The West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society — WELCOME
NEWS FOR SCOTLAND & CLUB NEWS (GB2RS) Extracts inc Additions
6M PORTABLE
Today, (Sunday) the 18th, members of Edinburgh and District Amateur Radio Society are working portable on the 6m band. On Monday, the Society has a net on 433.525MHz from 8pm. Norman, GM1CNH, 0774 094 6192
GB0SSB
The Glenrothes and District Radio Club’s is located at Scotland’s Secret Bunker near Crail will be operating under the callsign GB0SSB today (Sunday) and next weekend the 24th and 25th of June. Eric, GM4FQE, 01333 450 753
MULTISPEED CW PRACTICE
The Online Amateur Radio Community runs a 40m slow-to-medium speed CW net every Monday evening at 7pm. All are welcome to join in. For more information see morse.oarc.uk On the first and third Saturdays of the month, the group holds a virtual social night called ‘The Rubber Duck’ on Zoom. For more information, see oarc.uk
AND
Glenrothes and District Radio Club’s Tuesday and Thursday multi-speed CW practice sessions and natter nets continue at 7.30pm on 145.425MHz FM. Listen out for the club’s military-style radio station located at Scotland’s Secret Bunker. Eric, GM4FQE, 01333 450 753
FURTHER NEWS ITEMS
AFTERNOON MEET-UP
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. On Tuesday the 11th of July there will be a Wigtownshire Amateur Radio Club special event in-person meeting at The Mull of Galloway Gallie Craig Café. This will be a lunchtime and afternoon meet-up. Oli, MM0YOS, info@gm4riv.org
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
CONTENTS:
ALARA
Inverhuron Ham Radio Club, Canada.
Eva HB9FPM Swiss YL On the air via Remote station in Canada
Austrian yl OE5TTB Silvia
Turkish yl Merzuke Gediktaş 9A/TA7YLY – DXCC Certificate
South America Museum Weekend 19 – 21 May 2023
SK – CT1YH Lucia Silva Santos Tome
June Birthday
Calendar & Contacts
NEWS FOR SCOTLAND & CLUB NEWS (GB2RS) Extracts inc Additions
OPERATING /P ON MICROWAVES
Today, the 7th (Sunday), Edinburgh and District Amateur Radio Society will be enjoying UHF and microwave portable operating. On Monday, the club has a net on 433.525MHz from 8pm. Next Saturday there will be a social club meeting. Norman, GM1CNH, 0774 094 6192
POTA FROM ‘FLANDERS’
Stirling Amateur Radio Society is having its first Parks on the air activation today, Sunday 7th of May. Operators will be available on 20 and 40m using SSB, FT8 and CW. The activation is at Flanders Moss, POTA reference GM-0075, near the village of Thornhill. Any Radio Amateurs in the locality are welcome to drop by. Club members will be listening on 145.500MHz for local stations. secretary@gm6nx.com
RADIO QUESTION & ANSWER NIGHT ON ZOOM
On Sundays, Kilmarnock and Loudoun Amateur Radio Club has an SSB net on 3.720MHz from 2pm, followed by a quiz on 145.475MHz from 7.45pm. On Monday there will be a radio question and answer night on Zoom from 7.30pm. On Tuesday, the club will be having a natter night at its clubhouse from 7.30pm. klarcinfo@gmail.com
CW TRAINING
On Monday and Thursday evenings, Michael, GM5AUG provides GB2CW slow Morse for the Glasgow area on 144.600MHz FM from 8 to 9pm. All are welcome to join in. For more information email gm5aug@topple.scot
GB7SS NATTER
On Tuesday Moray Firth Amateur Radio Society will be on the air via GB7SS for the Moray Chat. GM8HWZ/MM0TQH, www.mfars.club mfars.secretary@gmail.com
SOTA – OLD & NEW
On Wednesday, Lothians Radio Society will be enjoying a talk entitled ‘SOTA old and new’. Andy Sinclair, MM0FMF, secretary@lothiansradiosociety.com
DR16 SUPPORT NET
On Wednesday, from 8pm to 9pm, George, MM0JNL will be hosting his DR16 Support Net via the GB3BT repeater. The net is open to anyone, within range, who has any radio-related issues and needs assistance or guidance, and as an open session with the local RSGB representative for Members and non-Members alike. dr16@rsgb.org.uk
RUMMAGE SALE
On Wednesday, Inverness and District Amateur Radio Society will be meeting for coffee and chat. Next Saturday and Sunday there will be a Rummage Sale and Barbecue at Peter, GM7JYW’s QTH. Invernessradiosociety@gmail.com
PORTISHEAD RADIO
