QUA Welcome, to issue 32 September 2020 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.
www.g8srs.co.uk StockportradioSociety
@G8SRS @SRSContestGroup
Chairman’s Corner I do hope that you are all staying safe and well. This situation we are all in just doesn’t seem to be going away. I would like to welcome Keith Sale 2E0JPY to the committee. Keith has been a stalwart chairing club nets and monitoring 145.375 during the major lockdown along with Neil M6NAE. Keith will bring some new ideas and expertise to the membership. Keith will be joining a sub team led by Evan M0TJU to bring presentations aimed at a not only newly licensed amateurs, but also those looking to progress forward in the hobby. Members will be notified of the presentation, which we will try to bring one per month, this will be on the First Monday of each month. If this should clash with any other activity a notice will be published accordingly. The team will be Evan M0TJU, Keith 2E0JPY, Dave G2DS and Chris 2E0KJC. All presentations and virtual club meetings will be via the WebEx application. An invitation containing the web link will be sent out in the usual manner. It is planned for the presentations to be open to the amateur radio fraternity, hopefully attracting new members to or club. We are no longer offering RSGB courses at SRS for the foreseeable future. There are free online courses available which we cannot compete with. Remote invigilation means you can book your test to suit your date and time and do it at home at no extra charge from the RSGB.
As our Centenary Celebration at the Alma Lodge had to be cancelled, I have spoken with the banqueting manager and provisionally booked for Saturday 30 January 2021. This is a provisional booking as we do not know what the state of the country will be in. I will keep all informed.
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All being well and it is allowed, on Saturday and Sunday 26 and 27 September I will be at Walthew House between 10am and 4pm.I will have with me the SRS Centenary pin badges and the SRS centenary Key Rings. If anyone wishes to purchase either or both. Social distancing will be observed. Pin Badge ÂŁ1.00 Key Ring ÂŁ2.00. Please have the correct change to avoid unnecessary contact. Please stay safe and keep well. Keep talking Till next time
Best 73 & 88 Tony M0SAV Chairman
A Message from the SRS President Alan Gurnhill G0ROW With everything that has been going on these past few months it has been a difficult time for the Committee. Being unable to meet at Walthew House has not been quite the same and presented many problems. We have tried, and I think succeeded, in running as many club nets as possible to keep everybody informed and still feel part of a club. I would like to thank all the Net Controllers for their time and effort. I would also like to congratulate Keith 2E0JPY in his new roll on the committee and also Chris M7CJK who today has passed his Intermediate exam now 2E0KJC Unfortunately we lost a valued member of the committee in June, John Marsh M0JFM . John joined the club in 2015 and later became the Courses and Exam Secretary. John was very easy to get along with and was a valued member of the team. He will be sadly missed.
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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
5
Jamie M1JSC
Congratulations to Tom
M0TKG and his wife on the birth of their son Peter
Keith 2E0JPY to the SRS Committee Congratulations to Chris M7CJK now 2E0KJC On your new callsign 6
Volta to Maxwell By 1800 'Electricity' was starting to be understood. Priestly in England was encouraged by the American Franklin and wrote up the present state of knowledge in his 'History of Electricity'. This inspired the French Coulomb to further discoveries, especially the law of attraction that bears his name. But this was all 'Static' electricity! In Italy, Galvani observed that dissected muscles from frogs twitched when touched by metals and concluded that this was an electrical effect only observed in animals. Yes it was electricity but it wasn't static. His rival Volta invented the first battery and showed that this different electricity could be made to order by non-living apparatus. More importantly, this quickly led to the new idea of electricity flowing, a current in a circuit. In 1820, the Danish Oersted accidentally discovered that a flowing electric current deflected a compass needle. Electricity had magnetic effects! Now 'magnetism' was known about for many centuries but no-one had previously suspected a link to electricity. Static electricity didn't deflect the needle but flowing electricity did. In 1831 the English Faraday discovered the complementary effect, a moving magnet could induce an electric effect in a nearby wire. (A note of hope for the non-mathematical readers Faraday, acknowledged a great scientific pioneer, was mathematically hopeless!) The stage was set for a synthesis of magnetism and electricity. From the Royal Society website: With the publication of "A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field" in 1865, Maxwell demonstrated that electric and magnetic fields travel through space as waves moving at the speed of light. Maxwell proposed that light is an undulation in the same medium that is the cause of electric and magnetic phenomena. The unification of light and electrical phenomena led to the prediction of the existence of radio waves." But it was only a theory! Thanks to Pete M0PTB for the article 7
