A Long History of Waves in the Illawarra: The Illawarra Amateur Radio Society Celebrates 70 Years

The Illawarra Amateur Radio Society Inc. (IARS), proudly bearing the callsign VK2AMW, stands as a venerable institution in the Australian amateur radio landscape, marking over seven decades of fostering radio communication and camaraderie. The society celebrated its significant 70th anniversary in June 2018, a testament to its enduring presence and contribution to the hobby.

Serving a substantial area stretching from the Sydney basin down the South Coast, IARS operates an extensive repeater network. Detailed information regarding repeater frequencies and access can be found on their website at http://www.iars.org.au, a valuable resource for members and visitors alike.

The Illawarra Amateur Radio Society extends a warm invitation to join their monthly meetings, held at the BlueScope Steel Visitors Centre, conveniently located at the BlueScope Northgate Entrance on Springhill Road, Coniston NSW 2500 (easily identified by the two prominent flag poles). These gatherings take place on the second Tuesday of every month, with the exception of January, commencing at 19:30 hrs. Attendees can enjoy complimentary coffee and biscuits while engaging in lively discussions, sharing experiences, and exchanging valuable information. The society actively encourages participation from all members, visitors, and guests.

Looking ahead, the upcoming meeting will offer a unique opportunity for attendees to have their handheld radios checked for spurious RF emissions. Notably, this particular meeting will also serve as their Christmas celebration, promising a festive atmosphere alongside the usual camaraderie. Following the more formal aspects, attendees can look forward to the customary tea, coffee, biscuits, and cake, providing a relaxed setting for informal chats about the latest equipment, antenna sizes, and those elusive contacts that just got away.

IARS also maintains a strong on-air presence through its various weekly nets and EchoLink connections, all times listed in local time:

1. The EAST COAST NET, a main event held every Saturday morning at 09:30 hrs, is hosted by Steve VK2BGL. Participants are invited to join Steve on the 146.850 MHz repeater (linked to 146.675 MHz) or via EchoLink using VK2BGL-R for an enjoyable morning of general discussions with amateur radio operators logging in from across the globe. This net boasts links to multiple repeater systems, including VK2RFS on the South Coast, ensuring wide participation.

2. The IARS Tuesday evening 80M NET takes place on 3.666 MHz at 20:30 hrs, hosted by Mal VK2DXM under the club callsign VK2AMW. Held every Tuesday evening (excluding the second Tuesday of the month), this net offers a great opportunity to connect on the 80-meter band for signal reports, news, and general discussions, typically running for around 60 minutes.

3. The IARS Wednesday evening 6M NET operates at 20:00 hrs on 53.650 MHz with a -1 MHz offset. Hosted by Geri VK2UTE or Simon VK2XQX on the Maddens Plains 6M Repeater (requiring a 123Hz CTCSS tone due to interference), this net focuses on discussions related to building antennas for the 6-meter band, transceivers, and other topics of interest, generally lasting between 30 and 60 minutes.

4. The IARS Thursday evening 10M NET convenes at 20:00 hrs on 28.466 MHz (+/- for QRM/QRN), hosted by Tony VK2TS. Similar to the 6-meter net, discussions revolve around antennas for the 10-meter band, transceivers, and related subjects, typically running for 30 to 60 minutes.

In an exciting development, the Illawarra Amateur Radio Society Inc. has announced the testing of an experimental Simplex Repeater operating on the 23cm band (1296.850 MHz) from its Maddens Plains location (Grid Reference QF55LR, Latitude: 34.27° South, Longitude: 150.94° East, Height: 371 meters above sea level, excluding tower). This initiative, running with 20 Watts of RF power and an 11dB gain vertical omnidirectional antenna, aims to encourage interest and experimentation in the higher bands, assist operators in developing their own equipment, provide a platform for testing various modes, and serve as a beacon for monitoring 23cm band propagation. The repeater operates with a 150-second transmission limit and features a Morse code beacon transmitting approximately every 10 minutes, dynamically reporting the internal cabinet temperature and system voltage. A simple operating procedure is outlined to ensure smooth and efficient use of this experimental repeater.

For those interested in obtaining an amateur radio license, the Illawarra Amateur Radio Society provides contact information for their assessor, Keith Bradshaw (Ph 0400 511 535, Email iars.keithb@gmail.com), who can provide updates on upcoming courses and assessments.

The Illawarra Amateur Radio Society can be reached at P.O. Box 1838, Wollongong NSW 2500, via their website http://www.iars.org.au, or by phone at 0400 511 535.

The dedicated committee members guiding IARS include President Tony Stone VK2TS (0407 271 030), Secretary Keith Bradshaw VK2KQB (0400 511 535), and Treasurer John Lawer VK2EJL ((02) 4228 9856).

With a rich history and a forward-looking approach, the Illawarra Amateur Radio Society continues to be a vital hub for amateur radio enthusiasts in the region, fostering technical exploration, community engagement, and a shared passion for the airwaves.