The West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society — WELCOME
Extract off GB2RS (29th November)
Episode 27 TX Factor will soon be available.
In this latest episode the RSGB’s General Manager Steve Thomas, M1ACB explains how the Society’s positive response to the spring and summer lockdown helped to boost awareness of amateur radio in the UK.Steve stresses the importance of the ongoing work needed to maintain the impetus.
Bob, G0FGX and Mike, G1IAR get to grips with using an RF Shark openSPOT Hostspot for some mobile DMR action.
Bob visits Don Field, G3XTT at his new QTH near Wells to see how the editor of Practical Wireless created some simple antennas to swiftly resume his on-air activities. TX Factor episode 27 is proudly sponsored by the Radio Society of Great Britain and can be viewed at www.txfactor.co.uk.
This December (2020) is the 60th Anniversary of a well ‘Kent’ beacon in Kent.
As an enthusiastic VHF dx-er in my early years in amateur radio, GB3VHF was one of the primary beacons to monitor in the UK. Living with my parents in Baillieston (E Glasgow or part of Lanarkshire in the early 70’s) my 5 el homebrew quad (replaced later with a pair of J-Beam 6 el Quads) was invariably pointing south – monitoring VHF or slightly to the west GB3CTC (Cornwall – long gone!).
Along with tropo enhancement (in the case of VHF & CTC) and other propagation mechanisms, auroral monitoring was carried out with the assistance of GB3LER (Lerwick, Shetlands – again long gone.)
Cheers
Jack(;>J
MORE TO FOLLOW:
28/11/20: GM4TOQ, GM4COX
Access slabs laid (3 x 2’s). Using small JCB digger, more stumps removed and soil in front of shack levelled.
Pictures added to MEMBERS FORUM .
21/11/20: GM4TOQ, MM7DCD, MM7STP, GM4COX + Scotty & Gregor
A further 4 Cubic Metres of concrete added to complete job. (Approx 10 Tonnes + 2 CuSq on the 14th – total of 15 Tonnes) And small quantity of extra concrete used to build ‘step-down’ from #1 to #2 Shack.
Pictures added to MEMBERS FORUM .
14/11/20: GM4TOQ, MM7DCD, MM0ZUN, MM7STP, GM7OAW, GM0EZP, GM4COX + Garry
Groundpost postioned and initial concrete mixed and poured, along with ‘rubble’ to stabilise and secure.
Pictures added to MEMBERS FORUM .
07/11/20: GM4TOQ, MM0ZUN, MM7STP + Garry
Hole dug for tower base.
26/09/20: MM0ZU, GM4TOQ, GM0EZP, MM7POL, GM4COX
To accommodate the 100′ tower base; rhododendrons cut back. Knowing the position of the tower; slabs laid outside Shack#1, to connect to access gate and base of tower.
Photos added to COCHNO Folder. (COX)
19/09/20: MM0ZUN, GM4TOQ
19/07/20: GM4COX
Photos of progress added to MEMBERS FORUM .
18/07/20: MM7MCN, MM7POL, MM7AJI, GM4TOQ, GM0EZP, GM4COX
Continue to re-install wrought iron fence.
Continue rebuild/repair of Shack#1 frontage
Paint exterior of Shack#2
12/07/20: 2M0WWC, GM4COX
Paint exterior of Shack#1
01/06/20: GM4COX, GM4TOQ
Burn rhododendron foliage & branches that had been cut the previous year.
Paint Shack#1 access frontage
19/03/20: GM4COX
MARCH ONWARDS – CORONAVIRUS STOPS PLAY
05/03/20: GM4COX
Shack#1 visit after winter ‘hibernation’. Shack dry. Photos taken and loaded into Cochno folder – MEMBERS FORUM .
17/11/19: GM4TOQ, GM8XGI, MM7AJE
Install new access door to Shack#1.
Drop height of Shack#2 for easier access.
26-27/10/19: GM4TOQ, GM4BGS, GM0EZP, MM1ESW, MM7AJI, MM7AJE………
CQWW SSB – GM4AGG taking part. See POST#160 (Members Forum) .
21/10/19: GM4COX
More update pictures added to Members Forum.
21/09/19: GM4COX
New padlocks fitted. Floor mats fitted. Lefthand door frame repaired. Vent fitted.
13/09/19: GM4COX
Operating Desk secured. Operating chair floor boarding fitted. On-going work on door frames (right & left).
08/09/19: GM4TOQ, GM4BGS, MM7AJI, MM7AJJ
HF Beam relocated from Alan’s QTH to farmyard. Lefthand door protection door padlock cut. On-going work on surrounding fence.
