Become an amateur radio operator: Take a HamCram!
The Wellington Amateur Radio Club hosted two HamCrams in 2023, our first in April and our second in July. Between the two HamCrams, we had 18 gain their amateur callsigns with an 81% pass rate.
There is already a wait list for a future HamCram. If you are interested in joining us in our next HamCram in early 2024, please email Mike ZL1AXG now to pre-register.
Bernard ZL2BD explaining a technical point in the April 2023 HamCram
Kits and books
The following kits and books are available for purchase through our trading table. We are getting low on stock of our exclusive Magnetic Loop kits so be in quick!
To order products see our Orders and Payment Page
For more information on our products see our Products Page
Blackwood Cup Competition
Since 1930, the Blackwood Cup has been awarded by the Wellington Amateur Radio Club to a deserving member. In recent years, the cup has been awarded to the winner of a competition for homebrew equipment. This year’s Blackwood Cup run-off will be held at The Collective Hub in Johnsonville from 1pm – 3pm on 1 October 2023. All are welcome. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available after the competition winner is announced.
Bring out your homebrew construction project to have a go at winning the Blackwood Cup. This can be any electronic or radio related project you have made over the last 12 months. You have several weeks still to put something together. You will be required to give a brief presentation of no more than 10 minutes about your project. Kit projects also qualify. Voting is by secret ballot of all club members attending the meeting.
George ZL2AG is the current holder of the cup.
September Regular Meeting
Our regular meeting for September will be held at The Collective Hub, 1/33 Johnsonville Rd on Tuesday 19 September 2023, from 1pm to 3pm. Malcolm ZL2UDF will lead a discussion on amateur radio related publications.
All welcome. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available after the meeting.
Emergency Communications Exercise – Special Event
On Saturday 16 September you will have the chance to practice sending messages in an Emergency Communications exercise involving Branch 50 and Branch 42 (Titahi Bay) of NZART.
Ross ZL2UAC will be net control. Operations will be on DMR repeaters (Wrights Hill Wellington and Colonial Knob, Porirua) from your home QTH.
You should have been contacted by email this week if you had earlier indicated an interest in emergency communications, were in one of our HamCrams, or a member of Branch 50 or Branch 42 NZART. Pre-registration is no longer required. AREC membership is not required.
You will be operating on VHF/UHF DMR repeaters locally and based from home. You will need to check in with Net Control at 4pm. You will need to provide a SITREP when you are called in. Please read the document “Radio Voice Procedures” attached to the email, that will explain the requirements for a SITREP.
It should be fun!
3 September Antenna Construction Workshop
We held a second construction session for dualband Flowerpot antennas on 3 September from 1pm to 4pm at The Collective Hub, 1/33 Johnsonville Rd.
Those who missed out on our Monster Workshop in June, or who had gained their callsign in the July HamCram were able to come away with a VHF/UHF antenna with a lot more gain than the typical handheld rubber ducky antenna. Seven more flowerpot antennas were completed on the day. This brings the total to around 30 flowerpots completed in 2023.
Cost was $20 for the kit of parts.