QUA Welcome, to issue 34 March 2021 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 informed opinion on all matters relating to - and about - your hobby.
Good day Mr President - Page 50
www.g8srs.co.uk @G8SRS / @SRSContestGroup
StockportradioSociety
Chairmans Corner We were saddened to hear of the passing of Bob’s M0CPP, wife last month. Our thoughts are with Bob and his family at this difficult time. Quite a few of us have now had our first vaccine jab and awaiting our second. Well we have had rain, snow, ice, bitterly cold strong winds, what next? What else can Mother Nature throw at us? I hope that every ones antennas have been able to weather the winds and ice. Neil M6NAE has been busy obtaining some very nice donations from manufacturers and suppliers for our members Raffles. We are now registered with Stockport MBC to comply with the small societies Lottery gambling Act. Keep looking for the updates via our Gmail Groups emails for the next raffle. Our regular nets and WebEx meetings are still progressing through the lockdown and I envisage them continuing well after. As we now have members who live far afield, it has made it possible for all to be a part of the society via the virtual meetings. Thank you to all who join in to make them a success. Our Events Team seem to be having a long holiday, not by choice though, they are just waiting for the GREEN LIGHT then it will be all systems go. Just like the contest team the kits in storage are being used by the spiders as a home Hi HI. Our contest group have been home bound again, due to the current situation, but have made it possible for members to join them and to take part in any of the contests themselves. If you wish to take part with the SRS contest team they will advise you as to how to log your score, and upload it. Quite a lot of activity listed with clubs operating special event call signs, albeit from member’s own home addresses. Personally I have been quite busy and not had a lot of time to scan the bands as much as I would have liked. Cont on next page 2
Don’t forget that on the First Tuesday of the month we have a virtual presentation via WebEx. These will be advertised in the usual way. Anyone having difficulty with WebEx please let us know so that we can help you to join the presentations. Third Tuesday is “Radio Night” Fourth Tuesday “Skills Night” both virtual via WebEx. If you have any “Theme” suggestions for these nights, or would you like to host a “Radio or Skills” night let me know. Any suggestions for virtual meetings please let us know, Evan M0TJU and the team are always looking for presenters. It does not have to be directly related to amateur radio. Until next time Stay Safe and Well and keep talking 73 & 88 de Tony M0SAV SRS Chairman
Request for Tutors We are looking to build a team of tutors who would be prepared to give some time to assist members who wish to progress through the RSGB’s three tier licences. Foundation to Intermediate, Intermediate to Full licence. These would be virtual WebEx meetings, possibly a couple of hours in an evening or weekend, to suit both the candidate and tutor. Candidates would be expected to study the relevant syllabus and read the appropriate book for the Licence level chosen. Tutors will be there to assist the candidates in their quest to progress to the next level. Please contact, Tony M0SAV by email tonym0sav@gmail.com or phone 07508 611701 for further information.
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Diary of Events - April 2021 Thursday
1
Committee Meeting
Monday
5
70cm Net 433.350 - Chris 2E0KJC
Tuesday
6
Talk Night - Communicating through the Oscar 100 Satellite with Phil M0HNJ
Thursday
8
Committee Meeting
Tuesday
13
6m Net 51.550 FM 7.30pm - Keith M0JYP
Thursday
15
2m Net 145.375 FM 7.30pm - Nigel 2E0CKA
Monday
19
C4FM Fusion 144.950 Simplex - Alan G0ROW
Tuesday
20
Radio Night via Webex
Tuesday
27
Skills Night via Webex
Wednesday
28
2m Net 145.375 FM 7.30pm - Nigel 2E0CKA
May 2021 Monday
3
70cm Net 433.350 - Chris 2E0KJC
Tuesday
4
Talk Night - HF in an Urban Environment with Keith M0JYP
Tuesday
11
6m Net 51.550 FM 7.30pm - Keith M0JYP
Thursday
13
2m Net 145.375 FM 7.30pm - Nigel 2E0CKA
Monday
17
C4FM Fusion 144.950 Simplex - Alan G0ROW
Tuesday
18
Radio Night
Tuesday
25
Skills Night
Wednesday
26
2m Net 145.375 FM 7.30pm - Nigel 2E0CKA
Saturday/Sunday
29 & 30
CQ WPX CW Contest 48hrs 00.00 to 23.59 utc
Thank you to everyone all the net controllers, members doing presentations and the members who participate in the events listed on these pages. Without you and your involvement there would be no club. 4
June 2021 Tuesday
1
Talk Night - Receive only Antennas for HF with Evan M0TJU
Wednesday
2
70cm Net 433.350 - Chris 2E0KJC
Saturday/Sunday
5&6
RSGB National Field Day NFD - 24hrs 16.00 to 15.59 utc
Tuesday
8
6m Net 51.550 FM 7.30pm - Keith M0JYP
Thursday
10
2m Net 145.375 FM 7.30pm - Nigel 2E0CKA
Monday
14
C4FM Fusion 144.950 Simplex - Alan G0ROW
Tuesday
15
Radio Night
Tuesday
22
Skills Nights
Thursday
24
Committee Meeting
Wednesday
30
2m Net 145.375 FM 7.30pm - Nigel 2E0CKA
July 2021 Saturday
3
SRS Rally - POSTPONED
Monday
5
70cm Net 433.350 - Chris 2E0KJC
Tuesday
6
Talk Night - SOTA
Tuesday
13
6m Net 51.550 FM 7.30pm - Keith M0JYP
Thursday
15
2m Net 145.375 FM 7.30pm - Nigel 2E0CKA
Monday
19
C4FM Fusion 144.950 Simplex - Alan G0ROW
Tuesday
20
Radio Night via Webex
Saturday/Sunday
24 & 25
RSGB Islands on the Air (IOTA) Contest 24hrs -
Tuesday
27
Skills Night via Webex
Wednesday
28
2m Net 145.375 FM 7.30pm - Nigel 2E0CKA
If you know of anyone who may be 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:treasurer@g8srs.co.uk 5
A Profile of our returning Member Peter G8BCG At the age of about 10 I lost interest in Meccano and started fiddling with an old valve radio set. Pretty soon I had twiddled some "screws" and (via the odd electric shock!) discovered the "trawler band" and also the excitement short wave listening*. One day I came across a very strong signal from somebody in a car who said he was on his way home from work driving along Reddish Lane (my road!!). I noted that this happened almost every day and eventually I tracked the operator to his house. Knock Knock - "Hello Mister - I've been listening to you on my radio". I had discovered Amateur Radio, Top Band and Gordon Banks G3SNX. From there things developed rapidly and I soon became a junior member of Stockport Radio Society. Initially my interest in VHF came via a different route - Fred G3MAX at NW Electrics on Great Ancoats Street in Manchester where I used to hang out every Saturday. A 19-set under the bed complete with battle-field VHF also helpedJ. It was not long before I gained access to the holy of holies - Fred's warehouse and the NW VHF Group shack! Amateur Satellites, AMSAT Oscar 2 and 3 and VHF Field Day on Axe Edge sealed my fate and lead to my future career and life-long passion for Amateur Radio. * Early in the evening of 22nd Nov 1963 the excitement of Short Wave Listening turned to disbelief. Live via Voice of America I heard the shots and tears as President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as he rode in a motorcade through Dallas. One of those remember where you were moments. It was several hours before the news broke in the UK. SRS was in those days meeting above The Blossoms at the corner of Bramhall Lane. Like Barry G3PEK/VK2BJ and the many other juniors, I was quickly taken under the wing of the (to me at least) old timers - Ray Phillips, G3FYE, Bill Banks, G2ARX, Ian MacArthur G3NUQ and others – many others! Soon I was enrolled on the RAE Course run by Ray G3FYE at Avondale School (and often at his home during holidays). Thanks in no small part to Ray, I succeeded at my first attempt. Back then the Radio Amateurs City and Guilds Examination was quite a serious written examination on a wide base of theory, practice and regulatory topics – scary at 15. 6
I was allocated the callsign G8BCG in August 1967 – 1 month after my 16th Birthday (as back then an application could only be made by post and only for those 16 and over. SRS, contests, field days, JOTA and the NRSA Committee (as it was then) for the Annual Convention at Belle Vue kept me busy. My main interest has always been weak signal VHF and UHF propagation but my infamous P60 tower and 2m / 70cms array at my parent’s house had to go when I got married to Anne in 1973. By 1976 we had 2 kids and had moved from Droylesden to a hill top in Stalybridge. At Christmas 1978 we all headed off on the adventure of a lifetime via Hong Kong en-route to my new job in Solomon Islands. I got the job based on my telecoms planning skills (GPO) combined with my adult education teaching experience (you guessed it – I ran the RAE Course at Oldham Tech). 7 years living and working in Solomon Islands in the early 80s made a lasting impression on us all. Professionally it was my first overseas assignment - a two year secondment that grew to 7 years. An assignment that started with establishing a Telecommunications Training Centre and culminated in the modernisation of the national telecommunications network. The capital, Honiara, on the island of Guadalcanal, was a great place for our kids to grow up - they made many friends - both Solomon Islanders and other expat kids. So did we! As a primary teacher, Anne was soon working at Woodford Primary School(!), Honiara. For Ham Radio it was just fantastic. There were several other hams within the Posts & Telecommunications Department and within a week of arrival I had the callsign H44PT. Although involved in HF comms professionally, I had no interest in the HF bands for ham radio – though (at the peak of Cycle 21) I did spend a lot of time on 28MHz with regular skeds back to many back home – particularly with Stan G3VSA. On 432MHz and 144MHz Oscar 10 and other AMSAT satellites proved to be great fun. I was certainly in demand as "DX" but was also able to use AO-10 for regular skeds to the UK. Within 6 weeks of setting up home in Honiara I was on “The magic Band” 6m. 6 watts from a Kenwood TV506 to a quad loop wire slung in a tree. This was VHF like I had never heard – I was hooked. A good solar cycle, excellent tropical location and a sea path to Japan combined to entrap me for life! 50,000 JA QSOs later and I was still looking for more when I left H44 in 1986. [There is a Cycle 21 / 23 Sounds Archive here http:// www.h44pt.org.uk/sound_archive.htm if you want a bit of nostalgia]. 7
We returned to the UK in 1986 and divorced shortly thereafter. Anne, Fiona and Mick remained in Cheadle Hulme whilst I took up a new London based overseas job with BT. Sadly Anne passed away in 2010 shortly after retiring from teaching. The next 10 years or so in the telecommunications industry saw me travelling all over the world, including extended periods in Thailand, Australia, Solomon Islands (again), California, S Korea and southern Africa. Not so great for Ham Radio but I did manage to get on the air whenever possible – you guessed it – on 6m! I met Jackie in BT and we got married in 1993 having just moved to a new home in Silicon Valley.
