Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (C)
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Mar 02 2018 09:24 am
AUSTRALIAN HAMS HARBOR HOPES FOR GOOD CONTACTS WITH FERRIES
JIM/ANCHOR: What could be better than a day on board a boat? Try adding
radio. John Williams, VK4JJW, tells us about some hams, who are doing
just that.
JOHN'S REPORT: Amateurs in and around Sydney, Australia, are getting ready
for a field day, without an actual field. For the third year, they're
using ferries instead, as they float through Sydney's harbor aboard one of
the city's historic ferries on March 11.
The UHF-VHF event is organized by the Waverley Amateur Radio Society,
VK2BV, in the hopes that hams will use their handheld transceivers to make
as many contacts as they can, from the ferries, or the wharves, over the
course of six hours, starting at 10 am local time. Contacts may be on
simplex, or through a repeater, and in any mode the operator wishes.
Mobile operators are encouraged to activate wharves, and home-based hams
are invited to work any of the harbor stations.
Hams looking to operate from ferries, and who have a New South Wales
Transport Opal card have just the ticket - the maximum fare on a Sunday
is $2.60, and it's money well spent for a day of smooth sailing.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.
(WAVERLEY AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY)
**
RADIOS BECOME THE TEACHERS IN SCOTTISH CLASSROOM
JIM/ANCHOR: Radio doesn't just promise the magic of communication, it
also offers the magic of education. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has this story
from Scotland.
JEREMY: For a group of young schoolchildren in Scotland, a lesson on
basic electronics, combined with a taste of amateur radio, has brought
history to life in a very personal way. The CQScotland group was wrapping
up the final session in its four-part series of visits to two Hamilton
Schools, on behalf of the South Lanarkshire Council. The students, who
had earlier explored electronic circuits and components, turned their
attention on the 20th of February to Morse Code, by building a simple
sender, and learning a little CW. Then, Roy Kavannah, GM4VKI, of the
GQRP club, showed his collection of radio equipment, that had been used
in clandestine operations. The youngsters, already intrigued by the
notion of secret codes, grew wide-eyed.
The power of radio was also driven home by Tony Miles, MM0TMZ, Scottish
Region 1 manager of the Radio Society of Great Britain. He told the
children, that both his father and grandfather used equipment similar
to Roy's, whilst working for the UK clandestine special operations during
both world wars.
That's when one of the visiting parents stepped forward, and declared he
too, had been a radio operator involved in such operations: He had been
in the Soviet Navy!
According to David Searle, MM0HQD, the next series of workshops will be
held for older students at the secondary school level.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(DAVID SEARLE MM0HQD)
**
SOTA ACTIVATORS PREPARE FOR LONG PATH PROPAGATION
JIM/ANCHOR: Hams in Europe and the Asian Pacific region are planning to
climb high, and aim even higher, as we hear from Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
ED'S REPORT: In Summits on the Air (SOTA), one of the more difficult,
and therefore challenging actions, is to communicate from one summit to
another, usually using low power, and a simple antenna at both ends. Add
to that distance, and poor propagation, and the challenge is enormous.
This will not deter over 30 SOTA activators who are planning to climb
again this year, to summits in Europe, Canada, South Africa, Australia,
New Zealand, and Japan, on Saturday, the 10th of March. In time for long
path propagation between Europe and Asia Pacific.
The summit to summit (or S-2-S) event will start around 0630 UTC, for
Long Path between Europe and Australia over the following 90 minutes or
so. Despite predicted poor propagation, there are from time to time
openings even at the bottom of the solar cycle.
It is the first time that South Africa is joining in, and while contacts
from there to Europe are unlikely, contacts over to Australia may take
place.
The organizers, Mike, 2E0YYY, Andrew, VK1AD, and Ed, DD5LP, are hopeful
that as well as several S2S contacts within the regions, contacts
between regions will be possible. The best chance will be stations using
CW, however those using SSB will be trying hard as well.
For anyone wanting to join the party, either as an activator, on a summit,
or a chaser, home station, discussions can be found on the "reflector
(dot) sota (dot) org (dot)uk" web site.
These events are organized by individuals within the SOTA community, so
it just shows how much fun can be had, based simply on an idea, choosing
a date, and a loooong walk up a hill on possibly a freezing morning!
This is Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
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