RSGB Convention

12-14 OCTOBER : RSGB CONVENTION

Kent's Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, Swallow House, Timbold Drive, Kent's Hill Park, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK7 6BZ. The Convention programme of lectures for all interests will be available on the website. Principal sponsor Martin Lynch & Sons. www.rsgbevents.org.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

FT8 article for RadCom

A few weeks ago I submitted another article for possible inclusion in RadCom the RSGB's monthly magazine. It looks like this will appear in the near future. It was only short, but probably apposite. Watch this space.

Writing articles is quite enjoyable. Usually I write about things done by myself, as I find these "flow" naturally. Sadly, my poor health has meant few articles about field work of late. Let us hope this changes.

2m UKAC RSGB activity contest

In the October leg of the 2m UKAC RSGB activity contest, I made 6 QSOs in the short time I was on. Best DX was G6DOD/P (216km) on the Isle of Wight. As usual I was using 5W and the big-wheel omni antenna.

70cm actvity contest

As usual, I entered the RSGB's 70cm activity contest this evening using 5W and my 2m halo. Only 2 QSOs were made! If I want to make a serious entry, I need more power and a "real" 70cm antenna.

70cm RSGB UKAC contest

Despite having just a single contact this month (I did not stay on very long at all) I still stand 108th out of 147 in the AL section. I must try harder next month! I only use 5W and a 2m halo.

Even more simple VHF and up licence?

On Southgate News there is a report about the RSGB's thoughts on activity levels on VHF and UHF bands. Apparently activity levels have dropped badly in the UK and there is talk of an even simpler exam and licence to encourage activity. There is no doubt that the hobby is facing a future crisis as people get older, less active, and die.

Like many things, we seem to try "dumbing down" as the answer. The basic issue is radio is not the magic it was to many in the 1950s and 1960s. These days you only have to look at the magazines for sale in newsagents to see this. Sadly, there are far more gaming, PC and railway magazines with, if you are lucky, just a couple of radio magazines.

Certainly, many on 2m have switched to FT8. A casual tune across the bands would suggest low levels of activity. Some would argue much less wide bands would do.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/june/could-a-new-entry-level-licence-boost-vhf-uhf-activity.htm#.Wx42tPZFzIU

RSGB discounts

The RSGB is doing discounts for members for World Book Day. In my case this was worth £2.50 off a book. For once, I have bought something! Rather sneakily, they add the shipping costs at the very end. Naughty.

RSGB, I don't like this. Change it!!

70cm UKAC activity contest

This evening is the March leg of the 70cm RSGB activity contest. It starts at 2000z and lasts for 2.5 hours, although I usually manage about 30 minutes with my poor voice. My gear is totally unsuitable! I run 5W to a 2m halo. In many 70cm contests I manage to get over 100km surprisingly, even with this setup.

See http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?contest=70cmsukac .

In the end I only stopped on for about 20 minutes, but worked 4 stations, one at good range.

Another RadCom Article

Today, I was told that another of my articles is to appear in RadCom. I have no idea when this will be.  They are likely to change things quite a bit. It was on compromise antennas, especially for 472kHz.  Basically, it was to encourage others whatever they have: poor antennas still get out!

These days I write about things I can still do. Major projects are mostly beyond me, as I get tired quickly because of my stroke. Mostly I miss my VLF and optical experiments. These were fun.

Despite things, I still enjoy the hobby.

Ideas are brewing for another article!

RSGB, bandplans and AM

What is it about the RSGB and AM?

Yet again, AM is reduced to a 2m footnote with a stupid, childish and inane remark about watching bandwidth! OK, it is some time since I used AM seriously, but the RSGB really needs to wake up. AM bandwidth is less than many FM transmissions and very low cost AM gear is available from the PMR industry.

I am rapidly going off the RSGB. The image of a bunch of grey haired fuddy duddies who are brain dead is being heavily re-enforced. I am sure this is not the image they want us to see.

As a member of the RSGB for 54 years, it is possibly my last. Although I want to support my national society, I find it hard if they are incompetent.

New MGM (digital) RSGB contests

According to the latest RadCom, the RSGB's VHF contest calendar now includes a couple of contests aimed at digital operators.

See RadCom Feb 2018 p70/71

RSGB Convention

13-15 OCTOBER 2017 : RSGB CONVENTION
Kent's Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, Swallow House, Timbold Drive, Kent's Hill Park, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK7 6BZ. The Convention programme of lectures for all interests will be available on the website. Principal sponsor Martin Lynch & Sons. www.rsgbevents.org.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

2m activity contest tonight

As this is the first Tuesday of the month, tonight is the 2m UKAC contest organised by the RSGB. It starts at 1900z and finishes at 2130z. Because of my poor voice, I usually stay on for only 20-60 minutes. This is a very friendly "contest".  As I usually get less than 10 contacts with my 5W SSB and omni antenna, I transcribe my log and enter the 10W and lower section. I have always found people helpful and understanding of my voice disability. Activity levels are high.

