Tag: VHF

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SNIPS – News For Scotland – 6th August

CLICK – For Full Scotland Schedule

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

GM1MLY SK

Michael Bull, GM1MLY who was an active operator on VHF for many years and also helped install the first repeater, GB3NU, on the Western Isles. Michael lived for many years on North Uist in the Outer Hebrides.

GB2RS SUNDAY EVENING TIME CHANGE

From this week onwards, the evening GB2RS broadcast for the Glasgow area will be read on Sundays at 7.30pm on 145.525MHz. For more information contact Michael, GM5AUG via dr13@rsgb.org.uk

2M SLOW CW

Michael, GM5AUG, who is RSGB District Representative for Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway, provides GB2CW Slow Morse for Glasgow and the surrounding area on 144.600MHz FM every Monday and Thursday at 8pm.

SOLDER SMOKE

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 (though this Friday maybe a bit quiet with a few members heading East to the Mini-Rally – below). For more information check out the club’s website via wosars.club & Pat, 2M1CKE Secretary

GB3DG DAILY NET (AND THURSDAY NIGHT)

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, MM0YOS, info@gm4riv.org

MINI-RALLY

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 Friday the 4th of August. On the 11th of August the Club will be holding its yearly mini rally at the Community Centre from 6 to 9pm. Tables are first come first served. Bob, GM4UYZ, 01875 811723, www.cpsarc.com

FURTHER NEWS ITEMS

GB1CWC

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. The Society is running multi-station, Special Event Station, GB1CWC, from its clubhouse in Throsk, near Stirling, from Thursday the 10th of August to Sunday 13th of August 2023, celebrating Stirling hosting the time trial events in the inaugural UCI, Cycling World Championships. The Society would like to extend an invitation to individual radio amateurs and clubs to participate as guest operators at this multi-station event. Any individual or club interested in participating as guest operators should email secretary@gm6nx.com with the date and time they would like to operate the station. This is to ensure they will be guaranteed a slot in the operating schedule. Short-wave listeners and the general public are also welcome to attend. For more Information on the Special Event Stations, directions and the location of the Stirling and District Amateur Radio Society clubhouse, please visit gm6nx.com secretary@gm6nx.com

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

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FT-470 Repair – Colin GM6AWC

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.

BNC Standoff Pin – CLICK To View

Things were a bit worse on the other side of the PCB once that had been removed from the rear cabinet.

Capacitor Separates – CLICK To View

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

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‘To The Moon And Back’ – The First Radio Attempts

Cindy Stodola Pomerleau (Author)

On January 10, 1946, the US Army successfully bounced radio waves off the moon–the first-ever extraterrestrial communication, the birth of radar astronomy, and the opening salvo in the Cold War. The author was just shy of three years old at the time, and her father, E. King Stodola, was Scientific Director of the team that carried out the experiment, code-named Project Diana.

To mark the 75th anniversary of this historic event, Cindy Stodola Pomerleau has written a series of essays using Project Diana as a lens for examining the transformations and dislocations occurring in the US during World War II and its aftermath. Nearly half the book is devoted to World War II, with particular attention to the history of radar at Camp Evans, starting with its fumbling beginnings at Pearl Harbor and culminating in its stunning success in Project Diana. The second section is devoted to King Stodola himself and an examination of the confluence of internal and external factors that made him the right man for the moment. The last section provides a sampler of Jersey Shore life (e.g., the boardwalk, the Neptune Music Circus), contemporary American life (e.g., Sears, nylon stockings), and the author’s little-girl activities (e.g., her parakeet Archie, her Islander ukulele).

Steeped in good humour and nostalgia, these wide-ranging narratives explore Project Diana’s historical, sociological, political, and scientific context, as seen from the perspective of the tiny coastal New Jersey community where fate in the form of Camp Evans deposited the author’s parents and their neighbours. The book is a unique eye-witness account of an event and an era that marked a turning point in American history.

Order from Amazon – HERE .

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Snips – News For Scotland – 25th July

The news headlines:

  • RadCom Basics latest issue
  • NRC Net to close
  • DARC reports survey results

GB2RS Script – HERE .

