QNews for April 6th 2025

Q-News AR News from Queensland

Content provided by QNews VK4BB. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by QNews VK4BB or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://staging.podcastplayer.com/legal.

2M ago 7:29

MP3

Hi, I'm John VK4JPM, Secretary of the Darling Downs Radio Club,

Quick reminder that next weekend is busy for club members and guests. If you're on our mailing list - which would include members, of course - in the last few days, you should have received by email a newsletter containing lots of important info about upcoming events and club activities. On Saturday morning, 12 April, a group of us will be attending Redfest. Come up and say hi if you see us - we'll be the people with bright yellow badges. On Sunday, 13 April, we're holding our bimonthly club lunch at the Withcott Hotel. That's a relaxed opportunity to catch up with friends you've never met, and yes, there are food items that come with ham. Guests, non-members, significant others and harmonics are welcome. Check the menu and location details from our home page at www.ddrci.org.au. Finally, look for some construction articles from Bruce VK4MQ, and start planning to join us for the Annual Foxhunt and BBQ in May... It's only four weeks away now.

Hello, I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking.

It is interesting to reflect on how attitudes change and the way attention to details vary. It was during this last week that I set about acquainting myself with certain radios, the availability and, of course, how big of a hole they would put in the pocket. What made me consider the changes is the memory of how we were all looking for ways to maximise our website’s noticeability. Even during some classes of higher learning included practices in web design and choosing the right wording and layout to attract the search engines from those amazing applications, the search engines. Although I had that tiny bit of training, I have never sought to have a page of my own, and like the rest of us with internet access, I have been a consistent and regular user of the search engines included or added to my web browser. After this week, I can’t draw a conclusion as to how the market for amateur radio gear is working in VK-land. I have conducted multiple searches and used different search strings in different search engines, and my success in finding details of authorised agents and resellers for what have been the major marques has been poor. Not only that, when trying to establish whether certain products are available off the shelf, some sites tell me everything other than the availability. I have to wonder whether the retail sector is too busy or not clued in to the value of suitable internet marketing, as it limits the potential customer from getting all the needed information. Or is this a sign that the notoriously low profit margins for our beloved gear have just drained the enthusiasm from those prepared to invest time and large amounts of money? I like using local vendors where possible, but like so many of us, these days, we get some joy from the cheaper small purchases from overseas. Sometimes the products are as good as our local retailer has on display, sometimes better and often worse and sometimes the products can only be obtained from overseas. Currently, I am awaiting delivery of parts from both overseas and locally. Since Australia Post changed domestic deliveries to a 3-day, 2-day, a week, alternating pattern, ostensibly to maximise the parcel delivery service, they have let the small items, the packet mail service, fall into the doldrums. Then there is one notable commercial competitor in the freight delivery business that seems to work in a way that makes Auspost seem speedy. It makes a person wonder if there is a conspiracy to close down the small businesses which operate on-line. Maybe the lucrative contracts for the mega online retailers are the goal as we customers seem to get less and less choice in the matter. We can hope that the weather improves and services return to normal. I’m Geoff Emery VK4ZPP, and that’s what I think…. how about you?

10 episodes

#Germany #Amateur Radio #Tech #Gadgets #Lifestyle #Podcasting Education #Hobbies #News #Tech News #QNews VK4BB