Issue 16 - April 17

QUA Welcome, to Issue 16 - April 2017 of the Stockport Radio Society (SRS) Newsletter Written and compiled by SRS members, ‘QUA’ (Have you news of… ?) is your source of news, views and informed opinion on all matters relating to - and about - your hobby.

NARSA 2017 Come and join us on our stand at NARSA Norbreck Hotel, Blackpool, April 9, 2017

@G8SRS @Peak_Contest

StockportradioSociety peakcontestgroup

Contact Emails General - info@g8srs.co.uk Secretary - secretary@g8srs.co.uk Treasurer - treasurer@g8srs.co.uk Website / QUA - srswebsite@g8srs.co.uk Courses - courses@g8srs.co.uk Contesting - peakcontestgroup@g8srs.co.uk

Websites SRS - www.g8srs.co.uk Peak Contest Group www.g8srs.co.uk and click on Peak Contest Group

The Peak Contest Group is the ‘Contesting Arm of Stockport Radio Society’

Date of Next Issue - 1 July 2017 Articles to be sent to QUA by 10 June 2017 If you have news, events, contest information etc that you would like to share with your fellow members, please email : srswebsite@g8srs.co.uk

Stockport Radio Society are affiliated members of RSGB (Radio Society of Great Britain) and NARSA (Northern Amateur Radio Society Association) 2

Chairman’s Corner with Tony M0SAV Welcome to another issue of QUA and Chairman’s corner.

Due to the recent high winds we have lost the vertical HF antenna. A replacement will be installed in the near future. The weekend of 25 and 26 March was the CQ WW SSB contest which Peak Contest Group took part in. A return to the original base, Common Barn Farm, gave the PCG Group, use of mains electricity instead of generated power. In between family commitments, I managed to pay a visit to the group on Sunday 26 March, a really nice sunny day albeit a little chilly. Plenty of radio activity in the caravan. The HF bands seem to be becoming a bit more active, looking at the clusters.

Our skills nights, the fourth Tuesday in the month, are attracting a lot of interest so don’t forget if you have a particular request have a word with Tom M0DCG or Robert M6TMA. A welcome note was received from Dave Wilson Chairman UKFM Group Western, regarding the Stockport repeaters at Bowstones. Both are staying on their original site. See the note further in QUA. I hope you have now paid for your Bletchley Park Trip (£20). This is a chance to see how the code breakers worked and the CW listeners passed information to them. Please contact srswebsite@g8srs.co.uk for more information.

We are in the process of putting together a field kit. This will be used for outside events. The kit will consist of a multi band radio with ATU, generator, portable antenna and all relevant connecting leads. It is hoped that a group of members will get together to take part in special events using this kit. Should you be interested in being involved please have a word with me at any club meeting or email: tonym0sav@gmail.com.

I hope that you are enjoying what your Committee are organising for you. If you have any suggestions or even grievances please let us know. It is your club we endeavour to run it to your satisfaction.

73s de Tony M0SAV SRS Chairman 3

SRS Links RSGB www.rsgb.org

Diary of Events - April/May 2017 April 2017 Tuesday 4 April

VHF Propagation

Sunday 9 April

Narsa Blackpool

Tuesday 11 April

6m Net 19.30 local on FM 51.550 MHz +/- QRM

Thursday 13 April

2m Net 145.375 +/- 7.30pm

Tuesday 18 April

Radio Night

UK Repeaters www.ukrepeater.net

Tuesday 25 April

Skills Night

Raynet www.raynet-uk.net

Thursday 27 April

Advanced Tutorial Primer (7pm – 10.30pm)

UKFM Group Western www.ukfmgw.org.uk Ofcom www.ofcom.org.uk ARRL www.arrl.org QRZ.com www.qrz.com

Summits on the air www.sota.org.uk

May 2017 Tuesday 2 May

Getting Going with Microwaves

Tuesday 9 May

6m Net 7.30pm 19.30 local FM 51.550 MHz +/- QRM

Thursday 11 May

2m Net 145.375 +/- 7.30pm

Tuesday 16 May

Radio Night

Hack Green SDR www.hackgreen.co.uk

Tuesday 23 May

Skills Night

If you have any Links you would Like to see on this Page please email srswebsite@g8srs.co.uk

