Issue 116 A publication of the Vintage and Military Amateur Radio Society November 2012 www.vmars.org.uk M0VMW Affiliated to the Radio Society of Great Britain 1 November 2012 VMARS SUBSCRIPTION RENEWALS Subscription renewal forms have been sent out to all Members with the November Issue of Signal. Members are reminded that the deadline for receipt of renewals is 22 nd January 2013. Please see page 4. Ken Sanderson G4KCF in the ‘shack’ at the Yorshire Air Museum where he operates GB4YAM, heard regularlarly on the Saturday morning AM Net. Photo: G3GXQ VMARS Committee contact details: Chairman: Ian Underwood M0YMK Roundwyck Farm Pipers Lane, Balls Cross Petworth, West Sussex GU28 9JZ +44(0)1403 820185 [email protected]Secretary: John Keeley G6RAV 93 Park Crescent Abergavenny, Gwent NP7 5TL +44(0)7855 566160 [email protected]Treasurer: Bronek Wedzicha M0DAF 22 Farmers Way Copmanthorpe, York North Yorkshire Y023 3XX +44(0)1904 708704 [email protected]Membership Secretary: Peter Shepherd G7DXV 25 Tomkins Close Stanford-Le-Hope Essex SS17 8QU +44(0)1375 640618 [email protected]Ordinary Member: Peter Jones G8CDC Tudor House Stoneleigh Road Blackdown Leamington Spa Warwickshire CV32 6QR +44(0)1926 883345 [email protected]Ordinary Member: Stuart McKinnon G0TBI 145 Enville Road Kinver, Near Stourbridge West Midlands DY7 6BN +44(0)1384 872157 [email protected]Publications Manager: Bronek Wedzicha M0DAF 22 Farmers Way Copmanthorpe, York North Yorkshire Y023 3XX +44(0)1904 708704 [email protected]Public Relations Officer: Stuart McKinnon G0TBI 145 Enville Road Kinver, Near Stourbridge West Midlands DY7 6BN +44(0)1384 872157 [email protected]
Transcript
Issue 116 A publication of the Vintage and Military Amateur Radio Society November 2012
www.vmars.org.uk M0VMW Affiliated to the Radio Society of Great Britain
1 November 2012
VMARS
SUBSCRIPTION
RENEWALS Subscription renewal forms have been sent out to all
Members with the November Issue of Signal. Members are reminded that the deadline for receipt of renewals is
22nd January 2013. Please see page 4.
Ken Sanderson G4KCF in the ‘shack’ at the Yorshire Air Museum where he operates GB4YAM, heard regularlarly on the Saturday morning AM Net.
Photo: G3GXQ
VMARS Committee contact details:
Chairman:
Ian Underwood M0YMK Roundwyck Farm Pipers Lane, Balls Cross Petworth, West Sussex GU28 9JZ +44(0)1403 820185 [email protected]
Secretary:
John Keeley G6RAV 93 Park Crescent Abergavenny, Gwent
Fluctuations in sunspot activity were not recognised as cyclic activity that could possibly be predictable until 1843, when German astronomer Samuel Schwab, after many years of observations, concluded that this may be the case. Further work by Swiss astronomer Rudolf Wolf, in which he analysed work by notable earlier astronomers dating back to the late 17
th century, confirmed that there was indeed a clear
peak to peak cyclic pattern which we have now come to recognise as being roughly 11 years. Beginning with plots going back to 1755, Wolf devised a very simple numbering system starting with sunspot cycle No1. We are now approaching the peak of sunspot cycle No.24 which, according to the latest predictions published by the Solar Physics web site of the Marshall Space Flight Center, is due to reach its maximum around Autumn 2013. Recent solar activity has resulted in openings on the higher HF bands and some VMARS Members have been regularly working AM across the Atlantic on 10 m with great success. Activity for AM transmissions on 10 m is centred on 29.00–29.10 MHz and quite a few US operators can be heard using vintage equipment from the 1950s and 60s and running no more than 100 W, so it is definitely worth having a go on this band. Today I heard a US AM station with a Heathkit DX60 working an MM3 station in Glasgow using 10 W with an indoor vertical aerial. Although I couldn’t hear him, the MM3 received reports from the USA of 57/8 and the US station, using 80 W and a Yagi, was 59+ with me. There were also UK mobiles working the US, so this band is very active at the moment (21
st November).
