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AUSTRALIAN MICROWAVE SCENE |
The development of the Australian Microwave scene has been hampered by the tyranny of distance and our low population density. Until recent times, groups in different states had little idea of what was happening in the next state! It is also a fact (recognised internationally) that many amateurs who build Microwave gear do so for the pleasure of building and rarely operate! And new recruits are few and far between, being put off by the "black art" image promoted by some. Well that is changing, through the efforts of a few groups, with the number of ACTIVE operators doubling in less than two years.
AUSTRALIAN uWAVE WEB SITES
A few photo's of ACTIVE South Australian & Victorian Microwave Operators that I have worked over the last few years, plus one or two who haven't been heard for a while but still have equipment!
Russell is active on 144, 432, 1296, 3456, 5760, 10368 Narrowband and 24 GHz wideband. Russell's Microwave equipment variously consists of DB6NT & Qualcomm derivatives. His home QTH is Port Fairy, about 100km east of Mt Gambier.
Alan is active on 144, 432, 1296, 2403, 3456, 5760 & 10368 MHz narrowband with 24 Ghz wideband. Alan's Microwave equipment variously consists of DB6NT & Qualcomm derivatives. he is able to run 25 Watts on 5760 and 50 Watts on 10,368 portable! His home QTH is about 15 km's East of the centre of Melbourne.
Colin is active on 144/432/1296 & 10368 MHz Narrowband with 2400 MHz on the Way. 10 GHz Gear consists of a Qualcomm transverter, using a 432 MHz IF, with a 1 Watt PA into a 600mm (2ft) Dish. Colin's home QTH is Mt Gambier, South Australia.
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Trevor is active on 144/432/1296/3456/5760 & 10368 Narrowband and 24 GHz wideband. Trevor has 2403 Mhz Narrowband well on the way. Trevor's Microwave equipment variously consists of DB6NT & Qualcomm derivatives. His home QTH is Mt Gambier, S.Australia.
Chris is active on 144, 432, 1296, 2400 & 10,368 MHz Narrowband. Chris has been active on EME for over 20 years, on atleast 144 & 1296 MHz, using a 6 metre ( 20 ft) dish on the latter band. Chris's 10 Ghz equipment consists of a DB6NT with 200 mW output to a 600mm dish. His QTH is at Hatherleigh, about 55km's west of Mt Gambier.
David is active on 144, 432, 1296, 2403, 3456, 5760, 10368 Narrowband as well as 24 Ghz wideband. Also active on 420 AM ATV and 1250, 2439 & 5810MHz FM ATV. Narrowband equipment variously DB6NT, No-tune, Qualcomm and various homebrew hybrids. Home QTH is 22km's North East of Adelaide. Currently 2403, 3456 & 10,368 MHz also active from Home.
Des is active on 144, 432, 1296 MHz Narrowband with equipment for 5760, 10368 & 24150 MHz wideband equipment. Des has also done extensive work on FM TV on the above bands. Des has most recently been active with 24 Ghz wideband working Nick VK5NT. Des's QTH is at Mt Barker, 30 km's South East of Adelaide. Des would qualify as one of our most famous and experienced Microwaver's in VK5, holding various Microwave records over a period of 30 years as well as being the first station to operate on 10 GHz in the UK in 1950!
Keith is active on 144, 432, 1296 & 10,368 MHz Narrowband. He is also active on ATV on 420 & 1250 MHz. Has previously been active on 2400 & 3456 MHz narrowband (no antennae currently). His 10 Ghz station is mast head mounted at 13 metres (43 feet), using a DB6NT/Qualcomm Transverter. Keith's QTH is at Wasleys, 60km's North of Adelaide.
Reg is located about 10 km's North of Adelaide. While not currently active, Reg and Wally VK6WG (Albany) put Australia on the Microwave World record scene with a series of distance (1899km) records on 1296, 2304 & 3456 between 1976 and 1986. Two of the three records still stand as Australian records. Reg pioneered SSB in the late seventies on the microwave bands using audio passband division/varactor multipliers. Reg currently has interest in C & Ku band satellites.
Roger is located about 40km's South of Adelaide, near Mt Wilson. Roger is the current co-holder with Wally, VK6KZ of the terrestrial 10 GHz World Record. Roger has 10 GHz portable only equipment and has plans to be on 10 GHz EME one day.
VK5KK 23/04/00