Dodge Command and Reconnaissance Car WC-56 By John M0PEK When I was 13 years old I saved my pocket money to buy an Arfix kit of the Dodge Command Car. Little did I know that 53 years later I would actually own the real thing? After retirement I had looked forward to continuing with my existing hobbies and interests and not acquiring any more distractions, however when this vehicle came up for sale last year, “ 1944 Dodge Command and Radio Car”! Well I could not resist so I bought it. The vehicle was built on the 21 of January 1944 and shipped over to the UK, from there it was sent to France and used in Europe until the end of the war and was then placed in a museum in France for 25 years. It was then bought by a UK collector and he kept it for a further 22 years until selling it to me in 2019. All the original CH-74-A radio mounting holes and fixings are still in place but as yet no radios. The antenna and whip sections were included. Over the lockdown I have tried to sympathetically restore the vehicle without removing the patina and make it like new. One interesting fact about the Dodge family is that they came from Stockport! I found out that the Dodge brothers had connections with the farm in Offerton on Holiday lane. I also wrote to the Dodge archivist in the USA and received a copy of the original “Build Card” which describes the vehicle travelled along the production line in 1944. 8
The most difficult part of the restoration was the administration for a UK registration member and taxation class, this took seven months to complete! It is now taxed as Historic with no road tax charge and does not require MOT only road worthiness certificate. During the lockdown I repainted sections of the vehicle, fitted electronic ignition, an electronic charging system, minor repairs and reupholstered the seats. The vehicle was supposed to be in a few 75th VE Day celebration events this year but everything was cancelled. The next jobs are - completely re wire the vehicle and fit the new canvas hood.. Last Saturday afternoon Heather M6HNS and Nigel 2E0CKA were at the boat as it is only a few minutes from my house I called round to see them in the Dodge and this is the photo.
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Morse Code
Morse Code
Phonetic Alphabet
1
._ _ _ _
A
._
A
Alpha
2
.._ _ _
B
_...
B
Bravo
3
..._ _
C
_._.
4
…._
D
_..
C
Charlie
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
._..
classes run
M
__
K
Kilo
on each club
N
_.
L
Lima
night from
O
___
M
Mike
7.00 to 7.30
P
._ _ .
N
November
pm.
Q
_ _._
O
Oscar
R
._.
P
Papa
Come and
S
…
Q
Quebec
speak to Evan
T
_
R
Romeo
M0TJU if you
U
.._
would like to
V
…_
S
Sierra
give this part
W
._ _
T
Tango
of the hobby
X
_.._
U
Uniform
a try.
Y
_._ _
V
Victor
Z
_ _..
W
Whiskey
X
X-Ray
Y
Yankee
Z
Zulu
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Teatime Morse with Bernard and Tom September already, where has the year gone? Looking back at 2020 it's so far been an extraordinary year but one which has helped many focus on aspects of our hobby they’d like to either learn or improve. Morse code in particular seems to have been one of those modes to have benefited during the lockdown period with old hands and new seeking out the delights of the CW portions of the HF bands. Cast your minds back to March and you’ll recall Bernard G3SHF and Tom M0DCG came up with the idea of holding daily Morse code nets with the aim of improving their CW skills. Six months later and the daily net has continued with a band of members joining in. One in particular and new member to the society is David, M0WDD who has documented his Morse code journey, but more about this later. Also joining in to further their skills have been Keith 2E0JPY, Jeff M0IKI and Chris M7CJK who as I type is sporting his new 2E0KJC callsign. But, it’s not just our own members who have become involved. On many occasions Bernard and Tom have engaged in QSO’s with other operators from around the country. Once such was Peter G4LHI from Huntingon who took the trouble to email Bernard (Ben). “Hello Ben & yes vy sri abt the condx & we could not complete the QSO, but I got most of your info ok You are doing a great job with your practice sessions & a very good idea to finish off on a QSO with each, gives them a good understanding of the correct procedure. I do the same with my pupils but we do our practice sessions on 2 mtrs, practice text on Mondays & proper QSO procedure on Tue & Wed evenings, & now & again find some of them on the HF bands. The HROs were what I was using when I was in the army in Cyprus on my National Service, the HROs we used to receive & the transmitters were remote miles away from our camp, I was what they called a Spec OP & had to do a 31 wpm test for that hi, cant & would not want to do that speed now, I was only 18 then, now I am 93 hi cont. on next page 11
Look out for you again Ben & keep up the good work, there are too many of the Hams going over to Digital & leave good old morse code alone hi Keep safe 73 Peter G4LHI” If you’ve time, take a look at Peter’s QRZ page which is a very interesting read with some good historical photographs too. I mentioned David M0WDD earlier who is a regular participant and who has put his experiences with “the code” into words.
