Yesterday (Sunday 24th November, 2014), a ‘Welcome to amateur radio’ symposium was held at the Blackwood Community Centre. The event was sponsored by the Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society (AHARS). Eighty (80) people attended the event which commenced at 8.45 a.m. and concluded in the afternoon at around 4.00 p.m.
Those attending ranged from 9 Foundation calls all the way through to some very senior amateurs. It was great to see a good blend of experience.
The cost of attendance on the day was just $5.00. I chaired the day, which commenced with a welcome by Tony VK5KAT, the AHARS President, and then a short introduction by yours truly. There were 16 presentations during the day on a variety of topics. Below is the program…..
0830 – 0845 Doors open
0845 – 0850 Welcome – Tony VK5KAT
0850 – 0855 Introduction – Paul VK5PAS
0855 – 0915 History of ham radio – Trevor VK5ATQ
0915 – 0935 Operating legally & the ‘model’ QSO – John VK5BJE
0935 – 0955 DX Code of Conduct – David VK5LSB
0955 – 1015 ham jargon – Nigel VK5NIG
1015 – 1035 QRZ.com – Stuart VK5STU
1035 – 1050 Morning tea
1050 – 1110 APRS – Larry VK5LY
1110 – 1130 DX cluster – Brian VK5BC
1130-1150 Contesting & Chasing Awards – Andy VK5AKH
1150-1210 QSL cards – John VK5EMI
1210 – 1300 Lunch
1300 – 1320 Electronic logging programs – Stuart VK5STU
1320- 1340 Antenna basics – John VK5BJE
1340 – 1400 Blogs/Wordpress/You Tube – Paul VK5PAS
1400 – 1420 Demystifying the learning of Morse Code – Doc VK5BUG
1420 – 1440 Afternoon tea
1440 – 1500 Summits on the Air (SOTA) – Ian VK5CZ
1500 – 1520 Operating QRP – David VK5KC
1520- 1540 VK5 Nat & Cons Parks Award & WWFF program – Larry VK5LY
1540 – 1600 General questions to the group
1600 – 1605 Closure – Paul VK5PAS
Morning and afternoon tea consisted of tea, coffee, biscuits, and various cakes.
Lunch consisted of sandwich platters provided by Subway at Blackwood, and pizzas from the Little Caesars pizza shop at Eden Hills.
Thanks to the following people (not in any particular order):
- all the guest speakers (particularly Larry VK5LY who travelled from The Riverland, and Ian VK5CZ who travelled from the Clare Valley)
- David VK5KC (for helping to set up on the morning & organising the pizza)
- Barry VK5BW (for helping set up on the morning)
- Roy VK5NRG (for taking the $$$ at the door)
- Kim VK5FJ (for helping set up)
- John VK5BJE (for helping set up)
- my wife Marija (for organsing the morning & afternoon tea)
- and all the attendees
I plan to run another day in mid 2015, covering different topics including home brew, EMR, satellites, fox hunting, digital modes, Dxpeditions,etc.
This day was an excellent idea, Paul, and it was very well executed. Thanks again.
Hi Marc,
Thanks for the comments. I’m pleased you enjoyed the day. We will hold another one early-mid next year and cover some different subjects. There were a few things that I picked up that we could do better next time.
Best 73 & thanks for attending,
Paul,
VK5PAS.