WoSARS Goes On Holiday To Fife And Comes Back With A Souvenir
Well it all started with an email from James 2M0RMP ………..
“…………..26th Oct 20……………….Jack can you email me your number I have a wind up mast that needs a new home…………..”
In discussion with James, he said he’d met a nice lady who lived just outside St Andrews in Fife and had a tower in her back garden with a ‘protrusion’ upon it; both were required to be removed.
Well what else could we do but help out this nice lady with a trip though to the sunny ‘Fife Rivera’.
And indeed, in June the ‘gang’, Alan GM4TOQ, Sam GM4BGS, Ted 2M0VGY and yours truly headed through to the ‘sunny’ east coast to administer the necessary surgery.
It was intended to try and remove the Ground Post from below the surrounding grass level but this proved beyond the kit we had with us on the day, resorting to cutting it off with a grinder. Not ideal but it did the trick.
And WoSARS would like to thank Alex Paris and family for allowing us to remove their elaborate ‘flagpole’ 🙂 and return it to it’s rightful place in the hierarchy of radio towers. Thanks folks!
And discussions are initially on-going within the Committee as to the use that the tower will be put to. These will be presented to the Members in due course as to their own thoughts.
And, who was the original amateur that owned the house? Alex had no information but did have some communication from Ofcom – with just a reference number on it, but no amateur callsign – a fat lot of use that is! Well I carried out a wee bit investigative work using QRZ.com’s search facilities and tracked GM4DPC ; still listed on QRZ, though a SK for many years? (he left the QTH many years ago). I contacted Ofcom on Alex’s behalf, to inform them that GM4DPC no longer lived at the QTH. They acknowledged accordingly and as a consequence his entry in QRZ maybe removed?
Oh the ‘Protrusion’? Not too sure, but I think it’s was being used as part of a Wi-Fi node for the village years ago when there was limited landline/mobile internet facilities? I have it at my QTH and at the time of writing this article, I have still to ‘sweep’ it?
73
Jack(;>J
Snips – News For Scotland – 15th August
The news headlines:
- Amateurs help with forest fire comms
- Latest Online Convention news
- Morse Texting girls make video
GB2RS Script – HERE .
SCOTTISH & CLUB NEWS
As we heard in the main news Moray Firth Amateur Radio Society will be operating as GB0CSL from the Covesea Skerries Lighthouse, Lossiemouth, with the kind permission of the lighthouse trustees. Activity will be on HF and VHF, with details listed at www.mfars.club and on QRZ.com under GB0CSL.
Kevin, G0PEK and Lauren, 2E0HLR will be taking part in the Megacycle DXpedition as they cycle from Lands End to John O’Groats. They started off on the the 1 st of August, and they hope to be home by the 28 th . They will be carrying radio equipment on the bikes and operating VHF bicycle mobile and APRS along much of the route.. You can follow their progress on the Megacycle DXpedition Facebook page. They will be operating from Cape Wrath for Lighthouses on the air.
CLUB NETS – HERE .
TAGS: (Within GB2RS Script)
have made a video about Morse Texting; QSO Today online conference; Morse Competency Scheme; G4NZQ; G-QRP Club has released the agenda for its Online Convention 2021; sub-manager for the G4T-Z group has retired; Dudley and District club; RSGB held its 2021 AGM online in April and members were invited to send in questions; The Dartmoor Radio Rally takes place today; the British Amateur Television Club Convention, CAT 21, will commence on the 21st of August; FO/F1SMB; AM1CCB; HI9/HB9TUZ; 6E0D; R20RTA, R20RTM, R20RTP, R20RTRN and R20RTT; Next weekend is International Lightships and Lightship weekend; GB0ELH; GB0AVL; GB2RL for Roker Light, Sunderland; GB5HCL, Hurst Castle Lighthouse; GB0TLH, Teignmouth Lighthouse and GB0ALK for the Association of Lighthouse Keepers; GB0BRO; We had another week of minimal sunspot numbers; a low solar flux; there were no coronal holes on the Sun’s equator so we may expect the good conditions to continue over this weekend; reasonable Tropo conditions over southern areas extending south into the near continent and down across Biscay to Spain; week’s Perseids meteor shower has probably added some useful new long-lived metallic ionisation into the mix as fuel for Sporadic-E;
Snips – News For Scotland – 25th July
The news headlines:
- RadCom Basics latest issue
- NRC Net to close
- DARC reports survey results
GB2RS Script – HERE .