My experiences of the SRS afternoon CW net 3564Khz by David M0WDD Why I joined the CW net CW just was not working for me and I needed to do something about it. That’s my background to joining the club’s afternoon CW net. A couple of years ago, I completed CW Ops level 1 online training, and learned the Morse code sounds of letters, numbers, and some punctuation. The CW Ops way is to learn character sounds at 20wpm with Farnsworth spacing for words. I quickly found this worked fine for single characters, but I just could not copy more than one or two short words at a time, no matter how much I tried. I understood the need for “practice, practice, practice” but it did not happen for me. I practiced a lot, and tried some live QSOs. However, each time I heard CW coming back at me, my brain seemed to freeze and I just could not copy QSO exchanges. The experiences were awful. From these early CW QSO experiences, I realised that people learn Morse code in different ways, and that what works for one person may not work for another. I needed to find the ways that worked for me to get the sounds of Morse code really into my head, so I could recall them instantly. I had already taken on the advice to learn through listening to the code sounds, with no visuals, no readers, and to keep listening, to memorise the character sounds. Instant Character Recognition was and still is my goal.
Since then I have tried some of the many online Morse code training websites, such as LCWO and Morsecode.world, and I use Just-Learn-MorseCode on my laptop and HamMorse on my iPhone. There is now of course a vast choice of free Morse code learning resources available. Even after this, I still could not copy a stream of words, such as a QSO, even though I kept practicing.
Cont. on next page 12
So I was faced with the simple choice - give up, or try something different. This is why I joined the SRS afternoon CW net, run by Bernard G3SHF and Tom M0DCG. My experience of this net has been excellent, and my CW copying is slowly improving. As well as this, I have managed live QSOs without the brain freeze effect. Well mostly.
My impressions of the CW Net When I joined the CW net, Bernard was welcoming and encouraging right from the start, particularly when I nearly quit before I had even begun. I immediately liked the mix of training in the net, of first listening to code at different speeds sent between Bernard and Tom, and then having a real live QSO with Bernard. This mix of learning through listening to CW and then having a live QSOs was new to me, and challenging. Right from the start Bernard was always encouraged me, never criticised, and would always coax me to take my next steps in CW. I also found out that Nigel G0RXA records each CW net session, and Heather M6HNS saves the files to the club website, to provide a key learning resource for those learning CW whether members or not. Listening started at 5wpm and this turned out to be relatively relaxing after a while, like sitting in a waiting room listening to a conversation, waiting for the main action to start. For me this was my first experience of really listening to (slow) CW and comfortably copying and writing the characters, without the high stress I had experienced before. The slow practice CW covered the basic structure of a CW QSO, which became a familiar pattern in each daily net, and easy to remember. An interesting ham radio topic followed at 5wpm, which I gradually found I could head copy. Then came the faster code practice, and for me the higher stress. In this next part of the net, the challenge for me was to listen and copy a stream of characters and spaces at 13wpm, and to write down the characters. My written characters mostly became words. I had always failed at this stage in the past. So I concentrated on just listening to the faster 13 wpm code and scribbled away, doing my best to keep going. I learned not to pause, even for an instant, and to move on always, even if I missed something. I needed such intense concentration that initially it seemed exhausting, but it gradually got better as I copied more, and the stress gradually reduced. 13
Cont. on next page
Chris 2E0KJC was M7CJK
Whilst all this was going on, other net members, Chris M7CJK and Keith 2E0JPY encouraged me during 2m net chats, and by email, as well as Ben and Tom. Overall, I found the net members really supportive and helpful, which seems to me how the club works as a whole, welcoming and supporting new members and each other. I also felt that as Ben and Tom were prepared to run this net, every single day, I was going to keep at it too, and keep pushing my CW skills. After quite a few daily nets of concentrating on the 13 wpm part, I gradually managed to copy more, and sometimes the copying flowed here and there, but not always. Slowly I began to copy words, and then sometimes a whole sentence. That was a great feeling. Now I am at the stage of really concentrate on the 16 wpm part. The copying is slowly starting to improve, but I miss lots at 16wpm at the moment.
