The Tuesday Nite Group in 2007:

By Rod VK2DOT.

If the Tuesday Nite Group had a mission statement, it would sound like - To expand the knowledge of individual CCARC members in all fields of engineering and science including amateur radio. To enable senior [aged] CCARC members to maintain their interest in amateur radio and allied fields. To maintain an open forum on communications and learning.

The Tuesday Nite Group has now been operational for over fifteen years. It started as a group learning the computer Pascal and C languages, then expanded into a packet group for the introduction of the VK2DOT MakeNOS packet software, and a few years ago expanding into its now situation where we incorporate projects and development into the Tuesday Nite Group. Over the past fifteen years, the Tuesday Nite Group have built for themselves - Packet Baycom Modems, 2 meter & 70cm antennas, UHF/VHF combiner/splitters, modified radios for packet and SSTV operation; Built SSTV interfaces, HF antenna analysers; Plus, built for the Kariong site - a 70cm all mode repeater [9300], implemented the APRS Node and UI-VIEW software at VK2AFY, built the VK2AFY packet node, the VK2AFY web site, maintained a BBS distribution system, and installed over twelve overseas packet links; Installed 19” equipment racks in the Kariong radio room to enable all members to have hands on with the installed equipment. [Note: all members of the Tuesday Nite Group either built for themselves or have been a part of these projects.] Many of the group members state that they would never have attempted some of the projects on their own without the assistance of the group. No one is under pressure to complete any project but gains assistance from other members.

The Tuesday Nite Group has incorporated the old adage of “if you don’t use it, you will loose it”. We recognize that members of a senior age have to keep using their “grey matter” to maintain “the questioning of all”. We try and keep all explanations simple for the members. Plus we now try to have a video lecture each month, if that week is free. Most lectures are from universities, on a diverse range of subjects.

The Tuesday Nite Group maintain - the 9300 all mode repeater, the VK2AFY packet router with its associated 4925, 9150, 4700, 7600 & 5175 packet equipment, plus the VK2AFY web site, where each member has a web page of their own to update & change at will.

Only last week, members of the Tuesday Nite Group tracked down and negotiated the change of frequency of a Central Coast commercial transmitter which was interfering with the Kariong 9300 all mode repeater. This exercise was led by our chief “fox hunter” Ken VK2KJ.

The Tuesday Nite Group has a number of projects and systems to implement in 2007, these being:-

· Conversion of FM92/900E transceivers to 6 meters for members.

· Building of 6 meter antennas for members.

· Building a 6 meter node for the VK2AFY packet system.

· Installing Echo-Link into the 9300 repeater & how to use lecture.

· Computer sound card packet operation for members.

· Building of a Frequency counter front end divider for members.

· Building of a Video to Packet TV surveillance for Kariong club rooms via the VK2AFY packet system.

· Measurement of VK2AFY equipment & Kariong club rooms parameters via the VK2AFY packet system.

· Continue of Video Lectures each month.

· Install the packet link to the Illawarra.

· Installing of a 2.4Ghz packet system for Kariong VK2AFY packet router and for members use.

· Implementing a Packet to email via the VK2AFY packet system for members.

· Packet introduction course, including internet packet.

· Foundation hams introduction to the Tuesday Nite Group.

· Introduction to APRS & UI-View and APRS at VK2AFY.

· Setting up of an XServer BBS at VK2AFY for packet operation.

· Implementing of a Control & Telemetry system via the VK2AFY packet node.

· 9300 Voice activation for the 9300 repeater from the VK2AFY packet system.

· Installing & building the 9050 digital repeater 9600bps into the VK2AFY packet router.

· Maintaining all projects on the VK2AFY web site.

If the above is of interest to you, join the Tuesday Nite Group, we meet on Tuesday nights from 7:30pm till 9:00pm at the Kariong club rooms. At times we extend the finish time. Go to the VK2AFY web site to look up the meeting agenda for the “Tuesday Nite Group”. Use vk2afy.dyndns.org for the VK2AFY web site.

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