Tommy GM3VBT was a long time member of both WoSARS and it’s forerunner, The Radio Club of Scotland (RCS). Although operating from his Glasgow QTH, Tommy was always keen to help out in the many amateur contests and especially some of the SPECIAL EVENTstations that the Club took part in.
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On a Club Night, Tommy was usually found behind the serving counter dispensing tea, coffee and biscuits. Always up for a chat as to who was working whom, new members, equipment and developments in the hobby.
NEWS FOR SCOTLAND & CLUB NEWS (GB2RS ) Extracts inc Additions
Tony MM0TMZ has been appointed to the RSGB Board and also re-elected as Regional Rep (RR1) for Region 1. Jim Campbell MM7BIWwas elected as Regional Rep (RR2) for Scotland’s other Region – 2.
(Details of club activities can be usually be found on the individual club’s website)
As a follow-on from WoSARS’s Member Tommy – GM3VBT’s funeral, a tribute and Order of Service has now been Posted on the WoSARS’s Clubsite at wosars.club/farewell-tommy-gm3vbt-sk .
Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is considering whether to re-start in-person meetings. Checkout www.aars.org.uk
East Kilbride ARC advises that it remains closed for the time being. Checkout info@ears-club.uk
From 7pm this Tuesday, 22nd the Moray Firth Amateur Radio Society has a night on 80M (aerial permitting). All are welcome. Checkout www.mfars.club
Lothians Radio Society is has re-started meetings now the Covid-19 threat has reduced. On 23rd Februrary – OpenEMS – a Free Electro-Magnetic Simulator by Brian Howie GM4DIJ. Checkout the Club’s website www.lothiansradiosociety.com
This coming Friday 25th Feb, WoSARS is meeting at Rose Street for a talk by Gavin MM1BXF – An Introdution To VNA’s (Vector Network Analysers). Checkout their website’s CALENDAR for further details.
Also on Friday’s, The Mid Lanarkshire Amateur Radio Society meets every Friday from 7pm at Newarthill Community Education Centre, ML1 5JU. Checkout www.mlars.co.ukfor contact details .
The Loch Lomond 8pm Sunday open net takes place on 145.3375MHz with 103.5Hz CTCSS and is also connected to Echolink node MB7IBH. Lomond Radio Club in-person club nights are on Thursdays from 7.30pm at the John Connelly Centre in Renton. Barrie, gm0kzx@googlemail.com
West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society has resumed its Solder Group meetings on Wednesdays and Rose Street meetings on Fridays. There are daily nets from 11am on 145.425MHz. Wednesday sees a net from 8pm on 433.425MHz. Check www.wosars.club for further information.
Ayr Amateur Radio Group has a net on Sundays from 7pm on 144.295MHz CW and from 7.30pm on 145.450MHz FM. There are daily nets around 7.035MHz from 10.15am, moving to 7.065MHz and 145.450MHz at 10.30am. derek.secaarg@gmail.com
Stirling and District Amateur Radio Society is open today for operating from 11am. It will also be open on Thursday from 7pm. secretary@gm6nx.com
Kingdom Amateur Radio Society has nets on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 7pm on 144.750MHz. Steve, MM0SKX, 0771 105 9343
Dundee Amateur Radio Club holds nets on Sundays and Wednesdays from 7.30pm on GB3AG and GB3DD. Martin, 2M0KAU, 0776 370 8933
Kilmarnock & Loudoun Amateur Radio Club holds a net on Sundays from 2pm around 3.720MHz SSB, later moving to around 3.540MHz CW. Tuesday sees a net on 145.475MHz from 7.30pm. klarcinfo@gmail.com
The Viking Amateur Radio Net runs on Sundays from 6pm on 3.660 or 3.639MHz. Details are on their Facebook page
Glenrothes & District Radio Club has open nets daily from 10am on 3.790MHz except Sunday. Morse training is now available on request. Tam, 0775 352 6498
Paisley Amateur Radio Club holds a net on Mondays from 8pm on 144.550MHz and on Zello. Tuesday sees a DMR net in room 4415 from 8pm. On Thursday, there is an FM net on 144.550MHz and on Zello from 7.30pm. Stuart, MM0PAZ, 0742 665 0757
DV Scotland has a multi-mode net on Monday from 9pm to 10.30pm using GM5DVS. Details of how to access all DV Scotland repeaters is at dvscotland.net.
