NEWS FOR SCOTLAND & CLUB NEWS (GB2RS ) Extracts inc Additions
With Scottish Clubs returning to normal meeting 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 be found at wosars.club/radio-nets.
NEW SCOTTISH SDR’s – Checkout QUICKLINK – Search using SDR .
The Scottish Borders Repeater Group is meeting at The Focus Centre, Livingstone Place, Galashiels for its AGM today at 2pm. Please also note that subs will be due for 2022-2023 at the meeting.
Stirling and District Amateur Radio Society is open today for society projects, and next Sunday, there is EME station works.
Glenrothes & District Radio Club has slow Morse receiving practice on 145.425MHz starting at 7.15pm on Tuesday. On Thursday there is a Ragchew and Morse practice from 7.15pm
Livingston & District Amateur Radio Society has a club night at Crofthead on Tuesday from 7.30pm.
West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society has a Solder Group meeting at The Electron Club at CCA, at 6pm on Wednesday.
Lothians Radio Society has hybrid Quick Timed Talks on Wednesday from 7.45pm.
On Wednesday, Inverness & District Amateur Radio Society is holding a SWOP Meet. Bring along and swap or trade your gear with other club members.
Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society has a Work night preparing club gear for field sessions on Thursday. On Saturday and Sunday the 15th, the club will be at the Mills On The Air event at Bellabeg.
Lomond Radio Club, club nights on Thursdays from 7.30pm at the John Connelly Centre in Renton.
On Friday, Ayr Amateur Radio Group meet in-person and via Zoom meeting. The agenda and Zoom link will be posted on the club’s web page.
On Friday WoSARS has a rescheduled talk from the 22nd of April, Applications Using Spectrum Analysers & Tracking Generators by Mark, GM4ISM taking place. Checkout the website, wosars.club, for further details.
The Mid Lanarkshire Amateur Radio Society club meets every Friday from 7pm at Newarthill Community Education Centre, ML1 5JU.
On Friday, Strathclyde Park Amateur Radio Club (SPARCS) meets at 4a Auchengramont Road, Hamilton ML3 6JP.
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.
(First Published 14 July 2021 – Updates 3 Nov; 21 Nov; 29 Nov; 14 Dec; 17th Dec (COX))
BACKGOUND
The first one-way amateur radio QSO across the Atlantic that took place on 12 December 1921. The ARRL have joined with a group of UK operators who plan to recreate the event in December this year.
To celebrate the centenary of Paul Godley – 2ZE’s success, in collaboration with North Ayrshire Council, special event stations GB2ZE and GB1002ZE respectively will be operating from 1 to 28 December 2021 (added to CALENDAR).
An attempt was made using GM4AGG to contact W1AW. A report was produced by Jack GM4COX on the Club’s Programme Forum – HERE as to the outcome.
A YouTube Video Of The W1AW End Of The Proceedings
KLARC OPERATIONS (Copied off KLARC Website)
“……..Kilmarnock and Loudoun Amateur Radio Clubwill activate a special event station adjacent to the original location of the Paul Godley experimental station at Ardrossan, Scotland in 1921. The activation will be on air from 1200 UTC on Saturday 11 December 2021 until 1200 UTC on Sunday 12 December 2021. The callsigns will be GS2ZE(licence holder Jason GM7VSB) and GB1002ZE (licence holder Bob GM0DEQ) using CW, SSB and data modes on bands between 160m and 10m. GB2ZE (licence holder Bob GM0DEQ) will be used by the Ardrossan station for the first hour of the ARRL/RSGB 160m QSO Party (0200z – 0300z). During this first hour of the 160m QSO Party at Ardrossan, GB2ZE will be exclusively on CW. The GB2ZE callsign will be taken over by members of the GMDX Group on an hourly rota for the remainder of the QSO Party. An attempt will be made to re-enact Godley’s original successful reception of transatlantic amateur radio signals at exactly the same time and on the same date as 100 years ago. Attempts will be made to record any US re-enactment signals received at Ardrossan and also at other UK locations for sharing with the amateur radio community…….”
And a KLARC summary of the Event over the weekend of 11/12th December – Copied off their Website:
We were on the air ahead of schedule and had our first QSO with DL1DCT on 30m FT8 at 11:37 UTC on Saturday 11 December 2021. The first SSB QSO was with LY3YY on 20m. Band conditions on HF turned out to be very poor overall and the highest band we made QSOs on was 17m. We made 401 contacts in 60 different DXCC countries using three callsigns – GS2ZE (licence holder – Jason GM7VSB), GB2ZE and GB1002ZE (licence holder for both – Bob GM0DEQ). The final QSO was at 11:21 UTC on Sunday 12 December 2021 with RM9W on 20m SSB. The callsign used for the majority of the activation was GS2ZE.
