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Reflections From An Old WoSARS Young-Yin!

By Hugh Cummings GM0HSC (WoSARS Past Member)

Dragging up some old memories:

Along with a number of the other younger amateurs around Glasgow, we set up a group specifically aimed at younger folks, and people new to the hobby, called YAGIS – the Young Amateurs Group In Scotland. One area of interest saw us partake in conversion of assorted PMR sets, to get cheap access to the bands, where commercial kit wasn’t available, including a batch of Pye Cambridges on 4m AM, then converting them (badly) to FM. We ended  with D3E – pretty much!

PYE Cambridge – Hybrid Mobile Tx/Rx (Valve Tx Transistor Rx)

A lesson was learned about shorting out valve grids with a screwdriver I remember, and simultaneously, that electric current flows from a person to another touching person – ouch!

I used to use aircraft scatter to make a 4m qso between David – then GM7BPA (who was a runner up in the young amateur of the year contest I think?) in Croftamie and myself in Mansewood Glasgow. 2m was fine but 4m needed an aircraft approaching the airport over Duntocher for the path to work 🙂

We also ran fox hunts, and many hill-top operations, with all sorts or mobile trips up hills in Ayrshire and the southern Highlands. I also remember a VHF field day above East Kilbride and special event station GB0BUS using a double decker bus I had at the time.

Hugh’s Current Bus – Fares Please! (COX)

I went on to become the senior novice licence instructor for Strathclyde and along with Tommy GM3VBT and Susan GM4SGB, we trained somewhere in the region of 30 mainly young people at novice level, with many going on to get Class B and Class A licences – including young folk from the High School of Glasgow and St Aloysius’ College – one of whom went on to be the lead guitarist in Indy band  MOGWAI  (Almost a callsign – COX).

Another memorable adventure was a mini dxpedition to ACHILL ISLAND in Co Mayo in Ireland IO43………..

View of Achill Island using NASA’s technology overhead

…………..where we got special permission from the Ministry to operate as EJ4VNX on 50MHz as well as on 70MHz, and the other bands. We picked a great week for it (as we had researched the likelihood) and from day 2, had almost constant day time E openings to mainland Europe.

Great times.

Best regards to all at WoSARS for your forthcoming 50th Celebrations.

Shug GM0HSC – a Old Young Yin!

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Cambodia (XU) Gets On The ‘Air’

 

Cambodian Amateur Radio Club

Some years ago unknown Koreans amateur radio operators left behind a very complete set of ham radio equipment and antennas at  the National Polytechnic Institute of Cambodia (NPIC) near Phnom Penh. This great shack was sitting idle for some years until the Engineering Service Team of FEBC,  through  locally resident engineer, Mike Adams  (XU7AJA/KH0AS) made contact with the school.

NPIC thought it might help interest students in radio careers if an amateur radio club could be started and the shack brought back into operation, which is how the NPIC Amateur Radio Club was born. Since anyone can be behind the mic as long as a properly licensed control operator is present, lots of professors and students got to spend time on the radios.The radio club has been active in contests, using Adams’ XU7AJA call sign.

FEBC International – Engineering Service Team  held the first ARRL VEC Amateur Radio examination session in Cambodia  on April 5.2018.
FEBC – Far East Broadcasting Company)  an association of local broadcast ministries.

For further information checkout: https://guychrisfebc.blog/tag/npic/

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Snips – News For Scotland – 24th May

The news headlines:

  • YOTA Online programme launched
  • SARL celebrates 95 years
  • Change to exam booking system

GB2RS Script – HERE .

CLUB NEWS

 During the COVID crisis a list of known club nets, and activities, is now being published on the West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society (WoSARS) web site. They have a table listing times and frequencies and this can be found at https://wosars.club/radio-nets/

The following clubs have submitted their activity details for GB2RS as follows:-

Club activities taking place daily:-

 Ayr Amateur Radio Group has daily nets on 7.035MHz ± QRM at 10.15am, QSY to 7.065MHz for SSB; 145.450MHz at 10.30am; CW on 144.295MHz at 7.30pm, QSY to FM or SSB later.

Glenrothes & District Radio Club has open nets on Monday to Saturday at 10am on 3.790MHz On Tuesdays and Thursdays on there are also nets on 145.425MHz at 7:20pm. Supplemental to the VHF nets there will be morse training. Contact Tam on 07753 526 498.

