QNews for January 26th 2025

Q-News AR News from Queensland

Darling Downs Radio Club for Sunday 26 January. I'm John VK2JPM, Secretary of the club. Coming up: the next club meeting is on the evening of Monday 10th of February in the Toowoomba library at 1900. This month's topic is Fox Hunting, and Bruce VK4MQ is going to do his darndest to show you the two most important outcomes that you can get from our hobby: have a REALLY good time, and develop great technical and life skills. We're planning a club Fox Hunt event in late March or April, and Bruce will show you how to be prepared for not much money and only a small amount of effort. That date again: Monday 10 February at 1900 in the Toowoomba Library. If you're coming to the meeting and you've been busy constructing over the holidays, why not bring a bit of show and tell? [e-mail] will get our attention, and someone will get back to you pretty quickly. 73 from John VK4JPM for the Darling Downs Radio Club.

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. As I sat down at the keyboard to prepare this talk, the thrumming of the ceiling fan outpaced the chirrups of the cicadas serenading the night. It seems that large parts of the Sunshine State have largely dispelled the rain clouds for a little while and replaced the wet and humid weather with a heatwave with equally high levels of humidity. It is hardly the type of weather that encourages one to sit behind a microphone or keyboard and commune with the world. It is time for the younger students to enjoy the last days of the school holidays whilst staying as cool as conditions allow. We more senior folk are advised to stay cool and drink plenty of fluids to overcome the heat stresses. I spoke, last week, of the Jamboree which was held in Maryborough and one of the things I didn’t mention was the state of the camping area when sudden heavy rains caused localised flooding at the showgrounds. The images that appeared on television showed the scouts valiantly defending their sleeping area with shovels and what materials they could use to divert the several centimetres of water. It was a classic case of being caught unawares but being prepared to do what was necessary in the circumstances. For all of that disruption it seems that the situation was accepted and the good memories of time spent around the Fraser Coast were carried home in spite of the deluge. I caught a YouTube video, last week, from a space scientist and amateur operator, Dr. Tamitha Skove, and from the observations she has recorded it appears that we have reached the first stages of the decline in Solar Cycle 25. This is a good time to put our operating skills to work and catch the excitement of HF whilst the benefits of the cycle remain. I can recall the rapidity of some previous cycles as exotic skip was soaked into then so-called normal conditions that prevail between the 11 year peaks. Part of the joy of amateur radio is pitting one’s skills against the prevailing conditions on the bands. Some of the best fun is had when signals come from around the globe and we can work those stations without internet or satellite assistance. That is not to say these methods of any the less valid or enjoyable but a barefoot DX contact on the bands is always reason to smile with satisfaction. For our clubs, I trust you have resumed activities refreshed by the holiday break and members have returned full of enthusiasm and inspiration for the remainder of the year ahead. I am looking forward to sharing with you in 2025 and hope to hear your stories on the news. I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think….how about you?