November 2009

Editor: Malcolm Andrew G8NRP

COMMENT

I hope we all feel proud of the success that we have had as a club this year in attracting interest in the hobby and in our club. 

The October meeting had the largest attendance that I can ever remember and this was despite the fact that the word had got around that the speaker was not able to attend. 

The JOTA weekend was also a great success as you will read elsewhere in QAV.

Malcolm, G8NRP

ANOTHER OVER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Last month we were due to have a talk on ‘Linear Amplifiers’.  Unfortunately, the speaker couldn’t make it at the last minute so we were left with no planned talk.  Luckily a number of club members stepped in to fill the breach and we were entertained by Robin, G3LBA talking about his newly assembled HF QRO linear and Ron, G7DOE talking about the time it can take to assemble a 23cm station.

Ray, G3LQC also brought in a DVD recording of a Television programme about the birth of Radio.  This was interesting as it started by stating that we all understood that Marconi was the inventor of radio, and then went on to tell us all about a number of Americans who also ‘invented Radio’!
I must say a ‘thank-you’ to these three members who helped us out.  It was so successful that we could well have another ‘at home’ evening when club members can talk for about 10 minutes about what they’ve been doing.

The club held a very successful JOTA weekend on the 17-18 October.  More elsewhere in this QAV.

The ‘train the trainers’ course planned for October had to be postponed due to illness of one of the lecturers.  This has now been rescheduled for 21 November and we plan to start the first foundation course in the new year.  We already have a number of people interested in doing the course, but if you know of anyone else who wants to join in the hobby they will be most welcome.  If you do, please contact a committee member.

A number of members are continuing to take part in the weekly, Tuesday night VHF/UHF contests.  Since July, interest in 6m has grown greatly within the club, and the club stands a very good chance of winning the 6m event this year.  It just needs that final push for the last 2 months….

On 2m the club is currently lying 4th but we seemed to have missed at least one club member’s score from the October event.  If that had been included the club would probably have been lying 3rd.

The competition is fierce, particularly on 2m.  However, I believe that we could win the 2m event next year.  To achieve this we would have to field a team of at least 20 members every month.  Not all need be high-scoring entries, just working 10 or 20 stations every month will produce a score which, when added to everyone else’s score, will give a good monthly total for the club.  It ‘just’ requires that commitment from everyone.  I realise that contesting is not everyone’s cup of tea and we all have other commitments, but it would be nice!

Good DX to you all.

Mike, G8CUL

JOTA 2009

The club ran a Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) event over the weekend of 17-18 October.  This was the first time for a number of years that the club put on a station for JOTA.  We were very lucky to have a lot of support from RAL and their Recreation Association as well as our own club members.  Overall, the weekend was a great success.

We ran three sessions, Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning and afternoon to which we invited different scout troops to visit.  In all about 35 young people, their scout leaders and parents came along to visit and learn a bit about what we do.  From the feedback we have been getting since the event, the young people all had a good time and a number of them have signed up to get more information about the foundation courses we are planning to run in the new year.

We put on a number of activities to show what the hobby is about.  These activities included -
l     Operating on VHF
l     Operating on HF
l     Learning a bit of CW
l     Making their own QSL cards
l     Learning how to ‘tune’ a receiver
l     A demonstration of SSTV
l     Assembling (soldering) a simple circuit
l     JOTI (Jamboree on the Internet - in the RAL Space Science Visitor                         Centre)
Each group was split into smaller groups that then moved around the activities.

A very successful weekend, but one from which we have learned those things that worked well and those that didn’t.  Hopefully we will learn and do better next time.

Are we going to do it again next year?  Well, we have quite a lot of QSL cards to use, so . . . YES!

JOTA EXPERIENCE

Well - wasn’t that fun!  I’ve done the demo stand at our February Rally for several years now, but I have never seen enthusiasm or interest the like of which was shown during the JOTA station activity weekend - both from scouts and their adult leaders alike.

Amongst many other activities, each group was given some expert tuition on straight key Morse code, and with the aid of several keys and oscillators, were able to send messages to each other.  This proved to be ‘very’, and perhaps in this day and age of computers etc, ‘unexpectedly’ popular.  Next, each group came over to my table where I had set up an Iambic Morse key, (plus oscillator) together with a computer which was monitoring what was sent.

