Tag Archives: Galashiels Radio Club

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.

Antenna Renewal 20th April 2025

Posted by on April 21, 2025 No comments

A group of us came to the club QTH on Sunday to help Colin replace/repair the antennas that had been damaged in the last few big storms.

We had a replacement cobweb antenna in the cupboard ready to be put up, and also the endfed antenna needed to be re-slung over the tree.

We got the old cobweb taken down and dismantled. Bob was going to polish and UV-coat the fibreglass poles with a view of rebuilding the old cobweb so the club could make use of it somehow.

Then the new one was mounted on the pole, unfolded, and put back on the chimney.

Sorry looking old cobweb antenna on the chimney
Sorry looking old cobweb antenna on the chimney
Looking much better now.

The new antenna covers bands 20/17/15/12/10/6/4m.

We didn’t have a chance to test it as there was another group in our room so that’s a task for next Wednesday. We also didn’t have time to work on the endfed.

Many thanks to Colin and George for the bulk of the work on the roof, and Jim, Neal, Bob and Mike for assistance on the ground.

A more productive Easter Sunday than chasing eggs!

Photos from George, Neal, Bob and Jim.

2025 Rally! 26th October 2025

Posted by on November 21, 2024 1 comment

The hall has been booked and we’re already speaking to traders about the 2025 rally.

The date will be Sunday 26th October 2025. We know this clashes with the CQWW contest but most traders still preferred that week.

Traders who wish to book a table for this year but not done so already with Jim, please email:
rallytraders @ galaradioclub.co.uk

All other rally queries (NOT table bookings) 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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