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# Darwin Amateur Radio Club Inc.

VK8DA

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://vk8da.au/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Articles](https://vk8da.au/articles/)
- [The Darwin Disaster](https://vk8da.au/2024/09/16/the-darwin-disaster/) - Darwin Amateur Radio operator's provide valuable communications after Cyclone Tracy 1974.
- [Gary finds an unusual fault](https://vk8da.au/2022/11/02/gary-finds-an-unusual-fault/) - Gary, VK8BN / VK2DBN reports on an unusual fault in his power supply. Keep this in mind if you suddenly find your power supply voltage drops. Over to you Gary. I have been using A Dick Smith D-3800 Power supply for many years to power my HF Rigs. I purchased two of them at an
- [Contesting from a rare zone](https://vk8da.au/2022/11/02/contesting-from-a-rare-zone/) - Stu VK8NSB recently participated in a DX contest. Here’s Stu’s report. Thanks Stu! After almost 30 years of being an amateur radio operator I still don't really get into contesting that much, but one of the biggest contests in the World is CQ World Wide SSB is held on the last weekend of October with
- [Review of the IC905](https://vk8da.au/2022/12/01/review-of-the-ic905/) - The IC905 is the latest radio fresh from the Icom stable and comes fully loaded with many features. All modes including digital voice, digital data, ATV and even Dstar with full gateway functions. A brief overview With the IC905, technology has advanced to the point of where you no longer need to consider how far
- [IRLP node in use](https://vk8da.au/2022/11/02/irlp-node-in-use/) - Don’t forget VK8MS/VK3IMS has his IRLP node 6343 in use on 147.250 (123Hz tone). The node is currently connected to reflector 9500 which covers the east coast of VK. More information on how to connect and disconnect to and from reflectors and nodes can be found at https://irlp.net/
- [Mal transmits APRS via the IC-705](https://vk8da.au/2022/11/02/mal-transmits-aprs-via-the-ic-705/) - Mal, VK8MT is the lucky owner of the (recently) new Icom IC-705 as well as some other lovely radios. Here Mal tells us about his recent road adventures and APRS. Microphone to you Mal. For the uninitiated APRS stands for Automatic Packet Reporting System. One of the most common uses for APRS is position reporting.
- [Where do I point my antenna?](https://vk8da.au/2024/06/27/where-do-i-point-my-antenna/) - Gary VK2DBN reminds us that anyone wanting to know where to point their beam antenna, NS6T has a website that lets you produce an Oblique azimuthal equidistant projection map (Great Circle Map) centered on your location. You can set input for a map for short distances for VHF or world view for HF. Visit https://ns6t.net/azimuth/
- [VSWR isn’t everything](https://vk8da.au/2022/11/02/vswr-isnt-everything/) - Brian, VK8BL offers some observations on recent experiments with VSWR and impedance. Thanks Brian. Gary Gibson VK2DBN always argued that there was more to “matching” an antenna to a radio than having a low VSWR reading. Sure, a low VSWR can help when you're trying to get your signal out, but there are at least
- [7000 Km DX on 2m/70cm (by Doug VK2ZDJ)](https://vk8da.au/2022/09/01/7000-km-dx-on-2m-70cm-by-doug-vk2zdj/) - The following articleis taken from the July 2022 newsletter of the Wagga Amateur Radio Club – thanks to Peter VK8ZZ who is a member of that club. Yes, it is quite possible but requires a satellite based repeater to do it. The best terrestrial 70cm. contact I have made is only about 250Km. But with
- [Groundwave #8](https://vk8da.au/2020/11/01/groundwave-8/) - Welcome back to Groundwave for November 2020. After some early rain we have settled in for more typical buildup weather. All of us are now casting our eyes to the sky in the hope some rain will come, while at the same timesparing us a lightning hit on our antennas. If you haven’t yet made
