Club net audio available for listening or download, via the home page only this week. If you wish to obtain a hard copy please contact with your request.

Last week the first committee meeting was held and it was a first for a number of committee members.

Next week don’t go to the club rooms on Wednesday night instead head to Peter’s QTH on Saddle Hill Rd and there will be a chance to see his shack and check out the PCU.

There’s a new rig at the PCU that we’ll fire up and give members a chance to use.

Lindsey ZL4KS has spent the week programming the new Tait radios with local frequencies this week.

Martin ZL4JH advises there have been no major issues on the national system.

Locally the committee meeting confirmed  last week the focus will be 915 then a pipe replacement at 690 and perhaps an alternative type of antenna system to see if that reduces the QRM from other gear on the hill. Over at Highcliff the first stage at upgrading 665 site will be water blasting of the tank and the repainting it. New feeder will be installed thereafter.

Don ZL4GR reports 915 is working and requires a 88.5 CTCSS tone. The Queenstown link is back up and running and also requires a 88.5 CTCSS tone to access it. The national system is still being worked very hard by national awards. The signal coming south from Christchurch has been tenuous at times.

Stewart ZL4DC confirms a working bee at Rudd Rd on Sat Feb 4th, the cherry picker is booked – we would appreciate anyone with a signal strength meter to call us for before/after tests.

ZL4ACG reports within the past week Ernie ZL4AH has retired from the Otago / Southland net and has been involved with it over the last 20 years. Most of us have been involved over the years and we thank and acknowledge his contribution over this long period of time. The net is still running.

Re contesting – next weekend the 4th/5th February there is another VHF contesting Dave ZL4DK and Terry ZL4TAE will be involved and anyone else is most welcome to come up to Swampy and get involved. The hours start at 5pm-11pm on Saturday then around 7am until noon on the Sunday. Best frequencies to use are 144.2, 432.2, 1296.2 all USB or on FM using 144.5, 432.5 and 1296.5

The Jock White Field Day contest on Feb 25/26th – the club is planning to head to the same location in the past at the reservoir – this is to be confirmed.

Thanks to Alan ZL4XDJ we now have audio from the latest club net available for download / listening on our homepage!

There have also been a few changes to the way files for download have been laid out on the downloads page and we plan to add some extra reports etc. there shortly.

Martin ZL4JH was our net master tonight after some roster swapping

Dave ZL4DK our President was away camping last week so could not make the weekly club night last week. This coming week there will be a committee meeting.

Lindsey ZL4KS gave a brief overview of last Wednesday night at the club – there was a general catch up. Paul ZL4PH and Alan ZL4XDJ caught up about the website and starting planning about how to develop this going forward this. There was some general discussion about upcoming topics for future talks at club nights by other members.

Peter ZL4LV spoke about the list of possible items on the blackboard at the club that could be consolidated next week. There is an upcoming visit to his QTH on February 1st.

Lindsey ZL4KS gave his weekly AERC report – operationally it’s been quiet this week but things are starting to get back to normal with meetings etc. ramping up again. He did take the new Tait handheld kits down to the club on Wednesday night for members to have a look at.

Repeater report – no emails with any changes reported. License applications are being worked on for APRS, aerial upgrade planning for 665 and some power increases also being worked on.

Don ZL4GR reports 915 is working well. Queenstown link has been decommissioned for now but it’s only temporary. National system has been busy with national award contesting this month.

Stewart ZL4DC reports 685 link should be up again sometime this week. 915 – Feb 4th is booked in for an investigation into what may be wrong with the aerials on this repeater.

Daniel ZL4DE was involved in the national system awards – he went to old man range in central Otago and got to 924m above sea level and into Mt Stewart and also into lake Tekapo repeater.

Lindsey ZL4KS reports the campers net on 3.613 is still running as some members are still on holiday – 9pm most nights is a good time to catch up with everyone.

Netmaster next week is Dave ZL4TAQ then normal roster will resume

There were 19 logged in to the net.

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).