As my copying skills slowly improved, I realised another basic CW truth. This was that even if you think you know the sounds of all the Morse code characters, this does not mean that you really do. So when I stumble for a moment over a character, I realise that is one I did not know well enough. So I keep up my daily CW listening practice outside the net, with the aim of Instant Character Recognition for all characters. And of course, this takes time. I continue to practice listening to different Morse code training websites, changing the sites now and again to keep the material fresh and my brain focussed. I also listen to the ARRL Morse code training archive files. I listen to example text at a faster wpm than I can cope with, and then reduce the speed to the level I can cope with. Then I try gradually moving the speed up a notch every so often.
The QSO with Bernard I had not really paid much attention to sending practice with my paddle, thinking that would all come later. However, I welcomed Bernard’s approach to live QSO practice as well as listening, during every net, right from the start. This has really worked well for me in building my confidence, and I have really enjoyed this. Bernard suggested I write down practice scripts,
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Cont. On next page
which I did and have now written a set of cards with written phrases, which I can glance at when needed. This worked really well, and I still use these cards for live QSOs. My paddle keying has progressed from a stuttering start to a more reasonable regular pattern at 12-14 wpm, even though I make mistakes. No one seemed to mind and this gave me confidence.
My first QSOs outside the net I had been reluctant to have QSOs outside the net even with Ben’s encouragement, as my previous QSO experiences were not good. However, as my copying improved, I had no excuses and just I had to do it. After all, this for me was the whole point of why I joined the net. So one evening whilst listening to CW on 20m I heard a CQ, and no one answered. I have been in this situation before, and in the past I had tried answering, ending up with a brain freeze, or I had passed it by. This time I called back, with the usual exchange. Then I heard my callsign coming back at me. I remembered the QSO structure I had learned on the net, and I had my cards to hand. So somehow, I struggled through that first “proper” CW QSO, got to the end, and hey presto it all worked, down to the last exchange of e e. I was delighted.
What the CW net has done for me I have been in this excellent net for three months now, and since joining, I have now made 48 QSOs outside the net, nearly one a day since that first one, gaining in confidence all the time. I do try for at least one CW QSO a day so I keep using my new CW skills. One quiet evening I even called CQ when a slow CW frequency was quiet, and was just about to give up, when I got a call back. That was high stress time again, but I got through it, and had a good short QSO. That’s another hurdle overcome. Now my fear of a live CW QSO has faded, my CW confidence has increased, and I’ve learned to use my scripts cards when I’m stuck. I still get the occasional brain freeze, but my scripts help in this situation. I have also learned how to make a quick polite exit if I need to, such as after answering a faster CQ than I can cope with, and find the op does not slow down for me. I know that is entirely my own fault, but I have found the vast majority do slow down, and I always appreciate this. For my part I recently heard a couple of CQs on different days calling at a slower rate, even slower than my slow rate. I slowed down, and answered both. We had good short QSOs, and I was pleased to show the same courtesy of slowing down others had shown to me. Cont. on next page 15
My next steps My copy speed is still around 12-14wpm, so I’m working on 16 wpm in the net. This is gradually improving. Occasionally now I can now get whole words and a short sentence, so I am progressing, but it’s hard work. No one says it is easy, but I realise I can get there. My aim now is to increase my copy speed to 20wpm, to learn how to head copy at around 15wpm, and of course to keep making new ham radio contacts and friends. I would also like to achieve CW Ops Level 2 and maybe Level 3 in the future, and see where the hobby takes me. To finish I would like to say many thanks to Bernard and Tom for running the daily CW net, and to Nigel and Heather for making the audio recordings available on the club website. I would certainly recommend it to any