With parents not getting any younger we took the decision / opportunity to escape from the pressurised joint venture telecommunications environment and return home in 1997. Cornwall was an easy choice, particularly as other family members were already in Cornwall and Jackie’s parents had by then moved from London to Devon. We now have almost 25 years of “living happily ever after” in Cornwall. Although our original home and holiday cottage business was at the bottom of a steep sided wooded valley and not ideal for ham radio, I soon found a suitable local hill top and rapidly re-kindled my passion for 6m. I first “borrowed” and eventually purchased a small hill-top field at 160m above sea level and 2 minutes from home which has become the site of an ever growing VHF antenna farm. My passion is still 6m – caught in Solomon Islands over 40 years ago “The Magic Band” is like a tropical disease – manageable but impossible to cure! At the end of 2020 my G8BCG 50MHz “score” lies at 260 DXCC comprising: 177 CW, 191 SSB and 196 DATA or by propagation mode; 226 Terrestrial and 96 EME. This from a total of 23429 6m QSOs in 38 Zones, 132 Fields and 1273 Squares since 1997. What of the future? Well, more of the same but it’s getting harder now! My 50MHz EME led me into an interest in 144MHz EME and soon 432MHz EME. The use of JT65 for EME led me into an appreciation of the value of the other WSJT modes and I have had a lot of fun recently on LF, HF and VHF with FT8 and FT4. I’ve even used FT8 and FT4 on the AMSAT QO-100 geostationary satellite on 13cm / 3cm – a real challenge for frequency stability.
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So, after over 55 years of “playing radio” from building top band (or was it medium wave;-) 807PA AM transmitters to QRO VHF/UHF PAs and from crystal sets to SDR and GPSDO satellite TX/RX systems, I am currently active on 160m through to 3cm, CW, SSB, FM, DATA (whatever it takes) and still enjoying every minute of it. The technology we use, experiment and communicate with today is beyond even the science fiction of 50 years ago. So, if you are new to amateur radio then your future will be very different to mine – but I’m sure it has the potential to be even more exciting and all-embracing. Way beyond what is imaginable even now.
Enjoy promote and protect our great hobby! 73, Peter Taylor G8BCG
Peter’s website - http://www.g8bcg.org.uk/
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ELAINE (2E1BVS) AND JOHN’S (G3WFK) ADVENTURES Chapter 1 – GB2SLH My story starts in February 2010 with a chance encounter. I’d had a major operation so my daughter, who then lived in Hampshire, suggested that when I was fit to travel (a journey of 250 miles) I spend a few days with her. I spotted in Radio Communication that if we went down during science week in March we could visit the Flight Refuelling Radio Club’s open day. After a couple of wrong directions from the sat nav we found the Club. I was still feeling a little ‘delicate’ so after a quick look around I found myself a chair and a cup of coffee leaving my OM, John G3WFK, to have a more in-depth browse. A man came over and introduced himself as Tony, G0GFL. He asked me if I was a member of BYLARA. “What’s that” I replied. “Come next door and meet my wife Nicky M5YLO she’ll tell you all about it” he said. Nicky turned out to be a small very bubbly lady. She educated me about BYLARA and told me how to join. I was fascinated to hear how she had joined a group of international YL’s on visits to the Falklands and to Svalbard where they had operated massive pile-ups. She said that she had been feeling very nervous that morning because BATC (British Amateur Television Club) were streaming on the web the day’s activities and had interviewed her about her recent trips. We got on great and chatted the afternoon away like long lost friends. I asked her where her next adventure would be to. Nicky said that it would be in August; the idea was to combine a holiday with the activation of Sumburgh Head Lighthouse in the Shetland Isles using the call sign GB2SLH. The lighthouse had been booked for the two weeks either side of lighthouse weekend and some of the YL’s on the previous trips were interested in another YL operation. OM’s would be allowed – well somebody had to brew-up, wash-up and, of course, put the odd aerial up. “Why don’t you join us?” she asked.” When John eventually found me again, I greeted him with “How do you fancy going to Shetland for our holidays? I’ve been chatting with Nicky and it sounds really exciting. All you have to do is say “Yes.” I explained a bit more and he said “Well, er… I suppose we could”. (We have been going to Cornwall with the caravan for the last 30 years). We exchanged telephone numbers with Tony and Nicky and said we would be in touch. 10
When we got home we began to ask ourselves – “Are we mad - what have we let ourselves in for”? We’ve just agreed to spend two weeks in a lighthouse with people we have never met before. The first thing we had to do was get a map out and find out exactly where the Shetland Islands are – on most maps of the British Isle they appear in a box in the top corner. They actually lie 100 miles north of Scotland where the North Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. They are on the same latitude as Bergen in Norway, the south tip of Greenland and straddle the 60th parallel. It’s 210 miles from Aberdeen, 223 from Bergen, 226 from Torshaven, Faroe Isles, and 594 from London. Shetland consists of over 100 islands of which 15 are inhabited. The population is approximately 21,000 most of who live on the Mainland Isle. The only town is Lerwick, the capital, where a third of the people can be found. As the holiday became closer the more nervous I became. We had many phone calls with Nicky and Tony and e-mails circulated. Tony rang to say nine would be coming with five YL’s operating over the weekend. Seven would stay at the lighthouse and two at a local hotel. He explained that the room they had used as a shack on a previous visit was the one allocated to us as a bedroom which posed a problem - where could we operate from? If we used the lounge it would be noisy for the operators, as everyone had to pass through to get to the kitchen Our YL operators would be Nicky M5YLO, Liz M0ACL, Chantel PA5YL, Unni LA6RHA and me. The other ladies had met on an expedition to the Falkland Isles and were very experienced operators. Liz was UK co-ordinator for Thinking Day on the Air and Unni was President SYLRA (Scandinavian Young Ladies Radio Association). Oh dear, how did I manage to get myself into this! I hadn’t picked up a mike for about five years. Everybody was to be responsible for their own travel arrangements. Nicky and Tony had been to Shetland on a number of previous occasions. They would travel from there home in Dorset and take the ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick spending two weeks in their caravan before we arrived. Liz and OM Brian G0UFB would fly from Southampton via Glasgow and stay the full two weeks, Chantel could only manage a week and arrived from the Netherlands via Heathrow and Edinburgh. While the two ladies from Norway who were originally only coming for the weekend (but that changed to a week and then 10 days) had to fly from Oslo via Heathrow and Edinburgh even though Bergen was just across the water. Continued on next page ….
