Volume 73 No 11 November 1997

The Journal of the Radio Society of Great Britain Ri313113 ON LIN E: http://w w w.rsgb.org

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NEW FRO M THE RSGB OUT THIS MONTH Kenwood started making rigs in 1955.

" 4 2 ears- I Iàt e haven't forgottorrwhy.

You'll probably remember how and when you got interested in amateur radio. We do. It was in Tokyo, 1955. The amateur radio market seemed an obvious choice for a fledgling electronics company to become involved in. For a start, it was a natural expansion of the technology we were innovating at the time. Secondly, there would be some things learned from exploring this avenue that could help us in other areas of our work. Also, the challenge appealed to our technicians, who were spurred on by the thought of trying to make someone in the next country sound like someone in the next room. But above all, we got into amateur radio because we wanted to. Because we were enthusiasts. (After all, most people with even a passing interest in electronics have made a radio at some time or other.) And today, our passion remains. Whilst we've seen some manufacturers in the last 42 years turn on, tune in and drop out, we're still going. We've come up with some of our best products yet, including the formidable TS-570D. We've introduced fashion to the shack through a limited edition jacket. And we're trying every bit as hard as you to bring new enthusiasts to the hobby (take the Freedom of the Airwaves competition, for instance). After all, it's the next generation who'll allow us to continue our hobby. For information on the Kenwood Amateur Radio range (01923 212044 or fax 01923 212905) [email protected] KEN WOOD COVER PICTURE: Managing Editor Jun Hasegawa receives a plaque from Mike Dennison, G3XDV Neville Cheadle, G3NUG, at the Tokyo Production Editor HamFair. The plaque reads: "Premier Jennifer Crocker, 2E lENT IOTA Award. For outstanding service to the IOTA Com munity. Presented by the Technical Editor Peter Dodd, G3LDO RadCom RSGB IOT A Com mittee to Mr Jun Hasegawa, President Yaesu Musen, News Editor Radio Co m munication Tokyo, Japan, August 1997." Stephen Telenius-Lowe, G4JVG Features Editor N E W S A N D R E P O R T S R E G U L A R S Deniz Huseyin, 2E1EJQ Technical Illustrator 8 THE RADCOM LEADER 23 VHF/UHF NEWS Bob Ryan, 2E1EKS • General Manager Peter Kirby, GOTW W, reports a financial surplus. Production Assistant • Wai-Yee Man • g RADCOM NEWS 28 PROPAGATION Editorial Secretary • CDXC Plans Spratly Island Expedition • Attention Clwyd Clubs • Samantha Ralph • Masirah on the Moon • New LF Band Soon! • Insert • Young 29 HF NEWS All contributions and • correspondence concerning the • Amateur Looks to the Future • LF Nets on HE and MF • BARTG 1997 content of Radio Communication • AGM • WAB News • Wedmore Winner • BBC Experience Marconi 31 SWL NEWS should be posted to: • • RSGB's Name 75 Years Old • Datong LF Award • London •• The Editor Christmas Show • WACRAL Activity • 136kHz Band Next Year • 32 OSL Radio Communication Operate in ZF • Amateur Prosecuted • Microwave Round Table • Lambda House, Cranborne Road • Atoll Order • Meet the RSGB. Potters Bar, Herts EN6 3JE 32 HELPLINES Tel: 01707 659015 61 RSGB ACCOUNTS Fax: (Editorial only) 01707 649503 The RSGB Accounts for the year ended 30 June 1997. 33 107A RadCom Advisory Panel 84 RSGB NATIONAL FIELD DAY 1997 Peter Kirby, GOT W W Generally good conditions and weather meant this year's Field Day was 34 CONTEST EXCHANGE General Manager • enjoyed by all participating groups. Dave Lawley, G4BUO, brings us the Mike Dennison, G3XDV story of NFD '97. Managing Editor 77 73LF John Forward, G3HTA T E C H NI C A L F E A T U R E S T I 'Smudge' Lundegard, G3GJW 78 MICROWAVES

Dick Biddulph, G8DPS Chairman, Technical and • 16 MAGNETOMETERS FOR AURORAL PREDICTIONS 80 SATELLITES Publications Advisory Committee • • gem The changes in magnetic field that precede an aurora can be detected Malcolm Taylor, GOUCX • using a magnetometer. Kevin F Scott, GM7WJL, describes the opera- Advertising Agent 81 DA7A STREAM a tion and construction of two types of this instrument. Marcia Brimson, 2E1DAY Marketing Manager 45 EXTREME NARROWBAND RECEPTION 86 CONTEST CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Successful reception of very weak 73kHz amateur signals over a 393km All display and classified path was accomplished using extreme narrow bandwidths. Peter Martinez, 90 RSGB BOOK SHOP advertising enquiries (excepting G3PLX, describes how DSP techniques were used to achieve this. Members' Ads) should be directed to our advertisement agents: 52 EUROTEK 92 MEMBERS' ADS Malcolm Taylor Associates An all driven two-element delta-loop antenna, by Ruedi Werner, HB9RZ, Ashley Business Centre was described in OldMan, 10/95. Translated and edited by Erwin David, Briggs House, Ashley Cross 94 CLUB NEWS Poole, Dorset BH14 OJR G4LQI. Tel: 01202 735 999 94 RALLIES AND EVENTS Fax: 01202 735 585 54 IN PRACTICE Ian White, G3SEK, answers readers' questions on 'Mystery Power RadCom is published by the Transformers'. Radio Society of Great Britain as 94 GB CALLS its official journal on the first day 69 TECHNICAL TOPICS of the relevant month and is sent 94 SILENT KEYS free and post paid to all members Tuned Loop Transmitting Antennas • 'Ugly' Constructional Tip • of the Society. Antennas Here & There • Antenna Efficiency • MOV as Protection Against Supply Faults • Professional Morse Decoder • Comparing 95 THE LAST WORD Closing date for contributions, unless otherwise notified, is five Digital Protocols. weeks prior to publication date. P R O D U C T S 79 TECHNICAL CORRESPONDENCE All material in RadCom is subject to Technical Correspondence deals with a solution to the problem of earth editing for length, clarity, style, connections. 20 DISK AND BOOK punctuation, grammar, legality and taste. CHOICE D O W N T O E A R T H The RSGB has just No responsibility can be assumed launched two important for the return of unsolicited material new publications: the (if in doubt, call us first!) 35 NEWS FROM AMATEUR RADIO'S NEWCOMERS 1998 RSGB Yearbook and Compiled by Esde Tyler, GOAEC. 0 Radio Society of Great Cal/Seeker 98 on Britain 1997 36 THE "PILE-UP MONSTER" CD-ROM. They are Articles are accepted on the strict The story of one new licensee's first operating experiences — on a described by RSGB HQ understanding that they are not • DXpedition with a special event callsign! By Rosemary Barron, GI6ISQ . Staff. currently on offer to any other ors publication. Unless otherwise 38 SOLAR DATA EXPLAINED 56 SOFTWARE REVIEW indicated the RSGB has purchased There has been a recent explosion in the amount of data from satellites all rights to published articles. Neville Cheadle, G3NUG, which it is hoped will help us to predict auroras. Charlie Newton, Filmset by JJ Typographies Ltd, • looks at the latest Southend, Essex. G2FKZ, explains what the satellites are telling us. • Turbolog Station Printed by Southemprint (Web • management program. Offset) Ltd, Poole, Dorset. 40 A PORTABLE 3-ELEMENT 6M YAGI A lightweight antenna that is easy to construct with the minimum of RSGB membership 68 PRODUCT NEWS tools, and can be dismantled for transportation, is described by D A Reid, • at 30 April 1997: 28, 221 News from the amateur ISSN No: 0033-7803 PA3HBB / GOBZF. radio trade.

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 3 See our other adverts in this issue YAES11 PRODUCTS ' me_Yaesu , FT-1000MP/AC fet . Vet? good price. L still pays £199 towards your deposit! • _ oth --:»11_4rae.sf s aftd you will be e lfgpre4éi!'with Confirmed as the worlds best selling HF Base station, In a s U ery good. •-•< it's little wonder Yaesu are still the Number One man- -or ufacturer of Amateur radio products. HF &Siplelqiisceber, 400 le'Sfeont on MI bands. DSP e -Of as stalks/gull. Fel b (,iard optional. Did you know that most of the top CDXC DX'ers in the UK operate FT-1000MP's supplied by Martin Lynch? RRP: £19fr ML PRICE: £1499. Better still, until the end of November we're still Deposit only £38.60 & thirty-nine payments of £50. paying £199 towards your deposit, leaving Yaesu FT-8100 you less than £50 to End as a down The latest remote head dual band mobile. Excellent payment. PX characteristics (it ignores pagers) and display. Monster 310 memories and true dual channel (vhf, RRP: £2499 ML 1rM vhf+uht/uhf) receive capability. „ PRICE: £2199. Only £46.08 RIM £499 ML PRICE: 449. Only £21.04 deposit and deposit twenty payments of £25. (we pay the addi- e 6,* e tional £199

sixty payments of VL-1000 New from Yaesu. the VL-1000 is a solid-state Linear Amplifier that provides a full 1000 Watts output power on HF and 500 Watts on 6 Metres. It incorpo- rates a built-in High Speed Antenna Tuner with 2 Antenna Inputs & 4 switchable outputs. The Amplifier and Power Supply are separate units to facilitate easi- er installation.

Yaesu VX-1R The smallest, tiniest. weeniest wireless in the world! Even if you:ve got a bunch of bananas for fingers, Yaesu have made the operation of this minute transceiver very easy to use. Throw in a wide band receiver (including medi- um wave), Wide Band FM, (not forgetting 2/70 transmit at 500m W) and you will not want to go to bed without this new baby from Japan.

Only £269, or buy a pair and save E20!

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OPENING HOURS Martin Lynch & Son is a MON -SAT licensed credit broker THE AMATEUR RADIO EXCHANGE CENTRE 9.30 - 6.00 Full written details are Late night Thursday available upon request. by appointment E&E0 For further details of this item call the sales desk on 0700 73 73 73 Q SLCOMMUNICATIONSUNIT 6 WORLE INDUSTRIAL CENTRE, COKER ROAD SHO WROOM OPEN 10am - 6pm Mon-Fri TEL: 01934 512757 / 0850 707257 FAX: 01934 512757 9am - 1pm Sat

FOR ALL TRANSCEIVERS AND RECEIVERS CHECK ALL ADVERTS FOR BEST DEAL THEN PHONE US. KEN WOOD, YAESU. ICOM, ALINCO, AKD, AOR. REALISTIC, ADI VE CT R O NI C S DL300M DUMMY LOADS veanoni P A.T.U. PM30: DL650M SWR/PO WER METER

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\...--11-.------ii • 4 1.8-30MHz BUILT IN DUMMY LOAD _ Vei ' DC-150MHz 300W SIX POSITION ANTENNA SELECTOR 1.8 to 60MHz £32 £129 300/3000W £69

.).e:. WM-308 WC-128 W AT S O N \ q e BASE MIC COUNTER MONO , CAN BE POWERED EARPHONES FROM MOST MODERN 1MHz-2.8 GHz RIGS. LOW NOISE AMP LCD DISPLAY 8 OHMS SPEAKER , BUILT IN. BNC WHIP ANTENNA 3.5MM MONO PLUG, FULL CONNECTION .1\ 7='. ,. NI-CADS & CHARGER 1.5M OF STRAIGHT SCREENED DETAILS ...... CABLE.

£59.95 £79.95 100M W MAX. FULL RANGE OF WATSON P.S.U.s, ANTENNAS AVAILABLE BASE AND MOBILE £6.99

Ef./Ib -14013 MM1-14B EMM144-430B 160M = £49 144-148MHz DUALBAND P R 0- A11/1•,30.450MHz 144-148MHz 80M = £22 , 430.450MHz 40m . up DAK - AD MAXI MAGNET _ 3 x 5" Magnets properly spaced on an aluminium % kip., , £23 20M = £18 n nr ::,.. -- frame. with 12H of RG58 17M = £18 f'.=" , .._ _.), . coax + PL259 connector. m«lea ét e-•£, P&P £3 P&P f 2,50 I L, ..j .- Accepts standard 3/8 fitting 15M = £18 ., antennas £12 £15 IE: PRO AM HF MOBILES P&P £3 P&P £3 ele** 1 ACCEPTSyERTIA L L ' '' '' .) HIGH QUALITY 10M = £18 2RDUAANLTE A NNADACOR HORIZONTAL DIPOLE PTSOFRO .... - VERY STRONG

r=6M £18 (NOTE:SUITABLE FOR PRO-AM i‘``lb-:_ 3 CM DIA MAGNET A HF ANTENNAS WHICH ARE VSWR LESS THAN 1.5:1 P&P fLi• SOLD SEPARATELY.) IIMIL.---.««11011 £39.95 EGM 144-430 DUALBAND ON GLASS £39.95 + £4 P&P. ON GLASS SCANNER ANT 1 1 2-2 00MHZ £29.95 + £4 P&P QSL CARDS FROM £3.75 PER 100 SEND A LARGE S.A.E. 11 FOR SAMPLES AND PRICE LIST EARTH RODS 4FT LONG, ADJUSTABLE BRASS FIXING SOLID COPPER £10.99. COPPER PLATED STEEL £8.99. P&P £4 ALTAI AR300XL ALTAI POWER SUPPLIES P-2512 POWER SUPPLY

ROTATOR 25-30 AMP VARIABLE 3-15V VOLT + AMP METERS £89 95 CE APPROVED „goItîl: £24.99 I L ; e£1413-4149AmP.9 ' à ..,.." . CABLE PER METRE , PACK OF H103 WESTELEX LOW LOSS 50 OHM COAX 95P 213) LOW LOSS 50 OHMS COAX 80P •S .r....1 1 0 RG58CU 50 OHMS COAX 30P 7 CORE ROTATOR CABLE 6012 ACTUAl 45KG VERTICAL LOAD TWIN 300 OHMS 65P SIZE TWIN 75 OHMS 25P ONLY £49 DC 10 AMP RED/BLACK 25P DC 15 AMP RED/BLACK 301, £1 0 INC PEP SAT DOUBLE SCREENED SATELLITE CABLE 60P YAESU ROTATORS LARGE RANGE OF CONNECTORS AVAILABLE, MINIMUM ALSO AVAILABLE CABLE/CONNECTOR ORDER £10 P&P DEPENDENT ON FERRITE RINGS WEIGHT

P & P £7 NEXT DAY ALL PRODUCTS UNLESS OTHER WISE STATED

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 Lowe Set

JST245 The trouble with ordinary All-mode 150W HF plus Six metre maps is, they don't know transceiver including built-in mains PSU and Auto Tuner where you are

HF Band Plus 50M Hz Band. The JST-245 covers the 1.9MHz band plus the 50MHz band, and operates in all the modes including SSB. CW. AM (A3H), AFSK and FM Loge Colour LCD Display this is no ordinary map The front panel features ergonomic design with thoughtful placement of controls for ease of operation and with an easy-to-read. large colour LCD display with a high resolution 41-dot digital bar metre. Built-in AC Power GPSIII from Garmin Supply The built in AC Power supply is of switching type designed for continuous A Global Positioning System receiver with electronic map. It not only shows transmission at maximum output. It is switchable between 85-135V and you the lay of the land, but where you stand, too. 170-264V. Millions of miles of motorways. roads, railways, rivers and shorelines are Multiple Antenna Selection programmed into the GPSIII. Yet this versatile personal navigator weighs only 255g and fits comfortably into your hand, on your bicycle or on the Three antenna connections are selectable from the front panel. Antenna dashboard of your car. selection and frequency band information can be stored in memory. Where you are Stable Frequency Control The GPSIII's 12 parallel channel receiver will find your position fast and All local reference frequencies are generated by a single crystal oscillator keep your position even in dense foliage. Position averaging reduces the and stable frequency control in the minimum 2Hz increments is made by effects of Selective Availability (SA) for the hest accuracy possible. a JRC unique Direct Digital Synthesisiser (DDS IC) at a high speed with very low phase noise, ensuring superior frequency stability Where you've been Band Memory The GPM' tracks your route and stores favourite spots with names, icons and a brief description. With one keystroke, trip odometer and speed Each band memory can store frequency, mode. IF Bandwidth. AGC. and calculations are in clear view. It will even display sunrise and sunset times antennas in use, ensuring swift reset to the final operational status in each so you're not left in the dark. band in QSY. Where you're going 200 Channel Memory Most remarkable about the GPSIII is its basemap. It shows primary A memory capacity of 2(X) channels is provided to store frequency. mode. landmarks for Europe, Africa. Asia. Australia and Oceania. After telling filter. AGC, antenna in use, split, tone. SQ RF AMP ON/OFF etc. ‘,ou how far you are from a given point, it will work out the time of arrival. Other Standard functions are provided including VFO with equaliser. full break-in, electronics keyer. all-mode squelch. VOX and RF speech compressor. Lowe price £429.00

Lowe Price £2,295.00 Bristol Branch GPS ACTIVE NTENN OPEN DAY The device shown here consists of a very. efficient antenna. correctly polarised for Lots of bargains the satellite signals. Enclosed in a weather Free Raffle resistant plastic housing with fixing Free refreshments magnets in its base, together with a high Free admission gain, low noise active preamplifier. Saturday December 6th Lowe Price £39.95 This antenna is ideal for use on a car or boat, or on a metallic surface. franks Ltd

GARMIN GPS38 OUT NOW...OUT NOW... NEW LOWE LOW PRICE Lowe Electronics Catalogue

The GARMIN GPS38 is the one navigational tool for the great FREE! outdoors that offers big features in a small, lightweight package - all at a truly affordable price. 1-KEE! Mark your favourite fishing spot. tree stand or camp site. Or retrace your steps back to the safety of FREE! your truck using our all new TracBack feature. The GPS 38 shows you exactly where you are. I-REE! where you've been and where you're going. lias a total of 250 waypoints with 20 reversible FREE! routes of up to 30 waypoints each plus Man Overboard and TracBack mode for automatic 4Et 1 track log navigation Has over 100 80 pages of of exciting products covering- Map Datums. the co-ordinate Com munications, Amateur Radio, GPS Navigation, systems including Lat/Lon. UTM/ Short Wave Listening, Airband & Scanning, Security, UPS. OSGI3 and Maidenhead. Weather Monitoring Don't miss out - just send four first class stamps to Lowe Price NO W ONLY MI £139.00 receive your own catalogue!

BARGAIN CORNER MIC10C28 Dum my Loads DL60 (60 watt) £10.00 each Low cost frequency counter/sniffer T200 (200 watt) £50.00 each Snap-on ferrite chokes £5.00 pair The MICIOC28 is a new low- HS2BN /2 2M telescopic BNC ant £10.00 cost frequency counter/sniffer that breaks yet another price 2 way coax switches: barrier. PL259 £10.00 Just £9.95 plus carriage. N type £15.00 1mhz to 2.8 ghz coverage Backlit LCD display High speed 250 Mhz direct count with 111z/second resolution Lowe Electronics Lid NiCad pack and charger Chesterfield Road, Matlock Low battery indicator Derbyshire, DE4 5LE Telephone (General Enquiries) 01629 580800. Fax 01629 580020 Orders FREEPHONE 0800 174749 Lowe Price £79.95 Email: info @lowe.co.uk UR RL: http://www.lowe.co.uk

Showroom opening hours are 9.30am to 5pm Mon-Fri and 10am to 4pm SPECIAL CLEARANCE SALE on Sat, but check with our local branches as times may vary

Heavy Duty Emotator Branches Bristol & Wales Rotator 1105MSX 79 Gloucester Road, Patchway, Bristol BS12 5QJ Tel 0117 931 5263 Fax 0117 931 5270 -f-794,-Cta North East, Unit £600.00 18B, Airport Industrial Estate, Newcastle, NE3 2EF Tel 0191 214 5424, Fax 0191 214 0761 The RadCom Leader RADIO SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN Profit and THE NATIONAL SOCIETY WHICH REPRESENTS UK RADIO AMATEURS

Founded in 1913 incorporated 1926. Limited by guarantee Member society of the International Amateur Radio Union PATRON: HRH PRINCE PHILIP, DUKE OF EDINBURGH, KG, KT Loss Membership is open to all those with an active interest in radio experimentation and communication as a hobby. Applications for membership should be made to the Subscriptions Department from which full S CAN BE SEEN from the Accounts, published this month details of Society services may also be obtained. on pages 61 — 64, the Society made a surplus of £22,646 in Headquarters and registered office: Lambda House, Cranborne Road, Potters Bar, Hens EN6 3JE the year to 30 June 1997. This follows a 1995/96 deficit of Telephone: 01707 659015 - Members Hotline and book orders A Fax: 01707 645105. Web Site: http://www.rsgb.org £137,133. The remarkable turn-round was achieved mainly through E-mail addresses: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; RadCom @rsgb.org.uk; [email protected]; very tight control on expenditure, both at Headquarters and in the IOTA.HQ @rsgb.org.uk; [email protected] work of the volunteers, and this policy is continuing in order to ensure General Manager and Company Secretary: Peter Kirby, MIMgt, MISM, GOTW W that we provide the best possible value for your money. Treasurer: Ken Ashcroft, FCA, FCMA, G3MSW

COUNCIL OF THE SOCIETY It is the Society's view that funds must be kept buoyant in order to PRESIDENT: I J Kyle, GI8AYZ, M1OAYZ be able to tackle the increasing number of international regulations IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT: P R Sheppard, G4EJP EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT: J Greenwell, G3AEZ which, often inadvertently, threaten the basis on which we enjoy ORDINARY ME MBERS OF COUNCIL amateur radio. E J Allaway, MB, ChB, MRCS, LRCP, G3FKM R H Biddulph, MA PhD, CChem, CEng, FRSC, MIM, G8DPS M H Claytonsmith, G4JKS J Greenwell, AMIEE, G3AEZ No Ballot R Horton, BSc (Dunelm), PGCE (Oxon), G3X WH D F Beattie, BSc (Eng),CIPD, F Inst. D, FRSA, G3OZF FOR THE FIRST TIME anyone can remember — maybe the first time P E Chadwick, G3RZP ever — there is to be no ballot for the election of Council members this G W Dover, G4AFJ

ZONAL ME MBERS OF COUNCIL year. There was a single candidate in the Zone E election, and he is Zone A: G L Adams, G3LEQ elected unopposed. In the election for two Ordinary Members, there Zone B: D Whalley, G4EIX Zone C: F C Stewart, GOCSF was also only one candidate, resulting in there being a vacant seat at Zone D: cl N Gannaway, G3YGF Zone E: E P Essery, GW3KFE Council next year. Zone F: J T Barnes, GI3USS Zone G: T W G Menzies, GM1GEQ Is this a sign of great contentment amongst the membership? Are

Details cf the Society's volunteer cificers can be found in the hi-monthly there too few people willing to put themselves forward to serve the At Your Service column Society and amateur radio? Does anybody care? Whatever the cause,

A N N U A L S U B S C RI P TI O N R A T E S it isn't democracy. It also does the elected members of Council a dis-

Ho me Corporate: £36.00 service for all the hard work they do on behalf of the membership,

Overseas Corporate: £36.00 both within the UK and at international level.

Corporate (Senior Citizens): £27.00 (Applications should provide proof of age at last renewal date)

Corporate after 50 years me mbership: 50% DISCOUNT Membership Cards Corporate after 60 years me mbership: FREE AS PART OF THE ongoing stringent controls on expenditure men- Family me mber: £12.00 tioned earlier, the value of membership cards has been reassessed. (Must reside with existing member. Does not include Radio Communication)

Student Me mbers: £22.00 The only practical function of a membership card is to prove member- (Applications should include evidence of full-time student status) ship at a few RSGB events. With better use of portable databases, this Affiliated Societies (UK or Overseas): £20.00 (including Radio Communication) is becoming less important and the opportunity has been taken to save Junior (Ha mClub) under 18: £12.00 some £10,000 per year by ceasing the annual issue of these cards. I (Subscriptions include VAT where applicable.) feel sure that members will agree that the money would be better spent Special arrangements exist for blind and disabled persons. Details are available from RSGB HQ. Membership application forms are available from RSGB HQ. providing useful services.

RSGB Main Switchboard: Peter A Kirby, GOTW W 01707-659015 General Manager eel 01707-645105

8 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 RSGB HF Committee Supports Major British DXpedition R adCom NEWS CDXC Plans

• BELGIAN SPECIAL event station 0S4CLM will be on the air 31 October — 7 November to com- memorate the Canadian liberation Spratly Island of Knokke. A special QSL and award are available. For further details contact Bob Dyserinck, ON1DKE, Vuurtorenstraat 12, B- 8301 Heist aan Zee, Belgium. Expedition • SSL HAS INFORMED the RSGB that, as of 8 October, the latest callsigns issued were in the EMBERS OF M*OBI*, M*1CG*, 2*OAQ* and CDXC (Chiltern 2*1GC* series. DX Club) — The M UK DX Founda- Attention Clwyd tion are to mount a major DXpedition to Pulau Layang Clubs Layang (formerly known as THE NEW RSGB Liaison Officer Swallow Reef) in the Spratly for Clwyd, John Roberts, Islands. The expedition, which GW3RBM, requests all active ra- is due to be on the air for nine dio clubs in the region to get in days in February 1998, will use contact with him. He can be con- the callsign 9MOC from Layang tacted on tel: 01824 780210; by Layang, which counts as AS- Email via D Jones: djones@ 051 for the RSGB IOTA pro- netcomuk.co.uk; or by fax: 01978 gramme. Full details of the ex- 266107 (please mark any fax for pedition, including maps and attention of John Roberts, c/o photographs, can be found on Sandpiper Software Ltd). The island of Layang Layang in the Spratly group lies in the South China Sea. the group's own Internet site at members. aol.com/spratly98 Masirah on the in the operation by the HF Com- The expedition plans to use Moon Large Donation mittee, which believes the specially-written software by CHRIS DOLMAN, A45XL / ON 13 September, the RSGB 9MOC DXpedition is a very team member John Linford, G4VUO, of Masirah Island, Oman, HF Committee voted to donate important means of heighten- G3WGV, to upload the 9MOC made the first EME (moonbounce) £2000 from the RSGB ing the profile of UK amateur logs to the Internet on a daily contact from Oman on 30 Septem- DXpedition Fund to the 9MOC radio. basis. This will allow DXers ber, when he completed with throughout the world to check W5UN. The contact was on DXpedition. The DXpedition Commercial sponsors of the that their callsigns are safely in 144.028MHz at 120OUTC. Chris Fund is sustained mainly expedition include Yaesu later also had a contact with through the raffle at the RSGB Musen, Cushcraft, Nevada the log, whilst the operation is K5GW. HF and IOTA Convention, and Communications, Martin still in progress. does not involve RSGB central Lynch & Son, Timewave AEA, The group will be running New LF Band funds. The £2000 sum is the and the Malaysian Tourist Pro- four Yaesu FT-1000MP or FT- largest single donation from the motion Board. The group also 920 stations simultaneously, Soon! fund to any operation: the nor- gratefully acknowledges dona- around the clock, and has the THE UK will have a new band mal contribution is £250. This tions from DX associations and capability of using up to six around 136kHz next year. For is seen as a vote of confidence several individuals. stations at times of pe ak propa- more details see Licensing News gation. Operation will be on all on page 13. bands from 1.8 — 50MHz and because the expedition will take place during the northern hemi- Ji,, ?1t sphere winter, propagation on the lower-frequency bands THIS EDITION of RadCom should be particularly good. includes a single sheet in- The expedition is taking the sert carrying an announce- most ambitious antenna lineup ment of the Society's AGM, ever seen on the Spratly Is- a proxy voting form, and lands, including four-square details of the election to Council for the period 1998 directional vertical arrays for — 2000. If you have not re- 80 and 40m and a full-size 3- ceived the insert, please call Members of the 9MOC team at a summer planning meeting: Ray Gerrard, element Yagi for 20m, as well HQ on 01707 659015 and G3NOM /9M20M; John Linford, G3WGV; Don Beatie, G3OZF; Neville Cheadle, as Cushcraft A3S and A3WS G3NUG; Steve Telenius-Lowe, G4JVG; Tony Canning, GOOPB; Don Field, ask for one to be sent to you. G3XTT. Team members Mike Devereux, G3SED; Vince Thompson, K5VT Atsu beams for 10 / 15 / 20m and the Asahina, VK2BEX; Donald Soh, 9M6SU, are not in the photograph. WARC bands.

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 9 Kenwood Yaesu (corn Alinco Dealer SRP Mini-Mag 2/70. SRP Turbo magmount 2m/70cms dual band mobile Very strong 7" diameter S0239 antenna featuring super magmount, strength mini-magnet (only with protective 30mm diameter), complete rubber base with miniature coax and plug. complete with £19.95 cable and PL- 259. Perfect for 6m 1/4 Antenna Rotator AR-300XL. wave. Max load 60kg with support bearing). £17.95 360 degree rotation in approx 65 seconds (cable not supplied). Support bearing optional. £49.95 SRP-905 communications speaker. 5 watt 8 ohm filter/mute extension Super Synchro 1100. 1100 Syncron SX-144/430, 2m/ speaker mAh Nimh AA size cells. No memory 70cms cross needle direct reading complete with effect. Twice the capacity of NiCads. SWR/1000W POWER meter. 3.5mm mono £3.00 each £39.95 jack. £13.95

Call Rod (G8SUP), Richard (G6ORA) or Mary (M1BUB) Opening hours: ALL ITEMS Monday - POST FREE UK SRP Tracun Saturday 9.30am to MAINLAND. Telephone 0121 460 1581 or 012 457 7788 Fax 0121 457 9009 5.30pm 1686 Bristol Road South, Rednal, Birmingham B45 9TZ

Mail Order to: Eydon, Daventry, Çelti t_HO WES Northants. NN11 3PT VISA COM MUNICATIONS htl'e l tS mizr 01327 260178

HO WES DC2000

A mateur SSB/C W Receiver Kit - £22.90 of construction combined with excellent performance make this a Multiband SSB Receiver great project for both the beginner and the experienced operator. Plug-in DXR20. Covers SSB and CW on 20.40 & 80M bands as fi '211X1 bruit r,, é C H h art/ U W/1' I,11 .11; band modules (one included) give flexible frequency coverage. There is a full standard. Optional extra plug-in band modules available. range of matching accessories including transmitters, so you can expand Can link to TX2000 or AT16C for transceive (by adding DC2000 electronics kit: £22.90 your receiver into a transceiver as you build up your station! There have LM2000 linking module). Versatile & great performance! ([otra band module kits: £7.90 each). been excellent reviews in many radio magazines, (RadCom included). Use the DXR20 Kit: £39.90. DCS2 "S meter" Kit: £10.90. HA22R Hardware (case etc.): £18.90 0C2000 on any band from 160 to 10M. Enjoyable to build, with great results' HA2OR hardware pack: £28.90

Enjoy home construction with a top class Winter Project from HO WES!

ACCESSORY KITS

ASI SSB and CW AF eaternal lifter fig 40 DFDS Di9ilai Frequency Counter/Readout £54 90 551.18 RO Antenna Selector/Attenuator £27.90 1454 Microphone preamp and filter £6 70 mows' C514 Internal 558 & (W Filter for our RXs £10 50 $12 Morse Side-tone/Practice Ostillalor £9 £0

DC52 '5 Meter- for direct conversion RXs £10 90 SW830 SWR/Power Indicator. 30W 1-2001411z £13.90 N.:'ex )4, 111 10 11: 111.1 11.416ole C8A2 Counter Buffer (fit to Ra to feed DFC15) £5.90 XM1 Crystal Calibrates 8 intervals + ¡dent £16.90 DFD4 Add-on Digital Readout for superhels £49.90 /enervial hatiteare are aaTztki I,, st't rees! test TRANS MITTERS All 60 10W AMIDSB/CW 80 i:• £39.90 HA 6OR Hardware for All 60: £22.90 Transmitting ATVs TX2000 5W CW. Plug-in band filter. Kit: £24.90 HA23R Hardware for TX2000; £16.90 Neat -1 match" 11F ATUs with air-spaced lackson tun- LM2000 Links the above transmitters to DC2000 or DXR20 for transceive. Kit: £16.30 a ing capacitors and switched inductor. All parts mounted on PCS 30 or Receiving Arils Please add £4.00 P&P. far £1.50 P&P Jar electrunies kits without hardware. 15041 versions Additional CTU8 tpicturedl. Covers 500kHz to 301414e with HO WES KITS contain good quality printed circuit boards with screen printed parts 4. I balun & 5014H: ((Ater- 50239 sockets for coax fed antennas, or long wires - age on TTU30. matches almost anything! locations, full, clear instructions and all board mounted components. Sales, constructional CTU30 kit: £39.90. Lill: £49.90, Kit (inc. h/ware): £29.90 and technical advice are available by phone during office hours. Please send an SAE for our 118308 hardware £17.90 free catalogue and specific product data sheets, or you can browse this Information on our C11.39. All the features of the (1118 plus 4:1 balun CTU150 kil: £49.90. bypass switch and terminal posts. Internet Website (address at top). UK delivery is normally uthin seven days. 111 1451509 n/ware, £16.90 Built £69.90, Kit (Inc. hiware): £39.90 73 from Dave G4KQH, Technical Manager. ii9,11‘-.7 ,! ,,•

10 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 Young Amateur Looks to the Future THIS YEAR'S Young Amateur of the Year, Emma Constantine, 2E1BVJ, and the runner-up, Mark Haynes, 2E0APH [see RadCom News, Oct 97, p9 — Ed], were presented with their prizes at the RSGB International HF and IOTA Convention on 28 September. Emma won a £300 cheque, a guided tour of the RA Monitoring Station at Baldock and a certificate signed by Margaret Beckett, President of the Board of Trade and Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, presented to her by Roger Louth, Director of Mobile Services at the RA. RSGB President Ian Kyle, GI8AYZ, presented Emma with a Palstar KH-6 50MHz FM handheld transceiver and one year's free membership of the Society, plus a Tandy DX-394 receiver on behalf of the Tandy organisation. BT provided a one-week residential course at Portishead Radio, Frank Howe, G3FIJ (left), being presented with an RSGB Certificate of Merit by where Emma will learn about world-wide maritime and aeronautical RSGB Council Member Fred Stewart, GOCSF. He won the award for his mobile communication. A packet radio modem was donated by Siskin outstanding work in training students for the RAE and Morse test. Some of Electronics. Frank's many other achievements were outlined in RadCom Apr 97 p95. Runner-up Mark Haynes, 2E0APH, won a cheque for £50 and a tour of the Baldock Monitoring Station from the RA, £25 worth of book BARTG 1997 BBC Experience tokens plus one year's free membership from the RSGB, and an Icom AGM Marconi handheld transceiver from Icom (UK). Lowe Electronics also donated a Hi-Mound Morse key. THE 1997 BRITISH Amateur THE MARCONI COLLECTION Teledata Group (BARTG) AGM is a major display of the work of Both Emma and Mark made a speech following the presentation. Guglielmo Marconi forming the Emma said she felt honoured to be the first Young Lady to have been will be held at the Strathmore This- tle Hotel, Arndale Centre, Luton introduction to 'The BBC Experi- chosen as Young Amateur of the Year, and went on to say: "May I make LU1 2TR, at 2.00pm on Saturday ence'. This is a new permanent a plea to all radio amateurs to actively support the Novice programme 8 November. This venue is close exhibition at Broadcasting House and the work of organizations such as the RSGB and STELAR; to to car parking and the rail and bus near Oxford Circus in London encourage and to introduce others, of all ages and abilities, but particu- stations. The BARTG committee which will be officially opened by larly young people into this hobby ... Please don't be content to enjoy has a morning meeting to prepare HM The Queen on 29 October. It your hobby, hidden away in the comfort of your own 'shack'. The youth for the AGM and then takes a will be open daily and expects to of this and other countries need you ... Please actively pass on your lunch break. Members are, as attract 200,000 visitors a year. knowledge to the next generation of amateurs who are hopefully the usual, most welcome to join the professionals of the future. Your effort will be more than rewarded and committee for lunch. Further de- our hobby will survive well into the next millennium." tails from the secretary, Ian RSGB's Name 75 Brothwell, G4EAN (QTHR); tel: Years Old 0115 926 2360; E-mail: IT WAS 75 years ago this month [email protected] De- that the Wireless Society of Lon- tails of the AGM, including maps, don changed its name to the Radio can be found at the BARTG web Society of Great Britain. One site at www.bartg.demon.co.uk month later, in December 1922, the RSGB's special station 5WS WAB News was the first transatlantic amateur signal to be heard in the USA. THE WORKED ALL Britain Next year, amateur radio will be (WAB) Awards Group will hold celebrating its 100th birthday: the an Extraordinary General Meet- first purely amateur station was set ing to discuss and vote on changes up in London in 1898. You can to its constitution. The meeting is read more about all these historic at 1.00pm on Sunday 16 Novem- events in the RSGB book World at ber at Chilwell Scout Hut, their Fingertips, by John Attenborough Rd, Chilwell, Notts. Clarricoats, G6CL [see RSGB Graham Ridgeway, G8UYD Book Shop on pages 90 / 91 — Ed]. (QTHR) is the new secretary of the WAB Awards Group. The WAB Awards Manager, Kate Datong LFAward Wragg, GOFEZ, has moved house. - -- THIS YEAR'S LF Experimenter's Above: Emma receives Her new address (1 1 A Fall Rd, Award, sponsored by Datong Elec- one of her many prizes Heanor, Derbyshire DE75 7PQ) is tronics Ltd, was won by Andy from Roger Louth of the correct in theRSGB Yearbook 1998 Talbot, G4JNT. He was presented Radiocommunications and on the CallSeeker 98 Agency. with the award by RSGB President CD-ROM. Ian Kyle, GI8AYZ, at the RSGB Above: Runner-up Mark Haynes, HF and IOTA Convention. 2E0APH, and winner Emma LF Nets on HF This annual award is for the most Constantine, 2E1BVJ, with (left to Wedmore Winner significant contribution, by any right) Chris Lorek, G4HCL, and MF representing Siskin Electronics; THE WINNER OF the Watford RSGB member, towards scientific Dennis Goodwin, G4SOT, of Icom LF OPERATORS hold nets on Electronics Wedmore 80m QRP or engineering development of re- (UK); RSGB Council member Hilary Saturdays on 3720kHz at 9.00am transceiver competition in the ceiver and / or transmitter design, Claytonsmith, G4JKS; RSGB and 1973kHz at 7.00pm. These August 1997 RadCom was Mr R modulation technique, aerial de- President Ian Kyle, GI8AYZ; Roger Louth (RA); and Vaughan Asque are changes to the times and fre- Hislop, GOUEH, of Chesterfield, sign or propagation on the 73kHz (RA). quencies previously used. Derbyshire. amateur band.

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 11 10, 15, 20 Meters 9 Elements on a 28 ft (8.6m) Boom Optional 2 Element 40 Meter Kit

Element to Boom Boom to Mast Clamp Mounting

The Performance Tribander for the DX Years Just Ahead

7 New High Efficiency Computer Optimized Design for Maximum Gain design as well as elegant new mechanical hardware and and Ultra Clean Radiating Pattern assembly techniques. Each mechanical component was designed to 100+ MPH -- 100+ MPH Construction for Best Reliability and Long Life wind survival with a 1.25 safety factor. Traps were eliminated NEW 4L Log Cell Driven Elements for better VSWR Bandwidth from the high current driven elements and reflectors using the new 4L Log Cell design. which yields virtual monoband --- Trapless Driven Elements and Reflectors for Reliable Power Handling performance and maximum power handling capability. Traps Interleaved Element Design for Mono-Band Performance are employed only in the lower current directors for increased Add-on kits available for 40 Meters gain and sharper pattern. The result is a truly high performance antenna family which will easily handle the legal limit.

