Subject: Next Executive Committee meeting of The Society Of Low Power
FM Broadcasters Incorporated
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NEXT MEETING
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Please note that the Executive Committee meeting of The Society Of Low
Power FM Broadcasters Incorporated plans to hold its next meeting on
Tuesday 8th July 2008 at 7pm at the Auckland VHF Group Clubrooms in
Hazel Avenue, Mount Roskill.

We welcome anyone who wishes to come along and participate, listen
attentively, seek advice, pick our brains, complain, offer general
abuse or even to support us by becoming a member of our dedicated
group (but this is *never* expected). Directions on how to find the
Auckland VHF Group Clubrooms are below.

CHRIS BRENNAN and the Q&A evening
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On a happy note, I would just like to formally, and rather belatedly,
thank Chris Brennan, Manager Northern Regional Services, Radio
Spectrum Management for coming along to our Question and Answer
evening held Tuesday 27th May 2008, and fielding an interesting array
of questions from the floor. It proved to be an extremely useful
session, with all questions being answered in a professional and
forthright way. A video of the event *was* captured, 1 hour 20 minutes
long. Plans to edit this 15 gigabyte digital video file and make it
available to the general LPFM community at large have been stymied by
a lack of free time to do this (it takes a *lot* of time to prepare,
properly edit and render digital video files into something usable).
The intention remains, but no commitment is made as to when - but it
will be ASAP and ATP.


ANOTHER PRACTICAL WORKSHOP EVENING
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I would also like to advise everyone that we plan on holding a
*second* practical "build your own J-Pole antenna" evening quite soon,
and we will be seeking expressions of interest from you. This follow
on session arises out of interest generated from our first successful
construction effort, at which subscribers built and put into service
their very own radiator, with varying degrees of success, but mostly
at the high end of the scale. The exception appears to be the unit
built for, and deployed, temporarily, by Radio Tairua, who
lightheartedly, but seriously, described the attempt as follow:

"Radio Tairua has advanced progressively with massive investment and
time and it is appreciated that someone is looking after my back
behind the scenes. We continue to drive a wedge into Coromandel FM's
monopoly with the slow rise in our market share statistics and plan to
support our community in a way that Coromandel FM could only dream
about. Radio Tairua has started it's own Museum. A light hearted way
of discarding no longer useful pieces and media. Unfortunately the J
Pole has ended up there in almost pristine condition. Due to the fact
that when mounted, reception plummeted to coat hanger levels. I know
we had trouble tuning it and the night was long, we all tried, but the
outcome was a disaster. Never mind, next time perhaps. I look forward
to catching up again at some time or passing out a little teaser
question to occupy your afternoons. Until then, Kind regards, Bruce
Fowlie, Radio Tairua".

It is clear that Bruce has a major problem with his J-Pole, and this
is a matter we have undertaken to help him rectify, as and when we
can. However, Bruce's experience seems to be the exception that proves
the rule: with a J-Pole antenna, a broadcaster should be able to
achieve a better coverage in the horizontal and vertically down
direction than with a standard di-pole, which for a vertically
oriented element radiates like a massive donut, with the "hole" being
in the vertical direction. Please note that in spite of this improved
radiation pattern, a transmission still need to take cognisance of the
500mW EIRP (Effective or Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power) rule, so
the gain of ANY ANTENNA in ANY direction, CAN NOT exceed that figure!

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Auckland VHF Group (Branch 66) Clubrooms, Mount Roskill
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Located in Hazel Avenue, Mount Roskill, at the very END of the street
on the LEFT, behind the Scout Hall. There is a driveway on the left
just past the Scout Hall which takes you down the side of that
building into an area in front of the club rooms where there is room
for a number of cars. There is also plenty of parking in the street.

Hazel Avenue is off Dominion Road. Coming from Mount Albert Road, it
is the SIXTH street on the left. From the other direction, it is the
TENTH street on the right after Balmoral Road.

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BRgds to all LPFM folk,

Peter Shaw
Secretary
The Society of Low Power FM Broadcasters Incorporated
Auckland
New Zealand