Issue 17 - July 17

QUA Welcome, to Issue 17 - July 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.

SRS at Bletchley Park 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 Membership - membership@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 October 2017 Articles to be sent to QUA by 10 September 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 Time is passing rather fast. Here we are almost halfway through 2017. SRS wins the RSGB Region 3 Large club of the year again. Thanks to all who contributed.

The bands have not been favourable to us in recent months, then a sudden opening in the 6 meter magic band. The short opening at the end of May was great, contacts in Italy, and other parts of Europe were possible.

Two contests have just taken place for which PCG have been active. Both CW based, the second being RSGB NFD which PCG operate on behalf of SRS. The HF Vertical antenna suffered was damaged in the strong winds. This has now been replaced, thanks to our Station Manager Phillip M0XYA and Nigel M6YKK. The radio in the number one station has now been replaced with an ICOM IC-7400, the same as station two. This means that both stations are virtually identical. Having a combination of antennae we can run HF and 2 meters on both stations simultaneously. Consideration has to be given that the stations cannot operate on the same bands at the same time.

The member’s trip to Bletchley Park was a great success - I hope all members enjoyed the day. Another member’s trip will be put forward for consideration soon. Look out for the email.

SRS are operating a Special Event Station at the Transport and Aviation Society Event at Runway Visitors Park, Manchester on Saturday and Sunday 22 and 23 July. Evan M0TJU has acquired a special callsign GB0XWB. This is to commemorate the regular operation of the Airbus A350 extra wide bodied aircraft flying into Manchester. Please come along and show your support. It is envisaged that further special event stations will be organised in the future. Volunteers are required to make these feasible. Any suggestions as to where to operate from please have a word with Evan M0TJU or myself.

Our own Rally is fast approaching and volunteers will be required to help set up on the Friday evening and also on Saturday to assist stall holders with their wares. Further information will be emailed to members later this month (June). If you have any questions or concerns about the running of your club please contact me direct, at a meeting, or by email or phone.

It is your club, the committee are here to organise and run it on your behalf, your feedback is important.

Best Regards Tony M0SAV SRS Chairman

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SRS Links RSGB www.rsgb.org

Diary of Events - July/Aug 2017 July 2017 Tuesday 4 July

Talk by Bylara

Saturday 8 July

SRS Rally

Ofcom www.ofcom.org.uk

Tuesday 11 July

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

ARRL www.arrl.org

Thursday 13 July

2m Net 145.375 +/- 7.30pm

Tuesday 18 July

Radio Night

Tuesday 25 July

Skills Night

Wednesday 26 July

10m Net 28.460Khz +/QRM SSB 19.30 Local time

UKFM Group Western www.ukfmgw.org.uk

QRZ.com www.qrz.com UK Repeaters www.ukrepeater.net Raynet www.raynet-uk.net Summits on the air www.sota.org.uk

August 2017 Tuesday 1 Aug

Society Meeting

Saturday 5 Aug

Foundation Course 1 of 3

Sunday 6 Aug

Foundation Course 2 of 3

Echolink www.echolink.org

Tuesday 8 Aug

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

Ham Links www.eham.nets

Thursday 10 Aug

2m Net 145.375 +/- 7.30pm

Saturday 12 Aug

Foundation Course Exam Day 3 of 3

Tuesday 15 Aug

Radio Night

Tuesday 22 Aug

Skills Night

Wednesday 30 Aug

10m net 28.460Khz +/QRM SSB 19.30 local time

BYLARA www.bylara.org.uk

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

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Diary of Events - Sept 2017 September 2017 Tuesday 5 Sept

Monday 11 Sept

SRS Talk Night - Arduino Project with Peter M1PTR & Peter M0PTB Advanced Tutorial Session 1 (7-10.30pm)

Tuesday 12 Sept

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

Thursday 14 Sep

2m Net 145.375 +/7.30pm

Tuesday 19 Sept

Radio Night

Monday 25 Sept

Advanced Tutorial Session 2 (7-10.30pm)

Tuesday 26 Sept

Skills Nights

Wednesday 27 Sept

10m Net 28.460Khz +/SSB 19.30 local time

Local Radio Clubs: Macclesfield Wireless Society Manchester Wireless Society Mid Cheshire ARS North Cheshire RC Northern Amateur Radio Societies Association (NARSA) Oldham Radio Club RSGB Region 3 Website Radio Millennium Lodge Rochdale & DARS

If you know of anyone who maybe interested in giving a talk or demonstration at SRS on one of our Society Nights, please let Evan know either at a society meeting or email him on: treasurer@g8srs.co.uk

South Cheshire ARS South Lancashire ARC South Manchester Radio & Computing Club The Simpson Amateur Radio Society Warrington Radio Club

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

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West Manchester RC

3 TROPHIES IN THE LAST QUARTER FOR SRS Club of the Year 2017 Large Clubs - Region 3 I am very pleased to let you know that Stockport Radio Society have won the large clubs region 3 Club of the Year 2017 again.

