Tag: Licencing

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SNIPS – News For Scotland – 14th Jaunary

CLICK – For Full Scotland Schedule

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND & CLUB NEWS (GB2RS) Extracts inc Additions

SUNDAY PROJECTS

Stirling Amateur Radio Society meets at the Club House, Throsk, FK7 7XY at 7pm on Thursday. The club is open for projects and operating on Sundays from 10am. For more information email secretary@gm6nx.com

SOLDER SMOKE

West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society will have its usual Solder Group meeting from 6pm on Wednesday. Members will be gathering at 8pm on Friday at the Society’s Rose Street rooms for a club night. For more information – Pat, 2M1CKE, macrobius@btinternet.com or the Club’s website

DOWN SOUTH

Wigtownshire Amateur Radio Club, together with Dumfries and Galloway RAYNET group, has an open net on GB3DG every day at noon. All are welcome. There is also a net on the GB3DG repeater every Thursday from 7.15pm, then joining via Zoom from 8pm. Oli, info@gm4riv.org

CHECKOUT THE AYR ARG

Ayr Amateur Radio Group meets on alternate Fridays at Prestwick Community Centre from 7.30pm. The next meeting will be held on Friday 26 January. For details of club activities and nets visit the club website Derek, MM0OVD, 0742 899 4614

FURTHER NEWS

NEW VIDEO ABOUT CHANGES TO AMATEUR RADIO LICENSING

GB2RS Extract:

“……….. Following Ofcom’s consultation on the amateur radio licence last year, it released a statement in December 2023. The statement outlined its decision to update the amateur radio licensing framework to ensure the policies and licences meet the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s radio amateurs, while streamlining the licensing process. It also published a General Notice, giving notice of its proposal to vary all amateur radio licences. The RSGB has just released a video in which RSGB General Manager Steve Thomas, M1ACB chats to RSGB Spectrum Forum Chair Murray Niman, G6JYB. Murray recaps some of the headline results of the Ofcom consultation, including where changes have occurred to Ofcom’s proposals. They also talk about what this could mean for radio amateurs in the future. This is a great example of how the RSGB is working not only to defend the spectrum, but also to support all radio amateurs to understand and make use of the privileges they enjoy through their amateur radio licence. You can watch this video on the RSGB’s YouTube channel or via the Society’s licence review updates page at rsgb.org/licencereview …………………”

MARCONI 150 YEARS YOUNG

This year marks 150 years since the birth of Guglielmo Marconi in 1874. The Cornish Radio Amateur Club will be organising International Marconi Day this year on the 27th of April. For more information and updates, visit the GB4IMD Facebook page.

Also:

The World Wide Award 2024 has been running since the 1st of January and will finish on the 31st of January. The event is being held in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Guglielmo Marconi. The World Wide Award combines CW, SSB and digital mode activity from special event stations around the world. Real-time award tracking for chasers is available at hamaward.cloud/wwa

OTHER CLUB NETS AND MEETINGS

Details of club activities can usually be found on the individual club’s websites. A fuller summary of activities, Nets, Contacts and Links in Scotland can also be found at RSGB – GB2RS News for Scotland   and the WoSARS NETS Page.

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

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SNIPS – News For Scotland – 15th January

CLICK – For Full Scotland Schedule

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND & CLUB NEWS (GB2RS) Extracts inc Additions

AGM & TALK

Inverness and District Amateur Radio Society will be holding its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday. This will be followed by a club meeting at which magloop controller construction and operation will be discussed. Invernessradiosociety@gmail.com

FURTHER ADVENTURES AT VHF & UHF

Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society will be meeting on Thursday to enjoy a talk by Tim, GW4VXE entitled Further Adventures at VHF and UHF. Fred, GM3ALZ, 01975 651 36

TRAINING (GB2RS – 15th January Extract)

“…… The Online Amateur Radio Community provides amateur radio licence training via Zoom. The next Intermediate course is due to commence during the first week of February. The course, which costs £5 to join, will run for eight weeks. The next Full licence training course will start on Wednesday the 17th of April and run for nine weeks. The fee for the Full course is also £5. For further information please visit www.oarc.uk …………”

OTHER CLUB NETS AND MEETINGS

Details of club activities can usually be found on the individual club’s website. A summary of activities, Nets, Contacts and Links in Scotland can also be found at wosars.club/radio-nets

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

SUNDAY

Dundee Amateur Radio Club will be holding open nets on Sundays and Wednesdays from 7.30pm on GB3AG. The next Club Meeting will be on the 17th of January. Martin, 2M0KAU, 07763 708 933

