VK5ZAI

Episode 210 - Tony Hutchison - VK5ZAI

Tony Hutchison, VK5ZAI, who, from his interest in satellite communications, became an important backup communications link in South Australia for the NASA space shuttle missions, the Mir Space Station, and the International space station when crewed by amateur radio operators.  Tony is a pioneer in this area of ham radio and has been recognized by NASA for his contributions. VK5ZAI is Eric’s QSO Today.

Show Notes

Listen to Podcast

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QRP Labs QCX HF Transceiver Kit

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Tony’s Website
VK5ZAI River boat, 62 foot, Nov 1984
Video interview with with VK5ZAI on Australia TV  -described Tony’s  ham shack is “built entirely from scratch from cast off gizmos”

Elmers:  
Herb Brown,  VK3NN
Gordon ,VK5CC

Australia Links:  

• Hometown: Bordertown, South Australia, near Victoria
• Serviceton, Victoria, South Australia
• Bordertown, Victoria, South Australia Community FM Station
• Loxston on the Murray River
• Kingston, South Australia

RSGB Handbook - sample copy

First license: 1960, VK5ZAI, “Z”  license, restricted to VHF and UHF bands

First Rig: 
SCR522 Aircraft Transceiver
Pye VHF taxi radio converted to 2 Meters

Space Stuff:

• ARISS - amateur radio on the international space station
• ARISS application form - to make a contact with the ISS from your school.
• “telebridge team” - the 10 amateur radio earth stations around the World used to connect space vehicles to the PSTN using amateur radio phone patches.
• SpaceX
• Nick Lance, KC5KBO (SK)
• Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, President of ARISS
• Maggie VK3CFI - spoke to the MIR Space

Satellites and Space Vehicles:

• Oscar III Satellite
• Mir Space Station
• DK3WN’s List of Satellites
• Challenger Space Shuttle
• Oscar 10 Satellite
• Oscar 13 Satellite
• Oscar 40 Satellite
• Space Shuttle docking ring for MIR
• Oscar 91 Satellite

The Rigs:

• Yaesu FT-411 Handheld
• Yaesu FT-847 transceiver
• Icom IC-7300 transceiver
• Icom IC-706MK2G transceiver
• VHF Helical Antenna Yagi
• Instant Track Satellite tracking software - By Paul Williamson, KB5MU, running in DOS

Astronauts mentioned:

• Christa Mccullough - elementary school teacher becomes astronaut, perished in the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster.
• Andy Thomas, Astronaut
• Susan Helms, Astronaut
• Bill McArthur, Astronaut

Rotary encoder

2.4 GHz TV transmitter on ISS

Australian Amateur Radio Foundation License

10 MHz GPS Locked Timebase

Excited most by: New surge of interest by young people in Australia entering amateur radio with  the Foundation License, and the incorporation of computers and digital electronics into the hobby.

Advice to new or returning hams: Look at the digital modes.

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VK5ZAI Ham Shack

VK5ZAI Tracking Antennas

VK5ZAI home-brew 10 Mhz GPS time base and signal generator

Yaesu FT-411 VHF and UHF Transceivers