Wellington VHF Group, Inc: Online.

Stimulating topic at April meeting

There was a good turn-out of around 40 members and visitors at our April meeting, who enjoyed a first-rate presentation by John Yaldwyn ZL4JY on the topic of modern radio design. His presentation featured a N.Z. designed and manufactured “smart” digital radio, showing off the excellent standard of radios being designed, manufactured and exported by N.Z. industry. Thank you John for the interesting, and sometimes challenging, presentation. It was also heartening to hear that a number of the engineers and technicians involved with this technology also hold amateur callsigns!

Progress with KiwiSAT now on video

The KiwiSAT development team has posted a new video on their website, which explains the Battery Control Regulator. This clip is about 6 minutes long, view it at www.kiwisat.org.nz.

The BCR is one of two features of KiwiSAT for which the Group have donated funds, to specifically assist with development. (The other is the solar cells).

In this video Hans Holtz, ZL1HB, and Andrew Cammell, ZL1AVC, explain the design and operation of the KiwiSAT BCR.

View this presentation to see how your funds are assisting development of this project.

Planning underway for VHF Convention 2011

At their meeting on Thursday 13th May your committee moved to form a sub-committee to commence planning and to then manage the next VHF Convention, which will be held in the Wellington area during Easter weekend, (Friday 22nd – Monday 25th April 2011). This team is Ross Pedder ZL2UAC, Phil Slater ZL2OWL, and Doug Ingham ZL2TAR. They will be co-opting other members as required, so please assist them if you receive a tap-on-the-shoulder, to ensure this event is up to our usual standard!

On this occasion it is hoped that VHF Convention will be run together with the Wellington EXPO 2011. Details are yet to be worked out, particularly in regard to timing and venue(s). Details will be advised as planning decisions are finalised.

So, the year 2011 will be a busy one in the Wellington area with these two events, plus NZART Annual General Meeting and Conference to be held at Silverstream as well.

Remits

There are a number of remits to NZART AGM for members to consider at our next monthly meeting. (See elsewhere in this issue for details of these). Please bring your copy of Q-Bit to the meeting to refer to when these are considered.

Please do come along and make your views known, and decide what instructions our delegates will take to the NZART AGM. At their meeting on Thursday 13th May your committee discussed, even debated, the proposed remits and we have some recommendations for you. We appointed John Andrews ZL2HD, and Fred Johnson ZL2AMJ as our delegates to the NZART AGM.

Another kitset project

Especially for the constructors amongst us, we have a further couple of kitset projects coming up in the near future.

Peter Ford ZL2VK has devised a new kitset, which is bound to be popular with members. An announcement is expected shortly. A pilot batch of this project proved to be very successful, and your committee has approved funding for the purchase of materials and components.

New Back-up Batteries for Belmont

The Group have been donated three rather large sealed lead acid batteries by a member for the upgrade of our Belmont station. We are most grateful to recieve this gift. We are indebted to this donor in particular, and the gift also reminds us of the generosity of all our sponsors and donors.

Your committee have approved funds for the purchase of a special charger/supply needed to condition and maintain these special batteries. A purchase will be made shortly.

200 Plus Q-Bit

With the increase in members, production of Q-Bit has reached over 210 copies per month.