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How would we get there? We looked at our options and costs involved; Fly – from Manchester to Glasgow, Edinburgh or Aberdeen then onward to Sumburgh. OK but limited baggage and radio gear – no car – ? possibly hire one. Drive - 360 miles to Aberdeen and then by sea with Northlink Ferries – take car and more radio equipment. We eventually opted to take our car and caravan for us to sleep in which solved the problem of where to locate the shack. A few weeks before we were due to go on our big adventure we went to the Stockport Radio Rally and while chatting to another amateur over a cup of coffee I told him about our proposed trip to Shetland. Oh that’s interesting” he said “I worked on the ferry between Aberdeen and Lerwick for 14 years. “Give me your phone number and I’ll see what I can do” A couple of days before we sailed he telephoned to say he had arranged for us to visit the control room and engine room of our ferry. An unexpected privilege. We sailed overnight from Aberdeen. The ferry crossing to Lerwick takes 12 hours and after booking a return trip we didn’t have much change from £650. On leaving the ferry terminal we had been told to turn left and keep going for 25 miles down to the most southerly tip of Mainland Shetland to Sumburgh Lighthouse. After we had gone about 22 miles we encountered a barrier across the road and to our amazement we saw a plane crossing in front of us. The road crossed the main runway of Sumburgh Airport. In 1979 a Dan Air flight overshot the runway and landed in the sea with the loss of 17 people. The runway was extended – one end already was on the beach so they had to extend the other way crossing the main road and into the sea. Shortly after the airport the road became single track and started climbing. We stopped at the RSPB car park and looked up toward our home for the next two weeks. Nicky came down to meet us and took John up in her car to see if he was happy to take the caravan up The single track road went steeply upward and round a very sharp bend. We took a deep breath and up we went!!
The lighthouse at Sumburgh Head was the first to be built in Shetland and is now a listed building. It was designed by Robert Stevenson, grandfather of famous author Robert Louis Stevenson. The walls at Sumburgh were built double thickness in order to keep the damp out because the building is heavily exposed to the elements. Elevated 91metres above sea level, the light is visible for up to 23 nautical miles and flashes every 30 seconds. In 1822 when the lighthouse was completed the annual cost to run the lighthouse was £650.00, which would equate to £27,248.00 in modern money. 12
The light was fully automated in 1991 and the Lighthouse Keeper's cottage passed to Shetland Amenity Trust to operate as part of Shetland Lighthouse Holidays. The light still remains under the maintenance and control of the Northern Lighthouse Board. Since our visit the buildings have undergone major refurbishment with a section of new road being added as the old one was crumbling into the sea, and is now a major attraction for visitors. If you visit your guide could be Tony or Nicky who now live on Shetland. Sumburgh Head is the most northerly transmitting station for the General Lighthouse Authorities Marine Differential GPS Service. Which is a satellite based navigation system. It is the newest element of the mix of visual, audible and electronic aids to navigation provided by the three General Lighthouses Authorities of the UK and the Republic of Ireland under their Marine Navigation Plan. Nicky and Tony had collected the keys the previous evening and had the kettle on when we arrived. By lunchtime Tony was on his first run to the airport to collect Liz and Brian. Now the fun started – trying to put up our main aerial a W3DZZ 80/40 dipole which had been made and trialled by Tony before leaving home. The public had access all round the buildings and this proved a headache for aerials and guy ropes. We also put up a vertical SRCX80 on the back of our caravan. We had various HF rigs and a 2m base station monitoring GB3LU to keep in touch with each other when out and about plus the Shetland amateurs. Our party was complete on Wednesday when Chantel arrived. Unni and Unni 2 were staying at a nearby hotel so after a very enjoyable meal and a few glasses of wine we made our final plans. Over the Lighthouse weekend we had decided to work in pairs – one to operate and the other to look after the computer logging. Three hours on, three hours off, then three hours on and six hours off. Leading up to the weekend we operated as and when time permitted in between visiting places of interest in South Mainland such as the collection of old radios at the Museum at Hoswick. On one of our WAB trips to activate the islands of West Burra, East Burra and Trondra I was getting desperate for the loo. The tourist information centre in Lerwick had kindly provided us with a map which showed all the public WCs on the islands, so when we pulled up at the harbour car park out I quickly jumped and went to use the facilities. They were very clean and smelt newly painted but when I tried to leave I found the main door was stuck. What to do now, my radio and phone were both in the car. I shouted and banged on the door to make as much noise as possible for what seemed ages but was probably only about five minutes. I realised that the sound I had heard earlier was the door being locked but it hadn’t registered at the time. Continued on next page …... 13
Fortunately John had got out of the car and heard my cries for help. He tried the door but it was definitely locked. He accosted a passing lady who took him across the road to the village shop/post office where he again told his story. The shop hadn’t seen such excitement for a long time. One lady knew someone with a key. A call was made and a key arrived but it didn’t fit. Another lady knew the mother of the girl who had been painting the toilets; another call was made and shortly after a van arrived with a very sheepish young lady to let me out. One lady insisted on taking us to her home for tea and biscuits just to make sure I was OK after my half-hour of being “locked in the loo”. John radioed back to the lighthouse to tell everyone (and anybody monitoring the repeater) of our unusual afternoon.
On Friday in our hired red mini-bus we set off on a world wind trip around Shetland and with our tour guides Tony and Nicky we travelled from Sumburgh to Toft at the north of the Mainland for the 20 minute ferry crossing to Yell. We drove across the large island of Yell and caught the ferry for the 15 minute trip to Unst, the most northerly island. We walked to the Keen of Hammer, a lunar landscape which is home to some of the rarest plants in Britain including Edmondston’s chickweed found only here growing amongst the old serpentine rock. We visited the famous most northerly bus shelter (check out its website) which each year is decorated a different colour. This year was orange which Chantel thought very appropriate. It was surrounded with a beautiful display of orange flowers while inside there were orange cushions, orange toys, and orange flowers, etc. Then on to the most northerly brewery (there was a clanking of bottles in the mini-bus for the rest of the journey), the most northerly chocolate factory (spoilt for choice), the most northerly Church and we saw the most northerly lighthouse Muckle Flugga. Our next stop was the Royal Air Force Base of Saxa Vord which was officially mothballed in 2006. Wind speeds of 177 miles per hour had been detected here before the anemometer blew away along with the large radar dish. All pieces of which had to be collected up as it was top secret. During WWII it was part of the network of chain home radar stations with 350 ft wooden masts; the concrete bases could still be seen. On our return journey we visited the most northerly chippy in Brae for a fish supper. We returned at about 9.30 p.m.to prepare for the start at 1 a.m. of the lighthouse weekend. The wind was getting up and when we opened the door the phone was ringing – it was the lighthouse caretaker saying that a force 10 storm was coming in. Continued on next page …. 14
He said “You might loose power but there are candles in the kitchen cupboard”. (Just what we wanted to know!) “If you want to see your caravans in the morning you’d better move them between the buildings”. We had to take down the vertical and move the cars and caravans. We found the torches and candles and brought in the big 100AH leisure battery from our car just in case. We survived the storm but the following morning our aerial needed some repairs. We operated the station for the full 48 hours. The conditions were very up and down but we managed to work all continents. When conditions got really bad we left Chantel to work CW. I remember getting up in the early hours, pulling my jeans on over my pyjamas and battling the wind to walk from the caravan to the lighthouse. What people will do in the name of amateur radio? We made over 800 contacts over the weekend and had many visitors including the Shetland Times. One local amateur came with half-a-dozen eggs. He said that his wife had gone over to England for a couple of weeks but had forgot to tell the hens she was going. Unni, a sergeant in the Norwegian Army reserve, specialises in casualty simulation and has worked with the UN helping to train soldiers on what injuries they may encounter in places like Iraq. She had contacted the Shetland Emergency Planning Officer and volunteered to help put on an exercise for the emergency services. “Exercise Unni” took place on Sunday morning. The exercise simulated an explosion in the engine room of a boat involving four casualties and at the same time a group of canoeist getting into difficulties and suffering from hyperthermia. All the emergency services were involved including Coast Guard, RNLI, Air Sea Rescue and RAYNET. Unni was herself one of the casualties and was disappointed when the helicopter had to leave because of a real call. She had held a fixed winged pilots licence so she had been looking forward to being winched aboard the helicopter but a few days later as a “thank you” she was taken by helicopter on a flight around the coastline of Shetland. On Monday we hired a boat in Lerwick for a trip to see the wild life of the islands of Bressay and Noss. Our boat was equipped with an underwater camera which gave us some exceptional views of life below the waves and in a cave we were introduced to the colourful creatures clinging to the rocks. On the high cliffs we saw thousands of sea birds while at the waters edge were many seals enjoying the sunshine.
