Recent News and Events

Practical Wireless 144MHz QRP Contest: June 2010

Last year's PW Contest entry had proved that the site we had chosen was suitable for 2 metres and by building on the experience gained we hoped to put in an even better score this year.

An early start saw the station set up and ready to operate with almost 20 minutes to spare before the start of the contest. The main differences to last year were that the mast-head preamp had been wired for RF/VOX (it was hard switched last year) and the rig used was an Icom IC-7400 in preference to a Yaesu FT-817. There was no spotting station used this year.

There was a good start with several local stations being worked but the signal strength reports we received seemed rather low. This caused some concern that 3 Watts wasn't enough to switch the preamp out when transmitting but after checking the current drawn by the preamp, it was found that as long as the operator "talked-up" the compression, the preamp would switch reliably. Softly spoken operators were reminded to speak up and make the most of the miniscule power feeding the 20 metres of RG-213.

Station operators were rotated between operating, logging on computer, logging on paper and check-logging locator squares on a map in an attempt to improve our logging accuracy over last year's 11% of QSOs lost due to errors.

Attendees were: Bill G0PZP, Ron G0WJX, Jim G3NFB, Ken G3VBA, Paul G7ODJ, Dave G7SKR, Alan G8WQE, Ian M0BXR, Owen M3RZI, Leigh 2E0LDJ.

VHF conditions seemed pretty flat and some light rain that appeared later in the afternoon didn't spoil the day and we ended with 153 QSOs which included 1 dupe. We worked 23 unique squares, a step up from last year's 18 to give us a final submitted score of 3496 points.

ODX was down on last year, but still a reasonable 434km (270 miles) to MJ0RZD in IN89xf. Other non-UK stations worked were ON4ZN/P in JO11id, 429km (267 miles) and TM7T in JO00uv, 389km (242 miles). Countries summary: G GW GM GD ON F GI GJ.

The Contest in Full Flow (L to R) G0WJX, G8WQE, M0BXR, G3VBA and M3RZI	Operator and two Loggers Alan, Ian and Ken	Alan Logging on the Laptop using SDV
Owen Logging Locator Squares and Multipliers	View and Take Off to the North West	Beaming South West to Chase More Multipliers

Photos by Dave, G7SKR.

NARSA Rally, Blackpool: April 2010

The 2010 NARSA Amateur Radio Rally was held on the 11th April at the Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool. The Club Stand was showing the latest developments on the CDG 2000 Transceiver developed by Colin G3SBI, Dave G8KBB and George G3OGQ. Alongside was a practical demonstration of a homebrew N2PK Vector Network Analyser (VNA) and PC control software by Dave G8KBB.

This year we were again successful in the club competitions and were awarded the Construction Award Trophy and Best Club Stand Trophy.

The Club Stand Attracted Considerable Interest Throughout the Day	Fred Jones G2IV NARSA Chairman Chats To George G3OGQ as he Inspects The Club Stand
Alan G8WQE, WARC Chairman, Accepts The Constructors Cup from Dave Wilson M0OBW on Behalf of The Winner Club Member Dave Roberts G8KBB	Mike G4VSS Receives the Best Club Stand Trophy from RSGB President Dave Wilson M0OBW

Photos by Ron, G0WJX.

Contest Trophy Arrives in Warrington

This year's RSGB Convention was held over the weekend of 10th to 11th October at Wyboston Lakes Conference Centre was a good mix of technical, DX, operating and contesting seminars. It was a well attended event with many UK and overseas visitors in attendance.

The HF Contest Trophy Presentations were held on Sunday morning for HF contest awards that had been won during the preceding year and a member of Warrington ARC picked up their first piece of silverware for winning a category in the prestigious IOTA Contest.

The David King, G3PFS Trophy, is awarded to the leading UK entrant in the Single Operator 12hr SSB category in the IOTA Contest. The 2008 winner was Dave, G7SKR, who collected the trophy in person from Don, G3XTT, the RSGB Contest Committee Chairman at the convention.

Prior to the 2008 IOTA Contest, Dave had started taking part in the RSGB Club Championships in the same year to support Warrington ARC's entry and decided that a 12 hour category in one of the bigger international contest would provide some good fun. The IOTA contest was the first one that came along where the timing was right and so that was the contest chosen.

He was delighted to find that he had won the UK SO 12hr SSB category and be awarded the trophy. The problem is that now the bar has been set, Dave only hopes he can keep up the momentum and add to the contest awards in the future.

Don, G3XTT (left), presents the G3PFS Trophy to Dave, G7SKR (right)

Dave is happy to receive his first contest trophy

Photos by Mike, G4VSS.

