Richard Allan, a retired electrical engineer, has spent the last fifty years collecting antique transistor, valve and crystal sets and has now shown off his impressive collection of more than 200 pieces…………Read MORE …….
Avro Lancaster 80th Anniversary Of The 1st Operational Sortie
In March 1942 the first sorties of the AVRO Lancaster aircraft took place. This commemorative event for Lancaster aircraft is being simultaneously partnered in the UK by callsign GB80LAN; and, in Canada by callsign VE80LAN organised by Hamilton Amateur Radio Club, and Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and, in Australia by callsign VK80LAN organised by the Western Australian VHF Group. They want to commemorate those involved with the Lancaster.
Also of interest, is that the Lincoln Short Wave Club will be operating GB6IBC from the International Bomber Command Memorial on 5th March 2022.
Unusually Ofcom has given permission for the call to be used at several different locations. Currently confirmed operations will take place from the three active RAF Station Amateur Radio Clubs at RAF Waddington, RAF Cosford and RAF Halton. Also the call will be on the air from ex RAF East Kirkby which is now the home of the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre and Lancaster “Just Jane”.
CURRENT SCHEDULE:- (subject to amendment)
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RAF WADDINGTON 2nd – 8th
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RAF EAST KIRKBY 9th – 12th
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RAF COSFORD 15th – 21st
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RAF HALTON 1st & 22nd – 28th
In Australia, the WA VHF Group requested for the special event call sign VK80LAN to be available through March. VK80LAN hopes to be operating from the radio room in the Lancaster Bomber at the RAAFA Aviation Heritage Museum in Bull Creek, a suburb of Perth. A roster of operators wishing to take advantage of operating the special event callsign during the month is being drawn up.
Further info is available from the QRZ pages and Museum links as only snippets have been included here – https://www.qrz.com/db/VK80LAN
Also, checkout the WoSARS CALENDAR entry as to who is working the stations.
All Our ‘Communications’ In One Basket
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?
Have a read at THIS BBC News article.
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?
73 es keep communicating
Jack – GM4COX
Alike But Not Alike: Broadcast vs. Ham Radio
Experience in amateur radio can be a boon to the radio engineer
Historic ZL Radio Amateurs Communications Business Sold
The New Zealand communications company Jackson & Wills, founded in 1947 by radio amateurs Douglas Jackson ZL4GM and Maurice Wills ZL4GY, has been sold……………Read MORE .
Hyderabad Hams Develop Low Cost Transverter For QO-100 satellite
In what is certain to be a gamechanger for radio amateur community, five Hyderabad-based Ham operators have made prototypes of down and up converters for the QO-100 satellite………………more HERE !
Ham Radio Helping VK6GOM Stay Mentally Fit in Old Age – Video
ABC South West WA By Anthony Pancia
Janet K0JE and Janice K0JA – Ham Radio Twins
The 86-year-old identical twins studied electrical engineering and worked for pioneering computer companies at a time when few women had careers in STEM fields.
They’ve travelled the world via the airwaves as avid ham radio operators, a hobby they took up in their teens…………..Read MORE .
BBC – Ten More Stations To Be Turned Off On The Medium Wave
Ten more local BBC radio stations are turning off their Medium Wave transmitters for good this year.
BBC Essex, BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, BBC Radio Devon, BBC Radio Leeds, BBC Radio Sheffield, BBC Hereford & Worcester, BBC Radio Stoke, BBC Radio Lancashire, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio Foyle will be FM and digital only in May and June 2021………………………
……………………In 2018 the corporation commenced with these and continued them in 2020 across Scotland, Wales, and England…………… Read More – HERE .
QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo
Whether you’re a ham that doesn’t want to travel because of Covid or just live too far from a hamvention, the QSO Today Expo offers the opportunity to learn from many great speakers, meet with exhibitors to see the latest technology, and engage with fellow hams without leaving your home ham shack………..More Info – HERE .