NERG NEWS newsletter archive list

NERG News Archives

Click on the month to view NERG News issues in PDF/Acrobat format

Remember there are DXpedition and COntest lists in every edition.

Please contact the NERG NEWS editor for updates and corrections to articles before re-publishing.

2019	Contents
April 2020	Special report: New Ellecraft K5 Trasceiver announced; Operating at Radio Australia; General news, contests DXPeditions etc.
March 2020	2M Yagi for Field Day - Paul VK3DIP; General news, contests DXPeditions etc.
February 2020	Baofeng UV9R Dual Band Hand Held - Paul VK3DIP; General news, contests DXPeditions etc.
2019	Contents
December 2019	Advanced Mobile Location Service David VK3UQ, General news, contests DXPeditions etc.
November 2019	Yet another VNA review (Part 3) Paul VK3DIP; General news, contests DXPeditions etc.
October 2019	Yet another VNA review (Part 2) Paul VK3DIP; Spit Roast Dinner; General news, contests DXPeditions etc.
September 2019	Yet another VNA review (Part 1) Paul VK3DIP; Building the CRKits HT-1A 5W QRP Transceiver - Tony VK3TP; General news, contests DXPeditions etc.
August 2019	General news, contests DXPeditions etc.
July 2019	General news, contests DXPeditions etc.
June 2019	Construction Day Rotator repair report
May 2019	General news, contests DXPeditions etc.
April 2019	Field Day report from Paul VK3DIP
March 2019	More JMMFD Plans and all the usual Contest and DXpedition Notes
February 2019	JMMFD Plans and Some FT8 operating notes.
2018	Contents
December 2018	Whats on over Christmas?
November 2018	Report on the October Construction day; Raising Towers and New Licencees
October 2018	RD Contest results and How to be a "LID"
September 2018	“MORTTY” - CW and FSK RTTY Keying
August 2018	One way to make PCBs
July 2018	Network Line Technology
June 2018	Visit to Bletchly park, VK3KE shack clear out
May 2018	JMMFD Results, Gippsland parks Activation
April 2018	JMMFD Report, Jilpanger Nature Conservation Reserve WWFF Activation
March 2018	JMMFD planning
February 2018	Mt Hotham SOTA and Alpine National Park VKFF Activation, Antenna parties @ VK3CAB's and VK3AKC's
2017	Contents
December 2017	Christmas Party details, operating SOTA on Mount Arapiles
November 2017	An Op-Amp Field Strength Meter, 2017 RSGB UK National Hamfest
October 2017	Tower Moving, SDR radios.
September 2017	More on a Linked Inverted V Dipole
August 2017	A 4nec2 Model for a Linked Inverted V Dipole
July 2017	Report on Australian Fox hunt Championshhips, General News
June 2017	Learning CW, NERGs place in competitions
May 2017	Portable antennas - 40M Vertical
April 2017	Re-introduction of Morse Code for HF Licences, Linked dipole for 15M, 20M and 40M
March 2017	LNA Sequencer, Magnetic loops, Report on Coffee shop WIA candidates meeting.
February 2017	Masthead Diplexer and LNA pre-amp for 2M & 70cM
2016	Contents
December Special	WIA News and RTTY Contesting invitation
December 2016	General news - DXpeditions and Contests details of Christmas Party
November 2016	General news - Notice of Foundation Training
October 2016	An Accurate Digital SWR & Power Meter
September 2016	1296 Skew Planar Omnidirectional Antenna
August 2016	Rebuilding and improving old CB SWR Meters, Tale of Three 49ers - lessons in homebrew
July 2016	Stop Windows 10, DX Alerting
June 2016	Normal issue - Contest & DX news etc
Mayl 2016	Simple Normal issue - Contest & DX news etc
April 2016	EFHW for QRP Portable HF Antenna; Report on the JMMFD
March 2016	Portable transverter and CAT interface for YAESU FT8X7 Rigs; Using the NERG Remote
February 2016	RTTY Pt 2; Mini VSWR for QRP or portable
2015	Contents
December 2015	RTTY; Christmas function
November 2015	Club Discounts; NERG antenna; Melbourne Uni Space project
October 2015	More Tony is back; NERGs at the Region 3 ARDF Championships
September 2015	AGM Outcomes, just a bit of news
August 2015	VK3CNE Station plans, Setting up for the RD Contest usimg VKCL, VoiceKeyer and a script.
