(EDIT (COX) 14th – See POST#1946 . (TDX & COX work them at Writtle))
On 14th February 1922 the Marconi Company began to broadcast a five-minute program of speech and music within the weekly half-hour calibration transmission. The broadcasts were made weekly on Tuesday made using the callsign 2MT from an ex-army hut in the village of Writtle near Chelmsford. Initially, the station had only 200 Watts and transmitted on 700m (428 kHz) using an inverted-L antenna.
The enthusiastic team, led by Captain Peter Eckersley, assembled their transmitter together with a gramophone player, microphone, and on occasions a piano from the local public house, to entertain listeners. The regular announcement; “This is Two Emma Toc, Writtle testing, Writtle testing”, became quite well known.
This was the first regular wireless broadcast for entertainment in the UK and its success provided the foundation for the formation of the BBC later in 1922.
Members of Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society (CARS) will operate a special event station to commemorate this historic event. A special callsign, GB100-2MT, is active during February – and on 14th February will operate from Writtle, close to where the original broadcasts were made. Operating will be on HF, as well as locally on VHF/UHF.
QSOs will be confirmed on LOTW and eQSL. Sorry no QSL cards, or bureau.
It is with sadness that we announce that Tommy Logan, GM3VBT passed away last week. His funeral will take place on the 7th of February at 11.30 am at Clydebank Crematorium. All are welcome to attend. We send our condolences to his family.
Wigtownshire Amateur Radio Club takes part in the daily open D&G RAYNET net at 12 noon on GB3DG every day. Thursdays see a net beginning on GB3DG at 7.30pm then moving to Zoom at 8pm for general chat. Oli, MM0YOS, info@gm4riv.org
Moray Firth Amateur Radio Society is resuming face to face meetings on Tuesdays, beginning with a look at the latest RSGB EMF compliance calculator. Any members who need assistance will be able to get their station assessment completed. Tea and coffee is available. The club has requested that you do not attend if you have any symptoms of Coronavirus. www.mfars.org
The Loch Lomond 8pm Sunday open net takes place via MB7IBH on 145.3375MHz with 103.5Hz CTCSS. Lomond Radio Club in-person club nights are on Thursdays from 7.30pm at the John Connelly Centre in Renton. Barrie, gm0kzx@googlemail.com
West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society has resumed its Solder Group meetings on Wednesday. There are daily nets from 11am on 145.425MHz. Wednesday sees a net from 8pm on 433.425MHz and on Friday at Rose Street there’s a video night from 8pm. www.wosars.club
Ayr Amateur Radio Group has a net on Sundays from 7pm on 144.295MHz CW and from 7.30pm on 145.450MHz FM. There are daily nets around 7.035MHz from 10.15am, moving to 7.065MHz and 145.450MHz at 10.30am. Friday sees a net via GB3DG from 7.30pm, followed by a Zoom meeting. derek.secaarg@gmail.com
Stirling and District Amateur Radio Society is open today for operating from 11am. It will also be open on Thursday from 7pm. secretary@gm6nx.com
Kingdom Amateur Radio Society has nets on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 7pm on 144.750MHz. Steve, MM0SKX, 0771 105 9343
Dundee Amateur Radio Club holds nets on Sundays and Wednesdays from 7.30pm on GB3AG and GB3DD. Martin, 2M0KAU, 0776 370 8933
Kilmarnock & Loudoun Amateur Radio Club holds a net on Sundays from 2pm around 3.720MHz SSB, later moving to around 3.540MHz CW. Tuesday sees a net on 145.475MHz from 7.30pm. klarcinfo@gmail.com
The Viking Amateur Radio Net runs on Sundays from 6pm on 3.660 or 3.639MHz. Details are on their Facebook page
Glenrothes & District Radio Club has open nets daily from 10am on 3.790MHz except Sunday. Morse training is now available on request. Tam, 0775 352 6498
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
On Monday, Edinburgh & District Amateur Radio Club has its net at 8.15pm on 433.525MHz FM. Norman, GM1CNH, 0774 094 6192
DV Scotland has a multi-mode net on Monday from 9pm to 10.30pm using GM5DVS. Details of how to access all DV Scotland repeaters is at dvscotland.net