Thanks to Ed 2E0CFM for reading through and checking the document that we sent in.

Let keep SRS on the map and continue winning these competitions.

Narsa 2017 Best Club Stand Again we have won the Best Club Stand at Narsa 2017. It was a very close call between Stockport Radio Society and Thornton Cleveleys Radio Club. Our Media Manager Heth M6HNS was chatting with Steve Thomas M1ACB - General Manager of RSGB about the club what we do, course, talks, how proud of our contesting group we are and their achievements, how we go the extra mile to help people of any age etc. She did feel like she was being interviewed. Steve took some of the club literature and left. A couple of hours later we were then asked to go upto the stage. where we then found out that we have won the Club Stand. When announced, we were told that it was because of Heth’s enthusiasm for the club that swayed Steve’s decision, on which Club won.

Narsa 2017 Construction Trophy Well done to Steve 2E0ISB who won the Construction Trophy for his 6m antenna build.

This is the second year in a row that we have won this with Phil (previously 2E0XYA) M0XYA winning last year 6

)

Images from Narsa 2017

Our Stand

Stephen’s 6m Antenna

Peter M1PTR and Heth M6HNS with the trophies 7

Stockport Radio Society Website - www.g8srs.co.uk We have recently updated the website to a more modern look.

Below is a site map of the website to able you to navigate around the website. Your views on the website are always welcome.

Home About Us Getting Started History of Stockport Radio Society Join SRS Location QUA Mags & Photos SRS Committee 2017 Sub tab - Committee Documents Our Club Callsigns Club Merchandise Activities Diary of Events Narsa Rally SRS Rally Rallies Around the Country HF Ladder & Club Log Double Sapphire Award Trophies External Trophies Awarded Trophies Awarded at the AGM Members Meet our Current Members Members Biography Silent Key Courses Foundation Sub tab - Frequently Asked Questions Intermediate Advanced Tutorials Registered Assessors Peak Contest Group Who’s Who on the Team Where we Operate from What Equipment we use Contest Dates 2017 PCG Links Contact Us Links

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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

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H

….

I

..

J

._ _ _

K

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L

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M

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N

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O

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P

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Q

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R

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S

…

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V

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W

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Y

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Z

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Images from our recent trip to Bletc Images below provided by Alan G0ROW

Images below provided by Stephen 2E0ISB

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Morse Code

chley Park 2017 - Members Images Images below provided by Neil M6NAE

1

._ _ _ _

2

.._ _ _

3

..._ _

4

…._

5

…..

6

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7

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8

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9

____.

0

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Our Morse classes run on each club night from 7.00 to 7.30 pm.

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

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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

Contest Scores Peak Contest Group

The last couple of weeks has seen a lot of activity from SRS' Peak Contest Group entering two contests from Common Barn Farm at Rainow.

The first contest was a 48 hour international event for CW on the none WARC HF bands.

Our MULTI 2 station using 2 FT5000 transceivers, amplifiers with yagi and dipole antennas were operated by Kieron M5KJM, Tom M0DCG, Carsten G0SYP, Evan M0TJU, Dave G0LZL and myself.

We made 3176 QSOs giving 6.7M points compared with last year when we managed 3,715 QSOs and 8.6M points.

The second contest this last weekend was for the RSGB's National Field Day. A 24 hour CW event requiring the station to be set-up within 24 hours of the start and run on generators.

12

The set up was similar to the WPX event on the previous page, but only one RF signal was permitted at any one time.

This was controlled by a toggle switch located strategically between the two operators.

In quiet times this arrangement works very well but when things get busy controlling the switching became quite a tense challenge!

While rule changes this year makes NFD points comparisons meaningless the number of QSOs comparison is still valid.

1,372 QSOs were made compared with 1,511 made last year.

This year the NFD site was subjected to a visit from a RSGB inspector who's task was to check contest rules were being adhere to. As you would expect all was found to be OK! Conditions for both contests were rather poor and hence the lower QSO rates reported.

The stations both functioned very well with the exception of one of the Spider beams that suffered a fibreglass pole section broken in the high winds of the WPX contest.

My thanks to all the operators involved and also to Roy G6RSU who kindly took time out on his day off to come and help us with a station build.