member who is interested in starting to learn CW or to build on existing skills. I would say there is a great welcome for you in this net and lots of support. I look forward to catching you for a CW QSO in the future. Best wishes and 73, David M0WDD Thank you David and it’s good to know that members and non members alike are appreciating the opportunity to hone their skills whether it be from being a complete beginner or an older hand. …...and finally... Whilst we never know how many people are listening it's good to know that as someone said “we are not alone”. Regular feedback, comments and reports on the transmissions are always welcomed and can be emailed to morse@srs.co.uk. Alternatively, if you are able why not call in at the end of the session and join the band of participants exchanging reports, etc. I mentioned at the top of this article the sessions have been running since March and those who have come along with us for the journey are well on their way to achieving their goals. However, I am sure there are members who have stopped by and would like to start their own “Morse code adventure”. So, with that in mind if you have an interest in taking up this side of the hobby and learning a new skill then please contact Bernard or Tom by email to the address above, or leave a message for them through the SRS number 07506 904422. Don’t forget there’s a dedicated page within the our webpage (accessed from the main menu) where information relevant to CW operating can be found along with a library of recordings and texts from the sessions which have taken place since the net began back in March.. So, until the next time, 73’s take care and stay safe. Bernard Naylor G3SHF / Tom Spence M0DCG / Nigel Roscoe G0RXA 16
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 if you have any queries about the use of these callsigns, please speak to either Tony M0SAV or Alan G0ROW at any Club meeting
Net Controllers If you have the equipment and would like to try and chair a net, please contact Alan G0ROW who will happily help you. If you would like to try a net with a current net controller with you, again speak to Alan G0ROW
The current Net Controllers are: Alan G0ROW Neil M6NAE Keith 2E0JPY Jim 2E0URD
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
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 17
COURSES Online remote invigilation exams (RSGB) Owing to the COVID-19 situation, the only way to sit an exams at this time is by remote invigilation. This means taking your exam in your own home, online with an RSGB invigilator present via remote access. The link below has full instructions on what you need and how this works. https://thersgb.org/services/forms/examinations/ remote/200816_RSGB_Candidates_Instructions_(003).pdf There is currently no courses taking place at Stockport Radio Society please see the information below
Foundation Course / Intermediate Course We have listed on the next page a few links where you can do the online training before taking your examination with the RSGB.
But …. Have you just obtained your Foundation Licence? Do you need assistance getting on air? Then Stockport Radio Society can help you. Stockport Radio Society will be are running 1 2 1 sessions at Walthew House to help new licensees with setting up and operating your radio. To book a session with an experienced amateur email coures@g8srs.co.uk. Sessions will be held on evenings and weekends, depending on demand.
The venue is SRS Headquarters Walthew House 112 Shaw Heath Stockport SK2 6QS. If you could just like a chat about any of the exams, please call us and we will be happy to offer any help we cann ‘Bat’ Phone - 07506 904422
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Intermediate Course Due to the recent pandemic COVID-19, all candidates wishing to take the Intermediate Licence are being asked to contact on of the links below for online training. There is no practicals to take for the ILC. https://www.essexham.co.uk/train/foundation-online/ https://gm6dx.thinkific.com/ https://www.g3efx.org.uk/the-intermediate-course
If you would like any 1-2-1 tuition concerning any aspect of your Intermediate course, please contact courses@g8srs.co.uk for further information. There may be a small cost incurred.
Full Course For further information about the Full Licence Tutorials, please contact courses@g8srs.co.uk in the first instance.
The Clubs best wishes go out to Ella (Tony’s M0SAV’s granddaughter) who was involved in a car accident very recently in Stockport. Ella has helped out with her mum at some of the recent rallies and social events.