Livingston & District Amateur Radio Society is open on Tuesdays from 7.30pm. This week there’s a talk on antenna maintenance and operating. Wednesday sees a net on DMR Scotland TG23550 from 8pm. On Thursday there’s a net from 7pm on 145.575MHz. Cathie, 2M0DIB, 01506 433 846
Lothians Radio Society has a talk on Wednesday by James Gentles, GM4WZP on The History of the Pocket Calculator. www.lothiansradiosociety.com
Inverness & District Amateur Radio Society has stopped its Wednesday meetings owing to COVID restrictions. There are nets on Wednesday from 8pm on GB3BI and from 8.40pm on GB7II talkgroup 23558. Adrian, MM0DHY, InvernessRadioSociety@gmail.com
Falkirk Amateur Radio Club has a net via GB3FE from 8pm on Wednesday. Peter, gm8gax@tiscali.co.uk
Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society has 10-minute talks on Thursday. www.aars.org.uk
Mid Lanarkshire Amateur Radio Society meets every Friday from 7pm at Newarthill Community Education Centre 50 High Street Newarthill Motherwell ML1 5JU. Wednesday sees a net on TG 23550 from 8pm and on Thursday there’s a net on 70.425MHz from 8pm. www.mlars.co.uk
On Friday, Strathclyde Park Amateur Radio Club has a net from 7.30pm on 145.400MHz, and also on the BATC channel from 8pm. Bill, MM0SFB, gm0syv@btinternet.com
Cockenzie & Port Seton Amateur Radio Club has an on-air activity day on Saturday. Bob, GM4UYZ, 01875 811 723
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.
The very first Svalbard QO-100 Satellite DX-Pedition will take place 22-24 April 2022 from Kapp Linné – Isfjord Radio at 78° North.
They will operate two QO-100 satellite stations under the callsigns JW0W and JW100QO, while JW0X will be used by another team for contacts on shortwave.
With QO-100 only 3° above the horizon, Kap Linné was the only suitable place in the area with Svalbard at the edge of the satellite footprint. Looking for a suitable location to stay and getting there, is one of the biggest challenges and cost drivers for the team.
Operators Martina DF3TS and Thomas DC8TM will activate Svalbard (EU-026) as JW/homecalls to start their DXpedition between April 9-12th. Activity will be on SSB and FT8.
They will then be active from a Russian “Severnyi Polyus” the Scientific Polar Drifting Base (enclave by RFF) approx. 80kms from the North Pole on the Arctic Ocean where they will activate the WWFF area RFF-0176.
Operators will use their special callsigns DP0LE (like POLE) and RA/DC8TM/P and RA/DF3TS/P to represent the Russian flag of the camp between April 14-17th. More info HERE .
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 wosars.club/radio-nets.
New GB2RS Broadcast from the station of Michael – 2M0GUI for west Glasgow – HERE .
Silent Key, Sandy Lawrie – GM3PQU, Longniddry, East Lothian.
New RSGBDistrict Representative (DR) for Glasgow, Central and Lanarkshire – Harry GM1VFR; a WoSARS’s COMMITTEE MEMBER. Harry will being assisting our Regional Representative (RR), Tony MM0TMZ (another WoSARS Member). We wish Harry and the ‘Team’ all the best looking after our interests.
We start with advance notice that on the 3rd of February at 8pm Wigtownshire Amateur Radio Society is hosting an exclusive Zoom presentation by Roy Lewallen, W7EL, author of the EZNEC antenna modelling software. Request an invitation via events@gm4riv.org. There is a net on Sundays from 7.30pm on GB3DG. Thursday sees a net on GB3DG from 7pm. There is also an open RAYNET net daily on GB3DG from noon. Oli, MM0YOS, info@gm4riv.org
West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society has resumed the Solder Group meetings on Wednesday and Rose Street Club nights on Friday. There are daily ‘Ad-Hoc’ nets from 11am on 145.425MHz. Wednesday sees a net from 8pm on 433.425MHz and this Friday there’s a talk on ‘Kit For Out And About’ by Jack, GM4COX. www.wosars.club
The Loch Lomond 8pm Sunday open net takes place via MB7IBH on 145.3375MHz with 103.5Hz CTCSS. Thursday club nights remain suspended at the moment (due to resume 3rd February) replaced by a bi-monthly net on 145.3375MHz and via MB7IBH. The next net takes place on Thursday at 8pm. www.lomondradio.club
