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Over the week-end of August 15/16^th, SEAC hosted the 1^st Round of the SA Rally Championship in and around the forests near SEAC Park, just west of Mount Gambier. Again, SERG received a request to provide all the communications to enable safe management of the event.

Sunday was a long day, with many arriving at their points at 7am, and not leaving until nearly 5pm. It was a huge dedicated commitment by all from SERG, where a large team was deployed to man every start & finish stage control, plus an intermediate point of each stage. Our members were able to quickly report the whereabouts of all cars, plus report back to the scoring team at Race Control all of the competitors Stage start & finish times to enable rapid compilation of results. Some points were even delegated the task of reporting any car making contact with a barrier which was then applied as a penalty to the drivers score.

All messages were relayed over our 2m repeater nearby on The Bluff which provided excellent radio coverage over the entire area of the event.  Radio traffic was constant & relentless, yet our repeater performed faultlessly.

I would like to thank the following SERG members for an outstanding job.

• Tom VK5EE
• Colin VK5DK
• Tim VK5AV
• Norbert VK5MQ
• Owen VK5HOS
• Greg VK5ZGY & Gabi
• Hans VK5PHS
• Phil VK5PCL
• Phil VK5BVC
• Andrew VK5VKC
• Deanna VK5FDCS

Your contribution made my sometimes difficult job in Race Control so much easier.

Peter VK5BE

Rally Coordinator

On Sunday 10/8/20 Peter VK5BE installed the new power supply tray for VK5RMG. As always, a really professional looking job. The VK5RMG/VK5ROH gear is something for our club to feel really proud about.

S.E.R.G. ANNUAL AWARDS

Roy Goodwin Award

This is awarded annually to a Foundation Licence holder who has made a significant contribution to SERG, and this year it goes to Kate, VK5FKLY, for her outstanding work in recent years for the video switching at the Lakes Hillclimb.

Kate works quietly behind the scenes, rarely seen or heard, but does such an awesome job presenting the camera pictures on the TV screens that we all take for granted.

Congratulations Kate

President’s Shield

This is awarded annually by the SERG President to anyone that has made a significant contribution to SERG. This year, in recognition of the great work behind the scenes throughout the year, the award goes to our Welfare Officer, David VK5HDW.

Each month, David has made countless phone calls to our members ensuring they are not forgotten when they are unable to attend meetings or if feeling less than 100%. His very detailed monthly reports are always well received and most appreciated.

Congratulations, David, on being awarded the President’s Shield for 2020.

SERG ASSISTS WITH COMMS AT SA/VIC BORDER CLOSURE

Today, July 24^th, SERG received a request from our state’s emergency services for logistical support.  The request was to assist with improving the phone and data service at the Princes Highway road block at GLENBURNIE, on the SA/Vic border.  A recent announcement that SA residents may soon be refused entry back into SA, phone and data is a valuable asset to emergency services at the site. The location, unfortunately, has unreliable or little phone and data service due to being nestled amongst a pine forest.  SERG has an emergency communications trailer, which is fitted with a large pump up mast.

SERG members, Andrew VK5MAS, Tim VK5AV, and Peter VK5BE quickly mobilised the SERG Comms trailer to the road block location.  They set up a portable phone cell utilising a temporary antenna attached to the top of the trailer mounted pump up mast. It is all powered from the battery & mains charger in the trailer and provides a no-break cell for all the workers on site at the road block.

The emergency service workers at the road block were extremely thankful for the logistical support from SERG, as they can now do their border task more effectively.

Congratulations to Tony VK5ZAI on receiving the President’s Commendation Award at this year’s WIA AGM.

It was for his excellent contribution to Amateur Radio through his involvement in the ARISS Program. The members of SERG are proud to have Tony as one of our members and join with the President of the WIA in congratulating Tony.

The South East Radio Group recently received a grant of $2,754 from the Federal Government’s Stronger Communities Program. The grant enabled the purchase of equipment which will ensure rapid and accurate scoring of the Australian Radio Fox Hunting Championships held annually in Mount Gambier.