Club Activities taking place on specific days:-

 Sunday

 Ayr Amateur Radio Group has a CW net on 144.295MHz from 7pm and 145.450MHz FM at 7.30pm. Contact Derek, MM0OVD, on 0744 793 1941.

Stirling and District Radio Society are running a using the GB3FE repeater located at Stirling from around 10am.

Glasgow and Clyde RAYNET group are running a NET using the MB7IBH gateway at Dumbarton. Access is via EchoLink or on RF on 144.9625 MHz and the net is open to ALL from 8:00pm

Dundee ARC has a net via GB3AG from 7pm. Contact Martin, 2M0KAU, on 07763 708 933.

Kilmarnock & Loudoun Amateur Radio Club has a net from 2pm around 3.720MHz SSB, moving to around 3.540MHz for a CW net after the SSB net ends.

Mid Lanarkshire Amateur Radio Society has a net from 10pm on 28.475MHz.

Monday

 Edinburgh & District Amateur Radio Club has a net on 433.525MHz FM at 8pm. Contact Norman, GM1CNH, on 07740 946 192.

Paisley Amateur Radio Club are running nets on Monday from 2000 on144.550 and Zello

 Tuesday

 Kilmarnock & Loudoun Amateur Radio Club has a net on 145.475MHz FM from 7.30pm

Paisley Amateur Radio Club at 2000 using DMR 4415

Wednesday

 Mid Lanarkshire Amateur Radio Society has a net on DMR Scotland channel TG23550 from 8pm

Lothians Radio Society will be holding a net on 144.350MHz SSB at 8pm. All are welcome to join in. For further information please contact Andy by email to secretary@lothiansradiosociety.com.

Inverness & District Amateur Radio Society has it net from 8pm on 145.575MHz & GB7BI or GB7II slot 1 475. For details, email InvernessRadioSociety@gmail.com.

West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society has a net from 8pm on 433.425MHz. On Friday there’s a net on 145.425MHz also from 8pm. Details are at wosars.club.

Thursday

 Paisley Amateur Radio Club at 2000 on 144.550 and Zello and  a Virtual Meeting on Zoom at 1930

Wigtownshire Amateur Radio Club has a net from 7pm on GB3DG. See www.gm4riv.org for other details.

The Lomond Club will be using MB7IBH on 144.9625MHz in the Dumbarton Area from 7:30 and they will be also connected on EchoLink using the same gateway

The Stirling Club has a net on GB3FE from 7pm.

Friday

 Mid Lanarkshire Amateur Radio Society has a Zello net on the club channel, moving later to 2m FM using GB3KE and EchoLink. Details are at https://mlars.co.uk.

West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society has a net on 145.425MHz from 8pm. Details are at wosars.club.

Strathclyde Park Amateur Radio Club  (SPARCS) runs a net from 1930 on 145.400 MHz also on the BATC channel from 2000hrs contact Bill MM0SFB for information.

Saturday

 Kilmarnock & Loudoun Amateur Radio Club has an online meeting. Contact Len Paget, GM0ONX, via email to klarcinfo@gmail.com.

Finally a reminder that the list of active club nets is listed on the WoSARS website at  https://wosars.club/radio-nets/. If you want to have your net listed or to report any changes to existing nets please contact Tony Miles MM0TMZ on address rr1@rsgb.org.uk or (07702)-134188 For any other Scottish news please send details to radcom@rsgb.org.uk and note that the deadline is 10am. On Thursday.

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Snips – News For Scotland – 10th May

The news headlines:

  • BBC features RSGB Get on the air to care campaign
  • VDSL call to action in new online RadCom
  • RCF Arkwright Scholar 3D prints PPE

GB2RS Script – HERE .

NEWS

Some sad news that Maurice Boyce GM0RRK passed away with Covid-19 and his wife Rose is also ill. No funeral will be taking place but the hearse will stop by his house on Ledi Drive at 11.30am on May 22nd. I’m sure that we all wish his wife a full recovery and send our condolences to the family.

Please note that the RSGB has temporarily relaxed the rules for practical assessments as a prerequisite for amateur radio licence examinations. These assessments have been suspended for the foreseeable future during the COVID-19 crisis. Foundation candidates can now sit their exam entirely on line. At present arrangements for Intermediate and Full examinations are currently under review. For further information go to www.rsgb.org/exam-faq. Latest news on this is that there are over 600 candidates now waiting to sit their exam, so get your entry in now.