Ayr Amateur Radio Group has a net on Sundays from 7pm on 144.295MHz CW and from 7.30pm on 145.450MHz FM. There are daily nets around 7.035MHz from 10.15am, moving to 7.065MHz and 145.450MHz at 10.30am. derek.secaarg@gmail.com
Stirling and District Amateur Radio Society is open today for operating from 11am. It will also be open on Thursday from 7pm. secretary@gm6nx.com
Kingdom Amateur Radio Society has nets on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 7pm on 144.750MHz. Steve, MM0SKX, 0771 105 9343
Dundee Amateur Radio Club holds nets on Sundays and Wednesdays from 7.30pm on GB3AG and GB3DD. Martin, 2M0KAU, 0776 370 8933
Kilmarnock & Loudoun Amateur Radio Club holds a net on Sundays from 2pm around 3.720MHz SSB, later moving to around 3.540MHz CW. Tuesday sees a net on 145.475MHz from 7.30pm. klarcinfo@gmail.com
The Viking Amateur Radio Net runs on Sundays from 6pm on 3.660 or 3.639MHz. Details are on their Facebook page
Glenrothes & District Radio Club has open nets daily from 10am on 3.790MHz except Sunday. Morse training is now available on request. Tam, 0775 352 6498
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
On Monday, Edinburgh & District Amateur Radio Club has its net at 8.15pm on 433.525MHz FM. Norman, GM1CNH, 0774 094 6192
DV Scotland has a multi-mode net on Monday from 9pm to 10.30pm using GM5DVS. Details of how to access all DV Scotland repeaters is at dvscotland.net
Livingston & District Amateur Radio Society is open on Tuesdays from 7.30pm with a talk from a club member on DMR. Wednesday sees a net on DMR Scotland TG23550 from 8pm. Cathie, 2M0DIB, 01506 433 846
Inverness & District Amateur Radio Society has stopped its Wednesday meetings owing to COVID restrictions. There are nets on Wednesday from 8pm on GB3BI and from 8.40pm on GB7II talkgroup 23558. Adrian, MM0DHY, InvernessRadioSociety@gmail.com
Falkirk Amateur Radio Club has a net via GB3FE from 8pm on Wednesday. Peter, gm8gax@tiscali.co.uk
Mid Lanarkshire Amateur Radio Society meets every Friday from 7pm at Newarthill Community Education Centre. Wednesday sees a net on TG 23550 from 8pm and on Thursday there’s a net on 70.425MHz from 8pm. www.mlars.co.uk
Lomond Radio Club has suspended its Thursday in-person meetings. (due to resume 3rd February) . Instead, there’s a net on GB3DM at 7.30pm and occasional Zoom meetings. Barrie, gm0kzx@googlemail.com
On Friday, Strathclyde Park Amateur Radio Club has a net from 7.30pm on 145.400MHz, and also on the BATC channel from 8pm. Bill, MM0SFB, gm0syv@btinternet.com
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.
Some equipment removed (and returned) to be used for the Special Event Station GB5SC.
07/01/23: GM0EZP, GM4TOQ, MM7SWM, MM7POL
First day out in 2023 at the Shack:
“……….. A few club members were at the shack on Saturday, Paul mm7pol, Stuart mm7swm, Alan gm4toq, Ernie gm0ezp.
We had a good afternoon in fine winter sun weather. Paul had brought up his ft991a to use as he is familiar with its operation and was hoping to take advantage of the elevated site, tower and beam. Unfortunately when using the vhf beam it had a high swr making it unusable.
Operation turned to using the end fed wire…………………… Ernie GM0EZP”
More of Ernie’s and follow-on Posts in the MEMBERS FORUM – POST#3213 .
11/11/22: GM0EZP
Ernie updates Members with talk at Rose Street regarding the updates that have taken place. Also, a supporting Web Post for those that were unable to attend. Checkout CALENDAR.
29/10/22: GM0EZP, MM1ESW, MM7SPT, MM7AJE, MM7SWM
Taking part in SSB – CQWW. Checkout Members POST#3140 for the latest.
01/10/22: GM0EZP, MM7STP, GM4TOQ, MM1ESW, MM1BXF
Replacement rotator installed.
Last year (31/07/21), following the installation of the main aerials on the tower, it was found that although the Rotor rotated the ‘array’, it didn’t track the direction on the Controller’s indicator panel. To repair this fault meant the raising of the array to allow the Rotator to be removed. This was done earlier this year.
See HOMEPAGEPICTURE DIARY (Oct 22) showing some of the ‘team’ working on the re-installation.
JULY/AUGUST: VARIOUS MEMBERS
Following the major leaks in the Operating Shack, the Shack was completely stripped of contents; re-decoration and a rebuild took place of the operating bench.