The new X9 and X7 Triband Yagis are geared to set new standards in both radiating performance and mechanical reliability. Cushcraft's product development team has employed the latest computer modeling technology to achieve a superior electrical

Frequency Coverage (Meters) 10. 15. 20 10,15.20 Total number of Elements 9 7 Maximum Gain (dB) 20M 13.0 e 14 deg 12.5 e 14 deg e One Wavelength 15M 13.9 g, 12 deg 13.0 @ 12 deg 10M 14.0 ee 15 deg 12.9 @ 14 deg Typical radiation patterns. Maximum Front to Back Ratio (dB) 30 30 Height: One wavelength. Frequency: 20 M Number of Elements per Band 4 3 VSWR Minimum 1.1:1 1.1:1 VSWR 1.5:1 Bandwidth (KHz) 20M 350 600 15M 450 750 e! r, ef(e 10. 10M 1500 1700 • g ee , Longest Element, ft (m) 36.5 (11.12) 37.2 (11.33) aki 'Yedet e rig Turning Radius. ft (m) 21.7 (6.61) 20.0 (6.09) Boom Length, ft (m) 28 (8.53) 18 (5.49) Boom Diameter. in (cm) 2-1/2 (6.35) 2-1/2 (6.35) Maximum Mast Diameter OD, in (cm) 2-1/2 (6.35) 2-1/2 (6.35) Maximum Wind Survival. mph (kph) >100 (>161) >100 (>161) Maximum Wind Surface Area. (m') 9.9 (.92) 7.9 (.73) C US HCRAFT Windload e 80 mph, lb (kg) 255 (116) 202 (92) __.....i à C O M MU NICATIONS ANTENN AS Maximum Power Handling (KW) 2 2 OP Weight. Ib. (kg) 85 (38.5) 60 (27.2) 48 Perimeter Rd. Manchester, NH, USA 03103 • 01-603-627-7877 • FAX: 01-603-627-1764 List Price S995 $675 Email: hamsaiesdcushcraft.com • World Wide Web: http://www.cushcrattcorn

12 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 —RadCom —

N EWS London LICENSING Christmas Show THE LONDONAmateur Radio and NE WS t(' Computer Christmas Rally takes place at the Lee Valley Leisure 136kHz Band Centre, Edmonton, north London on 15 / 16 November. This year, Next Year the scope of the show has been THE Radiocommunications broadened to include the BCBC Agency (RA) has informed the (British Citizens Band Con- RSGB that they hope to release the federation), who have a stand and CEPT-agreed 136kHz band to all Nigel Ludlow, G4VJM the lucky winner of this year's 'star prize' at the RSGB will be running a station throughout UK Full Class A licence holders the event. A number of traders will International HF and IOTA Convention: a Yaesu FT-900AT HF mobile transceiver. early in 1998. RSGB President Ian Nigel, who operates exclusively HF mobile, is being presented with his prize by be offering CB rigs including the Kyle, GI8AYZ, made this an- Barry Cooper, G4RKO, of Yaesu (UK), one of the sponsors of the convention. latest 80 channel sets. Broadcast nouncement on 27 September at SWLs are also well-catered for with the RSGB International HE and on 12 August 1997 a 16-year old Atoll Order the stands of Roberts Radio and the IOTA Convention. licensed amateur and citizens ' band Association of International Broad- The 136kHz band will be a new radio licensee pleaded guilty in the ANDY STAFFORD, G4VPM / casters. It's hoped that CBers and allocation for which no NoV (No- Youth Court to four charges under 8Q7AS, is helping Ibrahim Ahmed, SWLs attending the show will get tice of Variation) will be required. the Wireless Telegraphy Act, sum- 8Q7QC, in his attempts to set up a hooked on amateur radio too! The 73kHz band will continue in marized as follows: Novice licence scheme in the For the radio amateur, the 'big parallel with the new allocation un- (a) Had apparatus for wireless te Maldives. Ibrahim is also trying to three', Yaesu, Kenwood and Icom, til 31 December 1999. The RA has legraphy in his possession in set up a club station in Male, the will be there, and there will be an suggested that no new NoVs for tending to use it in contraven capital, as a first step towards club RSGB book stall and membership 73kHz will be issued after 31 De- tion of section 1 of the Wire- stations — possibly located at information stand. RSGB Morse cember 1997. However, they are less Telegraphy Act 1949. schools — on each atoll throughout tests will be available on demand— giving sympathetic consideration (b) Used wireless telegraphy ap the country. even more convenient now that to a request from the Society that paratus for the purpose of in Andy is requesting the donation the venue has its own photo booth! some extension of these periods be terfering with wireless teleg of equipment (eg ex-PMR gear) or granted. raphy contrary to section 13 of books which may be of use to this WACRAL The UK 73kHz frequency allo- the Wireless Telegraphy Act project and has agreed to forward cation came about after lengthy ne- 1949. them on to the Maldives at his own Activity gotiations between the RSGB and (c) Used wireless telegraphy ap expense. Already, contributions the RA, and the Society was also paratus with intent to obtain have been gratefully received from THE WORLD Association of heavily involved with international information as to the contents, Icom (UK) and the G-QRP Club, Christian Radio Amateurs and Lis- discussions which led to this new sender or addressee of any mes and from the RSGB which do- teners (WACRAL) holds an activ- European allocation at 136kHz. sage contrary to section 5 nated a number of books. ity weekend on Friday 28 / Satur- (b) (i) of the Wireless Telegra- If you can help, please contact day 29 November, commencing phy Act 1949. Andy on 01256 311334 (work) or 190OUTC on 3747kHz. There is a Operate in ZF (d) Used wireless telegraphy ap by E-mail: [email protected] new WACRAL regular Wednes- THE Radiocommunications paratus otherwise than in ac- Next spring, Andy plans to re- day net on 3747kHz at 9.30pm Agency advised the RSGB on 18 cordance with a licence granted turn to the Maldives, this time ac- local time. Further details from September that they had finalized by the Secretary of State con companied by members of the Membership Secretary Derek a reciprocal licensing agreement trary to section 1 of the Wire Central Arizona DX Association, Chivers, G3XNX (QTHR) or with the Cayman Islands: the less Telegraphy Act 1949. who are planning a major check their Internet site: www. Cayman Islands Class A licence The defendant was sentenced to DXpedition. Whilst there, they gOppq.demon.co.uk will be considered equivalent to perform 100 hours of community hope to become involved in the UK Class A. The UK will issue service and his equipment (which Ibrahim's project and perhaps as- reciprocal licences for a period of sist in training some future ama- SPUTNIK AWARD included amateur and illegal CB o 04101,97 991 1997 up to six months where the appli- apparatus) was forfeited by the teurs. 'Coe« cant cannot supply a contact ad- court. He was order to pay £60 de. . . W O. dress. However, afull UK licence towards prosecution costs. and callsign will be issued where permanent residence in the UK is Meet the RSGB Of1P11111p1 established, or where the applicant Microwave is a frequent visitor to the UK. The THE RSGB WILL have a book same conditions will apply to UK Round Table stall and membership information visitors to the Cayman Islands. stand at the following events this MARTLESHAM Radio Society month: will once again be holding their annual round table for all Micro- 1 - 2 Nov: North Wales Radio and Amateur Electronics Show, Aberconwy wave operators, constructors and Conference Centre, Llandudno. Prosecuted enthusiasts on 9 November. This Details tel: 01745 591704. THE Radiocommunications popular event will be hosted at BT Agency recently carried out a suc- Laboratories, near Ipswich in Suf- 8 Nov: RSGB HQ Christmas cessful prosecution action follow- folk. For security reasons those Shopping Saturday opening. De- The Sputnik Award (original in full ing investigations into complaints wishing to attend must apply for tails tel: 01707 659015 colour), issued to anyone making a of deliberate interference and abuse an admission ticket in advance. 15 - 16 Nov: London Amateur contact with stations participating In to business radio communications These can be obtained by writing Radio and Computer Christmas the celebration of the 40th anniversary in the Leeds and Bradford area be- to the club's secretary, M Bell, of Sputnik (see RadCom NewsOct 97 Rally, Lee Valley Leisure Centre, p10). For further details contact John tween 1 Janualy and 26 March 1997. G4CXT, QTHR, enclosing an Edmonton, north London. Details Heath, G7HIA, QTHR. At Bradford Magistrates Court SAE. tel: 01923 893929.

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 13 0 NE W 32 page SS AUTU MN catalogue fr used equipment list now available NEY SEND A4 S.A.E. FOR YOUR FREE COPY! riequaitre tej e ar

• 189 London Rd • North End •, hotline:NEVA 01705 662145 • Portsmouth • Hants • P02 9E

USED EQUIP MENT /‘-‘ Looking for a NEW HIF Radio? Check out our web site for the very latest used equipment listing: http://www.nevada.co.uk here is a selection then call us for expert advice!

HF TRANSCEIVERS 'feet FT-208R 2M Herde.. £65 Altura DX7OTH Ec,..,.: £590 lame FT-212811 45W £225 ICUM 71111 Mk II ICIIM 75G ken IC•706 HE - 6 I 2! £625 Yoesu FT-221R r iititek 1M £299 kom K-725 100W HE Bose £599 'Mew F1-290 Mk I Nice ham - £235 horn IC-728 100W HF. £599 loose F1-290 Mk II Doke from - £325 151 100 Complete If System £450 Yoesu FT-5100 .Tannband £345 Kemvood TS-50 Boxed £575 Kenwood TS-4305...100W HE ...... 1499 NANDNELDS Kemvood TS-6805....HF + 6M £625 A01-145 .2ht %rile £99 Kenwood TS-8505 choice From • £899 Mince 203E 2M t Estros £159 PRICE giws f995 PRICE... £21-95 £ 1 895 Kemmod15-9305 £695 Mina> Of 180 2M, very nice cod, boxed. 1179 Kenwood TS•9505. Digital £1495 Mince 01-580E 1 • bander £225 Kemvood TS-9405....100W Bose with AlU £799 Aline W-01 Wide bond receiver £199 YAESU IFTUMIIMP AC YAESU IT-920 Trio 151205 HF Mobile . £299 (TE-1600 2M • work wei £135 loase FT-I 100W Base station £695 Icom IC-P4E 70cms • Tiny UHF bath £175 Yoesu FT-107 Base £399 Icom T4IE /0tros , Exam £185 Yaesu F1-77 100W 11F+MA fined/math. PSU 1595 horn IC-W21 2M . 70cms Hondie £250 E Yoesu FT-650 100W + Gen Coo Rx • nice rig £699 Kenwood ¡H-25E .2M , UHF receive £225 o • ' : r11.1. buy FI-900A1 HF Transceiver £875 Kemvood TH-41E.UHF £159 Yaesu F1 990 AC 100W Base £1399 Kenwood TH-45E ....70cms- .._£185 Yaesu F11000 . .... 200W Bose £1595 Kenwood TH-78E lvinbondea £/25 PRICE £.2499 f PRICE... £1619 Kenwood TH-215E ..2M • boxed £149 2 1 9 9 1 499 HF RECEIVERS Standard C500 hvinband £225 AOR AR 3000A ..... Mot - Boxed £575 'foam R-11 2M Float £139 COM 775 DSP AOR AR 7030 HF with remote Mal £649 Yaesu FT-208 Wah Bose uni 1179 YAESU FT-840 Drake R8A Good swing at £775 loase FT-411 + EXPOS — £185 Flagship HF IX wall DSP Drake R8E Red performance _ £699 Yoesu FT-470 Twinbcader ...... 1195 ONE We ore selling our Show- Iroin1C7IE HE Receive £495 Yoesu FT-530 Iwinbander £245 room demo model with kern IC7000 r HE £599 loose FT-73R 70cms £165 ,0 Alt V! less than 30 HOURS USE! Kenwood R7-1 ...... Mobile Deceiver £245 Yon) ET-727 Dud tond £189 - Kenwood 85000 .. With Estros £825 IMO Yam FRG-8800 . HF receivers from • £325 MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Yoesu FRG-9600 . • external HF etc £399 Capra SPC 30000 R:.; ATJ £275 dear zooe Ar rile eAttel Daiwa Active filler £79 srAfees A 8.4,vo le TRANSCEIVER Dr MOBILE/BASE VHF/UHF TRANSCEIVERS FC 757 .Auto AIU _ £199 6 A PR/CE VOL eav ATFORDI Dennis MZ 22 2M motile -, our :e. 8 Iii power £245 Kenwood AT-200 Mutual tuner £179 FOR hiulti-700ex 2M .9./M £185 Kenwood AT-250 Auto tunes £249 FULL 1 YEAR PRICE FOR Multi-2700 2M Bose • very eel £325 Iferrwood LF-300 Pises £29 WARRANTY E36/9 £2250 Optional FM fitted £39.95 Imm IC-240 FM 2M mobile £125 Timewave DSP 9 £99 Icons IC-255 2M mobile £179 Tokyo HC200 .. ATU £99 111111111111 1111111111 Ellisultaa Filtamr--s horn K-2400 Twinband £335 Tokyo ill-13011 /Orms 130W Amp. £299 Kemvocal 1M-251e £299 Tokyo HL-180V 2111.170W Amp £259 Kernvood 1M-451e £299 Tokyo 6M 110640. 11F Converter £195 Kenwood 111751e..... Voice 25 £459 Trio TL-120 10014 HE omp £199 Kemvood 15-770 Bose £345 base R-700 TUDEll r 95 — IMP 59Y Kenwood es-poil r:gs • lost few, VHF 0 UHF • from £145 Yam FL-7000 HF krrps £1025 Improve perf or mance Nevis 1000615 2M motile/base 8 performance £195 Yoesu FP-70780 Heavy duty PSU £159 of your FT 1000MP, This is the most POWERFUL DSP unit an Standard C5200 Twinbondst £349 FT1 000D or FT920. FT990 with the the market. Variable bandwidth down to Standard C8800 25W FM £189 LATE ARRIVALS DSP59Y fits into the Yaesu SP5 or SP6 10Hz1 Plus a host of features too long to Trio 187010 2M SSB £139 Amp All Hunter , , .1, Amp £850 speaker cabinet to match your equipment. list here. Send in for a full leaflet. AEA Packet INC DJ-X113E Scanning Receiver Price • £349 • PRICE C389 349 • 100kHz • 2000MHz • AM/WFM/IIM /CW/SSB • 1 200 memories [113033 [Ki3 J 999 - di/OW •S • Channel scope spectrum 1 analyser MliFeag9.1 The PK-12 is a 1200 bps, VHF/UHF • Grannel scope peak search D 0 packet controller that is ideal for those • Keypad lock control -- looking to get started in digital • User friendly features f'14711h1 communications. • Large clear clispiay • 1001cliz • 1300MHz • 1 200 bps, VHF/UHF Packet ready • Trner functions • All MCYDE RECEPTION • Timewave/AEA Host Mode 349 P&P • Battery save facility £8 , P M' 107r M ORE/ • Advanced command set • Squelch control • Identify TCP/IP, TheNet & NetRom • Dual VFOs e - • GPS firmware and commonds • A super sensitive OX •IN , tram AEA - high quality SWR ANALYSER • Stand Alone Tracking • Built in 24 built in clock o.àa » I Produce o graphic display of SWR and return loss. Price £99.95 • Facilities for cloning onother set • Advanced scanning features Link to your PC to save plots and print out. • Stylish cabinet with lorge speaker ICOM TB • Display - Contrast • Control SWIRI• Measures SWR and 121 • Low beery alarm • Switchable onenuoior COMPACT TRIPZE 121 HF calculates coon line loss 120-175, • Selectable control beep tone siwo heweime 1-32MHz • Graphs SWR VS 200-225, bandwidth over selected • 50/144/430MHz gqi9ad:9 aeils1 CO! ronge 400-475MHz • 5 Watt output • Mains drop-in Charger • Battery powered • FM + AM & wide FM • NiCod battery pack £299 • Belt clip • Carrying strap • Links to PC £399 4 Price £349 PA £6 pdp • Optional AC adaptor • Flexibly low profile antenna -401' £6 pP,p e-mail us at: • .. AND PAY BY 3 POST-DATED CHEQUES / ET? [email protected] ON ANY NEW ITEM OVER £1 0 0 IN VALUE - Simply divide the prive into 3 equal -.: website: poyments. Wri!e 3 cheques doled in consecutive months starting with tocloy's date. Write your visit out telephone N', cheque card N & expiry dote on the bark of each cheque. Post them to us, http://www.nevada.co.uk enclosing your name & address & we vol (subject to status), send your goals immediately. be.

14 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 CO ¡SI

• 50 - 54MHz • 4 Watts RF out (12V) 2 Watts RF out (9V) imartTuner Weatherproof Automatic Tuners • UK Repeater offsets Fully automatic weather-proof • Intelligent Power Save circuit tuners that use o computer • CTCSS Encode/Decode system to continuously monitor • Scan functions all the antenna parameters • Memory recall and instantly select the correct match. A non-volatile • Supplied with 8 cell AA memory remembers the battery case 'flatteries not ;tic) correct match for the lost 500 5G-230 operating frequencies. 200W RF • 1.6MHz 30MHz • Tunes random wires from 8ft to 300ft Optional Extras î'&i' £2.75 on each item • Multiband with a KH6/NP-126 NiCad pack (12V) single wire KH6/HF-SOL Flea Higher Gain Whip • Keeps the RF away from the shack • Ideal for HF Mobile or Marine multibond operation SG-235 with a single 7h whip 500W RF 1195 HF-VHF SmartTuner 50-231 Matches dipoles. centre A new low profile metal cased and ruggedised fed doublets, G5RV's. Baiancec Wideband auto ATU that covers HF feeders, Verticals, Single wires, Delta loops. Beams. plus 6 mtrs! Designed for use Windoms and Inverted V's. either at the masthead (os the Built in 4:1 Balun for open wire feeders or balanced line fed antennas. centre of a multiband wire 8 position antenna selector switching. • Built in dummy load. antenna( or in mobile, marine or Average power reading to 200Watts. base station operations. Standing Wave Ratio measurements :. . set fur.,.*. ,r. • 1 - 60MHz • 100W PEP 5G-231 £1,29.95 £8 P&P • Waterproof • Covers 6 ink Band £499 AT1500 1500W HIGH POWER TUNER • Multiband with a single mobile whip The AT1500 is a solidly constructed high power • Multiband any length of w're end or centre eed Im'n 8h for 160mtrs] antenna tuner using heavy gauge materials for r

the case and a 'Beefed up" roller inductor le constructed from 10 gauge wire on a PowerTalk SG-2000 Delrin low absorption former. A ruggedised HF Transceiver with advanced DSP features • Matches dipoles. centre fed doublets, • PROFESSIONAL USERS • MATEUR I-F • 0,,ATEUR/INTERNATIONAL MARINE G5RV's. Balanced feeders. Verticals. Single wires. Delta loops. Beams. Bailt to Military standards the receiver uses state Will(10f1IS and Inverted V's. of the art Digital techniques that offer Adaptive • Built in 4:1 Balun for open wire feeders or Signal Processing ADS P' and SNS' Spectral balanced line fed antennas. Noise Subtraction. • 6 position antenna selector switching. • Average power reading to 3000Watts. • 150W PEP • Remoteable head • Standing Wave Ratio measurements with • oMHz-30MHz Dl S 500kHz-30MHz Ru SG-2000 £1495 easy set function • Send for full details

SmarePowerCube SG-500 500W Mobile HF linear amplifier

• 500W RF output • 12V operation • 1,6 30MHz • Microprocessor controlled • Ideal for fixed - Mobile & Marine Monitors your power needs and antenna condition and automatically in less than 15 milliseconds - 3elects the right bandwidth filter. SG-500 £1 150

NEUDISTRIB UTI O N DIVISI11 O N tel: 01705 662145 fax: 01705 690626 • 189 London Rd • North End • Portsmouth • Hants • P02 94E Magnetometers for Auroral Predictions

by Kevin F Scott, GM7WJL*

External field

Exciter coil III

fif tfifqfif!tti

444 4444444444 Ii Pickup coil RSGB RG1585 C_ASILY

Fig 1: Sensor for Fluxgate Magetometer. Fig 2: Fluxgate Magnetometer with separate, balanced exciter coils.

T IS WELL KNO WN that before auroral variations in the earth's horizontal field and magnetometer based on the balancing of the activity, which itself gives rise to the can exhibit high temperature coefficients. RS earth's magnetic field with the field from a coil possibility of long range VHF communi Components list a device called LOHETII such as to maintain a compass needle in a fixed / cations, there are sharp changes in the which has a linear range of 4 x 10-4 Tesla, a position. The location of the compass needle is intensity of the earth's magnetic field [1]. Thus response of 50-volts per tesla, and a tempera- maintained by an optical method: a light beam, monitoring this field, will enable advantage to ture coefficient of 8 x 10-6 Tesla/degree C. partially interrupted by the compass needle be taken of VHF communications as they de- In order to use this for earth field measure- falls upon a photo-transistor, the signal from velop in response to auroras. The horizontal ments, an amplifier with a gain of about 107 which controls the current in the coil. By orien- component of the earth's magnetic field has a would be required, and careful temperature tating the magnetometer correctly the field strength of approximately 1.8 x 10-5 Tesla and compensation. This latter factor is the more from the coil is matched precisely to the inten- the variations in it amount to some ±3 x 10-8 problematical: the temperature effect per de- sity of the earth's magnetic field and changes Tesla. Variations in the earth's magnetic field gree of the uncompensated IC is about ten in this current can be amplified and recorded. are now normally quoted in nanotesla (1O- times the magnitude of the changes of field to The construction, performance and limita- Tesla) be measured. For this reason, these sensors tions of a magnetometer of this type are de- There is a variety of methods of measuring were rejected for the studies reported here. scribed below. magnetic field intensities. These include: • Semiconductor Hall Effect probes DEVICES BASED ON A HOW FLUXGATE • Devices based on the determination of the COMPASS NEEDLE MAGNETOMETERS WORK angular displacement of a compass needle with various degrees of precision and so DEVICES BASED ON the movement of a MAGNETOMETERS USING the fluxgate phistication. compass needle vary from the simple to the technique have been described, by, for exam- • Fluxgate devices which exploit the varia sophisticated. A common arrangement con- ple, D 0 Pettitt [3] and more recently by tion of permeability of a magnetised fer sists of a needle suspended from a torsion fibre Richard Noble [4]. They provide the most rite to small changes in an applied external with a mirror attached to the fibre so that a light elegant approach to the measurement of mag- magnetic field. beam can be used to enlarge the small angular netic fields using a method fully explained by movements arising from field variations. This Noble. It is based upon the repeated saturation is sensitive, resistant to temperature fluctua- of a ferrite core in alternate directions by a HALL EFFECT DEVICES tions, but is fragile and the output cannot read- square wave current applied to an exciter wind- IN GENERAL, HALL effect sensors can be ily be converted to an electrical signal for ing on a toroid (Fig 1). This exciter coil is insufficiently sensitive for measuring the small recording the field over a period of time. wound uniformly on the toroid in the usual A variant of this type of magnetometer was way, and a further coil, the pick-up coil, is

*Kirklands, Craigend Road, Stow, Galashiels ID] 2RJ adopted by G6te Flodqvist [2] who describes a overwound across the toroidal ring.

16 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 MAGNETOMETERS FOR AURORAL PREDICTIONS

Fig 3: Null Magnetometer construction. 1 Fixed coil on perspex former 50mm OP-

There are two Perspex gantry essentials to under- carrying standing its mode of opera- phototransistor Adjustment slot \ tion: • Think of the toroid as two parallel coils A 6BA and B, side by side, wound in opposite direc- screws tions, perfectly magnetically linked, encom- passed by the overwound pickup coil, as shown in Fig 2. The current in the exciter coil is suffi- Compass needle cient to drive the coils A and B momentarily into lmW laser diode or saturation in each half-cycle, so that the core is tamp housing repeatedly saturated in each direction in each ORSGB RC1566 eXern.$31 Phototransistor full cycle, for a short time. In the absence of any external magnetic field, the point of saturation will be reached in both coils at the same point in an ABS plastic box and a 50mm diameter gantry which allows adjustment of its position the cycle. compass is located centrally within the vertical in two dimensions. After drilling and checking While the magnetic flux in A and B is chang- coil. A light beam is projected vertically up- alignment of the assembly, the compass is ing in each cycle, there will be a voltage induced wards through a 1 mm hole drilled in the top secured to the plastic top plate using superglue. in the pickup coil from each, but since A and B plate, this beam being detected by a A plastic box with a matt-black interior is are equal and wound in opposite directions, phototransistor mounted above the compass fitted over the magnetometer assembly after these two voltages will cancel out. When the assembly. The lmm hole is drilled on a line 45 alignment and adjustment to exclude extrane- cores reach saturation in each cycle, there being degrees from the longitudinal axis of the coil at ous light from the photocell. no further increase in magnetic flux once satura- a distance from its centre slightly less than half tion has been reached, there is no induced volt- the length of the needle. This position repre- age in the pick-up coil from either A or B. sents that for optimum sensitivity. The light THE CIRCUIT • If there is a steady external magnetic field beam is derived from either a class 2 The circuit is shown in Fig 4. The current present, coils A and B will reach saturation at laser module, or a light source constructed passed by TR1 controls the current carried by different times in the cycle. The contributions of from a 12 volt 1 watt wire-ended tungsten bulb the field coil via the op amp IC1 This amplifier induced voltage in the pick-up coil from coils A fitted into one end of a brass tube 3 cm in has a DC gain of about eight when R2 is in its and B will not then be equal and there will be a length and 8mm in diameter. A plano-convex mid-position, and is heavily damped by Cl. net signal in the pickup coil for a time period lens positioned at the other end produces a The gain is not critical but must be sufficiently proportional to the external field. parallel beam of light, being situated at a dis- low to prevent the compass needle hunting. This signal can be processed in various ways tance from the filament of the bulb equal to the The maximum tolerable value of the gain of to give an analogue or digital measure of the focal length of the lens. The bulb is run at 6V to IC1 depends upon the compass nee- applied external field. give long life and stable light output. dle chosen. R2 provides, a zero An encapsulated magnetometer based on this The phototransistor is mounted on perspex adjustment. With the axis of the principle is available from Speake & Co Ltd, Elvicta Estate, Crickhowell, Powys, NF81DF. It COMPONENTS is coded FGM-3, and generates a frequency Compass Needle Nulling Magnetometer (Fig 4) dependent upon magnetic field intensity. The Fluxgate Magnetometer (Fig 5) Resistors Resistors period of the alternating voltage output varies All resistors 0.25 Watt carbon film. RI, R2 4k7 between 9-20 microseconds for an external field R1 IMO R3 100R change of 10-4 Tesla. The temperature coeffi- R2 220k mull turn tompot R4 1k0 cient of this response is better than 0.003% per R3 1k0 R5 1k5 degree C. In this study the performance of this R4 11OR Capacitors R5 27k Cl C8 47n Polyester encapsulated fluxgate magnetometer is com- R6, R7 100k C2, C3 15p Ceramic pared with that of the compass needle nulling R8 10k multitum trimpot C5, C6 470n Polyester system introduced above. Capacitors C7 Ed' Polyester Cl 470µF 16V Electrolytic Semiconductors C2, C3, C4 10aF 16V Electrolytic IC1 SCLOO6A (Speake & Co Ltd) COMPASS NEEDLE NULLING Semiconductors IC2 ZN429E MAGNETOMETER D1 Laser Diode, RS 194 010 IC3 78L09 THE MAGNETOMETER based on the nulling D2, D3, D4 1N4001 IC4 78L05 of a compass needle is illustrated in the pho- IC1 CA3140 Other Items IC2 741 X1 10MHz crystal tograph and the mechanical arrangement is IC3 7805 51 Press-to-make switch shown in Fig 3. It consists of a flat coil of 300 IC4 7660 FGM-3 fluxgate magnetometer sensor turns of O. 17mm enamelled copper wire wound TS1 LM5OCIM3 (Famell) The FGM3, SCLOO6A and ZN429E are available from on a perspex former 73mm outside diameter TR1 LPT110 Phototransistor Speake and Co for about £30. and 57mm inside diameter and 8mm thick. (Omni Electronics, 174 Dalkeith Rd, Edinburgh.) This is mounted vertically in the top plate of

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 17 Advertisement TUNING IN ISSUE NO.1

"The one stop radio enthusiasts solution. .." Branch. Not long after you read this Rodney Bill and Mandy will have moved into new premises just a few doors down the road but with lots more space and comfort. The new look shop offers a wider range of equipment and much better viewing and demonstration facilities. including a radio shack similar to our HQ. Although the branch has done exceptionally well over the years we thought it was time to get it ready for the Year 2,000 by which time Yaesu and no doubt twin will have a wrist South Midlands House. Chandlers Ford watch HF rig and Kenwood rigs will include a built-in car audio system, s you may have heard food mixer and dishwasher! we've recently made some personal callers. you don't have to re-vamped our Internet web site not Asweeping changes at SMIC spend any money with us.). just with product information hut CUT PRICE...or COMMON many of which, we are delighted to with information about other areas SENSE? report. have already resulted in a For personal callers we'll do our best of our business including our pump SMC has been in the Amateur healthy upturn in Sales on the not to "rush" you into a purchase, up mast division (Montag), our world for over 39 years so we've Amateur Radio front. feel free to take your time and commercial and PMR departments seen a few dealers fall by the browse (many visitors spend a whole and our new on-line Newsletter wayside. usually because of absurd NEW LOOK afternoon in the Showroom making "Tuning in with SMC". We have discounting. We'll always do our SHOWROOM comparisons and trying rigs out on also put on the pages the best to match a competitive price Recent building work has including air rather than just trusting brochure secondhand list from our three but we really can't see any sense in the addition of a coffee area and two and some hi-power sales patter). In branches. If you need any further selling equipment at BELOW cost dedicated radio shacks fact for those that are interested we information on any of the radios price. Whilst on the face of it this EXCLUSIVELY for customer use. can even arrange a factory tour. give us a ring. For those who like to may seem like great news for you one for general radio and one SMC is quite a big gun in the pnxi and poke there's even a the customer just wait and see what exclusively data. You can choose a commercial radio and antenna "Secret" page where you could win happens if heaven forbid things go radio from or wide range of new and market place. a £10 SMC gift voucher! You can wrong. and occasionally as with secondhand equipment and use it in even place an order on-line with any product they do! Dealers need the shack. In the Data shack you'll We've also changed our approach to simple to use fill in boxes. to make a modest margin to be in a see live demos of the popular Siskin the way we deal with customer position to offer YOU the customer Mulitcat C.A.T. controller and the queries by adding dedicated tele- MAJOR REFIT at SMC ongoing support and service. Most excellent WINPAK program written sales staff and extending our opening AXMINSTER of the dealers you'll see advertised by Roger Barker G4IDE which hours from 8.30am to 5.45pm We've decided to bite the bullet and in these pages ARE sensible, one or amongst other things "speaks" DX weekdays plus Saturday mornings. completely revamp our Axminster two are just plain daft and probably Cluster announcements using a PC We hope you'll receive a quicker and sound card. (Incidentally, this more informative response than in program is available free of charge to the past although once in a while when the whole world decides to call 11« NEWS us. there might be a delay. but we'll We are pleased to announce the new Siskin try our up most to take your call as "Multimodo" — HF packet, VHF packet, AMTOR, soon a possible. RTTY. SSTV and FAX all in one box! WEB PAGES Net News Http://www.smc- Price just £89 comms.com

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18 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 Advertisement

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Maxon Easiwave prices, i.e. benefits of a CONTROL farmers, NEW FOR AMATEUR short wave AND What is all this C.A.T. stuff businesses CUSTOMERS... professional everybody is on about these days? with several offices in a nearby town By the time you read this we should wide band Well, many modern receivers (most etc. where conventional telephone have stocks of the new Yaesu VX1R. VHF/UHF !coin, Yaesu FRG100, Kenwood lines would be inaccessible and perhaps the world's smallest dual receiver in a R5000, AOR AR8000 etc.) have an cellular telephones would be too AOR AR8000 MCO band transceiver? The VX 1R is the neat hand held extra computer control socket expensive. ideal companion if you're also keen Enhanced package! allowing a PC to control mode, The UK Government have recently on scanning the Air & Marine bands. 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RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 19 CALLSEEKER 98 CD—ROM scroll up or down from this point. Sorting by postcode can be use- Deschbedty RSGB HQ Staff ful for checking up on your local ALLSEEKER 98 IS the amateurs. By entering your own latest RSGB pub- postcode and then stepping for- lication on CD-ROM. It wards or backwards it is easy to Ccontains all of the in- discover who your nearest li- formation contained in the new censed neighbours are: the re- RSGB Yearbook— and will do a lot CallSeeker 98 viewer discovered a radio ama- more besides! It is in two discrete teur in an adjacent road who was Edo Uhktunt 1:191 111 sections — the 'information direc- previously unknown to him! tory', and the `callbook'. Adobe Consign WAS Locelor A 'Reset' button takes you back Qo to Acrobat software is included on Ca-nr1"- 173-11 =0,4 'to the first alphabetical callsign the CD-ROM to enable the user to Nome & oddness Wire (2E0AAK), no matter whether you view the information D Field are looking at a callsign, surname 105 Sn pike Boeom Go to directorypages. Peopard Common or postcode search. 6- cesign Hen:ey on Themes Singorne This main screen of CallSeeker z.o.1.>9 SHJ INFORMATION Eostcode 98 is transparently easy to use, DIRECTORY and — for most users — will answer ADOBE ACROBAT allows probably 95% of their callsign printed publications to be pre- Notes I uppked by licensee interrogation queries. If, however, audd end run sented on the computer screen Op Donald (Don) I Field Packet moil to 2_1 you have a more complex query, h7 87WOK A/so licensed es NK1G Tel (01734) gent,/ exactly as they look on the printed 24192 you can access the 'query builder' page — including photographs and screen. This allows users to con- diagrams etc. It also allows you to (Our notes 2_1 struct their own requirements for print out a hard copy of the page interrogating the database. you are viewing. The same soft 2:1 Records selected M ware was used with the RadCom QUERY BUILDER 96 CD-ROM [see 'Disk Choice', THE QUERY BUILDER is ex- RadCom Apr 97 p61 — Ed]. The CallSeeker 98 main screen. tremely comprehensive and pro- It is possible to view the whole vides a very powerful search tool. of a CallSeeker page, or zoom into lists and maps, Morse practice ses- at licensee's request by SSL" have Almost any conceivable combi- a particular section of the page to sions schedule, RSGB services for the callsign and the 'details with- nation of parameters can be en- read the detail. This is a great ad- disabled amateurs, the band plans held' message only shown). tered. At the simplest level, you vantage to those with poor eye- etc. The Irish (EI) callsign listing There are also two additional can search for all the amateurs in sight, as the image can be made as is also included in this section of boxes. The first is for 'Notes sup- a particular WAB square. Or you large as desired, although natu- CallSeeker 98. plied by licensee', so that, for ex- could make the same search over rally it can become awkward to ample, G3XTT's entry states "Op: an area of several adjacent squares. read a lengthy piece of text when CALLBOOK Donald (Don) I Field. Packet mail If you were interested to know the image is so large that only two THE `CALLBOOK' section of to GB7WOK. Also licensed as how many GO and MO amateurs or three words fill the screen! It is, CallSeeker 98 includes all cur- NK1G. Tel: (01734) 724192." The there were in your own WAB of course, possible to search for rently-licensedUK callsigns. What remaining box is for your own square, or in your own postcode key words, for example, 'recipro- makes CallSeeker 98 so useful is notes, so that you can, for example, area, you could do this. cal' would take you to the page its powerful search and in- enter the name of the operator, or More obscurely, you could, if concerned with reciprocal licens- terrogation facilities. make a note of which nets he or she you wished, search for all ama- ing, or `GB2RS' for the GB2RS Each of the 61,000 plus entries regularly participates in, or enter teurs with Rev or Dr as a title who news broadcast schedule. is shown as a separate record. For the date, time and frequency of have G3 callsigns in the York The contents of the information each record, the callsign, WAB your first contact with that station. (Y0) or London SE postcode ar- directory on the CD-ROM are ex- square (National Grid Reference It will be possible to carry forward eas. 'Wild card' characters such actly those of the Yearbook and 10km square), IARU locator, and these notes into future updates of as `?' and `*' are permitted. include almost everything you name and address of the licensee CallSeeker, so you will not need to The result of your interroga- would ever need to know about are shown in four separate boxes re-enter them every time you up- tion will be a certain number of amateur radio in the UK: repeater (those who are "Details withheld date. records, and these can be ordered The whole listing can be sorted in a variety of ways: the most in three different ways by clicking useful will probably be callsign on the appropriate button: by and surname, but you could order callsign (2E0AAK alphabetically them by title (Prof, Dr etc), initial through to MW1CCM); by sur- (useful if you know someone's name of licensee (from Aartestad first name but not his last), IARU to Zuppone), and by Postcode square or any of several other (starting with all the 'details with- ways. Once your query has been held' licensees; then UK licensees actioned and you have decided giving overseas addresses, then UK which order the list is displayed postcodes from AB1 OER through in, you are returned to the main to ZE3 9JZ). Because the callsign Cal/Seeker 98 screen and you can listing is alphabetical, all the GD, then scroll through the resultant GI, GJ etc amateurs can be found listing of records. consecutively without requiring As you can see, the number of any further sort function. A 'Go permutations of search and query To' button allows you to view di- parameters is almost endless, and rectly any callsign, surname or whilst it may take a little practice postcode instantaneously — to get the most out of this very CallSeeker 98 is fast! — and then powerful tool, anyone should be

20 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 able to construct simpler queries Grid Reference or 'WAB square', without too much trouble. If you based on the licensee's postcode. do get into difficulties, there are New this year is the offer to have three useful on-line help screens This Montli's your E-mail address added to the connected with query builder. end of your callsign entry—free of These are well worded and give charge, and whether or not you are clear examples of how to con- Book Cboice 'details withheld'. For the first time struct your own database queries. this will enable those who do not All the help files on CallSeeker RSGB YEARBOOK 199B or the most outstanding published wish to reveal their postal address 98 can be printed off to provide a EDITION technical contribution to amateur (perhaps for security reasons) still reference manual if required. radio during the year. For the first to receive correspondence. Edited ty Brett Rider, G4FLQ One very useful application of time, all RSGB trophy winners for Callsigns are also listed alpha- the query builder would be for a Described ty RSGB HQ Ste! the year are listed in one place in betically by surname, as in the local club, perhaps covering sev- the Yearbook. most recent editions of the Call eral villages or a couple of adja- HE RSGB Yearbook is a In the last year, since the 1997 Book. The listing of callsign by cent towns, to compile a listing, new publication. It con RSGB Call Book and Irformation postcode is also included in the using postcode districts, of all the tains the information Directory was published, the So- Yearbook. This year, however, the licensed amateurs in those areas, Tpublished in the former ciety's Internet World Wide Web postcodes are ordered first by the ordered by callsign, surname or RSGB Call Book and Irformation site (at www.rsgb.org) has gone new UK Local Authority, as many even street name: this would be a Directory, ie a vast amount of in- from strength to strength. It now of the familiar counties have now great facility for club publicity formation about amateur radio, contains the equivalent of over disappeared. To help readers navi- officers sending a mailshot to po- plus the names and addresses of 200 A4 printed pages which are gate their way around some as-yet tential new members! all UK (and Republic of Ireland) updated frequently and it's rare unfamiliar names (Kerrier, Addresses for QSL cards and licensees. But the Yearbook is not for two days to pass without some Erewash, Sandwell), there are use- mailshots can be printed by copy- just a change of name. There is a update being made to the RSGB ful 'old county' to 'new local au- ing to the Windows clipboard and lot more in the 1998 Yearbook site. The contents of the site are thority' and 'post town' to local then pasting into your favourite than has ever been published in a detailed in the Yearbook. authority indices. word processor, spreadsheet or Call Book and Irformation Direc- Also new in the Yearbook is a It has been said that the sign of database program. tory before: in the case of the 'in- list of dates of forthcoming rallies a good reference book is that it is This is the first time a complete formation directory' pages, about (complete up to the date of publi- also a good read. In the preface to UK call book using the official 25% more, in fact. cation), a map showing the loca- the Yearbook, RSGB General SSL database has been available So what's new in the Yearbook? tion and frequency of the new 6m Manager Peter Kirby, GOTW W, on CD-ROM. Its price is highly The RSGB's Annual Report — a repeaters, and a list of amateur says "the Yearbook is not just an competitive with other CD-ROMs comprehensive report ofwhat each radio 'traders' — manufacturers, Information Directory, it is a good and with other call books on CD- Committee has done for RSGB retailers, software authors, book read and every shack should have ROM. The extensive search and members during the year under publishers, QSL printers, dealers a copy." Even with 25% more interrogation facilities plus the review — is published in the Year- etc. All very useful stuff. pages in the information directory vast quantity of data in the 'infor- book instead of in RadCom (al- section, at £11.90 (to RSGB mem- mation directory' section make though the Annual Accounts and FULLY UPDATED bers) the price has been held at the CallSeeker 98 even better value. papers relating to the Council elec- ALL THE ABOVE is in addition same level as last year's Call Book For those who own a PC with tion and the Society's AGM will to the updated information pub- — so not only is it a good read, but Windows 95 and CD-ROM drive, continue to appear with RadCom). lished annually in the Call Book it's a bargain too! it is as much of a 'must have.' as If you've ever wondered what you and Irformation Directory. To the 512 pages, A4, scftbound. is the paper RSGB Yearbook. get out of your RSGB member- layman, this may look like the Price £11.90 (members) (£13.95 [Note that the two can be bought ship other than RadCom and the same material year in and year out, non-members) from RSGB Sales -see RSGB Book Shop on pages together for a considerable sav- QSL bureau, you must read this! but this isn't the case either. For 90/91. ing (see below) — Ed]. There's an amateur radio 'fact example, the beacons listing has First edition published 1997 by sheet' , which has been designed to been much enlarged, and the Radio Society cf Great Britain. be useful if, for example, you are GB2RS news broadcast transmis- ISBN 1-872309-44-5 approached by a local radio sta- sion schedule has changed Minimum system requirements: tion and asked to give an interview dramatically in the last year: PC with a 486 or higher proces- about amateur radio. If that hap- there are new 14MHz inter- sor and a CD-RO M drive. VGA pens, you'll need some quick facts national broadcasts, Morse or higher-resolution screen. 10 and figures, Everyone has heard code transmissions ofpropa- — 15Mb ware hard disk space. about King Hussein I, but "did you gati on information, Windows 95 or later with 8Mb cf know that Donny Osmond is a high-speed Morse RAM (16Mb recommendea) or radio amateur?" Fascinating stuff (30WPM) news transmis- Windows NT Workstation ver- It is highly appropriate that the sions, and separate na- sion 3.51 or later with 16Mb cf 1998 Yearbook includes a list of tional' and 'regional' RAM (24Mb recommendea). "Notable Amateur Radio Dates" broadcasts. And, naturally, — a potted history of amateur radio the callsign listing has Price £11.90 (members) (£13.95 since its very foundation. Why so been brought completely non-membersfrom RSGB Sales appropriate? Well, the first purely up to date as of 13 August — see RSGB Book Shop on pages amateur radio operation took place 1997: the latest callsigns 96/91. in London in 1898. listed are MOBGP, The RSGB is fortunate to have M10EJ, 2E0AQG and First edition published 1997 by a large number of trophies. Many 2E1GBS. Radio Society cf Great Britain. of these are awarded to winners of The callsign listings it the Society's HE or VHF / UHF continue with the popu- Please note that RSGB members • can purchase the RSGB Year- contests, whilst others give recog- lar addition of the book and CallSeeker 98 together nition to particular aspects of the six-character IARU for £18.80, a saving cf £5.00 on Society's work. Yet others are locator and the the individual prices. awarded for technical innovation four-character National

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 MAGNETOMETRES FOR AURORAL PREDICTIONS

base on the ground, under the floor to mini- mise this effect. The sensitivity of the compass magnetometer was measured by mounting it at the centre of a coil of 100 turns of 32SWG enamelled copper wire, 28cm in diameter sup- ported on a cardboard former. By passing current in the range 0.1 — lmA through the coil, fields in the range 50 — 500nT could be produced at the centre of the coil. The use of this single coil is simple to construct and absolute measurements of field intensity were not required. A more precise calibration pro- cedure is described by Noble using a Helmholtz coil [4] (but see comment by Flodqvist [2]). At fields in the range 0 — 50nT, the response of the circuit of Fig 4 was 600uVnT. The noise level was about 3nT.

