WEST AUSTRALIAN VHF GROUP (INC)

                Minutes of 536th General Meeting, Monday November 24, 2003

                     Held Wireless Hill Meeting Room, Applecross

Vice President, Terry VK6ZLT, opened the meeting at 2000.

Apologies: Alan 6ZWZ, Terry 6TRG.

MINUTES: 

The minutes of the October General meeting were also read and accepted. 
(6KZ/6ZCR)

BUSINESS ARISING:

The payment to Geographe Bay Yacht Club had been amended to $60, which covered 
the power cost for VK6RBS from March 2003 to February 2004.

CORRESPONDENCE:

In: 

* AR Magazine.
* AMSAT request for another donation.
* Bank Statement.
* Melville City re reorganization of Museum Administration.
* SEG re cancellation of VK6RTW.

Out:

* Geographe bay Yacht Club re payments.
* WIA re support for VK6RST 2mx.

REPORTS:

Treasurer:

Chris 6KCH advised that:-

* The bank balance at 18th November was $1780.24
* Payments had been made as follows:-
             Geographe Bay Yacht Club:  $60
             Waterdrop Hardware      :  $120
             Tim Smith               :  $230

Incoming amounts included $20 from sale of surplus transceivers and $27 from 
Hamfest sales.

Chris also commented that the Bank extracted $6 per month from the trading 
account in fees, whether any transactions occurred or not. Options to avoid this 
would be investigated.

*********ACTION: Chris 6KCH

Satellites:

Al 6ZAY reported that AO-40 had entered an unfavorable position for VK6 and 
would not improve for about 2 months. AO-10 was available if in sunlight.  

Bulletin:

No advice from Ben 6IC about the next issue.

Beacons:

Wal 6KZ reported :

* VK6RBS 10 GHz installation hardware was with Terry 6ZLT.

* VK6REP 2mx and VK6RST 70cm had been heard in Mt Gambier SA.

* VK6RTW 2mx transmission needs checking as it had not been heard for some time.
  An impending visit to the area would allow this to be done.

* Luigi 6YEH was progressing with investigating a WiFi module as an exciter for 
a 2.4 Ghz beacon.

* The exciter for the 24 GHz VK6RSP beacon had been purchased by terry 6TRG and 
delivery was awaited ex the UK. The PA is to be ordered shortly. A design has 
been obtained for the slotted waveguide antenna which trevor Niven VK5NC had 
agreed to make up.

* The 2mx transmitter for VK6RST was to hand. The omni antenna ex Esperance had 
been mislaid and it may be necessary to build another. Licensing arrangements 
were proceeding.

UNUSUAL VHF PROPAGATION:

Don 6HK advised that several good openings had occurred to eastern VK via 
sporadic E. An unexpected bonus was the brief appearance of KH6SX, presumably by 
Es extension from F2 to the east coast.

ACTIVITIES:

Assembly of a Programme for 2004 would be a topic of the evening's "Round Table 
Discussion".

GENERAL BUSINESS:

(1) Wal 6KZ reminded the meeting that from January 1st 2004, the MOrse Code 
requirement for amateur licensing in Australia is to be abolished. All "Limited" 
Grades  would become Unrestricted from that date. Novice Limited would become 
Novice Grade.

(2) Terry 6ZLT read a letter from Melville City advising of a reorganization of 
the Wireless Hill Museum administration. The old Museum Committee was abolished 
for the time being.

(3) Chris 6KCH detailed some success that he had had in obtaining EMR details 
for 3G cellphones in his area.


The meeting closed at 2035, to be followed by a Round Table Discussion on future 
Programmes for the Group in 2004. 



......................President                    ....................Secretary