News Bulletin #2 - 22/3/01

Successful "Dry" Run

We recently held a dry run in the backyard of team member Harris, VK4CWT.

All the rain on this morning turned it into a wet run !

This rehearsal day proved most valuable and identified any problem 

areas that needed solving before we were to leave, as many things 

can easily be taken for granted!

The complete "systems check" will help ensure the brief Site Survey 

DXpedition doesn't encounter any nasty surprises with equipment.

Antennas were assembled, tilt base and guy procedures rehearsed.

Above left - VK4APG tightens u-bolts for the 6M yagi assisted by Bill & VK4CWT.             

                                     Above right - Graeme, VK4FI, helps with antenna mast errection.

We did have some help from a local resident who was keen to participate!

Above - our feathered "friend" watches the assembly of the tribander...

...who kept pinching the damn hose clamps !

The new Honda generator worked a treat !  

This suitcase size 1kVA unit is extremely quiet too, and was running only 

ten feet away.   We did find that there was wideband noise being radiated 

along the mains lead from the generator though, which is of "switch-mode" 

type design, maintaining constant voltage output irrespective of load.

A choke filter on the mains lead close to the generator has since solved this.

Laptops were configured with all the appropriate software.

Interfacing between the laptop and the rigs was established so that CT 

may interrogate the transceivers for band & mode information during logging.

Above - our fearless leader, VK4GL, configures a laptop.

The Westinghouse F-1000 Satellite Phone on loan was tested and worked

extremely well.   Interfacing on the third laptop was setup so that one

mouse click and it would dial the ISP, establish connection and upload

the log data automatically.