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2025 MDRC Hamfest Information WHEN: Saturday the 10th of May Doors open at 10.00am WHERE:   Kingston City Hall 979-985 Nepean Hwy, Moorabbin VIC 3189 . The MDRC Annual Hamfest is held in May on a Saturday. The 2025 MDRC Hamfest will be held on Saturday the 10th of May.  The MDRC Hamfest is widely renowned as the Biggest Hamfest in Victoria, with a huge turnout each year. Many attendees travel great distances to attend the MDRC Annual Hamfest from Interstate and overseas. In 2025 the MDRC Hamfest will be held at the Kingston City Hall 979-985 Nepean Hwy, Moorabbin VIC 3189. Ticket sales from 9.00am. Doors open at 10.00am Traders can purchase tables from the M&DRC Shop . 70 car spaces on site and more parking behind shops on Western side of Nepean Hwy.

Join the Bendigo Technology Festival, hosted by the Bendigo Amateur Radio and Electronics Club. This exciting event will bring together enthusiasts, experts and hobbyists from all over to celebrate and explore the world of amateur radio, electronics, and technology of all types. Event Information Date, Time and Location Sunday May 4, 2025.Gates open at 10:00 AM. Fosterville Gold Pavilion,Prince of Wales Showgrounds, Bendigo, VIC 3550.Google Maps: 777F+3F North Bendigo, Victoria Admission is $7 per person, sold at the gate. NO food or drink is permitted on-site. Outside vendors will be accessible on the day. For more information, email techfest@barec.net.au , or phone our secretary, Peter VK3PWJ on Click to reveal, or Mark VK3PDG on Click to reveal. Vendors Tables are $25 and this fee includes 2 admissions. Additional persons required are available at $7 each.Table bookings are processed in the order they're received. Powered tables are limited so please ensure to register as soon as possible.Table booking will only be confirmed when payment is received. Vendors registration click here: Bendigo Technology Festival Vendor Table Registration Form .

WHO: Gippsland Gate Radio & Electronics Club WHAT: Hamfest WHEN: Saturday, July 5 2025 WHERE: Longwarry Community Hall in Longwarry On Saturday, July 5 the Gippsland Gate Radio & Electronics Club will be hosting a Hamfest sale. the venue is at the Longwarry Community Hall in Longwarry, approx 60km East of Dandenong, Vic. The venue is easy to find. It is just 3 km South of the freeway interchange, 150 metres South of the Longwarry train station and level crossing. Tea / Coffee and sausage sizzle will be available on the day. OTHER DETAILS: For Buyers: at 1:30pm. Doors open at 10:00 for buyers. Entry fee is $7 Entry includes a ticket for a Door Prize drawn For Sellers: Doors open at 8:30 for stall holders. Fees are $18 per table. Tables are approx 1.8 x 0.8m Tables must be paid for in advance of the event via EFT. A maximum of 30 tables are available. Table hire includes entry for two persons. EFT use BSB 633000 Account 146016746 Bookings are not confirmed until a booking number has been issued by the booking coordinator. No trading before 10:00 am please. Direct enquiries to lan Jackson VK3BUF via: hamfest@ggrec.org.au or call 5644 3118

A few weeks ago I gave a quick demonstration of HamSmith - an app I have written for impedance matching design by tracing a pathway through the Smith Chart with your finger. HamSmith is now available for iPad and iPhone in the Apple App Store! I hope to also have it in the Google Play Store soon. It has been an interesting and fun project.

Yes it's on again.. Thanks to Stanley vk3bot.. Famparc Campout March 2025. WHERE: Poplars Camp Ground The Poplars Follow Loch Valley Road from the town of Noojee, stay on the road and you will drive straight to the camp ground. WHEN: From Wednesday, March 19th to Wednesday, March 26th, 2025. This period spans from Wednesday to Wednesday, enabling other members to camp over the weekend. If possible, try to arrive by Friday afternoon, as weekends tend to be busy. You can see further dates listed on the Clubs Calendar here . Stans setup with the Camp Kitchen The camp ground is called The Poplars which is around 10k from the tiny town of Noojee. It's an easy and enjoyable drive via Neerim South, Noojee FACILITIES: Not much, but there are drop toilets , small camp kitchen and stunning scenery. There are plenty of campsites, but no power or showers. This is a free camping area. There are plenty of trees for wire antennas, and the best part is there's almost no RF noise. The campsite is approximately 10 kilometers from Noojee, and the road is paved, making it suitable for any vehicle. Noojee features two pubs, the Noojee Hotel and The Toolshed, along with a café. There is no supermarket, but the café offers a limited selection of basic items. The campground is suitable for all types of camping, including caravans, camper trailers, motorhomes, tents, and swags. Fire pits are available. Dog's are allowed. Telstra service was limited, and we were unable to connect to any FM or DStar repeaters. However, by using a DStar hotspot, we were able to access the DStar system. Join us to spend some time with other Famparc Members, and remember to bring your radio gear..

