On 6 June a working party consisting of ZL2AMI. ZL2TTS, ZL2IFB, ZL2AOH, ZL2ACG, ZL2UDF , ZL1AZE and Barry Laing (the local farmer) visited the former ZM2K contest station (near Martinborough) to lower and dismantle the remaining mast and 10M yagi antenna.
With the help of a BIG tractor and some fine weather, the work all went according to plan. The only exception was some corroded joints including the steel hinge at the base of the mast. This problem was remedied in the usual way - with a large sledge hammer!
A truck will now be organised to transport the dismantled hardware to Quartz Hill for use in the building of a new ZL6QH station.
The ZM2K mast consisted of four sections of 'Blaw Knox' lattice mast to make a total height of around 12 metres. The club already owns a 45 metre 'Blaw Knox' mast so the ex ZM2K sections can potentially be used to extend the length of this mast to around 57 metres (subject to it being feasible from a structural engineering design perspective).
Below: The ZM2K 10M mast and antenna before being dismantled
Below: The ZM2K mast and antenna dismantled and ready for transporting to Quartz Hill
On Wednesday 29 April 2009, Brian ZL1AZE and Mike ZL2BCW attended a ceremony to celebrate the connection of the first group of wind turbines to the national grid at Project West Wind, Makara. This opportunity was the result of a formal invitation from Meridian Energy.
The celebrations took place at a considerable distance to the south of the Quartz Hill area. Prime Minister John Key pushed a ‘very big switch’ which connected the operational turbines to the national grid.
Over 33 km of 7 metre wide roads link the Oteranga Bay wharf to each of the 62 turbine sites. Twenty five of the turbines have been erected and 15 of these have been commissioned.
Below: A view of one of the operational turbines near the First Power celebration.
Brian and Mike were able to get inside the tower of a working turbine, but didn’t climb to the top! The turbine structures are like the Tardis, they seem to be even bigger inside than they are outside!
After the speeches Mike and Brian took the opportunity to listen to the RF background noise level from the closest turbine. They used a portable HF receiver with a 10 metre length of wire as an antenna. Some noise was observed although it was not clear how much of it was due to the turbine since a nearby diesel generator (supplying power for the event catering) may have also been contributing to the noise.
Below: A photo of the wind farm on 2 May 2009, as observed from the Karori end of Makara road.
Vic Stagpoole, ZL2ACF, has provided us with a history of his Early Days at Quartz Hill.
The 2009 annual report on our activities at Quartz Hill was tabled at the Wellington Amateur Radio Club AGM on 17 February 2009. Click here to view a PDF copy of the report (20 KB).