CLUB NEWS & NETS
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 www.wosars.club/radio-nets
TAGS: (Within GB2RS Script)
logging and eLog; survey, as well as opinions on FT8 and licensing; the first 50MHz and 70MHz Machine Generated Modes-only contests; G4PLZ; Bletchley Park has relaxed their requirement for mask wearing and social distancing; we wish to take a more cautious approach at the National Radio Centre; GB3RS; GB2RS continues to expand; M5GWH has joined the existing team in the Stoke-on-Trent area; from MM0JNL is now additionally covering Northumbria; QSL Bureau sub-manager for the G4T-Z group is retiring; Finningley ARS Car Boot Rally; The Wiltshire Radio Rally; 1st Cornwall Antenna Build Off; The King’s Lynn ARC radio rally; Dartmoor Radio Rally; J88PI from Palm Island in the St Vincent; TF/HB9HKE; CT8/W6PQL; Islands On The Air Contest (IOTA); UK Microwave Group Contest runs from 0600 to 1800UTC today; Worked-All-Britain 144MHz Low Power Contest;Fourth 144MHz Backpackers Contest; 144MHz Low Power contest; Thursday the solar flux index was up to 94; HF propagation remains dominated by Sporadic-E; some very good days of Tropo recently; Southern delta Aquarids meteor shower is under way;
Ham Radio Helping VK6GOM Stay Mentally Fit in Old Age – Video
ABC South West WA By Anthony Pancia
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Even if you don’t own a digital radio, you can still get involved using either a smartphone app or listen in like a shortwave listener.
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73 ICQPodcast Team
Snips – News For Scotland – 18th July
- RSGB Survey results published
- Build Off in Cornwall
- New Full course from Distance Learning Team
GB2RS Script – HERE .
GB2RS Extract:
“……………………The Bath Based Distance Learning team is now planning another course for the Full level exam syllabus. The course will run from the end of August to December this year. Students will receive weekly work packages via a virtual classroom and will have access to weekly online tutorials. Students will also have access to one of the remote tutors who will provide feedback and additional guidance where required. There will be no charge for the training but applicants must work through a pre-course classroom and quiz to be eligible for a place. The deadline for course applications is the 4th of August. For full details, and an application form, email g0fuw@tiscali.co.uk…………………”
CLUB NEWS & NETS
The GB2RS News Service is seeking a volunteer in the Caithness and Orkney area. The successful candidate should have a good 2m FM signal into the GB3OC repeater. They would be joining the existing team that reads the news each Sunday morning at 0930 UK time. If you would like to find out more, without obligation, please contact the GB2RS News Manager, via email to gb2rs.manager@rsgb.org.uk
To celebrate the first one-way amateur radio QSO across the Atlantic that took place on the 12th of December 1921, there is a plan to re-create the event in December this year. Those involved are still looking for volunteers and anyone with vintage 1920s equipment that they might consider loaning for the accompanying exhibition. See GM0DEQ on QRZ.com for email details. (More info within POSTBAG – HERE )
The GB3FE repeater serving the Stirling area is now back in service, operating on reduced power.
TAGS: (Within GB2RS Script)
IARU workshop; Antenna Build Off; Bath Based Distance Learning; Full level exam syllabus; QSL Bureau sub-manager for the G4T to Z group; GB4RS; GB2RS continues to expand; Finningley ARS Car Boot; The Wiltshire Radio Rally, Electronics Fair & Car Boot Sale ; Dartmoor Radio Rally; GM7V during next weekend’s IOTA contest; C6AHA; GM3RCV; MM8C; 18th, the International Low Power contest; 24-hour Islands On The Air contest; UK Microwave Group contest runs from 0600 to 1800UTC; solar flux index remained in the 70s last week; a large solar coronal hole impacted the Earth; University of Massachusetts Lowell Observatory has now been fixed; Sporadic-E remains; Tropo ducting;
Snips – News For Scotland – 11th July
The news headlines:
- RSGB Convention goes online for 2021
- YOTA contest second leg
- National Radio Centre reopens
GB2RS Script – HERE .