For the many of you that are blessed in having an Icom IC-705 rig, here is another trick for you to experiment with. Say you are not within range of a DStar Repeater, and you still want to access the DStar network using your IC-705. Well.. after a little bit of playing, I managed to get my IC-705 to connect to DStar Reflectors without the need of a Repeater, or a DStar HotSpot on a Raspberry Pi. However, you will need a Raspberry Pi, any model I understand will be fine. So.. even a Raspberry Pi Zero will work. Raspberry Pi Zero W WHAT YOU NEED: You will also need the Pi-Star OS.. Pi-Star_RPi_V4.2.1_17-Feb-2024.zip Check here for any updates... Pi-Star UK Raspberry PI Mother board. Raspberry Pi Zero W SD Card for the operating system, 16Gig is fine You will also need two USB Cables: 1x to power the Raspberry Pi. Usually USB Micro to USB A if you have a power supply that has USB A power outlets. 1x USB Micro to USB Micro for the data, one end connected to the Raspberry Pi Zero and the other end connected to the USB Micro port on the IC-705. My 705 connected to the RP Zero, Orange cable Power, Black Data to and from the 705 Note: the Raspberry PI does need a WIFI connection or course! Pi-Star Dashboard running in DStarRepeater Mode There are a few small changes you need to make to the Pi-Star Software... I found this brilliant Youtube Clip from K9SWX. If you follow his steps to the letter as they say, you will get it up and running in no time. I have been testing it and it works a treat, and with out the cost of buying a Hotspot. You can also see and use his text to step through as well. Click Here. One trick you need to be aware of, when he says, "Now Connect you IC705" DO IT.. Other wise the Radio Modem Type will NOT show the Icom Terminal Mode selection. And yes.. I know... this is not real Amateur Radio.. And I suppose in one way it's not as the 705 is not transmitting RF, as a matter of fact you don't need an antenna of course. But.. you are still using your callsign and also the Amateur Radio Network. Note: This setup will only allow you to connect to the Reflectors, like REF023C for example and not directly to a DStar Repeater. But as you know, many DStar Repeaters are connected to Reflectors. Have fun... if you need help or have a question, leave a comment.. Cheers. Craig vk3ncr

After some delay, I have now been accredited as an Amateur Radio Assessor by the ACMA. It was one of our club goals to have at least two assessors in the club, given the number of Foundation Courses we are running. Hopefully, this will take some of the load off Michael (VK3UUU). Ian (VK3KO)

Happy World Radio Day 2025! 12 February 2025 · Audioinfo · News · Sustainability Every year the world wide radio industry celebrates its own international day. February 13th is World Radio Day . Proclaimed in 2011 by UNESCO Member States and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 as International Day of the United Nations, February 13 became World Radio Day (WRD). CEO of Australia’s Commercial Radio and Audio body, Lizzie Young has a WRD message about the enduring importance of radio. She told radio info’s Steve Ahern: “Unlike lots of other media platforms, radio is unique. It’s local in a way that others can’t be. “It’s trusted with news and information services that are fact checked… it offers the counter to misinformation and disinformation with local trusted information… radio plays an active role for communities in times of need.” Read more at: https://radioinfo.com.au/news/happy-world-radio-day-2025/ © RadioInfo Australia Infomration and Images supplied by: Our Thanks to RadioInfo.

To Famparc members With a heavy heart I have to inform you of the passing of Peter Repschlager vk3yg on last Sunday 9 February, at an age of 86.  Peter was a member of our club since the early nineties, and very involved in the tuition of prospecting amateurs, with his callsign vk3jpr. He lived in Pearcedale, and ran a business as mobile car mechanic in the region. Some of us will remember his trusty Toyota HiAce. While doing so, he was on weekends building a holiday home at the southern shore of lake Glenmaggie. Peter and his wife Jenny moved there permanently in early 2000, where he continued to run his business, and Jenny ran a daily mail delivery in the region. At that time there was no mains power at the orooerty, so a range of solar panels created power, stored in a wet battery bank in the garage. Peter was also a member of Wicen Victoria. And as such a valued member and radio operator at various car rallies and other community events in the region. I remember him talking about being involved in the early days of the Great Victorian Bike Ride. He also participated in a number of Red Cross Canoe Marathons, a five day event held after Christmas on the river Murray  between Yarrawonga and Swan Hill. In the past years Peter could be found regularly on a daily 80m HF net with Ken DeSilva vk3fkd, Graham Mason Vk3kmg, and often additional amateurs from vk5 and vk7, reporting on the water level of lake Glenmaggie (which was next to his back yard), and other regional matters. I was lucky to have been able to visit Peter and Jenny a few times at their house at Glenmaggie in the past few years. Peter (Victor Three Yankee Golf) has now signed off! ( But he might be still listening?) Funeral proceedings will take place on Monday 17 February at Semmens Funeral Services, 5 Queen Street Maffra, commencing at 1100 am.  Viewing is available prior between 1000 and 1030 am  After the funeral proceedings there will be a lunch at the Heyfield RSL. All are welcome. Cheers, Gerard Werner Vk3ger