This money was used to purchase latest High Tec. Equipment to assist and save countless man hours working out competitor times for the event of the Fox Hunting. The items were well received by SERG President Peter Becker and presented by our local Member Mr Tony Pasin. We would like to thank you Mr Pasin and the Federal Government’s Stronger Communities Program for making this happen.

SO WHAT IS A FOX HUNT ?

SERG 50th Convention and Fox Hunt June 2015 in Mount Gambier

We would also like to thank Andrew McKinnis VK5KET for all of his hard work leading up and also for over the two days involved with officiating the Fox Hunt Events with also SERG members to assist as the Fox’s as well as all the competitors (Hounds) that come from all over Australia to participate in this event.

The South East Amateur Radio Group SERG holds the National Fox Hunting Championships in June, the Queens Birthday long weekend where we also hold our convention at the same time. The fox hunt is open to all ages old and young, male and female. If you like to try out then come along and see if you can find the fox.

Thanks again to visiting our website and Enjoy the Hobby.

Till Next Time 73”s from VK5NFT

Welcome back to a review on the new all rounder Icom IC-705 that has been released this year 2020 and expected to hit the Australia markets around August 2020. The IC-705 is a HF/VHF/UHF All Mode Ham Transceiver and more. To take a look at this marvelous little rig i like to welcome Eric KJ4YZI from Ham Radio Concepts for being able to give us a brief look and operation of this little wonder.

Take it away Eric

If you like to see about purchase details i have included links to;

Strictly Ham

Andrews Communication

Thanks again to visiting our website and Enjoy the Hobby.

Till Next Time 73”s from VK5NFT

Hello All and thanks for coming back to the site, the following is about code of conduct when on amateur radio or any form of radio operation really.

Firstly a comment from Mr Spock about what he has to SAY;

Well thank you Mr Spock for that and putting earth on notice. From here we may need to take a look from AHARS the Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society summary of good Radio Code of Conduct.

Well I hope taking a look at the second video that you all had flash backs to how we should be conducting our selves when we are transmitting on the air. We are all human and at times we do make mistakes and also get very anxious and carried away on topics at times and may be slip things we shouldn’t over the air waves or by mistake tune up on someone having a QSO on a frequency. The main thing we realize what we have done and don”t do it again. Enjoy the hobby.

Till Next Time 73”s from VK5NFT

Hi there, at long last we are able to present to you the new 2m / 70cm digital analog radio from Yaesu. Eric KJ4YZI from Ham Radio Concepts has managed to get a rig from Gigaparts to give us a review on this rig to all you Yaesu buffs. Once again thanks to Eric for his videos, Sit back and press play and enjoy.

Further info on the rig is available here, C lick : FTM-300D

Thanks for coming to our site and till next time,

73’s from VK5NFT

On Sunday 5 July 2020 The Bluff repeater was upgraded with an improved power distribution system and the link to Mt Eckersley near Heywood was installed.

The working bee was attended by Norbert VK5MQ (the new power distribution system), Peter VK5BE (temporary antenna and spanner operator) and John VK5DJ (installation of the new link system).

A temporary antenna on 449.875MHz was installed on a fence post but it is anticipated that the yagi will be installed in a week or two about half way up the Gambier Electronics tower. Testing through 449.875MHz simplex is invited. If you operate on the simplex frequency you’ll be heard on the 2M repeater, Mt Benson, Naracoorte and Willalooka. You’ll be able to hear the action come back on 449.875MHz.

A big thanks to Brian VK5VI who did the TAIT chassis build and preparation of the transmitters and his help with the design of the sub controller.

The Mt Eckersley end is held up by weather and general conditions at the Heywood end. The hill is quite steep and wet so work is restricted to preparing the hut. Spring will bring better weather and drier hillside for the move to the top of the hill, construction of a fence and installation of the tower.

The second cabinet has the new power distribution system at the top and the battery at the bottom. The 70cm repeater is temporarily moved to the VK5DJ shack for new wiring and controller.