WELCOME TO THE HOME PAGE OF THE BUNDABERG AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

With the Australian Callsign of VK4BW and known as B.A.R.C.

We are located in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia : Lat. 24° 53.11' S, Long. 152° 18.52' E QTH Locator QG65DC

Introduction to BARC Club Activities Training with BARC Bundy Youth Electronics Group Repeaters Contact Us Calendar of Events References & Links APRS Links Remembering the Past Club News for Members W.I.C.E.N.

What's NEW?

new Lifestyle EXPO 2010 - Check out some photographs of the Club display as part of Senior's Week at Expo2010

new Remembering Keith VK4APQ - A short tribute page honouring our Past President and club supporter. Keith VK4APQ

BUXTON BBQ 2010 - see some silly photos of a fun day out. The BARC-HBARC interclub challenge culminates with an annual BBQ and handing over of the Pat Dryden Trophy.

NEW Mt Watalgan repeater is Operational on 439.775 MHz - see club news for information on the official opening or check out the Photos taken on the day

APRS setup information for members !
Graham VK4SR has compiled links to everything you need to know about setting up an APRS system. Check out the new APRS webpage.

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

CLUB NEWS will keep you up to date on all the latest. Click here for Club News pages and find upcoming training, workshops, fox hunts and club meetings as well as regular Radio Related science articles.

Club Competitions for Distance Records as well as for the highest attendance on weekly Nets. See Competitions

Remembering the Past;

update Archive photographs through the decades

and History of the Club [ still under construction - it's a tough job writing the almost 50 year history of the club]

BYEG - Bundy Youth Electronics Group Classes in Basic Electronics for high school students - Do you know anyone who would enjoy these classes? The info is here on the BYEG Webpage

*Quick Link* Club Calendar

comp Barc in the Park

alone

Amateur Radio tends to be a solo activity

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manual

INTRODUCTION TO BARC

Who are we?
First and foremost we are a group of Ham Radio enthusiasts from Bundaberg and surrounding regions. The word ham isn't used much these days, it's called Amateur Radio but even that doesn't describe some of the digital and TV interests our members have. The hobby can be laid back and chatty if that's what you want or it can be technology driven as you search for inventive ways to use the mystery of Radio Waves to communicate. The only real requirement to join us is an interest in radio communications.
You can be any age, male or female and we particularly encourage younger members who have an interest in electronics to join and see what challenges amateur radio can provide.

Whilst it may have started with Morse Code and fellows like Marconi, modern radio comms can mean talking to astronauts on the ISS or even bouncing signals off aircraft in flight if you want it to!

The club received a great recognition in 2010 when our President John "Rusty" McGrath received an award from the Bundaberg Regional Council as part of the Australia Day Awards celebrations. Rusty was honoured as Senior Citizen of the year for his work within the club and the community over many years.

He was instrumental in forming this club in 1961, served as President in 1964 and 1965. As Secretary from 1975 to 2008 and President again in 2008 and 2009.

During these years he has trained many new amateurs, taught workshops on antenna and equipment construction and trained the WICEN Bundaberg team in it's preparedness for times of natural disasters.

The Award was certainly well deserved and a humble Rusty received the award from Mayor Lorraine Pyefinch on 26th January 2010.

Now more about Amateur Radio...

Because we all build radio shacks at home we hold club activities to get us out and about, talking and swapping ideas. By becoming active in the club you'll never miss the tips & tricks to make your hobby more enjoyable.

There is a new Foundation licence category which has rejuvenated amateur radio and resulted in an influx of new hams and you'll be pleased to know that there is are good numbers in each age group from 15 years onward. And women and girls are well represented in each group as well. This really is an equal opportunity hobby .

If so many beginners felt confident about about taking their first step towards an Amateur Licence... What about you ?

CLUB ACTIVITIES

What do we do?

We participate in contests: That's where you score points for making as many radio contacts as you can. Some are individual events others are club events where we get together and set up gear for the weekend either indoors or out.
We hold workshops: Where you'll learn little tips and tricks on how to make stuff for your own radio shack.
We Fox Hunt - On the first Saturday of each month [see the calendar] We're strictly beginner level at this stage. Fox hunting was very big in the club about 25 years ago but it fell by the wayside so we're trying to revive it for new members. Simple foxhunts on the 2M ARDF frequency of 145.300Mhz will be the order of the day until we get really good at it, then our Fox will make it more difficult.
We hold social events: - like BBQ's with other radio clubs to expand our friendships. We even held a car rally winding-up in a pub lunch, just to keep us on our toes and have fun.
We also go to Dinner: A couple of times during the year just because we want to.
We serve the Community: As trained radio operators and WICEN volunteers we provide support for Welfare Services and the State Emergency Services in times of natural disaster. We study map reading and radio protocols for emergency situations. Its good to know we are part of the Bundaberg Disaster Management Plan and can be of assistance if needed.
We train YOU: The Club has a certified trainer to provide training for all classes of Amateur Licences.
We hold formal meetings: but we know nobody likes meetings so we only have them quarterly and we get them over quickly so we can get on with show and tell. This entails all kinds of presentations on trips, radio meets, new ideas, all sorts of stuff.
We hold weekly radio nets: Club net currently operates on the town repeater on 147.800MHz Monday Evening 7.30pm local time . This is where people pop in to say hello, swap news or give assists to any members testing equipment or new antenna's.
We maintain repeaters: For the technical buffs, you can learn how repeaters on the mountain work in linking radio communications together in this region.