Sport Radio - ARDF Practice Evening: September 2009

Over the last few weeks, club members have been building 80m ARDF Receiver kits in preparation for a club ARDF mini-contest in a few weeks time. To give everyone a chance to become accustomed with their receivers, a practice evening was arranged by Paul, G1DVA.

Transmitters were hidden in the vicinity of the club and the hunt began. The early evening darkness added to the amusement as members disappeared into various corners of the car park, trees, hedges and other herbaceous undergrowth in search of the transmitter.

Although nearly everyone converged on the approximate location quite quickly, spotting the small transmitter in the darkness was a little more tricky. In the end, only one transmitter was found without additional "non-radio" assistance when Tony, G0YSS, found the transmitter above the old meeting room door.

The other transmitters were almost trampled on but remained undiscovered even though they were in plain sight and despite having a torch shone on them on more than one occasion. The darkness certainly added an interesting twist to the evening.

The real event takes place in a few weeks time... In daylight.

L to R: Dave G8KBB, Mike G4VSS, Dave G7SKR and Paul G1DVA

Dave Looking Puzzled

Paul G7ODJ and Bill G0PZP continue searching in amusement

Photos by Jeff, G1DYN.

Practical Wireless 144MHz QRP Contest: June 2009

It was an early start and club members were on site before 9AM local time getting the station set up ready for the 10AM (0900 UTC) start. Recent practice runs were put to good effect and the main mast was up and ready to go with no major issues. Final station assembly was completed and tested with almost 10 minutes to spare!

The contest was started on time and we were underway. The band was busy and QSOs were being logged at a good rate. Everyone that wanted to operate the station took their turn and good fun was had by all. The weather stayed warm thoughout although it did cloud over later in the aftenoon.

Attendees were: Bill G0PZP, Paul G1DVA (not operating), Jim G3NFB, Paul G7ODJ, Dave G7SKR, Alan G8WQE, Ian M0BXR, Dave M0TUB, Owen M3RZI.

The final log had 100 QSOs which included, 1 dupe, 1 no locator, 2 FM contacts, 3 club members worked (G4VSS, M0ANM, M0TUB) and 18 unique squares. ODX was 574km (357 miles) to OQ4U in JO20KV. ODX UK was 421km (262 miles) to GM7PKT/P in IO76LP on the summit of Bidean nam Bian, SOTA reference, GM/WS-007.

Bill, G0PZP and Jim, G3NFB Start of Aerial Erection	Putting Up The Shack	Ready to Push? The 12el Yagi and Masthead Preamp
Bill, G0PZP and Paul, G1DVA Pushing Up The Mast	Tying Down The Top Guy Ropes	The Latest Yagi Design Technology
Ian, M0BXR, With The Spotting Aerial	The Main Station 12 element Yagi	Jim, G3NFB and Dave, G7SKR, Start Assembling The Station
Owen, M3RZI, Checking the Antenna Bearing	Is That Another Contest Station Over There?	Final Tweaks to the Yaesu FT-817
Ian, M0BXR and Alan, G8WQE Setting Up The Spotting Station	We're Off! Dave, G7SKR, Starts... CQ Contest, CQ Contest, G0WRS/P	Alan, G8WQE, Operating
Jim, G3NFB, Logging Station Using SDV by EI5DI	FT-817, Speaker, 12V Car Battery and separate 12V SLAB with Homebrew PreAmp Sequencer	The Contest in Full Swing

Photos by Dave, M0TUB and Dave, G7SKR.

NARSA Rally, Blackpool: April 2009

The 2009 NARSA Amateur Radio Rally was held on the 5th April at the Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool. The Club stand had a D-STAR theme again, this time with the emphasis on non-ICOM equipment. Two Yaesu FT-817s were used with a Satoshi D-STAR board to demonstrate a store-and-forward digital voice repeater.

Paul, G1DVA, in conjunction with UK FM Group (Western) demonstrated D-Star between their stands and used the data capability of D-STAR to transfer live web cam images.

The WARC stand also offered rally visitors the opportunity to have their newly purchased D-STAR radios programmed with the UK's D-STAR repeaters.

This year we were again successful in the club competitions and were awarded the Construction Award Trophy and Best Club Stand Trophy.

Setting Up the Club Stand	Door Duty
Albert, G3ZHE, Giving Directions on the 2m Talk-In Station	The First Visitors Enter The Rally
WARC Members man the Club Stand	Paul, G1DVA, Takes to The Stage
Paul, G1DVA, Receives the Construction Award Trophy	Mike, G4VSS, Takes His Turn on Stage

Mike, G4VSS, Receives the Best Club Stand Award

Photos by Ron, G0WJX.