SOUTH DORSET RADIO SOCIETY
CATSWHISKER OCTOBER 2001
The newsletter of the South Dorset Radio Society
Posted 19/09/01
A full colour version of this Newsletter with pictures is now available in 'PDF' format and can be accessed from the Catswhisker Index page.
Next SDRS meeting is on October the 2nd
Click here for
more information on coming club events
EDITORIAL
Welcome to yet another month’s newsletter. Lot’s have happened and I hope that we have managed to report on most of the things.
Best wishes go out to Mike, G0NEV following a stay in hospital and he is now recovering well at home.
Jim G7JIM had a lucky escape when he was involved in a car accident in London, thankfully no one was hurt but Jim is without transport at the moment.
Welcome to Fred Record, who has just re-joined the society following many years of illness, welcome back Fred.
Geoff G0EVW had an e-mail from Ern Poole, WA8TGA who found him through the web site and asked if we could track down a friend who used to live in Broadmayne. So thanks go out to those that helped and were successful.
Christmas will soon be upon us once more and to rub it in a little, I have included the Christmas menu for the societies lunch. Please use the form included with the Catswhisker to reserve a place. If it is anything like last years meal, then well coming along to enjoy and have a chat with others in pleasant surroundings at the Glenburn Hotel.
Finally, the gripping story from Ted Hall (ex G3ETA) starts next month as a separate supplement. It will be in eight parts and something well worth keeping.
If you have anything you think will be of interest to others, please let me know and I will be only too pleased to accommodate it in a future Catswhisker publication.
Looking forward to meeting you all at the October meeting with Tim Walford, G3PCJ of Walford Electronics giving a talk and demonstration of kits for radio amateurs.
73 de Neville M5NEV
Thanks once more to MB Freight Services for printing our newsletter .
EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
Meeting of the South Dorset Radio Society held Tuesday 11th September 2001.
The meeting between the committee and members held on Tuesday 11th September 2001 at Chickerell Village Hall to discuss issues surrounding the position of Treasurer concluded that; an Extraordinary General Meeting should be called at the earliest opportunity to hold a ballot to elect a suitable person to fill the vacant position of Treasurer for the South Dorset Radio Society.
This EGM therefore is called for Tuesday 2nd October between 19:30 hrs to 19:45 hrs just prior to the commencement of the Normal Monthly Club Meeting at the Chickerell Village Hall.
EGM AGENDA
1. To receive nominations/proposals of Persons for position of Treasurer.
2. To elect an Honorary Treasurer from the list of nominations.
(It was felt that although the Committee does have the power under the Constitution to Co-opt a Committee Member, no provision is actually made for election of an Officer of the Committee outside of an AGM or EGM.)
Please note that although guests are welcome at the meeting only members can take part in the EGM.
THE DAY YAESU CAME TO WEYMOUTH
Well the day was a busy one with me just getting everything setup for Paul Bigwood, G3WYW of Yaesu coming to Weymouth.
I met Paul about 5pm so that discussions could take place about what was going to happen that evening. After a long trip and a Gin and Tonic Paul was all rested up to talk about the plan of invasion.
It was decided that an antenna was to be erected at the back of the building and luckily I had not unpacked the car from the lighthouse weekend so all the equipment was still there that we needed. The HF5 and three poles were unloaded and erected at the back of the clubhouse and then the real humping started. As I was outside I could see Paul erecting all the equipment through the window, so started to quicken my speed so that I could get inside for a better look.
As everyone is aware that attended the meeting, Paul had brought a huge selection of scanners, radio transmitters and other exciting gizmos to amuse us with. Scanners that could do dc to light and transceivers that could do up to 200watts without any trouble.
Well there was everything for everyone. Paul did go into a lot of explaining of the pros and cons of each radio which was great because it felt as if he wasn’t trying to sell anything at all!
A lot of interest was taken with the new FT817 mini radio this is an ideal portable QRP set with just 5watts out on an external psu and 2.5watts on its internal ones.
As Terry, G0VHS was tuning round on the MKV he could hear VK’s coming in very clearly and that was on a compromise antenna. Paul talked about the MKV and did explain that Yaesu decided it was important that these radios had a soak test and what better way than to sponsor 5/6 of these with Quadra 1000w amplifier to the DJ68C group who ran the radios all through the entire period of this dx-pedition without a hic-up.
When the night was over, everyone helped Paul get his equipment back into his car.
What a wonderful evening, Pat G1XJH
INTERNATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE WEEKEND
Golf Bravo Zero Portland Bill Lighthouse (GB0PBL).