Thank goodness we had an FT8 station on air – it came to the rescue under the challenging HF propagation conditions we had and got some very good DX into the log. The map below, produced by Barry GM5BDX, shows the geographical spread of our contacts.
At the start of the 160m Godley Trans-Atlantic QSO Party (0200 UTC) we used the callsign GB2ZE . We tried to have a QSO with the ARRL station W1AW on 1814 kHz. We heard them calling us and tried to respond but they couldn’t copy us unfortunately. A video of our attempt is on The KLARC YouTube Channel – see below for link. The plan we had was for NA2AA to call GM3YEH initially and then change callsigns to W1AW and GB2ZE if contact was established. We then operated in the QSO Party using GB2ZE for 22 minutes and worked quite a few US, Canadian and European stations on CW (Morse Code) before going into radio silence to take recordings of the period during which the re-enactment transmission from W2RCA was to take place. A video of us operating in the QSO Party is on the KLARC YouTube Channel.
One major target was to try and hear and decode the re-enactment transmission of the original message that Paul Godley 2ZE heard at Ardrossan, Scotland 100 years earlier. At 02:52 UTC – exactly the same time and date that Godley copied his message in 1921 – we copied W2RCA (The Radio Club of America) on 1825 kHz sending the same message…SUCCESS! We have a video recording of this momentous event on our KLARC YouTube Channel. In addition to the KLARC Members and some others on site, the historic successful reception was witnessed by Stewart Bryant G3YSX, President of the RSGB. Also on the KLARC YouTube Channel is a video of how the W2RCA re-enactment transmission was heard by Don G3BJ in Shropshire, England.
After our spell using GB2ZE and the recording of the W2RCA re-enactment transmission, we used the callsign GS2ZE for the remainder of the time we were in the QSO Party. During this period we listened for the transmissions from W2AN/1BCG on 1820 kHz but heard nothing from that station.
We had 139 contacts on the network assisted FreeSTAR station running with GS2ZE callsign. The first contact was Oscar 2E1HWE in Essex. The farthest station to call in was ZL1BOB who congratulated the KLARC team and wished us well from New Zealand. There were several operators who were thankful for being able to call in through the network as they did not have HF capabilities at their location or could not reach us due to propagation conditions at the time.
We had a lot of visitors to the site including local folk and various radio amateurs, some of whom had travelled a distance to get to us. The visitors we had on site from southern climes apparently thought we had bad weather, but those of us from Ayrshire were not too troubled by the horizontal driving sleet, in fact it seemed slightly better weather than we had anticipated. The endless shared stories, jokes and banter that went on all weekend kept us all very cheery. On reflection, I think I agree with the guys who have said we should do this again…but maybe in the summer 🙂 We don’t need to mention all the people who contributed to make this activation such a massive success – there are far too many and you all you know who you are. It is, without a shadow of doubt, the highest profile event that KLARC has ever delivered…genuinely fantastic!
“……………………During the ARRL Convention held in Chicago that year (August 31 – September 3, 1921) is was announced “to a wildly enthusiastic audience” that a second series of Transatlantic tests would take place in December and that a well-known American amateur (Paul Godley, 2ZE) would be going to Europe……………………..
………..Godley duly arrived at Southampton on November 22, 1921……………………”
During ‘On-Air’ chats, members of WoSARS often hear me describe some of the fun that can be had on microwave frequencies; especially for myself 13cms (2.3/2.4GHz) whilst out Activating a SOTA summit.
These escapades evolved from the creation of the GM13 GROUP of likeminded amateurs in 2017.
CLICK – For Further Information
Following the successful launch and operation of OSCAR 100 in 2018/19; this has opened up the opportunity to predictably work distant stations around Europe, Asia, Africa and even South America. Using the Satellite’s 13cms UP and 3cms (10GHz) DOWN translator; some of our hardy band of SOTA-microeers have put together kit to access this facility.
Andrew G4VFL was an early adopter of this challenge (see WoSARS Web March 2020 Article – HERE ) along with his ‘partner-in-crime’ Nick G0HIK; they have been progressively ‘knockin’ off summits in LD (Lake District) and SS (Southern Scotland).
G/LD-024 Pike O Blisco – Nick G0HIK Operating (19/05/21) [PIC – G0HIK]Now not having quite the enthusiasm of the ‘twosomes’ as to lugging dishes up summits, I do however benefit from potential Summit-to-Summit’s S2S’s, utilising my 8 ele Bow-Tie and SG transverter (2W out) and the gain of the dishes at the other end.
