Tag Archives: GDARS

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

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

Antenna Renewal 20th April 2025

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.

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

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

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

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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