Dear Members

Hello, not only will this be the last letter of 1999 but also that of the millennium.

 We wish all our members and friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

For our "A" meeting this month we have an interesting presentation by David How G0PAR on novel applications for computer sound cards. We have also re-vamped the WEB site and have a shorter URL as given above - this is all thanks to Andy G7UKH. More about these further into the Newsletter.

This promises to be an interesting evening to be given by our Vice-Chairman David G0PAR. However his preparation for the talk has not been without it's problems and he has had to obtain a replacement sound card.

David plans to:

• Show the conventional uses of sound cards;
• Describe principle functional components of sound cards;
• Show how they may be used in Amateur Radio applications with the appropriate software; and
• Describe ways in which sound cards can be blown up!!

This will be the last formal talk of 1999 and of the millennium and I hope many of you will turn up to support David and his hard efforts in preparing this talk.

For this last meeting prior to Christmas we meet as normal in the TS Terra Nova but around 9pm we might adjourn to the local pub. We will decide on the night though the thought of a mince pie and hot cup of tea with friends in our Clubroom sounds just as appealing!

We firstly have to thank Peter G3ZPB for the last "A" meeting evening where not only did he bring the videos but the video projector as well. Secondly thanks to Maurice G4DDY for the video recorder and audio amplifier, which together with the projector and screen made this an excellent way of watching videos.

We first of all watched the lecture entitled "The Digital World" presented by the University of Kent for the 1998/99 lecture, followed by "But what's the use of it Mr Faraday?" presented by the University of Sheffield for the 1996/97 lecture.

Details of the two videos were contained in last month's newsletter. They were both very enjoyable and the Club has received many positive comments - clear picture and sound, no viewing angle problems, could sit anywhere.

This well known event was held on SUNDAY morning 21^st November at the hut HQ of the Purley 4^th Scout Group, car park, Lion Green Road, Coulsdon. This event was well attended and also an excellent opportunity to catch up with friends and members.

The entrance fee included a drink and the opportunity to buy a sandwich or sausage roll, the latter proving very popular as these were sold out quite early (in other words I didn't get one!).

Amongst the tables was Robin G3NFV with his SYCOM range, and also Maurice G4DDY and Graham G3RJW with tables for the Club. I understand that they raised around £100 for club funds - well done.

Another table displayed Blanca's (XYL G8TB) excellent range of paintings - an ideal gift for Christmas - and she was also running a raffle. This was drawn at 12 midday with the winner holding ticket No: 12. This turned out to be Hazel (XYL G3BFP) who won the "Windmill" picture - well done. I am told that the windmill painted is not the local one but one somewhere in Sussex.

Thanks are extended to CATS for another very well organised bazaar - looking forward to next year's already.

Those of you with E-Mail and Internet access will already be aware that the SRCC team came 2^nd in the Mix & Match section. We were beaten by Cheltenham ARC who will be presented with the G5BY trophy that we recently donated (see earlier newsletter for picture of trophy).

In detail the results for each station compared to what we claimed were:

Band	Claimed	Awarded	Lost
4m CW	10778	9584	11%
4m SSB	16182	12972	19%
2m	83269	76261	8%
70cm	23633	23633	--
23cm	7794	7378	5%

We haven't yet got an explanation on how we managed to lose the points but plan an inquest meeting at the end of January i.e. Monday 31^st January 2000 at QTH of Peter G3ZPB.

Anyway, congratulations to all in coming second this year. We seem to have repeated the trick of awarding a trophy then not winning it back like the Open Section when we donated the Surrey trophy.

It has been pointed out to me that Page 9 of the current issue of Radcom (December 1999) states that the RSGB National VHF Convention is once more being held at Sandown Exhibition Centre, Esher, Surrey on Sunday 20^th Feb 2000. Attractions will include trade stands, lectures, presentation of trophies and the RSGB Book stand.

For more information telephone RSGB HQ on 01707 659015.

I don't have a lot of news this month other than that both Bernie G8TB and Graham G3RJW have been hit by the stomach bug that is doing the rounds. Graham was more affected than Bernie was, but I am glad to report that both are much better now. Bernie was only affected for a few days whilst for Graham it was for a couple of weeks or so.