GM/SS-142 Scawld Law – GM4COX’s 8 El Bow-Tie (19/05/21) [PIC – GM4COX]Popping down to just below the 2.4GHz UP Oscar frequency (2399.950MHz), it is possible to work Point-to-Point (S2S) utilising the high gain of the dishes – with the majority of the contacts being made on FM (of course falling back on SSB/CW on marginal paths).
GM/SS-100 Croft Head – GM4COX Bow-Tie on Walking Pole (19/05/21) – see end of this Post for design information [PIC – GM4COX]And Wednesday 19th (May) this week, saw us all heading out on a predetermined series of Activations; an LD for Nick (and Chris M0KPW), and SS’s for Andrew and myself.
Predicted Path Profile – G/LD-024 to GM/SS-037 [PIC – G4VFL – CLICK to View]Path Routes – G/LD-024 to GM/SS-037,100, 142 [PIC – GM4COX – CLICK to View]So why not join us. Just bring along your kitchen microwave to a suitable top – you never know who you’ll work. 🙂
And I’ll leave the last word to Nick:
“……… Hi Guys,
Thanks for the contacts today, it was staggering how strong you both were. I think GM/SS-037 was 110km and GM/SS-142 was 99km. Sorry we could not stay around for your 2nd one Jack …………..”
73
Jack(;>J
EDIT: 10/06/21 – The design for the 8el Bow-Tie has been added to the GM13 Site. If you would like a copy please email gm4cox@gmail.com (file size 4MB)
A Ham for 63 years – by Carol Fraley Laferty – K4SAF
My ham shack has been upgraded to my dream She-Shack, and I am having more fun in ham radio than I have had since a teenager. I have been operating the digital modes for two years almost, and during the Corona Virus Pandemic I set some amateur radio goals. I have accomplished more during this time than I ever dreamed possible. I have finished DXCC, and received Worked All States on 160, 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, and 15, Mixed, Digital and CW. I need only AK and WY on 10 meters. Thanks to all in the ham community all around the world for helping me achieve this. I was never interested in completing these awards until now.
The hardest award for me to get has been the YLRL WAS YL (Worked All States). I need only MT and RI now to complete it. Many more of the licensed YLs need to get on the air more often.
I was 15 when I got my license in 1957 and will be celebrating my 64th year as a ham on 9/28/2021. My brother, Fred Fraley, W4CHK > AA4FF > W4DF, who is now a Silent Key, was instrumental in getting me on the air. He taught me the code and shared his shack willingly with his younger sister. I have kept the same call all my years on the air. My late father also got his license at the same time I did and was K4SAB.
I met my husband Don Laferty, K4GFY via radio in 1957. He is also now a Silent Key. We talked for three years on cw and phone before we actually met in person. We had been married for 53 years when he passed in 2015. Our son Don Laferty, Jr., who lives in Wisconsin, now has his Dad’s call, K4GFY.
I am a retired high school Business and Computer teacher. I also taught part-time in the CIS Dept at Morehead State University. I am active in the Young Ladies Radio League (YLRL) and was the U.S./Canada Receiving Treasurer for 11 years. I enjoy seeing my YLRL and ham friends at Dayton Hamvention and at our national YLRL convention, which is held every 3 years.
I am also a member of QCWA, SKCC, and FISTS, and our local radio club, Morehead Amateur Radio Society, in Morehead, KY. I received my Extra class in 2000, just before the 20 wpm code requirement was dropped. Hope to see you on the bands or possibly on Facebook.
QCWA Quarter Century Wireless Association
SKCC Straight Key Century Club
FISTS The International Morse Preservation Society
This award originated and administered by FOC (First Class CW Operators Club) is in memory of AL Slater G3FXB one of the UK’s top DXers and Contesters.
Inscribed on the plaque are the words DXing, Contesting, Operating Standards, Friendship and Encouraging others.
GMDX Group and the Stirling Club have been awarded these plaques particularly for encouraging others with our participation in the CW Boot Camps.
This is a very prestigious award and we are delighted and honoured to receive it.
Slow down to bust a contest pileup – Observations By DAN KB6NU
In the Minnesota QSO Party last weekend, there was a big pileup trying to work a station in some remote county. The operator was working about 23 – 25 wpm, so I replied at that speed. I even sped up a little thinking that I might be able to slip my call in before the others.
Well, after several unsuccessful calls, and hearing the MN station reply to several slower stations, I decided to slow down myself. Bingo! I got a reply to my first call at the slower speed. My guess is that the slower speed made my call easier to copy and to stand out from the others. I don’t know if this tactic would work in a bigger contest, but I’m going to use this tactic again in a future QSO party.
