Special Workshop: HF transceivers and antennas, what to buy and how to use

We met at John ZL2XJ QTH (9 Ridley Green, Churton Park) on Sunday 16 February tod have a round table discussion on what each club member was looking for out the club for 2020 and what they could contribute. There was an honest discussion of the falling membership and the need to focus on two priority areas: publicity and the need for regional coordination and regional activities. Generally people were very happy with the esxisting programme of activities, but identified that this was not the issue - there was a wider issue at play around the public's understanding about amateur radio in New Zealand and the aging of the amateur operator base. The meeting concluded with afternoon tea. Thanks to John ZL2XJ for hosting.

SUNDAY 01 DEC 2019 The summer months have arrived so at our shed workshop we talked about opportunities to get out of the shack and go portable with SOTA, POTA, Fox Hunting, etc. The shed workshop was held at John ZL2XJ's QTH on Sunday 1 December from 1300 to 1500 hours and was attended by 9 people. Our speakers, including special guest Wynne Morgan ZL2ATH, John ZL2XJ, Bernard ZL2BD and Kenneth ZS6KEN, covered SOTA (Summits on the Air), POTA (Parks on the Air), and Fox Hunting respectively. The discussion will be around equipment, locations, logistics, and involvement / teams. At the meeting it was agreed that we would plan to get out and about with SOTA/POTA activations next year in the first weekend of February (or if weather is bad either of the following weekends) with multiple locations (Summits and/or Parks). We will also be putting in entries in the regional Fox Hunt at the combined branches BBQ on 26 January 2020. [wpdm_package id='4087'] [wpdm_package id='4091'] [wpdm_package id='4093']

At our shed workshop in the afternoon of Saturday 13 April, George ZL2AG opened up his garage and museum to the club to host a workshop on vintage radios. We were intrigued by the progression in designs - from expensive crystal sets (with galenium cat's whisker diodes, through to feedback designs like the TRF, before the age of superhets. There were also changes also in the shape of cabinetry - from cathedral, through to tombstone and chest designs. George was lamenting the sharp fall off in interest in vintage radio, and was concerned about where all the beautifully restored vintage sets will end up. Tea and coffee was served at the conclusion of the workshop. A further workshop on vintage radios will take place in May. A most unusual German set, with 3 valves in one enclosure