Sunshine Coast Signals Strong: A Hub of Activity Since 1970

Bli Bli, Queensland - The Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio Club (VK4WIS, VK4WSC), a cornerstone of Queensland's amateur radio community since its establishment in 1970, stands as one of the state's larger and most dynamic clubs. Their commitment extends beyond simply enjoying the hobby; they actively engage in providing crucial communications assistance for a wide array of events and fostering inclusive activities that cater to all their members.

The club benefits from the generous support of the Local Council, which provides their clubrooms on behalf of Main Roads. This dedicated space serves as a central hub for their various activities.

Furthermore, the club boasts an extensive repeater network, recently upgraded with new equipment thanks to Government grants. This robust infrastructure ensures reliable communication across the Sunshine Coast region and beyond. Their voice repeaters include:

• VK4RSC at Wilkes Knob Maleny, operating on 53.700MHz, 146.850MHz, 438.075MHz, and 1273.300MHz.
• VK4RSL at Laguna Lookout Noosa Heads, operating on 146.825MHZ.
• VK4RSN at Black Mountain Cooroy, operating on 146.975MHz.

It's important to note that the 146.825MHz, 146.850MHz, and 146.975MHz repeaters are linked and require a 91.5Hz CTCSS tone for access.

For APRS enthusiasts, the club operates digipeaters VK4RSR on 145.175MHz and 439.100MHz at Radar Hill Nambour. Additionally, Echolink node 316084 is accessible on the 146.850MHz repeater.

The Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio Club holds its General Meeting at 7:00 pm on the 1st Tuesday of each month at their clubrooms, located at 85 Godfreys Rd, Bli Bli (GPS Coordinates: S26 37.664 E153 04.178).

A more informal Social Meeting takes place every Wednesday from 10:00 am at the clubrooms, with a BBQ held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, providing a relaxed atmosphere for members to connect.

For those with a penchant for building and tinkering, the club also hosts a Constructors Workshop every Thursday from 7:00 pm at the clubrooms.

The Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio Club maintains a vibrant on-air presence with a comprehensive schedule of nets:

• A daily net on the linked 2-meter repeaters (146.825MHz, 146.850MHz, 146.975MHz) at 08:15 local time, every day of the year.
• A 70cm net on 438.075MHz every Monday at 19:30 local time.
• An 80-meter LSB net on 3.660MHz every Wednesday at 19:30 local time.
• A 10-meter USB net on 28.470MHz every Wednesday, following the 80-meter net.
• A 6-meter FM net on 53.700MHz every Friday at 19:30 local time.
• A 2-meter SSTV net on the linked repeaters every Saturday at 19:15 local time.
• The WIA News broadcast on the linked 2-meter repeaters every Sunday at 09:00 local time.

The club also fosters activity on their HF net with the Pelican Award. Members who contact 10 different club members (with the club station counting for two contacts) receive a certificate featuring one of the Sunshine Coast's iconic feathered friends.

A major annual event for the club is Sunfest, their Hamfest. In 2024, it was held at Mountain Creek State School on September 14th. Sunfest offers a fantastic atmosphere with numerous raffles and a wide array of amateur radio equipment on display and for sale.

The Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio Club meets at 85 Godfreys Rd, Bli Bli.

The Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio Club can be contacted at PO Box 7551, Sippy Downs QLD 4556, or via their website: http://www.vk4wis.org. Email contact details are available on their website.

The dedicated committee members leading the club include President Mark Roberts VK4AN, Secretary Gordon Taylor VK4VP, and Treasurer Keith Noll VK4AKA. Their email contact details can be found on the club's website.

The Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio Club stands as a vibrant and well-resourced organization, offering a wide range of activities and a strong sense of community for amateur radio enthusiasts on the Sunshine Coast and beyond. Their extensive repeater network and active event calendar ensure that there are ample opportunities for members to connect, learn, and enjoy the hobby.