CLUB NEWS & NETS
The GB2RS service is seeking a newsreader to cover the Western Isles of Scotland. You would be joining an existing team as a reserve reader and there are opportunities for more than one applicant to broadcast the News on Sunday using HF, VHF or UHF. You should be an RSGB Member and have good coverage of the region. If you want to find out more without obligation, please contact the GB2RS Manager at gb2rs.manager@rsgb.org.uk.
Now the listing of all known nets in Scotland, which is collated by RSGB Regional Rep Tony, MM0TMZ in association with Jack, GM4COX and the West of Scotland ARS and published at www.wosars.club/radio-nets.
The GB3FE repeater serving the Stirling area is now running on reduced power and this will affect the Stirling and Falkirk nets.
TAGS: (Within GB2RS Script)
RSGB National Radio Centre; G-QRP Club Convention; EMC help desk; Ofcom; AM QSO Party; Dragon Amateur Radio Club; East Suffolk Wireless Revival and McMichael rally & boot sale; Finningley ARS Car Boot; C6AHA; RI0FM; GB1COC & GB8CCC; IARU HF Championship; solar flux index declined this week ending at 76; Sporadic E season also continues to delight UK amateurs;
The Russian Woodpecker Becomes A Tourist Attraction
Ukraine has declared that the enormous Duga-1 radar array is a protected cultural monument.
Almost 2,300 feet long and more than 450 feet high, the steel beams of the radar tower over the surrounding forest. From a distance, it appears to be a massive wall or the start of a cage.
Extract from Wikipedia:
“………………….Jamming the Woodpecker
To combat this interference, amateur radio operators attempted to jam the signal by transmitting synchronized unmodulated continuous wave signals at the same pulse rate as the offending signal. They formed a club called The Russian Woodpecker Hunting Club.[10] Core group members would frame the “Official Practice Target” in their radio shacks……………………”
Click HERE for more information.
Snips – News For Scotland – 4th July
The news headlines:
- Join Monday’s Tonight @ 8
- NRC closure for tree felling
- GM0GMN to lead IPA Amateur Radio Section
GB2RS Script – HERE .
CLUB NEWS & NETS
The GB3FE repeater serving the Stirling area is still out of service and this will affect the Stirling and Falkirk nets.
Cockenzie & Port Seton Amateur Radio is participating in VHF Field Day today. Bob, GM4UYZ, 01875 811 723.
Edinburgh & District Amateur Radio Club will be operating portable for VHF NFD portable operations today Its regular FM net on Monday takes place at 8pm on 433.525MHz.. Norman, GM1CNH, 0774 094 6192.
The West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society is working on the new shack today and may operate for VHF Field Day It has a regular Sunday net from 11am on 145.425MHz. Wednesday sees a net from 8pm on 433.425MHz and on Friday there is an open net on 145.425MHz from 8pm. www.wosars.club.
Dundee Amateur Radio Club is taking part In VHF NFD today as well as the Backpackers contest. The Club holds nets on Sundays and Wednesdays from 7.30pm on GB3AG and GB3DD. The. Martin, 2M0KAU, 0776 370 8933.
TAGS: (Within GB2RS Script)
Tonight @ 8 webinar; National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park will be closed; International Police Association has appointed Jim, GM0GMN; update from Ofcom to their guidance What you need to know as an Amateur Radio user; RSGB awards are open to everyone; The GB2RS service is seeking a newsreader to cover the Western Isles of Scotland; Churches and Chapels on the Air; Finningley ARS Car Boot bring & buy is scheduled to go ahead on Sunday the 25th of July; Wiltshire Radio Rally, Electronics Fair & Car Boot Sale is planned to go ahead on Sunday the 1st of August; ES2TT/0 from Saaremaa Island; VP2V/K3TRM from Tortola; ZD7GB; Coventry being the UK City of Culture GB1COC & GB8CCC; IARU HF Championship; the SFI ended up way higher than this, peaking at 94 on Thursday; Sporadic-E has started to tail off a little as we enter July; solar flux index will decline from around 92 to perhaps 85 next week; We had a super North-South duct up the East Coast on Wednesday evening allowing a close-to 700km 10GHz Tropo QSO;