For those of our listeners who want to buff up before taking the foundation exam then Billy MacFarlane of the Stirling Club has produced an on-line training programme with 43 lessons and this is available to use free of charge at https://gm6dx.thinkific.com/

CLUB NEWS

Ayr Amateur Radio Group has daily nets on 7.035MHz ± QRM at 10.15am, QSY to 7.065MHz for SSB; 145.450MHz at 10.30am; CW on 144.295MHz at 7.30pm, QSY to FM or SSB later. Sundays also see a CW net on 144.295MHz from 7pm and 145.450MHz FM at 7.30pm. Contact Derek, MM0OVD, on 0744 793 1941.

Dundee ARC has a net on Sundays via GB3AG from 7pm. Contact Martin, 2M0KAU, on 0776 370 8933.

Glenrothes and District Radio Club has open nets on Monday to Saturday at 10am on 3.790MHz. Tuesday and Thursday see Morse classes from 7.20pm on 145.425MHz. Contact Tam on 0775 352 6498.

Kilmarnock and Loudoun Amateur Radio Club has a net on Sundays from 2pm around 3.720MHz SSB, moving to around 3.540MHz for a CW net after the SSB net ends. Tuesday sees a net on 145.475MHz FM from 7.30pm and on Saturday there’s an online meeting. Contact Len Paget, GM0ONX, via email to klarcinfo@gmail.com.

Mid-Lanarkshire Amateur Radio Society has a net on Sundays from 10pm on 28.475MHz. On Wednesday it’s the DMR Scotland chat on TG23550 from 8pm and Friday sees a Zello net on the club channel, moving later to 2m FM. Details at mlars.co.uk.

West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society has a net on Wednesday from 8pm on 433.425MHz from 8pm. On Friday there’s a net on 145.375MHz from 8pm. Details at wosars.club.

On Monday Edinburgh and District Amateur Radio Club has a net starting on 433.525MHz FM at 8pm. Contact Norman, GM1CNH, on 0774 094 6192.

On Wednesday Inverness and District Amateur Radio Society has it net from 8pm on 145.575MHz and GB7BI, or GB7II slot 1 475, For details, email InvernessRadioSociety@gmail.com.

On Wednesday Lothians Radio Society will be holding a net on 144.350MHz SSB at 8pm. All are welcome to join in. For further information please contact Andy by email to secretary@lothiansradiosociety.com.

On Thursday Wigtownshire Amateur Radio Club has a net from 7pm on GB3DG. See gm4riv.org for other details.

NOTE: A comprehensive List of Club Nets can be found on the WoSARS Website wosars.club/radio-nets .

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Snips – News For Scotland – 26th April

The news headlines:

  • First remotely-invigilated exam callsigns issued
  • Download latest 5MHz Newsletter
  • Japanese amateurs get new privileges

GB2RS News Script – HERE .

NEWS

We start with news of an unusual on-the-air tribute. Dave Cossar, GM3WIL became a Silent Key on 4 April following an unexpected heart attack. The present lockdown rules prevent most people from attending memorial gatherings so, to coincide with Dave’s cremation, 30 local amateurs went on the air to pay their last respects and say a few personal words. Dave was a DXCC Honor Roll member, had held a number of distance records for microwave transmissions, was active in ARDF and, along with Roy, GM4VKI, was the face of the G-QRP club at rallies in Scotland and northern England.

CLUB NEWS

Glenrothes and District Radio Club has open nets on Monday to Saturday at 10am on 3.790MHz. Tuesday and Thursday see Morse classes from 7.20pm on 145.425MHz. Contact Tam on 0775 352 6498.

On Monday Edinburgh and District Amateur Radio club has its net. Contact Norman, GM1CNH, on 0774 094 6192.

Lothians Radio Society will be holding a net on 144.350MHz SSB at 8pm on Wednesday. All are welcome to join in. For further information please contact Andy by email to secretary@lothiansradiosociety.com.

West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society has a net on Wednesday from 8pm on 433.425MHz from 8pm. On Friday there’s a net on 145.425MHz from 8pm—details at wosars.club.

On Thursday Wigtownshire Amateur Radio Club meet on GB3DG at 7.30pm—see gm4riv.org for other details—Clive, GM4FZH, info@GM4RIV.org.

Dundee Amateur Radio Club commences SOS Radio Week operations on Friday. Next Sunday there’s a net on GB3AG from 7pm. Contact Martin, 2M0KAU, on 0776 370 8933.

EDIT 25/04/20 – A full table of Club Nets can be found – HERE .