Fig 4: Compass needle Nulling Magnetometer schematic. FLUXGATE MAGNETOMETER field coil lying in an East-West orien- affected by small variations in the power sup- THE ENCAPSULATED fluxgate tation, adjustment of R2 enables the ply voltage and a single regulator sufficed to magnetometer obtained from Speake & Co compass needle partially to cover the :( give the necessary stability. Temperature had Ltd, takes the form of a cylinder 60mm long light beam from the laser diode Dl. The circuit a significant effect, largely due to the proper- and 15mm in diameter with three flying leads, will then maintain this position of the compass ties of TR1. This was adequately addressed by for ground, +5V supply, and signal output. needle, if the horizontal component of the earth' s the arrangement of Fig 4. The signal from the magnetometer varies in magnetic field changes, by varying the current • The choice of compass needle proved criti- frequency between 50kHz and 120kHz de- in the field coil. The voltage appearing at the cal. More expensive, spirit-filled instruments pending on the magnetic field. Speake & Co output of IC 1 is thus proportional to the earth's were unsuitable because their movements were Ltd provide a programmed microcontroller, magnetic field in the horizontal plane. heavily damped and showed considerable hys- IC1 in Fig 5, to measure the period of this This signal is applied to the non-inverting teresis. Their use provided an output voltage oscillating signal and present the result as a input of IC2. The purpose of this amplifier is to which wandered erratically and independently eight bit binary output. Using Speake's rec- introduce temperature compensation from the of the external magnetic field. Inexpensive, ommended circuit of figure 5, this is trans- temperature sensor TS1. The degree of com- undamped compass needles were more suc- formed via the D/A (digital to analogue) con- pensation is adjusted via R8 until variations of cessful, damping being provided electrically verter IC2, to a DC voltage proportional to the temperature monitored with a thermocouple rather than mechanically. magnetic field being measured. IC3 and IC4 adjacent to the magnetometer have no effect • The damping also had the effect of making provide good regulation recommended by the upon the output voltage. the instrument less responsive to 50Hz mag- manufacturers and 51 allows for a software PERFORMANCE netic variation from house wiring, although zeroing of the output. the noise level was reduced by siting the The fluxgate magnetometer proved very Initial experiments with the compass instrument several metres away from domes- sensitive to AC fields and the effect of these magnetometer revealed several critical fac- tic wiring routes. could not easily be removed electri- tors which affect performance: • The compass magnetometer was very sensi- cally, so the sensor was sited under- • As expected the circuit was not greatly tive to vibration and was mounted on a stone ground three metres away from any

IC4 IC3 1-5\/.3 0+12V 78L05 78L09 —1 Si R2 e - 1 C1 reset 4k7 /; 47n /p 7n — L 7 RI — 05 — C6 J=L R4 / 70n / 70n Tim 4k7 —0 o 1k ICI C2 C3 SCLOO6A 15p4I4 J:15p 1 18 SO RSET XI 10MHz /—T 2 17 SI IN I/P IC2 3 16 — 1 7 7° 1 1 HO OSCI rT 47n 05 Vcc

4 15 2 06 3 HI OSC2 D4 R3 5 14 2 GND Vcc 100R 3 D7 D3 6 3 4 11 DO D7 o/Po — OUT D2 7 12 5 10 DI D6 REF DI 8 11 6 9 D2 D5 — NC DO R5 1k5 9 10 D3 D4 — 7 GND NC

FISGE1 RC1ssa

Fig 5: Fluxgate Magnetometer schematic. The FGM-3 is connected between I/P and ground.

22 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 come reports. His address is in the sends its Maidenhead locator, others, ie club, portable and multi- RSGB Call Book (QTHR). I086MN, instead of the European op. The fifth section is Rest of The Radiocommunications QTH Locator, YQ35c. Keeper Europe. Contest exchanges are Agency (RA) has agreed to the Alan Duncan, GM4ZUK, would callsign, RS (T) UKSMG member- nTS W2. concept of 'fill-in' repeaters. These welcome reception reports. His ship number and UK county. Note can be in the 2m and 70cm bands telephone number is 01382 370667 that the present counties will be NORMAN FITCH, G3FPK and are for filling in gaps between while 0402 477074 will reach his used for both legs. 40 Eskdale Gardens, Purley, areas presently served. Their es- mobile unit. Scoring is one point per com- Surrey CR8 lEZ sential features are low power and Unfortunately, FM activity con- pleted contact. The multiplier is carefully tailored service areas. tinues in the beacon band and those the total ofUK counties and DXCC From Kings Lynn (NOR) GB3KY operating on 144.450MHz are countries. The contests are open to is now QRV on RV60 obliterating GB3ANG. It is doubt- all 6m operators. Use of the packet (145.750MHz) and runs 10W to a ful if the offenders will read this DX cluster is permitted but 'self- EATURED THIS month highly directional antenna. Reports since, if they were `DXers', they spotting' to solicit contacts during is news of the recent may be sent to keeper, Mr J H would be aware of the situation. the events is prohibited. Logs Libyan operation and Church, G1HYU who is QTHR. All we can do is politely ask them should be sent to the UKSMG's Ftransequatorial propaga- Steve Vaughan, G4WXC, sec- to move above 144.550MHz, turn contest manager, David Whitaker tion (TEP) to southern Africa on retary of the South Oxfordshire down their deviation and use some at 57 Green Lane, Harrogate, HG2 50MHz, andmore reasonable tropo- Repeater Group (SORG), of the 12.5kHz channels. 9LP, UK by 1 February 1998. Send spheric openings. The reliable E-mailed notes about the opera- Concerning the SSTV storage David an SASE if you want a copy Perseids meteor shower rewarded tion of 70cm repeater GB3OX and replay operations on of the full rules. many meteor scatter operators with which became QRV on Christmas new squares. All times are UTC. Eve last year after seven years with no UHF coverage in and The impressive EME array at ANNUAL TABLES around Oxford. Located to the east G4ERG. the QTH of Peter Etheridge. It comprises 16 10- THE 1998 RSGB Contesting Guide of the city centre it provides excel- element DJ9BV' Vagis fed with was published as a supplement to lent coverage for the city itself. open wire feeders a the September RadCom. On page Mobile cover to the north-east in- nd a 4:1 balun. This 70cm array xii there is the list of District Codes cludes many miles of the M40 gives 15-16dB of sun noise and which will be used for VHF/UHF motorway. has full polarity rotation capability. contests from 1 January 1998. Annoying intermittent faults These will replace the present coun- were eventually traced to a faulty ties and Scottish regions. power supply and an expensive There is a debate on the Internet professional quality duplexer about the effect of this new system, which allowed RF back into the with several contributors sug- receiver. The latter was returned gesting it will put them at some to the manufacturer. Since its re- disadvantage in contests. The placement with another model RSGB HE and VHF Contests Com- GB30X, which transmits on mittees decided on the change "be- RU264 (433.300MHz), has per- cause considerable confusion about formed faultlessly. The SORG also the definition of a county was operates GB3DI on RU252 caused by changes to county (433.150MHz) which serves the boundaries and by the introduction area to the south of Oxford. An of unitary authorities and other ad- application for GB3W0 to cover ministrative regions," to quote from to the west of the city is with the the Rule Changes paragraph on Repeater Management Commit- page ii of the Guide. tee (RMC). Enquiries about the 144.475MHz, RSGB VHF Man- PROPAGATION For consistency I will be adopt- SORG should be directed to ager lan Cornes, G4OUT, has been NEIL CLARKE, GOCAS, com- ing these 123 new codes for the G4WXC, G8CUL or G8NVI, all reassured by the initiator of the piles the propagation reports for 1998 Annual Table. The first en- of whom are QTHR. experiment that he has vacated the the weekly GB2RS news broad- tries will appear in the May 1998 Having mentioned that opposi- frequency. He has advised others casts. He confirms that sunspot RadCom which should give ample tion to the latest 2m and 70cm to do the same. minimum between cycles 22 and time for contributors to get used to channel numbering systems was The matter was discussed dur- 23 occurred in May 1996 with a the system. For the rest of this year, nigh on universal, Ross Wilkinson, ing the RSGB VHF Committee smoothed sunspot number (SSN) carry on as noted at the foot of the GOWJR, seems in favour of them, meeting on 10 August. It is rec- of 8.1. Cycle 22 was only nine table. I have amended the Annual at least on 2m. For simplex chan- ommended that such operation be years and eight months long, the Table Notes sheet accordingly. If nels, it is simply a matter of dou- conducted in the 144.500 — third equal shortest since records you want a copy, either send me an bling the old S-number for the 144.800MHz all-mode section. A began in 1755. Solar flux rose SASE or E-mail me at: 25kHz spacing frequencies; eg S20 specific frequency was not sug- above 100 units in the first week of [email protected]. (145.500MHz) becomes V40. He gested and operators should adopt September, reaching 119 by the writes: "I have re-programmed the the normal practice of checking if 8th. On the 14th, the 90-day aver- REPEATER NOTES EPROMs in my Dymar PMR sets a frequency is clear before using it. age SFU value was 78. to use the new numbers which BOB ENGLISH, GM3YKE, ad- The July Six and Ten Report, relate directly to the two-digit CONTEST NEWS vises that a new UHF repeater be- published by the Six and Ten Re- thumb wheels." came operational (QRV) on 2 Au- THE UK SIX METRE Group is porting Club, includes an exten- gust. GB3KA is run by the Central BEACON NOTES nmning its usual winter contests. sive analysis of 6m activity from Scotland FM Group and is sited at The first is on 7 December, 1000- the UK during the month in tabu- Darvel in Ayrshire. It covers the THE ANGUS BEACON in the 1600, and the second is on 4 Janu- lar and graphical format. Transat- Kilmarnock area and transmits on 2m band returned to service on its ary 1998, 1200-1800. The four lantic E-layer propagation was re- channel RU246 (433.075MHz). new frequency (QRG) UK sections are Single operator ported on July 10, 12, 15 and 17. Bob is the keeper and would wel- 144.453MHz on 12 August. It now fixed, SWL, Novice and All- There are comments about the sug-

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 23 VHF NEWS

gested link between an increase in JN60) on Ischia on 25/8. Does X-Ray flux and Sporadic-E (Es) ANNUAL VHF/UHF TABLE - JAN TO DEC 1997 anyone know if this was a legiti- propagation; a discussion on vari- 50Milz 70MHz 144MHz 430MHz 1.3GHz Total mate operation? Next day he ous forms of tropospheric propa- Callsig,n Cty Ctr Cty Ctr Cty Ctr Cty Ctr Cty Ctr Points worked some Estonians then en- gation, such as normal, extended G3FLI 30 29 48 5 52 14 36 9 14 4 241 joyed the "mega opening" to Fin- (ducting?) and scatter; the usual G6HKM 47 46 - - 56 20 30 7 II 5 222 land. Apologies to GW7SWwhose table of daily solar and geo- G4ZTR 38 30 45 5 57 12 13 4 12 5 221 GW6VZW 51 52 _ _ 63 14 - - - 180 previous letter, covering events magnetic data and reports from G4OBK 35 50 59 14 - - _ 158 up to mid-August, was put in the Europe and beyond. G4DEZ 30 41 - 30 9 13 7 7 5 142 wrong pile last month. G7HCC 15 5 - 44 13 19 6 7 1 110 The Report is edited and pro- Geoff Brown, GJ4ICD, reports G3KAC 6 3 26 5 24 16 , 16 4 1 I 92 duced by Steve Reed, GOAEV, MMIBGI 20 30 - 27 10 - - - - 87 that CT4K0 will be QRV from (QTHR), whose E-mail address is G4OUT - - 25 3 33 10 - - 71 Luanda, Angola as D2AI until at 70 [email protected] and Mar- G7WAL 21 20 2 I 17 4 3 2 least September 1998. Dias is us- 5 15 - - 28 II - - 59 tin Harrison, G3USF, whose GIUGH G7CLY 6 6 - - 18 8 5 2 - - 45 ing an FT-920 and a beam. On 16/ E-mail route is M.Harrison@ G3YHF ------29 10 - -- 39 9, 7Q7RM was S9 into Jersey via keele.ac.uk British counties are those listed on page xi of the supplement in the September 1996 TEP, aided by Es at this end. 10m For details of the Six and Ten RadCom; 77 in all. Up to three different stations allowed in each of the 12 GM regions. Do not include El counties. Countries are the current DXCC ones plus rr9. Deadline was open to the Mediterranean via Reporting Club contact GOAEV. for the January issue is 13 November. Es just before this opening. Next day GOCGL is reported to have METEOR SCATTER contacted 7Q7RM at 1733 for the THERE IS GENERAL agreement first Europe to Malawi QS0 for are RA 58°, DEC +22°, LS 230°' that the peak of this year's Perseids connected to an IC-706 Mk2. The over a year. peaking on 12/11. This is a com- meteor shower was on 12/8, 0700- first QS0 was on 30/8 with 9H5EE There has been a discussion on plex stream associated with Comet 0900. However, there was no ob- using the call 5A1A. the Internet about this path with 2P/Encke and is usually active for vious secondary peak. Matthew Next day they started opera- several contributors mentioning around 10 days. Cabban, G1WPF (HFD), com- tion under their special call 5A28 MS-type bursts. As HE operators The Leonids shower's data are pleted 19 random and 14 sked catching a short morning Es open- observe, weak signals are often 153/+22/235.16° respectively for QS0s on SSB with at least 10 new ing. The weather was terrible for enhanced to S9 level by meteor RA, DEC and LS. The OH5IY squares on 2m. His ODX ('O' some days with 50cm of water in trail reflections. This is quite no- program indicates the peak at 1400 meaning Optimum, Latin for best) the streets from heavy thunder- ticeable during major showers on +/-6 hours on 17/11. It is possible was SM2CEW (1(1315CR). storms. This created lots of noise 14MHz and above. TEP is a well that reflections could be above Graham Daubney, F/G8MBI on the bands which did not qui- documented F-layer phenomenon average since astronomers suggest JNO4FT), reckons it to have been eten down till their last day, 7/9. and signals from Africa would en- a storm next year. Optimum times the best Perseids in quite a while There was a big Es opening that ter the E-layer in the North Af- are: NE/5W0130-0700 and around and certainly the best since he re- day and they completed 33 QS0s. rican region. E-layer propagation, 1100; E/W 0400-0900; NW/SE turned from Asia. He found that British Isles stations worked in sporadic or otherwise, can extend 0600-1200 and around 0200; N/S operators spread out more around order were G3W0S, G6HKM, these TEP signals into southern 0300-0500 and 0800-1300. Note the 144.200MHz random fre- G3SKR, G3NVO, G3IBI, Britain and beyond. that the radiant is below a mid-UK quency. The Polish stations were GJ4ICD G3SVD, G3ZYY, MS trail ionization takes place horizon 1430-2230. down to 144.194 while SK6EI was G3KOX MOBDB, GOOFZ, in the same layer, so there is every on 144.205MHz, all doing good MOONBOUNCE GJ8ORH: G3HBR, G4IGO, possibility that MS-burst enhance- business. G1KTZ, G7DWI, G7UY M, ments will occur, especially dur- THE SECOND LEG of the ARRL John Hunter, G3IMV (BUX), GW3MOY, G7ULD, G6ION, ing showers. So the main propaga- EME Contest takes place over the got a couple of new squares thanks G7UF0 and G7JCI. Their nine tion method at this stage of the 15/16 November weekend. The to EW5M (K022) and RW1A W/P day stint resulted in 51 QS0s. sunspot cycle is TEP, ie F-layer Moon's declination is high, vary- (KP60) on CW. The distance Ken Osbome, G4IGO (SOM), propagation across the ing from + 15.10° to + 18.42° over (QRB) for the Russian QS0 was chronicles activity on 25/8. geomagnetic equator. By no stretch the 48-hour period. The signal 2214km. On 26/8 he completed Around 1821 he found the JW of the imagination is it multi-hop degradation, referred to perigee, with ISO/IK1LGV JM48) for an- beacon, telephoned JW8GV who MS. The odds against even dou- varies between —0.49dB and — other new square, bringing his 2m went to the site, switched it off, ble-hop MS at VHF are enormous. total to a massive 586. 0.91dB. As this is a night time came on the air and completed a Jamie Ashford, GW7SMV weekend, the Sun offset at mid- scratchy QS0 on CW with Ken. 70MHZ (GWT), completed on 12/8 with night Saturday is —161°. The re- Later Ola worked G4HBA and According to an item by Allan his first GM on 6m; GM1ZJP/P spective 144/432MHz sky tem- G3SYC using just 15W to a 4-ele Duncan, GM4ZUK, in the Sep- (1089), was his 67th country on peratures vary from 407/28°K to Yagi. He switched the beacon on tember issue of Four Metres News the band. He also completed with 575/44°K. For operators at Lon- again at 2200 but it faded by 2231. South African stations have had LA5KO/P JP41) and S5, I and OH don latitude the total Moon time is The QRB to Ken is 3173km. use of the band from 27 December stations. Lyn Leach, just under 29 hours and there are Ted Collins, G4UPS (DVN), 1996. He has been in E-mail con- GW8JLY(GNS) found the shower no other contests this weekend. returned from holiday on 25/8 tact with ZR6VE, who is QRV on quite good, especially around 0700 So, provided there are no auroras, and restarted operation from 4m, and who has agreed to run a on 12/8 with many long reflec- activity should be good. I080JV next day. He made Es beacon on a provisional QRG of 70.015MHz. The locator is tions. But so many stations were BAND REPORTS QS0s to OH on 26/8 and to Italy transmitting on the same frequency and Iberia on 27/8 and 28/8. Since KG44CE, a ridge overlooking Pre- that the QRM was horrendous and 50MHZ then, until 17/9, the band seems to toria and Johannesburg some he was unable to complete any The main news this month is about have been pretty flat. Congratula- 5820ft ASL. Allan has a Pye QS0s apart from EA3TI JN11) at the Libyan operation on 6m from tions to Malcolm Sadler, G7WAL T17FM base station Tx which can 0611. JM62. Gunter Dilsky, 0E6DGG, (SOM), who has now passed his be modified and is working out The Taurids shower comprises posted some notes on the Internet Morse test and has the call how to get it and an antenna to two streams. The southern one, which Chris Gare, G3W0S, MOBHE. However, he intends to Rudi. Right Ascension (RA) 50°, Decli- E-mailed via the UKSMG. The keep G7WAL for use on the VHF GOWJR reports "frantic activ- nation (DEC) +13°, should peak group arrived in Tripoli on 28/8 bands. ity" during the Trophy Contest on around 5/11 at solar longitude (LS) and set about installing antennas. Paul Baker, G W6VZ W 10/8. Using a 2-ele Yagi, and op- 223°. The northern stream's data On 6m they used a 5-ele Yagi (GWT), worked IC8/N5KME erating from Dundrey Hill near

24 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 VHF NEWS Where can I save Bristol, Ross was able to work all SM7LAC (J065) at RST529 each round the south coast from way. money on a Pembroke to Suffolk, plus three Colin Smith, GMOCLN, reports GMs. But he wonders where were on the Cockenzie and Port Seton all the Midlands and northern G group's activity in the Trophy fascinating hobby stations? He always tries to par- Contest. They operated from ticipate in the Sunday morning Mainslaughter Law (I085RU) us- and Tuesday evening activity ses- ing an IC-275E feeding two sepa- sions. rate solid-state amplifiers, one at Four Metres News runs to 10 150W into three 14-ele Yagis and A4 pages this issue. It includes the other 70W to two 17-ele Yagis. contest reports, a description of In wet and windy conditions they the construction of the G3WPO completed 169 QS0s, including transverter kit from Cirkit, 18 continentals, eight of which DXpedition reports and assorted were over 700km in QRB. ODX items. It is edited by Derek Thom, was DFORI (J042) at 868kni. The G3NKS, who is QTHR ifyou want rest of the group comprised subscription details. GM7TKA, GM4UYZ, MM1BGI, GM6VIU, GMONTL and SAVE 144MHZ GMOB WU. EA2LU operated portable from Welcome to Mike Kerry, £70 IN931A in the Navarra Pyrenees GW1SXT (GWT), who partici- during the IARU Contest on the pated in the Trophy Contest. Us- 6/7 September weekend. Jorge re- ing an FT-290R and 25W PA to a £ 2 2 9.99 1 ports poor conditions to the UK 5-ele Yagi 130m ASL, he made 19 usual Price £299.99 and north-east on the Saturday with scoring contacts in 14 squares. Realistic Pro-26 only short periods of propagation. ODX was PA6NL (J021) at 200-Channel Continuous Things were better next day with 492km. GW6VZW worked Fs, Coverage Scanner good QS0s into DL, F, HB9, ON ONs and PA, also GMOCLN/P in This excellent portable scanner and PA. However, he wonders if it the contest. Paul heard EA2LU/P. really keeps you in touch, was only tropo propagation be- In the tropo lift on 9/9 he worked giving direct access to multiple cause all these QS0s were made at HB9QQ, HB9SNR JN36) and as- frequencies and storing up to a beam heading (QTE) of 40° sorted Fs. When he turned the antenna to PA, 200 channels. The custom for example, he lost the signals. 430MHZ designed microprocessor acts as He made 413 QS0s in 82 squares GOFIG caught the tropo lift on 10/ a tiny built-in computer and 12 countries for 257,437 9. Alec worked F5FEN (JN25), giving this scanner the high points. He used a TS-790, kilowatt HB9RDE and F5JNX (JN37) and performance edge. PA and two 15 -ele Yagis. F6BSJ (JN26). On 17/9 he added Covers 25-1300MHz. 20-9506 Alec Truster, GOFIG (SX W), DK1FG (JN59),DG7SFL, DF9PX worked EA2LU/P and EA3TI/P and DL6WU (JN49), LX1JX JN12) at 968km in the contest. On (J030), DHOGHU (JN38) and SAVE 9/9 he contacted several HB9s and DG6GP (JN48).GOWJR was QRV more the next day, including in the Fixed Contest on 24/8. Ross £50 HB9FAP/P JN46), a rare square. heard only seven stations in spite 0E9NHI JN47) was also worked. of being 1400ft ASL with a view £249. 99 On 17/9 0E2JG/2 (JN67) at over most of north-west England. Pro-2042 1000 Channel Base Scanner 1028km was a new square. Covers 25-520MHz. A superb home scanner with rotary 0E3LFA JN88) at 1228km and DEADLINES 760-1300MHz. some DLs were also contacted. 20-9464 tuner and keypad that lets you quickly THAT'S IT FOR another month. Derek Hilleard, G4CQ M tune in to over 196,000 frequencies. The deadline for the January is- (DVN), worked DL9YEY (J041) sue is 13 November and for the on 8/9 plus other DLs in J020, 30 February one it is 18 December. and 31. Next day brought EA2AKP SAVE My CompuServe ID is g3fpk, the (IN83) and Fs in JN16-18, 25-27 ..,e.110 4. en* ink, in, Internet route is g3fpk@compu , ne n•n rvn. and HB9s in JN36 and 37, ODX £50. serve.com and the telephone an- wee es, me. eolt being HB9QQ (JN47). On 10/9 he swering and fax machine is on worked DC1CF (JN57), Fs in JNO6 0181763 9457. £149.99 and HB9FAP/P, the latter also Usual Puce £199.99 DX 394 Communications Receiver contacted by Ela Martyr, G6HKM FU R T H E R RE A DIN G Covers: L.W. 150-509kHz. This unit covers long, medium and short (ESX). M.W. 510-1729kHz VIII/UHF Handbook edited S.W. 1.73-29.99MHz. wave bands allowing you to listen to news G4OUT (SFD), found the CW by Dick Biddulph, G8DPS 20-9224 and broadcasts from around the world. Cumulative leg on 2/9 rather frus- Radio Auroras trating. Only 14 contacts were by Charlie Newton, G2FKZ made but covering 10 squares and VIII/UHF DX Book edited 11 counties. Ian reckons it was a by Ian White, G3SEK pity more people weren't on to RSGB 1997 Préfix Guide take advantage of the reasonable compiled and maintained hTasq® conditions. In the Nordic Activity by John Forward, G3H1A Night on 2/9, G4SWX worked Locator Maps You've got questions. We've got answers. eight OZs in J044-46, 55, 57 and Available from the RSGB Book TO CONTACT YOUR NEAREST TANDY STORE CALL 65. In the middle of the CW Shop. See pages 90 and 91. FREEPHONE 0 5 0 0300666 Cumulatives John contacted

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AI RES

/ GMT

HF 3 024680246802000001111122 2 3 23 23 54 44 54 222 1. 311 1. 225 122 1. 1 322 11 F-LAYER PROPAGATION PREDICTIONS FOR NOVEMBER 1997 1555 1666 5555 5545 232 5444 5654 1367 3444 1 5442 354 23 28MHz 1222.... 1331...... 767 356 442 43 554 541 ... 16764 6763 542 541... 51 are indicated by a plus (+) sign in the 28 and 3.5 MHz columns, with these latter bands having a probability of 9. 6 665 676 24 5 25 46 46 1. 878 478 ... 1 ... 16667 ... 1 ... 1 ... 1 ... 1 777 1. 766 1. 1. 1.. . . 16664. _ 176 66 76 1433 533 1546 1334 877 3544 653. 024680246802000001111122 .... 21 .117762 24 MHz

767 566 666 777 664. 5542 1. 578 122 1

1. 1. 1. I. 1. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2.. 2. 567 667 ... 668 1.. 668 2.. 1.. ... 3 18 4 63. 5 17 7 48 8 8 .376 66 .... 698 .... 85.. 687 .... 85.. 776 .... 877 21, 22, 23 (±6); (SIDC adjusted values) 19, 20, 21 (±5). 024680246802000001111122 51. 52. ... 11467 ... 4 ...i888 1 132 2 .175.376 21MHz 7 286771. 777 12 1442 642.. 2. 77871...7887:... 7872 ..788 788 7844.- 25 266 1 667 888 51 8887'... 677688 . 1 1 .22 1. .1. 41. 73. 73. 755 64. 65. 74. 75. 74. 64. 64. 64. 64. 84.. ... 5 84.. 83.. 81.. 5... 664 4... 5 2 . 3. 4. 4 68 68 38761. 76 675 186 86 865 866 .1. .1. 18642. 51. .1.. 556851. 55794.. .1.. .1. 1 ... 578 ... 4 je 00=0000, 02=0200, etc. The probability of signals being heard is given on a 0 (indicated by a 000001111122 .... 024680246802 354 ... 6 .4 883 .3 .1 776 7551772. 18 MHz 5568721 568 578 ... 887 884 688 861 6551772. 788 788 88 a871. 888885.. 888881..888 1 577 887 888 998 7411. .2 41. 52 41. 41. 52 62 52 62 51 41 51. 2.. 1.. ill 46662 1. 46665 1 66641 388883.. 48788I94.. 2. 244 244254 242 87667862354 461 441 451 211 2. 1 134. 364 331 321 331 000001111122 122 121 024680246802 ...... 11. 564 .1. 1652 . 1 4 .76 21451 1.

74225774 6322 52236875 22236864 22368732 224 8521 225 7421 7655 22478411 667 336717 4567171.. 6 2661. 46 266 1264 76326532 7643 7654 4667 76675 4667171.. 14mHz 1363 222 2566 2567171.. 6666 .263 1

1 8411 9521 11 3 33 775 731 1.. 541 33 651.641. 652. 664. 554. 2241 2351 2231 2221 23422453 322. 3551 8853 343543 2 .. 12..3323 12.. 11.3 121. 21.4 231. 1. 24 332. 2433 232 332. 2333 444.3431 245 444. 4331..24 5672 55611433. .245672133. 7895531. .25 56755321 7642. 134 899552 688 9898 89877433 798 889614 421 1334 2... 1334 2. 46386556 899 896 873 9842... 799 1 934 884 852... 14 842... 877 24 834 886 32...234 65431234 1. 2413 32176666 024680246802024680246802 000001111122 000001111122 1 .1. .2 .135323 .1334 532 3334 8 872. 888 5333 531. 124 8883 489 799 862.... 788 1 .14 877 345 25334 41 25433 7MHz 10 MHz .5434 .17777 32. 666 1334 5333 5434 3 .12233 . 591.. 589 232 .147 3 8876 136 .13 631 431 211 222 344 741 42 234 41 1 112 743 2. 1112 2. 2. 3. 9963 877 756 745 645 434 1112 633 422 311 244 789 872 898 72 887 51 732 83.852 953 112 1 1. 1. 1 21. 2. 1 48723111 8883 8883 6886 8885 7875 7886 3431 36613111 26723111 15 7896 8896 5776 +++2 3454 .269 8885 111 1. 1 872.... 788 1 51.... 11 873... 11 112 -. 73. 1 .112 112 2. 1. 4883 86.279 . 8886 84 66328988 9986 8865 .131 1 1 12

1 111. 125 1 111. 111.. 15 11. .3 11. 1 3 . 11. • 112 322 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 113 211 112 1. 545 234 333 334 .15 588 1 +++4 .16 .4+4 111 1 788 762 51 62 25++ ++3 898 788 788 788 786 786 775 773 8 +++5 589 488 + 789 789 886898 898 888 2 .24

1 3 234 3+4 2++4 +++4 ++4 +++4 5+54 ++54 5+54 3++4 4++4 +++4 2443 44 +4 +4 45. 4 4++ 55 +3 4++ 5+5 +4 +4 +4 4 4+2 +4 4 4+3 4+4 2 ++++ ++++ +++3 ++42 024680246802 000001111122 4++ 4++ 4++ 2 4++ 4++ 4++

2++ 3. 5MHz 2 2 3 2 2++ 2 4+ 4+ 25 + 2 3 4++

CO RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 F memorate the 25th anniversary of G3SX W (5V7A), G3ZE M information on his trips - the ROARS. There will be special field (5V7ZM), G4FA M (5V7FA), address is: http://www.g4uol. station at Athaiba Beach which GM3YTS (5V7RF), K5VT demon.co.uk will use the callsign A43XXV be- (5V7VI), K7GE (5V7JL), K7PN tween 17 December and 21 De- (5V7PN), KC7V (5V7MF), N7BG DXCC CONCEPTS ÊTLgiJE, cember (see 'Awards'). (5V7BG), N7MB (5V7MB) and THE DXCC 2000 Committee pre- David, K3LP, will be on the air W6RGG (5V7BV). They will be sented two concepts to the ARRL JOHN ALLAWAY, G3FKM from the United Arab Emirates using the call 5V7A during the 10 Knightlow Road, Birmingham Board of Directors on 28 June. B17 8QB between 22 November and 2 De- contest. They have eight one kilo- The first addresses changes to be cember - his call will be A61AJ. watt stations and 18 antennas. They made to the DXCC Countries List He will be found on all bands CW have a web site at: http:// Criteria and the second addresses and SSB. During the CQ WW CW ww w.getnet.com/-k 7 wx/ the DXCC Awards Structure. HE SPECIAL 6C50 will DX Contest he will be on all bands 5v7a.htmI Concept one - Criteria. To be be used in Syria to cele with two rigs. Members of the Kvarnberget on the DXCC list one of three brate the 50th anniver Carl, AI6V, will be active from Amateur Radio Club - SMODRD, conditions must be met: be a mem- Tsary of TIR - Syria's na- Hawaii as NH7A during both parts SMOJHF, SMOKCO, SMOMO, ber of the United Nations; be a tional society. It will be used be- of the ARRL Sweepstakes. SMOAIG, and SM5DSB - will be member of IARU; have an offi- tween 0000 26 November and Tere, ex-XEIASF, will be in on the air from Cuba during the cially assigned callsign allotment. 2400 25 December. The club sta- Guyana for two years. Her callsign CQ WW CW Contest at the end of Separation by water: the 225 tion YKORJ will be activated. A will be 8R1ASF and she will oper- November as T48RCT. The sta- miles requirement to become special award will be given to li- ate from 7 to 28MHz including the tion will be on the air one week 350km. The 500 miles require- censed amateurs who can prove WARC bands. before and one week after the con- ment to become 800km. 'Mini- contact with YKORJ and four of A group ofNew Zealanders, led test. It will be active on CW, SSB mum size' is defined as "two points the 6C50 stations. Send a copy of by ZL2AL, will be on Chatham and RTTY on all bands. See http: separated by not less 100 metres your log together with US $10 to: Island from 21 to 28 October. //ham.te.hik.se/clubs/skOux/ of connected land above the high TIR, PO Box 245, Damascus, Syria Operators will include ZL2AL, T48RCT.html for further informa- tide mark". Separation by another - within 60 days of the end of the ZL2AS, ZL2GI, ZL2HU, ZL2LF, tion. Fernando, CL3FL, is said to DXCC country: The 75 miles to be event. ZL2RR andZL2TT. They will take found between 28.800 and replaced by 100km. AP2TJ reports that there are part in the CQ WW SSB DX Con- 28.900MHz. Concept two - Band awards. about 250 licensed amateurs in test on all bands 1.8 to 28MHz and HC8GR in the Galapagos Is- The band awards consist of 10 Pakistan but most of them are not their call will be ZL7AA. lands is reported to be found near single band awards - 1.8, 3.5, 7, active. Apparently, AP2HA is the LA3EX will be in Jan Mayen 14.175 MHz at 2000. 14,18,21, 24,28, 50 and 144MHz. only one active on CW. from October as JX3EX with It is reported that W3CF and Two new cumulative DXCC Phil, VR2CT, will be active SSTV equipment leftby LA7DFA. K3MQH will be on the US Virgin awards are being created by using from East Malaysia from 20 Oc- Mike, TL8MR, is active from Islands from 22 October to 30 the totals from nine of the single tober until 16 November as the Central African Republic for October as W3CF/KP2 and band awards. There will be the 9M6CT. He might be accompa- about a year. K3MQH/KP2. They plan to take DXCC 2000 Challenge Award nied by VR2BG in the CQ WW Meanwhile, Jerry, XT2JF, has part in the CQ SSB DX Contest with one point per country per SSB DX Contest. returned to the USA from Burkina when their calls will be WP2Z. band 1.8 - 50MHz (not 10MHz). 9N1RHM now has RTTY fa- Faso. VE3B W will be in St Kitts and Certificates, plaques, pins etc at cilities and will looking for Eu- Steve, 7Q7SB, will be on the air Nevis from 16 November until 1 1000, 1500, 2000 and 2500 point rope whenever the conditions are from Malawi for several years. December. His call will be V47CA. level. A DXCC 2000 Award for suitable. JT1JA in Mongolia now Keith, 5H1AX, and 5H1C W have 100 countries in the year 2000 will has SSTV. been on SSB and CW on 1.8, 3.5, ISLE OF MAN be offered - non endorsable and With immediate effect all sta- 7 and 14MHz. The Voo-Doo Con- no QSLs will be required. A spe- tions in the Sultanate of Oman test Group will be in Togo for the STEVE MUSTER, G4UOL, will cial DXCC 2000 Championship be making his annual visit to the will be using their callsigns fol- CQ WW DX CW contest. They Award will be given to the overall isle for the tenth time. He will be lowed by the suffix /SJ to com- have 11 team members including leader of the DXCC 2000 on 30 active from 21 Novem- September each year. More about ber until 5 December. this later. He will be on all HF bands on CW (only) but he will be concentrat- CONTESTS ing on 1.8MHz, PLEASE NOTE that the wrong 10MHz, and 24MHz de- dates were given for CQ W W CW pending on conditions. in Octo-ber's IIF News. The con- J)ONOSIIflNVlV •IldVèltX11011d •IldVèltX11011d J)ONOSIIflNVlV As usual he is near Peel. test takes place in the 48 hours Skeds can be made from 0000 on 29 November to by letter,telephone 2359 on 30 November. on 01702 334014 or E-mail on: steve@ AGC W-DL HOMEBREW & g4uol.demon.co.uk OLDTIME EQUIPMENT He has a web page PARTY which contains lots of 1300 — 1700 16 November

1300 - 1500, 7.010 - 7.040MHz; Members of the Kuwait 1500 - 1700, 3.510 - 3.560MHz Amateur Radio Society All radio amateurs must use equip- raise a new 40m beam at ment more than 25 years old. One their HQ earlier this year. - either the transmitter or receiver The antenna on the roof is a multi-band logperiodic -may be modern. Single operator, beam. CW only, maximum power 100W.

