DUNMOW STEBBING RAYNE HALSTEAD … · WEST LONDON RADIO & ELECTRONICS SHOW ... an R1155 for 10 shillings from a junkyard was our first domestic radio until I built one from scrap!!

BARSCOMDUNMOW STEBBING

NOTLEY

RAYNE HALSTEAD

WITHAMBRAINTREE

COLCHESTER

COGGESHALL

Monthly Communication of theBraintree and District Amateur Radio Society

G3XG GX3XG G6BRH

October 2013

Club members awaiting foranother contact? - or just the

local QRM

Dave’s last look aroundbefore moving topastures new

Hmm?… Nice Bits!

Web Edition

2

October 2013

FOR SALE.Altron SM 30  crank up mast withtilt over assembly and base plate,needs a little TLC, hence £175.00ONO.

Also for sale, Alinco DJ195 vhfonly handheld, has CTCSS fitted +charger. £40.

Contact Roy, G6XCY01376 324718

ContentsRecent Activities Cover

Miscellaneous 2

Club Meetings and Nets 4

Meeting Report 4

Rallies 5

How it all began 6

Satellite Contact 8

Club Library Update 10

Railways Report 11

Dave’s QSY 12

Club Info 13

Contests 14

Members’ Info* 15

* Member’s E-dition only

AGM - RACARRL

The Radio Amateur of Canada(RAC) annual general meeting willtake place in Ancaster, Ontario, onOctober 5 from 1 pm. A question-and-answer session will follow abusiness meeting, with a chance todiscuss the future of RAC with thepresident and members of the board.

For those unable to attend, a webinaris being set up. (RSGB take note!)

Railways Event?Ian Wager

2 m SSB was completely killed-off(at least during my time on board,Saturday) by a fast, incessant chuff-chuff-chuff (not from the steamtrains) that was S9+ and seemed tobe coming from the local overheadpower lines. Apart from that the daywas very enjoyable.

Don’t forget!October 21st at 20.00 Air Nav Dongle - Richard G8DJO

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October 2013

Club Meetings and NetsClub Net - 08.00 pm local time

2 Meters (145.375 MHz)70 cms (433.575 MHz)

October7 JOTA Planning14 Club Net - 2 Meters21 Air Nav Dongle - Richard28 Club Net - 70 cms

November4 Fibre Optics - Dave GØDEC11 Club Net - 2 Meters18 Baluns - Melvin25 Club Net - 70 cms

December2 Natter Night9 Club Net - 2 Meters16 Xmas Party23 Club Net - 70 cms30 Club Net - GB3BZ Repeater

Meeting ReportTony, GØIAG

On Monday 2nd September, theannual "Junk Sale" took place at theclubs qth. We had a lot of donateditems and a small selection ofcommission sales. A goodproportion of the donated items

came from the family of a "silentkey", and were useful home brewshack items such as band pass filters,receivers, transmitters, etc. There

were also items of test equipment upfor grabs, at the right price.

With the usual team running theauction, Dave G0DEC ondescriptions, Melvin G0EMK on thegavel, Edwin G0LPO on the cashbox (sounds like a pop band!)andJohn M5AJB running interference,the event raised over £90 for theclub. Thanks to all who turned up,including visitors from CARS, (niceto see them) and spent their moneyand had fun. And, of course thanksto the auction team.

5

October 2013

Rallies6 OCTOBER

AUTUMN MILITARIA & ELECTRONICS & RADIO AMATEURHANGAR SALE – Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich, Cheshire,CW5 8AL. OT 10am, civil, military and vintage radio equipment plus vehiclespares and more. Contact Lucy Siebert, 01270 623 353,[email protected]. [www.hackgreen.co.uk].

6 OCTOBER NEW DATE24th GREAT NORTHERN HAMFEST – Barnsley Premier LeisureComplex, Queens Road, Barnsley S71 1AN or follow the brown Metrodomesigns. GNHF in association with SYRG. OT 10.30, £3.50. DF, TS, SIG,RSGB book stall, LB, C, FAM. Ernie, G4LUE, 07984 191 873.[www.gnhf.co.uk].