Continued on next page …. 15
During the afternoon we visited the Shetland Museum which is situated on the listed Hay’s Dock. The £11.8M building was opened in 2007 by HM Queen Sonja of Norway and the Duke & Duchess of Rothesay (Charles and Camilla). The ground floor concentrates on the history of Shetland until 1800 and the first floor has exhibits from the last 200 years. The following day we again went back in time. Our Norwegian ladies were interested in the “Shetland Bus” which operated during WW11 between Shetland and Norway. Our first stop was to Lunna House where we were greeted with coffee and delicious chocolate cake by Tony GM7AFE who told us about the history of the house which dated back to the 1600’s. In 1940 it was requisitioned by the newly-formed Special Operations Executive (SOE), a secret section of the War Department, for use as a North Atlantic training base for spies, saboteurs and resistance workers. Following the invasion of Norway in 1940, it also became the original headquarters of what came to be known as “The Shetland Bus” Norwegian Resistance Movement. From here Leif Andreas “Shetlands” Larsen and his colleagues lived and worked in between raids and clandestine visits to the west coast of German-occupied Norway. At that time around 30-40 agents stayed in the house and the outbuildings were used for the storage of ammunition, radios etc, which were smuggled from here by converted fishing boat into Western Norway. Lunna House was also the first safe landing place for refugees who were aided in their escape from the Nazis by the Norwegian Resistance. After the “Shetland Bus” moved its ship operations to Scalloway, the house continued to be used as a training base for the SOE and was used as a base for testing one-man submarines and for planning and executing raids such as the attempt with one-man submarines to sink the German battleship Turpitz in Norwegian waters. A plaque outside the front door of the house, unveiled by Lief Larsen’s daughter Astrid in 1990 commemorates the role of the house as a WWII Norwegian Resistance base. Our next stop was Scalloway with its colourful painted cottages. We saw the ruined castle which was used to hide ammunition and visited the museum to learn more about the Shetland Bus. The Germans attacked Norway on the 8th April 1940 with 10,000 troops and it fell on the 9th April 1940. Many fled in boats to Shetland where these patriots used their little wooden boats to transport ammunition and saboteurs to Norway returning with refuges. After massive losses in the winter of 1942/3 the Americans donated 3 heavily armed submarine chasers. The Germans left Norway on 8th May 1945. Continued on next page ….. 16
On the quay is a war memorial dedicated to the Shetland Bus. Further along is a plaque about the Prince Olaf slipway that was built to repair the Norwegian boats and in 1942 was visited by Norway’s Crown Prince. Eshaness Lighthouse was our next stop where we were greeted by Hans DJ6AU|MM0XAU in full Viking costume. John soon found himself flat on his back on the ground with what turned out to be a real sword at his throat!! The lighthouse was built in 1929 and designed by David and Charles Stevenson, of the famous Stevenson family of lighthouse engineers. The light flashes white every 12 seconds, and has a visibility of up to 25 nautical miles. The location of the lighthouse is perfect, being 61 metres above the sea with no obstructions in any direction. The light was fully automated in 1974 and whilst The Northern Lighthouse Board retained control and maintenance responsibilities for the actual light the lighthouse keeper's cottage was sold into private ownership. American author Sharma Krauskopf and her husband Deane bought the property in 1999 and spent time enjoying the remoteness. She wrote a book about her time living at Eshaness entitled 'The Last Lighthouse' and evidence of her affection for the property remains clear with examples of her work on show in the cottage. We were privileged to be shown around by Deane. Shetland Amenity Trust purchased the keeper's cottage from them in 2005 for use as Shetland Lighthouse Holiday accommodation. The Lerwick Radio Club had activated the lighthouse the previous weekend using the call sign GB3ELH. The day finished with a meal at the Braewick Café, which opened specially for us, where we were joined by local amateurs plus Hans and Deane. It was Chantel’s birthday a couple of days later and the meal ended with a large birthday cake complete with candles. On Wednesday evening the Lerwick Radio Club hired a room at a community centre for the evening. The event was open to the public - some of the casualties and the Doctor from “Exercise Unni” joined us- as did the crew of our boat to Bressay and Noss. Nicky spoke about her trip to the Falklands and Unni showed slides of her operating in the Arctic We also paid a visit to the very windy site of the most northerly amateur radio repeater GB3LER and had a peak into the small wooden building that was home to the repeater. Soon it was time for the ferry home. We had a brilliant holiday, made new friends, met some lovely people and will definitely be keeping in touch with them, after all you never know where a chance encounter will take you next. To be continued…. 17
Morse Code
Morse Code
Phonetic Alphabet
1
._ _ _ _
A
._
A
Alpha
2
.._ _ _
B
_...
B
Bravo
3
..._ _
C
_._.
C
Charlie
4
…._
D
_..
5
…..
E
.
D
Delta
6
_....
F
.._.
E
Echo
7
_ _...
G
_ _.
F
Foxtrot
8
_ _ _..
H
….
G
Golf
9
____.
I
..
H
Hotel
0
_____
J
._ _ _
I
India
K
_._
J
Juliet
Our Morse
L
._..
K
Kilo
classes run on
M
__
L
Lima
each club night
N
_.
M
Mike
from 7.00 to
O
___
7.30 pm.
P
._ _ .
N
November
Q
_ _._
O
Oscar
Come and
R
._.
P
Papa
speak to Evan
S
…
Q
Quebec
M0TJU if you
T
_
R
Romeo
would like to
U
.._
S
Sierra
give this part of
V
…_
T
Tango
the hobby a try.
W
._ _
U
Uniform
X
_.._
V
Victor
Y
_._ _
Z
_ _..
W
Whiskey
X
X-Ray
Y
Yankee
Z
Zulu
18
Tea Time Morse with Bernard and Tom Hello everyone and welcome to the latest edition of the Tea Time Morse net on paper and in words rather than “dots and dashes” or “dits and dahs” on 80 Metres! Who’d have thought twelve months ago we’d still be talking about the net one year later, but, here we are bordering on April 2021 and the net is still helping those interested in learning or improving their Morse Code skills. How many have benefitted we’ll never really know, however it’s clear Bernard and Tom’s initiative to use lockdown to improve their own skills has borne fruit elsewhere too. The pair were very pleased to receive some “fan mail” from SRS member Bob G4GBG which I think echos how many others may feel. “Hi Guys, Just to say I have found these sessions very useful. Having taken my morse test in 1977 and then shortly after I let my license lapse, my skills are more than a bit rusty. Keep up the good work. I'm learning many useful things. Like, whereas Bernard seems to have a preference for tea, Tom likes coffee hi hi. One day I might get brave enough to chime in. mni tnx Bob G4GDG” Thank you Bob for your kind words and we hope to hear you on the net soon. It’s true, Bernard and Tom do seem to have differing tastes when it comes to tea time beverages and it would be interesting to know what some of our other regular listeners/contributors chose to lubricate their digits with at tea time. Maybe there should be some cake and a bottle of bubbly consumed around the end of March as on the 22nd the net will see it’s first birthday. Daily sessions with only a handful of blank days is an amazing achievement and testament to the dedication of the pair to provide a service to the society plus the local and wider amateur community. 19
That was evidenced just before Christmas when a Twitter message posted by Practical Wireless and Radcom contributor Tim Kirby GW4VXE congratulated the society for the daily net. As I put together these notes the number of daily sessions are approaching the 350 mark and it’s pleasing to have a regular band of members ready to join in the fun. One of those members is David M0WDD and I am sure you will have been following his story in previous issues.
Well, David now continues his story with the third and concluding part which I hope will serve as an inspiration to others who would wish to follow in his footsteps, or should that be keystrokes.