July 2015	Australian Fox Hunt Champs report; DXPeditions and Contest
June 2015	Tony is Back!! Vic Foxhhunt Champs report
May 2015	Dual band 2m 70cm Antenna; DX news and Contest news
April 2015	New callsigns on the air, Advanced course announced, DX news and Contest news
Feb-Mar 2015	Sorry, No NERG News these months
2014	Contents
November 2014	2M J-pole from 300 ohm ribbon, Simple co-ax dipole for 2M
October 2014	New mast installed at the hall, Talk from David Kerr
September 2014	NERGs at World ARDF Kazakstan, Upcoming Hamfests, NEVARC, All-band portable HF vertical
August 2014	A foldup J-pole for 2-metres, news and events
July 2014	DX awards all around, Vacuum Channel Transistors
May/June 2014	Cool Valves; Mt Gambier fox hunting 2014; YagiCAD and Antenna Noise Temperature
April 2014	VK5 National Parks & World Wide Flora and Fauna Awards, NERG's QSL bureau, Lightening strick damage to rotator controller, Drop test for flat batteries.
March 2014	Radio QRV Amateur Radio Promo Video, Tracking Space Junk, QSL card printer, Log4OM logging program, Drop test for flat batteries.
February 2014	More on WIA awards scheme; 2300Mhz band reallocation; Links to radio invention podcast and Channel 7 Transmitter tour videos.
2013	Contents
December 2013	Melbourne Analog TV switch off , DAB coverage improvements, Audiosonic DAB radio review
November 2013	Various contest notices
October 2013	news and upcoming events
September 2013	AGM summary, news and upcoming events
August 2013	Show'n'Tell summary; AVR-Transistortester notes(VK3DIP); News
May-July 2013	Meeting reports: Spread spectrum, Restoring the Marconi Mark VIII Colour TV camera; News
April 2013	Panadaptors, John Moyle Field Day report, News
March 2013	Getting best performance from W3NQN band pass filters, Illegal Mobile Phone Repeaters, News
February 2013	EMR Audits, JMFD, Striped Capacitors (non-polarised), Adhesive copper tape.
2012	Contents
December 2012	Notes from the November SDR Talk, Christmas BBQ, Kynton Hamfest, Ross Hull and Summer Field Day
November 2012	Notes from the October microwave talk, VK3RMH goes QRT, NERG construction projects - Bandpass filters & 6:2 antenna switch.
October 2012	Radio displays at Bandiana ARMY museum, 10GHz mobile records, news.
September 2012	Radio display at the Puckupunyal Tank Museum, Life Membership for John VK3XD, Mystery Photo, Local news
August 2012	AGM, Morse code footprints in the Mars dust, Windows XP speedup, news
July 2012	Litium Polymer Batteries for Amateur Radio, news
June 2012	No newsletter
May 2012	73 magazine now online, news
April 2012	No newsletter
March 2012	News, Hybrid PA module repairs, VK3JNH featured in Radcom, ARVic repeater update
February 2012	News, VK3VT receives Australia Day Volunteer Award, Chirp and Whisper Beacons, Portable Loop Antennas, Rex's 10GHz record interview
2011	Contents
December 2011	UTC & GMT time standards, repairing ceramic reasonators in the ICOM IC-621F, vintage amateur promo film, local news.
November 2011	News, Booting up an updated Windows XP PC, A dual band vertical open sleeve antenna for 10m & 6m,
October 2011	News, Digital ATV QSO party, New developers for Ham Radio Deluxe, Heathkit kits return.
Sept 2001	No newsletter published for September
August 2011	News, AGM Announcement, ARISSAT-1 report, R3 ARDF Champs
July 2011	News and activities
June 2011	No newsletter published for June
May 2011	News and activities
April 2011	John Moyle field day reports and News
March 2011	News
February 2011	News, S-meter Inaccuracies
2010	Contents
December 2010	Multi-band trapped dipole antenna special edition
November 2010	Building and using the K1EL WinKeyer-USB for CW, 2 Metre FM frequency list, Electrophone mystery object, ACMA news on 700MHz band changes, Waether Balloon Interference, and a Quiet Radio Zone for the SKA.