- [VK8DNT remembers the Remembrance Day contest](https://vk8da.au/2022/09/01/vk8dnt-remembers-the-remembrance-day-contest/) - Jeff, VK8DNT, shows that with perseverance you can still have some success at contesting despite a modest station. Microphone to you Jeff. This contest commemorates the Amateurs who died during World War II and is designed to encourage friendly participation and help improve the operating skills of participants. It is held on the weekend closest
- [President's Report - September 2020](https://vk8da.au/2020/11/02/presidents-report-september-2020/) - Thanks to DARC President Brian, VK8BDM, for his report this month It has been a few months since we last came together as a group and vacated our club room at Knuckeys Lagoon and since then we have slowly progressed the restoration of our HF and VHF Beacons. We have an agreement now to utlise
- [Antenna designs galore!](https://vk8da.au/2020/11/02/antenna-designs-galore/) - If you are looking for a new project perhaps check out g0ksc.co.uk where you will find lots of yagi designs. More oriented to VHF/UHF you will also find some HF designs if that’s your thing. The operator of the site is Justin G0KSC who also has an antenna manufacturing business named Innovantenna. Thankfully he puts
- [Oldest US amateur passes away at 109 years young](https://vk8da.au/2020/11/01/oldest-us-amateur-passes-away-at-109-years-young/) - Charles Clifford “Cliff” Kayhart, W4KKP, of White Rock, South Carolina, died on October 26, a few days past his 109th birthday. An ARRL member, he was the oldest known US radio amateur and possibly the oldest ham in the world. First licensed in 1937 as W2LFE in New Jersey, he also held W9GNQ. According to
- [Virtual shack tour – Joel VK8JG](https://vk8da.au/2020/11/01/virtual-shack-tour-joel-vk8jg/) - Joel VK8JG has sent some pics of his shack. Very nice indeed. If you haven’t sent me some photos please don’t be shy.
- [Kiwis kicked off 60m](https://vk8da.au/2020/11/02/kiwis-kicked-off-60m/) - It what might be an ominous sign for VK amateurs, the New Zealand defence force has refused to renew ZL’s trial access to the 60m band effective midnight 24 October 2020. Apparently the NZDF is investing in new capability on 5 MHz and wants the band cleared of amateur traffic. One can only think the
- [Around the bands with Stuie VK8NSB](https://vk8da.au/2020/11/01/around-the-bands-with-stuie-vk8nsb/) - Last Month I talked about DX Clusters and how they can help Dxers find and work that rare DX around the bands.This month I will talk about DX News sites online that can help you find what rare DX is planned in the future, both DXCC and IOTA's.There are quite a few online that are
- [Around the bands with Stuie K8NSB](https://vk8da.au/2022/09/01/around-the-bands-with-stuie-k8nsb/) - Stuie VK8NSB gives us a run down on the DX over the month. Thanks Stuie! It’s great to see Phil VK8MC jump back into the editor’s chair for the clubs Groundwave magazine. Well as most of your know, I am a DX addict, and my main passion is chasing Islands on the Air (IOTA), but
- [23cm on the cheap (well not that cheap)](https://vk8da.au/2022/09/01/23cm-on-the-cheap-well-not-that-cheap/) - Phil relates his experience in getting on 23cm cheaply (sort of). Some members own Icom’s new(ish) IC 9700 VHF/UHF all mode transceiver, or at least are aware of it. This radio is the latest state of the art SDR transceiver capable of 100 watts on 2m, 75 watts on 70cm and 10 watts on 23cm.
- [2020 Jota Report from Spud VK8ZWM at Alawa scout hall](https://vk8da.au/2020/11/01/2020-jota-report-from-spud-vk8zwm-at-alawa-scout-hall/) - And now from Spud VK8ZWMSaturday was threatening rain so the thought of working in a hall was great. There was a good back fence with 2.5 meter posts under 40 meters long but good for 40m and above near the back of the hall and access was easy. These are all good things for a
- [Darwin JOTA report – Brian VK8BDM](https://vk8da.au/2020/11/01/groundwave-8-november-2020/) - As a Cub Scout Leader and a keen Darwin Amateur Radio club member I had been looking forward to setting up activities for this year’s Jamboree on the Air; a Jamboree being a large gathering of scouts orguides.I have been involved in a few JOTA/JOTI's over the past years and apart from some ARDF or

