Every month the RSGB organises an activity contest on the second Tuesday of the month on 70cm. Better stations were working Germans. As usual I was on with my poor voice, 10W and 2m big-wheel omni antenna. In 40 minutes I managed 4 SSB QSOs out to 105km. .Then I gave up!
13 Jan 2021
25 Dec 2020
2m and 70cm activity contest results
Both the 2m and 70cm activity contest results, run every month on Tuesday evenings and organised by the RSGB, have been published.
These show very credible scores in the low power (AL) sections, considering I usually stay on for under an hour and just use a 2m big-wheel omni antenna. No beams or rotators here!
See the RSGB contest website for details.
17 Dec 2020
Beginners' licence?
For some time in the UK a couple of ideas have been considered.
One is an exam (a bit like the old RAE) that would allow people to get a full licence with just one exam. the second is a beginners' licence to allow newcomers into the hobby easily. Some can use licence free gear, e.g. 446MHz gear in the UK without any licence, so the argument is why not a simple transition into amateur radio, perhaps only allowing use of ready built commercial gear on VHF or UHF only?
I have mixed feelings over the latter. Yes,we badly need new blood, but are we happy to dumb down our hobby? This is a hard one.
All these were discussed at a recent RSGB board meeting. You have to be an RSGB member to read these I believe.
13 Dec 2020
RSGB contest rule change - Dec 5th 2020
It is almost impossible to keep up with rule changes due to Covid-19 in different parts of the UK. The RSGB is taking a pragmatic approach. Basically, follow local rules for Covid.
17 Oct 2020
RSGB Convention online
Southgate News reports that the RSGB Convention talks are available online.
See http://southgatearc.org/news/2020/october/rsgb-convention-videos-on-youtube.htm#.X4qS7LfTVkw
3 Aug 2020
Article in RadCom
See https://rsgb.org/
26 Jun 2020
RSGB
See https://rsgb.org/
8 Jun 2020
Promoting amateur radio
See https://rsgb.org/main/clubs/media-guide-for-affiliated-societies/
10 May 2020
UK Foundation Licence
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/may/get-your-foundation-licence-faq.htm#.XrgKn2jYq00
30 Apr 2020
The RSGB
However, they produce a monthly magazine for members and provide a lot of services behind the scenes. Its strength is its members. They elect officers. I have been a member since 1962 - I must be old!!
See https://rsgb.org/
11 Feb 2020
70cm activity contest
Overall, it is fun. To me, this is how contests should be. Scoring is simple and there are multipliers for new grid squares.
UPDATE 2115z: Despite my QRP and 2m omni antenna, I managed 7 QSOs in this contest. No great DX worked, but great fun for about 40 minutes.
70cm SSB stations worked this evening |
19 Jan 2020
2m cumulative contest results
14 Jan 2020
70cm activity contest tonight from 2000z
The band can be quite active, although with strong winds and rain, I expect some /P stations will stay at home! Often I manage over 100km on 70cm with this less than optimum set-up. If taking part, have fun. If you are really keen, the contest lasts 2.5 hours I think. My log is usually submitted by 2130z!
UPDATE 2100z: Well tonight with the high winds and rain, conditions were dreadful. After just 2 contacts I gave up and returned to 160m FT8 RX.
18 Nov 2019
More on WRC-19
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/november/wrc-19-day-15--a-long-weekend.htm#.XdJjFu2TLnE
8 Nov 2019
WRC-19
See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/november/rsgb-wrc-19-update--23cms-and-a-long-day.htm .
5 Nov 2019
2m UKAC (activity contest) tonight at 2000z
UPDATE 2125z: 8 QSOs with 10W SSB and the big-wheel with best DX Isle of Man. I only stayed on for 35 minutes because of my poor voice.
Stations worked this evening with
2m QRP and the big-wheel omni antenna.
|
7 Apr 2019
Amateur radio 71 years ago
See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_LHb3wPAfE
11 Dec 2018
432MHz UKAC Activity Contest
4 Dec 2018
2m UKAC activity contest
At 2100z (ish) I expect to return to top-band FT8.
UPDATE 2110z: After about 30 minutes I went QRT. 5 QSOs with best DX G4CLA (105km). As usual, I was running 5W to the big-wheel omni antenna.