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 29 HF NEWS

categories. The same station may Assisted - England (all band): 1997 28MHz TABLE 1997 WARC BANDS TABLE be worked on each band on each M6T, 2,586,104; G3S WH, GOTSM 91 10MHz 18MHz 24MHz Total mode. Exchange RS/T and serial 832,104; G5LP, 731,003.14MHz: GOAEV 76 GONXX 148 147 45 341 QSO number. OK/OL/OM stations G4PDQ, 118,508. 1.8MHz: G4YRZ 59 (CW) will give their district code. Each G3XTT, 170,085. Scotland (all GONXX 53(C W) GMDT 125 143 66 334 contact counts one point. Multi- band): GM6R 540,470. 3.5MHz: 2E0AFI 45 (CW) pliers are OK/OL/OM districts on GM3YOR 60,164. Wales 7MHz: G4OTY 39(C W) Gi3XZE 58 93 38 189 each band and mode. GW3YDX, 877,957. Multi-single G3 JD T 32(C W) S79MAD 61 53 42 156 Send logs before 15 December England G6D 3,911,504; M6A G3UFY 29(C W) Gi4GG 45 42 26 113 to: Karel Kamarsin, OK2FD, Gen 2,929,500. Multi-multi England: G3WP 26(M) G3WP 53 35 17 105 Svobody 636, 674 01 Trebic, G3SSO, 877,270. Guernsey: S79MAD 24 G4FVK 14 27 6 47 Czech Republic. GU3HEN, 2,926,183. The results of the CQ WW CW In the world listings GOAEV GIONQC 17 1996 Contest have been received. came sixth on 28MHz, G3TXF GOTY M/qrp 14 Call 'CQ HOT'. The categories England (all band): G4BUO, came fourth on 21MHz. GOURR 7 are: 'A' - Tx and Rx older than 25 4,405,296; G3ZEM, 3,265,884; I have received the results of the years; 'B' - One unit older than 25 GOIVZ, 2,884,192; G3PJT, 1, 37th All Asian Contest. In the CW years; 'C' - QRP transmitter not 173,315; M6L, 1,004,87 1; M60, section GOTDX scored 216 points THE 9A QRP MEMBERS more than 10W input and either 418,200; GOLZL, 401,400; M6W, on 7MHz and GM3CFS scored A WARD home made or over 25 years old. 125,640; G3WRR, 71,280. 4080 points on 14MHz. G3ESF Issued to amateurs who have Exchange RST, serial number and 28MHz: GOAEV, 7,150.21MHz: scored 5978 points in the all-band worked and confirmed at least 10 category. Points: 'A' working 'A', G3TXF, 444,050; G6G, 90,168; section. In the Phone contest members of the 9A QRP club. 'A' working 'C', 'C' working 'C' G4IUF, 33, 852. 14MHz: GOTDX scored 9 points on 7MHz = three points. 'B' working 'A' or G3WVG, 651,168. 7MHz: and GW3RTA scored 132 points THE QRP 6 CONTINENTS 'B' working 'C' = two points. 'B' G3IG W, 189,414; G6T, 39,950. on 14MHz. A WARD working 'B' = one point. Low power all band: G4KIV, For amateurs who worked all con- Send logs before 15 December 1,649,056; G3NKS, 720,460; tinents using QRP. A WARDS 1996 to: Dr Hartmut Weber, G3ESF, 427,638; G3JKY 346,000; DJ7ST, Schlesierweg 13, D-38228 G3RSD, 321,245; GOKRL, THE ROARS SILVER THE QRP ZONES AWARD Salzgitter, Germany (note that you 235,876; M6C, 228,185; G5MY, JUBILEE AWARD For those who have worked at ,must send details of homemade 205,662; G3LIK, 204,580; G3JFF, least 10 CQ zones using QRP. or oldtime components used). I 203,040; G3GGS, 184,730; From 1 October until 31 Decem- Endorsement at 20,30 or40 zones. have copies of the rules (SASE G3VQ0, 128,486; GOMBS, ber 1997 - during this period all For all the awards send a list of please). 67,200; GOVQR, 48,158 ; A4 stations will use /SJ after their the QSL cards certified by two In the 1995 event in Class 'A, GOMRH, 33,500; G4Z ME, suffix, eg A41XX/SJ (see page licensed amateurs stating that the G3AIO came fourth with 195 30,096; G4OTY, 20,919.21MHz: 29). The award will be issued to QSL cards in your possession. points, G3VDL was eighth with G3VXJ, 86,130.14MHz:G3KTT, anyone with five points. A43XXV Send the list with DM 5 or USA $5 128, GOKZO ninth with 107, and 11,180. will count three points, club sta- to: Denis Vincek, 9A3ZG, GIOSSA 22nd with 50 points. I Guernsey: 7MHz GU/F5SHQ, tions A47RS/SJ and A470S/SJ Tuskana 8, HR-49218 Pregrads, can supply copies of the rules 17,901. Isle of Man (all band): will count two points and indi- Croatia (please note that all the (SASE please). GD4UOL, 954,448. vidual stations will count one point. QS0s have to be made after 10 Northern Ireland (full power Contacts with the same station on April 1994). UKRAINIAN DX CONTEST all band): GIOKO W, 5,652,738. different bands or modes double 1200 1 November - Low power (all band GI4SNC): the points. 1200 2 November 221,580. Send a certified log copy with TH AN KS 10 IRCs or US $5.00 to: The CW and SSB on 3.5, 7, 14, 21 and Scotland (full power) 14MHz: FOR THE SUPPORT of readers Awards Manager, ROARS, PO 28MHz. Single-operator all-bands GM6V, 517,068; 7MHz: GM6Z, who have provided information Box 981, Muscat, Postal Code 113, or single band, multi-operator sin- 192,231. Low power all band for this column. Special thanks go Sultanate of Oman. gle and multi-transmitter, QRP (all GM4SID 546,922. 14MHz: the authors of the following for bands - less than 5W output), and GM3CFS, 67,584. 7MHz: THE 9A QRP DXCC AWARD information extracted: the RSGB listener categories. Exchange RS/ GM4YXI, 48,484. Wales (full DX News Sheet (G4BUE), power all band): G W4BVJ, T and serial QSO number. Ukrain- Issued to stations who have worked EXPRESS (PA3FQA), the Lynx ian stations will send RS/T plus 367,773. Full power 1.8MHz: and confirmed at least 20 coun- LX Bulletin (EA2KL), and the Six G W6J, 101,708; G W3JXN, two letters indicating their region. tries using output power not ex- and Ten Report(GOAEVG3USF). 49,410. Low power all band: QS0s with own country counts ceeding 5W PEP in CW or 10W Please send everything for the one point, with own continent two, GW3SYL, 543,390; GW3JSV, PEP on SSB. The next award is at December issue to reach me no 68,515; GWOGEI, 3,213. 7MHz: with other continents three, and 40 countries and for every 20 coun- later than 9 October. • GW4HBK, 31,476. QRP all band with Ukraine 10 points. Multipli- tries after that. ers are DXCC and WAE countries GWOKZW 11,428; GOKZO 6,292. F U R T H E R R E A DI N G and Ukrainian regions per band. 21MHz: GOTDX, 65,424 (first in THE 2 WAY QRP DXCC Send logs to: Ukrainian Contest world). 14MHz: G3LHJ 95,354 A WARD A mateur Radio Club HQ, PO Box 4850, (first in world); GOOGN, 36,855; Operating Manual Zaporozhye, 330118, Ukraine. I G3TXZ, 25,675. 3.5MHz: The same award but both stations edited by Ray Eckersley,G4F1J can supply copies of the rules 2EAOK, 4,104. have to be QRP. D X News Sheet edited by Chris (SASE please). Page, G4B UE

QTH CORNER OK/OM CONTEST 1997 Préfix Guide 1200 8 November - A45XL via G4VUO, MB Beck, 11 Orde Close, Pound Hill, Crawley, West Sussex. compiled & maintained 1200 9 November BUODX via BV200 c/o CTARL, PO Box 73, Taipei, Taiwan. by John Forward, G3H1A 1.8 -28MHz,C W,SSB and Mixed. GD4UOL via RSGB Bureau, or QTHR. All the above available from Single operator (A) CW, (B) SSB, YC9NRR Irianus, PO Box 1021, Kupang 8 5000, Timor, Indonesia. the RSGB Book Shop. 5A28 via 0E2GRP, Recep Gursoy, PO Box 200, A-5202 Neumarkt a W, Austria. (C) Mixed, (D) multi-operator See pages 90 and 91. mixed, (E) QRP, and (F) listener

30 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 lenge. Their request came too late to arrange anything for this year, but are there any other SWLs who would support an event? Let me know and, if there is sufficient in- terest, an RTTY section could be added for 1998. BOB TREACHER, BRS 32525 Alex Oosterloo, NL-7337, 93 Elibank Road, Eltham, SE9 1QJ E-Mail: 101526,[email protected] whose photograph appeared in Ju- ly's SWL News has provided fur- ther information about SWLing in Holland. The SWL page in the HAVE received a request Dutch amateur radio magazine from RS92306 to include Electron features Topscore' , a list-

items about SSTV, FSTV and ing of confirmed DXCC countries, August's S141 News highlighted the Lighthouse Weekend activities. Seen /RTTY reception in SWL and another table which concen- here is the 14MHz station of the Wigtownshire Amateur Radio Club during the News. He is the first listener to trates on 28MHz DXCC, confirmed GB2LCP expedition to Corsewall Lighthouse (HAB NW97, QTHL I074KX). suggest that the column should totals, zones and prefixes. Top Pictured here are Jim Macphee, GM3VN W, operating and Eric Sandilands, GMOFSZ, doing the all-important log keeping. carry such news. As I consider tel- SWLs in Holland at the moment evision modes to be a rather unu- are Peter, NL-7909, with 274 sual area for listener interest, I in- DXCC confirmed and NL-719 with 1997 Co WPX SWL CHALLENGE RESULTS tend to seek advice before adding 235 DXCC confirmed. Posn SWL Prefix 28 21 14 7 3.5 1.8 Checked this aspect of the hobby to the many There are two societies in Hol- Total Score areas of listening activity which land - VERON (SWLs have the NL SINGLE OPERATOR this column has covered. If any prefix) and the smaller VRZA. The 1 0M3-27707 1466 72 291 569 209 209 116 3,535,992 other listener would like to see a IARU-recognised Society, VERON 2 LYR-794 1226 16 150 382 281 241 156 2,222,738 3 ONL383 1144 12 144 317 253 257 161 2,150,720 particular SWL interest covered in has 1,500 registered SWLs of whom 4 BRS32525 840 237 275 265 63 1,065,960 this column, simply write or send 150 are very active. 5 SP-3003-LG 881 3 76 212 207 238 145 891.572 me an E-mail. The column in Electron is to fea- 6 ONL3647 722 16 52 251 155 201 117 856,944 7 BRS52543 764 1 37 214 200 209 103 776,988 Over the years, your letters have ture an SWL 'Most Wanted Coun- 8 BRS88921 724 - 11 224 198 180 Ill 751,512 suggested that, in the main, the tries List'. Therefore, any British 9 OH2-836 762 120 268 118 160 89 717,636 thrust of the column should be about SWL with a DXCC countries total 10 LYR-672 721 - 70 130 229 186 106 655.389 the skill and technique required better than 260 is invited to send me 11 NL-455 665 10 62 145 149 219 80 602,490 12 SP-0129-0L 662 - 95 127 172 201 67 512,388 when listening on the amateur a list of the countries they still need. 13 RS95258 709 - 52 209 181 172 95 502,681 bands. You have also requested Information from the rest of Europe 14 OKI-23233 651 33 153 228 99 106 32 483,693 tips on how to be a better amateur will be added to our British infor- 15 F-15222 588 - 20 213 198 130 27 434,532 16 BRS44395 535 12 156 153 162 52 369,685 bands listener, and contests de- mation and a European SWL DXCC 17 RSI02891 489 - 5 177 116 169 22 331,053 signed to put skill, knowledge and Wanted List will be started. 18 F-14368 565 1 38 185 121 140 80 319.225 technique to the test. 19 DEIMSA 483 - 21 99 116 142 105 282,072 Continuing this trend, we look NEWCOMERS 20 PA-2164 471 11 65 103 144 123 25 256,695 21 F-SWL/Nicholas 496 31 42 188 99 71 70 248.496 this month at the results of the CQ A WARM WELCOME to 16-year- 22 BRS2940 452 154 145 122 31 247,244 WPX SWL Challenge held in old Derek Blunden, BRS171057, 23 F/I4AT800 487 40 252 118 65 12 236,195 24 RSI74501 412 81 153 178 226,600 March which attracted the interest who has recently joined the RSGB. of 17 British listeners - out of a 25 DE7TXL 414 113 114 96 91 218,178 He has entered my SWL Challenge 26 RSI74135 415 11 150 96 114 44 202,520 total of 58 logs received. From previously and has sent a modest 27 BRS25209 445 - 34 129 124 110 48 198.025 comments received, it is clear that All Time score. Derek was intro- 28 CTO-1265 471 34 52 75 107 68 57 185.103 these listeners enjoyed the fun and 29 F-14217 403 8 40 128 113 79 36 181,753 duced to amateur radio by his grand- 30 ONL3997 441 3 69 200 70 80 19 194,481 excitement of a weekend where father, G4FTZ, in 1995. He is deter- 31 NL-I0175 356 - 47 93 98 86 32 126,736 more than 2,000 stations were ac- mined to build on his score, but 32 DEITTW 301 3 15 213 70 122,206 33 F-20037 247 - 37 112 58 40 116,584 tive. Some said they had added to radio has to compete with GCSEs. the number of different countries 34 F-12921 309 10 39 185 52 23 111,858 Derek listens on SSB mainly, but 35 G-SWL/Simon 329 - 7 81 45 171 100,016 heard while others remarked that can read CW and copy RTTY sig- 36 DE2RTW 222 62 3 13 144 91,464 entering the competition had taught nals. He is one of a growing band of 37 UA3-147-505 274 33 149 67 12 13 78,638 them much about propagation and 38 RS94177 271 3 103 98 66 1 64,498 SWLs who have purchased 39 SP-0404-SU 219 6 58 155 63,072 the characteristics of the different GOMDO's EasiSWL logging pro- 40 BRS25429 217 217 59,892 bands. The full results appear in the gram. 41 BRS8841 234 - 9 74 60 48 43 54,756 42 F-11734 156 7 20 42 33 34 20 50,232 table (right). Another new RSGB member is I have produced a 16 page Re- 43 RSI71662 167 78 3 86 38,243 Karl Drage, RS174461, who was 44 BRS31976/M 171 171 34,713 sults Booklet which includes a full mentioned in September's SWL 45 DEITVN 175 1 41 34 66 33 32.200 commentary, tables and compari- News. He had a crack at the RSGB 46 F-20272 176 3 110 23 26 14 30,976 sons. It also has the rules of those 47 G4DFI 153 1 3 135 14 29,223 IOTA contest and claimed a score 48 FIULT 143 93 17 29 4 23,023 contests aimed at providing fun of around 200,000 points. As a re- 49 OEIOLB 76 16 32 28 7,980 and enjoyment for listeners during sult, he now has an 10IA Directory 50 F-15828 68 9 25 34 4,896 51 F-10298 45 11 17 17 2,115 big transmitting contest weekends and has purchased the K 1 BV and the chance to use your skill and 52 ZL-SWL/DeMaine 41 34 6 1 1,804 Awards Directory (see RSGB Book 53 I8-4696/NA 3 21 16 1,369 technique to compete with the Shop on pages 90 and 91). 54 VE3-DX2EI 19 19 380 world's best short wave listeners. Although Karl's listening habits MULTI-MULTI were disrupted because of cricket EURO VIE WS 1 F/Team 30 1249 - 85 406 348 337 73 1,885,990 matches and wedding receptions, 2 F-I6156/F-11556 607 71 238 103 169 26 445,538 ARDENT LISTENERS Franck, he mentioned T320, "JAs by the MULTI-SINGLE F-14368/RS172017, and Xavier, bucketload" on 14MHz and JT1BG 1 F-I4YA179 1153 1 72 361 331 260 128 1,825,199 F- 10046, have asked for an RTTY on 14MHz SSTV -there, I've men- 2 RZ3EC 371 - 63 203 77 13 15 143,206 section in the CQ W W SWL Chal- tioned SSTV in this column! •

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 31 Any DX Station or QSL Man- with is the number of uncollected ager who anticipates delays in re- cards. They take up so much valu- sponding to QSLs received, or is able space. When one hears that liv- finding the amount of incoming ing space in the home is being sacri- cards a problem, should let me ficed by dedicated volunteer Sub know; I will only be too pleased to Managers it really is sad that so many include an explanation in this col- amateurs steadfastly refuse to make umn. I think what upsets punters arrangements to pick up the QSL JOHN HALL, G3KVA most is to send off IRCs or green cards they have generated. • Graham Hodge, G4NTB, re- Corfe Lodge, Ipswich Road, Long stamps and SASEs and get noth- Stratton, Norfolk NR15 2TA. OUT OF TIME quires any information, or a user ing in return other than silence. and service manual for the They can fully understand and BOB PARKES, G3REP, ex Burndept BE470 three channel even sympathise with delays 4S7RPG, VS5RP, P29PR and UHF handheld and its accessories. caused by QSL workload but only A45XF sent me a few QSL 'gems'. Does anyone know who took over IE NEW M1CAA-CZZ series now has a QSL if they know about them. He received a QSL card from a W4 Bumdept? He also requires a copy Sub-Manager. He is Ted On the same subject, Walter for a QS0 when Bob was 4S7. The of the manual and a 1.44m floppy Allen, G3DRN, and his Jones, GOTYV, says he has very card has a query in the date and drive for a Compaq model 2670 T rarely been let down by American portable computer. If you can address is 30 Bodnant Gardens, time boxes and nothing else apart help please contact Graham on 1 Wimbledon, London SW20 OUD. QSL managers and thinks that from Bob's callsign and a `Pse registering QSL managers would QSL'. On the back the card reads 0181752 1415 (correcting number SWLS IGNORED? be Draconian. He says the variety as follows: "I circled your call with printed last month). of operations that utilise QSL ALAN CLAY, MOAXJ, started your address on my scratch pad, so • Eric Newton, G3JCB, is look- managers varies enormously from his amateur life, like many others, I contacted you, but I didn't put the ing for any information on the tel- as an SWL. As a listener he heard a station for a couple of days on a date, time or frequency on it. I only ephone line VDU, marked as fol- Scottish island for IOTA to a per- lows: Telic Alcatel. La telephonie many Special Event Stations circle the ones I make contact with, manently based fairly rare coun- industrielle et commerciale termi- (SES s) reporting on the attractive then put them in the log, but I nal personnel d'information VB P. cards they would be sending out try with no national bureau and a missed the time and date here. I UK Model. Status ZA as confirmation. Relying on them less than reliable postal system. only believe it was a contact some- 0041140100. Made in France.' If to respond, he sent out many Royal time in 1996. If you can QSL I QSL OVERLOAD! you can help please call Eric on Signals Amateur Radio Society would appreciate it otherwise I will 01604 761764. cards in the hope that he would THE ITEM 'A Good Idea?' in understand." receive acknowledgements. He June's QSL Column, suggesting He received a card earlier this • A Burrell, GOPKI, requires a says many responded while some that GI, GM, GJ, GD and GU calls year from another W call request- user manual or loan of same for a Kenwood TS-820, a circuit and just ignored him. Now that he has could go to the appropriate G Sub ing a QSL for a QS0 in 1980 when alignment data for the FM board reached the dizzy heights of an A Manager, has provoked comment Bob was VS5RP! Bob ran out of for an FT-101ZD and a circuit for licence, he has resolved to QSL from Pat McVey, GOPXJ, a cards for that call years ago so just Philips Scope PM3230. If you all those who request it. Why, he hardworking QSL Sub Manager wrote confirming the QS0. Bob can help please ring 01268 757842 says, should listeners be bottom covering the busy G3R — T series. asks, why did he wait for 17 years? or write to GOPKI QTHR. of the pile when it comes to QSLs? She is ably supported by her hus- He says that many do not under- Alan says that a way of dealing band Bob, G3GMC, and they both stand that a large number of DX • Dickie Marshall, G3SBA, re- quires a manual, circuit diagram with the problem of low return feel it might be worth thinking stations are mounted by expatri- or even just the sales specification rates from SESs, as raised by about consolidating calls. How- ates who are serving on fixed term for a Wayne-Kerr radio fre- Anthony Harvey, BRS 90317, in ever, they fear that including GWs contracts. As a result, the call may quency bridge type B601 of early September's QSL column, is to and GMs in any scheme would only be active for a short time and 1970s vintage. Dickie is QTHR or make it a licence requirement to cause a problem because there are very often up to the date of depar- phone 01582 460815. respond to QSL cards received. so many of them. Finding storage ture, arrival of the packers or until I'm not sure how that would be to accommodate the additional the rig gets passed on to someone • David Busby, G4HFL, seeks enforced but it's an interesting cards would be a headache. They else. He says, check the QSL route circuit information for a Griffon proposition! have already commandeered a before despatching a card and al- HT power supply made by Grif- spare bedroom for card sorting ways QSL as soon as possible to- fin & George. Output 0 —300 volts A FEW BAD EGGS and storing the present workload, gether with accurate details. He and 0 — 30 volts. Please call David and hope they don't have unan- says it is unwise to use out of date on 01844 346274. QSL MANAGERS should be re- quired to comply with a set of nounced visitors! callbooks and even the latest edi- • David Long, G3PTU, requires a Like many other Subs, the big- tions of these are not guaranteed as rules, according to Jack Clark, good copy of the circuit for a gest problem they have to cope being correct. GOM M. He says most managers Tristar 74755B/A M/FM trans- ceiver. Ifyoucanhelp Davidplease do a great job but the minority of write to: 697 Halifax Road, bad eggs ought to be brought to Hartshead Moorside, Cleckheaton, book. He says he has experienced West Yorks BD19 5QT. continuing difficulty obtaining a QSL from 5A1A for QS0s made • V Whitchurch, G4HSA, needs in 1995. Three requests, one by operating instructions and / or recorded delivery, each contain- circuit diagrams for a Wayne ing a reply envelope and postage Kerr LCR Bridge, mil no CT492. If you can help please telephone have gone unanswered. The QSL 01761 414169. manager is shown as LZ2UA so, if he sees this plea Jack hopes it • John Rayner, G4YSI, requires will prick his conscience. Jack the brake assemblies and main says he has little complaint about drive belt for a Sony tape deck American QSL managers apart TC765 circa 1978. He also re- from the fact that they are a little quires the remote control unit type slow on occasions. RM30 and any other information on Sony spares for this model. If Allan Wilson, G3WNS, who is resident in Kuwait, recently visited RSGB HQ. He RSGB QSL Bureau, PO Box 1773, Potters Par, presented this QSL from the Kuwait ARS showing the settlement of Alexander you can help please call John on Hens EN6 3EP, England the Great on Failaka Island. The photo was 'tweaked' using Adobe Photoshop. 01932 889113.

32 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 Barren groups: There may well be island groups in the listings that do not in fact contain any qualify- ing islands. We call these barren groups. This situation arises be-

NEVILLE CHEADLE, G3NUG cause the original listing was Further Felden, Longcroft Lane, drawn up by allocating every sec- Felden, Hemel Hempstead HP3 OBN [email protected] tor of shoreline throughout the world to a group. Our own re- search did not indicate that every HERE IS AN issue that group had qualifying islands, but comes up from time to we preferred to leave it to the time and has recently IOTA community to check in more Bill Hall, G8JM, has been a keen IOTA supporter since the programme was been raised by David detail. Where groups were found introduced. He was the first holder of the IOTA AS and Al certificates, and the T second holder of the IOTA-100, 200, WW, OC, SA and NA certificates back in the Ramsey, G3UAA, of Groby, to be barren, as in the case of the 1960s. Bill was recently presented with the prestigious IOTA-750 plague by Leicestershire. The issue arises original Belgian group and sev- Neville Cheadle, G3NUG. because some island groups have eral others listed on page 75 of the may be less inclined to send the not been issued a reference number RSGB 1997 Directory and Year- the remote Colombian islands of and thus. there is a need to regu- book [1], we suppressed them and data we need. Of course, we do in Bajo Nuevo (NA- 132) and Serrana larly update island lists. David asks, added an equivalent number of addition seek validation material Bank (NA-133); Ron Wright, from rare numbered groups. How- "Why do we not number all the new ones to compensate — always ZL1AMO, showed a video of his island groups to eliminate this maintaining the cap of 1172 ever, it is essentially the opera- operations from the Tokelau Is- updating?" There is a lot of history groups. We are committed to re- tions from the all-time new ones lands (0C-048); and I gave our that affect the IOTA Honour Roll behind this issue and it has been viewing the list at five yearly in- latest slide presentation, 'This is the subject of debate at various tervals but, given the current lack rankings in which there is a great IOTA'. Many thanks to the IOTA IOTA conventions as a result of of information about further bar- deal of interest. Development Fund and to Yaesu This is a somewhat lengthy ex- which the present system emerged. ren groups, it is unlikely that there for supporting my visit. planation, but since this issue is Let me first of all say that there will be much scope for change. CHECKPOINT is an absolute commitment by the However, if we create new groups raised fairly regularly I thought a full explanation was warranted. CHANGES RSGB IOTA Committee not to there is no guarantee that they will The issue of new IOTA reference increase the number of island be in the same continent. Thus we THE FOLLO WING changes to numbers is publicized on our web groups beyond the present total of could have issued a number with IOTA checkpoints are being made pages (http://www.rsgb.org.uk/ 1172. This is known as the 'cap', an EU prefix to the barren Belgian with immediate effect: operate/iota/iota-hot.htm) and in and it is an important feature of the group whereas the replacement programme. Without such a cap group may be in another conti- the RSGB LANS and DANM [2] as England (all G prefixes except well as most of the other DX news- the numbers of island groups could nent. 0), Ireland and Portugal: Ray letters, so it is an simple job to increase rapidly — indeed, this is Validation process: The second, Small, G3ALI, 13 Rydal Close, the case with some of the domestic and in my view, equally important update listings. The latest IOTA Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 1QX. Directory and Yearbook [1] of island programmes. With no cap reason for issuing the number at course contains all the listings, to- England (call prefix GO only), we feel that newcomers to the pro- the time that the operation takes GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, and gramme would be at a very signifi- place relates to the validation proc- gether with much more invaluable material about the IOTA Pro- all British SWLs: John Hall, cant disadvantage compared with ess. A provisional (` Prov ' ) number gramme. G3TOK, 54 South Eden Park Rd, those who have been in the pro- is issued to an all-time new one Beckenham, Kent BR3 3BG. gramme for some time. once the minimum QS0 number TOKYO HAMFAIR Let's now return to the key is- has been achieved (50 QS0 in five Italy, San Marino: Mauro sue: why not number up all the countries) and providing the IOTA I VISITED THE Tokyo HamFair Pregliasco, IiJQJ, Corso Novara 1172 island groups so that the list Committee has received prior no- again this year and it was as vi- 39, I-10154 Torino (TO), Italy. can be published once and for all? tification of the operation. Once brant as ever. IOTA was much in USA call districts 1, 2 and 3: As most know, the IOTA refer- satisfactory validation data is re- evidence and Yaesu, our Principal Daniel K Sullivan, KE4I, 14737 ence number comprises a conti- ceived (licence, permits, evidence Sponsor, kindly provided a booth Pickets Post Road, Centreville, VA nental suffix and a three-digit of presence on the island etc) the on their stand and thousands of 20121, USA. number, eg EU-005. There are two number is confirmed and QSL Japanese brochures and car stick- reasons for the present system, cards can be accepted for credit ers for distribution. Also on show Austria, Switzerland: Hans- which involves issuing a number for IOTA awards. Under this proc- was the fourth IOTA rig, another Georg Goebel, DK1RV, Postfach when an operation from a new one ess, the IOTA Committee can be Yaesu FT-900 with switched- 1114, D-57235 Netphen, Ger- takes place and at least 50 contacts sure that the first operation from a mode power supply and splash- many. in five countries have been made. new one meets our criteria. If the proof case. Yaesu now make this The IOTA Committee would These reasons relate to: (a) Barren reference number had already been rig available to IOTA like to thank Philip Marsh, groups, and (b) The validation issued we would lose an important DXpeditioners in Japan. Over G4WFZ; Massimo Balsamo, process. lever on operators, because they 50,000 visited the HamFair in- IK1GPG; and Tom Webster, cluding lots of youngsters — a very WT20, for their sterling work as encouraging sign. checkpoints over several years. gar NEW REFERENCE IOTA had a high profile at the AUSTRALIA NUMBER: DX Forum which was attended by REFERENCES many of the leading JA DXers. [1] 1997 RSGB 10IA Directory New South OC-223 (Prov) - Australia - There were four presentations and Wales New South Wales each one involved IOTA islands: and Yearbook, edited by Roger Sydney, Montague lid OC -223 (Prov) State South Group - Ralph Fedor, KOIR, talked about Balister, G3KMA, available from RSGB sales. Canberra. Montague Island Heard Island (AN-003); Eric [2] RSGB DX News Sheet and DX Victoria Sjolund, SMOAG13, talked about • Melbourne [see http://www.rsgb.org for his DXpeditions in the 1980s to News Magazine, edited by © RSGB Rol 540 latest updates] Chris Page, G4BUE, available RSGB 101A Programme, PO Box 9, Potters Bar, Hens EN6 3RH. from RSGB sales.

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 33 tL cate your log. For example, the 1996 CQ W W SSB database con- 20 N A71CW(708) ( tained 1.43 million QS0s from 44 B SM6AJH(1) F6AJ11(33) DJ6AJ(6) DK6AJ(5) 78 U UR6FZ RU6FZ(24) CA6FZ(20) KH6/WB6FZH(14)H JP6FZX(5) LR6F(3) 1248 station logs. 124 N IO2A(877) CQ W W is unique in that, if you 125 N GIOKVQ(374) submitted an electronic log, after 132 B DU3/AA3LB(14) AA3B(591)W DU2/AA3LB(208) RA3LBW(167) AA3D(12B) PNzcnii[LET 162 U RIBPYL EA8PY(10) PS8PY(2) the contest you can obtain a per- 193 U JL6FFR JA6FF(23) JL6FFT(14) ANDY COO K, G4PIQ sonalised listing of the likely er- 200 U JO6URU JI6URU(16) AC6UR(7) Fishers Farm, Colchester Road, 209 U VE4CRR UX4CR(182) VK4CY(31) KT4CR(28) CP4CR(20) Tendring, Essex, C016 9AA. rors in your log. This costs a few AE4CR(8) G4PIQ @ GB7MXM.#36.GBR.EU dollars (I think it was $8 last time) 436 N YU1KX(360) M6B (2) M6X (540)0 and is obtainable from the Contest Table 1: Sample taken from a CQ W W listing of likely errors in Contest Director, Bob Cox, K3EST, at Exchangecolumnist G4PIQ's log on 15m at M6T. The personalised listings are available from the CQWW Contest Director K3EST. HE OCTOBER Contest [email protected] or by post at Exchange offered advice 1816 Poplar Lane, Davis, CA on taking part in the CQ 95616. This report is a useful tool which are automatically culled the worst! Some of this will be due W W contests and I for pointing out what you are do- from your log files. The sting in the to the quality and care taken by the T tail, however, is that the CQ W W pointed out that there were plenty ing wrong and a sample of one individual operators. However, as of opportunities to win awards from me on 15m at M6T is shown committee remove four times your you go from single op to multi- during the events. However, the in Table 1. claimed score (and, of course, any single, through to multi-multi, the contest organisers have a reputa- This big database makes it quite multiplier credit) from QS0s with number of QS0s made increases, tion for being slow to issue certifi- a simple process for the computer are either Bad Calls (B) or which and the multi-multis in particular cates and awards. If you have prob- to cross-check QS0s between the are Not-in-Log (N) and which do are there trying to hoover up every lems with not having received an logs in the database. This results in not have any possibly mis -copied last QS0 on the band. Also, the award which you believe you are the 'N' entries (not in log) like calls in the other station's log — individual circumstances of the sta- due, the CQ W W committee have QS0s 20, 124, 125 and 436. QS0 such as QS0s 20, 124 and 125 in tion can have quite an impact on now instigated an E-mail address 436 gives the additional informa- the above table. This quadruple unique rate. For example, if you for award queries. It is: tion that YU1KX had the calls penalty soon pulls down your score happened to be operating from Asia [email protected] and if you M6B and M6X in his log. The for just a few errors and makes it on 10m or 15m and you were able have any other non-award related number in brackets alongside each really important to ensure that a to speak Japanese, you may well queries they can go to: callsign denotes how many times station has you in the log so that work lots of unique JA stations; if questions @cqww. com that callsign appears in the overall you don't fall victim to the 'N' you were in the Caribbean, fluent calls, and that you copy callsigns in Spanish and on 10m, you may correctly so the ' B ' calls don't get work a plethora of unique South you! Typical not-in-log rates run Americans on 10m FM (provided at between two and six per cent your linear can take the duty cy- and can be well over 10 per cent so cle). there's lots of room for improve- TOUGH BUT FAIR ment there! Some of these checking techniques 'UNIQUE' CALLS may seem Draconian to you and I To give an idea of the variety of confess that they do grate with me calls within the database, in the when I see what I know are good 1996 CQ W W SSB, it contained a QS0s being scratched from the total of 88,461 different callsigns, log. But, in reality, these are few but only 34,910 of these occurred and far between, and you have to more than once. The remaining keep in mind that everyone gets the 53,551 calls only occurred once in same treatment. If you are inter- the database in almost 1.5 million ested in the more detailed analysis contacts. This means that there re- Members of the Kvarnberget ARC, SKOUX, will be operating from Cuba as behind the CQ W W logs, it's worth T48RCT in the CQWorld Wide DX CW Contest on 29/30 November. Here, three ally is a very good chance that reading CQ Contest magazine. In- members of the club, SM5BTU, SMODRD and SMOCKO, relax after operating as these 'unique' calls are actually deed, some of the information in SSA HQ station SKOHQ in the IARU HF Championship in July. mis -copied calls — known as this column came from there. 'busted' calls. There are some good The SSB leg of the contests will CQ W W has a very thorough database for the band. M6X was examples of these in the table such probably just have passed as you log checking process and this is worked by 540 people on 15m, but as JI6URU which I copied as get this issue ofRadCom, but if you why they are working hard to en- M6B only occurred in two logs JO6URU and JL6FFT as JL6FFR. were on and made a few QS0s why courage as high a proportion of which means that YU1KX prob- These unique QS0s are not auto- not send in an entry. The CW sec- electronically submitted logs as ably copied M6T wrongly as M6B matically deleted from the log some tion is on 29/30 November. possible. Anyone with a reason- — also, I happen to know that M6B of them may be actually quite genu- In the 1994 SSB event, on that ably high position is likely to have wasn't in use during the event! ine and valuable QS0s (uniques well known ranking of logs sent their log entered onto the compu- The '13' entries are the 'almost with odd multipliers etc), but they per million head of population, GI ter for checking purposes by the definitely bad calls ' ! These are are the subject of very close scru- ranked 17th in the world, GW 27th, committee if they do not submit an ones which are checked against tiny. The unique rate that a station GM 31st and G came down in 48th electronic copy. Remember, it's callbook databases for those coun- achieves is normally a fair indica- place with a pitiful 0.4 logs per always better to keep your judges tries for which they are available tion of the accuracy of the opera- million head of population. This in a positive frame of mind by and if a callsign isn't in there it tors and is a useful pointer to the compares unfavourably with 19.6 making sure that it isn't them who counts as a bad call. Obviously, adjudicators as to which logs they from Slovenia who took the top have to type a few thousand of this isn't foolproof since licensees need to look at carefully. slot, with other big players like the your QS0s into the computer! This come and go, change callsigns, Typical unique rates vary be- Scandinavians, Germany and the process, combined with the sheer change prefixes and so on, and tween classes of station. The sin- USA managing between 3.3 and scale of CQ W W, means that the I've certainly seen good calls gle operators are often the best; 11! Let's get up that table! committee has a huge database for marked up as '13' However, it multi-operator entries tend to be the contest from which to adjudi- works pretty well. worse than single operator ones, TURN TO PAGE 86 FOR CONTEST CLASSIFIED lo [email protected] It is these B and the 'N' calls and the multi-multis are usually

34 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 DOWN TO EARTIV Amateur Radio from the Ground Up

1 flews and Comments • The Pile 'up 'flouter • Solar Data • 11 Portable >element 5m Vagi