Kilmarnock and Loudoun Amateur Radio Club holds a net on Sundays from 2pm around 3.720MHz using SSB, later moving to around 3.540MHz at 2.30pm for a CW net. Also on Sunday, the club will have a quiz night on 145.475MHz. Check-in for the quiz is from 7.45pm for an 8pm start. On Monday there will be a question-and-answer night on Zoom at 7.30pm. The next club meeting will be held on Tuesday the 24th of January. Alternate Tuesdays see a natter night on Zoom at 7.30pm. klarcinfo@gmail.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 today. Early check-in is from 7.45pm. All the usual ways to join in are available, via Echolink MB7IBH-L and on 145.3375MHz locally across the Clyde Coast. Paul MM3DDQ mm3ddq@gmail.com

Stirling Amateur Radio Society meets at the Club House, Throsk, FK7 7XY, and is open for projects and operating on Sundays. They also meet at 7.30pm on Thursdays.  secretary@gm6nx.com

The Viking Amateur Radio Net runs on Sundays from 6pm on 3.660 or 3.639MHz. Details are on their Facebook page.

MONDAY

Edinburgh and District Amateur Radio Society has a net on Monday at 8pm on 433.525MHz. Norman, GM1CNH, 0774 094 6192

DV Scotland has a multi-mode net on Monday from 8pm to 9.30pm using GM5DVS. This is via all DV Scotland Repeaters on Talk Group 23556. Time Slot 2. In addition, via Allstar HUB 53937 and Echolink MM1CXE. Details of how to connect are at dvscotland.net

Ham Radio Network has a talk on the theme of An Evening with ???? … on Monday. See hrn.world

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.

TUESDAY

Glenrothes and District Radio Club has Morse tuition on 145.425MHz FM from 7.30pm on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Check-in is from 7.15pm. There will be a break in the sessions over the festive period after the 13th of December. They will resume on the 24th of January 2023. Eric, GM4FQE, 01 333 450 753

Largs & District Amateur Radio Club meets on the Third Tuesday of every month in The Largs Museum, 2 Manse Court, Largs. All are welcome. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday the 17th of January. James, GM0GMN james@bertram.scot

Livingston & District Amateur Radio Society has a club night at Crofthead on Tuesday from 7.30pm. On Thursday there is a net on 145.575MHz at 7.30pm. Cathie, 2M0DIB, 01506 433 846.

Moray Firth Amateur Radio Society meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 7.15pm at the Elgin Reserve Centre. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday the 17th of January. www.mfars.club

WEDNESDAY

Caithness Amateur Radio Society has club nets at 2pm on Wednesday and Saturday on 3.740MHz. Club meetings happen in Skirza, near John O’Groats. Nigel, MM7BWT, Mansfield.n27@gmail.com

Galashiels and District Amateur Radio Society meets in the Focus Centre, Livingstone Place, Galashiels at 8pm on Wednesday. Jim Keddie, mail@gm7lun.co.uk

Lothians Radio Society has its Viral Net on 144.350MHz USB at 8pm. Andy Sinclair, MM0FMF, secretary@lothiansradiosociety.com

Mid Lanarkshire Amateur Radio Society has a ragchew on talk group 23550 from 8pm to 10pm on Wednesday. On Thursday there is a net on 70.425MHz from 8pm. Friday sees the club meeting at Newarthill Community Education Centre, Newarthill, ML1 5JU from 7pm.  Simon,  2M0LSG,Secretary@mlars.co.uk.

THURSDAY

Lomond Radio Club has a break in meetings over the festive season. Following the break, meetings will resume on Thursday evenings in the club rooms at the John Connolly Centre in Renton at 7.30pm. Simon, MM0XME, mm0xme@outlook.com

The Online Radio Club has a virtual radio club night at 7.30pm every Thursday via Zoom. It is suitable for all radio enthusiasts regardless of individual skill level. Go to the website for the meeting link. onlineradioclub.org.