13 OCTOBERHORNSEA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB RALLY – Floral Hall, 7 TheEsplanade, Hornsea, East Yorks HU18 1NQ. OT 10.30, CP, TS, B&B, SIG,RSGB, RAFARS, LB, C, DF, WIN. Details from Rick, M0CZR, 01964 533712, [email protected]. [www.hornseaarc.co.uk].

10 NOVEMBER - NEW DATEWEST LONDON RADIO & ELECTRONICS SHOW (Kempton Rally) –Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames, TW165AQ. TI, free CP, OT 9.50/10am. TS, FM, B&B, SIG, C, DF, WIN, LEC.Paul, M0CJX, 08451 650 351, [email protected]. [www.radiofairs.co.uk].

16 NOVEMBERHALTON & DISTRICT RADIO AMATEURS RALLY – The HeathBusiness & Technical Park, Runcorn, Cheshire WA7 4QX. OT 10am, £1.TS, B&B, C, DF, SIG, cash machine, prize draw. All proceeds after costs tocharity. George Low, G0RLF, 07919 935 725 (daytime), [email protected].[www.haltonradiorally.webs.com].

6

October 2013

When I joined the RAF in 1941 Iknew nothing about radio orwireless, as it was called in thosedays but hoped, perhaps to train as awireless operator, but the ‘Raff’ hadother ideas, and decided I should bea wireless mechanic; they knew I amred/green colour blind…but perhapsthey were desperate in those days…

So after a couple of weeks ‘squarebashing’ in Boston United footballground, I joined a group of lads inLeicester, where we lived in civilianbillets and attended the TechnicalCollege for six months’ instructionin the principles and operation ofwireless. How I remember our firstlecture when our teacher said, “thereare three names you must know,”writing them on the board “AmbroseFleming, Lee de Forest, and myname is Steeples”…!

Anyway, we built simple receiversand transmitters for frequencies frombroadcast to early RDF as it wasknown then and became familiarwith their circuits but still did notqualify to be known as mechanics;this was only achieved after a furthersix months in Bolton, where the Raff

had filled the college with all theirradio equipment from its earliestdays. How can I forget that receiverwhich not only sat on a table butcovered it, and was tuned by separateAF and RF circuits, so you had to beambidextrous to operate it!

I was not enamoured with the largetransmitters, particularly after afatality with one lad who hadattempted some adjustment to the pawithout first removing the power.

Now we had our sparks badge andwas due to be posted to West Africabut, along with another lad, I wasselected to go to an airfield atWatchfield where Standard Radiobuilt and maintained theirtransmitters and receivers foroperating with their beam, and asthis was the Lorenz system you mayhave already guessed that it was ofGerman origin and had been used toguide their aircraft over cities suchas Coventry. The Raff, howeverwere using it to train pilots in BlindFlying and I found myself in a unitknown as a Bat Flight with Ansonsand Airspeed Oxfords for suchtraining. Suffice to say that whilst

How I became a radio amateurDanny, GM3YXJ

7

October 2013this was interesting, I soon tired ofthe routing and asked to be sentoverseas;- which they did but onlyas far as Sollom Voie in Shetland…,and I enjoyed it, trips by boat out toservice the Sunderland and Catalinaflying boats where BendixEquipment familiarised us withAmerican radio equipment as wellas the colourful Marconi gear.

By this time the Raff were lookingfor experienced mechanics for somenew Squadrons so I joined 298 withHalifax aircraft and with a pal fromBat flight days, we became ‘B’Flight Signals at Tarrant Rushton inDorset. Here, our stationCommander believed that all aircraftwere meant to fly, and he could befound at all hours on the airfieldensuring that this objective wascarried out; so there was no ‘bull’but plenty of work.

You may, or should have, heard ofoperation ‘Deadstick’ whereairborne troops captured the vitalPegasus Bridge, and we werepleased to see that our CO led thatoperation.

After the war in Europe we wereprepared to go to Japan, but, thanksto the two atom bombs dropped onJapan we only got as far as Meiktilain Burma, and, instead of bombs, our

aircraft carried rice and other foodsupplies to starving people andcarried POWs to hospital in India; aheartbreaking and never to beforgotten sight until eventually theSquadron was disbanded inMauripur, but I had left to returnhome by then.

Radio was always an interest nowbut had to take a back seat withpriority to marriage, family etc., butan R1155 for 10 shillings from ajunkyard was our first domesticradio until I built one from scrap!!

