Category: Contests

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Field Day 2021

John ZL2XJ checking out operators Bernard ZL2BD (foreground on 40m) and Malcolm ZL2UDF (background on 80m)

The Committee decided that we should again enter Jock White National Field Day after a break in 2020.  This was a relaxed affair.   Malcolm ZL2UDF organised the use of Kaiwharawhara Park (accessed off the Hutt Road) from Wellington City Council. This site was used in the 1990s by the club, before we moved to Athletic Park (no more) and then to Quartz Hill.

We secured the venue from 1pm on Saturday to 1pm on Sunday. John ZL2XJ organised equipment and set up/close down. Six members turned out.

Bernard ZL2BD operating on 40m.
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Some of us brought out our construction projects

The October meeting featured the annual Blackwood Cup.   Three entries were received – one each from Bernard ZL2BD, Ted ZL2TB and Mike ZL1AXG.   The trophy went to Mike ZL1AXG for his adaptations of the BITX40 transceiver.  But voting was very close.   Mike will be writing up his BITX40 mods on the Arduino section of this website as time allows.

Blackwood Cup 2017

The other projects included:

  • a 4 way antenna switch (from Bernard ZL2BD) which was beautifully presented (the case was made with 2 aluminium channels and a ).  Channel isolation was found to be around 70dB (i.e. excellent) with insertion loss in the fractions of 1dB;
  • a collection of home brew single lever paddle (from Ted ZL2TB) that use magnetic latching to provide a nice key “feel”.  Ted has a few for sale as well if anybody is looking for a nice non-iambic paddle.
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Return to the Valve Era

Our August meeting featured  competing teams in the most fun event of the year, creating our one valve oscillator transmitters!

The winning team featured two ex-NZPO telephone exchange specialists.   Maybe they had an unfair advantage?

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Annual Blackwood Cup Competion

At our October 2016 meeting (held on 16 October at the Lutheran Church Hall, King St, Mt Cook in Wellington) we held the annual Blackwood Cup contest for the best homebrew project over the last 12 months

With only one contestant, Doug ZL2AOV, the outcome was pre-determined and Doug was awarded the Cup for his QRP SSB project.  It’s interesting that Doug’s late father Frank (then Z2CD) won the Blackwood Cup back in 1931 with an Emergency Transmitter.