5/4/26 – AFN in the Park

The AFN net for April saw 4 field stations set up at Musick Point for the 40m checkin. This represented 80% of the Auckland participation. Antenna types were: Rob’s Crank IR, John and Martyn put up inverted V dipoles on extendable poles and Harry strung an end fed between two… [Read More]

4/2/26 How to Improve VHF Heldheld Radio Coverage

One of the most effective ways of improving coverage with a handheld can be a larger antenna. Often, out of operating convenience, antennas supplied with a radio are physically small. A physically short antenna can compromise performance and might cause more “picket fencing” or signal dropouts than say a quarter… [Read More]

1/2/26 AFN Comes Around Again

Hardly a month goes by and its back around to Alpine Fault Net Sunday again. For the February 1st check-in about half the Auckland stations that participated were to be found at Musick Point. Four field stations and a base station made up the contingent with the majority choosing the… [Read More]

21/12/25 First GROTA now GRATA

Rob ZL4ROB decided to give his fan dipole a bit of TLC. So what better place to lay it out, than a footpath? Given the footpath in question is hardly a major pedestrian highway and the surrounding foliage afforded cover from the direct sun, it wasn’t a bad choice of… [Read More]

21/12/25 Buck, Boost or Both?

There’s no question that “switching” converter technology has revolutionised the way we construct and use power supplies. From cost and weight saving compared to low frequency transformer designs, to efficiency and performance in voltage or current regulation, the switching regulator is almost the holy grail in power supplies. Apart from… [Read More]

24/11/25 Get It Up – Keep It Up

The use of extendable poles constructed of carbon fibre / fibreglass reinforced epoxy, especially for portable antenna use is growing rapidly, especially given the improving affordability. The tubular poles are typically made up of a number of concentric sections with a slight clearance between sizes. This results in the sections… [Read More]

19/10/25 – Mine’s Higher Than Yours

A fine day and and very little breeze, it must be time for park activity. Harry, ZL1BK had already set up vertical and horizontal antennas for the ongoing signal / noise comparison experiments when Dave, ZL1DL arrived with a new kite. There was near zero wind at ground level, suggesting… [Read More]

5/10/25 – To Tidy Up; First Make a Mess

An early start for some, as it was Alpine Fault Net day. With on again off again rain, Dave ZL1DL elected to operate in comfort from inside the clubrooms, while Harry ZL1BK and Martin ZL3CK braved the outdoors. Soon afterwards, others arrived at the clubrooms and the suggestion was made… [Read More]