July 2014 Meeting - A Look at AIS

This months meeting will be A Look at AIS (Automatic Identification System)

The Group has installed an AIS receiver at Colonial Knob and this is providing a large coverage over the busy Cook Straight region.

This month we will look at where AIS came from, its purpose in marine safety, what the latest directions and trends are, and what the future may hold.

An interesting aside in the use of AIS for VHF propagation studies by amateurs, and what is being done in this area in New Zealand

Date: Thursday 31 July Time: 7:30 pm
Location: Tawa Community Centre

MAY 2014 Meeting - Simon ZL2UIV - Microwave Radio in the Philipines

This months meeting is Simon ZL2UIV talking on his trips to the Philippines. Simon has many years experience in the installation, commissioning and trouble shooting of microwave radio links, and has really "been there, done that" in the best and worst countries in the world.

Simon will be covering his work and other activities in the Philippines and it should be an entertaining and informative evening!

In addition to Simon's talk we will also be voting on the two remits at this months meeting.

Date: Thursday 29 May Time: 7:30 pm
Location: Tawa Community Centre

APRIL 2014 Meeting - ZL4JY - A new digital age - TRBO and P.25 - carried over from February

John has recently joined his MotoTurbo repeater as a node on the worldwide MotoTrbo network. This enables easy communications to nodes around the world using pre-set talk groups. MotoTrbo and P.25 continue the amateur tradition of converting commercial gear to amateur use in a way that takes it beyond the original use. There is also gear from amateur suppliers and plenty of used gear on Ebay and TradeMe. This is quite an exceptional direction for digital comms and an exciting direction for the amateur world.