This year, 2012, Christmas Day falls on a Tuesday, meaning that in the UK at least, most companies will be shut down from the close of business on Friday 21
st December until
they re-open on the morning of Thursday 3rd
January. This enforced and often unwanted winter holiday will provide many of us with an unbroken 12 days for engaging in whatever celebrations that we think are appropriate, be they with our families, our friends or on our own in quiet reflection. This is a period when the memory of lost loved ones often affects us to a greater degree than at other times and it is when, each year, Carolyn and I pause over our Christmas dinner to remember happy times with family and friends who are no longer with us and we raise a glass to them. You may not be aware that the VMARS Christmas Day AM Net has, over the years, become something of a tradition with many Members and if you are able to slip away quietly and switch on that piece of treasured equipment for a few minutes, you will be very welcome to join in. The Net is usually conducted by making your festive greetings and passing transmission to the next station on the list, so it shouldn’t keep you from your breakfast for very long and will leave you with ample time afterwards to pour that glass of Christmas Sherry. May I, with Carolyn, take this opportunity to wish all of our Members and their families a very happy Christmas.
Ian Underwood M0YMK
Change of address for John Keeley G6RAV
Anyone wishing to contact the John Keeley G6RAV, VMARS Hon. Secretary, is advised that, for the time being, his contact details are as follows:
Joe Bell G4PMY has sent the following item of news:
Hack Green has been permanently assigned the special call sign GB2RHQ effective from 1
st December 2012. This was
gained with the cooperation of the Stoke-on-Trent ARS, members of which play an active role at Hack Green, and among whom are to be found several VMARS Members.
We have put the double-sized G5RV aerial onto the nest of web SDR receivers which has given an improvement of 30 dB on top band. This arrangement will remain in place until the Spring (or until the weather gets to the aerial). We shall be looking into a permanent large aerial for the SDRs in 2013.
The Yorkshire Air Museum
Ken Sanderson G4KCF (pictured on the front page) writes as follows:
At the Yorkshire Air Museum we operate an amateur radio station, situated in a small room on the ground floor of the wartime control tower. Operating under the call sign GB0YAM, the ‘objectives’ of the ‘shack’ (pictured below, courtesy of G3GXQ) are twofold. The first is to put on show, to museum visitors, working examples of typical equipment used in WWII including Morse and direction finding demonstrations. Secondly, to promote the wider activities of the museum, both in this country and abroad,
At present, we operate on a two/three day per week rota or as/or when other museum activities demand, e.g., reunions. We pride ourselves in using mainly period restored/rebuilt WWII equipment; unlike most other museums, we avoid the ‘modern black box’!
Operation is a mostly either AM or CW in the tradition of the wartime wireless operator. We do, very rarely, operate some SSB equipment. Our other activities include the rebuilding of
aircraft radio and intercom equipment; the present project is the Dakota.
The aerial is a 264 ft wire delta-loop which is strung from a mast on the control tower. Connection is by 60 ft of open-wire feeder.
The ‘shack’, which has been ‘on air’ for some four years, is operated mainly by Terry G0KOE who is our chief Morse operator and Ken G4KCF who is the technical part of the team. We also have three other museum members who are licenced and contribute regularly to the operation of the shack.
We are in the midst of assembling and restoring period radio equipment and are hoping to make these available to visitors. Included is a full working Gee navigation system; the first ‘on board’ radar equipment used on Halifax and Lancasters in 1942, and pictured below.
Also in the ‘pipeline’ is an ART13 transmitter as used in the B29 Superfortress, and another ‘piece of kit’ we use regularly is a replica suitcase Paraset, pictured below.
Whenever the weather permits, we operate the equipment outside in the open so that visitors can see and hear what’s going on; we have nothing to hide, there is no faking!
Contacts can be verified on request of a QSL card (verification of contact). Visitors who are licensed are always welcome to participate and we have had many ‘G’ operators and several from abroad, the most recent an operator from Schiphol who came to see the Nimrod land at the museum.
We look forward to welcoming VMARS Members to the museum in the coming year.
One for the album!
Pictured above are, from left to right, Stuart Atkinson G3YPS, John Birkett G8OPP, Anne McKinnon M3TBI and Stuart McKinnon G0TBI. A lunch break at the Hornsea Rally has become part of the tradition at that event!