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Silent Key I had to be the bearer of bad news again on 5 September we were informed of the passing of Stewart G3PMJ. Stewart had been a long serving member of SRS since at least the 1970s. His funeral took place on Friday 18 September, and although some of his long standing SRS friends would have liked to have attended, myself Heth M6HNS and Nigel 2E0CKA attended on behalf of the club. Wearing club kit at the request of the family, Stewart had a lovely service Thank you to all the members for your kind comments which were sent to the family with a card. A couple that stood out are below Nigel G0RXA - Thank you Heather for passing on this very sad news. I have known Stewart as a member of the society for many years and his exploits with the Campaign for Real Ale and local IEEE. He was one of those characters who seems to have been around since the year dot, but despite not living close to Stockport he always supported our activities in any way he could. Stewart, my thoughts are with your family and friends at this sad time. Rest in peace my friend. Barrie VK2BJ - I was so saddened to hear the news of Stewart's passing. He and I grew up together in amateur radio being licensed at almost the same time with G3P.. calls when I was in Stockport and Cheadle Hulme and he lived in Gorton. Those were the heady days of pirate radio stations such as Radio Caroline and we used to have great fun working on top band AM using a variety of stupid antennas to see if we could make contact with each other. Pi networks would load almost anything and working across town with a metal screwdriver as an antenna was a regular occurrence. I kid you not - it is quite true. We also used to visit each other's QTH's and Stewart particularly liked coming round for my mother's apple pie. I have also just lost another friend of the same era, Austin Spencer G3PM) who passed away earlies this year. Heather please would you pass my very sincere condolences on to Stewart's family. 73 to all from a cool (17deg c) Sunday morning in Sydney.
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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
Meeting Admission - £2.00 per meeting.
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 ‘Contesting Arm of Stockport Radio Society’ 21
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
Date of Next Issue -
(Ultra High Frequency)
December 2020
Articles to be sent to QUA by middle of November
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 22
A lot of the members will have heard about our boat at Marple - It is now time to enjoy it - after 14 months of refurbishment, painting, stripping back to the steel, blacking and servicing it is now nearly finished. Hope you don’t mind us putting this in. There is a 2&70 in the boat aswell. HF to follow pennies permitting
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SRS Links RSGB www.rsgb.org UKFM Group Western www.ukfmgw.org.uk Ofcom www.ofcom.org.uk
ARRL www.arrl.org
Club Log (HF Ladder) 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:
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
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
Ham Links www.eham.nets Hack Green SDR www.hackgreen.co.uk
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 have any Links you would like to see on this page please email info@g8srs.co.uk
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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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
GB3MN
Analogue Digital 145.6500 Mhz 145.0500 Mhz C4FM Fusion
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
**
2m
6m GB3SX
51.2900 Mhz
Analogue
** Currently off air awaiting a new site 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 25
SRS Contest Group Summer Activities The Contest Group’s plans for 2020 were to tackle the CQ WPX SSB and CW contests in late March and May, followed by the RSGB’s National CW Field Day in June and the IOTA SSB and CW contest from our contest site on Arranmore island off the coast of Donegal. Our program would then be completed by tackling the biggest HF SSB and CW contests (CQ WW contests) at the end of October and November.
Early March saw us tackling repair jobs, mainly on the Worcester Trailer Mast which required the four wheel mounting assemblies replacing, and the mounting for our new 20 metre Monobander antenna. Like the rest of the world we were overtaken by the Covid-19 lockdown when our work at the farm had to be abandoned. Around May time, as it dawned on many people that there wasn’t going to be an early return to normality, Webex discussions raised the question as to whether we could organise and enter multi op contests while maintaining Government Guidelines and keeping ourselves safe.
