WICEN Vic: Weekly WICEN Vic Zoom Meetup

[Mark Hudson]

Hi Everyone

 

Tonight’s Zoom meeting will need to be cancelled as I am unwell. 

 

Apologies – I hope to see everyone next week.

 

Cheers

Kathryn

 

 

From: Mark Hudson <hudcomm at optushome.com.au>
Date: Wednesday, 1 July 2020 at 1:22 pm
To: WICEN distn list <wicenvic at vic.wicen.org.au>
Subject: WICEN Vic: Weekly WICEN Vic Zoom Meetup

 

Good afternoon all,

 

A smaller group last week but a good discussion around many radio and WICEN related various subjects.  Today I noticed that the call sign for MFB had changed from VKN8 to Fire Comm.  NSW and QLD metro fire services also use Fire Comm.  CFA is still known as Vic Fire.  Why the change I’m unsure off.  However with the changes in play for the MFB and CFA this may be part of that.  Below is some VKN8 history and you can’t deny the technical advances that our response agencies have in the way of communications.

 

Hope to see you tomorrow evening if you can make it.

 

Short history of the Metropolitan Fire brigade Medium Wave Radio 
system Melbourne Victoria Australia - By Lionel VK3NM/VK6DC 


VKN8 was the callsign used by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade  dispatching fire trucks to 
various jobs on approx 1620 Khz at the top end of the AM broadcast band with replies from 
the fire trucks back to base on about 83 Mhz FM. 


The station operated with a power output of about 1000 watts into a loaded " T " vertical 
with a ground plane on top of the Eastern Hill fire station just east of Melbourne CBD a 
quarter wave ground plane was mounted on one of the poles for reception of replies 
on 83 Mhz from the fire trucks. 


A carrier with some power supply hum was transmitted continuously 24 hours a day with 
a beep every 30 seconds and sometimes when you hear the base operator giving out 
jobs you could hear the fire truck replying due to leak through from the VHF receiver 
on to the MF carrier. In the evenings VKN8 could be received interstate and I have heard the station in New 
Zealand , It was very rich in harmonics with the 2nd heard many miles from the 
station. 


On Sunday mornings VKN8 conducted radio checks with all the fire trucks usually 
with Henry VK3EN as the operator conducting the tests, Henry designed and maintained 
the station for many years up his retirement, Henry is now a silent key after many years 
being very active on 160 metres AM. 


Because of the frequency used VKN8 could be received on any AM radio including 
car radios and many years before Victoria Police also used MF before moving to VHF 
and VKN8 closed down on MF in 1972. 

 

https://www.facebook.com/108878629136279/posts/3646001712090602/?vh=e&d=n

So please join us tomorrow night (Thursday) 18th June to share your thoughts and ideas.

 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/861209169?pwd=SEdlMnpibGhzbnA5TU1hSUYrdGhGUT09

 

Meeting ID: 861 209 169

Password: 055413

  

73’s

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

 

 

Mark Hudson
Communications Officer & State Ordinary Member  WICEN Victoria
Mobile +61 409 500 414 

 

Email hudcomm at optushome.com.au 

 

Website www.vic.wicen.org.au 

 

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