QUA is compiled by Heather Stanley M6HNS. If you have any articles, reviews or announcements that you would like to see in the pages of QUA, please send your information to srswebsite@g8srs.co.uk or give Heather a call on 07506 904422

BYLARA www.bylara.org.uk Echolink www.echolink.org Ham Links www.eham.nets

4

Diary of Events - June 2017

Macclesfield Wireless Society

June 2017 Tuesday 6 June Tuesday 13 June

Local Radio Clubs:

Society Meeting 6m Net 7.30pm local on FM 51.550 MHz +/QRM

Manchester Wireless Society Mid Cheshire ARS North Cheshire RC

Thursday 15 June

2m Net 145.375 +/7.30pm

Tuesday 20 June

Radio Night

Tuesday 27 June

Skills Night

Thursday 29 June

Advanced Tutorial Primer 2 (7pm – 10.30pm)

Northern Amateur Radio Societies Association (NARSA) Oldham Radio Club RSGB Region 3 Website Radio Millennium Lodge Rochdale & DARS South Cheshire ARS

If you know of anyone who maybe interested South Lancashire ARC in giving a talk or demonstration at SRS on one of our Society Nights, please let Evan South Manchester Radio know either at a society meeting or email & Computing Club him on: treasurer@g8srs.co.uk The Simpson Amateur Radio Society

Special Events Station We are currently looking into setting up a special events station at the Manchester Airport Aviation and Transport Festival at Runway Visitors Park on July 22 and 23, 2017.

Further details will be posted on email nearer the time, but if you are interested in assisting on the stand, please contact Evan M0TJU or email him on: treasurer@g8srs.co.uk 5

Warrington Radio Club West Manchester RC

Silent Key - Eric Forsyth G0KHR We were recently contacted by Helen (the daughter) of Eric Forsyth G0KHR who asked for assistance with the removal of items that belonged to her father. Nigel 2E0CKA went to see Helen and did a small sale for her, in which in excess of £500 was raised.

Eric was a previous member of Stockport Radio Society, and passed away in the early hours of Christmas day 2016, after a short illness. He was still active on the air upto a couple of months before his passing.

Nigel conveyed our thoughts of sympathy to Helen and her family on behalf of the club. We brought back two items that would bring a few memories back to members of the club. These will be on display at Narsa.

Eric’s certificate for the G2ARX Trophy for Construction awarded in 2000 by the late President, Harry Arnfield and previous Chairman Nigel Roscoe

A board of different valves made by Eric.

These will be on the stand at Narsa with a little quiz for visitors to the stand

6

GB3MN & GB3MR Repeaters David Wilson recently came to SRS to give our members an update on the current status of the UKFMGW Repeater Group.

Following on from yesterdays update regarding the cavities for GB3MN we now have some further news regarding the siting of GB3MN & GB3MR. I am please to advise that for various reasons MaxxWave Ltd have taken back on the responsibility for the facility where GB3MN is housed.

I am also pleased to advise that thanks to the generosity of MaxxWave Ltd in the form of their Director Sam Hunt, the monthly site rental has reduced from almost £100 per month, that we were paying, to a more manageable £25 per month. MaxxWave Ltd offered us the facility for free but it was felt that as a group we should make some contribution towards the costs associated with the facility hence the £25 per month.

Myself as Chairman and the rest of the UKFM Group (Western) Committee, and I’m sure yourselves as members, would like to thank Sam Hunt and MaxxWave Ltd for all their help over what has been a worrying time for the repeater group.

We, the Committee, would also like to thank Stockport Radio Society for their generous donation which got us through a difficult time and also their offer to house the repeaters in their club premises.

Very best 73m - Dave, M0OBW - Chairman, UKFM Group (Western)

7

Examination Passes Advanced Examination from December 2016 We have now received Rob Alford’s callsign from December - Rob was away when the last QUA was produced. His new callsign is M00RA - well done.

