Our WebSDR build is progressing well, after the first installment we had finished the construction of 3 x Softrock RX III kits. These have all been brought together on the bench and compared to each other using SDR# and one of the Asus Xonar U7 sound cards. The first 3 units are working well and construction […]
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Author: Geoff Van der Wagen
October 2015 Lecture – Jo Harris – History of Wireless in Australia
Jo Harris (ex VK2KAA) shared a history of early wireless in Australia with us, including the first direct contact between Great Britain and Australia. Check it out here!
JOTA 2015
Another successful Jamboree On The Air! This year we hosted 180 Scouts and Guides over the weekend, and the activities were widely enjoyed. This year’s activities were: Build a radio station – put up a mast, connect feedline to radio, check SWR is OK and make a contact on air Find a hidden “geocache” using a GPS – […]
Flagpole 2015 – Results!
Amid much laughter and some fanfare, the judging was completed and presented at the recent MWRS Business Meeting. We had a number of great entries this year, and bonus points once again became an important factor for the victors. Peter Parker VK3YE made a dominant effort by going pedestrian mobile, and takes the winner’s trophy. In a surprise […]
Flagpole 2015 – Submit your logs!
Ahoy maties! Th’ weather in Sydney shivered me timbers but couldn’t drive away this old salt. We heard Peter Parker VK3YE on air, with pics emailed and youtube video already online! Submit your logs! Contest page is HERE (log sheet down the bottom). Don’t forget to send in pics of your flagpole station and costume for extra points! Email […]
September 2015 Lecture – Mike VK2UCT on Electronic Blasting
Mike VK2UCT talks about the advances in electronic blasting in the mining industry. Watch on Youtube! Watch Lecture
1st Forestville Cubs Visit
MWRS hosted a “radio night” for approximately 15-20 cubs from 1st Forestville Cubs, with a few different activities to entertain the cubs and show them a bit of radio. Cub Leader Tim Webster gave us this report: The 1st Forestville Cub Scouts had a great night hosted by The Manly-Warringah Radio Society. As part of […]
MWRS WebSDR Build – Part 1
What is a WebSDR and why make one? SDR means “software defined radio” – and the basic premise is that instead of homing in on one signal using a classic receiver, you can sample a substantial “chunk” of radio spectrum and then do whatever processing you like with it using software (all of the demodulation/filtering etc is […]
ILLW 2015 Wrap-up
Another great year at Barrenjoey, with the traditional start at the coffee shop for a perk up. Starters Dom VK2JNA, Geoff VK2TGO, Mike VK2UCT, Clint (VK2SOON!!) and Geoff VK2AVR met at the traditional rally point (coffee shop). This year we augmented coffee with bacon and egg rolls, but our NPWS escort was waiting for us at Palm Beach […]
MWRS goes to Barrenjoey!
Sat-Sun 15-16 August 2015 We will once again make the 93m vertical ascent to Barrenjoey Lighthouse, Palm Beach for International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW). This is a fun weekend playing radio in a very scenic location, the climb is worth it! Come see us, find out a bit more about amateur radio or […]
Arthur Gerald Sabin VK2AGS – SK
Arthur Gerald Sabin (VK2AGS) passed away early on 5th August 2015. He was our oldest and longest-serving member having joined in 1934, only a few years after our club’s foundation (1923)! Gerald contributed much over his many decades of MWRS membership and will be greatly missed. Peter Jackson VK2WPJ on ‘Gerry’ Sabin Gerald also appears a number […]
Jul 2015 Tech Night – APRS/GPS
Another month, another Tech Night! This one was a good opportunity to show off portable APRS gear, GPS receivers etc. Nick VK2FS brought a handheld radio and TinyTrak 3 as an APRS tracker, Phil VK2BDF showed us his custom made GPS satellite plotting software and Geoff VK2AVR was hacking around with some recently acquired GPS receivers […]
Jun 2015 Tech Night – Arduino
Following on from last month’s inaugural tech night, this month’s tech night was all about the Arduino! We had many interesting demos and again attracted visitors from as far away as Newcastle. Many thanks to everyone who brought projects to show off! Mal VK2TMF brought his audio-activated tie, and an electric scooter package. Marcel VK2HAQ brought his […]
CHA-250B review
Comet’s CHA-250B is an interesting antenna. It claims (and delivers) continuous broadband coverage from 3.5MHz to 57MHz with no ground radials. Comet’s website admits this is not without its compromises of course: “If you have the space, budget and desire to erect a full size antenna system we suggest you do so… bigger is better…however…if […]
Three band end fed antenna
Geoff VK2TGO recently gave a lecture on an end fed antenna for 40-20-10m. This antenna is fed using a 9:1 unun, just under 13 metres of wire and a loading coil near one end. The antenna wire itself can be deployed in many ways: vertically, as an inverted V (with the feedpoint at one of the low […]