Last year I had a fun three nights on my own at Wunghnu Near Shepparton . I wasn't really on my own, there were heaps of people over the weekend. It was the Goulburn Valley Vintage Tractor & Farm Machinery Club 40th Annual Vintage Rally and Tractor Pull. I was free and very relaxing, plenty of room for all types of camping, of course I was in my caravan. On the Saturday night, you grab your chair and wonder across from you camp to the Tractor Pull Area and watch the Tractor Pull Under Lights. Example of one of the many tractors during the Tractor Pull. I reckon this year if we have a few members wanting to go and stay for the weekend, we could setup a display in the camp ground promoting our club and Amateur Radio. Update: I spoke to Lloyd Healey (Listed below), and he was quite ok for us to setup a display right next to the sheds.. There are Toilets and Showers available as well. I'm going !!!! Whooo Hoooo When: From Saturday 29th March 2025 - 9am till 8pm From Sunday 30th March 2025 - 9qm til 4pm Where: Wunghnu Recreation Reserve, Goulburn Valley Hwy Wunghnu, VIC 3635 Cost: FREE Contact: Lloyd Healey on 0458 299 466 or mail@gvtractorclub.com.au Website: www.facebook.com/share/p/18Y8smg9bC… or https://gvtractorclub.com.au/?fbclid=IwY2xjawHq3C5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHYSDzl5F80CDXNI_UTXkySyZwDvs9Rn87r2gWA5ZNGYFrFGESrMAUDfQRw_aem_i3jO6GTUhsrGRpYCL_37FA Times: From Saturday 29th March 2025 - 9am till 8pm From Sunday 30th March 2025 - 9qm til 4pm A Huge Weekend of Entertainment: Start Up Of Crossley Engine - Hourly Tractor Pulling With 2 Sleds - 2:30pm Saturday & 9:30am Sunday Working Exhibits with Machinery of Yesteryear Tractor Trek Saturday Morning - 10am Twilight Tractor Pull - Under Lights Saturday Night - weather permitting GV Wood Turners Moira Miniature Rail - Train Rides Onsite Catering and Camping.. Plenty of Room! Federation Picnic Car Display Sunday A fun day for all ages. Even you! Click on Image for more details Location .. Click on Image for Google Maps

Hi, would like to go to Poowong on Thursday 6th Feb. I’m told it’s wonderful to do a POTA as there is a lookout or something, my plan is to go there and set up the Icom 7300 say around 11:00, not intended to catch Ron, I don’t want to rush there by 10am. Later, a pub meal. The Poowong Hotel looks good. Daryl VK3HBP. More details:  Nyora Nature Conservation Reserve Poowong Hotel For those wanting to join Daryl vk3hbp and others from the club..... Where: Location:  Nyora Nature Conservation Reserve 660 Lang Lang-Poowong Rd, Poowong VIC 3988 When: Around 10:30am 6th Feb. Poowong Hotel: Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LJsDmfyo6GYit72f6   Nyora Nature Conservation Reserve Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dgAL2UU41pM1MjJQA POTA:  AU-0289 WWFF: VK-0289 A few from the club will be attending this outing. Arriving around 10:30am at the  Nyora Nature Conservation Reserve, play some radio and try and make some contacts from this POTA / WWFF location. Then a table has been booked for 12:30 at the Poowong Pub under the name of Daryl. Bring along your radio gear, chair, table etc.. There are no facilities at the reserve. Hope to see you there.

Next Saturday, before the business meeting, Ian (VK3KO) will give a short demonstration of HamSmith , the new Smith Chart app he has developed for the design of impedance matching networks and stub filters. When: 1000 am, next Saturday (1 Feb 25) Where: Club room Duration: 20-30 minutes, prior to the business meeting.