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SURREY RADIO CONTACT CLUB
JUNE 1999 – No: 681 |
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CLUB NET 29.111 MHz Sunday 10:30am
CLUB NET 144.325 MHz Friday 8:30pm
CLUB NET 145.500 MHz and Down Thursday 7.00pm
CLUB Internet WEB Site:
http://www.btinternet.com/~ray.howells/srcc/ |
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Hon. Sec. Ray Howells G4FFY
9 Aultone Way
SUTTON
Surrey SM1 3LD
020-8644 7589
E-Mail: g3src@btinternet.com |
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MONTHLY MEETINGS 1ST AND 3RD MONDAYS 7.45 FOR 8pm
AT THE T.S. TERRA NOVA, 34 THE WALDRONS, SOUTH CROYDON
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"A" MEETING 7TH JUNE 1999 DIGITAL VIDEO BROADCASTING – G3ZPB
"B" MEETING 21ST JUNE 1999 INFORMAL GATHERING AND TECHNICAL CHINWAG
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Dear Members
Hi and welcome to my second Newsletter. It appears that my first Newsletter last month was well received and I have had one or two favourable comments. These are appreciated and I have included some of the suggestions this month.
NEXT MEETING:
DIGITAL VIDEO BROADCASTING
7th June 1999
As we are at the dawn of a new television broadcasting technology it is appropriate that we should learn more about it at the Club.
We have persuaded Peter Burton G3ZPB to present an overview of digital video broadcasting techniques and how it is applied to terrestrial TV broadcasting. The talk will be accompanied by a "live" demonstration of the ON-digital system (hopefully the signal at Terra Nova will be suitable?).
I must remember to bring my Smart Card as I do now have the system at home. It will interesting to learn if some of the problems I encounter are typical e.g. occasional Mosaic picture disturbances, the set-top box locking up every so often, or no sound on some channels. This has required me to switch the box off and on to reset it.
By the way you no longer get Teletext on channels received via the set-top box which I feel is a shortcoming of the new technology. Instead they have allocated a couple of dedicated Teletext channels that will require you to switch to them but at least you will get proper graphics. I’ve heard though that the software has someway to go - I believe a new download will be necessary (once available) to be able to receive the new Teletext channels.
No doubt Peter will explain all but I still say that if you receive decent terrestrial pictures then you could be disappointed with the digital pictures, they are not as pin-sharp to my eyes! Please make every effort to attend this meeting; it should be very interesting and stimulating.
LAST MEETING:
CONSTRUCTIONAL CONTEST
10th May 1999
This meeting was always popular with members willing to display their efforts and compete for the prizes on offer. It is a good thing that the Club has at least one prolific constructor, and the dedication, the effort, the design and the construction that Gareth G4XAT brings to the hobby was very well demonstrated. He presented some 18 items with 3 of which constructed by his son Joshua.
On the night it was agreed with the 14 or so members present that the 1st prize of cash and the Dave Deacon Coronation Cup should go to Gareth.
Joshua Evans and Bernie G8TB shared 2nd Prize with cash to Joshua whilst Bernie had the Basil Wardman Tankard and a smaller cash prize for his 50MHz Linear.
The three items assembled by Joshua were a Desk Alarm (but he wasn't allowed by his schoolteacher to use it!), an audio amplifier forming part of his Novice Licence application, and a Bike light (flashing LED's).
I noted from Gareth the following:
"Members may be aware of the large amount of junk that I delight in purchasing at Junk sales. Much to my wife's abject horror our two sons, Joshua and Rueben have learnt (from me) that well known phrase "I'll keep that, it might come in useful one day!"
My theme for this year is just that, using up some of my "wise purchases" to create something useful from "junk".
Achieving the impossible with the insufficient or unsuitable is, I feel, part of the "Spirit of Amateur Radio".
Gareth's display included a Flat Plate aerial for 24cms (totally re-cycled junk except for 2 exhaust clips); ex BSB LNB modified for 10GHz; using the MFJ259 as a GDO; VLF converter (0-500kHz to 10 to 10.5MHz); Sturmy Archer "Dynohub" in a modern hub (up to 18v 1A); 20W "Brick" PA for ATV (23/24cms); lightweight dipole for 80M portable operation; and the 80M QRP SSB Transceiver "Spirit of Amateur Radio" 5W O/P. A PC running a PowerPoint presentation provided a lot more detail of the Transceiver project.
