescopes and tracking mounts through to cameras, filters and software, along with the techniques needed to turn faint light from deep space into extraordinary images.
Astrophotography is far more than simply pointing a camera at the sky. Many of Lisaâ€Ös images are built from hoursâ€öor even multiple nightsâ€öof carefully collected exposures that are later processed and combined into stunning final photographs. Lisa will take us through the patience, experimentation and technical problem-solving involved in producing these remarkable images, while also showcasing a gallery of spectacular results captured from Tasmaniaâ€Ös dark southern skies.
Whether you are interested in astronomy, imaging, radio, electronics, computing or simply appreciating the beauty of the universe, this promises to be a visually stunning and inspiring evening.
Wednesday June 3rd at 7:30pm in the Queens Domain Clubrooms and Streamed.
CU There
https://www.reast.asn.au/event/from-radio-waves-to-the-stars-an-evening-of-astrophotography/
REAST Committee
--------------------------------
June Forum Night - DMR Codeplugs and Programming
https://www.reast.asn.au/event/june-forum-night-dmr-code-plugs-programming/
The June REAST Forum Night is diving into the world of DMR codeplugs, radio programming and hotspots on Wednesday the 10th of June from 7:30pm in the Queenâ€Ös Domain Clubrooms and streamed online.
If youâ€Öve ever stared at CPS software wondering why your radio suddenly talks to Kazakhstan but not the local repeater, this night is for you. Weâ€Öll take you through the fundamentals of DMR programming, explain what codeplugs actually are, how zones, talkgroups and channels fit together, and how to configure both radios and hotspots for practical everyday operation.
Whether you are completely new to DMR or looking to clean up and better understand your existing setup, this session will include practical demonstrations, programming tips, common mistakes and plenty of opportunities for questions and discussion. Bring along your radio, hotspot, laptop or just your curiosity. Everyone is welcome.
https://www.reast.asn.au/event/june-forum-night-dmr-code-plugs-programming/
73, REAST Committee
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REAST Training and Assessment Update
https://www.reast.asn.au/information/amateur-licence-assessments/
Are you looking to join the world of amateur radio or upgrade your license? REAST has you covered with regular Training and Assessment Days for all license levels!
Key Dates:
Standard, Advanced, and Regulations Assessments: Held on alternate months, next is on 30th May 2026.
Foundation Training and Assessment Days: Held every two months with the next one on Saturday the 27th June 2026.
Check out the full schedule on the REAST Events Page.
https://www.reast.asn.au/news-events/upcoming-events/
Do you need to secure your spot or ask a question - email: reast.assessor@gmail.com and your inquiry will go directly to the Learning Organiser, who be in contact.
We have learning resources available including our Foundation Licence Training Videos that are a must-watch for beginners. Find them on the REAST YouTube Training and Assessment Playlist.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsnsP_zjw831mdC6sY4XqavRUY-53ZWUn
Practice Makes Perfect so, prepare with the WIA Foundation Trial Exams and the link can be found on the email edition of the broadcast.
https://www.wia.org.au/licenses/foundation/onlineexams/foundation.php
Whether you're starting your journey or leveling up, REAST is here to guide you every step of the way.
73, Reg, VK7KK
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Technology/Gaming News
Payphone Tag Is Australiaâ€Ös New National Sport
Australiaâ€Ös payphones are an iconic part of the national landscape, even if theyâ€Öre not as important as they once used to be. However, theyâ€Öre having a resurgence of late, in part thanks to a new national pastimeâ€öthe sport of Payphone Tag!
Created by Alex Allchin, the game is simple. To play, you first sign up on the website and get your emoji and 5-digit PIN. You then go out and find a payphone, dial the Payphone Tag number, and enter your PIN when prompted. This lets you “capture” the phone, raising your score in the game. If a phone is already captured, no matterâ€öjust head out there, dial the number, and key in your own PIN to steal it. You can also push your score even higher by capturing three payphones in a triangle on the map to get bonus points.
Itâ€Ös a fun geospatial game thatâ€Ös also free to play, because Telstra made payphone calls free back in 2022. It might cost you a bit to get out to some phones, but there are plenty you can reach with the aid of free public transport at the moment, anyway. Protipâ€öat the time of writing, there are a ton of easy captures to be had on Kangaroo Island. It might just cost you a pretty penny to get out there. Have at it!