CLUB NEWS & NETS

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 www.wosars.club/radio-nets

TAGS: (Within GB2RS Script)

logging and eLog; survey, as well as opinions on FT8 and licensing; the first 50MHz and 70MHz Machine Generated Modes-only contests; G4PLZ; Bletchley Park has relaxed their requirement for mask wearing and social distancing; we wish to take a more cautious approach at the National Radio Centre; GB3RS; GB2RS continues to expand; M5GWH has joined the existing team in the Stoke-on-Trent area; from MM0JNL is now additionally covering Northumbria; QSL Bureau sub-manager for the G4T-Z group is retiring; Finningley ARS Car Boot Rally; The Wiltshire Radio Rally; 1st Cornwall Antenna Build Off; The King’s Lynn ARC radio rally; Dartmoor Radio Rally; J88PI from Palm Island in the St Vincent; TF/HB9HKE; CT8/W6PQL; Islands On The Air Contest (IOTA); UK Microwave Group Contest runs from 0600 to 1800UTC today; Worked-All-Britain 144MHz Low Power Contest;Fourth 144MHz Backpackers Contest; 144MHz Low Power contest; Thursday the solar flux index was up to 94; HF propagation remains dominated by Sporadic-E; some very good days of Tropo recently; Southern delta Aquarids meteor shower is under way;

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Snips – News For Scotland – 18th July

  • RSGB Survey results published
  • Build Off in Cornwall
  • New Full course from Distance Learning Team

GB2RS Script – HERE .

GB2RS Extract:

“……………………The Bath Based Distance Learning team is now planning another course for the Full level exam syllabus. The course will run from the end of August to December this year. Students will receive weekly work packages via a virtual classroom and will have access to weekly online tutorials. Students will also have access to one of the remote tutors who will provide feedback and additional guidance where required. There will be no charge for the training but applicants must work through a pre-course classroom and quiz to be eligible for a place. The deadline for course applications is the 4th of August. For full details, and an application form, email g0fuw@tiscali.co.uk…………………”

CLUB NEWS & NETS

The GB2RS News Service is seeking a volunteer in the Caithness and Orkney area. The successful candidate should have a good 2m FM signal into the GB3OC repeater. They would be joining the existing team that reads the news each Sunday morning at 0930 UK time. If you would like to find out more, without obligation, please contact the GB2RS News Manager, via email to gb2rs.manager@rsgb.org.uk

To celebrate the first one-way amateur radio QSO across the Atlantic that took place on the 12th of December 1921, there is a plan to re-create the event in December this year. Those involved are still looking for volunteers and anyone with vintage 1920s equipment that they might consider loaning for the accompanying exhibition. See GM0DEQ on QRZ.com for email details. (More info within POSTBAG – HERE )

The GB3FE repeater serving the Stirling area is now back in service, operating on reduced power.

TAGS: (Within GB2RS Script)

IARU workshop; Antenna Build Off; Bath Based Distance Learning; Full level exam syllabus; QSL Bureau sub-manager for the G4T to Z group; GB4RS; GB2RS continues to expand; Finningley ARS Car Boot; The Wiltshire Radio Rally, Electronics Fair & Car Boot Sale ; Dartmoor Radio Rally; GM7V during next weekend’s IOTA contest; C6AHA; GM3RCV; MM8C; 18th, the International Low Power contest; 24-hour Islands On The Air contest; UK Microwave Group contest runs from 0600 to 1800UTC; solar flux index remained in the 70s last week; a large solar coronal hole impacted the Earth; University of Massachusetts Lowell Observatory has now been fixed; Sporadic-E remains; Tropo ducting;

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Snips – News For Scotland – 4th July

The news headlines:

  • Join Monday’s Tonight @ 8
  • NRC closure for tree felling
  • GM0GMN to lead IPA Amateur Radio Section

GB2RS Script – HERE .

CLUB NEWS & NETS

The GB3FE repeater serving the Stirling area is still out of service and this will affect the Stirling and Falkirk nets.

Cockenzie & Port Seton Amateur Radio is participating in VHF Field Day today. Bob, GM4UYZ, 01875 811 723.

Edinburgh & District Amateur Radio Club will be operating portable for VHF NFD portable operations today Its regular FM net on Monday takes place at 8pm on 433.525MHz.. Norman, GM1CNH, 0774 094 6192.

