DC Programable Load from Scullcom

G'day, I'm in the middle of building a Programable DC Load to test the many batteries that I use and work with in my hobby as well as the work I do to help other amateurs in the area. The design comes form Scullcom Hobby Electronics and the full description can be found on his website, http://www.scullcom.uk as well as many other projects that are well worth looking at, all files are available and I highly recommend his projects, they have all worked very well (those that I have built that is) and I have learnt so much from him as I build and watch the videos of his projects, go check them out.

Covid has very much changed the world and it has given us the opportunity to get back into the workshop and work on our projects and this one is just one of many that I have been working on and it has also given the Amateur Radio Hobby the opportunity to grow with more people taking up the hobby and physical distance themselves but not social distance, we are still able to communicate with people around the world and swap ideas and projects to help keep us busy and in touch with like minded people, and as the situation improves we will be able re-join our friends in a social way, amateur radio is the first social media and continues to do so. Enjoy your Hobby and stay safe.
 

Mount Bindo Visit

Over the last few months we have been visiting Mount Bindo to carry out repairs as required to the repeater, 146.650MHz -600kc offset and we still have a lot more work to do at the site but it is much better than it was and slowly getting back to what it used to be many years ago. The site is at a popular 4WD and Motorcycle camping area and the tourist traffic do a huge amount of damage to the site, they have shot out the wind genny, broken some solar panels and other mindless damage, you just wouldn't believe the stupid things that they do. There is a forestry tower next to the repeater hut and it towers over the hut so the fools climb the tower, break the windows of the tower then toss the broken glass onto our repeater site breaking the solar panels, so it is a costly exercise for the volunteers to maintain the site, our own money not government money etc so please if you see fools doing damage out there call them on it and take down number plates etc so we can do something about it.

On a brighter note have a fantastic 2021 and I hope 2020 wasn't to hard for you, wasn't the best for me but on the mend now.

73, Terry.

 

Terrence J MacCabe VK2MTJ

Amateur (Ham) Radio Operator and Electronics Nerd

G'Day, most people call me TJ or Terry but I answer to most things normally. My 11 grandkids call me Farfa or though the youngest who is not yet 3 says Barpa, she will get one day I'm sure.

My love of amateur radio (ham radio) started many years ago but life and time got in the way and I didn't get my licence until 2015, started with the foundation licence first and up graded to standard three months later and will upgrade to advance once things settle down in my life.

The above image shows my shack radios and I have two Yaesu's in my car much to my XYL's disgust but she puts up with it for my sake, actually she is amazing about it as she lets me do what I want in regard to my hobbies so I count myself very lucky from that score. 

I'm a member of the WIA, ARNSW, RASA and my local club or group is Amateur Radio Central West Group based in the central west of NSW, we have members from Bathurst, Blayney, Orange, Grenfell, Cowra and surrounding areas so we cover a big area of the state. We are very active and travel around to other clubs as much as we can and exchange ideas and meet as many other amateurs as we can each year and we do as many competitions and events as time permits, one of the best is the day in Sydney doing the Ferries Competition with the Waverley club, a fantastic event. Check out these sites for more information.

https://www.wia.org.au

https://arnsw.org.au/html/dural_facs.html

http://vkradioamateurs.org

Thats a short introduction and in time I will add more as time permits.

73, Terry.