My CW Adventure Part 3 by David M0WDD Introduction This is the third of three short articles, sharing with you my experiences of learning CW through my attendance on the daily SRS CW net on 3654 Mhz at 4pm daily. This net is run by G3SHF (Ben), M0DCG (Tom) and Nigel (G0RXA), with Nigel and Heather recording and uploading net audio files to the SRS website. 2E0KJC (Chris) is also a partner in crime and regular participant, and other members and non-members join in from time to time. Attending the net continues to be an incredible experience. For me it has been a way to touch base with my regular CW learning, and the net CW copying exercises, live QSOs and feedback all help me move forward. About the SRS CW NET If you listen to the SRS net, you will hear CW practice text at the start. This begins currently at 6 wpm and increases in steps to 18 wpm, so you can copy at a slow speed and build up and see how far you can get. There is also a section on random text and numbers at 12 wpm. Then you have an option to have a QSO at a speed that suits you. For me this is excellent experience in copying and sending practice and I’d encourage any member thinking about taking up CW or wanting to improve their skills to have a listen and join in if you can. The contact details for the SRS afternoon (teatime) CW net are on the SRS website. 20
This part 3 article covers what I have been doing in addition to attending the SRS net as part of my continued CW learning. I also like to keep stats about my CW QSOs. My CW progress; QSOs and CW speeds Since I joined the net in April 2020 I’ve had 225 CW QSOs on the SRS net, and 242 QSOs outside the net. I do try for one QSO on the bands each day and 80m has become my favourite band. This is a long way from when I first joined the net when I could barely copy CW at 10 wpm, and sending was a big unknown for me. After nearly a year on the net I’m now able to copy CW to paper around 15-17 wpm on a good day and around 12-13 wpm head copy. More on head copy later. As regards my sending, I have only sent CW with a paddle. However I have now got a straight key and will be learning to use this soon as well. Using my paddle I can now send at 17-18 wpm, provided I pay attention. Learning to send at the same time as learning to copy CW has been one of the strengths of the SRS net for me as this has been great for my QSO confidence building. The net has other strengths too such as training on using the QSO formats. CW QSO Formats Early in my SRS net experience I learned to use three QSO formats. These are - the basic QSO, the more detailed basic QSO, and the rag chew QSO. The basic QSO is an exchange of callsigns, signal reports, names and locations, then a final 73 and SK EE. The more detailed basic QSO also includes an exchange of details of rig, power, antenna, the weather & temp, or variations, before the final over. Most operators seem to stick to these formats and I have had many excellent QSOs of both types. Sometimes the order of detail changes, but the essence is the same. On the SRS net these formats are practiced lots of times and the routine becomes very familiar. Some parts of the basic QSO become a bit like instant recall. So when I hear some of the standard QSO words in CW I get an immediate impression of the meaning without having to try to figure it out. Not so for the other words though. This means for most CW I do have to write down words, for example in a rag chew. Some QSO experiences I had a good early experience of the rag chew format when returning a CQ call from an operator I’d already had a couple of QSOs with, so we had already gone through the basics of name, location and so on. So with pen and paper to hand we had more of a CW conversation. I was writing down the incoming words whilst writing down what I wanted to say in reply. Wow, 21
writing both sides was really stressful. So I thought I’d better work more on my head copying skills as I didn’t want to have to write down both sides of the conversation for every rag chew. For me head copy practice is a major ongoing challenge. Head copy gets a little better with lots of practice but there is still so much to do to improve. The net has also taught me other important aspects of CW, for example use of 73. One of the best pieces of advice G3SHF (Ben) gave me on the net was to listen for 73 during a CW over. This would indicate that an op wanted to finish the QSO, or I could send 73 myself when I wanted to finish. So this helps me get a sense of when a QSO is about to end or develop into a rag chew. I myself have ended QSOs when I’ve been nervous in my keying or making mistakes and ops have ended QSOs with me when they want quick contacts and then move on. I think a QSO can sometimes develop into interesting conversations and on occasions, particular QSOs stick in the mind for a while. For example I have had two really interesting QSOs involving use of 73. Firstly I remember answering a CQ from an op located in mid Wales I think, who called at 12 wpm and keying was a little hesitant. So I slowed and we had a good standard QSO with most of the usual details. The op then ended with a sudden 73, and we had a short final exchange and all was well. Some months later I saw by chance an online blog post about CW from that same operator. It turned out that the QSO with me had been his first ever QSO and he said in his blog that he had been petrified, but was reassured that I had keyed at his speed and that he was delighted to complete the QSO. Well that was humbling, and I felt honoured to have been his first QSO. That of course had been me six months previously. The second one I remember was answering a CQ from an op in rural Devon, who also keyed at 12 wpm but the keying was hesitant in a different way. We went through the usual QSO exchanges. I remember waiting for any 73 but none came. So I asked about hobbies and we continued with the QSO about this and that for some time. I kept on going until eventually after about 30 minutes the 73 came along. We went through a closing exchange and again all was well. That was a great rag chew. Later l saw on the operator’s QRZ web page that he had been using CW for many years and I never did find out why the keying was hesitant. I learned from that QSO experience not to jump to conclusions. Some QSOs can give different impressions of keying, but can also have a natural flow before the 73 I thought. 22
RSGB Slow Morse and Facebook groups So what else have I been doing? Here is a summary of my other CW learning activities. This covers listening to two of the RSGB slow morse transmissions and also my experience of a particularly helpful Facebook group. Soon after joining the SRS net I also started listening to two of the regular RSGB GB2CW slow morse transmissions for code practice. The first is on Thursday mornings, 9am on 3605 Mhz on SSB. This is listening one way only rather than two way CW. The op welcomes listeners on SSB voice, and introduces listeners to the following short text and numbers sections at speeds of 8 wpm, 10 wpm and 12wpm. I think the op then switches to his VFOb, CW mode, tuned slightly away from the SSB frequency and sends the CW sections. Listeners keep listening on the original frequency on SSB so they hear the CW sidetones. The op then switches back to his VFOa SSB and invites voice signal reports and comments. It all works well and I found it a very good experience for confidence building, and later for head copy training. The op does receive quite a few callers after sending the CW, so this is clearly an effective activity. The second is on Monday evenings, 8pm on 3555 Mhz CW. The op sends text passages at different CW speeds and after the text sections calls CQ for QSOs. So all is in CW mode and this time there is a QSO opportunity as well. I found this to be another excellent way to practice copy on air CW and have a real QSO, sometimes with fading and interference thrown in too. As a bonus the op kindly emailed me a constructive critique of my keying after such a QSO. This was a welcome and helpful surprise. Facebook can also be a useful place to build ham radio experiences including CW as you will be aware. I’ve joined several ham radio groups. One in particular really helps me. This is the Slow CW Ops group aimed at beginners and returners. The group posts include helpful discussions, hints and tips, and opportunities to arrange on air schedules, SKEDS, mainly around the slow morse frequency of 3555 Mhz. The group also promotes regular one hour slow CW sessions on Wednesday and Saturday evenings at 8pm for members to call or answer CQs. As this frequency has other users, so other activities can sometimes be there too, so the slow QSOs can be a few Mhz higher. I’ve had a good few QSOs here too and some excellent rag chews as you get to know the members a little. Above all else this group is really effective in helping ops gain confidence and get on the air.
23
Helpful Websites I am starting to use websites too now to help with my CW activities and I am sure there are lots more still to discover. For example for propagation forecasts I look at https://www.predtest.uk/ to see propagation predictions at different times of day. Recently I’ve started to use the Reverse Beacon Network (RBN) to see ops which ops are active on which bands. As you may know this shows frequency, callsigns, CW speeds and signal strengths at different locations, so this also gives me an idea of possible CQ contacts at a speed I can manage. I can also call CQ TESTING and see where my signal is spotted, so this is very helpful in assessing how effective my rig and antenna is, (or isn’t!). My next steps I’ve made plenty of mistakes, questioned my CW learning progress, answered CQs at too fast a rate, entering a CQ contest and messed up the logging, and much more. However, I have found no one seems to mind, everyone makes mistakes, and there is lots of help out there in the SRS club and in the ham radio community in general. The SRS net seems like a club within a club as the support there from the other participants is really excellent. I’m progressing with CW. I have had some success now in entering slow CQ contests and I’ve got to know the N1MM contest logging software which helps greatly. For regular QSOs I try to stick to answering CQs at speeds I can manage, usually. I still make mistakes, but it’s all good fun. Sometimes I email an op after a good QSO, and I’ve received lots of excellent replies, great tips and offers of SKEDs. So my CW Learning continues and I’ve lots more still to learn. I’m keeping up with my regular practice. My current push is to achieve more effective Head Copy. I’ve been practicing trying to visualise incoming CW as characters to build words in my mind, but easier said than done. I’ve had more success trying to visualise text that I want to send, in short pieces, before keying, rather than writing everything down first, but this is at a very early stage. When I send without writing down I’m sometimes spelling challenged.