07/09/19: GM4COX
Shack floor tiles cleaned. Operating Desk – equipment shelf modified and both sanded down and painted. Front door (right hand side) frame repaired.
02/08/19: GM4COX
Comprehensive CHECKLIST of outstanding items Posted on Members Forum.
20/07/19: MM1ESW, GM4COX
Stuart – MM1ESW & myself were up at the Shack on Saturday (20th) specifically to carryout some more sealing on #1 and checkout #2. This I did and took the opportunity to take a few pictures and add to the relevant Folders in Photos.
16/07/19: MM0ZUN
“Hi
I was out at the shack this afternoon……………… started sorting out the contents of the old shack. I divided stuff up into components and equipment. The components are now packed up and labeled ready to go to the Electron Club for use by the SoLDER group and others. Just need to get them down from the shack at some point
I have photographed all the equipment (there may be some hiding that I couldn’t get at due to all the cable making things a bit crushed inside) All the smaller stuff is now in 2 crates while the larger stuff remains under the bench and next to the cooker
Kenny”
11/07/19: 2M1CKE, MM0ZUN, GM4TOQ, GM4COX
Floor tiles relayed in #1 and operating desk re-assembled.
#1 Roof some areas sealed. Other areas outstanding.
Tower ground post modified and aligned to swivel point. More modifications required.
A fuller Member’s Post (inc photos) – HERE .
24/06/19 – 05/07/19 : 2M1CKE, MM0ZUN, GM4COX
Painting of the inside of #1 completed (just some small touch-ups required)
Pat has made a start on painting the inside of #1.
( JUNE – OCT: GM4TOQ )
On-going modifications to tower & groundpost. (Pictures added to Members Forum)
22/06/19: GM4TOQ, GM4BGS, GM4COX, MM7MCM
A long but successful day yesterday. New ‘BIG’ tower (and ground-post) uplifted from south of Inverness and delivered to Cochno. To be located to new Shack. Ground-post to be slightly modified. Hole dug for ground-post, positioned and concreted into place.
Thanks all: Alan – TOQ, Sam – BGS, Jack – COX and Archie – SWL (and of course a big thanks to the tractor driver who uplifted both the tower and ground-post and placed on pick-up. Saved us a lot of time).
A fuller Post to be made in our MEMBERS Forum along with pictures.
16/06/19:
ABW 22/06/19 a team are heading north to uplift.
19/05/19:
Arrangements underway to uplift tower.
13/05/19:
Pictures added to Members Forum.
11/05/19:
Both Shacks Levelled.
Shack#1, inside and outside washed and cleaned.
Start made on surrounding fence.
And?
Wash outside Shack#2 (Old Shack) in preparation for painting #1 & #2. Paint colour to be decided. (This may depend on what is available – hi?)
Paint interior of #1. (emulsion)
Organise uplift of new tower.
09/05/19:
Members Forum Post updated and pictures added.
08/05/19:
Cleared old Shack#2 for preparation to be re-located on new site. Moved and sited into position. Items that had been removed most are returned for the moment.
Shack#1 emptied in preparation for refurbishment. Most items transferred to Shack#2 for the moment.
Ground around both shacks re-instated after tractor & dumper action. Looking good!
05/05/19:
New tower gifted to the Club. Decision to ‘scrap’ old one but re-use certain items. New tower has to be collected. To be organised.
05/05/19:
Posted by Kenny – MM0ZUN on our MEMBERS FORUM:
“I’ve added some photos from today of getting the shack roughly into its final location.
This wouldn’t have been possible to get done without Gary and some of his friends work.
Kenny”
MAY: GM4TOQ, GM4COX, MM0ZUN, GM4BGS (Peter), MM6WWS
Move Shack#1 (Newest Shack) and Tower for ease of access and refurbishment.
APRIL: GM4TOQ, GM4BGS
Cleared the rhododendrons and cut the dead tree. (see new photos added to PHOTOS/COCHNO_Shack (Club Members only))
Dropped the Tower, removed the HF beam & VHF collinear.
Refurbished the HF beam (The VHF collinear appears to be in good shape)
Access has now been made to the Tower and Shack.
30/04/19 : And the ‘lads’ HAVE:
Well this Project is well underway thanks to the efforts of Alan – GM4TOQ, Alan’s son Garry & Mate, Sam – GM4BGS and Sam’s son Peter.
So where are we at?
Well as you know (or may not – see my thoughts in this POST#25 (Members only)) there is a pile of work to be done.