From previous Diary entry – following a major leak in Operating Shack – Ernie GM0EZP:
“……….We could not have asked for better weather today. Charles had organised all the kit required for the job which was great. Paul and Scott did a great job of cleaning around the aluminium edging and the giving it a Liberal coat of roof sealing paint.
Inside all flooring was removed and almost completely dried in the sun. A heater was left running g most of the afternoon to assist drying out the floor and walls.
Sam with a little help from Alan and me got the rotator cable removed, so it’s on its way back to Sam’s for him to work his magic on the rotator and controller
At the end of the day everything was put back into the shack for storage and will require another day of drying before being laying back down.
All in all a good amount of work was completed and hopefully that is the leak sorted. Another day to put the shack back together should do it…………………..”
02/07/22: MM7STP, GM0EZP, MM7CGB, MM7TXY
VHF Field Day. Unfortunately we ran into unforeseen problems. See POST#2955 .
11/06/22: MM7POL,
Paul organising a day of operating at the Shack. See POST#2896 .
GM4AGG taking place in RSGB 80/40 SSB AFS contest. Operators GM0EZP, 2M0GUI. see CALENDAR .
11-12/12/21: GM4TOQ, MM7STP, GM0EZP, GM4COX
Balun and balancing resistor installed; optimising Beverage . 160M dipole raised in preparation for the TransAtlantic Celebrations. Successful outcome – seePOST#1832 .
Wx grim. Heavy rain throughout the day, however through the night, skies cleared and it was fairly warm. Sunday dawned wet with heavier rain in the afternoon, just in time for ‘strip-down’.
09/12/21: GM4COX
Installing earth rods at each end of the Beverage and measuring DC loop resistance and resultant Z being presented. From this, matching balun to be made – 6:1 (COX).
Installing 160M Beverage & dipole in preparation for TRANSATLANTIC CELBRATIONS.
20/11/21: GM4TOQ, 2M0FYJ, MM7STP, GM4COX
Discussions with Bartek – FYJ about battery 12V feed for both Shacks.
Discussions with Alan – TOQ about aerials for first amateur TRANSATLANTIC CELEBRATIONS (Dec 1921/2021) participation (GM4AGG)
Scott – STP operating FT8 HF (GM4AGG) & 2M (GM7WOS).
13/11/21: MM1ESW, MM7STP, MM1BXF, GM4COX
Beautiful Autumn day. Tower fully up. ‘Bagging’ some SOTA’s on 2M (GM7WOS).
Stuart – ESW working on Shack computer.
Jack – COX had first 13cms from Site (2320.300MHz – FM) using GM7WOS for SOTA contact with G(M)4VFL/P on GM/SS-220. 59/59 bothways. Operation location on Site is where a dedicated 13cms station will be located.
Scott – STP operating on 4M using homemade dipole.
Gavin – BXF operating 2M Meteor Scatter using 14el Parabeam.
PICS to be added to Cochno Folder.
07/11/21: MM1ESW, GM4COX
Too windy to raise tower. QSO’s on 2M FM and 20/80M.
Working on Shack main computer.
02/11/21: GM4COX
Taking part in the monthly RSGB 2M Activity Contest (GM7WOS) – UKAC 2M and testing out new FT-847 + DG8 headamp + Amplivox headset + new footswitch + Parabeam
Clearout Shack#2 and paint in preparation for respite facilities. Finish installation of Linked Dipole. More GB4GDS contacts on HF & VHF.
20/10/21: GM4COX, GM4BGS
Install new FT-847 + FC-20 and checkout. Pull rotator cable into Shack via cable duct and reterminate. Start installation of 80M, 60M, 40M linked dipole. More GB4GDS contacts on HF and VHF.
Install DG8 head amplifier in Parabeam feed. Gavin BXF demonstrates a dual band handset used for satellite operation on 144/430MHz – HERE . More GB4GDS contacts.
12/10/21: GM4COX, GM4DAE (MM5AIR), GM4BGS
Repair Collinear feed within cable duct. Duct waterlogged, install new drainage hole. Install FT-221R and checkout on Parabeam (GB3VHF & NGI). More GB4GDS contacts.
06/10/21: GM4COX, GM4DAE (MM5AIR)
First activation of GB4GDS from New Shack. Some pictures – HERE . (lovely Autumn Wx)
04/10/21: GM4COX
Preparatory work in preparation for GB4GDS. Operating as GM4AGG .