A Station Managers View.
International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend was to me a good weekend to skive off the chores of D.I.Y. gardening and the other 107 things to do around the house. As the site sponsor, with the kind permission of B. Joplin of QinetiQ, for the use of Portland Bill’s Conference room for the second year. I was looking forward to a relaxing weekend. A few hic-cups later, I was asked to be the station manager and so decided this was a good idea. Knowing that putting a station on the air would be a considerable task, took the executive decision and palmed off most of the work on to other people!
Friday 17th August 2001 - Met Pat (with a completely excessive amount of Pringles), at Portland Bill to erect aerials for the Lighthouse Weekend. Put up half size G5RV, HF Vertical and Dual Band Co-linear. Richard arrived after work to assist. All went up ok and as the APRS quarter wave already there saved us sometime. Seemed to myself that all three of our shack equipment was there for use! Set up fully the station and did a few tests to see if the kit was running without problems. Big day tomorrow! A bit tight for time as Richard had 40 minutes to get changed, washed, fed and get to work again. I must go and do some coaching at the archery club and Pat has a few things to do.
Saturday 18th August 2001 - Picked Richard up on the way to Special Event Station and met Pat at the gate at 07:00 hrs. Then the station was soon transmitting. The station was manned on “as and when” system due to the limited number of operators. I started a pile up on the Bournemouth (GB3SC) repeater for an hour and a half. Had a great Indian meal with Pat, Richard and Daniel (SWL), which Pat had to use a speedboat with the colossal amount of rain that fell.
Sunday 19th August 2001 - In the early hours of Sunday morning, Richard worked Joe, VK5BRC, Barrosa ARC, Angaston, South Australia. Activity on the band had reduced and so the rate of contacts also. This gave some free time to eat, wash and catch up on some sleep. Approximately 15:00 hrs, some packing up started to take place of the spare equipment and the final shut down at about 16:00. The conference room was return to it original state and a good tidy up and Hoover was done. Though APRS, a request for a QSO was sent and while Richard was calling, accidentally caused a small pile up. Pat worked Puerto Rico Lighthouse (KP4FRD) which was another excellent contact at 01:25 hrs on 20 metres.
Click here for a QSOs per Band report.
Now sitting with feet up and a glass of wine at home.
A good, relaxed event, not free of a few problems leading up to it. 470 contacts were made with 15 other lighthouse/lightships and 3 UK club stations. Many thanks to Richard who organised the equipment, Pat for organising the aerial farm, Neville for producing an excellent QSL card and for this article and finally to all the other people who came and gave their support.
Best wishes from Mark, M5MKW, QinetiQ Site Sponsor, QSL and Station Master.
See pictures of last years event.
THE KENYA PROJECT - PART 2
In my first article I detailed how I and my XYL had decided to help local villagers in the Kenya village of Shanzu by constructing a small solar energy station to provide modest power to an otherwise electricity-less environment. This idea came about whilst sailing on my local River Exe. About half of the navigation buoys in the river are lit by flashing beacon light to aid night navigation, these lights being powered from a 12v source housed within the buoy, and trickle-charged during daylight hours by 2 solar cell panels attached in an inverted V manner, which ensures sufficient south orientation to catch the maximum sunlight or bright daylight. I thought "what happens to these panels after their serviceable days?" My question was answered by a local friend, Andy Herbert, who also just happened to be the buoy master responsible for their upkeep!
The solar panels are 500mm square, totally sealed and specifically manufactured for a harsh marine environment. However, being splashed day in and day out by sea water and living in 100% humidity - which in effect is a weak solution of hydrochloric and other acids - the solar panels do show signs of early failure, particularly through sea water being drawn upwards into the solar panel through the connecting wires, due to a reaction known as osmosis. Each 500mm square panel consists of 8 rows of 9 solar cells (each 55mm x 40mm) connected variously in series and parallel to +ve and ve busbars. These busbars are generally the site of the most corrosion, having been eaten away by the sea water through osmosis, and by the time they are passed to me the busbars are practically 100% green copper sulphate crystals !! Fortunately, in most cases, damage has not reached any of the cells, so it is a relatively simple matter of bodging a new set of busbars plus, in some cases, effecting other rather minor repairs where the unit (and buoy) has been clouted by an unwary (or un-seaworthy) sailor !! (Note: most buoys are within hitting distance of at least 10 public houses !!).