At this month's committee meeting it was discussed whether or not the "right" club project might generate interest, or that members construct something on the spot during a "Construction" Evening. Via this newsletter I am making an appeal for your suggestions for a Club project and I would welcome your thoughts - thanks. Also thanks to Gareth for the photos using a digital camera.
G4XAT 80M QRP SSB
G8TB 50MHz Linear Amplifier
Joshua Evans Entries
DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES
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7th June |
DIGITAL Video Broadcasting |
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14th June |
VHF NFD Meeting: QTH G3ZPB |
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27th June |
LONGLEAT RALLY |
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3rd-4th July |
VHF NFD WEEKEND |
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5th July |
BARBECUE - QTH G3ZPB |
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11th July |
SUSSEX AMATEUR RADIO & COMPUTER FAIR - Brighton |
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12th July |
CATS Annual Inter-club QUIZ |
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1st August |
RSGB MOBILE RALLY, HATFIELD HOUSE |
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2nd August |
CROYDON SUPER TRAMS - Jim Snowden |
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6th Sept |
RADIO REMINISCENCES - G8TB |
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4th October |
SURPLUS EQUIPMENT SALE |
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1st Nov |
RADIO NAVIGATION on "D" DAY |
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6th Dec |
TBA |
NOTE: Dates in BOLD are SRCC Meetings.
LAST CLUB TRIP:
BLETCHLEY PARK 16th May 1999
I have to hand the following report from our roving reporter Bernie G8TB:
As was arranged, our visit to Bletchley Park took place on the 16th May. The weather was bright and dry though occasionally a little chilly. Everyone met on time and the coach came early so we had a prompt start, the journey took about two hours 15 mins. There were 27 members from the SRCC and 7 from CATS, and Mike Bass G3OGE and I acted as couriers.
We were fortunate in having a conducted tour by a member of the volunteer team from Bletchley Park, Peter Westcombe (arranged by Mike) who was an excellent speaker. He started with the history of BP and followed through to the present day, the changing use of the mansion in winning the war with its decoding of enemy secret codes. We then proceeded a short tour of various buildings with their uses. He was well versed in his subject and it made a most interesting hour’s plus talk.
A second talk organised by Peter G3ZPB was given by Tony Sale who, with others, had been responsible for preventing BP from being turned into a housing estate. He also was largely responsible for the building of a replica of the first large electronic valve computer in the world, Colossus, which played such a large part in the decoding of messages to Hitler’s Generals and consequently was instrumental in shortening the war. Tony was a mathematician and it was an eye—opener his knowledge of the methods involved. Again this was an extremely interesting talk and we were able to see the new Colossus.
Space does not permit me to enlarge on this visit, but I was extremely pleased to have been able to visited BP again. I thoroughly recommend a visit for those of you whom have not yet done so. We arrived back at about 6pm with congratulations to the driver for a trouble free trip.
B.W.W.
HELP NEEDED
Following our visit we have an urgent request for the following valves: — EF36, EF37, EF37A, 6J5, 6V6, GT1C (Thyristor).
This request is from Tony Sale for the carrying on of the Colossus re-build project so please rake out your valve boxes. Tony's address is:
Tony Sale
C/O The Bletchley Park Trust
Wilton Avenue
BLETCHLEY
Milton Keynes
MK3 6EB
SILENT KEY:
Jim Fanner G0ITR
It is with sadness that I have to report that Jim Fanner G0ITR passed away on 28 Apr 99. I have to hand the following letter from Bob Knight G3DPW:
"Jim was in Mayday Hospital, Croydon for a few weeks during March/April 1999. He returned home at the end of April and passed away shortly afterwards.
Cremation was at Croydon Crematorium on Friday 7th May 1999. Members of local Radio Clubs attended the service, together with some of Jim's ex-work colleaques of Mullards.