AINING RADIO ama not guess at the difficulties she has and thought gathering possi- teur status requires overcome — but read her book and ble questions and answers and commitment and con you will admire her spirit. [A full has put them onto a floppy Gsiderable effort as well review of My World, together with disk which runs under Win- as deep interest. This was certainly ordering details, will be published dows 3 or Windows 95. He the case with Gail Taylor, GOUNF in RadCom shortly — Ed] has included questions from (RadCom, May 1994, p5), as de- all parts of the syllabus laid scribed in her soon to be published 50MHZ OPERATION out in the normal City & autobiography My World. A tiny AN INTERESTING view of VHF Guilds format of question premature baby, Gail was blind operation has reached me from and multi choice answers. from birth due to over exposure to Doreen Stone, 2E1DPG, with com- Murray is looking for oxygen. She also had cerebral palsy. Her infancy and childhood were fraught with problems but her parents were determined to Ilews and Comment from and cope and give Gail the best possi- ble care and help to equip her for an uncertain future. for Ilmateur fiddlo s Ilewcomers Gail Taylor, GOUNF, whose She has never let her disabilities autobiography My World prevent her from taking a keen is published in November. interest in the world around her Compiled by Esde Tyler 0011EC0 and her philosophy on life is that it the Duke of Edinburgh's award at is for living to the full. Her musical the same time to gain the Bronze knowledge is highly impressive ments also from her husband Brian, people who are willing to receive award. He failed one paper — for and her grasp of foreign Languages G3JFC. Perhaps it answers some the program and try out the ques- which he refuses to make excuses is exceptional — with the ability to questions concerning the 6m band. tions. He would welcome construc- — sitting it again in May and pass- converse in seven. Doreen took, and passed, the tive criticism and suggestions for ing it. He is now Ml BUS and Since taking up amateur radio December '94 NRAE after excel- possible improvement. If you thrilled with it. she has been welcomed by many lent (her description) instruction would like to help, either write to Thankfully, Mark's condition and has contributed to many con- from Reg Coaker, GOLME, and him, he is QTHR, or telephone has turned out to be less serious versations and discussions. She is enjoyed her contacts on 70cm for him on 01483 417597. There is no than at first feared. able to do what most of us would a month—then she began to turn to charge nor do you need to send a NEW CHALLENGES like to do — speak to other ama- other things. Doreen's loss of in- disk. The only return he would DURING A VISIT to Moston teurs in their own language! She terest was mostly because she like is feedback on his project. Amateur Radio Club recently a speaks to Lana in Russian, switch- could find no new friends to talk WELL DONE LADS! Novice Instructor asked me if there ing immediately to Italian, for her to. Brian then came up with a way AN ITEM about 91-year-old Nov- was any way that a service similar next chat — it was in Italian that she of re-igniting her enthusiasm. ice Les Breeze appeared in the to that given by the Radio Ama- spoke to at the Vatican. A Greek He set her up with an all-mode March 1997 Down to Earth. Since teur Invalid and Blind Club, for monastery and a passenger on the 6m transmitter with the allowed that item appeared Les, who is instructing potential amateurs, QE2 feature in her log book along- power on all of them and erected a blind, has earned the callsign could be devised to help Novice side Bob, a Dutch quadriplegic three element beam and an endfed 2E1FXS. In the true tradition of students. He had recorded some of among many others. Gail is helped antenna, switchable from the shack amateur radio, he is always will- the lessons on tape to be used as constantly by her mother, Pam, and Doreen was to become very ing to help where he can. By now, revision by class members who who tunes the aerial and operates active. Chasing DX became her he will be in the USA with his needed a little help once they were the mic for her as she cannot hold favourite pastime and she grew wife; they have gone to help nurse away from the class. This method the PTT switch down. very skilled and highly success- a sick relative! There mustbe some could prove useful for youngsters Gail has also had her fair share ful. There were times when she recognition of the possible oldest with reading difficulties, very of high drama; one night a major was ignored until Brian called in new Novice alongside praise for young or more mature students fire neces sitated Gail' s evacuation to explain the 2E1 callsign. the youngest. who are not familiar with the lan- in the wee small hours — a fright- Most of Doreen's contacts are David Buddery, G30EP, sent guage used, and those with hear- ening experience for a blind girl to on SSB, totalling 817 when I last me this latest information on Les ing problems. be bumped down a flight of stairs heard, with 41 countries confirmed along with news of one of his other If you can suggest any ideas to in her wheelchair as the lift was and three more awaiting confir- successes Mark Edmunds. help Instructors to meet new chal- out of order. This and other expe- mation—earning five awards along Mark studied for his NRAE lenges from many who could en- riences are described in My World, the way. which should be available in No- when he was obviously quite ill joy the hobby, if only they could vember. FEEDBACK PLEA over a long period. He took and get into it, write to Phil Mayer, You may find Gail on the bands THOSE DUE to take the RAE passed the exam, then began study- GOKKL, 16 Haig Avenue, Poole, and from her conversation you will may be interested in helping with ing for the RAE. His physical con- Dorset BH13 7AJ, or myself, and dition still gave cause for concern, we will try to make any help as * 43 Nest Estate, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge, a project devised by Murray Ward, If Yorks HX7 5BH G3KZB. He has spent a lot of time but he persevered adding work for widely available as possible. •

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 35 Ji [J 'PI 1\1 'Iii mm =air. The "Pile-Up Monster"

was doing it, I was really doing it. My first CQ call. by llosemeg CQ, CQ, CQ, here is GB2MRI, Golf Bravo 2 Mike / I had been invited along as an Romeo India, CQ, CQ, CQ, here is operator. The club was going to GB 2MRI calling CQ and stand- operate on 2m, 6m and a number ing by." of HE bands. This was my chance I don't know what I expected as to contact people all over the world, I tuned to 145.500MHz and called but I still wasn't sure if this ama- CQ. When someone actually an- teur radio lark was for swered I quickly threw the micro- me. Now that I had phone at Mark who sat beside me my licence, I knew — I was too shocked to speak. that I could oper- This was my introduction to ate, but I wasn't operating a special event station sure if I really on Rathlin Island in August 1997, wanted to. having gained my licence only a few weeks earlier. How many peo- Above: Some of the GB2MRI team. ple remember their first contact? Back row: Wilfy, GI4OGQ; Danny, After receiving my callsign, DL9NEX; another visitor from GI6ISQ (my husband's former j Germany; Keith, GIOSSA; Kemvel, GMXPV; and Aubrey, GI4TOR. Front callsign was re-issued to me), I row: Rosemary's husband Mike, became mute. I had listened on MIOAEH; Mark, GIOWAI and Billy, 2m, but I couldn't find the courage GIOVLE to transmit. Left: The pile-up monster' handing All the people I listened to were out the QS0s on 20m. either talking very technically (or so it seemed to me), or they were speaking to their life-long friends and I didn't feel like intruding. Just at that point Keith, the main The other thing that I found was HE operator, came wandering that all the operators had one thing I around the 2m and 6m stations and in common which excluded me. asked if anyone would like to work You see, all the people I listened to 20 metres. By 8 o'clock on the Wednes- and I was the operator. So began were male and I am female. All my day evening the 2m station was my first working of a pile-up on 2 radio friends had said that this was ready to go and I was a little ex- metres. ON HF an advantage, but sitting listening cited about the thought of oper- In the three years I had been THEY WERE BACK again, those to conversations I couldn't think ating. I called CQ and when some- around amateur radio I had never nagging doubts, will I or won't I? of any. one answered my call I was so seen anyone work a pile-up, and I couldn't do it, no no, I couldn't After 10 days I still had not nervous I quickly got rid of the here I was, a new operator, dealing do it. "OK Keith.", was all it took. contacted anyone and my husband microphone and Mark, GIOWAI, with one. Over the next hour I Before I knew what was hap- Mike, MIOAEH, told me I should finished the contact. I had failed at contacted about 30 people. I was pening, I was sitting on a chair in put out a CQ call on channel S20 my first attempt on a CQ call, on top of the world, this was hard front of a Yaesu FT-902D M tuned (145.500MHz), or answer a CQ but I was not about to give up. I work, but I was thoroughly enjoy- to 20 metres. call. I didn't feel brave enough to retrieved the microphone from ing myself. "OK Keith, what do I do?" call CQ, so I listened for someone Mark and again called CQ. This Thursday night proved to be This was simple: all I had to do else putting out a call. Finally, on time when I heard a response I much quieter and I found that I was call CQ, by this stage it was 30 July, I heard a CQ call: will I completed the over myself and felt had time to talk to the people I something I knew I could do. This answer it? No, no I couldn't. The very happy. worked. By this stage all nerves time, though, along with calling CQ call was repeated, will I? No, The next five minutes of call- were gone, at least on 2m, and I CQ, I was to give the IOTA refer- I can't. If he calls once more I'll ing CQ elicited no response, so concentrated on hearing callsigns ence and WAB square. After re- answer. Oh! Oh, he has called. OK Mark suggested switching to sin- and locators. peating this information about four here goes: "GIOFPB here is gle sideband. This was to be my On Friday morning I missed times I sat back and waited. There GI6ISQ." first experience of sideband' and Stanley's fry up but consoled my- it was again, someone was calling I didn't recognise my own voice I was thrilled when someone an- self by calling CQ on 2m. Unfor- me (well, maybe not me person- it was shaking so much, but I had swered my call. My second thrill tunately my enthusiasm was not ally, but GB2MRI). OK OK, done it, I had finally made my first on sideband came when I discov- met with another pile-up, in fact callsign recognised, now get their contact. ered that my contact was in Kent; no-one seemed to want to talk to name and exact location, for the after all I was sitting in a tent on me (maybe it was something to do log. How Mark, the 'logger', was RATHLIN ISLAND Rathlin Island off the north coast with the fact that it was 10.00am able to keep up with the speed of TWO WEEKS LATER, having of Northern Ireland. No sooner on a working day). What was I some of the contacts I don't know. three contacts in my log, I headed had I wished my contact '73' than going to do all day, whilst waiting Oh no! My contact has asked off to Rathlin Island, where a spe- I discovered that there were a for people to return home from for my name. Think, think how do cial event station was being set up number of stations now all trying work, or wherever else they were, you spell it phonetically, I knew I by the Ballymena Radio Club and to contact GB2MRI on 2 metres — and turn on their rigs? should have practised something,

36 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 DOWN TO EARTH Y MI =113111 MARCONI/KEMP ANNIVERSARY how do I spell my name? I try to write down Rosemary but I'm pan- FIRST WIRELESS LINK IN 1898 icking, I have written Rosemary. I change it to the proper spelling and try to think phonetically, even more panic, I can't spell it, what is R? A quick nudge of Mark's el- bow elicits 'Romeo'. It's all right, — I've started. Oh no! what's 0?, again I nudge Mark's arm and this ^,deeeesee-e''' time I get 'Oscar'. Everything seems to be going fine until I reach GB2 MRI 'Y'. Again a quick nudge of Mark's 10 65 VH arm and I've got 'Yankee'. It is very easy recognising which is the WAB 015 CO ANTRIM right combination when you are preparing for an examination, it's IOTA EU 122 another thing when you have to RATHLIN ISLAND — put the phonetics into practice. BALLYCASTLE QSL card from the The next few calls were easy, Ballymena Radio Club's GB2MRI not only were the stations calling operation. GB2MRI but they were now using my name, this was wonderful. To been in the situation where I was made me feel very welcome. My top it all I was now working my CHILLING OUT in contact with more than one sta- fear of talking on the air has dis- second pile-up. Then it happened AFTER A FEW MORE pile-ups tion, so I was afraid to acknowl- appeared and this winter I have again, someone asked me my on 20m, Wilfy Kernohan, edge the station in case I did any- decided to try and obtain my class name. I looked at the piece of GI4OGQ, decided I had learned thing wrong. My way of coping A licence. One last word, my final paper where I had written my too many bad habits and that I with this difficulty was to hand joy came when I returned home name. ' R'... `R', how do I convey needed to 'chill out'. He tuned the back to my original contact with- and heard my name on air, as Alex, the letter R? Mark came to the FT-902D M to 40m and encour- out calling in the break-in station. M MOABM, mentioned talking to rescue again and this time I man- aged me to spend a little more time To my delight John called him in "Rosemary on Rathlin". When I aged to get through all the other talking on the air instead of the and my problem had been solved. broke in on his contact I was treated letters without a hitch. The third frantic efforts I had got used to on It turned out that the break-in sta- as an old friend. time someone asked me my name 20m. This thought frightened me a tion, Peter, GM3OFT, had been an Final, final word: Keith has now my mind went blank again, so little, what could I talk to these operator on Rathlin 24 years pre- nicknamed me 'The Pile-Up Mon- following further assistance from people about? What happens if viously and had been listening ster'. • Mark, I wrote Romeo on the piece they ask me something technical? unsuccessfully for the station every of paper below the R. A quick After about three contacts and my year since. I felt very privileged glance at the page now gave me abrupt attempts at 'chilling out', F U R T H E R RE A DIN G that someone who had been wait- my starting point and once I started Wilfy decided I needed to 'chill Radio Amateurs' ing 23 years to contact the station the rest was easy. out' a little more. With this in Examination Manual had finally succeeded through me. I have no idea how long it took mind he retuned to 80m, handed Edited by After a chat it turned out that al- George Benbow, G311B to clear the pile-up, but I desper- me the microphone and I again though the site of transmission on -ately needed a drink. I had a sore heard myself calling CQ. Rathlin had changed, the aerials Your First Amateur Station by thumb in my effort to hold in the My first contact on 80m, John, Colin Redwood, G6MXL that were being used had not. At button on the microphone, but I GM400U, coped very well with the end of this contact Wilfy gave was elated. Monday nights spent my announcement that I had to RSGB Operating Manual Edited by me the thumbs up, I had 'chilled at Downshire School with John, talk to him for at least 30 minutes. Ray Eckersley, G4F1J out' enough. and poring over the RAE Manual, To my surprise I had no difficulty Rathlin is an experience I will never Available from RSGB Book Shop. had been worth the effort. This talking on the air, but my heart See pages 90 and 91. operating was better than I could raced when I heard a break-in sta- forget. I loved every second of it have ever imagined. tion announcing itself. I had never and the people I talked to

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RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 37 DOWN TO EARTH •31: =EltEZZLE M Solar Data Explained

HE BIG auroras during tion and the flux strength of the solar cycle 22 cost un particle streams. If we take each in told millions of pounds by Charlie Ilewton.071%* turn it will become clear. T worth of damage. To give The solar wind speed is meas- just two examples, power compa- ured in kilometres per second. At nies in Canada suffered consider- the very lowest end these are about FOR THE LAST two years, new satellites have been providing able damage to their power lines 250 kilometres per second, with solar data which it is hoped will help scientists predict auroras and and transformers due to the ap- normal levels being in the range of other phenomena which can cause damage on earth, as well as pearance of high voltages and 300 to 400 kilometres per second. affecting radio propagation. Charlie Newton, G2FKZ a member massive currents over which they The top end is not known yet, but of the RSGB Propagation Studies Committee, explains what one had no control. Fig 1 shows the levels of 800 kilometres per sec- of the new spacecraft is telling us. auroral oval. When it is 'quiet' , the ond were recorded on 11 and 12 oval is well to the north of the UK, January 1996. but covers northern Canada. Un- Particle densities seem to vary becomes negative (minus), which craft will be able to forewarn us of der storm conditions, the auroral from two or three particles per means it couples to the earth's impending trouble in the future. cubic centimetre, up to 40 parti- oval expands, covering northern 'plus' magnetic field. This is part With the ever-increasing use of Europe and dipping down into the cles per cubic centimetre, the high- of the aurora process, and was delicate electronic equipment to USA, covering all of Canada. est so far recorded. WIND does responsible for these effects. control earthly services, such prob- not differentiate between the vari- Another example: a British firm lems have grown considerably, and responsible for protecting oil and ous particles; other spacecraft, such big auroras will surely come in gas pipelines from corrosion dam- THE NEW as GEOS-8, do that. The GEOS-8 solar cycle 23, which has now just age by an electrolytic process saw SATELLITES spacecraft measures the energy started. their equipment go haywire in IT HAS BEEN realised for level of the electrons and protons The WIND spacecraft was many parts of the world. Finally, some time now that spacecraft entering the earth's environment brought on stream in 1995. We in desperation, they asked the are better than anything else for and which also affect the earth's have been receiving data from it RSGB if there could be a solar telling us what is happening to the meteorology (it is the GEOS-8 since September of that year, and related connection. I was given earth's environment as a result of satellite which brings us the TV this is being used in the propaga- the query and it did not take me the sun's influence. It was as a weather pictures). tion news in the weekly GB2RS long to figure out that auroras were direct result of phenomena such Around the sun there is the bulletins [1]. So, what does the the cause of the problems. This as those described above that sat- Source Surface Magnetic Field, spacecraft measure? was the case even close to the ellites such as GEOS-8 (basically which imparts a 'footprint' called equator, where the Dst (solar ter- a meteorological satellite) had the Sector Structure. The sector restrial disturbed) equatorial ring increased instrumentation fitted, SOLAR WIND structure varies depending on current (Fig 2) creates massive and 'WIND' (so called because it 'WIND' LOOKS AT ALL aspects whether the field is travelling to- equatorial magnetic fields. These measures the solar wind) was of the solar wind that may affect wards or away from the sun. There magnetic changes are measured in launched to monitor the situation. the earth's magnetic field in any are boundaries where the direc- plus or minus nanoTeslas (Fig 3). It is hoped that the massive way. This includes the number of tion changes and usually there are Under storm conditions the field investment in new types of space- particles which are emitted by the four sectors round the sun. Some-

*83 Hollingthotpe Road, Hall Green, Waktlield, West Yorks WF4 3NW. sun, measured as density, the rate times, when the sun is active, these at which they move (ie the wind are very clearly defined, but at speed), and the magnetic orienta- other times, such as atpresent (dur-

• .• Magnetic pole • e • Winnipeg ee •

Montreal • •

• • • •

- _ -

4 10 • Berlin

• Paris Fig 2: A simplified view of the earth's magnetic and electric structure (which

© RSGB RC1571 extends to at least 1000 earth radii into space and is about 50 earth radii in diameter). The equatorial ring current encircles the earth In space. The Fig 1: The northern hemisphere auroral zone. Even under quiet conditions it resulting magnetic field Dst is measured In nanoTeslas by observatories extends well down into Canada. [From Radio Auroras (RSGB)]. around the magnetic equator. [From Radio Auroras (RSGB)].

38 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 ' DOWN TO EART1V--

© RSGB RC1573 what the effect will be. If it varies nal Mass Ejections) resulting at northwards it is said to be plus, if times in ionospheric and magnetic ABBREVIATIONS it varies southwards it is minus. storms and auroras. However, AND SYMBOLS To make this clearer, the earth' s coronal holes do not always cause 73 'Best regards' Ring current magnetic field is of a northward such disturbances; many very large CQ A general call to all stations direction, ie you can visualise it as coronal holes have passed without (seek you') DX Any long distance contact field lines coming out of the south any problems - it all depends on HE High Frequency (3000 -30,000kHz)

magnetic pole and going to the whether the Bz is plus or minus. north pole. You all know that un- IOTA RSGB Islands On The Air like poles attract, so coupling with awards programme I I THE FUTURE ,73 o, ,73o, the solar wind's magnetic field kHz kilohertz, one thousand cycles IT WOULD BE WRONG to as- takes place when the wind has a per second sume that massive damage will southward magnetic orientation, metres (radio wavelength) not occur in future solar storms. ie when Bz is minus. The greater MHz Megahertz, one million cycles

e , e Already this year the AT&T Telstar the amount of minus nanoTeslas, per second 401 satellite has been knocked out NRAE City & Guilds Novice Radio the stronger it couples. If Bz is (on 10 January), with losses of Amateurs Examination plus, ie northwards, the coupling $132m. The Canadian Environ- pF Picofarad, a measurement of is very poor or non-existent. o mental satellite received a mas- capacitance As we get into solar cycle 23, PTT Press-to-talk (method of sive electron charge, making it which is just beginning now, this switching from receive to

Magnetic flux density nanoTeslas negative nanoTeslas density flux Magnetic useless for three weeks until the should make more sense. Mag- transmit) charge leaked away. Don't be sur- QTH Location or address (one of

i i i netic disturbances and auroras will prised if one day your satellite TV surely come when the sun becomes the 'Q codes') signal disappears! The sun is no more active later in the cycle. QTHR Address is correct in the latest respecter of earthly things, but we issue of the RSGB Call Book So, to re-cap, if Bz is northward can hope that WIND and the other or Yearbook I i i

o o o o o o o + + o o o r..> ,..,o o o o o, o (or plus) Canadian power compa- new satellites may give us enough RAE City & Guilds Radio Amateurs nies do not have to worry; there is warning so that steps can be taken Examination 7' 8 9 ' 10 unlikely to be an aurora. If Bz is SSB Single Sideband in time to minimize the effects of south (or minus), both high wind SWR Standing Wave Ratio Fig 3: During storm conditions, the the solar storms and auroras. speeds (say 500 kilometres per VC Variable Capacitor Dst equatorial ring current, like Bz, Because WIND is one of the second or greater), and / or high VHF Very High Frequency (30 - goes minus, as recorded here during first new spacecraft being brought an aurora on 7/8 February 1986. The density (say more than 25 parti- 300MHz) on stream as part of the Interna- small positive swing coincided with a cles per cubic centimetre), would WAB Worked All Britain awards pre-auroral HF enhancement. [From tional Solar Terrestrial Program appear to be important and indi- programme Radio Auroras (RSGB)]. fleet of satellites, we are seeing the cate the likelihood of a magnetic ing a period of low solar activity), most exciting solar information throughout the country on HF storm and aurora taking place. they can be very 'fuzzy' or not revolution that has taken place. VHF and UHF frequencies. De- At present we do not know what discernible. As far as the impor- We are trying to keep up to date tails of the schedule can be found the lower level would be in order tance of the sector structure is con- with the mass of new solar data but in the 1998 RSGB Yearbook and to result in an aurora for the VHF cerned, it is not yet known exactly events are running faster than this on the CallSeeker 98 CD-ROM. operator, or cause trouble for the what effect this has on propaga- can be done. However, I feel sure The GB2RS script, including the HF man. Low speeds and low den- tion on earth. that the method of just relying on weekly propagation news, can also sity, or zero/plus Bz, can mean a solar flux, sunspots, and the A be found on the RSGB Internet more stable ionosphere, thus giv- index to know what is happening, pages at www.rsgb.org THE BZ ing better conditions for HF op- whilst not yet dead, will - in time FINALLY, WE HAVE 'Bz'. 'B' erators. -go the way of the dodo. is the solar wind's magnetic flux The passage of 'coronal holes', F U R T H E R R E A DIN G field in space and its strength is which speed up the wind consider- Radio Auroras recorded in nanoTeslas, while 'z' ably, can cause massive disrup- REFERENCE by Charlie Newton, G2F AZ means the vertical force compo- tion to the ionosphere. Sometimes [1] The GB2RS news service is Available from the RSGB Book nent. The flux can vary plus or particle density increases as well, broadcast every Sunday by a net- Shp. See Pages 90/91. minus from zero, and this tells us with events such as CMEs (Coro- work of amateur radio stations

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RADIO COM MUNICATION November 1997 39 DOWN TO EART1V % • =:111: =. A Portable 3-element 6m l'agi DIRECTOR AND by 11 11 Reid. POOR / 00BZF * REFLECTOR THE 'STANDARD' SIZES of AVING JUST acquired tubing available are perfect for a a new Alineo DX-70 at 6m beam. I bought two 2m lengths Friedrichshafen, I of 10mm tube and carefully cut Hneeded a simple beam them to the dimensions shown in antenna for portable use. My re- Fig 1. So, one piece gave me the quirements for a suitable antenna correct lengths for four end-piece were as follows: (reflector and director). With these • Boom length, maximum 2m end pieces cut to the right lengths, • Reasonable gain they were simply inserted into the • Low cost 2m lengths of 12.5mm tubing and, • Ability to dismantle easily, for after marking the correct length of transportation the whole element, 2mm holes • Easy assembly with the mini- were drilled for the sheet-metal mum of tools screws to be driven through both • Easy and quick tune-up the 10mm and 12.5mm tubing to • Lightweight hold them together. Each screw First I needed materials. A visit was driven through the tubing in a to the local D-I-Y shop proved a similar manner on opposite sides. good source with a wide range of holes are drilled. Care must be the 10mm tubing to the 12.5mm This is done on the director as well lm and 2m lengths of aluminium taken to get these holes straight tubing (see Fig 2). The reason for as the reflector (see Fig 3). tubing and box sections. I settled and level in both directions, other- doing this is simple; it makes it for 12.5mm diameter tube in 2m wise the antenna will look very easier to dismantle or assemble DRIVEN ELEMENT lengths for the centre sections of odd indeed. Using a small round the elements on the boom. In the THE DRIVEN ELEMENT is the elements, and 10mm for the file, file a notch in the top side of flat side of the boom drill a 2mm made of the same materials as the element end sections. These sec- each of the four holes. The notch hole on the element centre line, reflector and director. It is fixed to tions of tube fit snugly. I also should be just large enough to pass this is for the screws to hold the the top of the boom together with bought a lm length of lOmm rod the head of the screw which holds elements in place (see Fig 2). a plastic weatherproof box, which to make the Gamma-match sec-

tion. A 2m length of 25.4mm 2960 square U section aluminium was 480 2000 480 used for the boom. 4. Cut to 570 Reflector Cut to 570 THE DESIGN I HAD DECIDED that a 3-ele- ment beam, in the traditional man- ner (one reflector, one driven ele- ment, and one director) would suit 95 my purposes well. Because of past experience I also decided that the beam would be designed as a 2865 'plumbers delight' — in other 432.5 2000 I I . . 432.5 1 words, all the elements and the boom are at a common earth po- Cut to 522.5 Driven element Cut to 522.5 tential. This reduces some of the static electricity which can be prevalent in other types of design. A design of this type limits the feeding arrangements to basically 985 a Delta match or a Gamma match. I chose the Gamma match because of its easy adjustment, bearing in 2680 mind I want an easy, quick tune-up 340 .1.« 2000 I 340 1 and a transportable system. 1!I i ..

Cut to 430 Director Cut to 430 DRILLING THE BOOM 430 570 430 THE FIRST THING to do is to measure out the boom and drill the holes for the reflector and director 522.5 522.5 Spare length elements (see Fig 1 for dimen- sions). The 12.5mm holes are marked and drilled with a smaller All dimensions in millimetres 0 RSCB RC1556 (6mm) drill bit, before the larger

Leenderweg 46,5591 JE Heeze, The Netherlands. Fig 1: Three-element 50MHz beam dimensions and tube cutting directions.

40 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 DOWN TO EART1V--

I

ORSGB RC1557

Fig 2: Details of the element holes (reflector and director). houses the 50pF capacitor and the goes through the plastic box and Gamma arm assembly. into the boom from the top side. The fixing screw through the The other hole required at this box into the boom allows the driven time is one for the coaxial cable. element 12.5mm tubing to go in This is drilled in the same end as Fig 4: Detail of joining end-pieces to the main elements. parallel to the boom for easy trans- the Gamma assembly hole in the portation. centre of the box. At this stage, the lOmm tubing and the 12.5mm tubing are not yet GAMMA ARM fixed together. This is so that the WITH THE 1 m length of alu- 12.5 mm tubing will fit tightly into minium rod, measure and cut the connections box. Holes must 320mm off. At one end, drill a be drilled in the 12.5 tubing of the 2mm hole for the connection point driven element for the Gamma arm. of the capacitor. 90 degrees out These holes allow connection of from this, at the other end of the the Gamma arm by a screw inside rod, drill a 2mm hole straight the tubing. A larger hole (8mm) is through the rod. Using a 6mm drill drilled through one wall of the bit, drill half way through the rod tubing and a 2mm hole is drilled in to make a countersunk hole in the the opposite wall. The reason for rod (see Fig 5). This is the attach- the 8mm hole is to allow a screw- ment point for the Gamma con- driver access to tighten the necting arm. element-to-Gamma-arm screw. Fig 5 (above): Connections from the After fitting and testing, the 8mm coax to the gamma match. hole can be filled with putty or simply taped over with weather- Left: Gamma match construction. proof tape. To get the correct loca- Now screw the end-pieces into the tion of the Gamma arm holes, first driven element in the same man- find the exact centre of the driven ner used for the director and re- element and then measure out flector (see Figs 4 and 5). Fit the 305mm and this is the centre-line capacitor to the box and connect for the holes. At the centre of the one side of the variable capacitor element, another 2mm hole must to the Gamma assembly, using the be drilled, for the shield connec- 2mm hole (drilled earlier) and a tion of the coaxial cable. solder tag held in place with a sheet-metal screw. Feed the co- CONNECTIONS BOX From the leftover length of alu- screw the Gamma assembly to the axial cable into the box from the THE CONNECTIONS BOX minium rod cut a piece exactly element using a sheet-metal screw outside and strip the ends ready needs to be drilled to take the driven 40mm long. With a file, one end (Fig 6). for connection. The shield of the element, Gamma matching arm must be filed to fit the Gamma Slide the connections box over coaxial cable is soldered to a sol- and the capacitor shaft. The first arm, and the other end filed to fit the driven element with the hole der tag and screwed to the driven holes to mark and drill are for the the 12.5mm tubing. If a drill-press for the Gamma assembly facing element using a sheet-metal screw. driven element. These were care- is available, it can be used to make the Gamma assembly. Insert the The inner of the coaxial cable is fully marked on each end of the a perfect job, by drilling through Gamma assembly into the hole in soldered directly to the bottom half of the plastic box, then the rod with the correct size of drill the box and adjust the box until it other side of the variable drilled with a 6mm pilot drill and bit. However, the file also works is in the centre of the element. capacitor. All the exter- then again with the 12.5mm bit. well, though it does The Gamma arm hole is drilled take a bit longer. In 40mm away from the elementhole, each end of the and is only drilled in one end of the Gamma connecting Driven element box. The driven element and 1 m arm a 2mm hole is re- aluminium rod are placed into the quired for the fixing box and a suitable position for the screws (see Fig 5). Using a sheetmetal capacitor located and marked for 40mm Gamma connecting arm drilling. The capacitor came from screw, screw the the junkbox and the exact position Gamma connecting is not critical, as long as it does not arm to the Gamma arm foul on the element or Gamma forming an I' shaped Gamma assembly arm (see Fig 4). A hole is required gamma assembly. L to screw the connections box to Place a screw through ORSGB RC1560 the boom, this is a 2mm hole drilled the 8mm hole in the Fig 6: The Gamma arm assembly. in the centre of the box. This screw driven element and

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 41 Picketts Lock

cice e

,------LARCCR ' Saturday TAKE 2 November 15th 6' Sunday

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Radeom DOWN TO EARTIV:%-- = al

nal connections to the WEATHERPROOFING box can now be weather- FILL THE ENDS of all the ele- PARTS LIST < proofed using hot-melt ments with hot-melt glue, epoxy, glue, epoxy or similar product. or a similar long-lasting product Boom section One 2m length, 25.4 x 25.5mm square 'U' aluminium to keep rain out of the tubing. Element centres Three 2m lengths 12.5mm OD aluminium tubing FIXING THE DRIVEN After checking all the connec- Element ends Two 2m lengths 10mm OD aluminium tubing Gamma match One lm length 10mm aluminium rod ELEMENT tions are good in the connections box, close the lid and seal against Connection box Plastic box 70 x 122 x 50mm LOCATE THE CENTRE of the the weather. If required, drill holes VC1 Variable capacitor 50pF boom and drill a 2mm hole in the in the side of the boom for a mast- Other items Solder tags, sheet metal screws exact centre of the flat edge (see clamp. Fig 7). The connections box is screwed to this point using a sheet- CHECKING THE SWR metal screw. Now, turn over the SWR at both band edges and set CONCLUSIONS boom and align the driven ele- THE SWR SHOULD be quite the SWR minimum at the centre of ment so that the boom and the good, if the dimensions in this ar- the band (see Fig 8 SWR readings THE 3-ELEMENT beam met all element are at 90 degrees to each ticle are followed closely. Place on the three beams I built for test- the criteria which I set out to achieve. other. Drill through the boom and the assembled antenna in a clear ing purposes). It has proved robust enough for the plastic box and into the driven area at least 3m off the ground and everyday use at my home as well as element with a 2mm drill bit. This check the SWR on a known SWR portable use on my 10m pump-up ASSEMBLING AND hole will be off centre and it holds bridge. The SWR can be adjusted mast. The total weight for the an- the driven element in the correct by turning the capacitor and check- DISASSEMBLING tenna is less than three kilograms! I place when the beam is being used. ing again. It is best to check the LAY OUT ALL THE metal pieces am extremely pleased with the DX in a clear flat area. Rotate the I have worked with it. The total cost driven element to 90 degrees and of the beam, was £18.63. To take insert the retaining screw through the design further, I want to add the boom and into the driven ele- another two elements to the front of ment. Slide the director through the beam — making a 5-element the boom and lock it in place beam on only a 4m boom. I think using a screw through the boom this can be done by reinforcing the and into the element. do the same 'U' boom with the next smaller size thing with the reflector. of 'U' shaped material and then The complete antenna is shown adding a second 2m section of 25.4 in Fig 9. mm 'U' stock. I hope to try with this To disassemble the beam, lower type of construction to make a the mast, remove the antenna and three-over-three stacked array us- the three screws in the boom. Re- ing two of these antenna and the move the director and reflector smaller 'U' sections to build the and rotate the driven element framework. Other projects, based through 90 degrees. only a single on the same construction methods, screwdriver is required for the will be a 10m 2-element version, beam and three screws. which should prove good fun. • Fig 6: Connecting the Gamma arm assembly to the element.

1.5:1

1.4:1

1.31

1.2:1

1.0:1 50.000 50.100 50.200 50.300 50-400 50.500 1st antenna 2nd antenna 3rd antenna ORSGB FIG1563

Fig 8: SWR readings on the three beams built for testing purposes.

Fig 7: Connecting the boxtothe boom. Fig 9: The complete three element 50MHz beam.

44 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 Extreme Narrowband Reception

by Peter Martinez, G3PLX*

N SUNDAY 3 AUGUST, the GB2RS news broadcast reported successful reception of signals on 073kHz from G4JNT in Southamp- ton to G3PLX in Cumbria, 393km away, a new one-way record at that time (see Fig 1). This was achieved using receiver bandwidths sev- eral orders of magnitude narrower than in normal amateur use, namely about 0.025Hz, and was made possible by the use of digital signal processing techniques at G3PLX. This article describes how it was done.

THE HARD WARE TO SEE WHAT LEVEL of signal might be expected over this distance, with an estimated ERP of lmW at G4JNT, the field strength can be calculated fairly accurately from the free- space loss and the surface wave attenuation. The noise level is less predictable, but using what published information could be found and some local measurements, it looked like the signal would be about 20dB below the noise level in a 250Hz bandwidth. To make the signal 20dB above the noise level would either require 40dB more power or 40dB less band- width, that is, a bandwidth of 0.025Hz. Divid- ing this by 73kHz gives a figure of 0.3 parts per million, which would be the required frequency accuracy. At G4JNT the transmitter uses a synthesiser Fig 1: The 393km path used by G3PLX to receive and decode slow CW signals from G4JNT on 73kHz. programmable in 10Hz steps, derived from a was to use the DSP equivalent to a spectrum THE SOFT WARE crystal. analyser to examine a wider range of frequen- At G3PLX a home-built converter using an THE 1 kHZ SIGNAL+noise from the receiver cies all at once. SBL-1 balanced mixer was used to up-convert audio output was fed to the DSP unit, a Motorola This was done using one of the standard the LF band up to HF for reception on a TS930s DSP56000-based development kit with a 14bit functions that can be done with digital signal transceiver. This is also synthesised in 10Hz analogue-to-digital converter and a parallel processing, whether in a computer or a dedi- steps, derived from a 10 MHz reference crys- port connection to a personal computer. The cated DSP unit, known as a Fourier Transform. tal. To remove the combined effects of drift in filtering was done in two stages, partially in the In this process, a set of samples of a signal the up-converter and in the TS930s, the oscil- DSP and partially in the PC. The PC also waveform, taken sequentially in time over a lator in the up-converter was derived directly displayed the processed signal on the screen in chosen timer interval, are transformed by com- from the reference crystal in the TS930s. This real time, thus providing a solution to the putation into a set of values presented eliminates the drift and ensures a precise rela- problem of how to 'listen' to the very slow sequentially in frequency over a correspond- tionship between the input frequency and the data-rate which this extremely narrow band- ing spectrum width. TS930s dial. To listen on 72.09 kHz, the fre- width would require. The same process is carried out in a spec- quency used for these experiments, the re- With the estimated frequency error and pos- trum analyser, except that the usual hardware ceiver was switched to USB mode and set to sible drift, it was anticipated that finding and spectrum analyser works by sweeping a single 10071.09 kHz, to give an audio output at ex- holding the signal might be quite difficult and filter across the band in question, whereas the actly lkHz. However, even this level of fre- rather time-consuming, since the maximum Fourier Transform is more like a large number quency control was estimated give an accuracy tuning rate would probably be limited to fig- of parallel filters all working at the same time. of only 2 ppm, so there is more work to be done. ures of the order of one bandwidth every In the usual form of the Fourier Transform, 1/bandwidth seconds, that's about 2Hz/hour! known as a Fast Fourier Transform or FFT, the *High Bladebank Farm, Underbarrow, Kendal, Climb LA8 SBN The technique chosen to solve this problem number of spectral line outputs is equal to the

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 45 NARRO WBAND RECEPTION

number of time-sample inputs in each block, and this number will always be a power of two. It turns out that the spacing between the output spectral lines will equal to the sample rate divided by the block size. For example, if an audio signal is sampled at 10kHz and a block of 128 consecutive samples is used in an FFT computation, the output will be equiva- lent to that of 128 equally-spaced narrow filters spaced 78Hz apart, the first one being at zero frequency (i.e. a low-pass filter) and the last one being just below 10kHz. In fact because in any sampled system it is only possible to han- dle signals that are at frequencies less than half the sample rate (known as the Nyquist rate), the highest usable spectral line output is number 63, and the outputs above number 64 are 'im- .4e.i.' ••• "eti. ages' of those below 64. `-':...'ll'i -sfi. .-".2 ..."••,...r, ' r••• • 41 '.. .."4 —.'• , • . ", " • ' The Serial Port AID Converter described by 4:›-t.ift--:&,.,:tt4-1;•,-.1.el.i, Andy Talbot G4JNT, in April 1997 RadCom is , .,l one unit capable of doing this in conjunction -fi..,5A--./...... t....sos-,... with suitable software in the corn-puter. To extend this technique to narrower bandwidths requires either that the size of the FFT is increased or that the sample rate is reduced. To get to the target of 0.025Hz would require an FFT size of 524288, or a reduction in sample-rate to 3Hz if the FFT size is kept at 128. The first option would require a great deal of memory and computation, and the second would mean a maximum audio input band- width of 1.5Hz. Neither option is attractive. There is another way of using the FFT, which gives a spectrum that is displayed either side of a chosen frequency rather than starting third-method receiver, these near-DC signals shift-register (known as an FIR filter) is prob- at zero, and this technique can be used to solve are taken to two further mixers to convert them ably the best for this job. the narrow bandwidth problem. This uses an back to the audio range, and the clever part is Although in the third method receiver these idea borrowed from the third-method SSB that the unwanted products of the first mixers two filtered near-DC signals are taken to a receiver principle. In this system, a received cancel out with the unwanted products of the second pair of mixers, in the DSP equivalent band of signals is fed into two mixers, each second mixers to give clean single-sideband they can be fed straight into the FFT compu- with local oscillators on the passband centre reception. tation. The cancellation of the unwanted prod- frequency. One oscillator is shifted in phase by In the DSP equivalent of this process, the ucts is a by-product of the sampling 'image' 90 degrees relative to the other. The output of first two mixers become simple multiplication effect, and the result is that signals above the each mixer thus contains near-DC components operations and the local oscillators become centre frequency appear in the bottom half of from both halves of the received band. Un- counters feeding waveform look-up tables for the FFT output and signals below the centre wanted out-of-band signals are rejected by two 0 and 90 degrees phase-shift. The two low-pass frequency appear in the top half of the FFT low-pass filters which have a cut-off frequency filters can be created in DSP software in a output, that is, in the part of the output array equal to half the required bandwidth. In the variety of ways, but the method using a tapped that was occupied by the 'image' of the bottom half of the output array in the example above. The final block diagram, as shown in Fig 2, can now take shape. The audio input to the DSP

In hardware In DSP processor In computer goes to the two mixers (multipliers), with oscil- lators at lkHz. The low-pass filters have cut-off

Audio_214; :2) frequencies of 1.5Hz. The outputs of these are Low pass filter 1.5Hz fed to the computer as 24-bit numbers at a rate of 3 samples/sec. and the computer performs o the FFT and displays the results. In practice,

1007 Fast rather than use a 128-point FFT, one of size 256 Fourier LF MHz TS-9305 Osciaatoril Transform is used with the early and late samples upconverter transceiver lkHz 73kHz computation 'feathered-off to zero at the ends. This gives in computer the same resolution as a 128-point FFT but •90. effectively with 256 outputs of the required Reference oscillator 10MHz Low pass filter bandwidth overlapped by half a bandwidth. .0 1.5Hz This makes it easier to get a good picture of

10k 3k a tone which happens to lie halfway between samples/sec samplesis rn two spectral lines. To produce the same half-

256 point line overlap in the time-domain, each time a spectrum display new FFT is processed, every 40 secs, only 128 ORSGB RC1554 every 40s new input samples are shifted into the FFT array, shifting the previous 128 samples into the second half. This makes it easier to get a good picture of an impulse which happened to Fig 2: Block diagram of narrow-band receiving system in use at G3PLX for the 73kHz tests. come near the edge of an FFT block and got

46 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 NARRO WBAND RECEPTION

Fig 3: Received signal from G4JNT at G3PLX, with a 3Hz frequency span in the vertical direction, time along the X-axis with UTC hours and ten-minute markers, and with signal level as brightness, white corresponding to a level 60dB above black. The signal is sending G3PLX DE G4JNT in Morsecode.

tional bandwidths, except for a few vertical streaks which are probably due to overload of the signal path from man-made noises. Need- less to say, there was absolutely no sign of any signal in the noise as heard in the main speaker.