October 2010	Brief news and activities
September 2010	News and activities
August 2010	A trip to Gippstech, upcoming activities and news.
July 2010	Number Stations, Mt Gambier convention report, events calendar.
June 2010	Coax Cables for VHF & UHF, events calendar.
May 2010	Parachute Mobile, John Moyle results, VK3JMB gets his 300th DXCC country, Events calendar.
April 2010	Report on the JMFD, YagiCAD update and Corner Reflector antenna design, 2m foxhunt report, upcoming Contests and ARDF events calendar.
March 2010	Anderson, Merit and DIN 12V power plugs,VKCL logging software update, Hamfest reports, Event Calendar.
February 2010	DAB+ up and running, A month of Hamfests, upcoming activities and news
2009	Contents
December '09 /January'10	Airways Museum Open Day, New YAGICAD 6 Antenna Designer released, upcoming activities and news
November 2009	Upcoming activities and news
October 2009	Troublesome Electrolytic Capacitors, New road rules on use of mobile phones and Visual display units, news & calendar
September 2009	Record Sunspot-less period, news & calendar
August 2009	Making Printed Circuit Boards at Home, A Fuzzy history of the NERG, news & calendar
July 2009	Converting a 3-way splitter to an (SWR) Return Loss Bridge, 2009 Victorian Hidden Transmitter Fox-hunt Championship report.
June 2009	PC software and audio interfaces for Digital Modes made easy, DAB+ Digital Broadcasting now on air in Melbourne, VK3RTV conducts DVB-T Digital ATV trials, Monthly 2m SSB scrambles in VK3.
May 2009	60 channels for UHF CB, JMFD results, news & calendar.
April 2009	Report on the NERG's John Moyle Field Day weekend, news & calendar.
March 2009	News & calendar.
February 2009	Resistor colour code rhymes, Bushfire kit, Using VFD tubes in radios, news & calendar.News and activities
2008	Contents
December 2008	Out with Analog TV - in with Digital, VHF EPRIB beacon system closes, Bridge-T attenuator, Antenna Archives revisited - Trapped dipoles and alternative traps, 2009 hamfest and contest dates.
November 2008	VK3RTV goes Digital, Fuse Ratings and Speeds, Zero-ohm resistors, Power versus Frequency.
October 2008	Dayligh savings chaos, events list.
September 2008	NERG AGM results, The VK3RHF multi-band multi-site repeater, ARDF news, events list.
August 2008	VK3RGL goes 91.5Hz, events list.
July 2008	NERG Christmas in June report, Marg Baxter awarded life membership, repeaters heard from club rooms.
June 2008	The Retro-Turbo Encabulator, Bright lights, Repeater directory update.
May 2008	New FM and D-star repeaters from BARG; ACMA reviews and 5 year plans for 70cm and 6m; Power line time and frequency accuracy.
April 2008	A simple Quad Turnstile Antenna for 6 metres; Sunpot cycle 23 not finished yet; Morse tutor program; April Fools Day news - autopilot hyjacks plane, solar maxima rescheduled.
March 2008	Participating in the John Moyle Field Day contest, Recommended IRLP/Echolink frequencies for Australia, VK5ZAI receives NASA award for ARISS services. Featured WEB sites: TWiAR & WBCQ.
February 2008	Revised amateur conditions released by ACMA, 2008 Australian Amateur Events and Contest Calendar, GPS receives Traffic Alerts, Featured WEB site: Installing Mobile Radios.
2007	Contents
December 2007	NERG Quiz, LENA revealed, Inside a DVB-T set top box, NERG as it was a decade ago, Latest YagiCAD 5.2 Yagi antenna design tool has genetic optimisation, Digital VHF-UHF VSWR/POWER meter reviewed, A simple Antenna Tuner, other news, contests, and events.
November 2007	VK3RWM D-STAR repeaters on air, other news and events.
October 2007	A simple 2 Meter Antenna built from 50 ohm coax, Solar power and hot water notes from September meeting, The new WIA D-Star bandplan, Amateur D-Star standard uses proprietary voice codec, Emergency equipment check list.
