RadCom April 2024, Vol. 100, No. 4

82 April 2024 Around Your Region radcom@rsgb.org.uk REGION 4: NORTH EAST Mexborough and District ARS is pleased to report that Peter Myers, G3UWT has been added to its Roll of Honour board with a lifetime membership. After many years of service, from Tea Boy at Harrop Hall, Mexborough to acting Chairman for many years, he is still an attendee to the club and is still passing his vast knowledge on to the newer and older members of the club. Hans Hindle, G3WBG also became a life member and is included on the Roll of Honour board. Hans has been a great member of the club and teaches the Intermediate and the Full licence courses. Unfortunately in recent times he had to retire due to ill health. Sharon Saiger, M0BOH and James Saiger, M1DAH have also been included on the Roll of Honour board, with lifetime membership, for the last 28 years of service to the Society. The Society meets at The Place, Castle Street, Conisborough, DN12 3HH every Friday from 6.30pm. Following a very successful talk at Maltby and District ARS on Parks on the Air (POTA), many members were inspired to try a POTA Activation. Two teams activated Bassetlaw Show Ground in Nottinghamshire and Cusworth Hall near Doncaster. Members operated on the 20m band using FT8, on the 2m band using voice and also on the 40 and 20m bands using SSB. Both of the activations were successful and the Society is already planning its next. Parks on the Air (POTA) is an ongoing programme encouraging amateur radio operators to develop their skills and demonstrate the hobby to the public. Thousands of parks around the world are available in the programme and each will present a unique experience. Operating styles and seasons will also affect the nature of the experience. You can read more about it at parksontheair.com REGION 5: WEST MIDLANDS Fifteen members of Wythall RC gathered for a talk and demonstration of QO-100, the narrow-band transponder onboard the Es’hail-2 satellite, by club member Neil, G1TZC. He took members briefly through the story of communications satellites and then focused on how to operate through QO-100 and shared his experiences. Neil has gradually been building up a fully portable station to operate through this geostationary satellite. The first stage of this generated much visitor interest at the Club’s field day in September. Inspired by Turkish amateurs’ initiatives to gain permission to use QO-100 for emergency communications following the recent earthquake, he demonstrated a helical antenna built using readily-available components, including a Coca-Cola tin lid as a reflector, a plastic olive jar lid to support the LNB and helix, and the body of the jar to provide a cover (full details on his QRZ.com page). He concluded by talking about his current project to build equipment for the DATV segments. In February, the Club was delighted to welcome two more new members, bringing the total to five since October. The Club is looking forward to their suggestions about, and involvement in, Club activities – including at its committee meetings which are open to all members. January was the Club’s ‘How low can you go?’ QRP month and some impressive results were achieved. 48 countries were worked using 5W or less with CW, and 50 countries using 10W or less with FT8. Kev, G4XLO stuck to FT8 and gradually reduced power week-on-week from 10W to 2.5W. His highlights were working Antigua (an all-time new one), Cyprus (the operator was Sergio Rebrov the ex-Tottenham manager!), and Puerto Rico. Meanwhile John, M6KET used 5W on CW to a doublet to work Nepal, Kuwait and Qatar; 1W to work the Bahamas; and 100mW to QSO with Germany, England and France! The project to internet-link GB3WL to the D-Star and Wires-X networks is almost complete and should bring benefits to members who are restricted to using handhelds and cannot erect outside antennas. It will also provide a reliable route for the Club’s country members, located outside the Midlands, to have QSOs with those who live within RF range of the Club’s repeater. With spring arriving, members are starting to plan events for the better weather, including reactivating GB0BUS at the Transport Museum Wythall for International Museums on the Air Day, and portable activity linked to SOTA or similar schemes. Visitors are always welcome to visit the Club any Tuesday evening – including for the special activities it advertises on its website: wythallradioclub.co.uk REGION 9: LONDON & THAMES VALLEY In January, members of Reading and District ARC visited Telonic Instruments in Wokingham, where they spent several hours in the well-equipped demonstration room trying out a wide range of Siglent and Rigol test equipment. The Telonic staff were on hand to answer questions and members were treated to a buffet lunch. Several club members took advantage of a generous discount to buy some new equipment for their shack. The Club members are very grateful to Telonic Instruments for their hospitality and recommend the experience to other clubs in the area. REGION 10: SOUTH & SOUTH EAST On 1 February, Isle of Wight RS launched a project that had been planned and developed for more than a year – a series of construction evenings in which local scouts build Morse buzzers from supplied kits. This activity meets one of the defined requirements for the Scouts’ Communicator badge. Eight Explorers, from the 1st Brighstone Sea Scout Group, acted as test pilots for the prototype kits. The experienced gained will now help the Club to refine its organisation and delivery of these events, and help the older Scouts to coach their younger friends in practical skills. The idea for a Buzzer Buildathon first surfaced at Corf Camp, an Island activity centre, where Scouts were enjoying learning about Morse code signalling and radio operation during the JOTA weekend. Some of the young people wanted to do more. So plans were made for a construction project, which would count towards their activity badge. Over the next few months, a further 90 scouts will have an opportunity to build the kit. Elsewhere, the Society is becoming more active in contests under the guidance of Events Manager Chris, G7IVF. In the recent the 80/40m band afternoon sessions, some club members worked from their own home stations, whilst others manned G3SKY at the Society’s HQ shack. Looking ahead, club Secretary Roger, G8NHG, is preparing to introduce a monthly spot for talks, presentations, films, and webinars. This will add a variety of interesting themes to normal weekly meetings, and it is hoped this will entertain the club’s growing membership.