After effecting any repairs, clear bathroom silicon sealer is used to reseal the worked-on areas (so any bodges have to look at least reasonable ! ), which I reckon to be sufficient, given that their new environment is far more favourable.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
In my south facing back garden on a bright August day with 50% cloud cover, I tested 4 individual panels, each one in turn connected to a 12v leisure lead acid battery (the large heavy duty type as would be used by a caravaner). The results I obtained were as follows:-
Charging Rate: 1.25amps @ 15v (by Ohms Law = 18.75 watts) which was in line with the manufacturer’s quoted figures. The amount of power that a solar cell (or cells) can produce is defined, in general terms, by the "Equivalent Sunshine Hour" (ESH) i.e. the amount of useful power per hour obtainable from the sun at a particular location and date. For instance, Weymouth in winter would have an ESH of 1 whilst Kenya would have an ESH of 5. In summer the figures would be typically Weymouth 5, Kenya 9. Taking the example of a Kenya winter of ESH 5, each panel would be expected to produce 5 x 1.25 amps nominal charge into a 12v battery, giving a total daily charge of 6.25amps. 4 panels would therefore provide 25 amps daily, a power equivalent of 300 watts (12v x 25 amps). This, then, was my perceived project, and I shall describe the total station in my next article.
Iain. M1OOO
WATTS IS A NAME ! (In defence of GB3SD's 'Full Wave Dipole!) Click here to read this article
THE ST BRUNO PROJECT
Part 2 of Colinne, G3PGK's feature includes drawings and can only be viewed by reading Catswhisker in 'PDF' format. Please see the notes at the the top of the Catswhisker Index page.
EVENTS DIARY
The next Society Meeting in on Tuesday October 2nd when Tim Walford, G3PCJ from Walford Electronics who will talk about some of the kits he produces for radio amateurs and answer questions about his products. These range from Starter Projects and Test Equipment to Frequency Counters and Superhet Transceivers for 20 & 80Mts. www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~walfor
October 21st - The Blackwood & District ARS will once again be holding their annual rally at the Newport Centre, Gwent. Features include special interest groups, parking, licensed bar, catering and trade stands. Doors open 10:45 (10:30 for disabled). Admission is £1.50 and talk-in will be on S22. More information on 01495 228516.
November 3rd - 5 & 12wpm Morse testing at M5NEV’s QTH and to be tested you should register with the RSGB soon. Forms are available from Neville, M5NEV on 01305 772806 or RSGB.
Tuesday November 6th - Tabletop Sale & Auction at Chickerell Church Hall. A comprehensive list of the main items for auction will be included with the November ‘Catswhisker’. If you have anything you wish to be included in the auction, please contact me, Neville M5NEV as soon as possible as I may want to include a photo with the list. A small commission will be charged for auctioned items if sold.
November 11th - The South Yorkshire Repeater Group presents the 11th Great Northern Hamfest at the Metrodome Leisure Complex, Queens Road, Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Doors open at 10:00 Trade stands, specialist interest groups and a large Bring & Buy. Talk-in on 145.550MHz . Morse tests on demand. More information on 01226 716339 or 07787 546515.
CHRISTMAS FUNCTION MENU 2001
To be held at The Glenburn Hotel on the 16th December at 12:30 for 1:00pm.
Cost £15.95 per head .
Menu
Spicy parsnip soup,
Or Deep fried Brie with a passion fruit coulis,
Or Chilled orange, melon and grapefruit cocktail,
Or Smoked salmon on a herb potato pancake with horse radish cream.
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Festive roast turkey garni served with all the traditional trimmings,
Or Individual Beef Wellington served with a rich port sauce,
Or Salmon and scallops in fib pastry served with a citrus hollandaise sauce
Or Aubergine and courgette gallette served with a spicy tomato salsa.
All main courses served with chef's selection of seasonal vegetables.
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Individual Christmas puddings served with fresh custard.
Or Mulled wine fruit compot served with vanilla ice cream (served hot or cold)
Or Chocolate Tart accompanied with a crème Anglais
Or Cheese plate; A selection of cheeses served with apple and biscuit.
Coffee and hot mince pies.
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In order to reserve places, we need to receive a deposit of £5:00 from each person by 6th November.
The balance to be paid by 4th December with your choice from the menu.
CATSWHISKER DEADLINE
The deadline for next month is the 9th of October. Please make sure that I have your contributions before that date.
73 de Neville Bridle, M5NEV, Catswhisker Editor m5nev@g3sds.org.uk
134 High Street, Wyke Regis, Weymouth DT4 9NT. Telephone 01305 772806
(Full details of the Society and it's committee can be found on the SDRS Information page)