VK4ADC's Web

Some of what is in my back yard :

"HF tower" : lower yagi boom 14/18/21/24/28 MHz, upper boom 50 MHz.
Icom discone 25-1300MHz on the top, 146MHz vertical dipole off the side.
Centre of the first "ray dipole" off outrigger arm just below rotator for 1.8/3.5/7/10 MHz
circa Aug 2024 

"VHF tower" : lower yagi boom 144 MHz, grid pack for 2.4/3.4(5.7/10 ?) GHz.
End mounted 23CM yagi, 432MHz yagi on the top.
Centre of the second "ray dipole" off outrigger arm just below rotator for 3.5/7/10/14 MHz 
circa Aug 2024 

 

About this site

Amateur radio VK4ADC - an Australian amateur radio web site with general/technical references of interest to those who want to discover more about Amateur Radio.   

The "original VK4ADC web site" was effectively lost on 29 December 2023 due to a web server change resulting in the Joomla Content Management System (CMS) failing to run at all on a new/replacement server - all necessaary due to the previous hosting server suffering a software failure.

Most of the original pages have been saved as individual PDFs available for download from Updated content/PDF Links, some of my project executables are available separately as ZIP files from Updated ZIPs links

The previous site will never be totally rebuilt, some 150-odd articles are involved. Only any new project (or selected newish and active) pages will be made available off the menu into the future.

Extra note : Australia's radio amateurs underwent a change in licensing effective 19th February 2024 where our previous Apparatus Licences were replaced by a "Class Licence". This resulted in the old licences 'expiring' yet the 'ACMA Assist' system shows expiry details of 2029 for all who held licences of any class (advanced, standard, foundation) at the transition date (19/Feb/24). It is no longer as simple as checking on-line in the 'ACMA Register of Radiocommunications Licences' to see if a callsign is valid, and/or who holds that callsign, and what grade of licence is held. Maybe that anomoly will be resolved eventually.

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This web site is mainly about my technical and software projects, operating information, field day reports, etc..... that have occurred over some 15 (+many) years.  My approach on the subjects varies from a how-to-build-it style of step-by-step instructions to a more blog-style report on how a project progressed through from concept to conclusion. 
 
Please note that I do NOT supply PCBs, short form kits or built-up versions of my projects, PCB layout files, project source code or Picaxe codes... This is an IDEAS site where I have had an idea - and implemented it - and (generally) enough guidance is given for others to emulate the process.
 
For those of you who have worked me, I no longer seek or send paper QSL cards. I have accumulated a LOT over the last 50+ years and need no more. I generally upload the log to eQSL as contacts are made, particularly on the digital modes, but upload to LOTW only a couple of times a year.
 
The aim of these web pages is to provide insight into how a hobbyist can experiment in various facets of amateur radio, the processes involved in creating electronic projects, and allow others to generally learn through my experiences. Please note that formulae are not necessarily provided, nor are in-depth explanations of electronic theory given as to how my many projects function. 
I am always working on one project (or another) so new web pages will occasionally appear on the site, or revisions of existing pages will occur, so call back as often as you like to see what has changed or is new.
 
And, no, I am not an AI manifestation...
 
New info 28 March 2025 :
I ran the Australian Ham Radio Discussion Forum { aka AHRDF } for about 8-9 years but ceased that activity in November 2024 and set it so that it was purely an archive for all posts and data saved to that point..
Because eventually I intend to release the domain AHRDF.NET, I have made a copy of the AHRDF Archive on this amateur website...  at VK4ADC.COM/forum/   There have been a few 'bugs' show up in the relocation process and certain features have been disabled purposefully but hopefully it will provide continuing access to the forum information for some time into the future.
Note that it is and will stay an archive, no new posts, logins or messaging supported.
 
 

My background, in brief, is that I was trained as a radio technician in air-ground & HF radiocommunications and followed that up with continued work in the technical arena over many years.  That has given me a fairly broad experience and knowledge base in matters electronics, communications and computing.

My 'first' amateur licence was as VK4ZDC back in early 1967, after passing the theory and regulations written examinations in 1966. the upgrade to VK4ADC happened in 1976 after passing the 10WPM morse exam.  I have held that call ever since, only adding VK9NU temporarily back in 2016 for a Norfolk Island activation, and then USA Extra-Class KX4SX in 2019.  Do the maths : that was a LOT of years ago !

 I don't claim to have all of the answers - but I typically have the drive, experience and vision to create successful outcomes in my projects and other technical activities. 

@January 2025 : Unfortunately the years are catching up with me, reducing my technical and physical abilities. I used to be able to contemplate a new 'project' and have it ready and working within days or weeks. Now many new projects just get started but never achieve "lift-off". 
Likewise it was no real problem to put together a portable station, erect antennas and have a great out-in-the-field experience. No longer. 
My brain still conceives software applications, and I write the code, but now those apps are less complex and primarily for in-house use and not distributed through this web site.. Occasional updates to previous software projects do still happen though.
I think the common saying is along the lines of "age is a bugger".  Illness does not help either !!

I hope you enjoy visiting and exploring my web site.

73' Doug Hunter VK4ADC

 

 

What is here...

This web site was damaged by an ignorant hacker on 7th July 2024 who achieved nothing - there are no names, addresses, emails etc.. saved on this site. It is purely an information facility where everything is already in the public view. Unfortunately, the hack caused me consternation in getting the facility back on-line and makes me wonder if it is all worthwhile.    Doug VK4ADC....

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