Frequencies 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

UHF

(Ultra High Frequency)

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

Bernard - G3SHF 13

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 August course dates are as follows Saturday / Sunday 5 and 6 August and Saturday 12 August 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 Tutorial 1 Tutorial 2 Tutorial 3 Tutorial 4 Tutorial 5 Tutorial 6

-

GB3MR

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

433.3500 Mhz FM Analogue Stockport

GB3PZ

430.9000 Mhz FM Analogue Dukinfield

GB7WC

439.4875 Mhz Digital Warrington

Course Fees Foundation £45.00 - Based on a minimum of 6 students Intermediate £90.00 - Based on a minimum of 4 students Other costs : Kit from Kanga : £26.00 inc P&P / Text Book RSGB : £6.99 plus P&P

GB3WP

430.9375 Mhz FM Analogue Hyde

GB7MA

145.600 Mhz Digital Bury

Advanced £95.00 - Based on a minimum of 4 students

GB7DV

439.6125 Mhz Digital St Helens 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

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.

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Special Event Station GB0XWB Stockport Radio Society at the Manchester Airport Aviation and Transport Fair Runway Visitors Park - Manchester Airport Over the weekend of 22-23 July, SRS will be running a 'special event station' from the Manchester Airport Aviation & Transport Fair. The callsign to be used is GB0XWB, for which we have received a ‘licence’ (i.e. a notice of variation, NoV).

As the term suggests, such a station commemorates a special event.

In our case, we are recognising the commencement this year of services at Manchester of the revolutionary Airbus A350-900XWB airliner.

A special event station is a means of demonstrating amateur radio to the public and, in our case, promoting SRS. To that end, we will be operating on the HF bands under the cover of a gazebo in the runway viewing area, not far from the hangar housing Concorde.

I hope you can join us!

Evan M0TJU

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HF Ladder 2017 – Half way point We are now half way through the year and I’m pleased to see the league table has doubled in size with some new members and the return of previous entrants. Welcome to you all!

In my last report we focussed on the lower HF bands especially 40m. Whilst 40m is still the most active at the moment, this time I want to look at the upper HF bands, especially 6m, as we are now well into the Sporadic E season.

Again, 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 6m during May. Zone 14 covers Ireland across to Germany and Norway down to Spain.

Its amazing to see such a high number of QSOs on what may seem to be, for most of the time, a dormant band. When Sporadic E is about the band goes crazy with distance stations heard at 5,9+ against low background noise. Though you have to be quick to make the contact as they can disappear into the ether as conditions can suddenly change.

Looking at the leader board, 20 and 40 are still the dominant bands for slots. Barry, VK2BJ remains in the lead with Evan, M0TJU leaping into second place and yours truly third.

Eagle eyed readers will spot that I have two entries this time as I have uploaded my log from our HB0 mini dxpedition. My /P operation was the result of just 4.5 hrs operating over two days yielding 27 slots. Why not borrow the club’s kit and try some portable operation yourself? You don’t have to travel far, there are lots of RF quiet /P locations within easy reach of Stockport.

73 and Good Dxing, Pete Ridley, M1PTR

18

19

94 9%

0

0

2

0

0

3

0

1

6

2

10

17

53

272 88 320 91 25% 8% 29% 8%

0

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0

1

5

1

0

18

1

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65

0

2

0

3

16

15

7

19

21

9

36

29

32

45

86

0

1

0

0

7

0

3

5

4

0

3

0

13

15

0

0

9

1

0

27

6

1

21

0

3

48

12

67

114

14 1%

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

1

1

2

9

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

9

6

2

34 21 3% 2%

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

9

0

0

8

3

7

7

40m 30m 20m 17m 15m 12m 10m 6m

HF Ladder June 2017

HF Ladder 2017 - June Rank Name 160m 80m 60m Call 1 VK2BJ 7 55 0 Barry S. 2 M0TJU 1 26 0 Evan D. 3 M1PTR 0 25 0 Pete R. 4 G0ROW 0 0 6 Alan G. 5 GM4UYZ 0 3 0 Bob G. 6 G3SHF 0 6 0 Bernard N. 7 M6NAE 0 0 0 Neil R. 8 M1REK 0 1 0 Ray K. 9 M0DCG 1 16 0 Tom S. 10 HB0/M1PTR/P Pete R. 0 0 0 11 M5KJM 0 3 0 Kieron M. 12 G3GMM 0 2 0 Eric M. 13 G8WPL 0 0 0 Don H. 14 G3ZOD 0 1 0 Graham S. 9 138 6 1% 13% 1% 1087 100%

4

4

6

27

27

31

33

38

45

54

95

103

155

465

Total

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