24
So I’d thoroughly recommend trying the SRS daily CW net and I look forward to catching up with you on the bands. 73 David M0WDD Once again David, thank you for providing an insight into your journey into Morse Code. Looking back over the year it is pleasing to see how David, and Chris 2E0KJC also a regular participant have taken to this aspect of the hobby and are enjoying the opportunity to make contacts both locally and further afield using what may be considered the original digital mode. I’m sure along with Bernard and Tom, both would be happy to help any member considering “dipping their toe in the Morse Code water”. They can be contacted through the usual society addresses. We have received contact from Bob GM4UYZ who has been a member of the society for some time having been introduced by former member and colleague of his, John Hrycan M0BEX and his son, Liam M0AWV. Bob has kindly provided a “help file” for those who would like to use the Morse Code training program “Numorse” on an Apple Mac system. RUNNING NUMORSE PROFESSIONAL ON AN APPLE MAC NUMORSE was written for Windows therefore the Windows version will not run on an Apple Mac. Also, the version of NUMORE PROFESSIONAL is only the 32bit version and not the 64bit version as this was never written. Thanks to Thomas MM0THL and Keith MM0KTC for the instructions below on how to get it running on the Apple MAC. From Thomas MM0THL Note: Always wary about giving wrong information out and sadly I do not have a newer Mac to try it fully on These instructions are not relevant for anyone running a Mac with macOS Catalina (10.15) or macOS Big Sur (11) because from Catalina onwards macOS dropped support for 32-bit applications. Wine – a compatibility layer that allows you to run Windows applications on macOS does not currently support these newer Operating Systems. For those with a new Mac, Keith has found another application that works in a similar manner that you could pay for and use instead. Another option is to use some desktop virtualisation software like Parallels Desktop (paid), 25
or VirtualBox (free) to install Windows. But that too requires a paid Windows license, and many Mac users prefer to get away from Windows entirely. Of course the technology is always moving and with Apples move to their own Processors this may not be relevant for long. However, if you are running a Mac with an older Operating System (up to macOS Mojave, 10.14) then there is a fairly pain free method. Because NuMorse is a Windows application it will not run natively on a Mac so we need to use some translation software to run NuMorse, one of the most popular being something called ‘Wine’. In a Web Browser, go to https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/macosx/ download.html and download ‘Installer for “Wine Stable”’ which is currently version 5.0. When this has downloaded, run it like any normal installer. Once complete, go to http://nu-ware.com/ and download NuMorse Professional. When this has downloaded, when you run it, Wine will run. If you select the standard installation options, then a shortcut to run NuMorse will be put on your Desktop. With any luck you will be able to run NuMorse and practice your CW! From Keith MM0KTC Details below of how to install Nu-Morse on Apple Computers running IOS 64bit systems. Download and install software called “Crossovers” from https:// www.codeweavers.com 1. You will need to purchase this software, as you only get 14 days free, but there are discount codes available (CX35 f = got me 35% discount of the £32 price) 2. Download installer for Nu-Morse. 3. Follow the instruction in Crossovers to install Nu-Morse Bob's your uncle, you're off. Not a lot more to say, I don't have the skills to do screen shots and all, but if I can work it out, I am sure others can. pass on our best wishes.
26
Once again, thank you Bob and good to hear from you. We hope all is well with you and your members at the Cockenzie and Port Seton ARC, please pass on our best wishes.
With that it’s time to wrap up this written edition of the Tea Time Morse Session. Who know’s what is in store for us in the coming months, but until further notice the sessions will continue daily. So, if you are considering giving it a try and you have some time to spare in the afternoons, why not take a listen or call in if you fancy a CW QSO. As always comments and signal reports are most welcome and our contact details are below. So, until next time 73’s and take care from the Tea Time Morse Team.
Teatime Morse with Bernard & Tom
Days: Daily unless specified Time: 4pm local time Frequency: 3.564 MHz +/- QRM Email: morse@g8srs.co.uk SRS info phone: 07506 904422
From The Archives The photo was taken during NFD 2003 at Sale United Football Club (joint operation with South Manchester Radio & Computing Club and Bury ARS) and was used by the Stockport Times newspaper for an article which preceeded NFD in June 2005. The chap at the back is Steve Gilbert G3OAG, member of Bury ARS. 27
80m Titanex or Pipe mast installation GM2T Style (Bob GM4UYZ) 1. Secure the pivot point (base post or base plate) 2. In the same manner as shown, install the guy pegs in to the ground with the top sloping away from the pivot point 3. Attach the antenna or mast to the pivot point and lay on the ground past guy peg 3 4. Attach all guy ropes to the mast or antenna 5. Attach and tighten appropriate bottom ropes to guy pegs 2 & 4 6. Measure and tighten the bottom guy rope that will go to Guy peg 3 to guy peg 4. Once measured and tightened, remove from guy peg 4 and loop over guy peg 3. 7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 with the top guy ropes. You should be left with unmeasured top and bottom ropes for guy peg 1. 8. With ropes tight on guy pegs 2 and 4 and measured ropes placed loosely on guy peg 3, have one or two persons hold the remaining ropes and stand past guy peg 1. 9. One (tall) person lift the top of the antenna or mast above their head and begin slowly walking the mast up hand over hand and walking slowly towards the pivot point. 10. The other person must watch the mast or antenna and pull the correct ropes in time, it is important that the top rope is raised slightly before the bottom rope as the top rope can actually start to pull the top back towards the ground if not pulled in the correct order. 11. Once the antenna or mast is near vertical, the ropes on guy peg 3 will begin to become tight and once tight, the antenna cannot come past vertical. 12. Once the mast or antenna is vertical, measure and attach the pulling ropes to guy peg 1, bottom rope first, then the top. 13. Slight adjustments may need to be made to bring the mast or antenna absolutely vertical. 28
29
Final HF Ladder Table for 2020
30
31
Contact Emails General Treasurer Website / QUA Membership Courses Contesting -
- info@g8srs.co.uk treasurer@g8srs.co.uk - srswebsite@g8srs.co.uk membership@g8srs.co.uk courses@g8srs.co.uk contesting@g8srs.co.uk
Website -
www.g8srs.co.uk
SRS Contest Group is the 32
Repeaters - www.ukfmgw.co.uk 23cm
Output
RX1
Mode
Location
GB3SE
1297.0750 Mhz
1291.0750 Mhz
Analogue
Stoke on Trent
70cm GB3CR
433.1500 Mhz 434.7500 Mhz Analogue
Caergwrle
GB3LI
433.2500 Mhz 434.8500 Mhz Analogue
Liverpool
GB3LL
434.0000 Mhz 434.6000 Mhz Analogue
Llandudno
GB3MF
433.0500 Mhz 434.6500 Mhz Analogue
**
GB3MR
433.3500 Mhz 434.9500 Mhz Analogue
Disley
GB3PZ
430.9000 Mhz 438.5000 Mhz Analogue
Dukinfield
GB3SM
433.3250 Mhz 434.9250 Mhz Analogue
Stoke on Trent
GB3ST
433.2250 Mhz 434.8250 Mhz Analogue
Stoke on Trent
GB3WP
430.9375 Mhz 438.5375 Mhz Analogue
GB7MN
439.4125 Mhz 430.4125 Mhz DMR
Disley
GB7ST
439.4500 Mhz 430.4500 Mhz DMR
Stoke on Trent
GB7WC
439.4875 Mhz 430.4875 Mhz D-Star
Warrington
**
2m Analogue Digital C4FM Fusion
GB3MN
145.6500 Mhz 145.0500 Mhz
Disley
GB3MP
145.7500 Mhz 145.1500 Mhz Analogue
Prestatyn
GB3VT
145.7250 Mhz 145.1250 Mhz D Star
Stoke on Trent
50.7900 Mhz
Stoke on Trent
6m GB3SX
51.2900 Mhz
Analogue
If you use the repeaters on a regular basis, please subscribe to them www.ukfmgw.co.uk. Please check the website to confirm which are currently working 33
SOTA and me Dave Sawyer, M7DAV/2E0DAV/G2DS I like a good walk in the country. I’m not what you’d describe as a “passionate walker” or someone who has a photographic memory of routes that they’ve done - I just enjoy a stroll, usually with a teashop at either end, and plenty of brew stops in between. To some, I’d be considered a hardcore outdoors person. I’ve camped out on hilltops and valleys in tents and bivvy bags. I’ve done this in different countries too, so my casual strolling is international. I have been in a mountain rescue team and been involved in searches for “mispers” (missing people) using radios on days and nights when normal people would stay indoors.
Bolton MRT Annual photo. Spot the author!
Bivvying in Great Langdale 34
Gjendsheim, Norway
Winter Hill SOTA. Shelter is crucial.
I’m still pretty new to the amateur radio hobby. I recall my first visit to SRS being on an evening where Richard G3CWI was doing a presentation on WSPRLite and after viewing his SOTAbeams website I was hooked on the idea of doing some SOTA work. SOTA brings everything together in one convenient package. I can go for a walk, find a nice spot (that is within an activation zone), have a brew and some sandwiches and learn a bit more about radio and the performance of radio, batteries, microphones, laugh at my mistakes and how I can’t seem to write callsigns down accurately - all from the top of a hill. My view on the SOTA scheme is that it’s a very elegant design. It encourages people to go outside and visit the hills. It also encourages people at home to respond to SOTA activators, so an activation is usually more of a walk and less of a “trial by hypothermia”. G7GUN and our setups My friend John (G7GUN) and I have been walking for years, more recently trying out SOTA. Two activators on the same summit can be tricky as it means that one of us gets the summit first and the other will then stay on “last activator” for a week or so. That’s never proved to be an issue because it’s always been more about getting out for a walk and a chat. In North Wales, G7GUN took what I’d describe as a “huge Yagi” for 2m. He got some superb reports on the lee side of Moel Famau. On another summit, we wrestled with the same Yagi in the wind so much that I made a mental note that a single wire antenna was good enough for me. Secretly I was glad that I’d not carried the Yagi up the hill on either trip. Continued on next page…. 35
A SOTA flag is compulsory, according to G7GUN
G7GUN and the “massive Yagi”
G2DS with a Yaesu FT-2DE handheld 36
SOTA strategies and successes People often discuss their SOTA strategies. I’m a 2m FM voice operator mostly, and I’ve had some great results from a FT-2 handheld in the past but not all summits suit that. G7GUN and I went walking with the intention of activating a summit in North Wales and it was a nightmare to get any responses, even with the SOTA scheme being set up to encourage responses. So we failed. Looking at the previous activations of that site, most of the successes were on HF, so it was obvious that we’d have struggled on 2m - if only we’d done better research! But the goal is the walk and not the activation, so it was still a great day out. My radio setup is dependent on how much effort I need to climb the hill. I have a handheld for the tricky walks, or a FT-817ND (more recently an Icom IC-705) for hills where it’s going to be more about the radio work. I’m not sure if the new IC-705’s bandscope is overkill for hill work but there are so many other features that make it a killer hill radio - GPS, voice recording, accurate timing shown on screen and against the recordings.