Livingston & District Amateur Radio Society is open on Tuesdays from 7.30pm. Wednesday sees a net on DMR Scotland TG23550 from 8pm. Cathie, 2M0DIB, 01506 433 846
Inverness & District Amateur Radio Society has nets on Wednesday from 8pm on GB3BI and from 8.40pm on GB7II TG 23558. Adrian, MM0DHY, Invernessradiosociety@gmail.com
Falkirk Amateur Radio Club has a net via GB3FE from 8pm on Wednesday. Peter, gm8gax@tiscali.co.uk
On Wednesday’s Mid Lanark Amateur Radio Society has a net in TG 23550 from 8pm and on Thursday there’s a net on 70.425MHz from 8pm. www.mlars.co.uk
On Friday, Strathclyde Park Amateur Radio Club has a net from 7.30pm on 145.400MHz, and also on the BATC channel from 8pm. Bill, MM0SFB, gm0syv@btinternet.com
To have your net listed on the WoSARS website or to report any changes, contact Tony, MM0TMZ by email to rr1@rsgb.org.uk. Please also keep GB2RS updated via email to radcom@rsgb.org.uk
By Tony Kent, G8PBH, Examination Standards Committee Chair
At the beginning of 2021 the ESC/ESRG consulted the UK Amateur radio community on the draft Direct to Full (D2F) syllabus. Over 1,200 responses were received.
About 86% of respondents felt the scope of the syllabus (range of topics covered) was appropriate for D2F, with 8% thinking it was too narrow and 6% thinking it was too broad. On the question about the standard (level of difficulty) of the syllabus, 80% thought it was about right, the remaining 20% split equally between too easy and too hard. A clear majority, 75%, thought the proposed number of exam questions is appropriate, while 17% thought there were too few and 8% too many……………..read MORE.
NEWS FOR SCOTLAND & CLUB NEWS (GB2RS ) Extracts inc Additions
UPDATED 13th Feb:
Tony MM0TMZ has been appointed to the RSGB Board and also re-elected as Regional Rep (RR1) for Region 1. Jim Campbell MM7BIWwas elected as Regional Rep (RR2) for Scotland’s other Region – 2.
(Details of club activities can be usually be found on the individual club’s website)
Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is considering whether to re-start in-person meetings. www.aars.org.uk
East Kilbride ARC advises that it remains closed for the time being. Checkout info@ears-club.uk
Moray Firth Amateur Radio Society has a technical session on setting up a Raspberry Pi by GM8HWZ on Tuesday from 7pm. The demo will cover creating the SD card image and setting up for log keeping and digital modes. All are welcome. Hot drinks are available. www.mfars.club
Lothians Radio Society is has re-started meetings now the Covid-19 threat has reduced. Previously, on 9th February – the History of the Pocket Calculator – 5000 years and counting by James Gentles GM4WZP , and on 23rd Februrary – OpenEMS – a Free Electro-Magnetic Simulator by Brian Howie GM4DIJ. Checkout the Club’s website www.lothiansradiosociety.com
This coming Friday WoSARS is meeting at Rose Street for a talk by Jack GM4COX – Portable Aerials & Aerial Test Kit. Checkout their website Calendar for further details.
On Saturday Edinburgh and District Amateur Radio Club has a film night at Edinburgh Cine and Video Society. Doors open at 6pm with the features starting at 7pm. There is a net on Monday from 8.15pm on 433.525MHz. Norman, GM1CNH, 0774 094 6192
The Loch Lomond 8pm Sunday open net takes place on 145.3375MHz with 103.5Hz CTCSS and is also connected to Echolink node MB7IBH. Lomond Radio Club in-person club nights are on Thursdays from 7.30pm at the John Connelly Centre in Renton. Barrie, gm0kzx@googlemail.com
West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society has resumed its Solder Group meetings on Wednesdays and Rose Street meetings on Fridays. There are daily nets from 11am on 145.425MHz. Wednesday sees a net from 8pm on 433.425MHz. Check www.wosars.club for further information.