On Thursday, Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society will enjoying a talk on Portishead Radio by Jim Campbell, 2M0IAQ. Fred, GM3ALZ, 01975 651 365
FURTHER NEWS ITEMS
BRAEHEAD RALLY
The ASRA Braehead Rally is taking place on, Sunday the 14th of May. The venue is Braehead Arena Foyer, 150 Kings Inch Road, Renfrew G51 4BN. Free parking is available. The doors open for everyone at 10am and admission is £4. There will be trader stalls, bring and buy and an RSGB Book stall. Catering is available on site. The event will feature the Central Scotland Repeater Group AGM. For more information and contact details visit www.braeheadradiorally.com
AGM
West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society will have its usual Solder Group meeting from 6pm on Wednesday at the CCA. Friday the 19th, will be West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society’s 52nd AGM. Commencing at 8pm sharp, the meeting will take place at their Rose Street Club Rooms. For further information checkout the Club’s website: wosars.club
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
NEWS FOR SCOTLAND & CLUB NEWS (GB2RS) Extracts inc Additions
GM7OAW (SK)
Alex was a member of both the Paisley Amateur Radio Club & The West of Scotland ARS for many years, taking part in many aspects of the Clubs activities.
In WoSARS, he was an ex Chairman and Treasurer. The 1990’s saw Alex involved in the establishment of the Club’s Shack at Cochno. He also enjoyed contesting, IOTA and dxpeditions with fellow Club Members. Examples of Alex’s escapades with WoSARS can be found at https://wosars.club/the-
As well as amateur radio, Alex had a passion for model railways and models in general, with an early example of model airborne video around a WoSARS contest station here: https://youtu.be/
Alex was professional engineer, joining the then GPO/BT and retiring from a role in Safety Management.
Our sympathy goes out to Gillian and family.
His funeral will take place this coming Thursday 4th May, Woodside Crematorium, 46 Broomlands Street, Paisley, PA1 2NP at 1pm.
Edit (30/04/23)
“……..
To help those of you who cannot attend Alex’s funeral on the 4th May in person, his wife Gillian has arranged for the service to be streamed. The details are as follows:
https://www.wesleymedia.co.uk/webcast-view
Webcast Login PIN 280-7018
I hope to see you in person at Woodside Crematorium, Paisley on Thursday at 1pm.
Sincerely,
Graham Auld- 2M0IJU
Secretary
Paisley Amateur Radio Club ……………..”
MORSE PRACTICE
Michael, GM5AUG has a new 80m GB2CW transmission on Sundays at 7.30pm around 3555kHz. This is intended for anyone who wishes to learn CW, at any level. Following the transmission, feedback for students will be available via Zoom.
Also, the 2M (144.600MHz) sessions continues on a Monday & Thursday nights at 2000hrs. For more information, please email gm5aug@topple.scot and checkout wosars.club (CALENDAR).
PI STAR MMDVM HOTSPOT
On Tuesday the 2nd of May at 7pm, Moray Firth Amateur Radio Society will be enjoying a talk by GM8HWZ entitled ‘PI Star MMDVM Hotspot’. GM8HWZ/MM0TQH, www.mfars.club mfars.secretary@gmail.com
TECHNICAL & SUPPORT NET
On Wednesday, from 8pm to 9pm, George, MM0JNL will be hosting a Technical andSupport Net via the GB3BT repeater. The net is open to anyone, within range, whohas any radio-related issues and needs assistance or guidance. This is a peer-support net, the aim of which is to provide support to fellow amateurs. dr16@rsgb.org.uk
ABERDEEN ARS CELEBRATES 75 YEARS
On Thursday, Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society will be meeting for dinner to celebrate its 75th anniversary. Fred, GM3ALZ, 01975 651 365
FURTHER NEWS ITEMS
ASRA RALLY
The 2023 ASRA Rally at Braehead will be held on Sunday the 14th of May. There will be an RSGB bookstall, trader stands, bring and buy, and full catering on site. Free car parking will be available. For more information contact Stephen Kelly via admin@braeheadradiorally.com
SOTA (CLUB ACTIVATION)
Cockenzie & Port Seaton ARC intends to have a Club activation on North Berwick Law (GM/SS-280) in the Summits on the Air (SOTA) programme, on Wednesday 17th May. For more information checkout this FLYER .