September 2007	Photos from NERG christmas in July and RD contest. Featured Web site: Jacks videos on YouTube including WIA history of QSL cards, other news and events.
August 2007	A rollup dual band J-Pole antenna for 2m & 70cm, Worlds tallest antenna tower for Tokyo, Coax cable designators, telecom cable thefts, optical nano-tech, other news and events.
July 2007	Contesting in Australia, VK5VF beacons relocating, , other news and events.
June 2007	Cockatoos damage VK3CNE packet system antenna, Handheld secrets, VK3RMU changes frequency, Commercial Digital Radio trials, other news and events.
May 2007	The K0S 'Strange' Antenna challenge, Scarborough reef DXpedition, other news and events.
April 2007	Photos of the VK3CNE John Moyle Field Day contest station, VK3RMH 6 meter beacon back on air, April Fools Day news.
March 2007	Photos from the NERG gliding day, John Moyle Field Day contest plans and how to get to Mount Macedon, Squeezing a PDP-8 computer into a Xilinx FPGA, 2007 ARDF/Foxhunting calendar.
February 2007	Morning tea group, Hamfests galore!, Will Solar Sunspot Cycle 24 be the big one?, Shocking ways to check if the power is turned on, Identify that mystery plastic, 2007 ARDF/foxhunt calendar.
2006	Contents
December 2006	Photos from the Manna Gum Festival., Geocaching, Simple LM567 CTCSS encoder, Strain insulator danger, End of Seaphone in VK, Barbequing sausages in less than 5 seconds.
November 2006	Broadcasting, S-O-S, & 500kHz celebrate 100 year history; music video for hams; BPL trial in Mount Beauty strikes trouble.
October 2006	VK3 APRS changes frequency, call in to NERG's NET, Spitnik 1's 49th birthday, Voyager still discovering space, Battery recall, VK short listed for Square Kilometer Array radiotelescope
September 2006	News and Photos from the NERG christmas in September dinner and the Rememberance Day contest. Updates for VK3RMN, VK3RMU & VK3RPU repeaters.
August 2006	Summary of Jack's favourite video editing packages, UWB and under-16's ACMA regulations changes, Lead-free solder, RD contest, International Light House weekend, Aint got no Rythm!, VK3 AML silent key,
July 2006	Jaycar supports NERG with equipment for training amateurs, 91.5 Hz CTCSS tone for theAWA RT85, Recognising BPL interference, Web of the month: PropWiz propagation tool & Online circuit libraries.
June 2006	Donations and assistance greatfully received from Benelec, Bristols Paints and Rockby Electronics, Foundation class news, Miniature Soviet Valve, Circuit-Doku - a Sudoku style puzzle.
May 2006	Report on the MAD bike ride, New Optical Communications distance record, analysis of the NERG John Moyle scores, Web of the Month - amateur software & a foxhunt simulator, ARISS featured on the ABC science show.
April 2006	Report on the John Moyle Field Day, ARISS contact with ISS a great success, Australian TV manufacturer closes factory, Hams interfere with own satellites, Radio tower disappears from Melbourne skyline, Famous Mexican Midnight Soup recipe Mind Control (it was the April issue...), Broadband over sewer pipes.
March 2006	WICEN at the 2006 Pajero Challenge, SuitSat expires, ARISS contact, ARDF Porcupine Ridge RadiO report, John Moyle Field Day for beginners, BGP - Broadband over Gas Pipe?, Foundation use of linked repeaters and IRLP, IRLP links visible on Google Earth, Avoiding Phishy scams.
February 2006	Foundation Weekend successes, SuitSat-1 overboard, Generator warning, Western Union Telegrams Stop, WICEN at the Kinglake bushfires.
2005	Contents
December 2005	Frequency Table for new licence classes, Simple Directional Coupler to build, web sites for DX'er.
November 2005	New Australian Amateur Licence structure, Manna Gum Festival, Eureka 147 Digital Radio announcement, NERG Open Day report, A BPL poem, Podcasting, Web sites i-Flea, Google Earth, Balloon plans deflated.