The West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society is working on the new shack today and may operate for VHF Field Day It has a regular Sunday net from 11am on 145.425MHz. Wednesday sees a net from 8pm on 433.425MHz and on Friday there is an open net on 145.425MHz from 8pm. www.wosars.club.

Dundee Amateur Radio Club is taking part In VHF NFD today as well as the Backpackers contest. The Club holds nets on Sundays and Wednesdays from 7.30pm on GB3AG and GB3DD. The. Martin, 2M0KAU, 0776 370 8933.

TAGS: (Within GB2RS Script)

Tonight @ 8 webinar; National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park will be closed; International Police Association has appointed Jim, GM0GMN; update from Ofcom to their guidance What you need to know as an Amateur Radio user; RSGB awards are open to everyone; The GB2RS service is seeking a newsreader to cover the Western Isles of Scotland; Churches and Chapels on the Air; Finningley ARS Car Boot bring & buy is scheduled to go ahead on Sunday the 25th of July; Wiltshire Radio Rally, Electronics Fair & Car Boot Sale is planned to go ahead on Sunday the 1st of August; ES2TT/0 from Saaremaa Island; VP2V/K3TRM from Tortola; ZD7GB; Coventry being the UK City of Culture GB1COC & GB8CCC; IARU HF Championship; the SFI ended up way higher than this, peaking at 94 on Thursday; Sporadic-E has started to tail off a little as we enter July;  solar flux index will decline from around 92 to perhaps 85 next week; We had a super North-South duct up the East Coast on Wednesday evening allowing a close-to 700km 10GHz Tropo QSO;

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60 Years ‘Young’ for GB3VHF

GB3VHF & GB3UHF – Click For More Info

This December (2020) is the 60th Anniversary  of a well ‘Kent’ beacon in Kent.

As an enthusiastic VHF dx-er in my early years in amateur radio, GB3VHF was one of the primary beacons to monitor in the UK. Living with my parents in Baillieston (E Glasgow or part of Lanarkshire in the early 70’s) my 5 el homebrew quad (replaced later with a pair of J-Beam 6 el Quads) was invariably pointing south – monitoring VHF or slightly to the west GB3CTC (Cornwall – long gone!).

Along with tropo enhancement (in the case of VHF & CTC) and other propagation mechanisms, auroral monitoring was carried out with the assistance of GB3LER (Lerwick, Shetlands – again long gone.)

Cheers

Jack(;>J

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GB2RS(Snips) – 19th May

  • Book now for RSGB Convention
  • CQ Hall of Fame inductees named
  • GB2DAY at NRC on 6 June

Advance notice now that RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park will have restricted access for visiting radio amateurs wishing to operate the station, GB3RS on the 6th of June. On the 6th, the NRC will be running a special event station, GB2DAY to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

This year the ITU World Radio Conference takes place and there is an important motion on the agenda to consolidate and extend access to 50MHz in Region 1, which covers Europe, Africa and Asiatic Russia. One of the national telecoms administrations that is actively supporting the proposal is the Czech Republic; unfortunately some other administrations are actively opposed.

The 200th registration for this year’s International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend has been received and it is from Latvia, which is a rare country for the event and a new lighthouse as well.

W7K celebrates the redefinition of the SI unit kelvin, which will take place on the 20th of May. This station will be operated from one of the most accurate temperature standards laboratories in the world, at American Fork, Utah. Times of operation will be 0000UTC to 2359UTC.

Two special event radio stations will be on the air from Shetland. GB0DAW, for Dementia Action Week, will be on the air between the 20th and the 26th of May ……………………

The 144MHz May Contest ends its 24 hour run at 1400UTC today, the 19th. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and postcode.

Today, the 19th, the 144MHz Backpackers contest runs from 1100 to 1500UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Stirling & District Amateur Radio Society has a club meeting today and next Sunday from 10am till 2pm. On Thursday there’s a club night and Friday sees the start of the club DXpedition to Luxembourg. Contact Jess, MM3RCR, via email to secretary@gm6nx.com.

On Wednesday Lothians Radio Society is having a DF hunt. Contact Mike Burgess, MM0MLB, via email to secretary@lothiansradiosociety.com

On Sunday Cockenzie & Port Seton Amateur Radio Club is operating MM0CPS for Port Seton Gala Day. More information from Bob, GM4UYZ, on 01875 811 723.

For more news visit GB2RS – HERE .

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