ZL2VH: Upper Hutt Branch 63 NZART
ZL2VH is the call-sign for Upper Hutt Branch 63 NZART. We are the Upper Hutt Amateur Radio Club. We're involved in a wide range of activities associated with amateur radio, from basic radio operation and volunteer activities to radio theory, use of new digital communications methods and experimentation.
QST63 the club's newsletter is now back as a monthly release, on the first day of the named month e.g. November 2024 was released on 1 November 2024, etc. QST63 is sent to members on the first of the month, with the web site having the newsletter available for download from the 10th of the month.
The D-Star Newsletter is published when information to share is available and as such has a less frequent release date.
Come along to a meeting - see the details in the footer below.
Radio Spectrum Business Update – February 2025
Feedback on Proposed Radio Spectrum Licence Fee ChangesMBIE is seeking feedback on changes to radio spectrum licence fees. These fees recover the costs of managing New Zealand’s radio spectrum regulatory system, including maintaining the Register of Radio Frequencies, issuing licences, and investigating interference.
For the past eight years, fees have been set below actual costs due to a historic surplus. As the surplus is nearly depleted, MBIE is adjusting fees to ensure full cost recovery. The proposed changes shift fees from an under-recovering level to full recovery.
We are considering two fee options and want your input on:
- Your preferred option
- Alternative options you’d suggest
- How the changes may impact your business
The consultation is open until 5:00 pm on 11 April, 2025.
More information about the Radio spectrum fees review 2025
Repeaters
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We are very proud to announce the two D-Star repeaters, '5425' and '860' have both been upgraded to the latest versions of the ICOM D-Star models - ID-RP2010V and ID-RP4010V. Both new repeaters where upgraded in October/November 2024. We wish to thank RWB Communications (ICOM agents in New Zealand) for their support of this upgrade.
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Branch 63 owns, operates and maintains a large number of repeaters, which are situated on Mt Climie Track in Upper Hutt, New Zealand.
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Of these, our 730 repeater has IRLP Node #6713 on it and provides excellent FM voice coverage throughout the lower North Island. 730 is being worked by stations in Blenheim, Nelson, Masterton and Taranaki. A few times in the past, propagation conditions have been such that Australia has worked through 730 along with regular Christchurch and Auckland contacts being reported.
Beacons
Branch 63 operates a 3 cm (10368.275 MHz) band propagation beacon at Climie for the benefit of the wider New Zealand radio amateur community. We've recently added a 10 m (28.229 MHz) band beacon, currently transmitting from our club rooms in Upper Hutt.
3 cm (10368.275 MHz) band propagation beacon - main module is under repair so no signals transmitting through - as at 15 March 2025.
SDR Receiver (Off the Air)
Antenna is under repair so no signals coming through - as at 15 March 2025.
Branch 63 operates a KiwiSDR Receiver at Climie for the benefit of the wider New Zealand radio amateur community.
The link below will take you to the SDR:http://123.255.47.67:8073
KiwiSDR - ZL2VH Upper Hutt, New Zealand. Grid square: RE78NU73.
Antenna: End fed long wire - 860 m ASL
Location (lat, lon) (-41.150409, 175.143457)