Saturday AM Net-Controller’s Rota
Date 1st
op 2nd
op 3rd
op
15th
Dec G0TBI G4GEN G4BQF
22nd
Dec G4GEN G4BQF GW8TBG
29th
Dec G4BQF GW8TBG G8AQN
5th
Jan GW8TBG G8AQN M0YMK
12th
Jan G8AQN M0YMK G3XGW
19th
Jan M0YMK G3XGW M0TCM
26th
Jan G3XGW M0TCM M0DAF
Christmas Day and News Year’s Day Net
The Christmas Day Net has become a regular event so please join us on 3615 kHz at 9.00 a.m. on Christmas Day
Issue 116 The VMARS News Sheet
November 2012 4
(Tuesday) to exchange Christmas Greetings and, similarly, on New Year’s Day.
Helplines queries Swiss Military Museum exhibit
I am writing as son of a father who is active in the Swiss Military Museum (www.militaer-museum.ch). They want to set up an exhibition from April 2013 to October 2014 with historic military radios.
My question is whether anyone would be willing to lend one or two small radios for this exhibition? All radios will be shown behind glass and, since the museum is in a Cold-War bunker, they will be secure.
If yes, I would be delighted to establish contact between your museum and the Swiss Museum. Please contact: [email protected]
Urs Strukov HB9DIL
Committee notices VMARS subscription renewals
Subscription renewal forms for 2013 are being sent out with the current (November 2012) Issue of Signal. There is also an electronic (WORD) version available with the downloads for those who opt to receive the News Sheet through that medium. The deadline for return of these forms, with the appropriate payment, to the Membership Secretary, is 22
nd January 2013 after which date a late payment fee of
£2.50 should be added. However, if your subscription is not
received by the later date of 22nd
February 2013, you will no longer receive VMARS publications (News Sheet and Signal) and your Membership of the VMARS-Member Reflector will lapse.
This is an appeal for Members to send in their forms with payment as soon as possible to avoid a rush as the deadline approaches. With some 450 Members expected to renew, the work-load on the Membership Secretary is considerable, especially that there are always queries to deal with. One such query is often concerned with identification of electronic payments, so this is to remind all those who pay directly through their bank to ensure that their payments are clearly referenced with their names and/or call signs.
This year, we have included (for UK Members) electronic bank to bank payments as a means of paying your subscription. This can be done on-line or by visiting your bank, with our bank details, which are included on the form.
Our own bank recommends this as a preferred method of payment. If you choose to pay by standing order, please can you check that the amount is correct to avoid us having to contact you to put things right. Payment by cheque is still welcome, and many Members choose to pay their subscriptions in that way.
The Membership database is used to send out VMARS publications and to contact Members directly when queries arise. We would ask all Members to ensure that details provided on the renewal form are written clearly because the greatest source of error comes from address information being recorded inaccurately from what is received.
Every year much Committee time is spent in chasing up Members who renew late, apparently as an oversight. This means that, in addition to having to contact each person individually, we need to prepare and dispatch back issues of publications. All our Committee and helpers are volunteers and willingly process such requests, but it is reasonable that Members are asked to be sensitive to the workload that results.
Report on the 2012 Spectrum Forum Meeting
The Spectrum Forum was set up to provide interested clubs and societies with a voice in the formulation of RSGB policies and priorities relating to the use of the radio spectrum by UK radio amateurs. Discussions between Forum members on matters concerning the spectrum take place over the internet throughout the year, enabling members to be kept updated and informed of any matters relating to spectrum use, both in the UK and around the world. Once a year, members of the Spectrum Forum hold a group conference-style meeting to discuss issues and to deliver input for setting priorities for the future.
This year’s Spectrum Forum Meeting was held at the Holiday Inn Garden Court, Sandy, Bedfordshire on Saturday 3
rd November and was chaired by RSGB Director John
Gould G3WKL. Also in attendance were the recently appointed RSGB General Manager Graham Coomber G0NBI and representatives from various RSGB working committees. Several clubs, societies and organisations were represented and these included Amsat, BARTG, BATC, Chiltern Dx Group, G-QRP, UK Microwave Group, Raynet and VMARS, among others.
The meeting covered a wide range of issues, but we focus here on items of interest to VMARS activity. Along with the minutes of the meeting, each of the submitted reports will be published in full and can be viewed on the RSGB Spectrum Forum web site by those who may wish to look at wider aspects of the discussion.
