Wellington Amateur Radio Club - ZL2WB

Our last meeting on Wednesday 20 May built on the April meeting where we got the theory. The May meeting we got some insight into the practice ... How to get Hamnet up and running at our own QTH. James ZL2ET, Mike ZL1AXG, John ZL2HD and Bernard ZL2BD set up a multitude of Wi-Fi devices around the hall ... then showed how the Amateur Radio software for these devices (each a node in a common network) could be used to do a variety of things – from checking on how many Wi-Fi links were out there (there are dozens in the building’s vicinity, and the display number grows as devices report on what they’re connected to) to a digital camera watching Col ZL2COL preparing supper out in the kitchen. In between James and Mike talked us through the control and application layers. These things are fast; the bulletin board software leaves Packet for dead! There are a range of available devices (even using old Link Sys routers); with the right units and antennas line of sight contact over distances up to 15km is possible. Wellington’s problem is its hills and valleys, so more nodes are needed to propagate the signal. A possible application (also being…

Kordia has kindly donated some surplus equipment for the QHUG future remote site. This includes two Datron 1Kw linear amplifiers and associated 28V power supplies as indicated in the images below. These will be straight forward to connect up to amateur transceivers at the remote site. We were also gifted two Datron transceivers that could be used for a range of purposes (e.g. beacon stations or for fixed frequency digital mode use) and a Furuno receiver. These donations are huge boost to the project!

Experiments with equipment for a remote site continue ... Bernard has now completed breadboards for connecting his Four Square remote controllers to Arduinos (both Mega and Uno arduino boards are on the breadboard) at each end (remote site and in Wellington). Now, for writing the software ...

VE3GSODave VE3GSO will speak at our April meeting about his experience with digital modes in Ontario, Canada. Come along to the Lutheran Church Hall, King St, Mt Cook at 7.30pm on Wednesday 15 April.

The AGM on Tuesday 17 March 2015 set this year's subscription at $30, a rise of $5. Direct payment to the club's bank account is preferred. Use your name and callsign as identifiers. Please pay to Wellington Amateur Radio Club Inc ANZ Wellington South 06-0577-0121800-00 Deposits over $30 will have the balance treated as a donation. Donations are most welcome. Receipts will be available on club nights, or by special arrangement. Please note that cheques posted to the club mailbox may take some weeks to be delivered to the treasurer. Note that your newsletter subscription will be automatically come to an end if subscriptions are not in the treasurer's hands by the end of the club meeting on Wednesday 20 May 2015.