Kieron M5KJM produced a ‘Safe Working’ document while Pete M1PTR looked at how we could provide separate accommodation for RUN 2 station. NB Our ‘normal’ operating arrangement for all our contests was to operate simultaneously two HF stations albeit on different bands. This ensured there was always a minimum of two operators on site for safety reasons. Having two stations within a couple of hundred feet of each other, running full power, without risking damaging receivers has always been an interesting challenge. 26
Tom M0DCG and John M0PEK focussed on finding the trailer wheel assemblies and completing repair work. With the 2nd station to be accommodated in a Transit van located alongside our existing caravan station, details have been finalised and one further visit to the farm this week (September 8th) should see the end of our preparation phase. The Station Build plans for later in October will be developed using yet another Webex meeting. While now is not the time, any member who hasn’t visited the site should make a note to take a trip to Rainow when it is allowed and see the build process then station in action. Being able to hear the HF bands and DX from distant parts of the world with an S0 noise level and no interference is quite a novelty in these times and a pleasurable experience. Bernard Naylor G3SHF email contesting@g8srs.co.uk Sept 2020
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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 Raymond Chris Brian Derek Stephen C Bob Robert Tony Tom Chris
G0EOM G0ROW G0RXA G0SYP G1VXD G1YMW G2DS G2LK G3CWI G3SHF G3TFR
Phill Dave Jeffrey Bernard Ken Les Chris Marie Matt Stephen C Ben Chris Rob John Pete Andy Brian Jon Tony Slawek Isla Evan Thomas Rob Allan Alex Nigel Bill David Phil Alan James Peter Kieron
G3WFK G3ZOD G4FRW G4GDG G4GEY G4GRU G4MUL G4WHF G6GUT G6RSU G6UQC G6URD G7IOC G7TQT G8HCB G8NHN G8NRU G8YTP GM4UYZ M0CPP M0CVC M0DCG M0EEG 28
M0HNJ M0IEF M0IKI M0IPF M0KJC/G8KJC M0LPB M0LZA M0MLK M0MVR M0MWB M0NEN M0OGG M0ORA M0PEK M0PTB M0REP M0REU M0RFU M0SAV M0SQJ M0SWZ M0TJU M0TKG M0TKT M0TZD M0UTA M0VNL M0WBS M0WDD M0XYA M1FHM M1JSC M1PTR M5KJM
Ed Nigel Darren Paul William Richard Andrew John Jack
2E0CFM 2E0CKA 2E0DVM 2E0ESH 2E0FOL 2E0FSU 2E0GCL 2E0GCX 2E0JEH
Keith Chris Frank Sarah Mike Neal Paul Steve Elaine
2E0JPY 2E0KJC 2E0KKF 2E0KUH 2E0MBV 2E0NAL 2E0TWD 2E0WIT
Kenneth William Heather Alan Anthony Dave Craig
M3UQP M3WLP M6HNS M6KOY M6MZV M6NAE M6OFO M6OKV
Robert Dafydd John Bill Pauline Ron Keith Andrew
M6TMA M6ULU M7CPT M7FWR M7PLB M7RJL M7TAY M7USL
James Giorgio Radoslav Tracy
SWL SWL SWL SWL
Neo SWL Marie SWL Kieran James SWL (Junior)
Barrie
VK2BJ
Neil
2E1BVS
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. 29
SRS HF Ladder 2020 Since the last report members have celebrated SRS’s 100th birthday using the special callsign G8SRS/100 throughout June. The special event achieved over 900 QSOs, 80% of which were on the HF bands with a total of 114 DXCC slots and a well-deserved place on the HF Ladder. G8SRS/100 will be on air again in Sept and will no doubt add to the totals. Propagation - With occasional sunspots and a solar flux index of low 70’s during the summer, sporadic E continues to be the major mode of propagation. Openings on 15m and above have been frequent with 20m and lower sometimes staying open well into the evening. HF & 6 DXCC Ladder - Activity on 20m and 40m has shown to be most popular although since May’s report scores on 15 and 10 have dramatically increased thanks to propagation openings. We have a new leader as Bernard G3SHF takes over the top spot from Barry VK2BJ and Keith 2E0JPY moves into third position. With just over 3months of this year’s competition left to go the majority of entrants now have scores over 100. This shows we have been more activate than previous in years, most likely due to lockdown and home working. As the saying goes every cloud has a silver lining! The link to the HF Ladder page on the G8SRS web site shows the breakdown of modes. PHONE remains the most popular and 17 members submitting scores, CW is next with 11 followed by DATA with 9. Details to join the competition are found here 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. Please stay safe and enjoy the radio. 73 and Good DXing, Pete Ridley, M1PTR 30
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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) 32