25/09/21: GM4TOQ, GM4BGS, MM0ZUN and others
Replacement cable and final guide wheel fitted. Tower now raising and lowering with reduced friction.
Possible problem with Collinear? To be investigated.
18/09/21: No work carried out. Still awaiting replacement cable and Alan GM4TOQ not too well.
11/09/21: GM4TOQ, GM0EZP, GM4BGS and others
Installing replacement cable guide wheels on tower. Two successfully installed. Lowest tower section wire snapped. No damage done.
Ernie GM0EZP “………………The tower needed to be raised about 1 inch to give Alan the clearence he needed, that is when this happened, oops! The Main section cable snapped. When we managed to free the cable Alan took it to try and source a replacement………………….
Replacement heavier duty winch fitted and tested. Working well though problems with 3 guide wheels (too small 60mm should be 100mm x 15mm) on tower causing raising cable to jump. Replacements being sought.
Intermittent problem with X7 feed. Problem located and requires to be cleared.
Problems with electric winch. Too light for the job. Investigating a heavier winch. Also problems with some guide wheels – too small. Replacements being sought.
Terminate HF Beam, VHF Beam and Collinear feeds in Operating Shack.
“………..The shack moves on. Arrived about 1pm Alan and Kenny were working away with the 360 digger . Charles had popped over with some digging tools which were put to good use. Trench dug, slabs laid , and a gate to lean on. I left about 5 leaving Alan and Kenny to soldier on .
Two pallets of bricks loaded (by hand) and transported from Clydebank to farm; then one pallet transported up to Site in preparation of the new bunker build. Additional slabs laid. Pictures added to COCHNO FOLDER .
A good day’s work was put in by Kenny MM0ZUN, Alan GM4TOQ, Ernie GM0EZP, Cris MM0UXD (and Cris’s YL Laura – a snip with the shears attacking the Rhode’s (;>) and yours truly. We were successful in laying the base in preparation for the ‘bunker’ build. See additional Pics added to COCHNO FOLDER .
17/05/21: GM4COX
Visit to Shack#1. Check internal ‘dryness’ after being closed for the winter, and ‘Lockdown’. Dry and in good condition.
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.
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.
Unloaded a pile of slabs next to the shack taken up by the tractor
Spent a few hours on making fence posts out of what we can reuse of the old fence ones. Ground and cut then welded the remaining fence posts into a usable state, the bottom ends that had previously been in the ground had rusted away
Stock take of fencing bits that can be reused and worked out we need to buy approx 80m of bar for the rungs in the fence. Alan will check up on supplier
A lot of the fence along the top in place, still missing some of the bar for it though but have the posts and top rail in *
Cut down some bushes in the fence line and where the base of the tower will go. Need to remove roots from there, this can be done when we have the digger up for doing the hole for the tower base. Once the branches have dried a bit they can be burnt
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.
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.
Mauritius’ first satellite has aroused overwhelming enthusiasm among students at Forest-Side State College. the 1st school in Mauritius to have decoded MIR-SAT 1, using a Ground-station and appropriate software.
They are the second school in Mauritius to be equipped with a simplified ground station donated by Radio Amateurs. Vickram Mungul, (3B8BBD) and physics teacher at this school is pleasantly surprised to see the girls’ extraordinary enthusiasm.
“The girls were very motivated, honoured and wanted to know more about the project,” he recalls. The Girls’ interest in this Mauritian satellite started over a year ago when they were gradually exposed to the operation of satellites and their importance. Since knowledge about satellites is not widespread in Mauritius, they were first introduced to the NOAA satellite and decoding through the use of appropriate software was explained.
“We were not sure of ourselves at the very beginning as this is a new subject. But, little by little, we learned new things. This is what motivated us to learn more, ”says Christa Gunnoo. She now understands how to communicate with international satellites, but especially what is taught in her physics classes.
Receiving telemetry from the Mauritian satellite was not an easy task for the college. Several tests had to be carried out. Once the tests were completed, there was no sign that the Groundstation was going to acknowledge the first signals.
Aïshani Beeharry-Panray, a Grade 12 student, explains that three software programs are essential for communication. The first concerns the radio, Tracking and the decoder. “The software allows us to know when the satellites will pass over Mauritius and its elevation. We also receive audio and images, ”she says.
The software the girls use is free. They made their own antenna using PVC pipes, solder, pieces of aluminium and glue
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 .
