Radio Club monthly meeting Saturday 2022-05-07 14:00

[JJ (g6vzm)]

Last month we identified the problem with the Vee antenna and made it safe.  This week we need to get it down, perform the repairs and raise it again so we'll need at least pairs of hands and some climbing rope to do it effectively.  It's possible that we could be a few regulars short so lets confirm on Friday that we have the necessary.

In any case check here and IRC on the day but a few of us will probably start with brunch in 'Spoons and/or retire there later.

Advance notice that there probably won't be a meeting in June or we'll postpone it to a different Saturday because a good proportion of the active members will be at EMFcamp, but give us a shout if you'll be there and we'll arrange something.

JJ 

[JJ (g6vzm)]

We had an excellent afternoon in which we fixed the aerial, so many thanks to Marrold, Padriac, Igor, Doug, Oleg, Nigle for also bringing rope, Padski for bringing more rope and David was with us in spirit but scuppered by the tube chaos.  Doubtless we'll have compromised the tuning of the aerial a little but the tuner in the FT-450 still matches it well across all the bands.

There was a lot of interest in the data modes that we run on the radios when the shack isn't in use but we didn't have time for more than the briefest of introductions so we'll organise a proper demonstration in the near future.

Last meeting Igor announced that since the previous meeting he'd taken the exam and got licenced, Doug did the same this month and we're hopeful that Oleg and Adrian will achieve the same in the coming month.  We hope to organise an ad-hoc meeting in the next couple of weeks where we can do some exam tips and offer the equivalent of the old QSO practicals to give new licencees confidence when they go on air for the first time.

And assuming no disasters like aerials breaking again we're open to suggestions for topics for future meetings or other activities.  A radio picnic in Hanger Hill Park was suggested, being convenient for several of us and having a great outlook for radio, being adjacent to the site of the old West London repeater GB3WL/GB3HL.  Let us know your thoughts.

JJ