Amateur radio crept in slowly, as welived in Broomfield and enjoyed theChelmsford Marconi club, and atwork I had aerials at maximumheight on top of school buildings; nohealth and safety man to catch mewhen I fell off the roof..!!

Now, with a mini garden and toomany other distractions I listen onlyoccasionally on the bands butBARSCOM is an interestingmagazine - keep it up!! - and I enjoythe articles courtesy of Melvin whosends me the magazine. Apologiesif I have bored you with my tale butit shows that anyone can become a‘Ham’…

Next Month: Ian Wager, G8MKN

8

October 2013

NASA's Juno mission is invitingamateur radio operators around theworld to transmit a coordinatedmessage on the 28 MHz band to theJuno spacecraft.

NASA's Juno spacecraft will flypast Earth on October 9, 2013 toreceive a gravity assist from ourplanet, putting it on course forJupiter.

To celebrate this event, the Junomission is inviting amateur radiooperators around the world to say"HI" to Juno in a coordinatedMorse Code message‡. Juno's radio& plasma wave experiment, calledWaves, should be able to detect themessage if enough peopleparticipate.

Juno will have a better chance ofdetecting the signal from manyoperators if the signal is spread outacross the spectrum. The JunoWaves instrument is a broadbandreceiver, and the detector beingused for this event has a band widthof 1 MHz. It is better for detectionof the signal to have a broadband

signal coming in.

For this experiment, we would liketo ask those participating to spreadout in frequency across the 10meter band. We have supplied atable of suggested frequenciesbetween 28 and 29 MHz, based onthe last letter of your call. When theHFR receiver is tuned to 28 MHz,the centre frequency is 28.5 MHz.A 50 kHz high pass filter limits lowfrequencies hitting the detector, sothe frequency table excludes 28.5MHz ±50 kHz. The natural signalswe expect to measure at Jupiter willconsist of a large number ofdiscrete tones, so spreading thesignals out in this manner is a goodapproximation to the signals weexpect to detect. But at Jupiter, wedon't expect to be able to decodeCW in our telemetry!

The 28 MHz band was chosen forthis experiment for several reasons.The Waves instrument is sensitiveto radio signals in all amateurbands below 40 MHz, butexperience with the University ofIowa instruments on the Galileoand Cassini earth flybys shows

Radio hams to say "HI" to Juno on 10 mNASA - JPL (via Trevor, M5AKA)

‡ QSS 1/25 wpm - di = 30 seconds

9

October 2013significant shielding by theionosphere at lower frequencies. Assad as it sounds, we hope for lousyband conditions on October 9, soan appreciable fraction of theradiated energy escapes theionosphere into space, and is notrefracted back down to the groundsomewhere else on theplanet.

Juno'santennaconsists of a pairof tapered 2.8 meterlong titanium tubes,deployed from the bottom deck ofthe spacecraft under the +X solararray and magnetometer boom. Ahigh impedance radiation resistantpre-amp sits at the base of theantenna and buffers the signalsfrom 50 Hz to 45 MHz. Theelements are deployed with anopening angle of about 120degrees. Ten meters is above the

resonant frequency of the antennaand NEC analysis indicates a lobegenerally along the spin axis of thespacecraft. This will be good fordetection on the inbound part ofclosest approach to Earth.

The Waves instrument usesfour receiversto cover thefrequencyrange of 50

Hz to 41MHz. Signals up to

3 MHz are band-passfiltered, sampled by A/D

converters and processed intospectra using a custom FFTprocessor developed by TheUniversity of Iowa under a grantfrom the Iowa Space GrantConsortium.

Please join in, and help spread theword to fellow amateur radioenthusiasts!

More info at ‘NASA - Say "HI" toJuno!’http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/hijuno/

See the ‘How do I participate?’Section for the frequency list.

Did you know? You can borrow the club’s Aerial Analyzer foronly £1/day and the Morse Tutor (Less Battery)

for 50p/2-week session. Ask one of the Committee for information

10

October 2013

Library Titles - IIIThe current selection of titles that can be borrowed are listed in the Julyedition, this edition and the next edition of BARSCOM. Additions will bepublished as appropriate.