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 2nd May. Martin, 2M0KAU, 07763 708 933
Kingdom Amateur Radio Society has nets on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays from 7pm on 144.750MHz. Steve, MM0SKX, 0771 105 9343
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. secretary@gm6nx.com
MONDAY
DV Scotland Phoenix Monday Night Net operates every Monday from 8pm to 9.30pm with MM3XGP. This is via all DV Scotland Phoenix Repeaters on Talk Group 23556, time Slot 2. In addition, via Allstar HUB 53937, D-Star reflector XLX600D and System Fusion Reflector 0-DVSPh. The Coast-to-Coast net takes place on Saturdays, from 9 to 10pm, with GM5DVS. Details of how to connect are at dvsph.net
Edinburgh and District Amateur Radio Society has a net on
433.525MHz from 8pm. Next weekend, the club will be enjoying UHF and microwave portable operating activities. Norman, GM1CNH, 0774 094 6192
Glasgow University Wireless Society net will take place on Monday evening around 145.525MHz from 6pm. Michael 2M0GUI, mm0wsg@neotes.uk
Kilmarnock and Loudoun Amateur Radio Club will be holding a radio
question and answer night on Zoom from 7.30pm. On Tuesday there will be a natter night at the club house from 7.30pm. Next Sunday, the 7th , there will be an SSN net on 3.720MHz from 2pm. Later on, next Sunday there will be a quiz on 145.475MHz from 7.45pm. The quiz is open to all amateurs. klarcinfo@gmail.com
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. Eric, GM4FQE, 01 333 450 753
Largs & District Amateur Radio Club meets on the Third Tuesday of every month and the next meeting will be Tuesday 16th May in The Largs Museum, 2 Manse Court, Largs. All are welcome. 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.
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
Inverness and District Amateur Radio Society will be on the air.
Invernessradiosociety@gmail.com
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 (check this out, it may longer be taking place (March 2023)). Friday sees the club meeting at Newarthill Community Education Centre, Newarthill, ML1 5JU from 7pm. Simon, 2M0LSG, Secretary@mlars.co.uk.
West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society will have its usual Solder Group meeting from 6pm at the Centre for Contemprary Arts, Sauchihall Street. Checkout wosars.club .
THURSDAY
Lomond Radio Club meets 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. The next club meeting will be held on Friday the 5th May. On alternate Fridays there is a Zoom natter. Derek, MM0OVD, 0742 899 461
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 the 5th May meeting. Bob, GM4UYZ, 01875 811723, www.cpsarc.com
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, the Club will be meeting at 8pm on Friday at its Rose Street club rooms. For more information check out the Club’s website: wosars.club Jack, GM4COX, wosars.club
SATURDAY
Wigtownshire Amateur Radio Club will meet at the AIRD Centre in Stranraer on Saturday the 20th of May from 11am to 3pm. Together with Dumfries and Galloway RAYNET group, there is an open net on GB3DG every day at noon. All are welcome. There is also a net on GB3DG every Thursday from 7.15pm, then joining with Zoom from 8pm. Oli, MM0YOS, info@gm4riv.org
My experience with a faulty Yaesu FT-470 which was kindly gifted to me by another amateur may help someone else who owns an FT-470 2m/70cm dual band talkie that develops a similar problem.
When I initially tried out the talkie, I heard my TX on another radio, so it sounded like it was working, but in fact nobody else could hear me, not even a station just a couple of miles away.
I also noticed that RX was terrible as well and I could only hear very powerful signals, but even at that, it was with noise.
It transpired that the deaf RX and TX not getting out symptoms had something in common…
Once I got the top board separated and out of the cabinet, I noticed a very crusty looking solder joint below a stand off pin, which in turn was soldered, via solid core wire, to the centre pin of the BNC socket.
Things were a bit worse on the other side of the PCB once that had been removed from the rear cabinet.
A loose antenna socket had flexed the solid core wire soldered from the BNC socket to the stand off pin on the PCB, and in turn stressing the delicate print below.