Members like this bit of the newsletter but I need your contributions please so phone, write or E-Mail - many thanks.

Some of you may have noticed a re-vamp has occurred with the SRCC WEB Site and it now looks a lot better, with easier navigation.

This is thanks to Andy G7UKH who has willing spent a lot of his spare time in developing the coding for me to upload to my Internet Service Provider. There is more to come so keep visiting our WEB pages.

You will note that we have a shorter URL i.e. http://go.to/srcc with E-Mail: srcc@go.to

The old URL will still work so you don't have to change your bookmarks/favourites unless I change my ISP. That is when the shorter URL has an advantage, as all I need do is to re-point the destination address.

Many thanks Andy and also Roger G4WAY who was the catalyst in finding Andy.

In this month's newsletter you will find a flyer regarding ticket discounts for this years' show being held at Alexandra Palace from 8^th - 12^th December. Opening times are 09:30 - 18:00 Weds-Sat and 09:30 - 17:00 Sunday.

It is probably now too late for the advance discount but there is no harm in trying the Credit Card Hotline 01322 616310 and seeing if a deal can be struck.

The Radiocommunications Agency (RA) has agreed to allow the suffix /2K to be used by UK radio amateurs during January 2000, to celebrate the new Millennium. This means that anyone operating during next January can add /2K to their callsign, club callsign or whilst operating a Special Event Station - Source Dec 1999 Radcom pg9.

The chief executive of the Radiocommunications Agency (RA) has announced the start of a two month consultation period, which is hoped will lead to limited amateur radio access to the Internet by the turn of the year.

This is in response to the decline of amateur radio worldwide and the need to make the hobby an attractive pursuit for young people. Linking amateur radio to the Internet would be an important step forward.

It was thought that limited access perhaps via the repeater network would be in operation by Christmas. The amateur community will be fully consulted to ensure the best possible use was made of this initiative.

Bernie G8TB has supplied the following:

I have a reputation for finding uses for things for which they are not intended! Recently I required thin metal to remove surface mounted transistors. A razor blade? Not available as I now use disposable ones. Not to be outdone I found that it is possible to remove the blade from a Bic by carefully prising off the top white plastic, which exposed the blade. A length of Ali 1" by 4" was folded lengthways, a hole drilled and the blade is secured with a small nut and bolt, and hey presto I not only had the thin blade I wanted but also I have a very sharp knife. Surprising what a little ingenuity can do!! G8TB

Thanks Bernie but it's no good for me - I don't shave other than using an electric beard trimmer!!

28 October 1999

Dear Club members

Greetings from Kingston and District Amateur Radio Society. We are over 60 years old (a fact also reflected in our membership!)

We are offering the hand of friendship to all local Amateur Radio clubs and individuals who share our interest in the hobby of Amateur Radio and all its aspects.

Each club is proud of its individuality - and rightly so. However, we at Kingston would like to meet other radio enthusiasts in the area to discuss thoughts for the future of our hobby, and reminisce on past experiences. Our club is important to us, and we are not seeking to "poach" new members or to merge with another club.

We would like to start the new millennium with a "get-together" to meet our local hams and to crossover the "club divide".

The venue will be arranged once we have a rough idea of how many people are curious enough to express an interest in this venture.

Robin Sykes, the RSGB’s Regional Liaison Officer, will be joining us, and we - Kingston - are arranging for a local well-known guest speaker to join us when we meet, to tell us about some of his experiences.

Please let us know, and also contact: MARY ASHDOWN (Secretary KDARS) - G0BQV on

Home: 0181-330 6790 (answerphone)

Work: 0181-547 5486

E-Mail: mary@g0bqv.freeserve.co.uk

That's the lot for this month - sorry no room for photos this time. Please try and turn out on Monday 6^th Dec to support David G0PAR for his talk on Novel Applications for Computer Sound Cards. Also please send me contributions for the Newsletter - always welcomed.

I'll close with season greetings to you all for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

73 and 88

30^th Nov 1999