Seaford's Signals: The South Coast Amateur Radio Club Embraces the Modern Hobby

SEAFORD, SOUTH AUSTRALIA – The South Coast Amateur Radio Club Inc. (SCARC), operating under the callsign VK5ARC, positions itself as a forward-looking institution dedicated to promoting amateur radio as a contemporary pursuit. Its core objectives include enhancing the technical proficiency of its members and providing clear pathways for any individual interested in electronics or radio to achieve full accreditation as a licensed Amateur Radio Operator. A practical manifestation of this is the club's regular project nights, where members collaboratively build radio-related items, often made available at a very reasonable cost.

The club maintains a consistent weekly presence at its clubrooms, located at the corner of Hastings and Tongalla Streets in Seaford. Meetings convene every Thursday evening (with the exception of the fourth Thursday of the month) at 7:00 pm for a 7:30 pm start. This schedule is structured to offer a variety of engagements: the first Thursday is a "Talk Night" featuring presentations, the second is dedicated to committee meetings, and the third is a social evening. The fourth Thursday hosts the General Meeting, a key event for members. Should a month contain a fifth Thursday, this is designated as a social night, often held at the Old Noarlunga Hotel. The club emphasizes that visitors and guests are always warmly welcomed. Complementing these physical gatherings, SCARC conducts a club net every Wednesday night at 8:00 pm on the 2-meter VK5RSV repeater.

SCARC operates an impressive array of public-facing repeater and digital infrastructure:

• Voice Repeaters:
  • VK5RSC (10m): 29.620MHz (-100kHz offset), linked to a 2m Simplex Gateway on 147.675MHz (141.3 Hz tone).
  • VK5RSV (2m): 146.675MHz (-600kHz offset, 91.5Hz tone) for FM voice.
  • VK5RSV (70cm): 439.825MHz (-5MHz offset, 91.5Hz tone) for C4FM digital, serving as the ADELAIDE 10-G Gateway with WIRES-X & YSF (69159) connectivity.
  • VK5RSC (23cm): 1293.450MHz (currently off air).
• Digital APRS Digipeaters (all on 145.175 MHz, 1200baud, simplex):
  • VK5RSV-1: Willunga Hill
  • VK5ARC-1: Normanville
  • VK5RVH-1: Victor Harbor
  • VK5RDF-1: Crafers
• Packet Local Area Network (144.700 MHz, 1200baud):
  • VK5RSV-3: ADLC3 BPQ Packet Node
  • VK5RSV-4: ADLSCH BPQ Chat Node
  • VK5RSV-5: ADLSBB BPQ Mail Node

The club's website (www.scarc.org.au) serves as a central repository for events, news, and further information.

For those aspiring to join the amateur radio ranks, SCARC provides needs-based assessments for Foundation, Standard, and Advanced Licences. When fully operational, the club offers a well-equipped ham station, providing invaluable practical experience with radios, antennas, and associated equipment. This includes HF transceivers, VHF-UHF satellite transceivers, and a computer-controlled satellite station, complemented by antennas such as an 80m/40m HF dipole, a 20m/15m/10m HF beam (TH-6), a 6m Yagi, and a 2m/70cm J-Pole. Mike McGuire (VK5ZC) is the contact for training and assessment.

Under the leadership of President Nathan Grundy (VK5OG), Secretary Andrew Pimblett (VK5WX), and Treasurer Andrew Kwiatkowski (VK5AAA), the South Coast Amateur Radio Club offers a dynamic and well-resourced environment. It effectively blends regular social interaction with robust technical infrastructure and a commitment to licensing, positioning amateur radio as an accessible and engaging modern hobby in the Seaford area and beyond.