ZB2TEN beacon is now fully operational

ZB2TEN is now fully operations, consisting of a modified Midland CB radio, modified, programed, and donated to the Gibraltar Amateur Radio Society by a visiting ham friend,  Edmondo Conetta VA3ITA.

The antenna for this beacon is a 1/4 wave vertical donated by John ZB2JK

This new beacon is now installed at the G.A.R.S club house at Coaling Island Queensway, (Grid Locator: IM76HD), and has an output of no more than 4 watts only.

Ham Radio 50 MHz operation in New Zealand

Analog TV transmissions in South Island, New Zealand have now ceased enabling amateur radio operators to use the 50 MHz band as of Sunday 28 April 2013.

“Well, what a thrill to hear that horrible noise of CH1 TV2 stop just 3mins after 2am this morning. Straight into it put out CQ 6m CQ CQ 6m. Back came ZL3GE on 50.050 MHz”

— George Boorer, ZL3PN

George ZL3PN had been active on 50 MHz in 1950 before it was used for TV. ZL3GE is also a veteran 50 MHz operator.

Channel 1 TV in New Zealand occupied 44.0 to 51.35 MHz and amateurs were prevented from using 50.0-51.35 MHz if they were within 50 km of an area served by a channel 1 TV transmitter or an area where there was a translator whose input was on channel 1.

Going Digital - http://goingdigital.co.nz/making-the-switch/coverage-areas-2/coverage-areas.html

MB7IDA - Danbury Echolink frequency change

Due to a change in the 2m band-plan, as of 25 April 2013, the MB7IDA Echolink node has changed frequency to 145.3375 MHz.

MB7IDA-L is located at Danbury in central Essex. Its node number is 265297 and like all repeaters in Essex, requires a 110.9Hz CTCSS tone.

Slides from a talk on the node given in 2007 - http://www.whitewickets.org.uk/

My Experience with EchoLink by Martyn Medcalf G1EFL - http://www.southgatearc.org/articles/g1efl/my_experience_with_echolink.htm

Echolink Introduction available on the web - http://www.southgatearc.org/news/april2007/echolink_intro.htm