ZL3AME
My Ham Radio web pages. I passed my New Zealand operator's exam on 31 Dec 06, and got my licence on 23 Jan 07.
Some day soon I hope to put more information about my various ham projects. In the mean time this is a handy place to drop my
stripboard layout for Bob Ball WB8WGA's PIC-based TNC.
Below here is a diary of ham events so far. I started off well, then I moved to Japan. I really need to update these pages...
17 Mar 2007
Today I was the base radio operator for Christchurch AREC at a jetboat race event on the Waimakariri river. There was one other land-based operator, at the other end of the course, and three operators on board each of the three rescue boats.
16 Mar 2007
This week I built a roll-up j-pole antenna for field applications. It is based on the
design by KB1DIG. I have used it to communicate from the back garden in Christchurch to the North Canterbury repeater at Mt Noble, just over 70km away. This was with my VHF handheld on its low-power setting. There are three improvements I have made to mine:
- I have attached luminous beads (from a fishing sports shop) to the supporting line so the antenna can be seen in the dark.
- I have attached a small piece of fluorescent, reflective material to the top of the antenna wire (which is shorter than the support line) so the top of the antenna can be seen easily when setting up.
- I have found that the whole thing can be rolled up to the diameter of a CD, and stored neatly in a plastic CD carrying case
11 Mar 07
This weekend we took a trip to the Coast. A local ham, ZL3TX loaned me an antenna with a window-glass bracket. The bracket is clamped into the window frame when you wind the window closed. I was able to hit the local repeaters on the way to Westport, including Murchison from Springs Junction, about 90km, and Greymouth from Reefton (about 80km). I took the antenna to the lodge in Hector and lashed it to the balcony rail, but even though I could hit the Westport repeater there was only one person listening, so I only made one contact.
10 Feb 07
Today I was a base operator for Christchurch AREC at the World Famous Coast-to-Coast race. This was my first AREC event, and I was able to operate on VHF and HF, receiving information on competitors during the river kayaking section of the event. We were located at Gorge Bridge, which was the changeover point from kayaking to cycling.
23 Jan 07
Today I received my Radio Amateur Licence. My callsign ZL3AME has been issued.
31 Dec 2006
I sat my ham radio exam at Branch 56 in Christchurch