Wellington VHF Group, Inc: Online.

The unmodulated CW carrier on 506 MHz has been turned off, on the completion of coverage testing. Our thanks go to everyone who provided a reception report.

A prototype 2-way splitter, being one third of the 4-way drive splitter, has successfully passed all tests. A similar prototype, a 2-way combiner designed for higher power operation, is now under construction.

Transmission of the unmodulated CW carrier continues on 506 MHz, with horizontal polarisation. Reception reports are welcome.

Four power amplifier modules have been constructed and tested one-at-a-time with the digital exciter. Their gain and linearity match within half a dB. The four modules will operate in parallel to achieve the licensed power.

A 4-way drive splitter and 4-way output combiner have been designed and are under construction.

Transmission of the unmodulated CW carrier continues on 506 MHz, with horizontal polarisation. Reception reports are welcome.

Adjustment and testing of the digital modulator is complete.

The prototype power amplifier module has been constructed and is now undergoing quality testing. Once testing is complete another three modules will be constructed. The four modules will operate in parallel to achieve the licensed power.

Transmission of the unmodulated CW carrier continues on 506 MHz, with horizontal polarisation. The maximum EIRP is +20 dBW (100 Watts) towards the North East.

Calibrated coverage measurements, at more than twelve locations, confirm that the transmit antenna is performing as expected. Additional reception reports are welcome.

Work on the transmit antenna, and the installation of the transmitter, was completed last weekend, (9-10 February 2013).

At 9 am this morning, at the request of the users of the adjacent spectrum, the transmission was turned on at the maximum licensed power, while they tested for any effects on the operation of their repeaters, or degradation of mobile coverage along the road nearest the Belmont site.

No effects were noted and the station was cleared to continue transmitting.

Work has commenced on checking the coverage of the station. Reception reports are welcome.

Since update number 2, the quality of the prototype exciter and power amplifier, has been tested using professional test equipment.
These tests used both an unmodulated CW carrier, and a 7.6 MHz wide modulated spectrum, both centred on 506 MHz.
Both items performed better than expected and did not require any adjustment.

We are now working on getting the antenna system ready for the CW test transmissions.

Update number 1, as at 21st January, was published in January Q-Bit magazine, recently posted to members.

In summary, the update included a block diagram of the digital test system and discussed the various factors influencing the quality of the radiated transmission, such as the exciter quality, adjustment of the power amplifier, and the impedance matching of the output filter and antenna.

New Zealand Radio Spectrum Management (RSM) has granted the first Digital Amateur TV Licence to NZART Branch 74, The Wellington VHF Group, for use at its main station located on Mount Belmont, in Wellington.

The main features of Licence 236831 are:

The licence is valid for an initial period of 6 months, from 1st January 2013 to 30th June 2013.

A map is available showing the packets that have been heard and forwarded by the new digi at Ngaio.

Click here to see Map

Other info is available as you look around the site and you can track stations, look at who is in an area or see where trackers have been.

If you are interested in getting into APRS please let us know. We are planning a bulk order again this year and would be interested to know the level of demand.

The ZL2WA-3 digi was installed today and is running well. Coverage is designed for the central and inner suburbs, as well as the harbour area.

The digi is being i-Gated via ZL2BEZ and traffic can be seen on APRS.FI, look for ZL2WA-3.

A drive north showed it does not cover much north of Johnsonville on SH1 so the gap till ZL2KG takes over is still there.

The antenna is mounted low on the shed roof, leaving the options of raising it, added directional gain or adding another digi in Tawa or maybe at Colonial Knob. Plenty of projects left to do!!