## Pages

- [Darwin Amateur Radio Club](https://vk8da.au/) - The DARC operates repeaters and beacons in the Northern Territory. See our event calendar with all information for upcoming events. Become a member of the Darwin Amatuer Radio Club. Application available online
- [Gallery](https://vk8da.au/gallery/)
- [Membership](https://vk8da.au/membership/) - Membership Application Membership Application Please fill out the following form to request membership and we will get back with you shortly. By submitting this form you hereby agree to be bound by the Darwin Amateur Radio Club Inc Constitution. Payment of $35.00 payable via EFT on approval. Name * First Last * Last Email *
- [Helpful Links](https://vk8da.au/helpful-links/) - Helpful Links QRZ : https://www.qrz.comD-Star http://dstar.org.au/dashboard.htmhttps://www.icom-australia.comhttps://www.yaesu.comhttp://www.dstarinfo.com/reflectors.aspxAdelaide Hills Amateur Radio Club https://ahars.au/WIA : https://www.wia.org.au/Parks on the Air ®Charles Darwin University : http://www.cdu.edu.auVK4NGA Hotspots : https://vk4nga.com.auWSPRNET : http://www.wsprnet.org/drupal/DX SUMMIT : http://new.dxsummit.fi/#/https://wwff.coDX WATCH : https://www.dxwatch.comPARKS N PEAKS : http://www.parksnpeaks.orgARRL: http://arrl.org/homeKIWISDR SA : http://kiwisdr.areg.org.auVK SPOTTER : https://www.vkspotter.comPSK REPORTER : https://www.pskreporter.info/pskmap.htmlCoax Loss CalculatorACMA: https://web.acma.gov.auMADDOG COILS VK4KC : https://maddogcoils.com.auGary VK8AW YouTube
- [About Us](https://vk8da.au/about-us/) - History The first meeting of the Darwin Amateur Radio Club was held on 7 November 1966. The Darwin Amateur population at that time consisted mainly of Government workers who had transferred for a 2 or 3 year posting from interstate. While the general population of Darwin today is less transient than in earlier years, membership
- [Sponsors](https://vk8da.au/sponsors/) - Darwin's 97 Seven Darwin’s 97 Seven is a radio station that aims to broadcast the Christian message of salvation to the Greater Darwin and Palmerston region and now even to the Rural areas extending past Humpty Doo.You know that when you listen to Darwin’s 97 Seven you’ll hear a positive, uplifting message in song lyrics,
- [Radio Nets](https://vk8da.au/radio-nets/) - Radio Nets 2m 147.000 - 600khz. 123 tone Every Monday & Thursday night at 8:00pm Local Darwin time The Darwin Amateur Radio Club runs Net Nights Monday is a general catchup on the weekend’s events – 147.000 -600 123 tone at 8:00pm. Repeater Located Darwin CBD. Your Host Phil VK8MCThursday is DV ( Digital Voice
- [DARC Assessors](https://vk8da.au/darc-assessors/) - Darwin Amateur Radio Club - Licenced Assessors​ Peter Clee Phone: 0889785000 Email: vk8zz@peterclee.com Assessor (Wagait Beach NT) First licenced as an amateur in 1976 with call sign VK2NUK.Moved around Australia and PNG before settling in Darwin in 1990.Current interests lie in VHF and UHF up to 23cm, in repeater construction and linking, ROIP, International reciprocal