Of course, when I started to speak using my throat filter button, I was given some very odd and strange looks, but after a few light hearted words of explanation, all was well.  I was very surprised and pleased how well I was understood during all three of the sessions.  It was a tremendous boost to my morale.  On occasions, some of the youngsters showed quite an interest in my predicament and even asked questions - which I tried to answer sensitively.

I’m not sure what brought it up but one lad mentioned he liked swimming.  ‘I can’t go swimming anymore’ I said, ‘I mustn’t let the water get near my throat’.  ‘How about when you have a bath?’ he asked.  ‘Well, having a bath could be a bit dangerous so I always have a shower and I wear a bib to keep the water away from my throat’, I said.  Then one lad piped up with - ‘I wouldn’t bother having a shower or a bath.’  Maybe there are some advantages in having absolutely no sense of smell - Hi Hi.

My idea was to explain that the modern way of using an iambic key to send Morse by hand was much quicker and less tiring than with the old style straight key.  Also to let them have a go at sending ‘CQ’ and ‘73’.  Now - as anyone will tell you, if you haven’t already found out for yourselves, using an iambic key for the first time is next to impossible.  Rubbing the tummy and patting the head at the same time is very easy up against using an iambic key.  However, I was about to be astounded.  I turned down the speed on my auto keyer as low as it would go - still at a speedy 13 words per minute, - and after showing them what to do, let everyone have a go.  I think that everyone, without exception, after a little practice, managed to send either CQ or 73 (or both).  The computer verified that it had been sent correctly.  I was VERY surprised.

One young lad even managed to send ‘CQ’ on his very first attempt.  Both I, and his dad who was in attendance, were very impressed.  However, a small dent had now appeared in the ego.  After all, I was supposed to be able to do something that they couldn’t.

But things were about to get much worse.  After a little practice, one lad managed to send ‘CQ’ correctly every attempt - time after time.  I may be wrong but - it did seem to me that he gave me a look that said - ‘so what’s so clever about this then?’

Now, ‘nobody’ wins a coconut at ‘My Stall’.  So I turned up the speed a bitand said smugly, ‘now try’.  Yes!  - You’ve guessed it - perfect.  So I turned it up a little more - Still perfect.  And a bit more . . . and a bit more . . .  Until he was sending a perfect ‘CQ’ at a speed that a seasoned contester would have been proud of.  At this stage I didn’t exactly say ‘push off’ but I did suggest that perhaps he might like to go on to the next activity.

If all goes well, I hope to have my ego repaired ready for next year.

Bob, G0ADH

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 8 December.  We need nominations for the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Committee Members.  Nomination forms for any of the committee posts are available from the Secretary.  HARS is only as good or as strong of those that volunteer to run the club.  See the enclosed notice of the meeting.

HARS ANNUAL DINNER

The Club Dinner will again be held at Sudbury House Hotel, Faringdon on Saturday 23 January 2010.  The menu for this annual event is being distributed by Colin, G3NNG.  Please return your choice to Colin, G3NNG before the January meeting, preferably earlier.  The cost is due to be the same as last year with both 2 and 3 course menus available.  For those who want to stay overnight, Bed and Breakfast is available at good rates. 

SOME HELPFUL TIPS ON USING THE HARS REFLECTOR

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REVISED CONSTITUTION

The HARS revised constitution is now available at www.g3pia.org.uk or request a copy from the Secretary.

NEW HARS EMAIL ADDRESSES

We have recently introduced new email addresses for the Officers in HARS.
Please use them rather than the personal addresses. They are as follows:

In addition, if any member would like a new email address, (anything-decent@g3pia.org.uk) with excellent automatic spam rejection, please send your request to editor@g3pia.org.uk. There is no charge for this service, all you need is an Internet connection.

FOURTH TUESDAY
Some of you will remember that when we had our shack in the Portakabin on the north side of the site, we had an activity night on the fourth Tuesday of the month when members were invited to come and use our equipment and to air the clubs callsign.
The shack will be open to all members to come and operate our equipment and perhaps even work a few stations if the 6m CC contest happens to be on.  We may also be able to operate a rig clinic.
The shack will be open from 2000hrs clock time and access is via the back gate as per the club meeting nights. 
It is the place to be - and be seen!  See you there!

HARFORD NET

Did you know there is a regular net on 2m? It is called Harford as it is used by both HARS and Oxford members. Please come and join in. 145.325MHz FM every Sunday and Wednesday 20.00 - 21.00hrs.

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