Amplitude Modulation
As explained in our submission to the 2012 Spectrum Forum and also published in the October News Sheet, VMARS once again raised the issue of recognition of amplitude modulation. This year we made representations on the rumoured exclusion of AM from some unspecified VHF/UHF bands and were assured that there is no foundation to this rumour, no such plans exist and if they ever did they would be resisted by the RSGB. Despite failed efforts by VMARS to achieve designated AM portions in the RSGB Band Plan last year, an identical request was made this year by the G-QRP group, who advised that they have many members who enjoy building fairly simple AM transmitters. This request was denied on the basis that the IARU have a policy of not adding mode specific designations to band plans due to the increasingly complex re-organisation required to
Sending in articles, news items, letters and advertisements for VMARS Publications
Please send copy to Colin Guy, G4DDI, by post or e-mail, 7 Herrick Court, Clinton Park, Tattershall, Lincs. LN4 4QU Tel 01526 344715 [email protected] The copy deadline for the next issue of the News Sheet is 15
th December. For articles for the next issue of
Signal the deadline is 9th
February 2013, but copy would be appreciated as far in advance as possible.
accommodate the ever widening variety of transmission modes available to radio amateurs.
60 m Expansion
Since the MoD’s February 2012 offer of permitting additional small bandwidths in the 60 m band, subject to power and aerial height restrictions, there has been little official progress. The RSGB have no direct discussions with the MoD and are reliant upon Ofcom to act on their behalf. The additional exceptional workload on Ofcom due to the 2012 Olympics has meant that regular scheduled meetings between MoD and Ofcom have been delayed and, as a result, a backlog of routine work has built up. Regrettably, amateur radio is not a priority service.
Everyone is being tight lipped on the subject, including the RSGB, who clearly don’t want to upset what they see as delicate discussions between Ofcom and the MoD. However, unofficial chats over coffee indicate that alterations to the 5 m aerial height limitation for 60 m and the rather complicated method of power output measurement proposed by the MoD, have now been satisfactorily resolved between parties and it has been suggested that the new 60 m frequency allocations, which include the use of AM, may be made available for amateur use early in 2013.
As a separate issue, the RSGB are drawing up plans to join with the representatives from amateur organisations in other countries to present proposals for a full continuous 60 m band along the lines of the bands that already exists in some Scandinavian countries. Preliminary proposals will be presented at the interim IARU 1 meeting planned for April 2013 in Vienna and refined for presentation at the World Radiocommunication Conferences in 2015, WRC-15.
80 m Expansion
The VMARS proposal for 80 m expansion is being taken a step further by the RSGB, who have undertaken to open discussions on the subject with Ofcom at their next meeting, scheduled for February 2013. Following advice given by Peter Chadwick G3RZP last year, the proposal is for the 80 m band to be expanded to cover from 3.5–3.9 MHz instead of the present 3.8 MHz, which would greatly relieve congestion on this band and provide Members with an opportunity to call into those USA AM nets which can frequently be heard above 3.8 MHz in early mornings or late at night. From casual observations, this portion of the band appears little used and it is within the powers of Ofcom to permit UK use of this section of the band by radio amateurs. It would be appropriate to remember that any such changes can take considerable time to come to fruition, but at least we have started the ball rolling.
Other Matters
In conjunction with other countries, the RSGB have been campaigning nationally and internationally for an expansion of the existing 30 m band in order to facilitate voice modes. Under present IARU agreements, 30 m, which currently covers from 10,100–10,150 kHz, is designated for CW and narrow band (500 Hz) use only.
The Home Office has released various sections of radio spectrum back to Ofcom, who have invited interested parties to make proposals for their future use. Available VHF frequencies include those around 2 m and 4 m and the RSGB have submitted proposals for the extension of these bands. Priority is likely to be given to commercial users who can benefit the exchequer, but it may be that little commercial interest is shown in these bands.
The Chiltern DX Club submitted a request that the RF power output restrictions on top band are harmonized with those allowed on other bands. Power levels are currently limited at 15 dbW (32 W) for most of the band except 1.81–1.85 MHz, where 26 dbW (400 W) is permitted, as it is on other bands. The RSGB have agreed to take this up with Ofcom.
DQRM: Deliberate QRM and poor operating are a major concern to many organisations present at the Forum. AROS, the Amateur Radio Observation Service which has over 70 voluntary observers monitoring the amateur bands for behaviour that brings amateur radio into disrepute, reported a number of instances notified to them where it has been necessary for AROS to write to radio amateurs and ask that they modify their operating/language or both. It was made clear to the Forum that a good proportion of these people were full licence holders of quite long standing and not, as some may incorrectly assume, recently licenced Foundation or Intermediate licence holders. Persistent offenders are reported to Ofcom, along with any recordings or other evidence. Very poor standards of operating by some DXpeditions have resulted in equally bad behaviour from operators attempting to break into pile-ups to contact them, some of which resort to DQRM in frustration. A DX code of conduct exists and all operators are encouraged to familiarise themselves with it.