- [Repeaters & Beacons](https://vk8da.au/repeaters-beacons/) - [table id=1 /] [table id=2 /]
- [Weather](https://vk8da.au/weather/) - Darwin 128k RadarSpace Weather
- [POTA - Parks on the Air](https://vk8da.au/pota-parks-on-the-air/) - Getting Started with POTA Parks on the Air® (POTA) started in early 2017 when the ARRL’s National Parks on the Air special event ended. A group of volunteers wanted to continue the fun beyond the one-year event, and thus, POTA was born.General information about the program is available at parksontheair.com, so we highly recommend checking out the
- [Contact Us](https://vk8da.au/contact-us/) - Contact Us If you have any questions. feedback or need more information then reach out to us and we’ll do our best to help Contact Us Name * First Last * Last Email * Subject * Message * Submit If you are human, leave this field blank.
- [Special Interest Groups](https://vk8da.au/special-interest-groups/) - Special Interest Groups 23cm Band Microwave Band Amateur TV
- [Microwave Bands](https://vk8da.au/microwave-bands/) - Microwave Band
- [23cm Band](https://vk8da.au/23cm-band/) - 23cm Band
- [Amateur TV](https://vk8da.au/amateur-tv/) - Amateur TV
- [Licencing](https://vk8da.au/licencing/) - Foundation Licence Standard Licence Advanced Licence About Australian Amateur LicensingBackgroundThe Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is the regulator administering spectrum use through the Radiocommunications Act 1992. LinkThe Amateur Service primarily facilitates the hobby radio communications, is for technical experimentation and operates on specified frequency bands. Various transmission methods are used for voice, Morse code,
- [VK Band Plans](https://vk8da.au/vk-band-plans/)
- [Advanced Licence](https://vk8da.au/advanced-licence/) - The Advanced Licence The Last Formal Step Into Amateur RadioThe Advanced Licence is the highest level of the three grades available. With it comes all bands, modes and maximum power. Like the Standard Licence it has the ability to build or modify transmitting equipment. It is in line with the world standard. With its enhanced operating privileges
- [Standard Licence](https://vk8da.au/standard-licence/) - The Standard Licence Your Second Step Into Amateur RadioThe Standard Licence is higher than the Foundation Licence, but below the top graded Advanced Licence. With the Standard Licence comes increased power, more bands, modes, and the ability to build or modify transmitting equipment. This middle grade licence is in line with the world standard. With its enhanced
- [Foundation Licence](https://vk8da.au/foundation-licence/) - The Foundation Licence Your Entry Into Amateur RadioThe hobby of Amateur Radio has a long and proud tradition that is worth knowing. It began with experimenters dabbling in the then scientific oddity of wireless, went through the broadcasting era of the 1920s, and grew strongly after WWII. The people involved in it became the mainstay of
- [Information](https://vk8da.au/information/)