The New Icom IC705
With the FT-817ND or the IC-705 I use a simple wire antenna that I built, using details in the 14th Edition RSGB Handbook (it’s fig 16.40 if you have the book). It’s not particularly complex to build, it’s lightweight, easy to carry and it works brilliantly on 2m. I support that on a fishing pole. Some sites really suit a 2m activation. I’ve experienced a huge pileup on Winter Hill, with all stations giving great reports which was just awesome to work though. My battery gave out on me there, but there’s always a weak point in any setup. SOTA is only one of the schemes grouping types of geographical features. There are loads of different ones to try. For me, SOTA, POTA and HEMA are probably the most interesting, but as I said at the outset, “I like a good walk in the country” and the radio is just an added excuse.
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Why did I start my YouTube Channel? John M7CPT Initially I was searching on YouTube for a review of the Diamond WD-330s and could only find two videos that talked about its great reception capabilities on all bands 2MHz and above and nothing on its transmission capabilities. After buying one and testing it out for a few months I had noticed that on the lower frequencies it did not transmit as well as it received. After a bit of modelling in MMANA I discovered that it had considerable signal loss on the lower frequencies. I felt that this was important information and others could make a more informed decision when buying one. I created a slideshow detailing the original design, a "T2FD/TTFD" and the shorter 10m version that Diamond had produced along with a video showing where I had setup my Diamond Antenna. I concluded the video with screenshots from pskreporter.info showing both my transmission and reception on the bands I had available (80m-10m) and then uploaded the final video to YouTube. Initially I did not like the way I sounded in the video and did not expect it to have many views, if any at all, but after another YouTuber directed me to his first ever upload to YouTube I decided to upload it. Since then it has received over 170 views and I have already been asked to do follow ups from this. As the "T2FD/TTFD" is described as "The forgotten antenna", I find myself wondering what else has been forgotten about, are there any other forgotten technology or techniques in the hobby? I am still searching for answers to this. I want to give advice that can be of benefit to both beginners and full licence holders. My video "So Your An M7 Now What?" is aimed at the new M7s and was requested as a starting point to get M7s a little further on their way and also point them towards the ARRL's playlist for the practical’s. I was also asked to make a video on "How To Setup And Use Online Logging Servers" The 2 most complex being QRZ & LoTW. 38
"HF propagation secrets" was created when a full licence holder said he "did not understand HF propagation". Whilst I was a little surprised by his admission I thought that he is probably not the only person who does not understand it. So another video was needed to explain my personal observations and knowledge of the subject. I do have a number of videos in the planning stages but I do not want to give too much away but these include cheep radios to get your shack started and warnings of potentially bad options for some. How to get over Mike/Key fright. More antennas for confined spaces. More on common practices and etiquette. Some popular miss-conceptions and book knowledge vs. reality. Some may spark debates (as my most recent one about /QRP did) but all will be researched to the best of my ability first. Teaching & Learning go hand in hand, I will be learning new things and sharing what I learn as I do it and yes I will make some mistakes from time to time please do not be afraid to point them out and I will make the corrections to the videos or post minor updates in the video description. To find my channel on YouTube just type my call sign into the YouTube search "M7CPT". In addition to my YouTube Channel "John M7CPT Amateur Radio On The Air" I also have a Discord server with the same name where I would like people to ask and answer questions as best they can. SRS members get special permissions here so please be sure to request access to the SRS section using name & Call sign. 39
'Intermediate Studies' This is a group who meet weekly using Webex to help working towards the Intermediate exam. It isn't a 'teaching' course. The students are assigned sections to study and are supposed to bring up any puzzles or queries either by email or during the meeting. Experience shows that student questions are rare so we work through the RSGB's sample questions. We explore the answer choices, showing why some are wrong, some are silly, some are right and which of the right answers is preferred and why. The group has been working through the Intermediate Manual, a couple of chapters a week. The 'Basic Electronics' chapter was split into smaller chunks, just a few pages each session. 'Licence Conditions' comes up most weeks. The sample questions soon show if the students have grasped the material. Some people have dropped out, one has joined part-way through. At present we have four students who are working steadily through the material. Once we have studied all of the manual we will have mock exams with discussion sessions on topics arising. The present course is expected to end by April. Pete M0PTB
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 40
My understanding of “HAM-radio” a couple of months ago was only based on curiosity. After my personal circumstances equalised and the opportunity presented itself to continue with the (theoretical) part, the help & guidance from the M0’s was indeed very helpful. As you already know my background is not correlated by any ground with electronics, or radio communication. Now you can imagine (without the PRACTICALS) how the intermediate “book” appeared from my perspective ....
The knowledge of the M0’s is very profound and YES it led to a much quicker AHA & directional effect. Also the time and effort (every Wednesday). additional emails, YouTube content ..... So I was lucky enough to pass the intermediate stage and hopefully after some practice to continue with the Full... Best wishes Rado (was M7BIM now 2E0GVA)
QUA - We need your news QUA is compiled by Heather Stanley M6HNS. This magazine is your magazine, containing information about the club. We would welcome your input. Tell us about what you have been doing. Have you built something?, How is that new antenna doing? It does not have to be radio related. Does your XYL have a recipe that you love that you think we would like. How does your XYL feel about ‘Radio’ write a short article to let us know. Do you have an announcement to make - it can be anything SRS is your radio family. Lets get you 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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You can become a member of Stockport Radio Society by completing a membership form and, either emailing it to membership@g8srs.co.uk or handing the form to the Membership Secretary, Nigel 2E0CKA, at any Society meeting.
Subs Payable Annually on January 1 each year Senior Country Junior
£15.00 £10.00 £ 5.00
Family Pensioner
Juniors upto 18 yrs of age Pensioner from 65 yrs of age.