24/03/19 : GM4TOQ, GM4BGS, GM4COX, MM6BWS
Site visit with follow-on proposals.
The news headlines:
GB2RS Script – HERE .
CLUB News
Details of all known nets in Scotland are collated by RSGB Regional Representative Tony, MM0TMZ in association with Jack GM4COX and the West of Scotland ARS, and they are published at https://wosars.club/radio-nets.
In the absence of club meetings, West of Scotland ARS has a daily net 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, also from 8pm. More details are at https://wosars.club.
The Viking Amateur Radio Net runs on Sunday evenings from 6pm on 3.660 or 3.639MHz. Details are on their Facebook page.
Ayr Amateur Radio Group has a CW net on Sundays on 144.295MHz from 7pm and on 145.450MHz FM from 7.30pm. There are daily nets around 7.035MHz from 10.15am, moving to 7.065MHz and 145.450MHz at 10.30am. Friday sees a Zoom meeting, which may include a presentation. For details, email
derek.secaarg@gmail.com.
Kilmarnock & Loudoun Amateur Radio Club has a net on Sundays from 2pm around 3.720MHz SSB, later moving to around 3.540MHz for a CW net. Tuesday sees a net on 145.475MHz FM from 7.30pm. For details,
email klarcinfo@gmail.com.
Mid Lanarkshire Amateur Radio Society has a net on Sundays from 9pm on 28.475MHz. Wednesday sees the DMR Scotland net on TG23550 from 8pm and on Friday there’s a private club Zello chat from 7pm, which later moves to 2m. Details are at https://mlars.co.uk.
Wigtownshire Amateur Radio Society has a net on Sundays from 7.30pm on GB3DG, which usually moves to Zoom at around 8pm. Thursday sees a net on GB3DG from 7pm. There is also an open RAYNET net daily on GB3DG from noon. See www.gm4riv.org.
Dundee Amateur Radio Club has nets on Sundays and Wednesdays from 7.30pm on GB3AG and GB3DD. There’s a Skype meeting on Tuesday. Contact Martin, 2M0KAU on 07763 708 933.
Stirling and District Amateur Radio Society has a net from noon on Sundays, this week reverting to GB3FE, which has resumed transmissions. Monday and Thursday also see nets on GB3FE and 145.550MHz from 7pm. Email secretary@gm6nx.com for further information.
The Loch Lomond Sunday net takes place on 144.9625MHz in the Vale of Leven and surrounding areas and via Echolink on gateway MB7 IBH-L from 8pm, moving to DMR TG 23559 from 9pm. Contact Paul, MM3DDQ via email to mm3ddq@yahoo.co.uk.
Edinburgh & District Amateur Radio Club has its net on Monday from 8pm on 433.525MHz FM. Contact Norman, GM1CNH, on 07740 946 192.
Glenrothes & District Radio Club has open nets from 10am on 3.790MHz every day except Sunday. There are also nets on Tuesday and Thursday from 7.30pm on 145.425MHz. Morse training is available. Further details from Tam on 07753 526 498.
Paisley Amateur Radio Club has a net on Mondays from 8pm on 144.550MHz and Zello. Tuesday sees a DMR net in room 4415 from 8pm. On Thursday there’s a net on 144.550MHz FM and on Zello from 7.30pm.
Livingston & District Amateur Radio Society has a net on Tuesdays from 7.30pm on 145.575MHz FM.
Wednesday sees a net on DMR Scotland TG23550 from 8pm. Contact Cathie, 2M0DIB on 01506 433 846.
On Wednesday Lothians Radio Society has a net on 144.350MHz SSB from 8pm. Email secretary@lothiansradiosociety.com.
Caithness Amateur Radio Society has nets on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 2pm on 3.740MHz LSB, ±QRM. Details are at www.QSL.net/ms0fnr.
Lomond Radio Club has a net on Thursdays from 7.30pm using 144.9625 to the MB7IBH Gateway and also connected on EchoLink. Contact gm0kzx@googlemail.com.
On Friday Strathclyde Park Amateur Radio Club has a net from 7.30pm on 145.400MHz, and also on the British Amateur Television channel from 8pm. Email Bill, MM0SFB at gm0syv@btinternet.com .
Remember, if you wish to have your net listed on the WoSARS website or to report any changes to existing nets please contact Tony Miles MM0TMZ by email to rr1@rsgb.org.uk. Remember also to keep GB2RS updated via email to radcom@rsgb.org.uk the deadline for submissions is 10am on Thursday.
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