Foundation Examination - taken in January 2017 Congratulations to the following candidates who took their examination. All passed Matthew Paul Corcoran, Bernard Carter, Carl Gleeson, Steve Worsley, Michael Quinn, Derek Powell and Paul Lomas Intermediate Examination - taken in March 2017 Congratulations to another 8 candidates who passed their intermediate course in March.

A very well done aswell to those candidates who went straight from passing the Foundation onto the Intermediate.

Jeffrey Swann, Bernard Carter, Slawek Kubecki, Ben Daniels, Stuart Arundale, Mark Trow, Stephen Brown, Andrew Green and James Poole.

8

Stockport Radio Society Rally Saturday 8 July 2017 Walthew House 112 Shaw Heath, Stockport SK2 6QS

Rally Details

Doors Open at 10am / Entrance Fee – £2

Disabled Car Parking available Refreshments Club and Trader tables available £10 each.

For Details

Email : info@g8srs.co.uk / call : 07506 904422 .

Talk-in Channel: 145.550MHz (Call sign in use G6UQ) 9

Morse Code A

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B

_...

C

_._.

D

_..

E

.

F

.._.

G

_ _.

H

….

I

..

J

._ _ _

K

_._

L

._..

M

__

N

_.

O

___

P

._ _ .

Q

_ _._

R

._.

S

…

T

_

U

.._

V

…_

W

._ _

X

_.._

Y

_._ _

Z

_ _..

Big Thank You On behalf of the SRS Committee, I would like to say a big thank you to Bob M6TMA for all his help and assistance with the intermediate course.

Bob has also been assisting Tom M0DCG with the soldering projects on the skills night. The first kits that was built was a great success, and more are being planned. Below is the kit that is being built on the March 2017 Skills Night, Keep up the good work Bob it is well appreciated.

Radio Station at Bletchley Park

10

Bletchley Park - May 20, 2017 We have 9 spaces to fill. I have a reserve list set up with non SRS members who may wish to go.

Entry into Bletchley Park is free for RSGB members – but you must download your free voucher and bring this with you on the day. The link for the free voucher for RSGB members is below. http://rsgb.org/main/myrsgb-2/bletchley-parkfree-admission-voucher/ If you are interested in coming on this trip – please let me know you name and callsign as soon as possible.

Costs – £20. Payment would be required in full

by April 25. Book early.

Morse Code 1

._ _ _ _

2

.._ _ _

3

..._ _

4

…._

5

…..

6

_....

7

_ _...

8

_ _ _..

9

____.

0

_____

Our Morse classes run

A few images if you have not been before

on each club night from 7.00 to 7.30 pm.

Come and speak to Evan M0TJU if you would like to learn.

11

Phonetic Alphabet A

Alpha

B

Bravo

C

Charlie

D

Delta

E

Echo

F

Foxtrot

G

Golf

H

Hotel

I

Indigo

J

Juliet

K

Kilo

L

Lima

M

Mike

N

November

O

Oscar

P

Papa

Q

Quebec

R

Romeo

S

Sierra

T

Tango

U

Uniform

V

Victor

W

Whiskey

X

X-Ray

Y

Yankee

Z

Zulu

Peak Contest Group Contest Dates 2017

If you are interested in joining the PCG team for one of their contests, please have a look at the dates below. They would welcome any help in setting up and dismantling the contest site.

Saturday and Sunday 28/29 May 2017 CQ WPX CW 0000 - 2359 (48hr Contest) Saturday and Sunday 4/5 June 2017 RSGB (HF CW) National Field Day 1500 - 1500 (24hr Contest) Saturday and Sunday 30/31 July 2017 IOTA Contest 1200 - 1200 (24hr Contest) Saturday and Sunday 29/30 October 2017 CQ WW SSB 0000 - 2359 (48hr Contest) Saturday and Sunday 26/27 November 2017 CQ WW CW 0000 - 2359 (48hr Contest)

12

Frequencies

National Parks Week GxFF National Parks Week will be running from 24-30 July 2017 and hope operators will take part in activating their local national park as a single operator or club field weekend. Awards will be offered to chasers for the amount of parks activated and Park to Park awards for operators during the event.