Ian Underwood M0YMK
Applications for Membership
We wish to welcome the following new applicants for VMARS Membership:
Name, Callsign (Region) Interests
Mr M Watson M6MLW Rotherham, S. Yorkshire
Clansman radio systems.
Mr RP Page G4FTY Birmingham, Warwickshire
Home construction of valve equipment and test gear.
Mr LR Dean M0DBD Leeds, West Yorkshire
Marine radio.
Mr R Ashley Gillingham, Kent
Restoration of pre-1960s valve radios and display of them.
Mr M Deeley G4VZO Kingswinford, W. Midlands
160/80 m AM. Drake S line. Home brew. 4 m AM/FM.
Mr SF Astbury M0SFA Grantham, Lincolnshire
Clansman equipment. WWII valve equipment. Owns 19-Set. 1930s to present military and commercial equipment.
Just about anything US or UK military, NATO, Warsaw Pact. Clansman radio. WWII gear. Marine radio. WWII radar and radio aids.
Mrs P Aldridge EI1568 Charlestown, Co. Mayo
Family Member. Wife of David Aldridge. Member of IRTS.
[Membership rules require names of applicants for Membership to be published, before they are formally accepted as Members. This allows existing Members to object, if they wish. If you want to object to any of the above, please write to our Hon Sec, John Keeley – Ed.
Issue 116 The VMARS News Sheet
November 2012 6
Events Diary The diary is a list of events which are either ones where VMARS is formally represented (bold), or those where there is known to be a reasonable chance of finding or seeing vintage electronic items (plain). It is not intended to a complete list of all available events (which can be found on the internet). Information is checked as far as is practical, but we can’t guarantee its accuracy – its always best to check with the contact person if you are travelling a long way to attend.
Advertisements Advertisements are welcome from all members, and also non-members and traders. The latter are indicated by “(NM” or “(T)” after their contact details.
FOR SALE: For collection from Dymchurch in Kent in return
for a modest donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children, an Eddystone 770R complete with about 30 spare valves. Covers 19–165 MHz AM and FM.
Keith (NM) 01303 874383.
FOR SALE: AMES 6 as in Signal Issue 24.
2x R3170A 2x Power Units 228 1x Indicator type 74. 9” magnetic CRT with rotating scan coils. R3245/IF unit type 31 Indicator 6D 1x Type 242 Interrogator/responder unit 1x Mains PSU Also T1154L and R1155
J. Roper, 9 St Benets Avenue, North Walsham, Norfolk NR22 9HT. Day: 01692 402134, evening 01692 403768.
FOR SALE: R216 receiver complete with matching power
supply, all cables, correct headphones and receiver cover plate with original manual. In excellent cosmetic condition. £125 collection only.
RACAL RA1772 receiver in good working order, complete with operator and technical manuals. £250 collection only.
BC348-O receiver in working order complete with mounting rack. Requires external power supply. Prefer buyer collects. £125.
Command triple receiver rack FT-220A fitted with receiver type BC455B. With suitable dynamotor. £125 prefer buyer collects.
Other WWII aircraft receivers available. please ask.
WANTED: Panadapter indicator type IP-69A/ALA-2 used
with APR4Y receiver.
Also converter type CV253 used with above receiver.
Brian GW4KYT 01792 846014
WANTED: Transformer, 350–0–350 max, 120mA or above.
Crystal and screw aerial plug for Pye CAT Receiver. Valves EF92, 6CH6, EB91.
Dennis Parsonage 01623 481263 (Mansfield)
WANTED: I am looking for an example of the MF
Transmitter Type 51, part of the 'Four-Square' or 'Four-in-Line' system supplied by STC to the Fleet Air Arm during WWII as ARI 5206.
I have the other units in the system (apart from the mounting rack, which I suspect will be impossible to find and I shall have to replicate), and need this transmitter to be able to assemble a complete system.
Obviously an example in pristine condition would be ideal, but being a realist I would be very grateful to get my hands on anything not completely beyond restoration!
WANTED: Can anyone repair my Model 8 Mk 2 AVO. It is
faulty on resistance, though it does give a reading.
BJ Bonnaud 01684 566028 (Malvern)
Copyright Notice
and Military Amateur Radio Society. Copyright remains vested in the authors, thus no material in this News Sheet may be copied and published elsewhere, in part or in full, by any means, without the express permission of the author. This may be sought either
from the author direct, or from the News Sheet Editor, Bronek Wedzicha, M0DAF.
