The clock keeps on ticking and here we are at the start of 2020, one more year older and hopefully wiser. Who was it that said “Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day, fritter away the hours in an off-hand way…..”. Thanks Pink Floyd!
So what are the radio priorities for 2020?
My local radio club WANSARC is celebrating 50 years of existence and as Secretary of the Club I will be immersed in driving celebration events and activities.
I think it is a big deal to celebrate this milestone, given that the club has guided my amateur radio knowledge and experience since I first joined in 1976 as a teenager.
The club is small but has a big heart and has promoted amateur radio and electronics to hundreds of amateurs in the north and western suburbs of Melbourne.
In between the club festivities I have a number of “high priority” projects, noting that my XYL perhaps does not share the importance of these projects in the scheme of life. I acknowledge that and remain hopeful that I can squeeze in as many projects as possible, mindful that my projects may be relegated below others.
So what are the priorities?

- Tower – small by “Nally” standards at 8 meters but triangular and solid so I have a great deal of potential to put many more antennae on the tower. A rotator sits on the shelf ready for deployment, together with beam antennae for 6, 2 and 70cm. A recent club project produced Moxon antennae for 2 and 70cm so I am keen to put these up on the rotatable mast as they are a very simple but effective antenna.
- Secondary mast – this is an EMDRC club mast, giving me 9 metres of height for mainly fixed verticals and beams. Currently I have a couple of Diamond Vertical multi-band antennae but again I need to be more effective in “hanging” more antennae off the mast. It could also be a pivot point for a ZS6BKW multi-band HF antenna using 450 ohm feeder, which I have plenty of.
- Mobile vehicle – the Codan HF transceiver is now fitted into the car and a good friend has just completed the production of a bracket for the Codan HF antenna base. This is now on the car under test so it should not be long before I am HF mobile again. I have a couple of standard Codan fiberglass whips, however having worked a couple of mobile stations recently on 40 metres the intent is to purchase a 9 foot stainless steel whip for “serious” HF mobile operations.
- The AWA Forestphone – with the help of Greg, VK3CN, modifications were made to my box in 2019 to convert it to 160 metres. This is a single channel AM QRP HF box from the 1960’s, used by the then Forestry Commission Victoria now DELWP. I’m going to go portable at one of my local parks, hook the 1/2 wave end fed zepp wire antenna into the air and see if we can work some stations on the daily “Coffee Break” net on 160 metres.
- Web site information – I have had a number of websites for many years,. They serve two purposes – promote the sharing of information to my readers (how ever many there are) and to readily store information that I use from time to time in my radio operations. I am off to good start given I am making some additions to this site already.
The list of projects goes on and on and on…….let’s not dwell on that. It is early in the year so the glass is still half full!
So onward and upward in 2020 – good luck with your projects and don’t forget to share your information with others, as what you are doing may be of great interest to others.
Every year is getting shorter; never seem to find the time, plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines……..
Not this year or decade!!