There was a general catch up at the clubroom last week and a brainstorming session held with some ideas and call signs put up on the blackboard for talks etc. we can hold during the year.

Our President Dave ZL4DK won’t be at the club night next Wednesday but do come along and feel free to add your ideas to the board.

Lindsey ZL4KS said there were no operations this week for AREC with thanks to Lindsey ZL4LDS, Bob ZL4OC and Bill ZL4AE on call while he has been away for the last few weeks.

The Tait radio kit we were looking to purchase for AREC has arrived as a replacement for the ICOM units we are using at present.

Repeater reports – Martin ZL4JH – IRLP his system has been off more than on lately, should be now on 147.425 mostly (node 6507) while he’s about. Rest of our systems – nothings changed. Coming projects include: looking to convert DUD to APRS, another project to upgrade 665 to a higher power, also planning work on southern node.

915 is working but requires a CTCSS tone of 88.5 to access it. Mosgiel link has been used well as of late while the Queenstown link has been deactivated recently as the gear is required for something else at present.

The national system has been active lately with national contesting.

Work on the Rudd Rd repeater aerials has continued with mixed results. There is further work planned in February.

Mention of ‘campers net’ on 3.613 during the holiday season at 9am and 9pm most days – good opportunities for club members and others to catch up and experiment with gear as people travel about. Also 7.070 around noon is worth a crack.

The next netmaster will be Martin ZL4JH (filling in for Dave).

Branch 30 is also on Twitter as @zl4aa

The account has been around for a few years now but has not been that active.

As we make changes to our website or have new news posted online we will use the Twitter account as another tool to let you know.

If you have not tried Twitter it’s not that hard.

You establish a free account with them and then opt to ‘follow’ other accounts (such as zl4aa) then as people you ‘follow’ tweet stuff you get to see it in your Twitter stream.

Head over to www.twitter.com/zl4aa to see our page.

The Branch 30 newsletters spanning 2009-2007 as well as some other articles from Kevin ZL4QD have been re-loaded onto the website server and can be downloaded from our website again.

Work to improve the layout of the ‘past office holders’ page has also been undertaken and a credit for Alan ZL4PZ hard work compiling the list added to the page.

An email request to some of the current committee members has been sent asking for an updated list on club executive and officers as the present page still sports dated 2010 information. When this information is received it will be posted to the website and an alert posted here in the ‘news’ section.

Regarding the 2012 Newsletter – it’s unsure if there will be one produced throughout this year but items of newsworthy interest will be posted to this section of the site upon receipt from a club member.

So if you have something to share please email the webmaster or use the contact form on this website to get your ‘news’ published

The Sunday evening club net roster has been posted to the downloads section of the website.

Please check the dates you may be rostered on to run the net.

If you’re unable to run the net please ensure you arrange cover from another member in advance.

Keep an eye on the website over the coming weeks as we refresh and update the site design and work towards adding additional content.

If you have some suggestions for the site please use the contact us form or email webmaster [at] zl4aa.org.nz