QNews for April 5th 2026

this is Laurie VK4BLE from the Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club, with another Redfest 26 update. Have you got your table booked? With only 6 days to Redfest you need to get in quick to book a table or two. So go to the website Redfest.org and book that table so you don’t miss out. There is plenty to enjoy at Redfest, especially for the ladies. Pick up a gift for Mother’s Day as there are plenty of tables with Quilting, Candles, Jams and Jewellery on offer. So, remember to bring the whole family and make it a day out for everyone to enjoy. Have you got tickets in the Redfest raffle? If not go to the website Redfest.org and grab some. Remember our major prize this year is the Icom IC7300 MK2 transceiver. You could also win a Xeigu X6200 or an Anytone AT-D90UV plus many more great prizes on offer. So, don’t forget to grab your tickets. QSL Comms and Elite Communications will be at Redfest. Mad Dog Coils, VK Direct, Radio and More and Garage Art will also be there and not to forget Icom Australia, ALARA and the WIA QSL Bureau. So, remember to come and collect your QSL cards. There will also be heaps of preloved equipment, so grab a bargain. Keep an eye out for the clubs’ famous bacon and egg rolls and have a coffee with friends from the coffee van. We are having some great technical presentations this year at Redfest. Peter VK3TMP from FreeDV will be presenting a technical background to software as well as practical advice about digital communications on HF bands. Glen VK4NGA will be giving a great presentation on how to use Digital Nodes, with a practical demonstration. Icom Australia will be presenting a talk about their latest developments in Amateur Radio. Peter VK4EA our WIA director will be talking about D-Star repeater functionality as well as updating us all on the WIA. So, heaps going at Redfest. So, go to the website redfest.org for more information on all the tech talks and times. Put the date in your calendar, Saturday the 11 th of April, at the Deception Bay North State School, 33-49 Old Bay Rd, Deception Bay, doors open at 9am. See you at Redfest.

Hi there for Sunday 5 April and best wishes from Darling Downs Radio Club if you're celebrating Easter, Passover, or just a long long long weekend. I'm Secretary of the club, John VK4JPM. Some important updates this week. Our next club member meeting has had a change of date thanks to some unforeseeable circumstances. It's now on Monday 20 April, just a few days before Anzac day. We'll remind you several times closer so that you don't forget, but please change the date in your diary now. Monday 20 April at the Scout Hall in Newtown, and all the details on the meeting are on the website. Next weekend we're at RedFest on Saturday 11 April, and we'll have a club table. If you're making the pilgrimage, come and say hi. We love meeting people in person. If you have gear that you would like us to sell on your behalf you have until end of Sunday to let us know so that we can mutually arrange to get it to our trailer for transport. Drop a line to [email protected] if you'd like to reserve a spot. The next club lunch has also been held over so that it doesn't clash. We're going to catch up on Sunday 26 April, and the venue might have been posted on the website by the time you hear this - we're just waiting to confirm the space. As always, 1130 for 1200 start. We're looking for candidates for foundation licensing or for upgrades to Standard or Advanced licences. The club has four licensed assessors, and did you know that potentially you can arrange to do the assessment remotely. So if you can't get to Toowoomba, or wherever we happen to be, we can virtually come to you. For more info or to book a time, email to [email protected] I'm John VK4JPM. 73s.