Author Archives: Andrew G0RVM

History of Bob Heil (K9EID)

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heil_soundYou have heard of Heil Sound, right?  Of course you have.  Bob and his company are mostly known in this country for their amateur radio microphones.  But do you know his background? Do you know what he has done for our hobby?  No, well take a few minutes and watch this video.  Its inspirational and reminds us just what ‘Ham Radio’ is all about and has achieved over the years.

http://youtu.be/zl5k0YLalBk?list=UUzgG5iIOZpqFBBkAgg5iN1w

TSGARC – can we get Bob, George and co to give us a presentation one evening?  They do this for other clubs as you will hear in the video.  What do you think?

Andrew
G0RVM

JOTA Planning & Operation

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This week at the Thornbury & South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio Club is the final planning for JOTA.

JOTAWe will be operating a VHF and UHF station at Conygres teaching Scouts how to send a message over the air to Woodhouse Park Scout camp using Voice or Morse code.  The intention is to use VHF for FM phone and UHF for phone/slow Morse.  If you have time this weekend please say ‘hi’ to a Scout by responding to a CQ call.  We will be using the callsign: GB1WSG

Anyone who would like to help can operate with Peter and Rex from Woodhouse or operate from home.

Full details including operating frequencies are on QRZ.com.

GARES will be operating the HF Station during the day on Saturday18th and Sunday 19th hoping to make longer range contacts.

My thanks to John M0HFH for the content 🙂

Andrew
G0RVM

New 2m VHF Allocation

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Ofcom VHF Spectrum ReleaseOfcom has granted UK radio amateurs a temporary spectrum allocation adjacent to our existing 144-146 MHz allocation. The additional allocation will be between 146 MHz and 147 MHz.  It will become available from 31st October 2014, will require a NoV and that the amateur hold a full/advanced license.

The temporary allocation is the result of VHF spectrum reallocation and Ofcom’s plan to have a tapered release of spectrum in the 143 – 169 MHz region to new users on a first-come-first-served basis.

Ofcom have chosen their words carefully regarding the definition of ‘temporary’, but my interpretation is that we should expect a 12 month rolling period from 31st October 2014.

The release statement is interesting reading as it identifies potential new users and the types of communication that, in the future, may be used.

The Ofcom VHF release statement.

Andrew
G0RVM

Linear loaded 40m dipole

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Whilst investigating options for a new 20m/40m antenna at my station I came across a QST magazine article by Lew Gordon, K4VX about a linear loaded dipole for 40m.  It’s not dual band, but it did catch my eye due to the well written article and also because of its shorter, than a full size dipole, top length.

I’m posting it here just in-case it’s useful to someone.

Andrew
G0RVM

VHF Managers Handboook

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In rummaging around the Internet this weekend I came across version 6.14, dated 8 September 2014, of the VHF Managers Handbook.

The title is a little misleading as it contains information relevant to all amateurs and its not just about VHF but also for UHF, SHF and EHF.

Contents

  1. IARU Informaiton
  2. Recommendations
  3. Frequency Allocations, Bandplanning
  4. IARU Region 1 VHF/UHF/Microwaves Bandplans
  5. ARU Region 1 50MHZ / 145MHZ / UHF AND Microwaves Contents
  6. Propagation Research by Amateurs
  7. Operating Procedures
  8. Technical Recommendations of IARU Region 1
  9. Amateur Satellites
  10. Repeaters
  11. Beacons
  12. VHF/UHF/Microwaves Records
  13. IARU Region 1 Certificates and Medals

Andrew
G0RVM

Your avatar

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Have you wondered how to get your picture, your avatar, shown alongside your replies to news posts in our News section?  Well, you need to create a Gravitar (A Globally Recognised Avatar).

A Gravitar is a small image that is associated with an email address.  Social media websites, including those using WordPress (the technology that underpins our site), query the Gravitar system with the email address you associated with the website, if a associated image is found it is returned to the social media site for display.

The Gravitar website explains it like this:

Your Gravatar is an image that follows you from site to site appearing beside your name when you do things like comment or post on a blog. Avatars help identify your posts on blogs and web forums, so why not on any site?

For an example, see: http://www.tsgarc.uk/?p=384#comments

So, if you wish a small image, an avatar, to appear alongside your News replies log onto the Gravitar website, and associate an image with the email address you have associated with the tsgarc.uk website.  If you don’t already have an account on Gravitar, create one. Happy Days! 🙂

Andrew
G0RVM

G0RVM does VP8CES……

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VP8CES, Halley 5 QSL Card

VP8CES, Halley 5 QSL Card

This coming Wednesday I will be doing a presentation about my trip to the bottom of our little planet in 1991 when I had the opportunity to create some really big pile-ups as VP8CES at Halley research station!

The presentation will tell my story from boarding the RRS Bransfield in Rio, through the year on the ice and the return back to Montevideo via the Falklands.

So your task before the presentation is to familiarise yourself with the geography of the South, including the Falklands, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands, the Brunt Ice Shelf not to mention the various types of whale, seal, birds etc

Talk starts at 20:00hrs; See you Wednesday.

Andrew
G0RVM

 

The Dipole Antenna

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There is a good introductory segment by Gordon West, WB6NOA to the dipole antenna, the benefits of a resonant vs non-resonant antenna and a discussion of other simple wire antenna’s near the start of the the latest Ham Nation episode.  We have a link to all episodes under ‘H’ on our Links page but for convenience you can also find it here: http://twit.tv/show/ham-nation/162

Ham Nation is in its 162 weekly episode and since the very first episode they have covered a wealth of subjects core to amateur radio.  Memorable episodes for me are Bob’s introduction to microphones, audio processing and the importance of good audio to working DX, coaxial dipoles, the station ground (RF vs DC) including ground loops plus some of the kits George has built on the show, but there are many more.

If you don’t know about Ham Nation, I can certainly recommend viewing.  It’s an all American production by Bob Heil (K9EID) [Of microphone fame], Gordon West (WB6NOA), George Thomas (W5JDX) and Dale Puckett (K0HYD) and episodes often contain contributions from the UK.  Its very good and has quite a worldwide following.

Andrew
G0RVM

Its On-Air Night!

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A quick peek at the Programme tells me is On-Air night this coming Wednesday 27th August….

Members of the club will know that we have a VHF and UHF collinear plus a full-size dipole for 40mtrs permanently erected at the club house.  So, lets get the radio’s out and play…  Perhaps we could even have a wee competition and see who can make the most distant contact?  Rex, no sneaking in with your key 🙂

If the weather is kind to us we can also setup the radio’s in the car park where it will be a little quieter…

Andrew
G0RVM