Please feel free to contact m0pai@hotmail.co.uk for reference information, operating rules or to register your station event. Information can be found at www.WWFF.CO Please spread the word about this event and take part in making nature your shack.

Club Nets Callsigns to be Used It has been decided, that the following callsigns may be used by any full licence holder chairing the nets

2m nets - G8SRS 6m nets - G6UQ

LF (Low Frequency) 2000m : 135.7 - 137.8Khz MF (Medium Frequency) 630m : 472 - 479Khz 160m : 1.81 - 2.0Mhz HF (High Frequency) 80m : 3.5 - 3.8Mhz 60m : Consists of 11 spot frequencies check band plan 40m : 7.0 - 7.2Mhz 30m : 10.1 - 10.15Mhz 20m : 14 - 14.35Mhz 17m : 18.068 18.168Mhz 15m : 21 - 21.45Mhz 12m : 24.89 - 24.99Mhz 10m : 28 - 29.7Mhz Note for operating on 60m Only available to advanced licence holders

VHF (Very High Frequency) 6m : 50 - 52Mhz 4m : 70 - 70.5Mhz 2m : 144.0 - 146.0Mhz

HF nets - M5MDX If you have any queries about the use of these callsigns, please speak to either Tony M0SAV or Alan G0ROW at any Club meeting 13

UHF

(Ultra High Frequency)

70cms : 430.0 - 440Mhz 23cms : 1240.0 - 325Mhz

Repeaters www.ukfmgw. co.uk

Courses - FLC/ILC Course Secretary

GB3MN

145.650 Mhz FM Analogue Digital Fusion Stockport

GB3SM

433.3250 Mhz FM Analogue Stoke on Trent

GB3ST

433.2250 Mhz FM Analogue Stoke on Trent

GB3SE

1297.0750 Mhz FM Analogue Stoke on Trent

GB3SX

50.790 Mhz FM Analogue Stoke on Trent

GB3MP

145.7500 Mhz FM Analogue Denbigh

GB3VT

145.7250 Mhz FM Analogue Stoke on Trent

John Marsh - M0JFM courses@g8srs.co.uk If you, a friend, or colleague is interested in taking a course, please email John above

Foundation Our July course dates are as follows Sunday 9, 16 & 23 of July 2017.

Intermediate New dates for the next intermediate course will be posted on email, website, social media and also in QUA in the next couple of months. If you have an interest in doing the intermediate course, please contact John on courses@g8srs.co.uk A deposit will secures your place on a course.

Prices correct at publication but maybe subject to change

GB3LI

433.2500 Mhz FM Analogue Liverpool

GB3LL

434.000 Mhz FM Analogue Llandudno 14

If you use a repeater on a regular basis please support them by subscribing to them

Repeaters

Courses - ALC

www.ukfmgw. co.uk

Advanced

GB3MR

433.3500 Mhz FM Analogue Stockport

Primer 1 - Thursday 27 April 2017 Primer 2 - Thursday 29 June 2017 Tutorial 1 Tutorial 2 Tutorial 3 Tutorial 4 Tutorial 5 Tutorial 6

-

Monday 11 September 2017 Monday 25 September 2017 Monday 9 October 2017 Monday 23 October 2017 Monday 6 November 2017 Monday 20 November 2017

Examination - Monday 4 December 2017

Course Fees

GB3PZ

430.9000 Mhz FM Analogue Dukinfield

GB7WC

439.4875 Mhz Digital Warrington

GB3WP

Foundation £45.00 - Based on a minimum of 6 students

430.9375 Mhz FM Analogue Hyde

GB7MA

Intermediate £90.00 - Based on a minimum of 4 students Other costs : Kit from Kanga : £26.00 inc P&P / Text

145.600 Mhz Digital Bury

Book RSGB : £6.99 plus P&P

GB7DV

Advanced £95.00 - Based on a minimum of 4 students Join the Repeater Group Individual £15 Family £25.00 per yr

By Paypal add £1 to each of the above

Information correct as at Oct 16

GB3MF

GB3MA

433.0250 Mhz FM Analogue Bury 15

433.0500 Mhz FM Analogue Macclesfield

439.6125 Mhz Digital St Helens

GB3CR

433.1500 Mhz FM Analogue Marches

Membership You can become a

Club Log (HF Ladder)

member of Stockport Radio Society by completing a membership form and, either emailing it to treasurer@g8srs.co.uk or hand the form to the Treasurer at any Society meeting.

