CTARC Forthcoming Meeting - 23 Sep '17

IT'S YOUR TURN...... to 'SHOW and TELL'  

Our next monthly meeting of the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre will be at 14h00 at the clubhouse on Saturday 23 September 2017.

The meeting will be the popular "Show-and-Tell" format, where you can bring along various bits and pieces of ham equipment to demonstrate to all present. That can be any new or ongoing projects you may be involved with or even an older project. Homebrew projects are always greeted with enthusiasm. Hints and Kinks are also welcome and encouraged. Come along to the Clubhouse and bring the actual project to show, or just chat about the new ideas you may have and are trying out in the shack.

This is always a very well attended and supported meeting, lots of information gets bandied about, and a good old 'Ragchew' with the guys for the afternoon..

We will also resume the regular Swop Shop, where you can bring various ham items surplus to requirements for sale, swop or disposal. Come early to get a good spot for your project or Bring and Buy item (Please remember to take home afterwards any of your equipment you didn't manage to sell).

Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday 23rd!

This event has now taken place. Report-back and photos are [here].

CTARC Geoff Tyler ZR1GFT Silent Key - Sep '17

It is with sadness and regret that we learned this week of the recent passing of Geoff Tyler / ZR1GFT.

Geoff was a retired electronics instructor at the Simonstown naval base and long-time friend of the late Bud / ZS1B. The two of them were instrumental in beginning our first International Light House weekend operations at the Green Point lighthouse 20 years ago.

Our thoughts go to Geoff’s xyl Val, family and friends.

A memorial service will be held, but details of this will be published later.

CTARC Antenna Work Party Photos - 16 Sep '17

Here are photos of the Antenna Work Party held at the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre on Saturday 16 September 2017.

The report is [here].

Mike / ZS1MJT, Rob / ZS1SA and Noel / ZS1FW assess the antenna
and the morning tasks ahead

Sorting out and pricing components and gear donated from the deceased estate of
the late Eric Winter /ZS1EMC

Some of the gear that will be on sale in our September 23 meeting

Taking the coaxial inner poles of the main mast

Noel / ZS1FW (right) examines the faulty guide rail

Lem /ZS1LEM re-drills holes in the guide rail

Tapping holes in the coaxial pole of the main mast.

You can see how the storm bent the vertical multi-band antenna...

The rusty winch got a fresh coat of Hammerite

Mike & Paul start disconnecting the bent multi-band antenna

Taking the multi-band antenna down for repair

CTARC Antenna Work Party Report - 16 Sep '17

On Saturday 16 September the CTARC held an antenna work party, starting at 09h00.

Present were Rob / ZS1SA (club chairman), Noel / ZS1FW (clubhouse manager), Paul / ZS1S, Michael / ZS1MJT, Tony / ZS1TK, Lem / ZS1LEM and Nick / ZS1ZD. Richard / ZS1RIC joined us later on.

We winched down the main antenna mast and slid out the inner two coaxial sections, which were removed into the clubhouse and put on trestles. The rivets holding the troublesome guide rail that has weaked and parted from its base pole were drilled out and removed, and new, slightly larger holes tapped. Into these will be fastened new, stronger, flatter-headed pins that should hold that guide rail firmly in place in future.

While the mast was lowered, the winch and other portions of the assembly mechanism were given a fresh coat of Hammerite paint.

At the same time, the multi-band vertical antenna, which had developed a serious lurch in one direction following the big north-westerly gale of July 2017, was taken down again. Some of the tuning radials had been blown off in the storm (but fortunately preserved), and the remaining radials and top-loading capacity hat were removed and stored. Some of these will require straightening again. The main mast of that antenna will also need to be straightened again.

In addition to this Rob sorted out and priced a number of  radio items - equipment, rigs, components, books and magazines - recently donated to the CTARC from a deceased estate. These will be on sale (for club funds) at the following clubhouse meeting on 23 September, and will be advertised in Swopshop, on the blogspot and int Ragchew.

Photos of the event are [here].

CTARC Committee Meeting - 18 September 2017

CTARC Committee Members are reminded of the committee meeting that will take place on Monday 18 September 2017, at 19h00 at the CTARC Clubhouse.