Author Archives: gdars - Page 8

Railways On The Air 2019 – Whitrope Railway Heritage GB0WRH, 20/21 September 2019

Posted by gdars on September 21, 2019 No comments

On Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st September 2019, club members took part in the Railways On The Air (ROTA) event, operating from the carpark of the Whitrope Heritage Centre south of Hawick.

Report from Dave S GM0KCN:

Quite a slow start contacts wise on Saturday with only 17 QSOs. Mike and Steven did the majority of the logging and Dave H and I did most of the operating.

We all enjoyed the sunny weather and also a wander round Whitrope Station where Border TV were filming for Border Life programme.

Sunday was not good weather wise, lots of heavy showers, however radio
wise were the centre of a pile up again, just like two years ago, with I
think 75 QSOs, so a busy time for the three of us.

We called it a day just after 3pm when conditions were fading. Packed everything away in a break between the rain and were on the road
a little after 4:30pm.

Thanks to those who managed to visit and enjoy the coffee and biscuits
and see the radio station in action.

Big thank you to Dave H for providing the caravaning facilities and
mains power and the radio kit.

Whitrope Heritage Centre, Whitrope, Hawick, Roxburghshire TD9 9TY
Location: 11 miles south of Hawick on B6399.
Maidenhead Locator: IO85PH 00co
55.294320, -2.748944 (55°17’39.6″N 2°44’56.2″W)
NGR: NT 52540 00279
Google: 9C7V77V2+MC
W3W:///jousting.windmills.wire
https://wrha.org.uk/the-association/find-us/

https://rota.barac.org.uk/
https://wrha.org.uk/the-association/whitrope-heritage-centre/

Sun 9th June 2019 PW 144MHz QRP Contest

Posted by gdars on June 9, 2019 No comments

On Sunday 9th June 2019, club members were operating GM4YEQ/P in the Practical Wireless 144MHz QRP Contest from our usual spot on Ettrick Swire between Yarrow and Ettrick.

We had a successful day, made 21 contacts in 12 different squares, from the Isle of Skye IO67 down to the Isle of Wight IO90.
We escaped most of the rain, retreating to the inside of Dave’s Picasso during a couple of the heavier showers, but otherwise occasional drizzle and a bitterly cold wind!

Many thanks to Dave (GM0KCN) and Jim (GM7LUN) for operating the station, Mike (MM3NTX) for logging, and George (GM1OPO) for helping set up.

Good job you remembered to bring the antenna, Dave!

Now, which end of which pole do we fasten the antenna to?

This isn’t the first time the antenna was bolted onto the pole.

Antenna up, just need some guys to hold it.

Windy site!

Dave and Mike making the first contacts.

George testing the output and signal are all okay.

Dave making more coffee. Bacon rolls were good!

Coordinates:
Lat/Lon: 55.5217N 2.9993W
NGR: NT370257
QTH: IO85MM
W3W: indicates.kitten.sprinter
PLUS: 9C7VG2C2+M7

Speaker for club night Wed 8th May 2019 – Paul Gacek W6PNG/M0SNA

Posted by gdars on May 8, 2019 No comments

On the 8th May we had a speaker attending, Paul Gacek W6PNG/M0SNA to talk about his radio activities, Wilderness Activations in Western USA, SOTA activation and the 2016 ARRL National Parks event. Examples of some of his material is on his blog nomadic.blog

Many thanks for an interesting journey across the Western USA and a good mixture of radio, geography, history and encounters with deadly animals!

Also some good information about SOTA that hopefully will encourage some members either to go up local hills to activate them, or to assist SOTA participants to get the contacts they need for activation.
More SOTA information here: sota.org.uk

Many thanks to the members who attended for Paul’s talk.

Old Murphy Naval HF Receiver

Posted by gdars on May 5, 2019 No comments

Old Murphy receiver given to a member by the widow of a local Professor of Electrical Engineering, who wasn’t a licensed radio amateur but according to his wife spent hours on this sitting listening at night.

Yes that is the earth wire plugged into the power gang. Probably should be pointed out that this was under constant supervision and everyone in the room has awareness of electrical safety and knows not to touch bare live electrical components.

Wednesday 6th March 2019, surface mounting!

Posted by gdars on March 13, 2019 No comments

Colin working soldering a tiny IC onto a board.

Meanwhile, some old gear being looked at and opened up.

Also, George making contacts on low power. Extra points for the Irish participant in a contest for getting our IO85 square. Easier to control the FT-817ND through Ham Radio Deluxe interface.