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An Original MW Pirate Fades Into The Aether

Radio Caroline’s – Mi Amigo – CLICK

Ronan O’Rahilly, Radio Caroline founder who inspired UK pop and pirate radio, dies aged 79

Ronan O’Rahilly, the Irish founder of the notorious Radio Caroline that popularised pop music on British radio, has died aged 79.

‘More unusual than all of them combined’ ... Ronan O’Rahilly.

His death was announced by the radio station that is still broadcasting, who said: “In a pastime populated by unusual people, Ronan was more unusual than all of them combined.” He had been diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2013.

O’Rahilly first became known as a player in the burgeoning “swinging London” scene of the 1960s, managing Alexis Korner (the blues-rocker who nurtured the career of the Rolling Stones) and Georgie Fame. Fame eventually had three UK No 1 singles, but O’Rahilly initially struggled to get his musicians noticed by BBC stations and the then-popular Radio Luxembourg, and so founded his own station, Radio Caroline, in 1964.

He circumvented licensing laws by acquiring a former Danish passenger ferry, anchoring it in the North Sea off Felixstowe, and broadcasting from there. With a much less diverse radio industry than today and the BBC only playing two hours of pop music a week, Radio Caroline quickly amassed a listenership of millions for its daytime pop-focused output.

Many DJs would become household names and enjoy successful post-Caroline careers, including Tony Blackburn, Johnnie Walker, Dave Lee Travis and Simon Dee. Walker paid tribute, calling him an “amazing man … who made the impossible possible and changed radio for ever”.

In 1967, an act of parliament outlawed offshore radio stations on the grounds that they were not paying royalties to artists, and that their broadcasts could interfere with emergency channels. A number of Radio Caroline’s DJs moved to the newly created Radio 1, which had been influenced by the success of the former and another offshore station, Radio London. Radio Caroline then moved to Dutch waters, and continued broadcasting at sea until 1991.

O’Rahilly used Radio Caroline to promote his own philosophy of “loving awareness”, which espoused peace and love over hate, and even set up a band, Loving Awareness, to further the cause.

He also continued his management career, including representing James Bond actor George Lazenby. Lazenby paid tribute to O’Rahilly on Instagram, saying “rest well, Ronan”.

Ronan O’Rahilly, left, on board the ship broadcasting Radio Caroline with DJs Jerry Leighton, Tony Prince and Lee Harrison.

Lazenby shared “bittersweet” reminiscences about how O’Rahilly convinced him not to take a contract for multiple Bond movies, with the franchise passing to Roger Moore. “He was very influential on me giving up the role of James Bond back in 1969,” Lazenby wrote. “Ronan convinced me Bond was all over … I’d be in danger of becoming part of the Establishment. Something he rebelled against. Easy Rider was supposed to be the way forward and I could do three or four of those type of movies for every Bond. I wanted to be a free spirit, make love, not war. Ronan wouldn’t let me sign the Bond contract – kept sending it back … Who knows what would have happened had Ronan not got a hold of my brain? But I don’t regret a day of my life.”

O’Rahilly also produced Lazenby’s film Universal Soldier, as well as the Alain Delon and Marianne Faithfull film The Girl on a Motorcycle. The Radio Caroline story became the basis for the 2009 Richard Curtis film The Boat That Rocked, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Original Article – THE GUARDIAN 21st April 2020

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GM3HBT – SK! Funeral To Be Streamed On-Line (Link Now Added)

Tom Hall – GM3HBT (Pic – GM4CLQ)

 

EDIT: 28/04/20 – Funeral Streamed Video Link Details – HERE .

Jack
Tom died peacefully last week in Clinton House care home. He was 90. Please pass on to WoSARS folk that knew him.
I have the date and time for the funeral… Thursday 30th April at 12 noon in Daldowie crematorium.
Final arrangements yet to be made but it will be live streamed so that that those who would like to be there “”virtually” can be given details once I have them. The funeral is limited to 10 people. Mostly family.
73
Scott – GM4CLQ
REPLY
Sad news indeed. In discussion with Tom – MXN a couple of weeks ago he mentioned that Tom was looking to be on his last ‘tether’. And heard Bill – UBJ mention it to Vic – VTB after yesterday’s News.
Of course I knew Tom through our mutual employer Motorola and usually when I was up at EK I would always try and have a chat with him or Norrie – GM4BVU if they weren’t too busy. Always discussing the latest amateur issues – specifically the repeaters as in those early days they were both avid users of FM (although Tom was mainly a CW man on HF – hi!)
73
Jack – GM4COX