£15.00 £10.00
Senior upto 64 yrs of age
If you are interested in paying your subs by standing order, please contact the Treasurer on treasurer@g8srs.co.uk
SRS Links RSGB www.rsgb.org
UKFM Group Western www.ukfmgw.org.uk
Ofcom www.ofcom.org.uk
ARRL www.arrl.org
QRZ.com www.qrz.com
UK Repeaters www.ukrepeater.net
Raynet www.raynet-uk.net
Summits on the air www.sota.org.uk
BYLARA www.bylara.org.uk
Echolink www.echolink.org
Ham Links www.eham.nets
Hack Green SDR www.hackgreen.co.uk
If you have any Links you would like to see on this page please email info@g8srs.co.uk
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Frequencies LF (Low Frequency)
MF (Medium Frequency)
2000m : 135.7 - 137.8Khz
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)
UHF
6m : 50 - 52Mhz 4m : 70 - 70.5Mhz 2m : 144.0 - 146.0Mhz
70cms : 430.0 - 440Mhz 23cms : 1240.0 - 325Mhz
(Ultra High Frequency)
Date of Next Issue - June 2021 Articles to be sent to QUA by 14 June 2021
If you have news, events, contest information etc that you would like to share with your fellow members, please email : srswebsite@g8srs.co.uk As you will see from this issue, it does not have to be radio related, but a subject that other members maybe interested in 43
Update from Les M0LPB Examination Invigilation for Walthew House I said I would send you an up to date report at the starts of March, so here we go:5/1/21 to 1/5/21 - 150 Online Exams for Walthew House. - Target To Be Raised £300 Total Raised So Far - 5/1/21 to 2/3/21 £600
No of Exam Target 5/1/21 to 1/5/21 was 150 Exams
No. of Exams I Have Invigilated 5/1/21 to 2/3/21 - 173 Exams
As we can see I have bettered my targets already, but can we do more? Its the half way point so it is time to help push and see just what I can do with your help. (Just due to a comment already made: Please can I make it very clear that at no point do I directly ask for sponsorship from anyone. I attach a link for the GoFundMe Page, at the bottom of a well done email that I send out when anyone passes their exams, and only at that point. I do not even talk about the fund at any point of the procedure. Also please note that at no point do I see any of the monies raised, it goes into a fund that will be paid directly to Walthew House, independent of myself.) Yours Les - M0LPB
Comment from the Club - Well Done Les on what you have done so far this is a great achievement. I am sure Walthew House will be very please with the donation that you send once completed
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Club Nets It has been decided, that the following callsigns may be used by any full licence holder chairing the nets - G8SRS, G6UQ, G3LX, M5MDX on the following nets - 2m net, 6m net, 70cm net and C4FM Fusion Digital Net. Net Controllers If you have the equipment and would like to try and chair a net, please contact Keith M0JYP who will happily help you. If you would like to try a net with a current net controller with you, again speak to Keith M0JYP The current Net Controllers are: Alan G0ROW Neil M6NAE Keith M0JYP Jim G6URD
Tony M0SAV, Heather M6HNS Slawek M0SQJ Chris 2E0KJC
Nigel 2E0CKA Nigel M0VNL Bob M0CPP Roy G6RSU
A list of all our nets, times and frequencies is available on the website
Centenary Book (100 years of SRS) I was appointed to the Committee in 2015, taking over from Tom M0DCG as Secretary, and one of my tasks was to create a ‘Centenary’ book to be publishing in 2021. So here we are, now in the final stages. We are hoping to go to print in early April. Perfect Bound (hard spine) approximately 172pp A4 Let us hope I have done Laurie Newman G4ZDO justice, carrying on the good work he did with the 75-year booklet. So not to be disappointed, please email me with your details of your pre-order / Further information about costs or donations will be provided in due course. m6hns@btinternet.com 45
A Full list of Your Fellow Members Arthur Alan Nigel Carsten Robert SC Brian Roy David James Lee Richard Bernard Julian John Graham Mark Robert John Stephen David David Keith Barrie Roy Allen James Robert SC
G0EOM G0ROW G0RXA G0SYP G1VXD G1YMW G2DS G2LK G3CWI G3SHF G3TFR G3WFK G3ZOD G4FRW G4GDG G4GEY G4GRU G4MUL G4WHF G6GUT G6RSU G6UQC G6URD G7IOC
Raymond Peter Chris Brian Derek Stephen C Bob Andrew Simon Robert Tony Tom Chris Phill Dave Jeffrey Bernard Keith Ken Les Chris Marie Matt Stephen C
G7TQT G8BCG G8HCB G8NHN G8NRU G8YTP GM4UYZ M0AQM M0AVV M0CPP M0CVC M0DCG M0EEG M0HNJ M0IEF M0IKI M0IPF M0JYP M0KJC/G8KJC M0LPB M0LZA M0MLK M0MVR M0MWB
Ben Chris Rob John Pete Andy Brian Jon Tony Slawek Isla Evan Thomas Rob Allan Alex Nigel Bill David Phil Alan James Peter Kieron
M0NEN M0OGG M0ORA M0PEK M0PTB M0REP M0REU M0RFU M0SAV M0SQJ M0SWZ M0TJU M0TKG M0TKT M0TZD M0UTA M0VNL M0WBS M0WDD M0XYA M1FHM M1JSC M1PTR M5KJM
Peter G8BCG
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Ed Nigel Darren Paul Andrew John Keith Jack Rado Ben
2E0CFM 2E0CKA 2E0DVM 2E0ESH 2E0GCL 2E0GCX 2E0GKT 2E0JEH 2E0GVA 2E0JLR
Chris Frank Sarah Mike Andrew Paul Steve Elaine Richard
2E0KJC 2E0KKF 2E0KUH 2E0MBV 2E0ROR 2E0TWD 2E0WIT
Kenneth Heather Alan Anthony Dave craig Robert
M3UQP M6HNS M6KOY M6MZV M6NAE M6OFO M6OKV M6TMA
Steve John William Doug Marie Pauline Ron Andrew
M7BFH M7CPT M7FWR M7HNT M7OEN M7PLB M7RJL M7USL
James Georgio Tracy
SWL SWL SWL
Neo SWL Kieran James SWL (Junior)
Barry
VK2BJ
Neil
2E1BVS 2W0FSU
I hope you find this list of use, especially for those members who are chasing ‘Double Sapphire Points’ If I have made any errors (hopefully not), please email me direct on m6hns@btinternet.com and I will get the changes done. 47
SRS HF Ladder 2021 Welcome to another year of the HF ladder and congratulations to last year’s winners listed in this edition of QUA. Despite (or perhaps encouraged?) by the restrictions of 2020 it was another record breaking year with an increased number entries across all modes. Also of note was that many of you had scores in all modes. We may have our favourite band and mode but sometimes it’s fun to try out something different. With this in mind I had a go in the ARRL DX CW contest in February. I’m not proficient at CW but I do know how to configure my logger to send CW using the F-Keys and together with a CW decoder I was able to make a few short QSOs. It was a very enjoyable experience. Although, as the rules only permit contacts with the US stations, I only added two dx slots (USA & Canada) to my 20m score! Propagation The lack of sunspots is the main topic of recent propagation reports causing the experts to raise concerns over the forecasts. With a solar flux of mid 70s DX is proving elusive in all but digital weak signal modes. Spring is typically a time when HF favours North-South paths, such as the UK to South Africa and South America so keep an eye on the DX cluster for any openings. Also, for a real time measurement of MUF the propquest site maintained by Jim, G3YLA is an excellent indicator of band conditions https:// www.propquest.co.uk/
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HF ladder from M1PTR
HF & 6 DXCC Ladder The first report of the year shows some of you have not wasted time getting on air with the top four bagging over a 100 slots in the first two months of the year. Very impressive! so I look forward to another record breaking year. Details to join the competition are found http://www.g8srs.co.uk/hf-ladder-2/ If anyone needs help with a submission please drop me an email. I’ll be glad to help. 73 and Good DXing, Pete Ridley M1PTR 49
Good day Mr President It's March and it's looking like Spring is on it's way with all that season usually brings. This year of course we are all hoping for a better one than last and with the steady roll out of the vaccines there does seem to be a more positive attitude towards 2021 with the green shoots of recovery beginning to show. On a personal note, I would like to say how pleased and honoured I am to be nominated, then accepted as President of the society taking over from Alan G0ROW at the last AGM. It is indeed an honour to have been considered for such a prominent role, I hope I can live up to the high standards set by my predecessors. I had the opportunity to wear the "chain of honour", or "livery collar" as it is known in some circles, some months ago when posing for a rather unflattering photo, however it was sobering to see the personalities who have held the office previously. I am proud to be the fourth holder of the position following W H (Bill) Banks G2ARX, H P (Harry) Arnfield G3LX and Alan Gurnhill G0ROW. Alan has been a pillar of the society for many years regularly contributing in a variety of ways too many to mention individually in this piece. He is "Mr Reliable" as if anything needs to be done Alan is usually first in line to volunteer his services. Whilst he has chosen to stand down from the role my personal opinion is that as with retiring President's across the Atlantic Alan should retain the title and privileges which go with the role of President albeit retired. 50
With that last comment in mind, The Double Sapphire Award for a long time was "Alan's Baby", so I would like to think contacts with our retired President will command the same points value as any contacts with the present occupant of the role. Perhaps this could be considered by the committee. Once again Alan, may I thank you for your many years of service and I wish you a very happy and productive retirement. I really do have a very hard act to follow. Reading my February copy of Radcom I stumbled across the annual RSGB "Old Timers' Honour Roll" something which I usually take a bit of time to plough through to see which of our members have made it on to the list. For many years our former President, Harry G3LX led the way but since his passing one has to look a little deeper to see who from SRS tops the bill. This year it's our member from down under Barry Simpson G3PEK/VK2BJ who I'm sure is celebrating his 61 years as a member of the RSGB no doubt with a glass, or two of amber nectar. Next in line is Bernard G3SHF, 58 years followed by John G3WFK with 54 years on the clock. Graham G3ZOD (52 Years) then Peter G8BCG (50 Years) complete the SRS line up. I wonder who will be added in 2022? In concluding this first column may I welcome all our new members and congratulate those who have studied, passed assessments and now joined the ranks of radio amateurs in the UK. 2020 was a difficult year for everyone, but our members came together to support each other in ways not thought of previously. That support will continue in 2021 and beyond in the true spirit of amateur radio. Finally, may I echo the words of our Chairman by offering my condolences to Bob M0CPP on the loss of your wife. My thoughts and those of everyone connected with the society are with you and your family at this sad time. Until next time, this is me saying 73's, take care and bye for now. Nigel Roscoe G0RXA President Stockport Radio Society 51
Stockport Radio Society Walthew House, 112 Shaw Heath, Stockport SK2 6QS Tel : 07506 904422 Email : info@g8srs.co.uk
Stockport Radio Society are affiliated members of RSGB (Radio Society of Great Britain) and NARSA (Northern Amateur Radio Society Association) 52