October 2005	Open Day, New Regs start this month, Balloon found!, Amazing Rain Sensor, VI5PN success, 3KE breaks 300 DXCC countries, VK3 ARDF starts at Japan, Isn't BPL dead yet?, A mini-what?, 40-years ago - the AM/SSB debate.
Sept 2005	QRP in the Snow, Slow QSL card, Open Day coming soom, Component suppliers on the Internet.
August 2005	New versions of RD Contest kit and YagiCAD for windows available, RD contest rules, BPL submissions available, fox-oring reports.
July 2005	BPL letters of support, New Rules for RD contest, 6 meters under threat from Digital Audio Broadcasts, Photos from Mt. Gambier Convention and Tx Hunts.
June 2005	Balloon launch success, Digital Voice modes for HF, HamSat OSCAR52 in orbit.
May 2005	CTCSS tone standards; CTCSS for the Philips FM900 & AWA RT85; Macedon Pines ARDF event report;
April 2005	John Moyle Field day: Tiny time standard; Lithium Batteries.
March 2005	433 MHz medical transmitters threaten 70cm; Beacons & propagation web sites; ISS on IRLP & Echolink; Contest Announcements: IOTA VI5PN St Peter Island, 1st IRLP contest, 80/160m VK/TransTasman, CQ repeater;
February 2005	2005 ARDF calendar; Field Day checklist; WICEN exercises.
2004	Contents
December 2004	VTAC report - changes to VK3 repeater access; VK3RMH repairs; LIPD door locks; Weather web sites; More on BPL; November ARDF event report.
November 2004	The NERG - 21 years ago; ARDF and micro-RadiO news;
October 2004	A warning on cheap battery chargers; more on BPL;
September 2004	Care and feeding of the Yuasa VRLA batteries (Gel, SLA, or Valve Regulated Lead-Acid batteries); Local council restricts use of Satellite Dishes;
August 2004	The new Amateur Radio Victoria; Silent Key Dr John D Kraus radio astronomer and antenna handbook guru W8JK; Amsat-OSCAR 51 (“Echo" AO51 ) ready for launch; RF-ID tags track your every move;
July 2004	Report from the 2004 Mt Gambier convention and foxhunt championships; THE PAOMNNEHAL PWEOR OF THE HMUAN MNID
June 2004	The new entry level Foundation license for amateur radio; Federal and state WIA division merge into one national WIA; NERG packet node VK3CNE now on air; ARDF news and reports; Dave's favorite radio software; Incentives needed to reduce Hi-tech Trash; The Cold, Balls and Brass Monkeys;
May 2004	Why use Packet Radio?; NERG IRLP has new Internet host; The @ character added to the Morse Code;
April 2004	Low Power Precision Frequency Beacons investigate propagation on HF; New regulations of satellite dishes; Dangers of DHMO contamination;
March 2004	Working the John Moyle Field Day contest; Setting up the NERG packet node; Identifying UV resistant ropes; CTCSS to reduce 70cm repeater interference from LIPDs.
February 2004	DAB digital audio broadcast trials start in Melbourne; Batteries and concrete floors;
2003	Contents
December 2003	Region 3 ARDF championships held in Ballarat a great success;
November 2003	ACA reviews amateur licensing; Echolink joins IRLP on VK3RMH repeater; Ultra Wide Band (UWB) - a new wireless mode; Tiny Cameras; Will the real BNC stand up? JOTA 2003 report;
October 2003	Steam Cooled Vacuum Tubes, ARDF championships & news, Powerlines Communications (PLC) discussion paper from ACMA.
September 2003	AR at the Great Australian Science Show, Aircraft Maintenance reports, TV and Radio broadcasting in New York two years after 9/11, ACMA to review the Amateur Service.
August 2003	Report on ARDF at Toorourrong Reservoir, The Australian Amateur Travellers' Net , The Father of the Superhet and FM radio, Microwaves and Hot Water.
July 2003	Managerium - The heaviest element known to science.
June 2003	ACA mandates new EMR limits for radio amateurs, Errata - Local Antenna Height Regulations.
May 2003	LIPD interference to VK3RMH, Illegal High Power Cordless Phones cause widespread interference, The myth about Mobile Phones and exploding Petrol Stations, 30th aniversary of the mobile phone, North East Victorian bushfires finally over and AR involvement.