CONCLUSION A TECHNIQUE FOR very narrow band re- ception has been described using DSP to im- plement the narrow filters, take care of fre- quency instability, and provide a usable method of 'reading' the signal. The 25mHz bandwidth used to receive 1 mW ERP of 73kHz over 400mm is probably an extreme example of the technique, and some people might find this bandwidth of questionable value for com- munication purposes, but for the writer it was a case of trying to use 25mHz or moving house, and in any case this idea can be easily adapted to wider bandwidths. The process of 'mixing down' the audio to two quadrature components at near-DC band- width also considerably reduces the data rate between the analogue-to-digital part of the system and the computation-intensive part. It is missed by the feathering process. This tech- THE RESULTS hoped that G4JNT may be able to produce an nique is known as windowing, and has other addition to his Serial Port AID converter to benefits when using the FFT process to sepa- ONE OF THE TRACES made during these make narrow-band processing possible in this rate signals very close together, which do not tests is shown in Fig 3. Previous measurements way. In addition to the spectrum display, the concern us here. of band noise at different times of day had near-DC quadrature technique can be very In the computer, the Fast Fourier Transform shown that the noise it at its lowest around effectively used as a starting point for the kind outputs numbers 0 to 127 represent frequencies dawn. The times are shown in hours UTC with of narrow-band data transmission techniques from 1000Hz to just below 1001.5Hz in the 10 minute marks. It should be possible to see which are likely to be a feature of LF working input signal, and those numbered 128 to 255 that the background noise is falling during the in the future. represent frequencies from 998.5Hz to just first 20 minutes of the run, and it may also be below 1000Hz. The magnitudes of these spec- just possible to discern that the noise level was POSTSCRIPT tral lines are converted to a decibel scale and just beginning to rise at the end. The signal displayed as a vertical line of 256 pixels, the itself is about 15-20dB above the noise level. SINCE PREPARING this article, some work brightness of each pixel representing the signal The Morse code sequence `G3PLX DE has been done, at G4JNT and G3PLX, to fur- level, the difference between black and white G4JNT' was generated by a computer program ther analyse the signals received during these representing 60dB of level change. The verti- at G4JNT, with a dot-length of 80 secs. which tests, using 'recordings' on disk made at the cal axis of the display thus represents the corresponds to a speed of 0.015 words per time. The data saved to disk during the tests spectrum from 998.5Hz to 1001.5Hz, or, if we minute. It is amusing to note that in order to consisted of the two low-pass-filtered refer that back to the antenna, it represents the comply with license regulations, G4JNT chose quadrature signals, sampled at a rate of 3Hz. spectrum from 72088.5Hz to 72091.5Hz, that to send his callsign, at 12WPM, at the end of One fascinating way of 'analysing' the re- is, centred on the expected transmitter fre- each dot period. There is, of course, no sign of corded signals was to play them back at high quency and with a spectrum width of 3Hz. this fast callsign on the trace. There are several speed and feed the sound to a speaker. In order Each time another 128 samples arrives from other things of note in Fig 3. The signal was to make the original signal audible as a tone, the the DSP unit, that is at a rate of once every 40 actually 0.16Hz low of the expected frequency, two speeded-up near-DC signals must be fre- secs, a new 256-point FFT is computed and and drifted by about 0.03Hz up and down quency- shifted up to a convenient pitch in the another 256-pixel vertical stripe is displayed, during the 3 hour transmission, but the use of middle of the audio range. Once again the with the previous stripes scrolling to the left. In the FFT technique means that the signal just third-method SSB principle comes to the res- this way an image builds up on the screen with appears low of the centreline and is actually cue, although in DSP it is easier to do the the time along the X-axis and the frequency curved very slightly. If a single narrow filter frequency-shift first, then copy the file so that along the vertical axis, with signal strength had been used, it might have taken considerable it can be played on the sound-card of a PC. In represented by the brightness of the image at time to find the signal, and would have drifted this way, with a speed-up factor of 1000, the each point. out of the passband during the transmission. original signal sending Morse at 0.015WPM in The amount of calculation to be done in the The faint horizontal line across the trace below a band of noise 3Hz wide, is transformed into computer is quite modest, and the signal can be the main signal is actually a birdie in the an audible form sending 15WPM in a band- easily processed in real time, with the signal receiver, some 0.25Hz lower down the band width of 3kHz. Heard in this way with no trace building up on screen as it is received. Of and about 15dB weaker. At this narrow band- further filtering, G4JNT was a few dB above course, at the narrow bandwidths used for width the band noise looks almost pure Gaussian the noise and could be given a report of strength these 73kHz tests, the signal builds up very and there is no sign of the crackles and pops 6. Perhaps that equates to a signal strength of slowly. typical of reception on this band with conven- 0.006 on the original signal! •

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 47 MAGNETOMETERS FOR AURORAL PREDICTIONS

RESULTS AND COMPARISON MAGNETOMETERS FOR SAFETY IN THE USE OF LASERS AURORAL PREDICTIONS THE OUTPUT OF the two magnetometers Laser light sources are classified in terms of safety Continued from Page 22 was fed to a Picolog ADC16 AID converter controlled by a 286 PC. This is, in fact, the best precautions required as follows: Class 1: Laser equipment with a low output (approxi- building with mains wiring and 30 metres from and cheapest way of recording data over long mately 0.39 microwatts or less) which does not cause the road. It was also sited 3 metres away from periods and obviates the necessity of multipen any injury to the human body. the nulling compass needlemagnetometer with recorders. Fig 6 shows the plot of magnetic Class 2: Laser equipment with an output of such level which it interacted if placed adjacent. data obtained during a seven-day period at of visible light (400-700nm in wavelength) which ena- The distance between the sensor and the Stow, Midlothian, Scotland. As expected, the bles the defensive action of the human body to avert circuit of Fig 5 required a length of cable to be plots correspond closely together and show the injury. (Approximately lmW maximum). mn between the two and this caused a ringing usual diurnal variation of magnetic field. Class 3A: Laser equipment with an output which makes effect on the square wave output of the sensor. The two magnetometers had different char- direct observation of the beam of optical means dan- This resulted in irregularity in the readings acteristics, however, which would determine gerous and which is less than five times the output of class 2 (approximately 5mW or less). obtained and was damped by the addition of the choice of which one to use in different Class 3B: Laser equipment that can cause eye injury if capacitor C8. circumstances. exposed to directly but which does not cause eye injury The sensitivity of the fluxgate magnetometer • The sensitivity of the fluxgate magneto- if exposed to diffused reflected beam. (Approximately was measured using the same method as for the meter is greater but the signal —noise ratios are 0.5W or less). null instrument. The response was 9.2mV/nT. about the same. Class 4: Laser equipment with an output which can The noise level was 2.5nT. • The resistance to interference from AC cause eye injury even if exposed to diffused and reflected mains is much greater beam (more than 0.5W, approximately). in the compass instru- The laser specified in this project is of Class 2, and ment, and so it would does not present a significant risk to eyesight pro- be a better choice in vided the user does not stare into the beam. highly populated ar- eas where it cannot logically, and more open to experimental vari- be sited away from ation. mains wiring. On the It is proposed that these two magnetometers other hand if resist- be used in conjunction with VHF propagation ance to mechanical monitoring to explore the correlation between vibration is the first the latter and geomagnetic field variations. The priority, the fluxgate results of these experiments will be the subject instrument would be of a further article. a better choice. • The fluxgate instrument is simpler REFERENCES to build and is likely [I] Radio Auroras (RSGB), ch 7: 'The Big to have a greater Storm of 1989 mean time between [2] Gbte Flodqvist, Electronics & Wireless failures, but from an World, March 1992, page 230. amateur point of [3] D 0 Pettitt, Journal cf the British Astro- view, the compass nomical Association, 1984 — 94 page 2.

Fig 6: Variations on Ho during the week beginning 12th April 1997 measured by instrument is more [4] Richard Noble, Electronics & Wireless a null Magnetometer (h0a) and a Fluxgate Magnetometer (h0b). accessible techno- World, September 1991, page 726

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48 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 III WEB SITE: littO:i iww w.martIn-lynch.co.uk Ill E-MAIL: stles en artin-lynch.co.uk

DON'T FORGET!! You can pay off the loan AT EILIEVIIRA 1 much quicker if you like and even send a lump sum one month if you wish. Trade-in your old gear or add to the minimum The Leicester show last month deposit, saw my company introduce the reducing the new Martin Lynch & Son A.R. amount of monthly 1111', ,11 :1111' "Budget Plan" A simple repayments. solution to spreading the cost You tell us of buying equipment without what you can 'BUDGET PLAN' huge deposits and massive afford per monthly payments. We can Since Martin Lynch first started what month and even buy your part exchange has now become the biggest retailer we'll tell you for CASH and you can still walk out with a new the deposit of Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood & Standard FT-920 for under £50! (Actually £38.60)! you require. Amateur Radio products in the UK, Take a closer look at the new ML&S A.R. Budget few things have changed. Plan - many of you already have. Call the sales Just call for an instant His priority is still Customer Service desk today for any product listed in this quotation!* first, competitive prices a very close magazine. If its available and approved by my second. buyers the Sales team will quote you a monthly repayment package suited to you. * If you want to experience "the complete picture" please call our new KENWOOD TH.G71E "07000" number today. The latest Dual Bander from Kenvvood. Up to SIX watts • CALL TODAY FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF NEW & USED EQUIPMENT IN EUROPE. out, (Thermal gloves NOT supplied)! Excellent audio • TEL: 07000 73 73 73 A AK..A1 '"ta, (what do you expect from the • FAX: 0181 - 566 1207 1E3 worldis leading hi-fi manufacturer? Available • CUSTOMER CARE: 0181 - 566 0 566 RSGB ICOM IC•746 November. See it at Picketts O PE NIN G TI M ES The latest HF Lock! MON - SAT : 9.30 - 6.00 Transceiver from Only £269.95 icon with a III Martin Lynch cal also oiler finance terms up to 60 « do. Depos its it co a minim of CI5 We welcome your difference. Not parteackange against lay pew Or usedq product provided its clean and in good wodung order. Call the Sales only do you get ICOM Desk today APR:19.9%. Payment protection is also available up to 36 months. • FiF to 2M lincl 6M 100W, • All units are brand new and boxed and veered with full manufacturers RTB warranty. All prices quoted for WO Watts on HF plus Six Who first to have a TRIPLE BAND 2/V/70 5(M/ on 2M cashkheque or Switch/Delta card. No additional charg es tor credit cards. Metres but you also get • All modes on all bands Handie then?lcont of course! • Martin Lynch is a licensed credit broker. Full written details are available on request. a staggering 100 Watts PBT, APf Enter the IC-T8E. Read the specification Finance is subject to status. 68,0E. (10 p&p on all major items. I Built in Keyer rid get your deposit in quick! on Two metres. All from I Auto ATU fitted a box not much bigger 11 Gen Coy renouer Triple Band 2670 • Budget Plan requirements: Full time employement (or 11 Beet in spectrum scope wale Band AX similar to C-7564 disabledlretired), over 18 and below 71, Current bank account (or than the IC-706! Don't WRFM for FM Broadcast OX up lo 5W output! • 10D Memories First to use NiMH battery building society). For instant finance please ensure you have UK those Icom Designers I Excellent noise blanker Splash res.,stant driving licence and cheque guarantee/credit card orElectricity/ Automatic OSP for noise, ever go to bed? CTCSS as standard GasIBT bill with your current name and address. notch and passband, Syntchatde TX Narrow FM 112.5kH21 for 2M band Finance subject to status. APR 19.9 %. 123 memories RRP:£1695 approx. Deposits now being taken. VerYCOMPe. - smaller than most e ogle borders, See it at Picketts Lock! RRP: £349 approx. Deposits now being taken. See it at Picketts Lock! w ellespeNce_ YAESU VX14! THE ANIATE1: R RADIO EXCHANGE cENTRE Latest edition from the Yaesu stable. Ultra-compact, Dual Band transceiver with wide band coverage receiver. 140-1 42 N O R T H FI E L D PRICE: £269 II --Witt-e a i.:/u II .i.:11.6")112ale: a •-•,...cknParal e edAirteldRX A V E N U E, E A LI N G, AVAIL4BLE AT II . ' 3061kb mere ii rm.te. Fele4709e PICK ETS LOCK • •:Neuter A.ea-lioleticdispir, a seot 125rewth men& L O N D O N W 1 3 9S B II , ,',..n CRISS foram bittey TWO EXCLUSIVE PRODUCTS F N111 THE ML&S 11-11"-1 1-3 Ei STAN DA R D \ ST 245 For innovation, precision engineering \s‘'el\ and ultimate performance look no Exclusive Design, Exclusive Product further than STANDARD. Their entire Japan Radio Company's new JST-245 is range is available at ML&S! built alongside commercial and marine products at their Tokyo factory. A superbly presented transceiver giving the operator a sense of occasion every time the silky smooth tuning knob is turned. C59000 All-Mode 150W HF plus Six metre transceiver including built-in mains PSU and Auto Tuner. Possibly the ultimate HF transceiver with THE NEW SIX metres, not only JRC JST•245 is the new JST-245 1 j TCSS411111purth £10 aimed at the HF Band Plus 50MHz Band „e mo te The JST-245 coves the 1.5MHz to 2EM It hand phis the 50MHz band, professional user, but and operates in al the modes et! • : SiSB, CV!, AM IA3RI,AFSI( and FM . % it now incorporates a 'r• HE el F'O u mains PSU and offers Large Colour LCD Display 9 . The , • 'PlOrRIC design with thoughtful placement N 150 watts output from :Wet( end e an easyto-read, large alsofriarresetii.)- 1.8 - 54MHz. caw LCD displtry wit a 4h reS0e011 41-dot diem' bar mehar Built-in AC Power Supply The but in AC power supply is of reciting type designed lus means transmission at maximum output his svitchable .4/ / '1 LjL RRP £3495 tretwer 85435V and ITS-264V What's the most Multiple Antenna Selection compact, economical, , nu connections are stie :table her the front pant ML 5t.C1 rd fredLect cee be stoned in " m m m m m m m m full featured tri-band ri Stable Frequency Control b o y » •Inlate •. Price: mobile? Standard's AS Inca. reference frequencen are generated 4a see ocean oscillator ond stalà frequency contra in Ole redstart Zito 7 '1' C5900D/ increments is made by a JAC unique Direct Digéal Syndesiser IDDS £2295 ICI at a high speed with very low phase *se, enseris superior GREAT IN THE CAR 6 Metres as well as 2 and 70 irequetcy stability. cm, with crossband repeat, in stock • Band Memory remote operation with Deposit f.299 & 12 x f188.68 Ea n cara r...arniari, can store frequency, mode, IF bendoddth, ADS. detachable front panel, or or 24 x £100.20 or 36 x and antennas in use, ensuring swift reset to the final mention& wireless remote control from Metre in each band e QV. your hand held's DTMF pad! £72.65. APR 19.9%. Plus 1200/9600 baud packet, 200 Channel Memory priority hyper memories for A memory capare cf 220 cfrninois is dray& to Morn frequency, mode, feet ACC 37"." -"... 17, Sni; tone. SO. RF AMP - your seven most used MOE and so :in frequencies, and up-and- ON THE ROAD IN down-load frequencies to the Other Standard Functions THE MPV optional 200 channel Read the Peter Hart A anew ot monde functions are prodded ocud.agVfüwrto extended memory chip °guarder, lizO ltrealt•in, etectronics keyet eriode eaueic!• Review in RadCom RFp0005 mrhpresson e l . lee without a computer! And October • % e t % \ \ there's so much more.

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BIG SIGNAL IN THE ,L11.1:1Uh:' ' .911 . PieW00 HAM SHACK .11 JUil C".• J", 2--YtLii:.3 oèe mot : 11.1 1)11 UV!) :r\2 e zo.r.

r-eitlerI81,'LPrNeg - 140-142 NORTHFIELD AVENUE, 4,11 gm 7.767 11 1111 \\I \ 11.1 Is 1: 5111:111.' \ \\(1..(1..N.11:1. EALING, LONDON ik1113 9SB I 8 I -566 I 20 7 c-mail: sales(çz martin * nt.h.co.n1; WEB SITE: http://www.martin-lynch.co.uk ML&S will price match any advertised price by another authorised dealer providing the item is in stock at the time of ordering IC-746 owners first servings at Martin 11 ti Lynch & Son .7i.g1 !ill') FT-1000MP/AC IC-207 After my scoop We pay (199 towards your deposit! FREE FINANCE OFFER announcement of the IC-746 last month, the flood of calls was incredible. Hardly surprising. Some thought it I was an April fools joke. I must `BUDG'ÉT PLAN' Still the worlds favourite HF transceiver. Have one in your shack today for only So you want to buy a new Twin Band admit when Icom told me the £46.08! And Martin Lynch will pay the mobile Transceiver. 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That one radio is your trade in and reduce the amount of No Deposit and 24 payments of only responsible for helping to months to pay £25. keep this hobby alive. Brilliant design at an even more remarkable price. Well done IC-706MKII FT-736R Icon), you deserve an Oscar. TS-870S NEW LOWER PRICE ADD A SIX METRE MODULE Be patient though, supplies The only 'real' DSP H.F. only £20!! Transceiver. will be slow at first so get your name and small deposit down quick. Call 07000 73 73 73 for • Still the reigning champion of the more details. Icom have slashed £100 off How about one for under £50 a month? VHFILIHF/SHF spectrum. This month the world's favourite HFNHF Sounds good to me. we're giving you the opportunity of PICKETTS LOCK mobile. RRP: £2399 ML Price: £1899 buying a brand new transceiver at RRP: £1099 £48.73 down payment and only fifty-five £1429 and adding a SIX Metre module COUNT DOWN!!! ML Discounted price of £995, payments of £48.73. for only £20!! 1 know its stupid, but buy it now before 1 change my mind. Deposit £29 and fifty nine payments By the time you read this of £25. RRP: £1998, ML Price: £1429 there will only be THREE + £20 for FEX-7386B = £1449. Deposit WEEKS to the biggest 40 ! £38.24 and fifty payments of £40. Only whilst stocks last "Christmas Rally" in IC-756 November!!! I know its a little C5900D HF, Six metres, 100 Watts on all early for Christmas but the Have one for only £25! bands and only £1899? I IRRP: £2199). organisers Radio Sport IC-821H reckoned on London is an NEW!! easier place to commute in and out of in November, not December. Make a note in your diary - 15/16th and the The only triple Band 21510 mobile aVailable! Buy one for only £25 If you are serious about your wo & whole Amateur Radio show Yep, add to the fact that ALL three top deposit & forty-two payments of £25 Seventy operating then take a close reviewers rate it and you can see why will be there, including the and receive CTCSS & DTMF boards look at the 1C-281H. It's very good. its so popular. Even more so at £48.73 major Japanese traders. Not a worth £100 FREE! deposit and fifty-five payments of £50. RRP: £1599. ML Price: £1399 hair curler or fluffy toy stand RRP: £799.95 Now all you have to do is decide £37.25 deposit and sixty payments of in site! between them all....! £35. IDE A S FR O M A B R O A D

A 2-element RF Deltaloop Beam on the C O M MISSIO NIN G HB9CV principle has several desirable WITH THE FEEDPOINT at eye level, verify the resonant frequencies of each element, sepa- features. Ruedi Werner, RB9RZ, de- rately, eg with a dip meter coupled to a few scribed his version in Old Man 16/95. small turns of wire plugged into its S0239 socket. IN THE EARLY 1960s, HB9CV patented a For best results, the director should be tuned beam antenna, consisting of a driven director 2.3% above and the reflector 5.7% below the resonant above and a driven reflector tuned design frequency. When wet with rain, the below the operating frequency. His feed method resonant frequency of the beam goes down by forces the optimum phase difference of 135o 50 - 100kHz (at 18MHz), so tune too high between the elements. This principle has be- rather than too low. come popular with dipole elements as the Raising the beam to its operating height 'HB9CV beam', and also, with square full- T R A N S L A T E D A N D E D I T E D causes only a minor frequency shift. wave loops, as the 'Swiss Quad' [1]. HB9RZ's Deltaloop version performs like the 'Swiss B Y E R W I N D A V I D , G 4 L Q I Quad' but is easier to build and adjust, though THE RESULTS its turning radius and height are a little larger. [though the great height above the feed point MEASURED FORWARD gain was 8dBi and The development work was done on 18.14MHz. suggests that the stub mast be supported by a the F/B-ratio 12 - 15dB. The SWR was 1.1:1 at second bearing - G4LQI]. For 18MHz, a total 18.135MHz, and below 1.5:1 between 17.9 and C O NSTR U CTIO N height of 8 - 10m is adequate. 18.35MHz. On the air, the beam is surprisingly effective. THE GENERAL LAY-OUT is shown in Fig 1. The elements are equilateral triangles. They PH ASIN G can be made entirely of wire, supported by an N OTES: THE DESIRED 1350 phase lead of the director H-shaped frame of fibreglass tubing or bam- with respect to the reflector is achieved by [1] 'The Swiss Quad Beam', RA Baumgartner, boo. Dimensions, for 1 mm2 PVC-covered feeding opposite ends of the loops, to get 180o HB9CV, RSGB Bulletin, June 1964. stranded wire, are given in Table 1. Alterna- shift, and feeding the director from the reflector tively, this frame can be made of metal tubing, [2] See 'Waterproofing' by John Nelson, feed point through a k/8 = -45° phasing line, as with only the sloping sides made of wire. GW4FRX, in RadCom, January 1989 or IIF shown in Fig 2. In his 18MHz prototype, HB9RZ did it this Antenna Collection (RSGB) p184. The velocity factor of the coax applies; if way. For the horizontal tops of the loops he made of RG213, the physical length of the used aluminium tubing, 2.50m centre sections C ORRECTIO N phasing line is only 66% of its electrical length of 17mm OD with 15mm OD tips. HB9PWQ, IN LAST MONTH'S Eurotek (Oct 97); the of 2J8. The phasing line may be wound around for his successful 50MHz version, used a 20mm first word, third line from the bottom of the top the mast or taped to it. square boom and lOmm OD tubing for the right hand paragraph is 'make'. This should The UHF-series coax sockets, plugs and T horizontal element sections. Both found that all read 'open'. are not waterproof. They should be wrapped loop sides had to be increased by approx 6% with self-amalgamating tape or Coax-Seal [2]. Erwin David, G41Q1: 2.2 Island Wall, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 1EP. over the all-wire dimensions of Table 1. The boom length, in all cases, is k/8. Taking Band 30m 20m 17m 15m 12m 10m 6m a hint from HB9SL, it was found that the spacing between the bottom corners of the loops is not Design frequency 10.12 14.25 18.14 21.3 24.96 28.5 50.15 Director, total length 28.99 20.60 16.18 13.78 11.76 10.4 5.91 critical. Hence, each loop is terminated on an Reflector, total length 31.38 22.28 17.51 14.91 12.72 11.31 6.42 S0239 coax socket mounted on, and with its Boom length, X/8 3.71 2.63 2.07 1.76 1.50 1.32 0.75 flange connected to, the aluminium mast. Phasing line, X18 of RG213 2.44 1.74 1.36 1.16 0.99 0.87 0.494 The 18MHz antenna weighs only 2.3kg and can be turned by a small VHF-type rotator Table 1: Dimensions for HB9RZ beams with wire elements on a non-conducting frame.

Beam direction

Reflector

© RSGB Rd 574

Fig 1: HB9RZ's beam has triangular loops with I/8 spacing at the top and none Fig 2: 135° phasing is obtained by connecting opposite ends of the loops to at the bottom. The director is resonant above the design frequency, the the mast for 1800 then lagging the director 45° by feeding it through a I/8 reflector below it. Both elements are driven as shown in Fig 2. phasing line.

52 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 lev'et4Ae4veeeele eo ..'weeeoifreeee. Y,4t41,4 Y,41,44,414 4 4.P,44l4,44$ "0'1' '1,41fr Weele4 11' ee4 Wee Ye4 'IA V11'14.14 et,4 ',; VALVES WANTED TOP PRICES PAID FOR NE W BOXED VALVES

A2900 GEC £4.00 L63 GEC £3.00 PX650 £45.00 AC044 Mullard £10.00 LP4 Ferranti £20.00 RS237 European £35.00 DA100 GEC £150.00 LS6A £10.00 RV218 European £20.00 z DA30 GEC £100.00 MZ1-100 Mullard £50.00 RV239 European £20.00 DA60 GEC £150.00 MZ1-70 Mullard £25.00 V503 £50.00 DET25 £35.00 MZ1-75 Mullard £25.00 VR40 £60.00 D025 Mullard £50.00 MZ05-50 Mullard £10.00 Vil £10.00 0026 Mullard £100.00 MZ05-60 Mullard £20.00 VT2 £20.00 0060 Mullard £150.00 NR47 £100.00 VT25 £35.00 E8OCC Mullard £4.00 NR56 £30.00 VT4C £25.00 E88CC Mullard £2.00 NT18 £30.00 VT75 £30.00 ECC32 Mullard £3.00 NT36 £30.00 2A3 £5.00 ECC33 Mullard £4.00 NT40 £60.00 4XP Cossor £30.00 ECC82 Mullard £2.00 P12-250 £10.00 6B4G USA £8.00 ECC83 Mullarcl £3.00 P15-250 £10.00 6L6G USA £8.00 EF86 GEC £3.00 P25-500 £30.00 203A USA £10.00 EF86 Mullard £3.00 P27-500 Mazda £35.00 205A USA £20.00 EL34 Mullard £15.00 P5-400 Mazda £35.00 (211) USA £25.00 EL37 Mullard £15.00 P625 Mazda £10.00 3008 STC £150.00 EM1 Mullard £5.00 P650 Mazda £20.00 3006 USA £150.00 EM34 Mullard £5.00 PA20 Ediswan £20.00 845 USA £25.00 EM4 Mullard £5.00 PA40 £20.00 4212E STC £150.00 GZ32 Mullard £4.00 PP3-250 Mazda £50.00 4242A STC £40.00 GZ34 Mullard £4.00 PPS-400 £45.00 4274A West. Elec £25.00 KT61 GEC £5.00 PT25H £15.00 4300A STC £60.00 KT66 GEC/Osram £40.00 PX25 Marconi £110.00 43006 STC £60.00 KT66 Marconi £30.00 PX25 Osram £110.00 (6550) USA £10.00 KT77 GEC £12.00 PX4 Marconi £60.00 6550A USA £10.00 KT88 GEC £60.00 PX4 Osram £60.00

AVO VALVE TESTERS TEST EQUIPMENT TRANSFORMERS CT160 £40 each R & S Polyskops, swab 1 or 2..£20 each Oil filled or potted transformers and Marconi TF801D £15 each chokes by Parmeko, Gresham, VCM Mk 3 £50 each Solartron HT PSU Gardners, etc. Mk 4 £80 each Model SRS 151 } Radio spares, mains transformers and SRS 152 POA chokes, audio output transformers by VCM 163 £270 SRS 153 Partridge, Wooden, Parmeko, etc.. POA

CAPACITORS

Oil filled block paper or axial by TCC, Plessey, Dubilier, etc POA

TANNOY 1. ALL 15" TANNOY DUAL CONCENTRIC LOUDSPEAKER DRIVE UNITS MADE BETWEEN 1947 AND 1974 INCLUSIVE. ‘‘‘t We will buy singly or in pairs and pay very high prices indeed for these - i.e. typically up to £450 per pair for 15" Golds, up to £500 per pair for red and silver. We can only offer top price for those units still with Tannoy labels attached and drivers MUST BE COMPLETE WITH ORIGINAL TANNOY CROSSOVERS.

2. TANNOY 12" LSU UNITS. We offer up to £60 per unit with Tannoy crossover.

3. AUTOGRAPH with 15" LSU DRIVE UNITS We offer up to £1,500 a pair.

4. CORNER GRF with 15" LSU DRIVE UNITS We offer up to £850 a pair.

5. RECTANGULAR GRF with 15" LSU DRIVE UNIT We offer up to £600 a pair.

6. CORNER YORK with 15" LSU DRIVE UNITS. We offer up to £750 a pair.

7. RECTANGULAR YORK with 15" LSU DRIVE UNITS We offer up to £850 a pair.

8. LANCASTER with 15" LSU DRIVE UNITS We offer up to £500 a pair.

9. IIILZ (3LZ) with IIILZ drive units We offer up to £150 a pair.

10. TANNOY 15" DUAL CONCENTRIC LSU CROSSOVERS We offer £35 each.

13 STATION ROAD, HORSHAM, WEST SUSSEX RH13 5EZ SUSSEX SURPLUS Tel: (01403) 240257 Fax: (01403) 270339

.','t-b,f+-ei.iNtes,A\i-eieteieeet-f\reeete44efqed\teietereteteiereed\re,M'ete seitleteqM\t14-f*Is.tere RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 53 MYSTERY POWER the secondary voltage is intended to be the same TRANSFORMERS as in Fig 2 (within a reasonable margin of error). To use the transformer on European mains sup- HOW CAN I DEIERMINE the voltage, current plies you need to connect the two primaries in and power ratings cf a large power tranjormer series as shown in Fig 3. Check this using the cf unknown origin? low-voltage AC supply to confirm that twice the THE OBVIOUS WAY is to read what' s printed voltage appears across the two primaries when on the transformer, but often the information is they are connected in series. If you get almost incomplete, so let's assume this transformer is a IAN WHITE, G3SEK zero voltage, it means that one of the primaries complete mystery. The 'six-pack test' will give 52 Abingdon Road, Drayton, Abingdon, is the opposite way around from what you you a first guess at the power rating, to see Oxon OX14 4HP thought; that is also a strong hint to re-check all whether the transformer deserves any further [email protected] the other windings! attention. Rule of thumb: size of a six-pack = 500 Now it's time to test the transformer with watts, size of a 12-pack = 1500 watts, too heavy mains voltages and re-confirm what you have to lift = 2500+ watts! This of course is very Don't worry if you can't be certain at this stage measured. All being well, you should see the variable, and older transformers tend to be big- whether the taps are in the correct sequence. If expected voltage at the secondary. Unless it's an ger and heavier for their power rating than there seem to be two identical sets of primary enormous transformer, something like a 3A modern ones. windings, usually coming out to two sets of mains fuse will protect against mistakes while The next step is to identify the windings. wires with the same colours, or two sets of tags the secondary is open-circuit and unloaded. Using an ohm-meter, work your way around the with the same layout, you probably have a Experienced transformer-recyclers will long ago tags or wire ends to identify which wires are transformer with a dual primary for 115/230V have hooked mains on to what they "knew" was connected to which others. Use bits of masking supplies. We'll come back to that in a moment. the primary, and measured whatever came out. tape to label the ends of the wires, and label all Can you identify the main secondary wind- I count myself as experienced now — but the the wires of the first winding as 'A', all the wires ing? In really big power transformers there will learning process included some nasty surprises! of the second winding as '13' and so on. Check probably only be one such winding — it' s only the The methodical way is definitely better. that all wires with the same label are connected, smaller multi-purpose transformers that tend to and that all wires with different labels are not have several secondaries. A transformer with HIGH VOLTAGE connected — this will become very important huge, thick secondary windings is almost cer- when you apply power to the transformer. tainly a low-voltage one. The best way to check WHAT IF IT'S A high-voltage transformer, Now try to identify which are the primary such a transformer is to inject a low voltage into identified by its relatively thin but well-insu- windings. On a modern transformer these may the secondary, from any small transformer giv- lated secondary windings? (These should have a he on a separate bobbin from the secondaries, ing about 6V AC. Fig 2 shows an example of a higher DC resistance than the primary, by the but on older-style transformers they are almost transformer fed in this way, and the voltages we way.) There are several ways to tackle HV certainly the wires coming from the innermost measure. If we assume that the middle mains tap transformers, but it is generally safer to make the set of windings (Fig 1). Usually the neutral end is intended to be 230V, we can multiply all the first tests at low voltage, so you can calculate is right on the inside, and then there may be a measured voltages by a factor of (230 ÷ 74) = what kind of high voltage you're dealing with bunch of connections close together which are 3.11. This means that the true secondary voltage before trying to measure it. This is important the voltage-changing taps. Use an ohm-meter in is (3.11 x5.8) = 18V — in other words we have a because most multimeters will not handle its lowest range to confirm this. The resistance transformer that would be useful for a voltages beyond about 1000V AC. Probably the from the neutral end to the lowest live tap may be high-current 13.8V supply. Obviously you can best way is to follow Fig 2 and feed about 12V a few ohms, and the resistances between the taps change the connections to the primary taps to AC into the mains primary, so that all voltages will probably be too low to read accurately obtain the voltage you want. For amateur appli- you measure will be scaled down by a factor of because they represent only a few turns of heavy cations it is usually allowable to connect say about 20 from the real thing. Another option is to wire on the core. Assuming that the primary is 230V AC to the 220V tap if you need a little more apply mains power to the primary through a labelled as winding A, mark the neutral end as secondary voltage; however, it does stress the light-bulb (Fig 4). The light bulb is always a A 1 and successive live-end taps as A2, A3 etc. transformer more, so you shouldn't ask for too good idea ifyou think there maybe a short-circuit, much. because the worst that can happen is that the bulb

0 RSGB RC1576 "Live" taps Fig 3 shows a dif- lights brightly. All being well, the secondary ferent situation: there voltages are then likely to be about half the real A4 A3 A2 are two windings giv- thing, so this option requires more care, and you Secondary ing about the same risk damaging the multi-meter on its highest outside voltages. The two pri- normal AC voltage range. In Practice for April mary windings indi- 1994 described a high-voltage probe which is cate that you have a very useful for this type of application and works e 115/230V trans- equally well on AC mains and DC. former. Assuming that WARNING: experimenting with high-volt- Primary inside the middle primary tap age transformers can be dangerous — and so too represents say 115V, is AC mains. High voltages are perfectly safe you can work out that when confined inside a working and fully en-

..I .."••••.

BI B2

Secondary

Inter-winding screen A =Neutral (if any)

Fig 1: Some transformers have the primary winding(s) on a separate bobbin Fig 2: Testing a low-voltage transformer with a few volts AC applied to the from the secondary. Older and larger transformers almost always have the secondary. If the middle primary tap A3 corresponds to 230V, the readings primary on the inside, show that this transformer has an 18V secondary.

54 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 IN PRACTICE

closed unit, but experimenting and be suitable forvoltage-doublinguntil Ti ORSGB RC1578 building needs a lot more care. The you have tested the whole system kind of experimental lash-up you under full DC load. may be tempted to use to test a bare Tom Brulhns, K7ITM has sug- transformer can be particularly dan- gested a useful way to ' look inside' B2 gerous. Ifyou can identify a ground- a transformer to check its internal ing connection to the core of the temperature. This will work with a

transformer, always connect it to AC transformer of any size. "Measure the mains earth. DON'T poke mains the DC winding resistances accu- around a live high-voltage system N rately at room temperature. Con- to make measurements: always C3 nect a load, apply mains power and B1 switch off, unplug the mains, short 38 5V let it run for long enough to reach AC 37V the windings using an insulated AC 35.5V thermal equilibrium. Disconnect the AC screwdriver to be sure they're off, AC and load. Quickly re-measure

clip the meter leads on, plug in again Cl the DC resistances, before the trans- E and step back before you switch on former has a chance to cool signifi- Inter-windingt to make the measurement. Then screen (if any) cantly. Measured with an accurate switch off and go through the whole digital ohm-meter, the change will or (A2 and C2) shorting ritual again before you or (A3 and C3) tell you to a close approximation the touch anything. This becomes par- L • -• A2 or A3 or A4 L• s(A4 and C4) temperature rise, since the thermal ticularly important after you con- coefficient of resistance of copper Link C Al 100-120 nect rectifiers and a reservoir ca- mains is about 0.39% per °C. For example, 200-240 pacitor, because the high voltage mains C2 or C3 or C4 Nik - - E (Al and C1) if the resistance of any one winding doesn't go away immediately. Yes, increases by 15.6%, it indicates a I know it's tedious, but that's the NS Ici 40°C temperature rise inside the safe way to enjoy a long career Inter-winding screen Inter-winding screen transformer. That should be OK, E (11 - -• and corelframe ES - -• and core/frame working with high voltages. An- but I'd not want to see more than a other thing: the older type of AVO AC mains connections for Ti 60°C rise unless I knew for very and similar multi-meters can push a sure that the insulation in my trans- Fig 3: Transformer with dual primaries for 115/230V connection. considerable current through trans- former was rated for it." The excep- former windings when trying to tions to this temperature limit are measure low resistances. If you the excellent 'Admiralty-rated' ORSGB RC1579 aren't using insulated test probes transformers that come in a rounded and are connected across the wind- metal case. Most of these are very ing when you break the circuit, you efficient designs with tape-wound can get a real jolt from the voltage cores, often oil-cooled, and also they surge as the magnetic field collapses. are rated for operation at something Unknown Mains and higher-voltage windings transformer like 80°C ambient temperature - may have low resistance, but they NO that's béfore you apply any load. If have a lot of inductance! / one of these transformers has the Presumed primary connections voltage ratings and winding resist- POWER RATINGS ance that you need, you can feel confident about drawing at least YOU KNO W THE secondary Fig 4: To test any mains-powered unit that you're not sure about — in this case 50% more than the rated current in voltages, and you've used the an unknown HV transformer — use a light bulb in series to limit the current. almost any amateur radio applica- guess-my-weight method to esti- tion. mate the power rating; but what is the trans- load on the primary. In every case you are K7ITM also points out that you can get a former really capable of? If it's obviously big looking for signs of overheating in the windings, modest increase in safe transformer output by enough for your needs, the question becomes voltage sag and/or core saturation. If you have a blowing cool air over it. The Alpha/ Power range academic, but what about that medium-sized load that is suitable for either the primary or the of HE power amplifiers reviewed by G3SJX in transformer that might be ideal for a compact secondary and also continuously-variable mains RadCom for February 1997 use this technique, desktop or portable unit... if it has the capacity? auto-transformer (Variac) of at least the same in the form of an optional square computer-style The only totally reliable answer is to test the power rating as the transformer, you can make a fan on the air intake. Although such a small fan transformer in its intended application-but for few experiments to see where the limits of does not significantly increase the airflow through amateur constructors that answer comes too late, performance are, but this isn't very easy. the main centrifugal blower that cools the PA because the transformer has probably dictated Finally, when you're trying to estimate the valves, it does blow all the incoming air directly the whole mechanical layout and is deeply built power capabilities of an unknown transformer, on to the mains transformer. This makes the heat into the finished unit. You really need to test the you need to remember that a resistive load is not transfer much more efficient and allows the transformer on a dummy load. Low-voltage nearly as severe as the load of a capacitor input transformer to run cooler on high duty-cycle dummy loads are not too difficult. In Practice for filter (see In Practice for April 1994). If the modes such as RTTY. These fans are very cheap June 1995 described a load that VK5BR made transformer passed the test with a resistive load, on the surplus market, and can be used in a wide from galvanised iron wire which is suitable for you should check it again with the rectifier/filter range of applications. Even when there are no 10-20V secondaries up to 20A or more; and you circuit you plan to use, and an appropriate DC components that require direct cooling, a small can also build up something out of car headlamp load. In particular, voltage-doubler circuits re- fan can generate enough breeze to prevent pock- bulbs. High-voltage loads are a problem, be- quire a transformer with a very low secondary ets of hot air accumulating inside a cabinet, and cause 2kW resistors capable of handling 2000V resistance; never assume that a transformer will can greatly enhance reliability. at lA or more are hard to find! I can think of a few methods but they're expensive (eg banks of light bulbs) and/or extremely dangerous unless you 1F YOU IJAVE NEW QUESTIONS, or any comments to add to this month's column, engineer them very carefully indeed. One possi- I'd be very pleased to hear from you by mail or E-mail (see head cf column). But please ble method for lower-voltage transformers up to remember that I can only answer questions through this column, so they need to be on about 500W rating is to feed mains into the topics cf general interest. secondary and use a low-voltage high-current

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 55 Station MDCON SCDFU MME Management REY EN with Turbolog III

Reviewed by Neville Cheadle, G3NUG*

o o = . —... = ...... 0„

10©00j o 0 ffl I I --- _ _ o o 0. ____,,. i:25 0 0 = . = —... o _pp0-0 . ,,,...,===,..., = .„,„.„,= = , 0 ...... D===, 0 0 0

Fig 1: TurboLog III with all possible peripherals.

