Amateur radio in West Sussex - Training, Exams, Contests and Special Event Stations

Weekly Bulletin – May 3 2020

THE PAST WEEK

It is with much sadness that I have to report that Derick, G4XKF is now silent key. Derick was a WADARC member for many years and only gave up his membership, after major health issues. I well remember Derick opening up his back garden, so that we could enjoy Club barbecues by Derick’s pool. I have no other details at present, but given the current lockdown situation, it’s doubtful there will be a formal funeral where Club members could attend.

As mentioned last week, Alastair, M0OAL has setup a Doodle Poll for you to show your interest in some online lectures. This can be found at: https://doodle.com/poll/4yizg5qst7daxtvi  11 of us so far when I last checked. If you haven’t registered your interest, please do so as quickly as you can.

Not a WADARC project, but good news for local Amateurs all the same – Roy, G4WTV has installed a 2 metre repeater in Worthing. GB3RW now has new logic and seems to be working well. It’s on the old GB3SR frequencies – input 145.0 MHz, output 145.6 MHz, CTCSS 88.5 Hz. Further details can be found on this link: www.gb3rw.uk

It’s also worth noting the upsurge in local 4 metre activity, with 40 callsigns recorded on at least one of the nets. During the current crisis there’s a daily net at 2.00pm on 70.450 MHz FM with brief call-ins and a Friday evening net at 7.30pm on 70.400 MHz FM, both run by Tony, G8XRX.

The SDRPlay unit that’s been donated to the Club will be going out to its first recipient in the next few hours, despite the SMA adaptors not arriving. If any of you have no RX capabilities right now, please contact me and be put on the list to try out the SDRPlay.

Stay home – stay safe……………….

CLUB MEETINGS AND EVENTS – All suspended for the time being and replaced by nets. Coming soon – online talks – watch this space.

  • Net on GB3WO – Tuesday 5th May – 8.00pm-10.00pm
  • Net each evening (Mon-Thurs) on 3.712MHz – 6.00pm onwards
  • Net on GB3WO – Tuesday 12th May – 8.00pm-10.00pm
  • Net on GB3WO – Tuesday 19th May – 8.00pm-10.00pm
  • Net on GB3WO – Tuesday 26th May – 8.00pm-10.00pm

For further information as it occurs, please visit the WADARC website: http://www.wadarc.org.uk

NETS

Monday – 2 metres 145.425 MHz, FM, 7.30pm (local)

Tuesday – 70cms on GB3WO, FM, 8.00pm (local)

Thursday – 40 metres 7.106 MHz +- QRM, SSB, 11.00am (local)

Saturday – 70cms on GB3WO, 7.00pm (local)

Sunday – 80 metres 3.712 MHz +- QRM, SSB, 7.30am – 8.00am (local)

Weekday evenings – 80 metres 3.712 MHz +- QRM, SSB, 6.00pm (local)

RALLIES

Local, national and some international rallies can be found by visiting this excellent website: http://www.g4rga.org.uk/All.html

RAGCHEW

Winter 2019/2020 edition published – http://www.wadarc.org.uk/ragchew/spring-2020

PROPAGATION

HF and VHF

RSGB propagation information can be found by following this link: https://rsgb.org/main/blog/news/gb2rs/propagation-news/2020/04/17/propagation-news-19-april-2020/

BEACONS

VHF:

GB3WSX – IO80QW – 70.007 MHz

GB3BAA – IO91PS – 70.016 MHz

F1ZXK – JN18KF – 144.438 MHz

F5ZSF – IN88GS – 144.409 MHz

GB3VHF – JO01EH – 144.430 MHz

ON0VHF – JO20HP – 144.418 MHz

UHF:

F5XBA – JN18KF – 432.830 MHz

GB3UHF – JO01EH – 432.430 MHz

ON0UHF – JO20ET – 432.567 MHz

DX NEWS

HF:

WADARC members (and others) can subscribe to the DX News service without joining ARRL.
Send an email to this address: w1aw-list-request@arrl.org
In the subject line put the word Subscribe followed by your email address
ARRL will send an acknowledgement and you will receive the weekly DX News as an email, usually on a Friday

VHF/UHF:

The RSGB VHF/UHF Contest and Activity calendar is available via this link: https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/readcal.pl?year=2020

FINALÉ

Although propagation is being its usual fickle self, many of the bands are regularly open and with many countries being under lockdown, there are many more stations on the air than usual. There are also some special event callsigns to mark the efforts of those who are doing their best to help others over the Covid 19 situation. It’s well worth calling on all bands – even VHF/UHF has had some lifts in conditions.

Vy 73,

Alan. G4GNX