Loans are charged at 20p for each period between meetings. Contact theLibrarian if you would like a specific book brought to the next club meeting.

This month’s categories are: Listener's Guide, Technical Radio and Other..

Title Year AuthorAFQR 2006 2006 Air BritainAirband Radio Handbook 2002 David J SmithBJQR 2006 Aircraft guide 2006 Air BritainFerrell's Confidential Frequency List 1997 Geoff HalligeyShortwave Listeners Confidential Freq List 1989 Spa Publishing

& DTI UK spectrum chartShortwave Radio Listener's Handbook 1987 Arthur MillerThe UK Scanning Directory 1999 InterproductsUKQR 2006 Aircraft guide 2006 Air BritainUltimate Scanning guide 2000 Richard Allport / RadioTodayWorld Radio TV Handbook 1997 WRTHDigital Photography & Computing for 2003 Jim Gatenby

the older generationPowerpoint user's guide 1994 MicrosoftAmateur Radio Techniques 1991 Pat Hawker G3VAAmateur Radio Techniques 1978 Pat Hawker G3VAElimination of Electrical Noise 2010 Don Pinnock G3HVAHF Amateur Radio 2001 Ian PooleIntermediate Licence book 2011 RSGBRadio Communication Handbook 2005 RSGBRadio Frequency Interference 1989 ARRLReceivers Past & Present 1997 Fred Osterman

11

October 2013RSGB Technical Compendium 1999 RSGBRSGB Yearbook Callbook 2011 & CD 2011 RSGBRTTY/PSK31 for Radio Amateurs & CD 2011 Roger Cooke G3LDISurplus 2-way Radio Conversion 1989 Chris LorekTechnical topics scrapbook & CD 2008 Pat Hawker G3VATest Equipmentfor the Radio Amateur 1978 RSGBThe Amateur Radio Operating Manual 2004 RSGB Don Field G3XTTThe ARRL Handbook 1988 1988 ARRLThe Secret of learning morse 1989 Mark FrancisVHF/UHF Manual 1985 G.R.Jessop RSGBVoIP Internet linking for Radio Amateurs 2006 ARRL

Railways on the AirTony, GØIAG

On Friday 20th September a goodcrowd of members turned up at theColne Valley Railway to set up theradio station for the weekend.

Having the same Motorail carriageas last year made the setting upeasier, and within 2 hours we wereable to operate the radio's. As last

year we set up HF one end andVHF/UHF the other.

Over the 2 days we made a decentnumber of contacts on HF for bothROTA and BWFB, but VHF wasvery quiet.

All the operators who had promisedtheir time duly turned up, and withsteam and diesel trains running,there was a lot going on.

I also brought my Clansman 320along and we made a few contactson that. It is always a good weekendwith lots going on and I lookforward to next year.

We broke station late on Sundayafternoon, and cleared site about5.30 pm. I wish to express mypersonal thanks to all who helpedover the weekend.

12

October 2013

At the junk sale on Sept 2nd, Dave,G3PEN, announced that thefollowing day he and XYL Pat,G6TAF, would be exchangingcontracts on the sale of their home.This has now happened and theymoved to their new home in Norfolkjust over a week later.

Roy, G6XCY, first met Dave and Patsome years ago when Dave helpedhim with some answers to a technicalproblem. After that Dave pushedRoy into getting his RAE.

As many of you know Dave was oneof the founder members of the club,along with Peter West, NickShepard, and Roy. It was thoseoriginals who came up with theFounders Trophy, so if you ever winit, think of them.

In 1975 the 4 of them decided thatBraintree needed a radio club, sothey composed a leaflet which Daveduplicated and Roy hand deliveredto known amateurs in the district.Roy managed to get the use of room3 at the community centre for 2nights(free). About 15 people turned

up and Braintree and DistrictARSwas formed.

Dave and Pat have since then beengreat supporters of the club in manyways. Dave with his practical andtechnical skills, and Pat with hertolerance of Dave.

In the early 80s I became a memberof the club and I soon noticed thatDave and Pat had a fun side to theirpersonalities, this soon spawnedwhat we called the "Lunatic Fringe"which meant drinking, eating andhaving fun, three great hobbies.