Ayr Amateur Radio Group has a net on Sundays from 7pm on 144.295MHz CW and from 7.30pm on 145.450MHz FM. There are daily nets around 7.035MHz from 10.15am, moving to 7.065MHz and 145.450MHz at 10.30am. derek.secaarg@gmail.com
Stirling and District Amateur Radio Society is open today for operating from 11am. It will also be open on Thursday from 7pm. secretary@gm6nx.com
Kingdom Amateur Radio Society has nets on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 7pm on 144.750MHz. Steve, MM0SKX, 0771 105 9343
Dundee Amateur Radio Club holds nets on Sundays and Wednesdays from 7.30pm on GB3AG and GB3DD. Martin, 2M0KAU, 0776 370 8933
Kilmarnock & Loudoun Amateur Radio Club holds a net on Sundays from 2pm around 3.720MHz SSB, later moving to around 3.540MHz CW. Tuesday sees a net on 145.475MHz from 7.30pm. klarcinfo@gmail.com
The Viking Amateur Radio Net runs on Sundays from 6pm on 3.660 or 3.639MHz. Details are on their Facebook page
Glenrothes & District Radio Club has open nets daily from 10am on 3.790MHz except Sunday. Morse training is now available on request. Tam, 0775 352 6498
Paisley Amateur Radio Club holds a net on Mondays from 8pm on 144.550MHz and on Zello. Tuesday sees a DMR net in room 4415 from 8pm. On Thursday, there is an FM net on 144.550MHz and on Zello from 7.30pm. Stuart, MM0PAZ, 0742 665 0757
DV Scotland has a multi-mode net on Monday from 9pm to 10.30pm using GM5DVS. Details of how to access all DV Scotland repeaters is at dvscotland.net.
Livingston & District Amateur Radio Society is open on Tuesdays from 7.30pm. Wednesday sees a net on DMR Scotland TG23550 from 8pm. Cathie, 2M0DIB, 01506 433 846
Inverness & District Amateur Radio Society has nets on Wednesday from 8pm on GB3BI and from 8.40pm on GB7II TG 23558. Adrian, MM0DHY, Invernessradiosociety@gmail.com
Falkirk Amateur Radio Club has a net via GB3FE from 8pm on Wednesday. Peter, gm8gax@tiscali.co.uk
Mid Lanarkshire Amateur Radio Society meets every Friday from 7pm at Newarthill Community Education Centre, ML1 5JU. Wednesday sees a net on TG 23550 from 8pm and on Thursday there’s a net on 70.425MHz from 8pm. www.mlars.co.uk
On Friday, Strathclyde Park Amateur Radio Club has a net from 7.30pm on 145.400MHz, and also on the BATC channel from 8pm. Bill, MM0SFB, gm0syv@btinternet.com
To have your net listed on the WoSARS website or to report any changes, contact Tony, MM0TMZ by email to rr1@rsgb.org.uk. Please also keep GB2RS updated via email to radcom@rsgb.org.uk
In this constantly changing pandemic situation, details of club activities can be found on the individual club’s website. A summary of activities in Scotland compiled by RSGB Regional Representative Tony, MM0TMZ can be found at wosars.club/radio-nets.
Sad news. Longstanding WoSARS and RCS Member Tommy, GM3VBT (Logan) is now a silent key (SK – 24th January). Though not able to attend the Club’s meetings for the last couple of years due to Covid restrictions and failing health, members were kept aware of how he was faring via amateur and family sources. With the Club meetings having resumed, he will be sadly missed on a Friday night both at Rose Street and down at the ‘pub’ (The Bon Accord) afterwards. His funeral will be held on 7th February at 11.30 am, Clydebank Crematorium. All are welcome to attend.
New GB2RS Broadcast from the station of Michael – 2M0GUI for west Glasgow – HERE .
Livingston & District Amateur Radio Society is open on Tuesdays from 7.30pm There is a now a net on Thursday on 144.575 MHz FM at 7:30pm The 8th February meeting is a talk on Antenna Maintenance and Operating and on 15th a visit from the Emergency Planning Officer. Cathie, 2M0DIB, 01506 433 846
Advance notice that on the 3rd of February at 8pm Wigtownshire Amateur Radio Society is hosting an exclusive Zoom presentation by Roy Lewallen, W7EL, author of the EZNEC antenna modelling software. Request an invitation via events@gm4riv.org. There is a net on Sundays from 7.30pm on GB3DG. Thursday sees a net on GB3DG from 7pm. There is also an open RAYNET net daily on GB3DG from noon. Oli, MM0YOS, info@gm4riv.org