Payable Annually on Dec 1st Senior

£12.00

Family

£12.00

Country

£ 7.00

Pensioner

£ 7.00

Junior

£ 1.00

Juniors upto 18 yrs of age Senior upto 64 yrs of age

If you wish to join Club Log and also get entry into the HF Ladder with the end reward of entry in the HF Ladder competition at the end of the year, and you chance to win a trophy for the year, follow the information below. If you wish to join SRS DXCC league in Clublog, please follow these instructions:    

Register your details with Clublog at www.clublog.org Click ‘settings’ and then go to the ‘clubs’ tab Select SRS - Stockport Radio Society and click ‘join club’ Your membership of SRS will show as pending until approved by the Administrator

The SRS DXCC League can be viewed from this link http://www.clublog.org/ league.php?club=99

Pensioner from 65 yrs of age

Meeting Admission £2.00 per meeting.

If you are interested in paying your subs by Standing Order, please contact the Treasurer on the above email address

Get your logs in and get yourself on the HF ladder with your chance to win a trophy at the end of the year.

If you are new to the HF Ladder speak to Pete M1PTR at a club meeting or email info@g8srs.co.uk for further Information.

16

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HF Ladder 2017 – Start of a new season Hi Folks, Its Pete, M1PTR. It’s the start of a new HF ladder season and with it comes a change of manager. At the 2016 AGM Evan, M0TJU took on more responsibility in the club and the HF Ladder management was handed to me.

The rules are the same as last year, a copy of which can be found on the G8SRS website. Please email me if you have any queries or comments regarding the rules or use of Club Log. At the start of a new season with a clean sheet, new DXCCs ladder points are easy to come by. However, by applying a little strategy and targeting areas it may help you pick those DXCCs that may be less common later in the year.

As a general rule though, during the first quarter of the year the lower HF bands tend to have more DX activity in the evening, while the upper HF bands are generally more active during the day.

I recommend you take a look at the Propagation Wizard in Club Log to find out the best time and band for your setup. Here’s the logged activity to Zone 14 from England on 40m during March. Zone 14 covers Ireland across to Germany and Norway down to Spain.

For the next quarter why not listen out for stations during contests for some easy picking DXCCs? Looking at the first leader board of the year, 20, 40 & 80m make up the majority of slots for most of us. However flying straight into the lead is Barry, VK2BJ with yours truly second and Al, G0ROW third. Most of my points coming from the CQ WPX RTTY contest in Feb. Perhaps next time Barry will pass on a few tips on his technique?

73 and Good Dxing Pete Ridley, M1PTR 18

19

0

M5KJM Kieron M.

5

7

98 14%

7 1%

3 0%

0

0

0

0

3

0

0

60m

160 23%

1

1

1

13

9

21

114

40m

68 10%

0

0

0

0

0

1

67

30m

183 27%

3

17

16

11

18

32

86

20m

78 11%

0

0

0

0

12

1

65

17m

69 10%

0

0

2

3

1

10

53

9 1%

0

0

0

0

0

0

9

9 1%

0

0

0

0

1

1

7

6

21

22

38

45

91

465

4 688 1% 100%

0

0

0

1

1

0

2

15m 12m 10m 6m Total

HF Ladder March 2017

2

3

3

10

0

25

55

80m

0

0

0

M0TJU Evan D.

4

GM4UY Bob G. Z G3GM Eric M. M

0

G0ROW Alan G.

3

6

0

M1PTR Pete R.

2

160m 7

Name

VK2BJ Barry S.

Call

1

Rank

HF Ladder 2017 - March

Stockport Radio Society Walthew House, 112 Shaw Heath, Stockport SK2 6QS 07506 904422 / info@g8srs.co.uk

Print Sponsor - Olympic Press Soapstone Way, Irlam, Manchester M44 6RA Tel : 0161 775 2555 / sales@olympicpress.co.uk 20