WEST AUSTRALIAN VHF GROUP (INC)

Minutes of 538th General Meeting, Monday February 23, 2004

Held Wireless Hill Meeting Room, Applecross

President, Alan VK6ZWZ, opened the meeting at 2000 hrs.

Apologies: Terry 6TRG, Ben 6IC, Wally 6KZ, Don 6HK, Luigi 6YEH, Chris 6KCH.

MINUTES: 
The minutes of the January 2004 General meeting were read and accepted. (Al 6ZAY , Colin 6ZCR).

BUSINESS ARISING:   Nil.

CORRESPONDENCE:
In: 

* 2 x Bank statements
* Melville City Council
* ACA invoice for 6 x licences (6VF, 6WH, 6RBU, 6RPH, 6RST, 6RBS)

Out:...... Nil

REPORTS:
Treasurer:
Chris 6KCH was unable to attend the meeting due to work pressures
A suggestion by Phil 6AD that approaches be made to the WIA for support in paying license costs

BULLETIN:
Ben 6IC was unable to attend meeting, but it is believed a magazine is due very soon.
Colin ZCR and Phil 6AD expressed dismay at not receiving any recent issues of the magazine.   Email addresses will be confirmed A.S.A.P..

Satellites:
Al 6ZAY reported that AO-40 has a serious battery power problems. Switching to back up batteries has not been successful. Prognosis is not good, every effort is being made wrestle command of the satellite as yet no result.

Unusual VHF Propagation:

* There had been reports of eastern state contacts on 144 MHz between VK2 and ZL.

* On Boxing Day 2003, VK2KRR worked into the Mt Saddleback 2mx repeater.      
Contacts included VK6IQ at Wandina NE of Perth and VK6ZGU at Wagin.

* VK6RST Mt Barker 432.564 MHz had been heard in Mt Gambier by VK5DK.





Beacons:

Wal 6KZ 

* VK6REP Esperance: Had been off air but was repaired by Bill 6AS.
* VK6RST Mt Barker: Had been reported in VK5 on 432 MHz. The 144 MHz 
installation was expected to happen next Sunday 1st February. 6KZ and Brian 6YAU 
from Albany would attend.

* VK6RSW Augusta: Had not been reported in Eastern VK but had been heard in 
Perth on 432 MHz.

* VK6RBS Busselton: 1296 MHz had been heard . Installation of the 10 Ghz transmitter is pending.

* VK6RBU Bunbury, VK6RPH Perth and VK6RSX Dampier: Were operational.

* VK6RSP Melville: 2.4 GHz was being investigated by Luigi 6YEH. An exciter unit 
had been donated by Terry 6TRG for the 24 Ghz transmitter and Terry planned to 
order modules for the TCXO and PA shortly. Don 6HK was working on exciter 
packaging power supply and control. 5 and 10 Ghz were operational.

GENERAL BUSINESS:

(1) Ben 6IC drew attention to a recent article about the commercial use of meteor scatter systems.

(2) Members were invited to purchase surplus items of equipment, which had been 
generously donated to the Group by Western Power.

(3) The annual Field day is proposed for April 18th 2004. It was suggested that 
HF could be allowed for liaison purposes and that a Digital Modes could be 
permitted. Alan 6ZWZ will prepare the rules for publication.

(4) Chris 6KCH reported on the installation of an APRS digipeater at the 
Busselton Repeater site. It operates on 145.175 MHz.

ACTIVITIES:

Tonight an audiovisual presentation of "Fox Hunting" by Phil VK6AD.

February proposed activity is "construction techniques for Microwave equipment"

The meeting closed at 2035






........................................President                    .......................................A/Secretary