Over the years Dave has held most(if not all) of the committee posts,and has given scores of technicaltalks to the club and written evenmore articles for BARSCOM. Wehave all had a chuckle about hishoarding of gear, which I think Patcalls JUNK, and who hasn't beenoffered a teleprinter at some time?Well that's Norfolk's problem now,Pat will have her grand child to playwith and Dave will take years sortingout his-----STUFF.

I will miss their company but I amsure I speak for all in wishing themGOOD LUCK for the future in theirnew home.

G3PEN & G6TAF QSY…Tony, GØIAG

13

The next edition will be published on November 1

The deadline for submissions for the next edition is October 28

Please contact our Publicity Officer for details about commercial adverts.

© Barscom Editor on behalf of BADARS 2013 - E.& O.E.

For more information and pictures of events and projects see our Web Siteat www.badars.co.uk

Braintree and District Amateur Radio Society

Braintree and District A.R.S. meetsevery 1st and 3rd Monday of themonth at The Clubhouse, BraintreeHockey Club, Church Street,Bocking. Doors open from 7.30 pmfor an 8 pm start to the meeting.Prior to 8 pm, and during therefreshments break, when a cup oftea or coffee is available free ofcharge, members have theopportunity to sell or exchangeequipment etc. Meetings normallyfinish at 10 pm.

The Club Membership fee is £16annually; Senior members (StateRetirement age) and Junior members(under 18) pay a reduced clubsubscription of £10. Door fees arepayable per meeting. Rates are £1for members and visitors.

A Club Net operates on the 2nd and4th Mondays (excluding BankHolidays) under the callsignsG6BRH and G3XG. The netcommences at 20.00 local time onV30 (S15) - 145.375 MHz and SU23- 433.575 MHz, unless QRM. Inmonths with 5th Monday the netoperates via GB3BZ 430.850 MHz.

BARSCOM is sent to members bye-mail on the first of the month;paper copies are available at thefirst meeting of the month. Membersunable to attend club meetings maylodge S.A.E.s with the Editor forprinted copies. Usual deadline forcopy is the 28th of each month.

Members advertisements arepublished free of charge.

13

October 2013

14

October 2013

ContestsVHF/UHF

November2-3 1400-1400 144MHz CW Marconi5 2000-2230 144MHz UKAC12 2000-2230 432MHz UKAC19 2000-2230 1.3GHz UKAC26 2000-2230 50MHz UKAC

December2 0900-1700 144MHz Affiliated Societies Contest4 2000-2230 144MHz UKAC11 2000-2230 432MHz UKAC18 2000-2230 1.3GHz UKAC25 2000-2230 SHF UKAC25 2000-2230 50MHz UKAC26-29 1400-1600 50/70/144/432MHz Christmas Cumulatives Contest

2014January7 2000-2230 144MHz UKAC14 2000-2230 432MHz UKAC21 2000-2230 1.3GHz UKAC28 2000-2230 SHF UKAC28 2000-2230 50MHz UKAC

February3 0900-1300 432MHz Affiliated Societies Contest O SF Affiliated Societies contest (S3)

HF

November9 2000-2300 Club Calls SSB13 2000-2100 80m Club Sprint SSB QRP16-17 2100-0100 2nd 1.8Mhz CW Contest28 2000-2100 80m Club SprintCW QRP

2014January12 1400-1800 AFS Contest CW AFS Super League18 1400-1800 AFS Contest PHONE AFS Super League

February3 2000-2130 80m CC SSB8-9 2100-0100 1st 1.8MHz Contest HF Championship12 2000-2130 80m CC DATA20 2000-2130 80m CC CW

* All 2014 dates are speculative

New AllocationRSGB

Portugese amateurs may now beheard on the new 472 to 479kHzband. Also changes to conditionsfor access to the 50 to 52MHz and1270 to 1300MHz bands have beenmade for some licence classes.

E&OE

FRIENDLY, HELPFULADVICE

OUR ORDER HOTLINE

Martin Lynch & Sons Ltd.Outline House, 73 Guildford Street,Chertsey, Surrey KT16 9ASWeb: www.hamradio.co.ukE-mail: [email protected]

OPENING HOURSMonday to Friday: 9.00am to 5.30pmSaturday: 9.30am to 4.30pmTel: 0345 2300 599Int’. No: +44 345 2300 599

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