Weâ€Öd love to see some stats from Telstra as to whether this is making a dent in overall payphone usage rates. In any case, there were 800 players in the last 7 days and a full 36,640 captures so far, so a lot is happening out there. We fully expect to see this concept spread to other nations in turn, though it might be less attractive in places where you still need to dig out a coin to make a call.
https://hackaday.com/2026/04/28/payphone-tag-is-australias-new-national-sport/
Written by Zoe Skyforest for Hack-a-Day Web E-zine
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Regular VK7 gatherings and events over the coming months:
VK7 Regular gatherings:
Sewing Circle Net – Daily on 3.640MHz commences at 6:30pm AEST.
Statewide SSTV Net - held every Thursday night via the North/South Link on VK7RAF/VK7RJG from 7:30pm. In the North and North West - VK7RJG on 438.55 -7MHz and in the South - VK7RAF (146.650 -600kHz) CTCSS tone 141.3Hz to link RAF North-South. Plus VK7AX International SSTV Gateway connected to VK7RJG for the duration of the net.
State-wide – MICROWAVE QSO Party – following the Sunday broadcast call-back on 1296.15 MHz FM. One group in the greater Hobart area and another in the greater Launceston area.
Then North-south digital contacts on 1296.2MHz using Q65-60B.
Stations in the Launceston area transmitting on the odd minute. Southern stations on the even minute.
REAST - 6m AM Net on 53.1MHz Everyday from 4:30pm
SOTA/WWFF Group – Meeting Mondays and Fridays 10.30-12.00 midday at Glebe Gardens Cafe, Henry St, Launceston.
NTARC TestNet and TechNet session - Every Wednesday, TestNet/CW course on 3.580MHz from 7 pm, then a TechNet on 3.567MHz from 7.30 pm till 8.30 pm. Your host for the evening is Nic VK7WW.
NTARC Technical night session - Wednesday 27th May from 6.30 pm at the Club Room Archer Street, Rocherlea.
NTARC Coffee Mornings are held every Friday in the NTARC Club rooms. Time is from 10am to noon in the Rocherlea Clubrooms.
NW VK7 – Wednesday from 8:00pm local – NW Tassie Amateur Repeater Group Net on 2M VK7RMD and Allstar Node 56780
NW VK7 - Thursday commencing at 8:30pm local - N.W. Tassie 2m DX Net 144.190 USB
VK7 Events:
REAST - 13 May - Forum Night - New Band Plans - Queens Domain clubroom from 7:30pm and streamed
REAST - 3 June - Astrophotography with Lisa VK7SGZ - Queens Domain Clubrooms from 7:30pm and Streamed
NWTARC - 6 June - Club Meeting from 1.30pm in the Scout Hall, 73 Alexandra Road, Ulverstone
REAST - 10 June - Forum Night - DMR Programming - Queens Domain Clubrooms from 7:30pm and Streamed
VK - 7-8 Nov - Tassie Ham-E-Con Amateur Radio Conference - UTAS Sandy Bay
--------------------------------
A reminder to those people rostered for next weekâ€Ös broadcast:
Newsreader: VK7TW
Repeaters: REAST, NTARC and in the NW thanks to NWTARC, WCRG, NWCRRA, VK7AX, VK7JH and VK7DC
160m: Any Takers
80m: VK7JGD
40m: VK7DG
20m: VK7ALH
10m: VK7VKT
UHFCB24 & HFCB24: VK7FMAC
DMR: Talk Group 5 and D-Star Reflector 91C - Digital Group
2026 Roster -
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iTod4MGlJRjXxi2vuDrHngoytZebSMph/view?usp=drive_link
--------------------------------
A big thank you to everyone who contributed to and supported this weekâ€Ös broadcast of the VK7 Amateur Radio News.
Thatâ€Ös it for this week! If you missed the live transmission, remember you can always catch the rebroadcast Tuesday at 8:00pm on VK7RAA in the North, VK7RHT, and UHFCB24/HFCB24 in the South.
Got news, stories, or updates to share? Weâ€Öd love to hear from you! Send them to vk7arnews@gmail.com by Friday 9pm. You can also join the conversation on our VK7 Amateur Radio News Groups.io page.
groups.io/g/vk7arnews
Stay tuned now for callbacks on this frequency, with each relay station using their own callsign.
On behalf of the VK7 News Team, this is Justin, VK7TW, wishing you good DX, and a great week ahead!
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(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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