West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society has resumed the Solder Group meetings on Wednesday and Rose Street Club nights on Friday. There are daily ‘Ad-Hoc’ nets from 11am on 145.425MHz. Wednesday sees a net from 8pm on 433.425MHz and this Friday Sam GM4BGS is ‘Chairing’ the meeting. www.wosars.club
The Loch Lomond 8pm Sunday open net takes place via MB7IBH on 145.3375MHz with 103.5Hz CTCSS. Thursday club nights remain suspended at the moment (due to resume 3rd February) replaced by a bi-monthly net on 145.3375MHz and via MB7IBH. The next net takes place on Thursday at 8pm. www.lomondradio.club
Ayr Amateur Radio Group has a net on Sundays from 7pm on 144.295MHz CW and from 7.30pm on 145.450MHz FM. There are daily nets around 7.035MHz from 10.15am, moving to 7.065MHz and 145.450MHz at 10.30am. derek.secaarg@gmail.com
Stirling and District Amateur Radio Society is open today for operating from 11am. It will also be open on Thursday from 7pm. secretary@gm6nx.com
Kingdom Amateur Radio Society has nets on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 7pm on 144.750MHz. Steve, MM0SKX, 0771 105 9343
Dundee Amateur Radio Club holds nets on Sundays and Wednesdays from 7.30pm on GB3AG and GB3DD. Martin, 2M0KAU, 0776 370 8933
Kilmarnock & Loudoun Amateur Radio Club holds a net on Sundays from 2pm around 3.720MHz SSB, later moving to around 3.540MHz CW. Tuesday sees a net on 145.475MHz from 7.30pm. klarcinfo@gmail.com
The Viking Amateur Radio Net runs on Sundays from 6pm on 3.660 or 3.639MHz. Details are on their Facebook page
Glenrothes & District Radio Club has open nets daily from 10am on 3.790MHz except Sunday. Morse training is now available on request. Tam, 0775 352 6498
Paisley Amateur Radio Club holds a net on Mondays from 8pm on 144.550MHz and on Zello. Tuesday sees a DMR net in room 4415 from 8pm. On Thursday, there is an FM net on 144.550MHz and on Zello from 7.30pm. Stuart, MM0PAZ, 0742 665 0757
On Monday, Edinburgh & District Amateur Radio Club has its net at 8.15pm on 433.525MHz FM. Norman, GM1CNH, 0774 094 6192
DV Scotland has a multi-mode net on Monday from 9pm to 10.30pm using GM5DVS. Details of how to access all DV Scotland repeaters is at dvscotland.net
Livingston & District Amateur Radio Society is open on Tuesdays from 7.30pm with a talk from a club member on DMR. Wednesday sees a net on DMR Scotland TG23550 from 8pm. Cathie, 2M0DIB, 01506 433 846
Inverness & District Amateur Radio Society has stopped its Wednesday meetings owing to COVID restrictions. There are nets on Wednesday from 8pm on GB3BI and from 8.40pm on GB7II talkgroup 23558. Adrian, MM0DHY, InvernessRadioSociety@gmail.com
Falkirk Amateur Radio Club has a net via GB3FE from 8pm on Wednesday. Peter, gm8gax@tiscali.co.uk
Mid Lanarkshire Amateur Radio Society meets every Friday from 7pm at Newarthill Community Education Centre. Wednesday sees a net on TG 23550 from 8pm and on Thursday there’s a net on 70.425MHz from 8pm. www.mlars.co.uk
Lomond Radio Club has suspended its Thursday in-person meetings. (due to resume 3rd February) . Instead, there’s a net on GB3DM at 7.30pm and occasional Zoom meetings. Barrie, gm0kzx@googlemail.com
On Friday, Strathclyde Park Amateur Radio Club has a net from 7.30pm on 145.400MHz, and also on the BATC channel from 8pm. Bill, MM0SFB, gm0syv@btinternet.com
To have your net listed on the WoSARS website or to report any changes, contact Tony, MM0TMZ by email to rr1@rsgb.org.uk. Please also keep GB2RS updated via email to radcom@rsgb.org.uk.
“Beginning this Sunday, there is to be a new GB2RS News Broadcast, complementing the current Broadcasts in the locality. This broadcast will take place at 1830hrs local time on 145.525MHz, covering the Glasgow area, meaning those who are unable to tune in on a Sunday morning may find this a more convenient time. The broadcast will come from the station 2M0GUI in Newton Mearns, and will be followed by an opportunity to call in on an ad-hoc net.”
In this constantly changing pandemic situation, details of club activities can be found on the individual club’s website. A summary of activities in Scotland compiled by RSGB Regional Representative Tony, MM0TMZ can be found at wosars.club/radio-nets.