HAVE BEEN AN enthusiastic user of tic user of the DX PacketCluster network. I also TurboLog III. There are many more facilities, TurboLog since the early 90s when I first QSL first contacts 100%. So, what do I need but I would need to write a book to describe the purchased TurboLog I. The original from TurboLog? Here are some examples: whole system. TurboLog III comes with a TurboLog program was reviewed in loose-leaf manual of around 220 pages which is / • Reliable logging of QS° details with sound RadCom by David Evans, G3OUF, in 1992 [1], extremely comprehensive and easy to update. back-up routines but it has developed enormously since its early Nearly all queries about the system are an- days and is now a highly- sophisticated station • A reliable, in fact a 24-hour, link to the UK swered in the manual. There is also a very management program. DX PacketCluster handy quick reference card. Both will be main- Iupgraded through TurboLog }Ito TurboLog • Instant information about whether a DXCC tained in English. III, which I have been using since it was launched country has been worked or confirmed on a in 1994. John Linford, G3WGV, developed the particular band and mode STATION MANAGEMENT program through to TurboLog III, but sold the • Immediate access to past contacts with a business to TurboLog Communications, a com- LET ME NOW describe TurboLog III in a little particular station pany owned by Alwin Gudesen, DJ9KG, and more detail. Earlier I used the phrase 'station Jurgen Klemp, in 1996. They specialise in • Details about whether specific IOTA island management program'. This indicates an inte- Turbo Pascal, the language of TurboLog, and groups have been worked and confirmed grated solution in the areas of data capture and are based in Morsum, Germany. They are con- station control. Fig 1 shows the most sophisti- • Alerts for band-countries not worked and tinuing to develop TurboLog /Hand provide an cated application of TurboLog III and, with the not confirmed updating service. exception of the Morse and voice interfaces • Summary information such as DXCC scores and remote alerting, this would be a fairly (including deleted countries) by band and typical installation. Rather than list out all the MAIN FEATURES mode facilities, let us consider what equipment can BEFORE DESCRIBING TurboLog III in some • Summary information for IOTA groups, eg be controlled with TurboLog 111. detail, let me say how I use the system. I am IOTA groups worked, IOTA groups con- • Transceiver: TurboLog III can interface with very active on the HE bands and chase band- firmed 26 different types of transceiver. Frequency countries and IOTA islands. Jaman enthusias- • Printing of QSL card labels information can be transferred from the trans- ceiver to the logbook. When a 'spot' is received *Further Felden, Longcrcft Lane, Felden, Hemel Hempstead, Herts HP3 OBN. E-mail :g3nug@btinternet .com All these facilities and data are provided by from the PacketCluster (see later) the trans-

56 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 TURBOLOG III REVIEW

••:10.1986 Clits:1810EAM 20 WPM DJ9X6 TS950 H . t : 1: 4 1 p. :11/9118 Cles. MEAN 28 WPM c. late From lo Cattsign DM land Mode Wet A snt Apt red Itcywrd QS QR Filtered DX Aterts ep-96 2Z07 2287 EUIAJ 150 559 559 DX de MO M: 7885.7 UMW 16162 Sep-e6 G122 2127 eXIOX/F.11. 100 1179 579 Duerr y OX de M U: 3788.2 U115Pl 1815Z -96 1154 1400 CX3CE 750 559 559 Y OX de 11361: 21247.8 LIMN 18112 -96 1449 1451 YL12D 150 59 59 /X dc EA1011W 1 0102.0 (Ab/IIK1X1 18122 rep-I6 2856 2051 3vese 150 591 599 INDIF OX de DI M: 14172.1 ItAIDWX 10112 2Sep-96 2218 2211 308118 100 599 599 D P IX de eel: 37882 18911 18132 Sep-96 2212 2213 308118 150 599 599 1191P IX de LA M: 14165.0 180W. 3Scp-96 2055 2858 30888 150 59 59 14280 Y IX de 11110CE: 21220.8 EX7EF 18132 4Sno-96 A951, 8957 3081111 150 59955 59861 MIP Y DX de DIEM 21254.0: CPI 18292 t • ••• lei, N M 150 591299 59002 felf It> de DLIUU 7060.0 9A2)Y04HP WAR 183' IX de bile tlt5tX 111152 59 59 IX de &QO M: 18X2 DX dc 0115MT: cr9r Ithee de Cal / Porto Santo 18372 req. 111/5.83kHz Met QS0 Tunisia IAFI IX de Wine 81'810 18372 Mode SS8 10163 1001 1119 Seari. 177' IX dc TWEE WIZ Pnwer 1501i 050,2 1728Z 1941 Ar BaludiMiidr QS0 Matric nuntry: Kuwait de 0115MT: 14267.0 CTIF 'then di Ent e Porto Santo 1817Z CU 6 6 ,7 hAtIAAA taring: Ile de 6181IY: 115941.3 08382)010 RS1Z IT 18 SSB 66 r 00000 istence. 4136 161. 2571 Miles tart TTY unrise: 82182 Sunset 14512 lotat 2111 " 18392 PITR

1 Move cursor te Move field Cottl' Start ISO Esc Quit lilt H eel. • Select Alt H Het PI QSY 12 QSY/s t F5 Tell Alt-0 Dir Spot 1:c Exit

Fig 2: The TurboLog III basic logging screen. Fig 3: The TurboLog Ill 'Filtered DX Alerts' Packet Cluster screen. ceiver can immediately be made to move to the a DOS application, but it runs well under Win- Fig 4 shows a country analysis by band and spot frequency. The callsign of the DX station dows. can, be prepared for all data in the database is placed in the callsign field of the main For those needing more than two serial ports (all-time) or from a specific period, eg all logging screen. All that an operator has to do is there are various solutions available on the mar- contacts since January 1997. The various sym- to work the station, enter the reports exchanged ket. For example, if one needs four serial ports bols indicate whether a country has been and any comments and then press the enter key. each with a separate IRQ to run packet, a CAT, worked, confirmed or accepted for DXCC. The QS0 details are immediately written to the a CW-keyer and a multimode controller at the Fig 5 shows a summary of DXCC scores and hard disk — it's that simple! same time, a simple extender card can be used. here again various permutations are available such as all-time countries, current countries • DVP (Digital Voice Processor) card: etc. Once you get 2000 countries against the TurboLog III fully supports the K 1 EA DVP TURBOLOG SCREENS nine-band entry you know you are progressing card. Any signal can be recorded and played THE BASIC LOGGING screen is shown in well! back — a one minute recording takes 1Mb on Fig 2 and is self-explanatory. One great ad- In summary, TurboLog III has a very com- disk. In addition, up to 10 messages can be vantage of TurboLog III is that the top half of prehensive database which can be accessed to recorded by the operator, such as `CQ' calls this screen looks just like the traditional paper provide a large range of reports on screen, disk and QSL information. This can be a real bonus log. It is easy to scan back through your log or and paper. Additionally there are powerful to contesters and can prevent many a sore to search for QS0s with a particular station. facilities for one-off reports to be prepared, eg throat. 'Keywords' are an attractive feature of a list of all QS0s on 20m with AS (Bhutan) on • Morse output: Similar facilities to DVP are TurboLog. They are invaluable for IOTA en- SSB prior to 1970. available on CW. Up to 20 texts can be stored thusiasts but can also be used for zones, club — another valuable facility particularly for the membership numbers and so on. For every INSTALLATION AND contester (but you still have to be able to read QS0 I enter the IOTA reference number if any, SUPPORT the callsigns!) eg EU-005, in the 'Keyword' field. This ena- • Multi-mode controller: TurboLog III al- bles me to track all QS0s with that particular THE INSTALLATION of TurboLog III is lows the user to access a TNC or multi-mode island group and to produce the IOTA reports straightforward and the manual is compre- controller and supports digital modes such as and statistics mentioned earlier. hensive. In earlier versions (TurboLog I and RTTY / AmTOR and PacTOR. Log data is The middle of the screen shows frequency, TurboLog II) the user had to edit a configura- transferred to the main logging screen with a mode, power and QS0 number, together with tion file and I know this caused problems for single keystroke. information about the country being worked, some (including myself). The user configura- such as bearing, sunrise and sunset and local tion file has gone in TurboLog III and is re- • Packet radio: The packet radio network is time. This information is drawn from a country placed by a number of drop-down menus which easily accessed using TurboLog III and a TNC. data file. This file contains a huge amount of are easy to use. The manual and help files are As mentioned earlier I find this a tremendously information about every prefix and DXCC excellent. valuable feature, particularly in the collection country and is regularly updated by TurboLog I have had many discussions with John of 'spots' from the DX cluster. Various alerts Communications (see updating service below). Linford, G3WGV, in the past about TurboLog. can be set up — I have been known to get up in The lower part of the screen shows data Probably over 90% of the queries he received the middle of the night when "DX" in CW has being received from the PacketCluster. Vari- from users could have been resolved by refer- sounded in the shack, alerting me to a new ous options are available from this screen. My ence to the manual and help files. band-country or rare station! favourite is the filtered option which incorpo- Finally, a word about the service philosophy • Remote alerting: This allows an alert to be rates the facility to filter out all spots that are not of TurboLog Communications, the new own- sent to a remote VHF or UHF radio. This as a of interest. Mouse support is available in the ers of TurboLog III. Alwin Gudesen DJ9KG, useful facility when one is cutting the grass and basic logging screen. wrote to me as follows; "It is our service a rare one comes on! Fig 3 shows the 'Filtered DX Alerts' screen philosophy to respond to every fax or letter So much for the summary of some of the which is a very popular facility and many which we receive with the shortest possible main features and peripherals that can be asso- TurboLog III users set this as a default. Only time, in most cases on the same day." An ciated with TurboLog III. What about the com- filtered spots arriving from the PacketCluster automatic update service is available either puting resources needed? TurboLog II/can run are shown, together with QSL and QS0 details once or at least twice a year. I have taken the on a 386 class PC running at 25MHz or better by band and mode and country details. Two second option, as this means that I get the latest with a hard disk and a minimum of 2Mb RAM. keystrokes are needed to 'grab' the spot, QSY versions of TurboLog III soon after their re- However, a 486 is preferred. Most of the pro- the rig and enter the callsign in the logbook. lease, together with an updated coun- gram is overlaid and occupies 450kb of RAM. After that it is just a matter of making the QS0 try data file. This is important to me, A QS0 entry takes 127 bytes. TurboLog III is and pressing enter! with so many new prefixes appearing TREAT YOURSEL F Christmas Cards TO ONE OF OUR e 20 high class cards and SPECIAL AMA TEUR envelopes (Marconi or RA DIO PACKS OF Dove of Peace).

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J US T CO N TA CT JULIA O R E M MA O N 01 70 7 660888 T O

PL A C E YO U R C R E DIT CA R D O R D E R N O W! TURBOLOG III REVIEW

011s Alt Alut Clus:DISCOA ze WFM DJ9KG Ta9Se 600 6660001, +ma ;na me OE 666 'se men CdRREMJ DXCC SUPPIAM (US] ------Mode:Mixed 064 060.6 GA 46 nab oo OA a ;bo -be All QS s 006 666600 GI ob.? 010660 OMA ula boo ao r---- tuunitui WUSFLU r ALL Ilea mu -ir FEMIUP ML GJ boo b2o bb AJA 666 06;66 Total Previous Period Revd. Accept Rcvd. Accept Oon 6 baba GM ane OE 06 ba 8 ttiz 182 163 37 145 e 8 e one eaocob GU àan te oba, AM boa oatiaaa Mft 267 255 48 235 8 9 e

GO a a n 66.60 , All dab 046666 '.8 MHz 292 287 Il 271 8 9 e -ao-a à oo HA no- o'ào6ao AY 8.51 a aÇ- 1 MHz 281 266 56 229 8 S e 66O Garbag e NB obis ao aa OZoa a ewe.; • '1 326 326 64 325 e e e 040 6664566 1112 bab à a oo FA aoa 48 6666 8 MHz 308 307 42 273 e 4 e

agÊ.45ea an , NU a m nnaboa SS aa- o *4,4 e left 318 317 26 318 e 3 e 666 6,466 I aaa sm oa 4ou.e 1 9 MHz 279 276 14 247 8 1 -no 0A60,4 • IS 406 oa. aoo SP oaa o 660 - ' e MHz 309 309 5 303 8 1 0 aao Gt. aao JG an* 6.86 o SUao 5 rtiz 123 122 28 112 e 0 e 060 6660e JX ail o e SW .a• b000aa- 41 MHz e 1 e A e eta 6 0666 LA SW 4 666600 Band 327.1691 327.1657 126.225 327.1592 8.8 19.38 e.e 661 60666e. LX ane 0 oaaa 3Y ewe 66404 WORC Ruud 316.068 314.849 80.112 295.749 0.8 8.13 6.8 0 000 0 LY oao o o 61 77 666 6 6 on 9 And 327.2562 327.2586 153.337 327.2311 008 21.51 0.0 &e.;600JOR- LZ 6 o *Ace Te ao* 4.11boe a MF lauds 123.125 122.124 28.28 112.113 8.0 8.8 8.8 Kt Bands 77.2687 32762639 1616365 327.2454 9.8 21.51 Liechtausteis .45 Ar/AS,42141A,OC::SA F7411 CIMIU/I1U Summary M Mode D DXCC g QSL f10 Menu

Fig 4: The TurboLog III DXCC status display. Fig 5: The TurboLog Ill DXCC summary sheet.

4 4 ( on the bands so frequently. There are also some minor changes to be made exporting (for example to /0/AME/14). Version 3.12 has recently been re- to deal with the year 2000. My thanks to Martin Atherton, G3ZAY, for leased and includes the facility to I realise I have only just scratched the surface his help in translating some material from Ger- access the 'Flying Horse' Radio Amateur in describing TurboLog in this review. There man. Turbolog III is available from TurboLog Cal/book on CD-ROM from the main logging are many further features, including contest Communications, Brinkweg 5, D-27321 screen. Enhancements were also made to the and DXpedition mode logging with rate me- Morsum, Germany; tel / fax: +49 4204 5321 at packet interface to allow virtually any TNC to ters, notepads for each QS0, cut and paste from DM180 plus DM14 P&P. The cheapest method be connected to TurboLog III. Improvements the basic cluster screen, colour changes, print of payment is to send cash by registered mail. to the printing facilities and the ability to enable spooler, cluster hot keys, VHF support, BPQ If you wish to send sterling cash, check the multi-QS0 labels to be printed are next on the code support, access to internal and external amount with Alwin Gudesen, DJ9KG, first. agenda. The transceiver interface is also being databases, personal directories, quick search developed to allow the user to connect any sort features, QS0 editing facilities, alarm clocks, REFERENCE of rig (26 types may be connected at present). importing from other logging programs and [1] TurboLog ' ,RadCom, April 1992, page 54.

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Web site: 2-YEAR GUARANTEE Tel no: http://www.kbnet.co.uk/akd ON ALL MODELS 01438 351710 E-mail: [email protected] UNIT 5 PARSONS GREEN ESTATE AKIO BOULTON ROAD âle r STEVENAGE, HERTS SG1 4QG RADIO SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN

(A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England No 216431)

Report Of Council For The Year Ended 30 June 1997

The Council of the Radio Society of Great Britain (`the Society') presents its annual report Outlook with the audited financial statements for the year ended 30 June 1997. The Society continues to operate under stringent budgets. The main thrust of future financial planning will be determined as part of the new Business Plan due for review by Council in Principal activities the first quarter of 1998. This will be based on a detailed and wide ranging review of the The principal activities of the Society are to provide services to members, radio amateurs and Society's activities and will contain operating and financial forecasts covering the period to short wave listeners and to represent their interests to the regulatory authorities. 30 June 2000. Business review Personnel Review cf the year The Society maintains a Headquarters establishment of 26 salaried staff supported by a large The primary work over the past year has been to strengthen the management of the Society number of unpaid volunteers. Their efforts are greatly appreciated. and to put the organisation on a more businesslike footing. The Council agreed and put into The Society gives full and fair consideration to employment applications from disabled place new corporate governance for the Management Committee which will facilitate a much persons. more dynamic approach to the day to day management of the Society's affairs. All references to 'The Council' throughout these financial statements should be consid- Financial management has been further enhanced by the appointment of a Financial ered to be equivalent to 'The Directors' under the Companies Act 1985. Consultant/Treasurer whose role is to advise the Council, the Management Committee and Composition of the Council the Headquarters management team on long term financial planning as well as on day to day During the year the Council comprised: financial decisions. These changes have had an immediate effect on the financial position of I J Kyle (President) GI8AYZ; PR Sheppard (Immediate Past President) G4EJP; C N Trotman the Society as is reflected in the year end results. GW4YKL (Completion of term 31 December 1996); RP Horton FBA (Honorary Treasure) The threat of increased legislation from the EC on the Amateur Radio Service gives rise G4A0J (Resigned 12 October 1996); for concern. The Society is proactive in ensuring that the privileges currently enjoyed by the Ordinary Members cf the Council: UK licensed amateurs are maintained and improved wherever possible. The Society shall E J Allaway G3FK_M; R H Biddulph G8DPS; M H Claytonsmith G4JKS; J Greenwell continue, as it has done for the last 84 years, to take the fight to the corridors of power both G3AEZ; R; Horton G3X WH; D F Beattie G3OZF (appointed 1 January 1997); P E Chadwick in the United Kingdom and in Europe. G3RZP (appointed 1 January 1997); G W Dover G4AFJ (appointed 1 January 1997); D A President's réport Evans G3OUF (resigned 1 July 1996); N Roberts G4IJF (resigned 1 July 1996); M G Shread A surplus on ordinary activities before taxation of £22,646 was achieved and this compares GM6TAN (resigned 1 August 1996); with last year's deficit before a donation to AMSAT of £36,000 of £137,133. Last year's Zonal Members cf the Council: results have been adjusted for the change in accounting policy relating to the recognition of Zone A: G L Adams G3LEQ; Zone B: D Whalley G4E1X; Zone C: F C Stewart GOC SF; Zone subscription income, as explained in the next paragraph. Members will appreciate that the D: J N Gannaway G3YGF; Zone E: E P Essery GW3KFE; Zone F: J T Barnes GI3USS new policy makes a significant improvement in the understanding of the monthly manage- (appointed 1 January 1997); Zone G: T Menzies GM1GEQ ment accounts since income attributable to each month is properly calculated. Under the old Political and charitable contributions cash basis policy, most of the income was attributed to the first half of the calendar year in The Society made no political or charitable donations during the year. line with the membership renewal pattern. Subscription income Annual General Meeting The Society changed its accounting policy relating to the recognition of subscription income The 71st Annual General Meeting of the Society will be held at the Royal Society of during the year. From 1 July 1996 subscription income has been recognised on an accruals Chemishy, London on Saturday, 6 December at 2.00pm. basis, rather than a cash receipts basis as under the previous policy. The effect of this change Auditors in accounting policy has been to increase the surplus for the year ended 30 June 1997 by A resolution for the re-appointment of KPMG as auditors of the company is to be proposed £9,659 and to decrease the deficit for the year ended 30 June 1996 by £1,324. at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. Total income By order cf the Council Total income for the year was £31,813 below the prior year, the shortfall being explained PA Kirby, Company Secretary principally by lower advertising and book sales. The gross margin on book sales, however, increased by £12,647 from last year. Expenditure Statement of the Council's responsibilities The financial year just ended has been characterised by very tight control of expenses both Company law requires the Council to prepare financial statements for each financial year at Headquarters and in the Council and Committee expenses. The RadCom production team which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Society and of the surplus or deficit has achieved savings of £36,441 in the year mainly by bringing more of the work in house. for that year. In preparing those financial statements the Council is required to: Savings have been achieved generally in the area of printing, stationery and postage. A further (a) select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently benefit has been the completion of an expensive photocopier contract entered into 6 years ago. (b) make judgement and estimates that are reasonable and prudent Finally, no expenses have been incurred on special projects in the year to 30 June 1997. (c) prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to Finance charges show an improvement of £12,701, mainly from the negotiations of new presume that the Society will continue in business. credit card commission rates and reduced bad debt charges compared with last year. The Council is responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose Cash and liquidity with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Society and to enable The Society has run a balanced budget through the year and has been aware of the need to it to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 1985. The re-build cash reserves. Members may like to be reminded that as much of the Society's Council has general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them income is being received in advance, the change in subscription accounting policy makes the to safeguard the assets of the Society and to prevent and detect fraud and other cash management of the Society easier to discipline. irregularities.

START OF AUDITED ACCOUNTS Income and Expenditure Account for the Year Ended 30 June 1997 1997 1996* note Gross income from all source 2, 3 1,575,166 1,606,979 Direct costs (cost of books and products sold) (160,144) (185,739) Gross surplus 1,415,022 1,421,240 Administrative expenses: Sales and distribution expenses (287,013) (282,978) Other operating expenses: Normal (1,105,363) (1,275,395) Exceptional 4 (36,000) Total administrative expenses (1,392,376) 1,594,373 Surplus/(deficit) on ordinary activities before taxation 4 22,646 (173,133) Tax on surplus on ordinary activities 5 (2,683) Retained surplus/(deflcit) for the financial year 10 19,963 (173,133)

All income and expenses for both years have been derived from continuing operations. *As restated (see note 2)

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 61 ANNUAL REPORT 1996/97

Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses for the Year Ended 30 June 1997 Surplus/(deficit) for the financial year 19,963 (173,133) Total recognised gains and losses relating to the financial year 19,963 (173,133) Prior year adjustment (see note 2) 1,324 Total gains and losses recognised since last annual report 21 287 (173,133) Balance Sheet as at 30 June 1997 1997 1996* note FIXED ASSETS: Tangible assets 6 276,465 320,982

CURRENT ASSETS: Stock and work-in-progress 8 143,557 193,660 Trade debtors 71,266 101,469 Other debtors 4,736 12,619 Prepayments and accrued income 55,972 76,099 Cash at bank and in hand 290,460 146,671 Total Current Assets 565 991 530.518

CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year: Trade creditors 71,183 76,361 Obligations under finance leases 9 2,831 3,775 Subscriptions in advance 2 335,845 320,166 Accruals and deferred income 76,915 133,612 Other creditors 26,960 6,759 Other taxation and social security 16,972 16 382 Total Creditors: amount falling due within one year 530,706 557,055

NET CURRENT ASSETSALIABILITIES) 35,285 (26,537)

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 311,750 294,445

CREDITORS: amounts falling due after more than one year: Obligations under finance leases 9 2,831

NET ASSETS 311,750 291,614

CAPITAL AND RESERVES: Special reserve 10 Income and expenditure account 10 306,901 286,938 Restricted funds 10 4,849 4,676

ME MBERS FUNDS 311,750 291,614

Approved by Council on 14 October, 1997 and signed on its behalf by: I J Kyle (President), K Ashcroft (Treasurer) *As restated (see note 2)

Auditors' Report to the Members of the Radio Society of Great Britain We have audited the financial statements on pages 61 to 64.

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditors As described on page 61 the Council members are responsible for the preparation of financial statements. It is our responsibility to form an independent opinion, based on our audit, on these statements and report our opinion to you. Basis of opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with Auditing Standards issued by the Auditing Practices Board. An audit includes examination, on a test basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. It also includes an assessment of the significant estimates and judgements made by the Council in the preparation of the financial statements, and of whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the company's circumstances, consistently applied and adequately disclosed. We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all the information and explanations which we considered necessary in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error. ln forming our opinion we also evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation of information in the financial statements. Opinion In our opinion the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Society as at 30 June 1997 and of the surplus for the year then ended and have been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 1985. KPMG, Chartered Accountants, Registered Auditors

Notes (forming part of the financial statements) 1. STATUS: The Radio Society of Great Britain is a private company limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital. Every member of the Society undertakes to contribute to the assets if it should be wound up while he is a member or within one year after he ceases to be a member for payment of the liabilities of the Society contracted before he ceases to be a member. Every member also undertakes to contribute to the costs, charges and expenses of winding up the same, and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributories amongst themselves, such amount as may be required not exceeding one pound. 2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES: The following accounting policies have been applied consistently in dealing with items which are considered material in relation to the company's financial statements. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost accounting rules as modified by the revaluation of land and buildings, in accordance with applicable accounting standards. The company is exempt from the requirement of Financial Reporting Standard No 1 to prepare a cash flow statement as it is entitled to the filing exemptions as a small company under the sections 246 to 249 of the Companies Act 1985 when filing accounts with the Registrar of Companies. Changes to the accounting policy for subscription income: The Society changed its accounting policy relating to the recognition of subscription income during the year. From 1 July 1996, subscription income has been recognised on an accruals basis, as opposed to a cash receipts basis under the previous policy. The effect of this change in accounting policy has been to increase the surplus for the year ended 30 June 1997 by £9,659 and to decrease the deficit for the year ended 30 June 1996 by £1,324. Under the old policy the subscriptions in advance were £74,544 and £77,883 at 30 June 1996 and 1995 respectively. Had the old policy been followed at 30 June 1997 the subscriptions in advance would have been £99,882. Income and Subscriptions Income Special expenditure reserve in advance reserve

As previously reported 214,614 74,544 1,605,655 317,946 Prior year adjustments 72,324 245,622 1,324 (317,946) As restated at 30 June 1996 286,938 320,166 1 606 979 Changes to the accounting policy for restricted funds: The Society administers a number of prize and memorial funds set up in bank accounts in their own name. From 1 July 1996, the assets and liabilities relating to the funds have been recognised in the Society's balance sheet. The effect of this change in accounting policy has been to increase its cash in hand and bank at 30 June 1997 and 30 June 1996 by £4,849 and £4,676 respectively. The corresponding liabilities at the respective dates have been included in its balance sheet as restricted funds.

62 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 AN N U AL REPORT 1996/7

2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED): Restricted funds

As previously reported Prior year adjustments 4 676 As restated at 30 June 1996 4,676 Advertising income: The majority of advertising income is the net amount receivable, excluding VAT, for advertisements in the Society's monthly journal, RadCom. Fixed assets and depreciation: Depreciation of tangible fixed assets (except freehold land which is not depreciated) is calculated on the cost or revalued amount on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The annual rates used are as follows: Freehold buildings: 2%; Fixtures and fittings:10%; Furniture and equipment: 20%-25%; Computer hardware and purchased software: 20% -33%; Leased assets: over the period of the lease. Stocks: Stocks and work-in-progress are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Taxation: The charge for taxation is based on the surplus for the year and takes into account taxation deferred because of timing differences between the treatment of certain items for taxation and accounting purposes. Provision is made for deferred tax only to the extent that it is possible that an actual liability will crystallise. Leases: Assets acquired under finance leases are capitalised and the outstanding future lease obligations are shown in creditors. Operating lease rentals are charged to the income and expenditure account on a straight line basis over the period of the lease. Pensions and post retirement benefit: The Society contributes to group personal pension policies to provide benefits for employees. The assets of the policies are held separately from those of the Society in independently administered funds. The amount charged against income represents the contributions payable to the policies in respect of the accounting period. 3. ANALYSIS OF INCO ME 1997 1996

Subscription income 855,312 858,834 Advertising income 244,774 257,993 Book sales 330,367 343,315 Other income 144,713 146,837 Total income 1,575,166 1,606,979

Other income comprises the following: Morse tests 12,249 15,665 Novice licence 4,108 4,409 Rallies and exhibition fees 33,831 29,504 Repeaters 28,319 24,842 Bank interest 11,540 15,603 Special event callsigns 6,281 5,311 Newsletters 38,619 42,855 Sundry income 9,766 8,648 Total Other income 144,713 146,837

4. SURPLUS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION This is stated after charging: Auditors'remuneration: Statutory audit 9,000 12,612 Other services 1,500 4,050 Depreciation: Owned assets 44,695 54,462 Assets held under finance leases 4,070 4,070 Hire of plant and machinery 59,534 69,107 Deficit on sale of fixed asset 6,791 Council and Committee expenses: Council expenses 23,006 34,747 Committee expenses 38,075 50,520 Other expenses 3.870 10,846 Total Council and Committee expenses 64,951 96,113 Special projects 34,097 Exceptional administrative expenses: Donation to AMSAT Phase 3-D Fund 36,000 5. TAX ON SURPLUS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES 'UK corporation at 23.25% 2,683 The Society is liable to Corporation Tax on its investment and book sales income, less attributable expenses. No deferred tax asset has been recognised in the financial statements relating to the carried forward tax losses of £37,567.

6. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS Freehold land Computer Fixtures Furniture Motor Total & buildings equipment & fittings & equipment vehicle Cost or revaluation: £ £ £ £ £ £ At 1 July 1996 250,000 121,465 45,307 101,774 12,210 530,756 Additions - 3,282 288 678 - 4,248 Disposals - - - - At 30 June 1997 250,000 124,747 45,595 102 452 12,210 535 004 Comprising: Cost 422,046 Revaluation adjustment (172,046) -250, ----000 Depreciation: At 1 July 1996 2,236 84,243 20,882 94,273 8,140 209,774 Provided during the year 2,236 32,077 4,595 5,787 4,070 48,765 Disposals - - At 30 June 1997 4,472 116,320 25,477 100 060 12,210 258,539 Net book amount: 30 June 1997 £245,528 £8,427 £20,118 £2,392 £276,465 30 June 1996 £247,764 £37,222 £24,425 £7,501 £4,070 £320,982 On an historical cost basis, land and buildings would have been included as follows: 1997 1996

Cost 422,046 422,046 Depreciation (29,118) (23,296) Net book value 392,928 398,750

Freehold land, included above and not depreciated, amounts to £144,900 (1995 - £144,900) The freehold land and buildings (comprising Lambda House, Cranbome Road, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3JE) were professionally valued on 29 August 1995. Based upon that valuation Council concluded that the property should be valued at £250,000. Of the above assets, the motor vehicle is held under a finance lease.

RADIO COM MUNICATION November 1997 63 AN N U AL REPO RT 1996/97

7. INFOR MATION REGARDING EMPLOYEES AND COUNCIL ME MBERS Council Members serve in a voluntary capacity and are not remunerated for their services.

Employee costs comprise the following: 1997 1996

Wages and salaries 389,735 403,527 Social Security costs 36,743 37,669 Other pension costs (see note 12) 12,092 8,629 Total Employee Costs 438,570 449 825

The average number of persons employed by the Society was as follows: Headquarters 26 27

8. STOCK AND WORK IN PROGRESS These comprise: Work in progress 9,561 9,679 Consumable stock 1,339 15,073 Goods held for resale 132,657 168,908 Total 143,557 193 660

9. OBLIGATIONS UNDER FINANCE LEASES Gross obligations under finance leases 3,597 8,393 Less: finance charges allocated to future periods (766) (1,787) 2,831 6,606

Due within one year 2,831 3,775 Due within the second and fifth year 2 831 Total 2 831 6,606

10. REC ONCILIATION OF MOVE MENTS IN ME MBERS' FUNDS Restricted Income and Special funds expenditure reserve

Opening members' funds (as previously reported) 214,614 317,946 Prior year adjustment (see note 2) 4,676 72,324 (317,946)

• As restated 4,676 286,938 Surplus for the financial year 19,963 Net additions to restricted funds 173

Closing members' funds at 30 June 1997 4,849 306 901

11. CO M MIT MENTS 1997 1996 Annual commitment under non-cancellable operating leases is as follows: Operating leases which expire within one year 1,782 40,059 Operating leases which expire in the second and fifth year inclusive 21,328 3,564 Total 23,110 43,623

12. PENSION SCHE ME The charge for the year was £12,092 (1996: £8,629). There were no outstanding contributions at the year end.

END OF AUDITED ACCOUNTS

Prize and Memorial funds

RESTRICTED FUNDS Balance on 30 June TRUST FUNDS Balance on 30 June 1997 1996 1997 1996 J Fraser Shepherd Prize Fund 861 823 PO Norman Keith Adams Prize Fund 689 646 Expedition Fund 2,995 2,850 The Legacy Fund 12,670 12,867 K M Bennett Fund 993 1,003 Total Trust Funds 13,359 13,513 Total Restricted Funds 4 849 _4,7

Cash Flow Statement For The Year Ended 30 June 1997

1997 1996 NET CASH INFLO W/(OUTFLO W) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Operating surplus/(deficit) 22,646 (173,133) Depreciation 48,765 58,532 Deficit on disposal of fixed assets 6,791 Decrease in stocks 50,103 1,044 Decrease in debtors 53,119 4,898 (Decrease) in creditors (22,994) (25,137)

NET CASH INFLO W FRO M OPERATING ACTIVITIES: 151,639 (127,005)

INVESTING ACTIVITIES: CAPITAL EXPENDITURE Purchase of tangible fixed assets (4,248) (11,667) Proceeds of sale of fixed assets 510 Net cash (outflow) from investing activities (4,248) (11,157) Net cash inflow (outflow) before financing 147,391 (138,162)

FINANCING: Capital element of finance lease payments 3,775 3,776

Contributions to the restricted funds • (173) (1,067) Net cash outflow from financing activities 3.602 2,709

INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN CASH: 143 789 (140,871)

64 RADIO CO M MUNICATION November 1997 TEL: 07000 H-ARY-D-O-N - (2) - (9) - (3) - (6) - (6)

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We now accept Lombard Tricity MAIL ORDER TEL: 0181-951 5781/2 charge cards Address:- 132 High St. Edgware, Middx HA8 7EL. FAX:- 0181-951 5782 Open Mon-Fri 9.30-5.30pin Sat 9.30-2.00pm. Close to Edgware underground station (Northern line) close to Ml, M25, A406. NEXT DAY DELIVERY WEST MIDLANDS BRANCH:- Tel: 01384 481681 (UK MAINLAND) flO wsm 01- 1 Unit 1, Canal View Industrial Estate, Brettel Lane, Brierley Hill, W Mids DY5 3L0

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 YOU'LL NEVER FORGET OUR NEW NUMBER: IF YOU HAVE AN ALPHA-NUMERIC PHONE - WHY NOT TRY IT? DIAL: 07000 - THEN H-A-Y-D-O-N (429366)

SCANNER_$ YUPITERU MVT-9000 TECHTOYZ The ultimate handheld scanner on the market. ___. AwardAOR winningAR-5000 wide band :‘,... Covers 530kHz-2039MHz (all mode). Out communication receiver. Covers MICRO COUNTER performs any other handheld on the market. 1 10kHz-2600MHz (all mode) Optoelectronics are ready to pioneer the RRP £469.95. market by proudly introducing the latest in SALE PRICE technology for frequency counter, the OUR PRICE Techtoyz Micro counter. It is the smallest frequency counter Soft case for MVT-9000 OUR PRICE £19.99 ICOM-IC8500 in the world with a frequency coverage of 10MHz-1.2GHz. The AA alkeline battery which powers the counter acts as Wideband receiver covers 100kHz- the antenna, so no external antenna is needed. YUPITERU 2GHz. (All mode). MVT-7100EX (UK) INTRO PRICE « ))I (7)) _ 100kHz-1650MHz. Wideband scanner with SSG. OUR PRICE RRP £349-.15 OPTO SCOUT 3.1-Mk2 AOR Latest mini frequency finder from OUR PRICE oL) AR-3000A Optoelectronics. It will capture and memorise Soft rose for MVT-7100EX OUR PRICE £19.99 This highly acclaimed up to 400 frequencies that can be recalled receiver has set its own place directly into the AR-8000. Supplied with ant, AR-8000 in today's demanding nicads and fast charger. RRP..291. Wideband handheld scanner covers 500kHz- market. Your listening 1900MHz (all mode). horizons are truly extended by its Re range of 100kHz to SALE PRICE SPECIAL OFFER over 2GHz, and high level performance is achieved by its Opto Cub Our price £99.95 electronically switched 15 band pass filter system. Opto Xplorer Our price £795.95 Opto Lynx Our price £129.95 RRP £931:1SALE PRICE '?:(b 1L,)5.),-..1,(1 Micro DTMF decoder Our price £89.95 AX-400 Mk11 kThe smallest handheld scanner in the world. BEARCAT Covers 500kHz - 1300MHz. AM, FM and WFM. BC-9000XLT ().F.' AOR AR-7030 OUR PRICE An amazing receiver with Brilliant new all mode short wave FREE DELIVERY coverage from 25-1300MHz. 500 memories give ample receiver with synchronous AM + storage along with auto store, selectable mode, turbo scan remote control. RRP.£,e9: (100 channels per sec) alpha numeric facility and much more. RRP. . SALE PRICE SALE PRICE YAESU FRG-100 UK's best selling SW receiver. It QS-200 outperforms any other receiver Mounts on the air vent grille on a car DIGITAL AUDIO fg-TER S below SIM. dashboard to allow easy and safe OUR PRICE operation of mast hondhelds. MFJ-7848 meow Fully featured DSP filter that s TARGET HF-3 P&P £2 will work with any transceiver , Communication receiver covers 4...ó rne•°:1 or receiver. eitil 30kHz-30MHz. Complete with power supply and long wire aerial. EP-300 OUR PRICE RRP ;.1 1.-.?) Deluxe over the ear earpiece. • DSP-599ZX RRP £369 OUR PRICE £325.00 elittb:I.V0?/ ORDER YOURS TODAY AND CLAIM FREE P&P 7 + P&P £1 it . SONY SW-100E A SMALL SELECTION OF OUR Award winning miniature portable SW SCANMASTER SP-55 WIDE RANGE OF SECONDHAND receiver. Its performance is brilliant Boost reception of your scanner with this pre-amp IC-736 As new £999.95 for its size. The best shortwave 25-1500MHz, variable gain, band pass filters. IC-740 VG( £469.95 receiver for under £250. TS-450S#1 VG( £725.00 RRP' _ o P&P £3.50 IC-471 10cm base £499.95 RRP U..›-SALE PRICE ' c L FT-840 Ex-demo £599.95 TS-440S VG( £599.95 VX-70T As new £599.95 SANGEAN i POLICE STYLE ff-690R11 VG( £299.95 AIS-818 HOLSTER HHC-2 FT-790R 70cm all mode £249.95 Award winning portable SW Matches all hand helds. Can be worn on the belt FT-290R 2m all mode £179.95 receiver. (All mode 0-30MHz) or attached to the quick release body holster. P-2512M PSU £59.95 RRP £169.95. t V.115 Dualband h/lield as new £259.95 ,£'LLii0,2'2à) +P&P£1 OUR PRICE Roberts R-681 OUR PRICE £169.95

