Tag Archives: Amateur Radio

PW QRP 144MHz Contest 2026 – Sunday 14th June 2026, 0900-1500UTC

Posted by on June 11, 2026 No comments

As usual, some of our members will be going up the hill to participate in the Practical Wireless 144MHz QRP Contest, taking place on Sunday 14th June 2026.

We will use the callsign GM4YEQ/P and be operating from our usual spot on the Yarrow Swire/Witchie Knowe IO85MM.

The contest runs from 0900-1500UTC (1000-1600 BST).
Members and visitors are welcome to come along and join in or assist, or just see what we do. Bring your own food/drink and suitable footwear for a grassy field. The rough road is suitable for vehicles to drive up to the site but there are deep puddles to avoid on the track. Keep dogs under control as there is usually livestock in the field.

We’ll mostly be tuning around or calling CQ on the SSB part of the band (144.150-144.397MHz) but will scan around the FM simplex part of the band for any local callers with handhelds (calling CQ on 145.500MHz in the contest is not allowed). The more contacts we get the better, even local contacts increase our score.

Exchange is signal report and serial number starting at 001 for the first contact, and 6-character Maidenhead Locator (or approximate location if not known).

Location: Yarrow Swire, off summit of C22 road between A708 (Yarrow) and B7009 (Ettrickbridge). Marked as Witchie Knowe on some maps. We will likely be set up between the crest of the rough road and the quarry.
Locator: IO85MM
Coordinates: 55.5215N , 2.9984W 360m (1180ft) ASL
NGR: NT370257 (WAB Square NT32) (NT 37058 25768)
Google Maps shortcut: 9C7VG2C2+JJJ
Closest Postcodes: TD7 5ND (Wester Kershope Farm on north side of the hill on the approach from Yarrow valley) or TD7 5JW (Area covering from our site southwards)
What3Words: /// juggles.police.chiefs (Switch to satellite view)
Google Maps: Witchie knowe

Click image to open full screen.

Directions:

From Yarrow Valley:

From East on A708 from Selkirk / Philiphaugh turn left just after Yarrow village onto the C22.
From West on A708 from Innerleithen / Gordon Arms / St Mary’s Loch turn right just before the sharp corner at Yarrow village, onto the C22.
The postcode provided leads to this farm. Do not turn off to this farm but continue on the C22 road to the top of the hill.
At the summit, cross the cattlegrid then immediately turn left up the rough track (on the south side of the dyke).

From Ettrick Valley

From West on the B7009 from Ettrick, turn left on to C22 then follow road to the top of the hill.
From East on the B7009 from Ettrickbridge turn right onto the C22 then follow road to the top of the hill.
At the summit turn right before the cattlegrid onto the rough track up the hill.

2026 Rally – Mark your diaries: Sunday 25th October 2026

Posted by on February 21, 2026 No comments

Our annual Rally and Open Day will take place on Sunday 25th October 2026. Venue is the usual Volunteer Hall in Galashiels. Opening time 11:00am(GMT) for general admission, 10:45am for disabled and early Bring & Buy booking.

Many tables are booked but any trader enquiries should be directed by
EMAIL to rallytraders @ galaradioclub.co.uk
Once tables are filled, any later booking requests will be added to a reserve list in case of cancellations.
General enquiries about the rally to rallyqueries @ galaradioclub.co.uk

2024 Rally and Open Day – Sunday 27th October 2024

Posted by on November 21, 2024 11 comments

Many thanks to those who attended the rally, from the club members who helped set up and manned the doors and Bring & Buy, traders who came and offered something for everyone to see and buy, and the visitors who made it another great rally.

See you next year!

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PW 144MHz QRP Contest 2024 – Sunday 9th June 2024

Posted by on June 3, 2024 No comments

Again members of the club will be going up the hill to operate a portable station for the Practical Wireless 144MHz QRP contest on Sunday 9th June 2024. We will be using the callsign GM4YEQ/P.

The contest runs between 0900-1500 UTC (1000-1600 Local/BST). We’ll likely be on-site by 0915 (local) if not earlier for setting up.

We’ll be at the usual “Middle Swire” location between the Yarrow and Ettrick valleys 6 miles west of Selkirk.

All club members are welcome to come and visit and catch up for a few hours, assist with setting up or operating, or operate your own sets on HF away from urban QRM.

Or if not able to come to the site, please give us a shout on 2m simplex FM or SSB if you hear us (144.150-144.397MHz is the SSB range). Someone will likely be scanning simplex channels 145.200-575MHz through the day. The more contacts we get (even local ones) the more points we get multiplied by the number of locator squares. Calling CQ on 145.500 isn’t allowed so don’t just listen for us there (nor on the repeaters)! Individual members may be monitoring repeaters and calling channels though if you want to make contact with someone in the group.

Exchange will be signal report, serial number (if you’re not participating then give 001 for your first contact) and your Maidenhead grid reference (or approximate location if you don’t know it as it still counts as a contact just not a new grid square).

Visitors should bring their own food and drink if they’re staying all day. Bring suitable clothing in case it’s windy or wet and footwear suitable for a grass field (with sheep droppings!). Dogs under strict control.

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Railways On The Air 2023- Whitrope Sat 23rd/Sun 24th September 2023 – GB0WRH

Posted by on September 17, 2023 No comments

Club members will be taking part in this year’s Railways On The Air event, with a station being set up at the usual place of Whitrope Heritage Centre near Hawick on the weekend of 23/24 September.

The callsign used will be GB0WRH (Waverley Route Heritage) operating on HF bands. Dave MM0HTL will be arriving around 9am on Saturday and setting up, and then along with other members will be operating through the day and evenings until late Sunday afternoon.

All club members and visitors are welcome to come along and see the stations (radio and railway) and help with operating or just come along to chat with us.

The Whitrope Heritage Centre is run by the Waverley Route Heritage Association who have restored a length of track and sidings on the old Waverley line (1849-1969) between Hawick and Carlisle. Further details here: https://wrha.org.uk/about/

Location:
Whitrope Heritage Centre, Whitrope, Hawick, Roxburghshire TD9 9TY
Location: 11 miles south of Hawick on B6399 (Hawick to Newcastleton road).

Maidenhead Locator: IO85PH 00co
55.294320, -2.748944 (55°17’39.6″N 2°44’56.2″W) 1034ft (315m) asl
NGR: NT 52540 00279
Google: 9C7V77V2+MC
W3W:///jousting.windmills.wire
https://wrha.org.uk/the-association/find-us/

Satellite image showing location of Whitrope Heritage Centre carpark

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