(Work in progress … really!) The PicoRX was introduced to the MWRS at the June 2025 Lecture as one of the projects for the shack. Since then, many members have ordered and acquired the kit and started the build process. A Buildathon was organised for those who wished to build their PicoRX together in a […]
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Category: Fun Stuff
Other fun things that don’t yet have a particular category.
July 2025 – 5th Wed – Calculators
Abacus or fingers, mechanical or electronic, nixies, paper, LCDs or LEDs, how do you add up? A poem was part of the invite, the poem is included at the end of this post. Over 20 people showed up despite the not so interesting temperature … rain rain rain and rain. At least someone showed up […]
July 2025 NTP Clock Buildathon
Following the June 2025 lecture where the NTP Clock and the Pi-PicoRX were introduced as “Projects for the Shack”, an obvious appetite for the projects motivated Richard ARH and Simon VK2YU to organise for the acquisition of the components and organise for buildathons so that members can get together to build and configure the devices. […]
June 2025 – Lecture – Build Projects for the Shack
The June lecture, Build Projects for the Shack by Richard VK2ARH and Simon VK2YU, introduced two new club projects: an NTP (Network Time Protocol) Clock for the shack, and Pi-PicoRX, a software-defined radio receiver based in the Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller. You can watch the lecture on VK2MB-TV. The lecture proved very popular, and another […]
MWRS Assists CREST for 2025 Convict 100 Setup
CREST NSW is providing safety communication support for next weekend’s Convict 100 mountain bike marathon. On Saturday 26 April 2025, as yet another excuse to get out portable and play radio, several MWRS members assisted setting up fixed and mobile repeater sites to provide reliable coverage for the 100km event. Teams were deployed to several […]
VK2AXC’s Visit to Army Museum of WA
In March 2025, our Membership & Training Coordinator, Brian VK2AXC was out west. While he was there, he dropped into the Army Museum of Western Australia. Here’s his report… I thoroughly recommend a visit to the Fremantle Army Barracks Museum. I met up with a friend’s cousin who is a volunteer. He arranged for Igor VK6ZFG, […]
HamClock Configurathon
Following feedback received from a very good HamClock lecture and the urge from many members to build their own, a “Configurathon” evening was organised for Wednesday 26-Feb-2025, basically BYO hardware and lets configure together, first one to tell the time from his/her clock … helps the other ones to finish. Richard VK2ARH kindly organised the […]
Radio by Candlelight
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds”, goes the motto of the United States Postal Service. The same could be said of the Manly-Warringah Radio Society. Well, we don’t deliver mail , but last night (27-Nov-2024) we did experience some minor […]
June 2024 ADX Buildathon
It all started with very good lecture by Richard Hinsley VK2ARH/W5ARH on the ADX (the Arduino Digital Transceiver) in April 2024 followed by an email to all from Michael VK2MDP asking around about interest for a club buildathon, very quickly the list of interested members grew to 28 people wishing to grab a kit, many […]
Club members support CREST at 2024 Convict 100 event in St Albans
This weekend, 4-5 May 2024, St Albans just north of the Hawkesbury River is again hosting the Convict 100 mountain biking event. Our friends at CREST are again providing safety communications, and spent last weekend and yesterday (Friday 3 May 2024) setting up repeaters and other gear along the course. Of course, the multi-talented Manly-Warringah […]
VK2MB/p on air for John Moyle Field Day 2024
Members of the Society once again headed south to Culburra Beach NSW to participate in the annual John Moyle Memorial Field Day Contest on 16-17 March. The JMFD team comprised: A Lesson Learned… One of the first rule of portable operation is: before you leave home, thoroughly check that all gear is in good working […]
February 2024 lecture – HMAS Vampire Project
Colin VK2JCC leads of team of Amateurs, including several MWRS members, who operate the Special Event Station VK2VMP from HMAS Vampire’s HF Communication Centre, and who talk to visitors about the ship and about Amateur Radio. The Vampire is moored at the Australian National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour in Sydney. Watch Colin’s lecture at […]
VHC Pilgrimage 2023
The annual post-Christmas trip to the Victorian High Country was kicked off by Andy VK2EAH and Geoff VK2WA, with Dom VK2JNA in hot pursuit. Dom caught up by Jindabyne and we headed down the Barry Way. We paused at Ingeegoodbee to take in the first scenic lookout: After a quick swim in the fast-flowing (and […]
The French Atlantic Affair
You won’t find too many novels that include a passage like this: Yes, Dr. Berlin, but what do you hams talk about? Is what they usually said to him, and he’d realize then that they’d never understand, and he’d change the subject. But sometimes, though rarely, he’d come across someone who really dug his hobby, […]
70cm coverage test for ATV
MWRS hosted a test for the Sydney ATV group, as they have lost their Lawson repeater and are trying to find another site. The initial test used a 9dBd 6-element Yagi, pointed SSW, and 20W FM. FM was used for convenience (equipment is easy to access). The Yagi was located on our tower, below the […]