April 2003	State of Art Antennas - the bent coat hanger, Finishing Aluminium, Handy Frequency to Wavelength conversion chart, Reoprt on NERGS 2003 John Moyle Field Day.
March 2003	Local Ham told to remove tower, JMFD Field Day Checklist, WICEN at the OXFAM Trailwalker, LIPDs on 70cm, Working the JMFD, Are you radio ready?, More on Is It Legal to Talk’n’Drive?, Fix temperature sensitive FM828 squelch problems,
February 2003	NE Vic Bushfire amateur radio activities, Is It Legal to Talk’n’Drive?,
2002	Contents
December 2002	Report on 2002 Jamboree on the air, A simple Dual Band 2 m 5/8 + 6 m 1/4 Wave Antenna, Sunspots - How long can the peak last?, How would you like your Volts? - 240V mains in Australia.
November 2002	Christmas Hills ARDF Report, Calculating hole or pipe diameter for muliple coax cables, New 4 digit IRLP numbers, news and coming events.
October 2002	AWA RT85A power control, Intruder watch, Radio receiver designed automatically by genetic algorithms, NERG packet and beacon updates.
September 2002	New NERG Packet BBS VK3CNE, RT85 scanning hints, Reports on GASS exhibition and RD contest, End of Eddystone, Nautical amateur beacon, Fluke multimeter safety notice, USAF adopts HF email system,
August 2002	Simple 5/8 antenna for 70cm, VNG not dead yet, Dave's DX report,
July 2002	PIC based CTCSS tone generator for transceivers, AO-7 satellite lives again!, Packet radio revealed, Powerline communications fact sheet, DTMF keypads for IRLP, radio repair and mods web site, GippsTech report.
June 2002	EMR compliance starts in July, news.
May 2002	Simple UHF antennas (part 2), VK3RMH 10m Beacon heard in Italy, vehicle radar given LIPD rights on amateur 3cm band (76GHz), VK/Trans Tasman contest rules.
April 2002	A Packet Radio Test Tool, Simple UHF antennas (part 1), Radio on Rails event, news.
March 2002	Planning for the John Moyle field day, news.
February 2002	IRLP now on VK3RMH, IRLP users guide, VK3RMH 70cm overhaul, December & January 2m foxhunt reports, New digital mode WSJT,10m pollution.
2001	Contents
December 2001	2001 LEONIDS Meteor Storm, South Foreland Lighthouse, Centenary of the first Transatlantic transmission, AMSAT chief to visit Melbourne, Testing the performance of the NERG dummy load projects.
November 2001	NERG moves to Briar Hill Community Hall, A CW practice Oscillator, report on JOTA 2001, IRLP trials on VK3RMH, Emergency 1144x numbers end.
October 2001	DX with a handheld 2m box, 2m coax-only portable vertical antenna, Dave's DX notes.
September 2001	AGM report, Light House Weekend report, Avian beacons, Mobile Phone boosters banned.
August 2001	Just news and upcoming events...
July 2001	VK/Trans-Tasman results, High power cordless phone cause interference on 2m band, Guide to IRLP on Geelong repeater, 10m fishing beacons.
June 2001
May 2001
April 2001
March 2001
2000	Contents
December 2000	Electro Magnetic Radiation Standards soon to apply to Amateur stations, Iridium still up in the air, My antennas got a bigger "MARINE" than yours!, More Astronomical Net Questions of the Week, Dissimilar Metal Corrosion, with Galvanic Corrosion Table, Big Silicon Chip Plant Opens in Melbourne
October 2000
August 2000
1999	Contents
December 1999	Warnings for the year 2000 bug; A mains-power SLA battery charger project; A simple bow-tie antenna for UHF TV reception;
1983 - 1999	Contents
	16 years of newsletters with many subjects. Unfortunately only available only in paper form.
1983	Contents
First Issue	First ever issue of NERG NEWS - The NERG started over 35 years ago, and to celebrate we've reproduced the first ever issue of NERG NEWS. See how much has changed in that time, and how much hasn't changed at all!

North East Radio Group, Inc. Melbourne, Australia
updated 29 March 2019 VT