Jim was a member of the Royal Air Force Amateur Radio Society and I attended as a member of the SRCC and also a member of the RAFARS."
May I extend our condolences to Jim's next of kin on behalf of the Club.
NEW LICENCE for the NEW MILLENNIUM:
June 1999 Radcom has reported that the UK Amateur radio Licensing is about to undergo the most exciting changes since the introduction of the Novice Licence in 1991.
A new class of licence to be known as the A/B licence, and which will use the callsign series M5xxx, is to be introduced in the early autumn. It will provide access to all amateur bands, on passing the RAE and a 5WPM Morse test. Below 30MHz 100W PEP will be allowed, whilst above it's 400W PEP.
The Novice A and Novice B licences will be enhanced in the summer to allow a higher transmitted power than at present. The power O/P will go up to 10W PEP. New frequencies include the 144MHz band, an SSB allocation on 3.5MHz and the extension of the existing Novice HF allocation to include the QRP CW calling frequencies.
On the back page is a table giving more details.
This Rad Com issue also reports that the World Radio Conference, to be held in 2002 or 2003 will agree to the removal of mandatory Morse testing for access below 30MHz.
NEW UK LICENCE SCHEME:
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Licence Type |
Qualification |
Morse |
Restrictions |
Maximum Output Power (PEP) |
CEPT |
Highlights |
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Experimental |
RAE +
(Morse if operating HF) |
12WPM |
Band dependent on class of licence held. Applications for increased power levels assessed on case by case basis. Permitted by Notice of Variation. |
>26dBW |
>400W |
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Full A |
RAE + |
12WPM |
All bands |
26dBW |
400W |
Class 1 |
Eligible for higher power licence |
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Full A/B |
RAE + |
5WPM |
All bands |
Below 30 MHz
20dBW
Above 30 MHz
26dBW |
100W
400W |
Class 2 |
Access to HF bands with 100W.
M5xxx callsign series. |
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Full B |
RAE |
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All bands above 30MHz |
26dBW |
400W |
Class 2 |
Eligible for A/B licence on passing 5WPM morse test. |
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Novice A |
Novice Licence
Training Course + NRAE + |
5WPM |
All Novice Bands * |
10dBW |
10W |
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Maximum power increased to 10W.
Wider bands on 3.5, 10, 21 and 28MHz.
Telephony, Data and RTTY on 3.5MHz.
Additional allocation at 144MHz.* |
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Novice B |
Novice Licence
Training Course + NRAE |
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All Novice bands above 30MHz* |
10dBW |
10W |
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Maximum power increased to 10W.
Additional allocation at 144MHz.* |
Table 1: New UK Licence to be introduced shortly. RAE - Radio Amateurs Examination, NRAE - Novice Radio Amateurs Examination.
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New Novice allocation to be: 1950 - 2000kHz (no change); 3550 - 3600kHz Morse, Data; 3600 - 3650kHz Morse, RTTY, Telephony (was 3560 - 3585kHz Morse only); 10110 - 10140kHz (was 10130 - 10140kHz); 21050 - 21149kHz (was 21100 - 21149kHz); 28050 - 28190kHz (was 28060 - 28190kHz); 28225 - 28500kHz (no change); 50.000 - 52.000MHz (no change); 144.000 - 146.000MHz (new allocation); Bands 432MHz and above remain unchanged.
CLUB WEB SITE:
http://www.btinternet.com/~ray.howells/srcc/
Over the last month I have done a lot or work on the club WEB site and if you haven't visited recently please do so and I would welcome you comments, especially if you have some suggestions as to what I should include on the site.
I have provided links to other local club WEB sites, and I currently list some 21 members with E-Mail addresses - anymore out there?
NEED SOME VALVES?
You may recall the letter I published last month from Alan Scarisbrick G7ELG and I promised to include the Valve Advert he sent. If you need the address please contact me. As Alan says, the prices will raise a smile!
SIGNING OFF
That's it for this month and I am looking forward to Peter's talk on the 7th June, lets make it a bumper turnout. If you have any items for inclusion please let me have them by hand, the post, or E-Mail - thanks.
73 & 88
SRCC/June 1999