NZART Headquarters Infoline Issue 236
21 Aug 2011
NZART Website: www.nzart.org.nz

In this issue:

In this issue:

• From the desk of HQ
• Doug Gorman Frequency Measuring Contest
• FMTAG Notes
• IARU Monitoring Service News Region 1 – included with this circulation
• Housekeeping

Debby says…

Subs 2012 - Subscriptions for 2012 are now due, and most members who have received their Break In should have received an invoice included behind the front wrapper. Just to clarify, there is no rebate for early payment this year.

Council discussed this at length at their meeting prior to conference, and while they appreciate the tough economic climate, NZART is not immune to these rising costs. I would therefore urge anyone who is unable to pay the total amount in a lump sum, to perhaps consider taking advantage of the $8 monthly payment option.

Please contact me for further details, the Association needs your continued support.

A special Request - I have received the following request from the son of a silent key, hopefully someone in New Zealand will be able to help, if so please contact Dave directly.

My father was an avid HAM operator in the late 40’s and 50’s. We lived on Waiheke Island in Auckland until he was drowned in a boating accident in 1957. His call sign was ZL1MG. I remember he had a lot of call cards from other operators and he sent out a few as well. I was wondering if any of your members would happen to have one of his original cards and be willing to send me a copy or be willing to sell it.

David Parkin.

T (home) 09 5253923

T (work) 09 3014471

E (Home d.parkin@xtra.co.nz

E (work) dave.parkin@gen-i.co.nz

Online Call sign lists via NZART web page - The acting NZART web master Alan Wallace ZL1AMW and Call Book Compiler Lorne Douglas ZL2AHB have removed the call sign lists from the NZART web page as it has become out-dated. Radio Spectrum have advised we will be offered a more up to date listing in the near future, however no date has been set at present. Please watch HQ Info-line and the web page for more details.

Doug Gorman Frequency Measuring Contest

Monday 5th September 2011 at 2100 NZST

For the second year the contest will be a blend the old rules with improvements suggested by contestants. Please read the rules carefully.

1. Listen to ZL6A on 3895 kHz LSB for instructions on the frequencies that will be used and the procedure to be adopted. Following the voice instruction an unmodulated carrier will be radiated on 3895 kHz for calibration and/or practice. This frequency will be within +/- 1 Hz of 3895 kHz. Measuring this frequency is not part of the contest but it is to encourage participation with simple equipment.

The contest itself will start at 2115 on the first frequency for five minutes, and every five minutes on a new frequency, for a total of five frequencies. All transmissions will be made within 5 kHz of 3895 kHz. Individual transmission start times may be delayed slightly due to equipment setup and adjustment.

Each transmission will be identified in 10 wpm Morse (CW) for about three minutes to allow the frequency to be located and will then remain key-down for the remaining minutes. At the end of the five minute period the transmission will cease. For station competing in the Ultra Category (see below) note that the last 10 seconds or so of carrier will be considered the reference frequency.

2. Read each frequency as accurately as possible. To qualify for an award it is essential to read at least three of the five frequencies. Only one entry will be accepted for each participant.

3. Post your entry to: Doug Gorman Frequency Measuring Contest, NZART, P0 Box 40-525, Upper Hutt.

4. Entries must be sent within seven days, together with details of equipment used and which section entered (John McKim Cup, Norm Edwards Shield, or Ultra Category). Entries postmarked after Monday 12 Sept will not be considered. Please include your call sign on the actual results entry as envelopes may be discarded.

5. Results

Participants may nominate which of the five frequencies they measured should be considered in their average score, with a minimum of three. The degree of accuracy will be judged by subtracting measurements from the actual transmit frequencies and averaging the nominated results. Do not ask the contest organizer to select your best frequencies.

6. Awards

John McKim Cup for those using simple direct reading type of equipment. This includes a receiver using a calibrated dial or digital readout of kilohertz to one decimal place (100 Hz), or a simple commercial or homemade heterodyne type frequency meter (BC221, LM-10, etc).

Norm Edwards Shield for those using more sophisticated equipment. This includes receivers with digital readout of kilohertz to two or more decimal places (10 Hz or better) and computer methods, oscilloscopes, generators, etc, typically referenced to a local frequency standard (TCXO or ovened oscillator).

Ultra Category for measurements directly referenced to an atomic standard or GPS disciplined oscillator located at the participant's QTH. This does not include off air calibration to WWV, etc, during the contest.

Branch Award certificate to the branch with the lowest average of the three best competitors. If you wish to support your branch, state you branch number and name on your entry form.

Certificates will be provided to all entries with an average deviation of 100 Hz or better.

If you make readings during this activity, but do not wish to have your results published, or if you wish to comment please drop the contest organizers a line so we know how many people were interested.

73 de John ZL4JY

FMTAG NOTES FOR HQ INFOLINE 236 AND NZART WEBSITE

PROPOSALS

None this month.

FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Published as Proposals on the NZART website and in HQ Infoline 235. No comments have been received.

Branch 25 Napier has applied to change the channel, and invert the input-output frequency split, of its 8425 repeater located at Taraponui, Topo50 map reference BH38 233618. The repeater's transmit frequency will be 434.050 MHz and its receive frequency will be 439.050 MHz.

ZL2AJ has applied for an APRS Digipeater located at Kauahei Topo50 map reference BL38 166828. The digipeater's transmit and receive frequency will be 144.575 MHz.

COMMENTS AND APPLICATIONS

Please send your comments and suggestions on the above matters, and on any other FMTAG matters, by e-mail to: fmtag@nzart.org.nz

Applications for repeaters, beacons, digipeaters, point-to-point links, and so on, should be made on the latest version of FMTAG Form 10. The latest versions of FMTAG Form 10, and the explanatory Form 10A, are available on the NZART web site:

http://www.nzart.org.nz/fmtag/index.html

Completed forms should be sent by e-mail to fmtag@nzart.org.nz

Housekeeping

1. Break-In-Closing Date Reminder: Copy for the Sept/October issue of Break-In-closes on 10-September-2011
2. Copy for Break-In: Copy is welcome in most electronic formats but word.doc files are preferred. Photos and other graphics should be send as separate discrete files (*.jpg preferred); not as embedded pix in the body of the text. Please ensure that suitable descriptive captions/legends are included with your copy.
   All received copy will be acknowledged to confirm receipt.
   Thank you for your cooperation.
   John Walker ZL3IB Editor.
3. Break-In: Early receipt of copy is much appreciated
4. Break-In-AREC Column: The close-of-copy date is the 03-September-2011 for articles for publication in the AREC COLUMN OF BREAK-IN. Photos, if available, to be on a separate floppy or CD (with captions), posted DIRECTLY TO US. Use the Call Book address. All other material can go to e-mail: 
   zl3qr@nzart.org.nz or zl3ov@nzart.org.nz
5. The ARRL and WIA Weekly News
6. Subscribe TO/FROM Infoline

Next NZART Official Broadcast is on SUNDAY 28^th August 2011 and Next HQ-Infoline e-mailed on SUNDAY 4^th September 2011.