UPDATE 2026z: 10 contacts with the best DX being IO82 square. In the end I managed 70 minutes. Best QSO was G1YBB/P at 229km near the Welsh border.

More OFCOM rubbish?

Sorry, but my personal view is OFCOM seems incompetent. Recent tests on VDSL seem to re-enforce this. Is OFCOM really saying the noise pollution of the spectrum, especially in cities, is not getting worse? If so, they must be plain stupid. Even in my village it is much worse than 20 years ago. Please OFCOM get real. There is more to life than money. Sometimes I hear/read nothing but bollocks.

In the USA you have the FCC.

Perhaps OFCOM assume we only go on the internet and digital radio/TV? Well, if you know very little or nothing, about radio you might think that.

See http://rsgb.org/main/files/2012/12/VDSL-RFI-RSGBOfcom-meeting-June-21-2017.pdf

2m UKAC tonight

A reminder that the RSGB's 2m activity contest is this evening 2000-2230z. As usual, I hope to take part with my big-wheel and 5W pep SSB. This is preceded by an hour of FM activity. Because my voice is poor, I usually stay on for 30-60 minutes, then go QRT.


See http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?contest=2mukac .


UPDATE 2140z:  7 squares and a few  "get-aways" tonight with 13 QSOs in just over an hour with 5W and an omni antenna. Best DX 215km.

RSGB making some changes to VHF contests in 2017

I was recently emailed telling me of some changes to the rules next year. See http://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/information/vhfcc-2016survey-output.pdf for more details.

Major changes (written by the RSGB VHF contest committee) are as follows: 

• We will introduce a series of awards for the leading stations aged 18 or under to encourage more young operators to try, and hopefully stay with contesting 
• We are increasing the power limits for the two sections of the Backpackers contests from 3W and 10W to 5W and 25W 
• We are introducing new short low power FM contests aimed at newcomers on 4m, 2m and 70cm which will run in the hour prior to the UKAC events (1900 – 2000) on those bands 
• We are re-introducing the 2m diameter limitation for dish and backfire antennas in the Restricted and Low Power section of the 23cm UKAC contests 
• We are introducing separate Local and National club sections to the UKAC Club Competitions defined in a similar way to the successful 80m CC sections.  
• The 4m UKAC contests will move to occur every 3rd THURSDAY of the month to allow them to happen every month, and the 4m Cumulatives will be removed from the calendar 
• The 6m UKAC contests will move to occur every 2nd THURSDAY to separate them from the SHF events 
• In VHF NFD it will be possible for stations in both the Mix and Match and Restricted sections to operate on up to five bands, but have only their best 4 bands count 
• With the aim of increasing weekend activity, we are introducing a new Club section to the VHF Championship for weekend contests. In this section, the scores from every individual entry to a contest from a club’s members will count towards an overall score for the club.

2m UKAC results so far

The results, so far, of the RSGB's 2m UKAC contest have just been published. My position has climbed to 78th out of 188 in the AL section. I run 5W SSB to an omni big-wheel antenna. It is rare for me to be on for more than 40% of the time because of my poor voice.

Although not a great contester, I rarely miss this one as it is a good test of my (limited) set-up and a chance to work a few new squares. 200km is my usual maximum. Well equipped stations with yagis and more power work a lot further.

See http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contest=144MHz%20UKAC&year=2016 .

RadCom and RadCom Plus

This is the magazine of the RSGB, the UK's national amateur radio society. There is also an additional online version available to members (RadCom Plus) with extra content. Usually the paper copy is a mix of technical and operational news.

See http://www.rsgb.org/  .

2m UKAC tonight

As this is the first Tuesday of the month, it is the 2m UK activity contest this evening. With VHF NFD last weekend I wonder what activity will be like? As usual, I shall go on for a while until I have to stop because of my poor voice. Usually I manage an hour or less in the AL section running 5W and an omni antenna.

UPDATE 2210z: 8 contacts made with best DX G5BBL/P at 221km. Conditions were up. Good turnout with GM, GW, F, ON and PA heard.

Stations worked (5W and omni antenna) on 2m SSB tonight

RSGB AGM - in Glasgow

Saturday 23 APRIL : RSGB AGM

Glasgow City Hotel, 36 Cambridge St, Glasgow G2 3HN.

A number of Board and Regional positions will be voted and announced. Various trophies and awards will be presented. www.rsgb.org.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/