Here is a link to Google Maps which will show you the way to the SES HQ Kendalls Road, Bundaberg

TRAINING WITH BARC

Australian Government Regulations say you CANT operate an amateur radio until you learn what its all about (and Yes Amateur Radio is different from CB Radio)

Foundation Licence

The first step is to get a Foundation licence
It will take around 10 hours of training with the club instructor (and some home reading).
You will have to be assessed to be sure you're competent and then you'll received a callsign like VK4Fxxx.(you get to choose the last 3 letters of your callsign - see note below.
With this licence you can operate commercial amateur radio equipment on some frequencies at low power.
[Detailed information on Foundation licences can be obtained from the Wireless Institute of Australia Website]

Standard and Advanced Licences

Well you just keep studying for the Standard or Advanced licence.
Technically you only have to pass 2 exams to gain each new licence and how you achieve that is up to you.
There are text books which progress you through what you need to know and this may appeal to someone in electrical or engineering trades.
However, if you're just like the rest of us and need a structured study plan there is an alternative.

The Radio and Electronics School provides study courses for both Standard and Advanced licences.
Comprising a CD for the Standard syllabus and readings and online assignments for the Advanced, the courses bring you from the basics right up to exam level.
Our club has two trainers who are certified with the RES so we can assist you with your continuing studies.
[For full details of courses and requirements check out the Radio & Electronics School.

A word about choosing your callsign; VK indicates Australia. The "4" indicates Queensland, the "F" means it's a Foundation Licence, now what about choosing those last three letters?
The ACMA provide a live database at ACMA - Australian Callsign Searches. Take a look at this site.

In the FIND box select 'Licences'; In the WHERE box select "callsign" and in the Blank box try typing in some examples & hit the GO button, to see what choices you have.
For Example, try VK4BW and you'll see the Bundaberg Club licence details. Or try your initials : VK4Fxyz. You'll soon find out if the Callsign you want is already taken or if it's just sitting idle waiting for you.

Some people choose cheeky F calls like FULL or FUEL or FADE, some people are serious and choose their initials. hmmm I wonder if FOOL is taken. smiley
It's really up to you but just a word of caution, try saying it [your dream callsign] over and over and see if it rolls off the tongue or is it a tongue twister? Many a newbie regretted choosing things like M's and L's together or G's and L's... as a callsign sounds like this :

This is Victor Kilo Four Foxtrot Golf Lima Alpha - say that a few times quickly and you'll wonder why you didn't choose easier letters to say over the radio waves! smiley

REPEATERS

**The club operates two repeater sites**
Repeater	Frequency	Location	H.A.S.L. *	Linked to	Footprint
VK4RBU 2M	146.800	Mt Goonaneman	620m	Gladstone 2M	Gympie to Mirriam Vale
VK4RBU 70cm	438.775	Mt Goonaneman	620m
VK4RBU-3	145.175	Mt Goonaneman	620m		A.P.R.S. Digi Repeater
VK4RBG 2M	147.800	SW Water Tower Bundaberg	50m		Bundaberg & coastal townships
VK4RBW 70cm	439.775	Mt Watalgan	400m		New repeater offically opened 16May10 Reaches Bundaberg and south to Childers, Hervey Bay. West to Gin Gin & North to Mirriam Vale. Any other confirmation?... anyone ?

*H.A.S.L = Height Above Sea Level

Site information on the A.P.R.S. Digi Repeater VK4RBU can be accessed via www.aprs.fi or email aprs< at> barc.asn.au

Follow this link to a full listing of Queensland Repeaters, Frequencies, Locations & Sponsors

CONTACT US

	If your inquiry is of a general nature please contact the Our postal address is: P.O. Box 129, Bundaberg QLD 4670
	To contact Officers of the Club;
	PRESIDENT: Rusty VK4JM ...
	SECRETARY: Gail VK4ION ...
	TREASURER: Margaret VK4FHAM ...
	TECHNICAL OFFICER, JOTA Coordinator: Ross VK4JRO...
	WICEN CONTROLLER Rusty VK4JM..
	APRS Coordinator: Graham VK4SR...
	If you are interested in training with us or require an Assessment at any level; Please contact (Sorry but email addresses are not live links to avoid the dreaded spammers)

	CALENDAR FOR 2010 This is the quarterly calendar - please follow this link to the full 2010 Calendar.

July 2010	August 2010	September 2010
15 - Management Committee Meeting 18 - BARC/Hervey Bay BBQ Social outing @ Buxton 24 Childers Festival of cultures 31 - xmas in July social dinner TBA - Jack Files 80m contest 80M TBA - Qld Shires contest	7 -WICEN Training 14/15 - RD CONTEST 19 – Seniors Week Expo Display 19 - Management committee meeting 21/22 – ILLW2010 28 - Quarterly General Meeting 28 - Annual General Meeting with a Guest Speaker TBA - ALARA Contest	4-10 Bicycle Qld WICEN Comms 16 - Management committee meeting 18 - Workshop on APRS 25 – Central Highlansds Convention - Emerald