June Meeting - Solar in the Shack - 5 June 2013   Peter Marks VK2TPM will be giving a presentation about solar energy and how it can be used for amateur radio. Peter is the author of the ebook "Small Solar. A no-nonsense guide to powering your shed, boat or caravan with free solar power", which is available on kindle and a number of other formats. Peter powers his own radio shack from solar power.

This presentation will be held on Wednesday evening, 5th of June 2013, commencing at 7.30 PM. The venue is the rooms of The St George Amateur Radio Society, Donnelly Park, Kyle Parade, Connells Point.

Entry to this event is free and visitors are welcome. For more information about this event, amateur radio or SGARS, email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Amateur Radio Contest and Field Days

What is a Contest ? Contests are a popular part of the amateur radio and gives you an opportunity to practice and develop your operating skills and techniques, and to see how well your station is performing. Also contest get plenty of stations on the air and to increase the opportunities for making contacts.

What is a Field Day ? A Field Day is a contest especially for portable stations, operating from a good location such as a hilltop or quiet location away from RF noise. Often operators camp out overnight. Apart from having fun, Field Days are a great way to check out your equipment in the field and to experiment with light weight, easily transportable equipment and antennas.

Contest Logging Software VKCL is a software program designed for recording all your contacts during most of the contests and field days. For more information or to down load the latest version of VKCL - click here

Contests and Field Days for 2013 ?

SGARS 80m Contest - Saturday 27th July - watch this space for more details

VHF UHF Field Day - Winter 22nd & 23rd June, Spring 23rd & 24th November, Summer 11th & 12th January - more info

WIA National Field Day - 14th April - more info

Remembrance Day Contest - 17th and 18th August - more info 

John Moyle Field Day - 16th & 17th March - more info

Ross Hull Memorial VHF/UHF Contest - January - more info 

Oceania DX Contest - Phone 5th & 6th October - CW 12th & 13th October - more info

Harry Angel Memorial 80m Sprint - 4th May - more info

Worked All VK Shires - 8th & 9th June - more info

SGARS Contest Manager - Ken VK2BBQ - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - contact Ken

Amateur Radio Licence Training and Assessment Foundation or upgrade to Standard or Advanced Bookings Now Being Taken

The St George Amateur Radio Society is now taking bookings for the next Training and Assessment weekend to be held soon.

Please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to express your interest.

 Bookings close Soon

The Foundation Licence is your Entry into Amateur Radio. Over one weekend you can obtain your amateur radio licence with assistance from the trainers of The St George Amateur Radio Society.

In conjunction with the Foundation Licence Manual and the approved training course, our trainers will guide you through the course, then assess you in theory, regulations and practical aspects to obtain your foundation level radio licence.

With your foundation level licence you can operate on 5 amateur radio bands and communicate with other amateur radio operators in your local area, around Australia and when conditions are right, around the world.

For Foundation Licence, or Standard or Advanced Licence or upgrade to Standard or Advanced level, click read more >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The Gippsland Gate Radio & Electronics Club members announce that on the 20th July 2013 they will be conducting their annual Hamfest at the Cranbourne Community Hall on the corner of Clarendon and High Streets, Cranbourne. High Street is part of the South Gippsland Highway.

Forty tables of goods will be presented at this large venue, but stall holders should book early as demand is always high. Reservations for stall holders may be made by contacting Steve Harding VK3EGD on 0408878934 or by emailing.

Tables will be available for $20 each. A limit of four (4) tables per stall holder applies. Doors open at 8:30 AM for stall holders and at 10:00 AM for the general public.

Goto www.ggrec.org.au for more information

2m FM Transceivers For Sale The St George Amateur Radio Society Inc has a number of ex commercial VHF FM transceivers that have been re-tuned and programmed for the 2m FM band. These RT85 model transceivers have 80 channels including repeaters and simplex frequencies, some including CTCSS on transmitt. The additional serial port is ideal for APRS and digital modes. Transmitter power output will be set at either 10 watts for foundation level licences or 25 watts for standard and advanced level licensees.

A small numbers of transceivers are available to SGARS financial members, complete with the head, microphone, speaker and power supply for the special price of $70.00 each. Extra $5.00 for transceivers with CTCSS. These 2m transceiver packages will be available for purchase at the next SGARS meeting, on a first in best dressed basis.

The next SGARS will be held on Wednesday 6th March 2013 at the meeting rooms, Donnelly Park, Kyle Parade, Connells Point commencing at 7.30 PM

2013 SGARS Executive Committee

At the February meeting of The St George Amateur Radio Society Inc, members elected an executive committee for 2013, as follows;

Cameron McKay VK2CKP - President
Paul Howarth VK2GX - Vice President
Greg Bain VK2GSB - Secretary
Phil Higgerson VK2OX - Treasurer
Peter O'Connell VK2EMU - Publicity Officer
Brian Clarke VK2GCE - Committee Member & Education Officer
Paul Smith - VK2ZSA - Committee Member & Public Officer
Ken Rayner - VK2BBQ - Committee Member

The following non executive roles were also filled as follows;

Angela Bell - VK2NGL - Dragnet Editor
Wal Pearce - VK2ACE - Welfare Officer

The committee members will be meeting shortly to plan a range of interesting and exciting activities for the year ahead.

Next SGARS regular meeting will be held on Wednesday evening, 6th March 2013, commencing at 7.30 PM.

Don't forget our regular 2m voice net held each Thursday evening, commencing at 8.00 PM on the Heathcote repeater VK2RLE 146.800 MHz - 600 kHz. For those interested in digital modes, check out the new Monday night digital net - Monday night 8pm starting with voice contact on the VK2RLE repeater.

Details about all SGARS nets can be found here:  http://www.sgars.org/nets

Experience Amateur Radio

What is Amateur Radio?   What is there for me?     How do I get Started?     Amateur Radio Events 2012

Coping with Retirement - Amateur Radio has the Solution

A study has looked at our aging population and how people handle retirement after a lifetime of working, and how they cope with change.

Retirees are turning to the hobby of amateur radio as it provides something to do and important social contact. Amateur radio operators come from all age groups, all walks of life and anywhere in the world. Operators can make their own equipment, experiment with a range of technology or communicate with over 1 million other operators worldwide.

Obtaining an amateur radio licence is easy with the Foundation entry level accreditation, ideal for anyone as no technical background required. Amateur Radio would make an ideal Men's Shed activity.

The St George Amateur Radio Society has a series of events which provide an ideal opportunity to "Experience Amateur Radio" including Foundation Licence training and assessment.

The next event will be held on Wednesday evening 7th March 2012. For more information email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Membership is open to the St George Amateur Radio Society.

Current Membership application forms are available on line by clicking here. If you do not have someone to nominate you, please submit the form anyway and we will try and find someone.

Membership Application Forms can be sent either by;

• in person to the Secretary at one of our regular gatherings,
• email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ,
• mail to PO Box 530 Engadine NSW 2233
  

Payment of membership fees can be paid either by;

• Cash payment to the Secretary at one of SGARS regular gatherings,

• Direct Deposit into SGARS Bank Account as follows;
  

• Account Name: St George Amateur Radio Society Social Club
• BSB: 815-000 
• Account Number: 249821

• Transfer Description: Your Callsign or Name & Payment Details, eg VK2ABC Fees

• Cheque made payable to "The St George Amateur Radio Society Inc" and attached a short description with your call sign or name, reason for the payment and a return address.