Stranded flexible wire between BNC and stand off pin might have been better for preventing this from occurring.
I would add that the socket was not loose when the radio was given to me, otherwise that might have led me to the fault sooner, but looking at the scrape marks on the threaded, slotted circular BNC securing ring, it became obvious that the ring had been tightened with pliers at some point.
The PCB track leading to the stand off pin, that feeds the BNC, had separated from the board and from C2001 (470pF) which is in series with the antenna socket.
If you look closely at the photo (above), the fracture between cap and print can be seen.
When a 0.6mm soldering bit on a temperature controlled solder station was placed on this track, it fell off never to be seen again!
Oh well, not to worry, I’ll just solder to the end of the SMD cap then, I thought, given that it appeared to be ok in the photo.
Alas, no go – the capacitor had suffered from being pulled about too much by the flexing, and ultimately, broken print with the result that the antenna side contact of the capacitor disintegrated as soon as any heat was applied.
So a 470pf cap was now needed.
Doesn’t have to be SMD as it’s possible to solder one end of a “normal” cap to the board and the other end direct to the BNC at a push, although SMD caps are likely to be less inductive.
I managed to find a replacement 470pF cap on eBay which restored normal operation.
Effectively, I’d been TXing into no antenna!
Fortunately no other damage was done – I was initially fearful that the now rare and expensive Mitsubishi 2m and 70cm PA ICs might have failed.
One to watch out for, and the moral of the story is to make sure that the BNC socket on your FT-470 remains tightly secured otherwise this repair will become necessary at some point.
I trust of some interest and help if you experience a similar problem.
73
Colin
Summits on the Air launched in England (G) and Wales (GW) on 2nd March 2002. Since then it has expanded massively to over one hundred associations on all major world continents, and has over 24,000 participants.
A special award has been launched to celebrate SOTA’s 20th birthday. Participants can obtain a certificate for their best 20 days chasing or activating (separate certificates for each activity). Logs are entered as normal and the SOTA Database picks your 20 highest scoring days out of your logs for the whole year. (March 2nd 2022 to March 1st 2023). Read MORE ……………..
The news headlines:
GB2RS Script – HERE .
CLUB NEWS & NETS
The Sunday Loch Lomond net in the Vale of Leven which was temporarily suspended returns tonight. See the Facebook pages or contact mm3ddq@yahoo.co.uk
Falkirk Amateur Radio Club’s net on Wednesday is unable to operate until further notice owing to repeater GB3FE being down. Peter, gm8gax@tiscali.co.uk
For the same reason the Stirling Club Net today and the ones on Monday and Thursday are also not taking place on GB3FE
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)
Dartmoor Radio Rally; McMichael Rally; East Suffolk Wireless Revival; What you need to know as an amateur radio user and the Ofcom EMF calculator; Bletchley Park; G0NSY SK; virtual Ham Radio World Weekend; FMH Portable Operations Challenge; Slovenian Amateur Radio Union will celebrate the country’s 30 years of independence; TO11A; GM4PVM; 7D9BA; UK Microwave Group 122 to 248GHz contest; UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz contest; SFI at around 80 and quiet geomagnetic conditions with a Kp index of two; We are in peak season for Sporadic-E;
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.
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’s GM/SS-037 – LOG
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).
And I’ll leave the last word to Nick:
“……… Hi Guys,
The news headlines:
GB2RS Script – HERE .
CLUB NEWS & NETS
Mid Lanarkshire Amateur Radio Society now sees the Zello chat take place from 7pm on Friday, which then moves at 9.30pm to a Net on GB3KV at 9.30pm. The DMR Scotland net on TG23550 from 8pm on Wednesdays continues to operate along with the Thursday net from 8pm on 70.425MHz. Further details can be found at www.mlars.co.uk.
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)
survey about amateur radio; new YOTA Contest; RadCom Plus; Sporadic-E; Friendship on the Air Award; Bletchley Park plans to re-open; VE2CSI/B beacon; Amateur Radio Direction Finding; 5MHZ New Zealand; SV9/DD1GG; TY5AB; GB0AEL first woman flying solo across the Atlantic; GB1SCW SOS radio week; 144MHz May Contest; 144MHz Backpackers; UK Microwave Group Millimetre Wave Contest.
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