WEST AUSTRALIAN VHF GROUP (INC)

                Minutes of 544th General Meeting, Monday, August 23, 2004

                     Held Wireless Hill Meeting Room, Applecross

President, Alan VK6ZWZ, opened the meeting at 2000.

Apologies: Cec 6AO, Phil 6ZKO and Terry 6TRG

Visitors: Bob Lockley VK6KW, Christine Bastin VK6ZLZ, Cliff Bastin VK6LZ

MINUTES: 

The minutes of the July Meeting were read and accepted (6KZ/6YEH).

BUSINESS ARISING:

* The Motion to wind up the WIA WA Division at the Special Meeting on 21st 
August was lost by a very narrow margin. The Motion to rewrite the Constitution, 
establish a new name and distribute the funds was passed.

CORRESPONDENCE:

In: 

* Two issues of AR magazine.
* Membership application from VK2KRR.
* Request from State Library for information.
* Letter from Bert Meuweissen VK6ME about membership status.
* Change of address for Kevin VK6AB.
* Notice of expiry for VK6RSP.
* ACA request for comment on 5.8 Ghz plan.
* Bank Statements.
* Re Wireless Hill Open Day. 
* Bankwest advice of change of address for the Willeton Branch.

Out:

* To VK6ME re Life membership
* To State Library
* Application to National WIA for affiliate Club membership.

Phil 6AD reported on the arrangements for the Wireless Hill Open Day on 16th 
October. A number of activities were being planned by Tricia Dicks VK6QL and 
Dennis Muldownie VK6KAD. The latter was also involving the Scouts and proposed a 
barbeque involving AR, CB and WiFi people.

It was agreed that the Group would allow its name to be used for issue of the 
special callsign VI6VIP, with costs being borne by the City of Melville. It was 
also agreed that the HF beam be used if required. 

REPORTS:

Treasurer:

Chris 6KCH advised that:-

* The Licence for VK6RSP had been renewed until March 2006.
* Payments were $100.60 and receipts $230.12.
* The bank balance at 18th August was $1638.79 and Term Deposit held $9408.11.
New Members:

Bob Lockley VK6KW rejoined.
Leigh Rainbird VK2KRR of The Rock NSW joined.

Both were warmly welcomed to the Group.

Beacons:

Wal 6KZ reported that:

* VK6REP Esperance was being heard regularly in Perth.
* VK6RST Mt Barker 10 Ghz coverage check awaits VK6WG and better weather.
* VK6RBU, VK6RPH, VK6RSX and VK6RSP/VF are operating.

* VK6RSW is off air. An offer of assistance has been received from Anthony 
VK6AXB and that will be followed up.

*********ACTION: Wal 6KZ/Don 6HK

* VK6RBS has been checked by Terry VK6TRG in an access visit. The keyer appears 
to be operating but 10 Ghz RF level monitoring is lower than expected.
Terry had also been advised by the Marine Rescue Group in whose premises the 
beacons are located that they would be moving their building and tower to a site 
about 1 Km along the coast shortly. Action to transfer the beacon will be 
needed. Terry 6ZLT will be in the area in October and will follow up.

**********ACTION: Terry 6ZLT

* Luigi VK6YEH is making progress with the 2.4 GHz project and that will be the 
subject of the talk this evening.

UNUSUAL VHF EVENTS:

* Don 6HK reported on a contact with VK4KDD/6 in South Hedland on 144 MHz meteor 
scatter using FSK441 digital mode. The contact over about 1320 KM was completed 
in about 11 minutes. This is the first time contact has been had on 2mx Perth to 
Hedland.

* Cec VK6AO/P in Broome had worked VK4KDD/6 in South Hedland via SSB tropo on 
2mx. Cec had also been regularly copying the VK6RSX 2mx beacon in Dampier.

MUSEUM:

Tom 6ZAF confirmed the arrangements for the 16th October Open Day. The VHF Group 
was not directly involved.

GENERAL BUSINESS:

(1) Cliff 6LZ advised of correspondence between Ray VK6ET in Geraldton and WARG 
about a Repeater and possible Beacon project in Geraldton. Contact will be 
established with Ray to find out details.

*******ACTION: Don 6HK

(2) Chris 6KCH reported on the VHF Group website. There had been problems in 
keeping the information thereon up to date. Modifications were being made to 
allow access with a password so that a number of people could make alterations 
as required. 


(3) Terry 6ZLT advised that he would not be able to attend the September AGM but 
that he would be available for re-election if required. Don 6HK advised that he 
would not be available for re-election as Secretary for 2004/5, but was prepared 
to continue on the Beacon Committee.

(4) Alan 6ZWZ indicated that the Group would submit comment to the ACA's 
discussion paper about allocations proposed for the 5.8 Ghz band.  

********ACTION: The Secretary

(5) Alan 6ZWZ reminded members of the Spring Scramble scheduled for 26th 
September. The time had been changed to 1430-1530 local to avoid clashing with 
net activity in the morning. Rules would be published in the Bulletin. 

MEETING ACTIVITIES:

September: AGM




The meeting closed at 2100, to be followed by a talk by Luigi Iemi VK6YEH  
on "Development of a 2.4 Ghz beacon using WiFi hardware". 



......................President                    ....................Secretary