FRIDAY

Ayr Amateur Radio Group meets on alternate Fridays at Prestwick Community Centre from 7.30pm.  On alternate Fridays there is a Zoom natter. Derek, MM0OVD, 0742 899 4614

Cockenzie and Port Seton Amateur Radio Club usually meets on the first Friday of the month for a club night in the lounge bar of the Thorntree Inn. The next club night will be held on the 3rd of February. Bob, GM4UYZ, 01875 811723, www.cpsarc.com

Mid Lanarkshire Amateur Radio Society. Meetings will resume on the 6th of January 2023. Simon, 2M0LSG, Secretary@mlars.co.uk

Strathclyde Park Amateur Radio Club has a net from 7.30pm on 145.400MHz, and in addition on the BATC channel from 8pm. Bill, MM0SFB, gm0syv@btinternet.com

West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society will have its usual Solder Group meeting from 6pm on Wednesday. The club will be meeting at 8pm on Friday at its Rose Street club rooms. Checkout wosars.club/calendar  for further information.

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Direct to Full Amateur Licence Syllabus – Publication

We are pleased to announce the publication of the new Direct to Full examination syllabus.

Enrolments for the Direct to Full examinations will open in January 2023, six months after the publication of the new syllabus.

The examination is specifically aimed at aspiring amateurs who are already competent in related technical subjects. However, it will be open to all, and Foundation and Intermediate amateurs are free to enrol for the Direct to Full examination or continue along the three-tier route as they wish. No credit transfer between the two routes will be possible.

Although the Direct to Full syllabus draws heavily on the existing syllabus it is a separate examination with a different syllabus item numbering scheme. In particular the Operating section has moved to Section 2 after licensing. That is to facilitate the split marking of the examination. Part 1, Licensing and operating comprises at total of 18 questions with a pass mark of 14 (77.7%). Part 2, the remaining more technical topics, comprises 57 questions with a pass mark of 36 (63.2%). Two and a half hours are allowed for both parts which must be passed in one sitting.

The only new item, compared to the three-tier syllabus version 1.5 which introduced EMF (electromagnetic field) compliance, is the addition of aperture antennas in section 5D1.

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the creation of the Direct to Full syllabus including the Examinations and Syllabus Review Group, the Examination Standards Committee, all who participated in the consultation exercise and the technical and training specialists who provided detailed feedback.

The syllabus can be found at: rsgb.org/direct-to-full

73s, Tony, G8PBH

 

ESC Chair

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EMF – Resources for Tutors and Clubs

 

Essex Ham have made available training material related to the Syllabus v1.5 changes which take effect soon

The new v1.5 syllabus kicks in from September 1 this year.

The group have now released updated slides for Modules 4 (Feeders & Antennas) and Module 6 (Licence Conditions).

For the last few months, the online course has included a video on how to complete an EMF assessment – that is now made available to tutors.

Also available are some sample mock questions and a one-page PDF guide for newcomers covering EMF.

If any of this material is of use, it’s freely available to any club or tutor – 
https://www.esssexham.co.uk/train/emf-tutor-resources

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A Direct Entry to Full Licence: RSGB Consultation

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.

Members see POST#2513 .

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New VP0 Prefix For South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands

Licences for amateur radio stations operated in the British Antarctic Territory have previously been issued under the provisions of the jurisdiction of the Falkland Islands Communications Regulator.

During 2020, the Falkland Islands Communication Regulator undertook a process to revalidate Falkland Islands Amateur Radio Licences, primarily to bring the Amateur Radio Licences into compliance with the Falkland Islands’ Communications Ordinance 2019. This process identified that the British Antarctic Territory was no longer covered by the provisions of the jurisdiction of the Falkland Island Communications Regulator, and that the Regulator no longer had the power to issue licences for amateur radio stations in the British Antarctic Territory……………Read MORE .

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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.

A VersaTower with a ‘Protrusion’

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.

The Fife ‘TEAM’ (Picture Courtesy of Alex Paris)
‘Dropping’ The Tower
Sam & Ted Perform Surgery – Removing The ‘Protrusion’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sparks ‘Fly’ As Alan Cuts The Ground Post

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

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Snips – News For Scotland – 23rd May

The news headlines:

  • Final details on EMF from Ofcom
  • Cathryn, M0IBG inducted in to the CQ Hall of Fame
  • RSGB National Radio Centre re-opens

GB2RS Script – HERE .

CLUB NEWS & NETS

No Scottish updates this week

A listing of all known nets in Scotland, 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.

TAGS: (Within GB2RS Script)

EMF from Ofcom; M0IBG; Contesting and DX Halls of Fame; Bletchley Park will re-open; 50MHz awards; GB7LA; thousands of new people gained their Foundation licence; 3A/IW1RBI from Monaco; 5R8RP; F5TRO; FR8UA and FR8TZ; SM7/OZ3ACB; GB1SCW as part of SOS radio week; another wild week with Sporadic-E; Transatlantic multi-hop sporadic Es brought contacts in the USA

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