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This week at Pine Trees, we will be joined by Tony Selman, who is very kindly travelling all the from Kent to speak to us.
Tony is chairman of the Radio Officers Association and has a passion for promoting the work and history of his fellow ‘Sparks’ through the association and his presentations.

The story of the ill-fated Titanic is obviously well known. However, the loss of the RMS Republic in 1909 after a collision is perhaps less well known. The Marconi radio on board was used to send a ‘CQD’ distress call and helped save around 1200 lives on the Republic.

Tony’s presentation will be a fascinating one and one not to be missed as he explains how these two maritime disasters helped advance radio technology and the safety of those at sea.

Please join us this Thursday, 11th June from 7pm at Pine Trees to meet Tony and see his presentation.

GB1WWM is being activated for the second time this year at the request of the Wilton Windmill Trust.

This special event station will running over the bank holiday week-end of August 29th, 30th & 31st 2015.

All are welcome to come and visit, if you just want to see how a special event is run (Chaos come to mind). Or you would like to be involved just try to support us please.

The station has been organised by Colin G4GBP and assisted by John G1OQV and myself Ken G1NCG.

If you are listening on the air for the callsign this the call you will hear “golf Bravo One Whisky Whisky Mike” Wilton windmill.

We will be on 40mtrs HF and hopefully 2mtrs VHF.

This is the address of Wilton Windmill :-

Wilton Windmill
Wilton
Near Marlborough
Wiltshire
SN8 3SW

Check their website for directions. http://www.wiltonwindmill.co.uk/

Dear Contesters,

There are several days left until challenging 80 meters event :).
On behalf of Lithuanian Radios Sports Federation I would like to invite you to join the Baltic Contest on May 23/24. Just 5 hours of LY, YL and ES pileups with the rate of 140 Qs at the first hour. It starts at 21.00 UTC on Saturday and ends at 02.00 UTC on Sunday morning.

Lots of special trophies, unique glean medals and paper diplomas will be spread world wide as every year.

The rules of the contest you can find on the website: http://www.lrsf.lt/bcontest/english/rules_html.htm

Join us in the Baltic Contest 2015!

73!
Mindis LY4L

We would like to announce that we are currently in the final planning stages of our regular trip to Ramsey Island – IOTA EU-124.

This year we are going to try to have 3 stations on air full time as we are only there for 3 nights.

Arrive on island Friday 19th June
Depart island Monday 22nd June

We will be using 3 of the new “Hexpedition” hexbeams built by Ant, one will be directed to the West to allow us to work as many stations in the USA as possible as we seem to be lacking contacts from there each year. There may be some digi mode operating and again we will be looking on 6m to work as many as possible on there too.

Team members this year include a new addition of Vinny, M0TAV, who we welcome into the fold as a guest operator. Vinny is the antenna erector here in the midlands and has experience of operating from around the world when he was working on cruise ships and from his time in Thailand.

The full team this year are;
Rob MW0RLJ
Ant MW0JZE
Tim M0URX
Charles M0OXO
Tony G4LDL
Chris G1VDP
Vinny M0TAV
Jane – Rob’s wife and the chief chef and the one who keeps us in check
Laura MW6INK – Ant’s wife and Janes right hand
Glenys G8KWD – Tony’s wife and Janes left hand

The girls are in charge as usual and I am sure will keep us all in our place.

Usual DX Code of conduct rules will be adhered to (FULL CALL ONLY) and the regular QSL route via M0URX. Please do not send your card to us via the bureau as we do not need your card, but use Tim’s on line request service to get your card sent this way free of charge – or request direct and donate a couple of dollars to assist with our costs.

There may be some operating the days before and after from the farm as we all assemble and get ready to travel.

We look forward to meeting you on the air and again we ask to listen to who we call and just act in a true Ham Spirit and allow us to complete the QSO’s.

www.mc0shl.com

After weeks of preparation the polling stations will be opening on Thursday 7th May 2015 across the UK. Pine Trees is one of the locations which will be used as a polling station. We have been advised by Swindon Borough Council that our use of the meeting room will be unaffected and as such the club will be open as usual. See you there for a talk titled ‘What can you do with your licence?’ By Tony Bettley, G4LDL.

This week at the club, we will be holding a members interests (show and tell) type evening. This will be an opportunity for our members old and new to listen to a number of mini talks presented by several SDARC members.

Mike, M5CBS, will be showing a preview of the SDARC promo video he has been working on and maybe talk a little on his kite antenna.

Jonathan, M0ZGB, is bringing along a selection of his marine Radio Direction Finders and speaking about some of the companies that produced them and the reasons for collecting them.

Geoff, G3TPQ will be giving us a mini talk and demonstration on some of his electromechanical amplifiers.

Dennis, G3LLZ is going to speak to us about test equipment and his experiences in using it during his career.

Each talk is planned to last around 15 minutes, so if any other members would like to bring in items such as interesting equipment, old photos or rare QSL cards, then please do so.
Several tables will be set out for others members to display their prized possessions!

Please join us from 7pm on Thursday 23rd April at Pine Trees, for what will be an interesting evening of mini talks and demonstrations.

This week at Pine Trees we will be holding a members equipment (Spring clear out) sale.

This is the ideal place to find that Ham Radio bargain or sought-after part for your next project.

Bring along any Amateur Radio related items you wish to sell or just browse & buy what others have for sale.

All welcome.
Visitor Entry : £1
Visitor Tables : £3
Refreshments : £1
Members entry & tables : Free
On-site parking available.

Last Thursday was the annual construction competition. Here are a few photos of the entries and the prize winners.

Our speaker this week at Pine Trees needs no introduction, being our very own Dennis, G3LLZ.

Dennis will be speaking to us about the history and development of the Morse key, one of the many subjects Dennis is well versed in speaking about.

Despite no longer being a requirement to pass a Morse test, apart from the ‘Morse Appreciation’ in the Foundation exam, Morse or CW still has a healthy following among Radio Amateurs. The Morse keys themselves can be highly collectable and their history right from the early beginnings of Telegraphy is a fascinating one.

Dennis will doubtless give an excellent talk on them, so please join us from 7pm on Thursday 12th March to see his presentation.

Just a quick reminder that this week sees the annual club construction competition. If you are planning to enter then please take a look at the rules which you can find at https://sdarc-net.stacktemp.com/2015/01/25/cq-cq-cq-club-constructors/. You will also find a link to the entry form.

Good luck!