West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society is postponing resuming the programme at Rose Street until after the 14th of January. There are daily nets from 11am on 145.425MHz. Wednesday sees a net from 8pm on 433.425MHz and on Friday there’s an open net on 145.425MHz from 8pm. www.wosars.club
Wigtownshire Amateur Radio Society has a net on Sundays from 7.30pm on GB3DG. Thursday sees a net on GB3DG from 7pm; a Zoom meeting follows at 8pm. There is also an open RAYNET net daily on GB3DG from noon. Oli, MM0YOS, info@gm4riv.org
Stirling and District Amateur Radio Society is open today for operating from 11am. It will also be open on Thursday from 7pm. secretary@gm6nx.com
Kingdom Amateur Radio Society has nets on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 7pm on 144.750MHz. Steve, MM0SKX, 0771 105 9343
The Lomond Sunday night net takes place from 8pm via EchoLink gateway MB7IBH and also locally on RF using 144.9625MHz, moving to DMR TG23559 from 9pm.
Ayr Amateur Radio Group has a net on Sundays from 7pm on 144.295MHz CW and from 7.30pm on 145.450MHz FM. There are daily nets around 7.035MHz from 10.15am, moving to 7.065MHz and 145.450MHz at 10.30am. derek.secaarg@gmail.com
Dundee Amateur Radio Club holds nets on Sundays and Wednesdays from 7.30pm on GB3AG and GB3DD. Martin, 2M0KAU, 0776 370 8933
Kilmarnock & Loudoun Amateur Radio Club holds a net on Sundays from 2pm around 3.720MHz SSB, later moving to around 3.540MHz CW. Tuesday sees a net on 145.475MHz from 7.30pm. klarcinfo@gmail.com
The Viking Amateur Radio Net runs on Sundays from 6pm on 3.660 or 3.639MHz. Details are on their Facebook page
Glenrothes & District Radio Club has open nets daily from 10am on 3.790MHz except Sunday. Morse training is now available on request. Tam, 0775 352 6498
Paisley Amateur Radio Club holds a net on Mondays from 8pm on 144.550MHz and on Zello. Tuesday sees a DMR net in room 4415 from 8pm. On Thursday, there is an FM net on 144.550MHz and on Zello from 7.30pm. Stuart, MM0PAZ, 0742 665 0757
On Monday, Edinburgh & District Amateur Radio Club has its net at 8.15pm on 433.525MHz FM. Norman, GM1CNH, 0774 094 6192
DV Scotland has a multi-mode net on Monday from 9pm to 10.30pm using GM5DVS. Details of how to access all DV Scotland repeaters is at dvscotland.net
Livingston & District Amateur Radio Society is open on Tuesdays from 7.30pm with a talk from a club member on DMR. Wednesday sees a net on DMR Scotland TG23550 from 8pm. Cathie, 2M0DIB, 01506 433 846
Lothians Radio Society has postponed the video night at the Edinburgh Cine & Video Society planned for Wednesday. Andy, MM0FMF, secretary@lothiansradiosociety.com
Inverness & District Amateur Radio Society has stopped its Wednesday meetings owing to COVID restrictions. There are nets on Wednesday from 8pm on GB3BI and from 8.40pm on GB7II talkgroup 23558. Adrian, MM0DHY, InvernessRadioSociety@gmail.com
Mid Lanarkshire Amateur Radio Society meets every Friday from 7pm at Newarthill Community Education Centre 50 High Street Newarthill Motherwell ML1 5JU. Wednesday sees a net on TG 23550 from 8pm and on Thursday there’s a net on 70.425MHz from 8pm. www.mlars.co.uk
Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is closed on Thursday. www.aars.org.uk
Falkirk Amateur Radio Club has a net via GB3FE from 8pm on Wednesday. Peter, gm8gax@tiscali.co.uk
Lomond Radio Club has stopped its Thursday in-person meetings owing to COVID restrictions, and some meetings are now on Zoom. Instead there’s a net on GB3DM at 7.30pm. Barrie, gm0kzx@googlemail.com
On Friday, Strathclyde Park Amateur Radio Club has a net from 7.30pm on 145.400MHz, and also on the BATC channel from 8pm. Bill, MM0SFB, gm0syv@btinternet.com
To have your net listed on the WoSARS website or to report any changes, contact Tony, MM0TMZ by email to rr1@rsgb.org.uk. Please also keep GB2RS updated via email to radcom@rsgb.org.uk.
The recent storms to hit the northern half of the UK saw many without cellular, fixed landline and Internet access.
At the moment BT-Openreach still supply a ~48V feed via your fixed landline. Using a POTS (a plain old telephone (Service) – a telephone that doesn’t require a 230V feed) still provides a way of communicating when all else fails (unless of course your landlines have come down). From 2025 the requirement for BT-Openreach to provide this facility will be withdrawn. What then?
I suppose from an amateur viewpoint, we still have good old RF point-to-point communication – in whatever form, but remember your still need power. Have a think about your standby requirements?
