QNews for July 28th 2024

Q-News AR News from Queensland

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. One of the challenges of our activity is to work out what is an improvement. If you are engaged in many sports, the aim is to improve the score whether it is getting a higher number of points, a lower handicap or reeling in a bigger fish on a lighter line. We tinkerers in the electronics field are in a position where innovation and equipment upgrades don’t necessarily indicate a better outcome. The adoption of commonplace hardware has been historically one of the hallmarks of the radio amateur. From the operating position of being called a shack and using pieces of household accessories to breadboard a project. The resource that was fondly known as disposals when cheap surplus from the wars was released onto the market and then the abundance of shortwave, VHF and UHF ex-commercial equipment have all been boons to the ham. In more recent times the upgrades to terrestrial communications have provided bits and pieces that we have put to good use as the cell phone networks are upgraded. The days of dependence on electro-mechanical machines have been largely replaced by the ubiquitous computer and software and firmware and the digital revolution is bringing gear into the shacks that is so small and versatile and with such features as spectrum displays that a complete station can be carried in little more than a supermarket carry bag. Well, we are all aware of this, I am sure, as we use the many historic features of our pursuit. Children find the scoring in tennis amusing with love being nothing but we still use the symbols of the landline telegraph system with abbreviations and codes. We have contests that recognise people and events that hold significance to the majority of operators and although probably most QSL cards are transmitted via the internet and not the postal service we maintain these as part of our tradition. To me, there is no right or wrong way of being an amateur if you follow the licence conditions and the accepted norms of our fellows. This then leads me to think that improvement and success in this activity is achieving the personal goals we set for ourselves. It may be that we do things alone or we may join with others in a group or team but the success seems to be in being in the game rather than getting the gold or silver endorsement on a wall plaque. I suppose that the international definition of amateur radio as sustaining lifelong learning and self-education has more than a ring of truth to it. When we come to share our story with others, it would seem only right that we try and spell out that AR is something for everyone as we can all be winners. I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and that’s what I think….how about you?

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Social Scene The Redcliffe Club will hold their Car Boot Sale Saturday 24 August at the clubhouse, MacFarlane Park, Kippa Ring. (vk4tn)

GOLD COAST HAMFEST OCTOBER 13 at Nerang Country Paradise Parklands 231 Beaudesert-Nerang Road Nerang. (vk4DMH)