## Legal Pages

- [Darwin Amateur Radio Club - Constitution](https://vk8da.au/wpautoterms/darwin-amateur-radio-club-constitution/) - Click to download DARC-Constitution-2015
- [Insurance Certificate of Currency](https://vk8da.au/wpautoterms/insurance-certificate-of-currency/) - Click to download BIZPACK_InsurerCertificateOfCurrency (1)
- [Terms and Conditions](https://vk8da.au/wpautoterms/terms-and-conditions/) - Last updated: Please read these Terms of Use ("Terms", "Terms of Use") carefully before using the website (the "Service") operated by ("us", "we", or "our"). Your access to and use of the Service is conditioned on your acceptance of and compliance with these Terms. These Terms apply to all visitors, users and others who access
- [Privacy Policy](https://vk8da.au/wpautoterms/privacy-policy/) - Last updated: ("us", "we", or "our") operates the website (the "Service"). This page informs you of our policies regarding the collection, use and disclosure of Personal Information when you use our Service. We will not use or share your information with anyone except as described in this Privacy Policy. We use your Personal Information for

## My Templates

- [Facebook Follow](https://vk8da.au/?elementor_library=facebook-follow) - Content area
- [The Events Calendar - Dynamic template](https://vk8da.au/?elementor_library=the-events-calendar-dynamic-template) - « All Events This event has passed. postponed (DEMO) This event has been postponed. Your Events Calendar Template 6 March @ 3:46 AM $10 Amateur radio provided a very valuable service when radio, telephone and telegraph systems between Darwin and other capital cities were giver the severest possible test following the effects of the cyclonewhich
- [Default Kit](https://vk8da.au/?elementor_library=default-kit)
- [The Events Calendar - Starter](https://vk8da.au/?elementor_library=the-events-calendar-starter) - « All Events This event has passed. postponed (DEMO) This event has been postponed. Your Events Calendar Template 6 March @ 3:46 AM $10 Categories: Demo Category Tags: demo-tag-1, demo-tag-2 Website: http://theeventscalendar.com John Doe 555-555-5555 View Organizer Website info@theeventscalendar.com Mock Venue 1005 S Michigan Ave Chicago, Illinois United States + Google Map 123-456-7890 View Venue

## Venues

- [East Point Reserve](https://vk8da.au/venue/east-point-reserve/)
- [Living Water Church - Humpty Doo](https://vk8da.au/venue/living-water-church-humpty-doo/)
- [97.7 FM](https://vk8da.au/venue/97-7-fm/)

## Organisers

- [Dominic VK8DSZ](https://vk8da.au/organiser/dominic-vk8dsz/)
- [Jeff VK8DNT](https://vk8da.au/organiser/jeff-vk8dnt/)
- [Phil VK8MC](https://vk8da.au/organiser/phil-vk8mc/)

## Events

- [DARC AGM](https://vk8da.au/event/darc-agm/)
- [Summer VHF/UHF Field Day](https://vk8da.au/event/vhf-uhf-field-day/)
- [Australia Day Contest](https://vk8da.au/event/australia-day-contest/)
- [Club Net Night](https://vk8da.au/event/club-net-night-2/) - Digital Net Night 145.500 MHz DV for Icom Users
- [Remembrance Day Contest](https://vk8da.au/event/remembrance-day-contest/)
- [Working Bee @97.7](https://vk8da.au/event/1315/) - Working Bee replacement Antenna & Coax at 97.7
- [Morning Tea](https://vk8da.au/event/club-meeting/) - Join us for morning tea
- [VK Shires Contest](https://vk8da.au/event/vk-shires-contest/)
- [Trans-Tasman Low Band Contest](https://vk8da.au/event/trans-tasman-low-band-contest/)
- [Winter VHF/UHF Field Day](https://vk8da.au/event/winter-vhf-uhf-field-day/)
- [Oceania X Contest](https://vk8da.au/event/oceania-x-contest/)
- [John Moyle Memorial Field Day](https://vk8da.au/event/john-moyle-memorial-field-day/)
- [WIA News Broadcast](https://vk8da.au/event/wia-news-broadcast/) - Transmitted on 40m, 20m and 2m
- [Club Meeting](https://vk8da.au/event/club-meeting-2/)
- [Club Net Night](https://vk8da.au/event/club-net-night/) - Weekly catch up

## Elementor Header & Footer Builder

- [Header](https://vk8da.au/elementor-hf/header/) - Darwin Amateur Radio Club Inc. est.1966 : : UTC Menu Home About Us Events Articles Groundwave Newsletter Gallery Information Membership Licencing Foundation Licence Standard Licence Advanced Licence VK Band Plans DARC Assessors Sponsors POTA – Parks on the Air Repeaters & Beacons Special Interest Groups 23cm Band Microwave Bands Amateur TV Radio Nets Weather Darwin
- [Footer](https://vk8da.au/elementor-hf/76/) - Menu Membership POTA – Parks on the Air Licencing DARC Assessors About Us Facebook Darwin Amateur Radio ClubP.O. Box 41251CASUARINA NT 0811 CONTACT US

## Categories

- [Darwin JOTA Report](https://vk8da.au/category/darwin-jota-report/)
- [Groundwave](https://vk8da.au/category/groundwave/)
- [Review](https://vk8da.au/category/review/)

## Tags

- [Morning Tea](https://vk8da.au/tag/morning-tea/) - Getting together for a friendly chat
- [Contest](https://vk8da.au/tag/contest/)