In CQ – January 2018 – Pete, N8PR (SK) wrote that you should set up your receiver to produce two tones 65 to 80 Hz apart to make copying weak CW signals more easily. The theory behind this is that the dissonance between the two tones makes copying a CW signal more copyable than just a single tone. I like this idea. I played around a little bit last night with this technique, and it did indeed seem to work better than using just a single tone.
Today Lomond Radio Club are attending the Lomond Rally. On Thursday there’s a club night. More from Barrie, GM4HEL, by email to gm0kzx@googlemail.com.
CLUB NEWS
Stirling and District Amateur Radio Society club has a meeting from 10am to 2pm this Sunday and next Sunday including CW lessons. Thursday is the AGM. For details, email Jess, MM2RCR at secretary@gm6nx.com.
On Monday Edinburgh and District Amateur Radio Club has a club net operating evening. Contact Norman, GM1CNH, on 0774 094 6192.
On Tuesday Kilmarnock and Loudoun Amateur Radio has a club activity and training night. Contact Len, GM0ONX, via email to klarcinfo@gmail.com.
On Tuesday Livingston and District Amateur Radio Society has a training evening. Details from Cathie, 2M0DIB, on 01506 433 846.
On Tuesday Moray Firth Amateur Radio Society has a night in the shack, setting up the radio cabin for another year. Contact Paul, GM8HWZ, on 0796 717 1189.
On Wednesday the West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society has a Solder Group meeting, and on Friday there will be a talk by Craig – MM6ZKO on GUI and 13cms. For further information contact Jack, GM4COX, at wosars.club.
On Thursday Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society has a club meeting. Contact Fred, GM3ALZ, on 01975 651 365.
On Thursday Wigtownshire Amateur Radio Club is on the air. More from Clive, GM4FZH, by email to info@GM4RIV.org.
On Friday Ayr Amateur Radio Group has a club night. Please check club website for updates, or contact Derek, MM0OVD, on 0744 793 1941.
On Friday Mid-Lanarkshire Amateur Radio Society is having a club night, tuition and radio operations. Details at mlars.co.uk.
On Saturday Inverness and District Amateur Radio Society is having a club night with a CW class at 6.45pm, and the main meeting with a speaker from 7.15pm. Contact John, GM0OTI, via email to InvernessRadioSociety@gmail.com.
Next Sunday the 16th, Lomond Radio Club are running a Bring & Buy event at the John Connolly Centre, 30 Main Street, Renton G82 4LY. Entry is free and doors open at 10am. In addition to the Bring & Buy, there will be traders and refreshments available, tea, coffee and hot food and more. Tables are still available and only cost £5. Please contact Bill, by email mm0elf@blueyonder.co.uk if you need any more details or are wanting tables.
Stirling & District Amateur Radio Society club has a meeting from 10am to 2pm today and next Sunday. Thursday sees a club night. For details, email secretary@gm6nx.com
On Monday Edinburgh & District Amateur Radio Club has a Club net operating evening. Contact Norman, GM1CNH, on 0774 094 6192.
On Tuesday Glenrothes & District Radio Club has a talk SD Contest Logger by Ken Horne, GM3YBQ. Details from Tam, on 0775 352 6498.
On Tuesday Kilmarnock & Loudoun Amateur Radio Club is having a club night. Contact Len Paget, GM0ONX, via email to klarcinfo@gmail.com.
On Tuesday Livingston and District Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on DMR Operating and Principles. Details from Cathie, 2M0DIB, on 01506 433 846.
On Wednesday Inverness & District Amateur Radio Society is having a CW class at 6.45pm and main meeting from 7.15pm. Contact John, GM0OTI, via email to InvernessRadioSociety@gmail.com.
On Wednesday Lothians Radio Society is having a talk on Robot Wars and Rampaging Chariots with Dr Roger Hill. More from Andy Sinclair, MM0FMF, by email to secretary@lothiansradiosociety.com
On Wednesday West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society has a Solder Group meeting and Friday sees a hands-on club night. More information at wosars.club
On Thursday Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society has a club meeting. Contact Fred Gordon, GM3ALZ, on 01975 651 365.
On Thursday Lomond Radio Club is having a club night.
On Thursday Wigtownshire Amateur Radio Club is having a practical work night. More information from Clive, GM4FZH, by email to info@GM4RIV.org.
On Friday Cockenzie & Port Seton Amateur Radio Club radio check night with John, MM0JXI. More information from Bob, GM4UYZ, on 01875 811 723.
On Friday Mid Lanarkshire Amateur Radio Society is having a club night with tuition and radio operations. Details at https://mlars.co.uk/
