THE CATSWHISKER - JUNE 2000
Newsletter of the South Dorset Radio Society
Editor - John Rose, M0BQO - 45, Ringstead Crescent, Weymouth. DT3 6PT
Sorry, but the full version of Catswhisker has not been supplied to me this month - Geoff, G0EVW
The SDRS Annual Barbecue and Car Boot Sale will be held at the usual venue, the Victoria Inn, just west of Chickerell Village on Tuesday 4th July.
No meeting in August !
Dear members and friends,
You'll read more about International Marconi Day later but I would like to thank those concerned with the day for a really splendid effort.
Robert, G0RYL and his XYL Carol for providing refreshments and organising the catering. As new Chairman and XYL they effectively sponsored our participation in the event.
Pat G1XJH who provided the rig, his Icom 746.
Jim, G7JIM who once again arranged for us to use the New Barn site and for accepting responsibility for the QSLs.
Mike, G0NEV for lending the aerials and organising the setting up.
Mathew, of the Field Barn Centre for allowing us to use the site.
All the operators and others who gave their time and/or goodwill.
It was our most successful IMD so far with a good mixture of experienced and less experienced members plus guests being involved.
To this IMD success add a number of hopefuls for the RAE course we start later in the year and it is clear that an initiative has started that will lead the Club on with renewed impetus. Lets keep our fingers crossed for a resurgence in a big way.
John, M0BQO
THE RADIO AMATEURS EXAMINATION COURSE
Colin Pearless, G3PGK was our guest on May 2nd; he gave a clear account of how he hoped to teach the course (having successfully taught many existing members in previous years).
It was encouraging that a number of Novice licence holders and CB operators, plus others, intend to sign up and get on the HF bands where they can talk to the world.
Provisionally, the course will be held at the QTH of Neville Bridle, 2E1HFY. There is space for a maximum of 12 and it will start on the second Thursday of September, running school term times until the exam in May.
Please contact Neville on 01305 772806 for updates on venue and numbers.
The question of Reference Books was raised. The time-honoured standard reference is the RSGB RAE Manual. There is a new addition, apparently more palatable!
Other dates for your diary:
A new Novice Radio Amateurs Examination Course commenced at the QTH of 2E1HFY in Wyke Regis on Thursday June 1st. Please contact Neville Bridle on 01305 772806 for more details.
Sunday June 25th - Longleat Rally
Sunday August 13th - Flight Refueling Hamfest at Wimborne
Thursday September 14th - RAE course starts. See above for more information.
INTERNATIONAL MARCONI DAY
A summary of the results of IMD held at the New Barn Field Centre - April 29 2000
The above pictures show Frank, G3CFV, a visitor from Yeovil and SDRS member Richard, 2E1HSI operating GB0MBS.
We all met to set up the station on what appears to be quite normal for us, a wet rainy day! However, all went well and we were ready for operation by 1800 hrs. During the evening we operated using the Clubs call sign GX3SDS and generally relaxed and chatted until the opening of the event at 0100 hrs. local . We commenced operations using the 40m Band with 18 QSOs in the first hour, followed by 7 QSOs in the second.
The Saturday turned into a superb warm sunny day and it was a pleasure to welcome so many visitors to the site, especially those from Yeovil and Christchurch who were ably looked after and catered for by my XYL Carol (just like she looks after me at home, Ha Ha). The event continued to go extremely well with radio and weather conditions staying very good throughout the day and into the evening.
May I, for all those involved in operating the station take this opportunity to thank all those who assisted in the arranging and setting up of the event and for making it such a pleasurable and rewarding experience. Carol has also expressed that she thoroughly enjoyed her first full introduction into Amateur Radio and she would be most upset if she misses any future events. I don't want to upset Carol now do I, would you? !
SUMMARY OF OPERATING CONDITIONS
TX: Icom IC746 - 100 watts SSB
Average QSOs per hour: 15.79 (approximately 4 minutes per QSO)
Countries/Regions contacted: 36
Aerials: 80m Dipole, aligned East-West
40m Dipole, aligned East West
20m Sloper oriented East South East
73 de Robert, G0RYL