66 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 M AIL O R DE R 0181-951 5781/2 132 High St. Edgware, Middx HAS 7EL VISA c GET THE ACCESSORY CATALOGUE Send £1 in stomps to receive your copy. Full with masts, brackets, aerials and accessories. EVERYTHING NEEDED FOR THE RADIO AMATEUR. SERE NE BASE ANTE N N AS ISSEl METER NEW Q-TEK WINCHES £10 postage NEW LOW PRICE A range of fully galvanized all steel TSB-3301 GF 144/70,6.5/9dB (3m) £69.95 T. Nissei ore now one of the largest construction winches with safety ratchet. TSB-3302 GF 144/70, 4.5/7.2dB (1.7m) £54.95 international manufacturers of SWR meters. (S(,Ia SAE FOR SPEC SHEET) TSB-3303 GF 144/70, 3/6d8 (1.1m) £39.95 Their meters ore also sold under separate brand nomes at for higher prices. 158-3315 GF 144/70, 8.5/11d8 (5Am) £149.95 Buy direct with the manufacturers name on it and save pounds. STANDARD WINCHES TSB-3608 GF 50/144/70, 2.15/6.2/8.4dBi gain £89.95 (DIRECT PULL( P&P £8 RS-102 1.8•150MHz (200W) £59.95 p&p £5 OW-400 4001.8 £21 ACCESSORIES P&P 030 on the following RS-402 125-525MHz (200W) £59.95 p&p £5 OW-800 800LB £27 TSA-6001 N Duplexer (+Coox) 2/70 (N/N259) £24.95 RS-101 1.8-60MHz (3kW) £79.95 p&p 53 0W-1000 1000LB £31 TSA-6003 Duplexer (Coax) 2/70 (PL/259's) £19.95 RS-502 1.8-525MHz (200W) £99.95 p&p £5 OW-1200 12001B £36 TSA6601 144/430MHz Pocket PWR/SWR CFX-514 Triplexer (6/2/70) (Coax) £56.95 0W-1400 140018 £45 Meter (60W) £34.95 p&p £1 BRAKE WINCHES P&P £8 M OBILE ANTE N N AS P&P f5 QWB-350 350kgf £110 Dummy load * DC-500MHz * 60W max DL-60 * QW8-500 500kgf £151 DB-7900 * PL-259 fitting £1 6.99 P&P £1 "E,;(neer QW8-650 650kgf £199 a mmo QW8-900 900kgf £221 2m + 70cm supergainer 5/7.6dB gain. The best dual band COAX SWITCHES (pamooi TELESC OPIC M ASTS antenna on the market. Length: 1.58m. Power: 150W. CX-401 4 way (50 -239) £44.95 1#0 0 5 section telescopic mats. Starting at in diameter PL-259 conection. ; u , CX-401 'N' 4 way (N TYPE) £49.95 and finishing with o top section of lh" diameter we o CX-201 2 way (S0-239) £18.95 offer a 8 metre and a 12 metre version. Each mast is CX-201 'N' 2 way (N-type) £24.95 ACCESSORIES P&P f2.50 on the following supplied with guy rings and stainless steel pins for MT-1301 H/Duty Mug Mnt + Coax Top Duality £24.95 locking the sections when erected. The closed height MT-3302 H/Duty Hatch/Trunk Mat Top Duality £24.95 Multi-stranded plastic CF-BPF2 2m band pass filter £49.95 DELUXE G5RVS of the 8 metre mast is just 5 feet and the 12 metre CF-BPF6 6m band pass filter £42.95 coated heavy duty antenna wire. All version at 10 feet. All sections are extruded Uri parts reusable. Stainless steel and aluminium tube with a 16 gouge wall thickness. O-TEK ANTENNAS (Del E.8) I ••,j galvanised fittings. Full size - 102f1. 8 mtrs 12 mtrs - NEW HF MOBILE WHIPS (PL-259) Only Carriage £10.00. Easy to mount HF mobile whips ready to go with PL-259 PL-80 80m whip (approx 1.5m long) £21.95 Half size Sift. Only Carriage 6.00. Guy wire kits P&P £5 Standard kits £18.95 PL-40 40m whip (approx 1.5m long) £19.95 Heavy duty kits £22.95 PL-20 20m whip (approx 1.5m long) £19.95 PL-6m 6m whip (approx 1.2m long) £16.95 NEW Q-TEK INDUCTORS SECTIONAL MASTS Carriage 18.00 Omtr inductors. Add them to your A Q-TEK ZL SPECIALS G5RV and convert it to a full size. Aluminium mast sets available in 4 x 5 foot sections. Each 2m 5ele (boom 45"/9d8c1) £36.00 (New length only 69 feet total). section is swaged on its end so that they slide into each other. 2m 7ele (boom 60711d8d) £45.00 The final section is left plain to allow for a most cap or pulley 2m 12e1e (boom 126"/13.8dBd) £69.00 P&P £2 assembly. Each mast totals 20 feet in height and is available in 70cm 7e1e (boom 28711d8d) £24.00 " L • Z the following sizes: 70cm 12e1e (boom 48713.8dBd) £44.00 £19.95 Q-TEK YAGIS FOR 2/4/6m + 70cm CAROLINA WINDOM ((ARR £10) A superb ready to go antenna that does not require an ATU at its £29.95 - 2m 5e1e (boom 6379dBd) £36.00 reasonant frequency. or end fed for ease of use. 2m Bole (boom 125711d8d) £46.00 Carolina Windom 80-10m (132ft long) £88.95 £36.95 2m 11ele (boom 186712.7d8d) £65.00 Carolina Windom '2' 40-10m (66ft long) £84.95 £45.95 2m 5ele crossed (boom 6479e) £69.00 (ALL 50MTR ROLLS) 2m Bole crossed (boom 126'/11d8d) £85.00 COPPER WIRE Enamelled £9.95 P&P £5 WALL BRACKETS 4m 3e1e (boom 4577dBc1) £39.00 Hard drawn £12.00 P&P £5 6" Stand off £6.95 P&P £5 4m 5ele (boom 12879d8d) £59.00 Multi-Stranded (Grey PVC) £8.00 P&P £5 9" Stand off £8.95 P&P £5 6m 3e1e (boom 7277dBd) £49.00 Extra H/duty (Clear coated) £20.00 P&P £5 12" T&K Brackets £12.00 P&P £8 6m 5ele (boom 142"/9d8d) £69.00 Flexweave (H/duty) £30.00 P&P £5 18" T&K Brackets £18.00 P&P £8 70cm 13ele (boom 76712d8d) £36.00 Flexweave H/duty (20 mirs) £12.00 P&P £5 24" T&K Brackets £20.00 P&P £8 70cm 13e1e crossed (boom 83712e).. £55.00 Flexweave (PVC coated 20 mks) £16.00 P&P £5 O-TEK H89-CV 70cm HB9CV (boom 12") £16.95 MFJ-259 SP-350V 2mtr H890/ (boom 20") £19.95 HF digital SWR analyser + 1.8-170MHz . Be protected this summer! In-line 4mtr HB9CV (boom 22.5") £29.00 counter/resistance meter. lightning surge protector. 6mtr HB9CV (boom 32.5") £36.00 10mtr HB9CV (boom 52) £65.00 RRP P&P £5 INTRO PRICE1 L -vo P&P £1

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 67 • MUTEK HAVE MOVED to 24 TENNA MAST (SCOTLAND) Herrison, Dorchester DT2 9RJ; tel: LIMITED have recently released 01305 261415; tel: 01305 261426. the Xtend-a-ring adapter. It's a Note: Product news is compiled from press releases sent in by the simple device that allows the user manufacturers and distributors concerned. Details are published in to add an extension to existing good faith but Radio Communication cannot be held responsible for antenna supports with the mini- false or exaggerated claims made in the source material. mum of fuss. All that's required is for the user to drill two holes of suitable diameter and fit the Xtend- a-ring adapter. The fully galva- A NEW ELECTRONICS design nized adapter locates itself, and software program is available from secures the extension in place by a RD Research, which is perfect for secure, proven clamp. It comes as radio amateurs wishing to design a pair (one with guy rings) and is their own circuits. Called B2 Spice available in two sizes — small (up Lite, the software enables ama- to 52mm dia existing support) at teurs to design and simulate com- £18, and large (up to 67mm dia) at plex circuits on a computer in a £21. fraction of the time it would nor- Tennamast (Scotland) Ltd, 81 mally take to build them. B2 Spice Lite requires a 386 (486 recom- Mains Road, Beith, Ayrshire KA15 2HT; tel: 01505 503824; ALINCO HAVE RELEASED a new HF base station mended) with 8MB of RAM and fax: 01505 503246; E-mail: transceiver, the DX-77. It features a general coverage receiver and Windows 3.1 or later and costs [email protected] allmode operation (USB, LSB, CWU, CWL, AM and FM). It can be used £49.95 inc VAT. A MAC format in conjunction with the Alinco EDX- 1 external antenna tuner. The version is also available. DX77 operates on all bands from 1.8 to 28MHz and has a high and low RD Research, Research House, THE NEW GENERATION of the power output levels of 100W and lOW (40W and 4W on AM). First Norwich Road, Eastgate, Nor- BayGen Freeplay0 'clockwork stocks are expected this month, and it will be available in two versions, wich NR10 4HA; tel: 01603 radio' is now available on the High the basic DX-77 at £675 and the DX-77T (including electronic keyer, 872331; E-mail: Street. Using a wind-up generator CTCSS unit and narrow CW filter) at £775. [email protected] to supply the power for the radio, With the introduction of 6m repeaters in the UK, Alinco's new the Freeplay0 is manufac- DRNI06 TH FM mobile transceiver will be of interest to a lot of tured in South Africa and amateurs. Because 6m repeaters are spaced a bit further apart than those was originally developed on 2m, the 20W output power will be welcomed by many. Working DX to bring broadcast radio over many hundreds or even thousands of kilometres is perfectly services to remote ar- possible on 6m, and even without enhanced propagation conditions, eas with no electricity the 6m band will allow you to work over a radius of several hundred or regular supply of miles. The DR-M06 TH has CTCSS built-in and costs just £249.95. batteries. The Nevada, 189 London Road, North End, Portsmouth, Hamp- Freeplay0 covers shire P02 9AE; tel: 01705 662145; fax: 01705 690626; E-mail: 500 —1700kHz infognevada.co.uk medium wave and 88 — 108MHz A NEW SERIES of HN VHF and costs plugs, jacks and adapters £59.95. is available from the BayGen Power Tru-Connector Corpora- Europe Ltd, tion of USA. Slightly larger Claverton House, than the standard 'N' type connec- Longwood Court, tors, Tm-Connector' s 50 ohms HM Love Lane, Cirencester, Glos GL7 lYG; tel: 01285 659559; fax: RF connectors include both straight 01285 659550; E-mail [email protected] and right-angle plugs and jacks for MICROSET ARE AN Italian company which specializes in VHF / cables from 5 to 25.4mm OD, and UHF products for both professional and amateur users. Their PR-2B with a DC to 4GHz frequency dual-band masthead preamplifier is a very low noise, high-perform- range. Quotations available on re- ance, 2m/ 70cm masthead pre-amp, using GaASFET technology. With quest from: a gain of 16 — 20dB and built-in duplexer, the PR-2B allows a maximum Doug Snader, Marketing, Tru- through power of 100W. Coaxial relay and PTT remote switching is built Connector Corporation, 245 in and the PR-2B is available from Waters & Stanton Electronics for Lynnfield St, Peabody, MA £149.95. Many new products are shown in Microset's new colour 01960-6993, USA; tel: +1508532 catalogue, which is available free of charge from W&S. 0775; fax: +1 508 531 6993; New from Diamond is the MX-62M duplexer. Ideal for use with E-mail: trus ales @tru-con.com multi-band rigs and multi-band antennas, the MX-62M provides greater than 50dB isolation between HE / 6m (1.6 — 56MHz) and 2m / 70cm (140 MARTIN LYNCH and Son have a new, easy-to-remember, telephone — 470MHz). The MX-62M can also be used between 76 and 120MHz on number for sales enquiries. It is 07000 73 73 73. Martin says the 07000 receive only, allowing you to use your IC-706 and amateur antenna to prefix is becoming increasingly popular with companies wishing to listen to FM Band II broadcasts! It costs £49.95. make it easier for their customers to remember their phone number, and Waters & Stanton were expecting their first delivery of the new the reason for the 73 73 73 suffix is obvious! Martin and his sales team Cushcraft X7 and X9 HF beams in time for the Leicester Show. These can still be contacted on 0181 566 1120 and his Customer Service new 7 and 9-element beams for 14,21 and 28MHz are known as the 'Big department remains on 0181 566 0566. Thunder' tribanders and are rated at 2kW PEP. The X7 is available for Martin Lynch & Son, 140— 142 Northfield Avenue, Ealing, London £499 and the X9 is £749. W13 9SB; tel: 07000 73 73 73; fax: 0181 566 1207; E-mail: sales @ Waters & Stanton Electronics, Spa House, 22 Main Road, Hockley, martin-lynch.co.uk Essex SSS 4QS; tel: 01702 206835; fax: 01702 205843.

68 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 TUNED LOOP TRANSMITTING it qiaex4eriee A most interesting new proposal about how ANTENNAS small tuned loop transmitting antennas work is put forward in a paper 'Magnetic Loop or Small IT IS EXACTLY 30 years since TT reported Fellei cal Folded Dipole' by Professor Mike Underhill, (November 1967, pp732-733) the develop- G3LHZ and M J Blewett, G4VRN of the Uni- ment at the US Army Limited War Labora- versity of Surrey (lEE Corference Publication tory of an efficient 2-5MHz No 411, pp216-225). The paper, presented at octagonally-shaped (eight 5ft tubes) trans- the 'HF Radio Systems and Techniques' IEE mitting loop antenna for use in the jungles of conference in July 1997, is based on theoretical Vietnam. This was claimed as "usually doing PAT HA WKER, G3VA and practical studies primarily centred on the as good a j ob as a full-length half-wave dipole 37 Dovercourt Road Model AMA-3 compact loop antenna made by 40ft above ground". London SE22 8SS the UK firm Advanced Antennas and Ancillar- It was this development, soon taken up by ies (one of the loops reviewed by G3SJX in amateurs, military and diplomatic HF users 1994). throughout the world, on which all the many to measure accurately but G4XVF based his In their introduction the authors write: "The subsequent compact transmitting loops have study on calculating Q from the measured single turn tuned loop antenna is a remarkably been based. It was emphasised that in order to bandwidth of a small loop whose inductance effective small transmitting antenna ... Effec- overcome the extremely low radiation resist- could be calculated. He concluded that radia- tive performance can be obtained for loops ance of electrically small loops it was essen- tion efficiency as a percentage was often in with diameters down to as little as two per cent tial to reduce the RF ohmic resistance to a single figures (significantly below 10 per cent) of the wavelength. For the HF band of 1.5 to very low figure and to minimise losses in whereas that of a resonant and well-matched 30MHz two per cent corresponds to loop diam- coupling RF into the loop. For HF diplomatic half-wave dipole approaches 100 per cent. eters of 4m down to 20cm. For deployment in links, commercial models using copper tub- But there has continued to be difficulty in the confined space allowed to many, if not ing of up to about 6in diameter were used, relating theoretical efficiency calculations, as most, of the users of the HF band such a small with vacuum-type tuning capacitors. Ama- exemplified by G4XVF, with the on-air re- size is of great importance ... The main disad- teur designs were soon increasingly based on sults achieved by some amateurs using either vantages are its narrow fractional bandwidth the use of a small matching loop. home-brew loops or, more recently, the loops and, when used for transmitting, the high RF Most descriptions of loop antennas repeated offered for amateur use by a number of manu- voltages which occur across the tuning capaci- the claim that, if well constructed, perform- facturers. Four models from three manufac- tor. Both disadvantages are a consequence of ance at the higher end of the frequency range turers were reviewed by Peter Hart, G3SJX in the intrinsically high Q of this and any small could approach that of a half-wave dipole 'Loop Antennas for the HF bands' (Radio antenna. well above ground. It was not until 1991 that Communication, July 1994, pp41-44). He con- "A further important feature is that a tuned Tony Henk, G4XVF FIEE in a clearly ex- cluded: "I was really quite surprised at how loop antenna can have a frequency tuning range pressed two-part article 'Loop Antennas — effective these small loops could be. Being of up to 3 to 1, depending primarily on the Facts not Fiction' (Radio Communication, roughly equivalent in performance to a dipole minimum-to-maximum capacitance ratio of the September/ October, 1991) threw or a multiband vertical, effective performance tuning capacitor. Furthermore, the on-tune well-reasoned doubt on the basic efficiency on the HF bands is still feasible when space match resistance is remarkably constant over of small loop antennas. Efficiency is difficult for other antennas is not possible." the whole of the tuning range provided that the antenna is not used in an electromagnetically confined space . . . 'UGLY' CONSTRUCTIONAL TIP "Most of the evidence for the 'effective' performance of the tuned loop is anecdotal and D M MACKENZIIE, GM4HJQ, passes on qualitative, not quantitative ... Theoretical pre- a constructional tip that he uses to facilitate dictions remain pessimistic with respect to the the 'ugly board' deployment of surface- o o o o performance actually being achieved by users, mount components. He writes: -o -o o -o- but it is not easy to find evidence adequate to be "The German company 'Wainwright' able to prove whether there is a real discrep- manufactures small pieces of self-adhesive -o -e. -o- o Horizontal cuts ancy between theory and practice ... PCB with land patterns suitable for a wide make pads o o o "The main purpose of this paper is to propose variety of components. These can be placed an additional and different mode of operation on a plain copper board and inter-wired to build prototypes or 'one-off units rapidly. o The pads are available in the UK from o Wessex Electronics but since they are in- Vertical cuts make busses tended for professional use they tend to be o expensive by the standards of amateurs o whose time is not costed! IISGB FIC1545 "I manufacture my own Scottish (low- cost) equivalent by sawing Veroboard with Fig 1: How GM4HJQ saws Veroboard to make a Junior Hacksaw as shown in Fig 1 to form individual pads and busses for superglueing to strips of component-pads or busses. These a copper board for easy production of one off' prototypes as a form of 'ugly' construction. can be cut to size as required with snips and then superglued to a plain copper board ground-plane. Surface-mount resistors and capacitors etc fit easily between the pads or form a pad to ground. It does not take much imagination to see a number of possible variations. "It would be convenient if some company such as Vero produced this type of product at a reasonable price geared to amateurs, but in practice it does not take long to make a small stock of parts. The next problem to solve is how to cope with fine pitch ICs with lead spacings of one-twentieth or one-fortieth-inch. For these one would need 0.025in Veroboard!" Fig 2: Representative tuned loop antenna with dimensions of the AMA3 model.

RADIO COMMUNICATION November1997 69 TECHNICAL TOPICS

for the loop antenna and to give some initial loop in a screened RSGB RC1548 42ft evidence that this 'small folded dipole' mode is room, the authors ob- 38f t usually the dominant mode. The dipole mode tained a Q value of has a polarisation and radiation pattern which 790 at 14MHz, giving 44ft 68ft differs significantly from the normal loop mode. a worst case di- 32ft However, as will be seen, this difference can in pole-mode efficiency 78ft practice be expected to be less apparent in the of 68% (correspond- 16ft Electrical 1/4 confined environment of typical deployment ing to a reduction of and operation." only 1.7dB on an an- The AMA3 antenna is intended for use over tenna radiating with a range of 14 to 28MHz and has a diameter of an efficiency of 833mm and 16mm tube radius: Fig 2. At 100%). They add: (a) 14.0MHz the loop resonates with a capacitance "This predicted value

of about 73pF and is shown by the authors to is probably pessimis- B-C have an inductance of some 1. 79µH. At 14MHz tic. Some evidence is A-B D-E C-D Pole (ft) (ft) (ft) (ft) the radiation resistance is calculated to be only that the AMA3 an- A / X 1-8MHz* 44 84 30 38 0.0439ohms, increasing with the fourth power tenna does not get per- 3.5MHz 14 52 28 36 of the frequency, becoming 0.7024ohms at ceptibly warm to the 7.0MHz 14 27 12 18 28MHz. They conclude that for this antenna touch even after pro- 1-81,4Hz 44 116 33 38 E the loop-mode of radiation cannot contribute longed operation with * Loaded with coil and lift significantly to radiation at 14MHz, although 400 watts PEP of peak (b) of wire beyond E at 28MHz some significant loop-mode radia- SSB speech power." Fig 4: The original G8ON antenna providing some vertically polarised radiation tion could be expected. The paper dis- from relatively low antennas, primarily for use on 1.8MHz. How, then, can the AMA3 loop antenna cusses in some detail the practical difficulties of using SWR/band- measured results. It provides an explanation of width measurements to determine the Q and/ or why the loop antenna performs so well in efficiency of an antenna. "In principle this is a practice ... The radiation resistance of the loop very good method for measuring the Q of a antenna is sensitive to the environment but no tuned loop antenna. In practice, because the more so than for a full size dipole or monopole. antenna has a high Q, any matching unit losses The tuning point is almost unaffected by markedly degrade the measurement accuracy. environmental changes... In fact, none of the commercially available "Because the dipole mode in practice always AMUs were found to be sufficiently low loss. is the dominant mode and never the loop mode, The main problem would appear to be contact it is proposed that the term 'magnetic loop' resistance in the variable capacitors. On re- antenna should not be used. The term 'small ceive, or for the low powers used in network folded dipole' is a better term to use. However, analysers, 'roller coaster' mechanically vari- the term 'tuned loop' antenna is more generic. able inductors are unusable. Contact resistances It would remain correct if new modes of loop or were found to be highly variable and a few dipole excitation prove to be possible with watts of power obviously are needed to new, as yet, unexplored tuned loop arrange- `microweld' the contact points into a low re- ments." sistance condition. The best variable capacitors It is possible here only to outline this inter- are those which have, or have been modified to esting contribution (with its detailed math- Fig 3: Voltage on the tuned loop antenna. have, flexible wire connections directly to the ematical support) to compact transmitting rotor. A further difficulty with the SWR method tuned-loop antenna theory and practice. In work quite well, as it undoubtedly does, on for measuring Q is that the 'on tune' SWR putting forward the suggestion that these an- 14MHz? The authors propose that a dipole should be better than 1.02:1 for results to be tennas radiate primarily as small folded dipoles mode rather than a loop-mode of radiation is obtained to about 3% usually dominant for small tuned-loop anten- accuracy and nas. They believe that the antenna works, in repeatability." effect, largely as a very small folded dipole. It is pointed out that "The dipole mode is assumed to be excited by the L-network AMU the voltage which appears across the capacitor originally described when power is transformer- coupled into the by G3LHZ in 1981 tuned loop from the source connected to the and which has been subsidiary loop." See Fig 3 for a typical voltage shown in TT several distribution on a tuned loop. times (most recently They calculate that in the loop-dipole mode, TT May 1993, pp54- the radiation resistance at 14MHz becomes 55) is suitable for this 0.484ohms (some 12 times that for the loop purpose. mode) and at 28MHz 1.94ohms (nearly three They conclude: times that for the loop mode). The paper pro- "The tuned loop an- vides a detailed if somewhat confusing expla- tenna does not appear nation of these findings, together with informa- to operate signifi- tion on their attempt in practice to determine cantly in its loop the actual radiation mode, and to determine mode. The small antenna efficiency. They admit that, "it is not folded dipole mode easy to determine antenna efficiency with any proposed gives much accuracy". better agreement be- Fig 5: The 1.8MHz 'DX' antenna as used at S92SS. Inductance values are Using a network analyser with the AMA3 tween theory and approximate.

70 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 TECHNICAL TOPICS

restricted space. It had an 84ft horizontal span at aheight of some 40ft but with an all-important vertical 30ft section in the maximum current section. It did not require an earth connection but included a loading coil to bring the wire to half-wave resonance: see Fig 4. ART7 (pp299-300) provides some further details. It tends to be most effective in sites having poor earth conductivity. Another 1.8MHz limited-space antenna as used successfully by S92SS appears in the 'Radio Fundamentals' column by Bill Orr, W6SAI, in CQ, August 1997, pp85-86. A Fig 8: Remote two-band switchable antenna tuner quarter-wave of wire includes a vertical, cur- as used by N4PC. L1 10-in long Nr 14 AWG wire, 2%in diameter, 6 turns per inch (original used Air rent-carrying section of about 37ft with the Dux 2006T). C1, C2 200pF, 4.5kV rating for high remainder of the wire folded around: see Fig 5. power, 2kV for low power. RL1 DPDT relay with 10A S92SS also found that with voltage feed the contacts. antenna works well on 7MHz. To break the Fig 6: A low-cost RF current detector using ex-TV ground return path to the transmitter, he wound split ferrite core. Keep power low to avoid burning (Electronics World, October 1997, pp825 -829) out the bulb. as many turns as practical of the RG58 feedline provides detailed guidelines on adding imped- on a ferrite toroid salvaged from a TV set ance loading — resistance and reactance — to rather than in the magnetic-loop mode, G3LHZ flyback transformer. antennas in order to create wideband antennas. and G4VRN appear to have shown for the first During the development of his limited space He gives a design example for continuous time how it is feasible for a well constructed antenna, S92SS made use of a simple and coverage from 6 to 150MHz without resorting and well-matched loop really to compare well inexpensive RF current detector: Fig 6. He to tuning and matching. He points out that in with a full-size half-wave dipole — a position used a rectangular split-toroid which could be 1961, E E Altshuler pioneered resistance load- from which it was to a marked extent toppled in clipped around the conductor under test and the ing of antennas by building a centre-fed dipole 1991 by G4XVF. loop with a small pilot bulb. While using low whose input impedance was, for practical pur- I drew the paper to the attention of G4XVF power to prevent burning out the bulb, he was poses, flat over a 2:1 frequency range by insert- who points out that it is not an easy paper to able to check that current at the feed-point ing a single 240ohms resistor in each arm a follow, contains many typographical and some divided reasonably between four radials. quarter-wavelength from the end. The snag fundamental errors and generally bears the 'A short, two-band vertical for 160 and 80 was that for transmission the radiation effi- hallmarks of a conference paper designed to metres ' is described by Paul Carr, N4PC, in CQ ciency was reduced by about 50% with almost impress rather than elucidate. (April 1997 pp20, 22-23) including remote half the RF power absorbed in the resistor. [A But to my mind, the important thing is whether switching for the antenna tuner located at the much earlier use of resistive loading to increase or not the basic proposal of significant base of the antenna: see Figs 7 and 8. N4PC bandwidth at some loss of radiation efficiency dipole-mode radiation from a tuned loop is fact used only an 8ft ground rod but is convinced was the T2FD (Terminated Tilted Folded Di- or fiction. Hopefully that will become clear in that results would be further improved by add- pole) antenna developed by the US Navy. An- time. ing a large number of buried radials [or a few other impedance loaded antenna is the 'Aus- elevated radials — G3 VA]. tralian Dipole' which has similarly been de- ANTENNAS - HERE & THERE Stewart Cameron, GM4UTP, was very in- scribed in TT, most recently in June 1987, and terested in the GEC-Marconi 'Tetrahedral An- in TT Scrapbook, p171 — G3VA]. K1P00 has MANY YEARS ago, the late H S Chadwick, tenna' (TT, September 1997, pp69-70). He developed computer software to optimise the G8ON (father of RSGB Council member and writes: "So much so that I scaled it down and design of impedance loaded wideband anten- past president Peter Chadwick, G3RZP) de- built it as a 144MHz antenna. nas of reasonable efficiency and this is being veloped a 1.8MHz voltage-fed (end fed) half- "Results were: Frequency coverage 142 to offered through Electronics World. wave antenna which could be fitted into a 161MHz to the 2.5:1 SWR points, with unity SWR at the centre. ANTENNA EFFICIENCY "Then as an experi- ment I removed the FROM TIME TO time, Lew McCoy, WlICP, six horizontal ele- reminds us that antenna efficiency is not a ments shown as A in question of gain, radiation patterns or directivity the September TT, the but is nevertheless an important factor that is antenna becoming too often overlooked. In Antenna 'Eliciency' — more like a conven- What is it? (CQ, April 1995, pp14, 17 and 18) tional VHF biconical and Antenna Efficiency One More Time (CQ, dipole. Frequency February 1997, pp18,19),he stresses that the coverage increased to most efficient antenna, which can radiate about 130 and 170MHz with 97% of the power fed to it, is the basic half-wave the SWR reducing to resonant dipole. Compare this with some mo- 1.7 at these limits, bile and aircraft antennas which at about 2MHz making it a very use- may radiated only about 10mW for every 100 ful antenna for both watts output of transmitter power. the 144MHz amateur WlICP is primarily concerned with the RF band and the 156MHz ohmic losses in antenna elements, but remem- maritime mobile ber that wasted power may also be a feature of band." any matching unit and the feeder. Richard Formato, As a simple example, he points out that a K1P00, in 'Design beam antenna with a 3dBd gain, but an effi- Fig 7: Details of the 1.8 and 3.5MHz vertical antenna as described by N4PC. Wideband Antennas' ciency of 50%, will radiate in the favoured

RADIO COMMUNICATION November1997 71 TECHNICAL TOPICS

direction only the same power as a dipole solder any antenna connections, particularly having a near 100% efficiency and consider- wire antennas: Protocols Tested Modem Computer Interface ably less power in other directions [the "Don't be lazy and just twist leads of wire AmTOR A&B Serial port Clover PC bus (plug-in card) directivity of the beam may, however, be ad- together. It only takes days for unsoldered G-TOR D Serial port vantageous for combating the reception of un- connections to corrode and resistance to sky PacTOR A&B Serial port wanted signals and in its low vertical angle of rocket." PacTOR2 Serial port radiation — G3T/A]. Nearer home, Mike Gibbings, G3FD W, has

But why should a beam be less efficient as a been endeavouring to find effective ways of Table 1: Protocols, modems and computer radiator than a half-wave dipole? And tend to measuring the true power gain of beam anten- interfaces. be even less efficient within a few months (or nas that take account of their efficiency — even weeks) of being erected? something which is seldom attempted by manu- hour, wreaking havoc on a number of elec- WlICP stresses that the power that is fed into facturers or by those using NEC programs. He tronic appliances. These included VCRs and an antenna element is spent or dissipated in two proposes that instead of dBd, a new unit is radios (in which the transformers remain pow- ways. The RF ohmic resistance of the wire or required — dBby or gain in decibels in your own ered even when is switched off) as well as tubing (greater than the DC ohmic resistance back yard. several appliances using rechargeable batteries due to skin effect) results in power being dissi- He noted the case of a local amateur with a such as power screwdrivers etc. Several neigh- pated in heating up the element or any traps, three-element tribander of well-known make: bours lost their central heating controllers and earth losses, rusty connections etc. Only the "One day in the depth of winter the beam was gas valves. But the MOV saved the burglar remaining power is spent in the 'radiation re- seen to be covered with a thick coating of ice, alarm by disintegrating and blowing the 3A sistance' of the antenna — in other words after using the beam for an hour, the ice had all fuse in the supply to the alarm. launched into space. Efficiency depends on melted from the six traps, whereas the sub-zero All this happened one early December morn- how much greater is the radiation resistance weather still held the rest of the beam in its icy ing and it was evening before the supply was than the loss resistance. grip. As the transmitter was running only 100 restored. It took three householders to advise Whereas the radiation resistance of a half- watts he was surprised. As there had been no the supply company that there were fault con- wave dipole a half-wave above earth is about change in the SWR it was evident that traps ditions before any notice was taken — pre- 73Q, that of a close-spaced Yagi array may be could lose in heat a considerable amount of sumably since supply companies are convinced as low as 4 or 5ohms (which is why some form input power ... The moral of this tale is that a that consumers know nothing about electricity. of matching is required between a coax feeder prudent amateur does not spend hard cash to While compensation was paid by the supply and the driven element). The ratio between put a dummy load on the top of his mast. As company, this did not reflect the inconvenience radiation resistance and RF ohmic resistance G6XN has pointed out, a two-element beam caused. will almost always be much lower than for a may give more dBd (and dBby) gain, certainly All replacements have been fitted with dipole. more dBd per dollar, than a three element beam MOVs, a move justified when it was discov- As W1 ICP puts it: "A beam with 5 — 10W at twice the price." ered at the Chelmsford club that there are impedance is certainly going to have RF ohmic several hundred such supply faults in the UK losses as an important factor ... telescoping MOV AS PROTECTION every year [on the day this was written my own element connections, possible boom losses, the AGAINST SUPPLY FAULTS electricity supply was cut off during the entire matching network itself, and so on. With a 10Q afternoon while an emergency crew were busy impedance made up of, say, 5Q radia- PETER GRAVES, GOKSJ, has found that digging up the pavement, but at least I do not tion-resistance and 5Q RF ohmic resistance, metal-oxide-varistors (see TT, June 1997, think there were any prolonged over-voltages — then we are looking at 50% efficiency. Al- pp64.69) can do more than protect against G3T/A] though aluminium tubular elements are good mains transients (spikes). He fitted one to his conductors, depending on the atmosphere, can burglar alarm in the hope of preventing false PROFESSIONAL MORSE triggering. In the event the MOV saved the get corroded and 'scummy'. If this happens, DECODER ohmic losses can skyrocket, and performance device from destruction when a faulty under- and efficiency can go to pot: "If your beam has ground supply cable delivered 415V instead of FOR THOSE WHO believe that Morse is now been up a long time, take it down and clean and 230V to his home for a period of more than one virtually obsolete, it may be worth drawing polish all connections. attention to the fact that Rohde & Salty and industrial atmospheres Schwarz have recently introduced O RSGB RC1546 a new professional Morse Radio can result very quickly in deterio- 80 Decoder GM094 which serves for ration of sliding joints in antenna 7 —.A— AMTOR (modem A) / automatic detection of Morse mes- / elements; moisture ingress into co- 70 — ---É,--• AMTOR (modem B) 1 sages under the particular condi- axial feeder cables and baluns etc - -3- - CLOVER / / tions of shortwave propagation and may significantly increase losses TS ••••••••••• GTOR manual keying: "It relieves per- ,.,S -.- - PACTOR 2 and lower overall efficiency. Traps t, 7.- .. vi • • • • •O• • • • • PA C TOR (modem A) sonnel from tedious routine tasks. and loading coils used with elec- 50 — - -go- - PACTOR (modem B) 7* ..zi Its particular advantages are that it -e-.' - trically short elements need to be / can work around the clock without / of excellent high-Q construction if fatigue and that it runs a classifi- they are not to reduce efficiency , ..4.. er. cation procedure distinguishing seriously. ,,-•••• , .4, Morse from other signals." A' we * WlICP notes that delta-loop or Introducing the decoder, Dr •. ,,, .... Jr .' •.. . two-element quad-type (wire) an- ..4- -47 •••..a- e - e

Throughtput (charat Throughtput ...4..• ..we a ..... Klaus Rieskamp in 'New dimen- *** ...v, ...... r" e ..... tennas with one-wave or longer sions in Morse decoding', News eWe .4'.. cr e 0.- 0. • • e'" elements have relatively high im- 7:3 r ...." from Rohde & Schwarz, No 155, .0**' W .•4 ** A A .IA .1 . pedance largely comprising ra- I••• ••• 1997/111, writes: "Morse has a

D 0. • • 0 ".°".° diation resistance, resulting in '0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 long tradition as a reliable short- efficiencies of the order of 90% or Signal to noise ratio. 5kHz bandwidth (dB) wave transmission technique and more, a significant advantage over still remains an important medium a typical tri-band Yagi. along with more advanced tech- Fig 9: Comparison of the throughput versus signal-to-noise ratio of digital For all types of antennas, VHF data protocols under simulated HF 'CCIR Good Conditions' as found at the US niques. This is presumably due to as well as HF, he stresses always Institute of Telecommunications Laboratories, Boulder, Colorado. two factors:

72 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 TECHNICAL TOPICS

(1) Compared to other kinds of signal, Morse Tests at the ITS labo- signals using robust amplitude modulation are ratories in Boulder, 80 0 sc a FiC1507 affected relatively little by the interference Colorado were carried [ present on the transmission path. out under a — à — A MTOR (modem A) --- &--• AMTOR (modem B) 111, (2) Neither transmitter nor receiver is oper- well-defined, repeat- — —111— — CLOVER / / .. ated automatically but by trained operators. able set of simulated ••••••••• • • GTOR 7r .... - -I,- - PACTOR 2 Routine and experience enable them to com- iono spheric-channel I ••••0•••• • PAC T OR (modem A)

pensate for interference on the transmission conditions. SiSeCOnd) 0 0 , , 00 0 0 0 . I --4,--• PACTOR (modem B) 7"- .. . path as well as for any shortcomings by the Throughput was E / person they are communicating with. used to evaluate the JP/ l e

He adds: "Because Morse continues to be performance charac- eire widely used, its monitoring is an important teristics of the Jre if... ir , y. / focus. The nature of Morse, however, makes protocols, modems .."

JI" ••-•—•••••-•—• monitoring the signals highly labour-intensive and computer inter- .. . . „ ••••-•—•"" e 10-- Throughtput (characi (characi Throughtput x .•--- 1 .jef• 4›. GM094 achieves excellent decoding results faces indicated in Ta- • • ••••• •• •••.1..,„„v e••••• ' •4 "' "e" 4- ••• • • •• • • .*...... 4 in real operating conditions." ble 1, covering .... 0 ...... 0 • • • ..... But it is clear from the article, that to achieve AmTOR, Clover, G- .•--•"-- these results requires a highly professional, TOR, PacTOR and u 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 relatively high-cost set-up. Thanks to GOGSF, PacTOR2. Earlier, in Signal to noise ratio. 5kHz bandwidth (dB) G3KHZ and RS 92452 for drawing my atten- 1993, FEMA had run tion to this item. a series of on-air tests of some of these Fig 10: Throughput version signal-to-noise ratio of the protocols under simulated HF 'CCIR Poor Conditions'. COMPARING DIGITAL protocols but it did not PROTOCOLS prove possible to make a direct comparison between the labora- determine if the throughput of a particular ALTHOUGH, LIKE many other CW opera- tory and the over-the-air results. protocol was specific to the manufacturer's tors, I am not a fan of HE packet - or at least Among the conclusions presented by T J implementation, throughput of PacTOR and those digital operators who insist on clobber- Riley was that, "by using adaptive techniques AmTOR was measured on two modems from ing the amateur beacons or placing continu- and more sophisticated modulation, error de- different manufacturers... in the case of ously transmitting packet stations increasingly tection/correction and compression methods, PacTOR the difference is significant with the far into the CW sectors of the HE bands - it the newer protocols exhibit significant through- throughput of modem A nearly twice that of must be conceded that the popularity of data put improvements over the 'first-generation' modem B even though the test conditions were modes continues to expand exponentially and protocols. Compared to the baseline AmTOR identical for both modems. has contributed to a resurgence in the use of protocol, the newer PacTOR2 protocol im- Results are shown graphically in Figs 9 and the HE bands for professional as well as ama- proves throughput by an order of magnitude 10. While it could be argued that in amateur teur operation. But the problems experienced under high SNR conditions, and continues to operation high throughput is not often required, under typical HE propagation conditions have transfer data at a reasonable rate under condi- nevertheless throughput under poor conditions in recent years led to the introduction of a tions that render AmTOR inoperable. One draw- and at low SNR is a useful measure of the number of ever-more complex, non-compat- back to such sophisticated protocols is the general reliability of these protocols. It is inter- ible protocols. increased number of settings available to the esting to note that the pecking order differs to The IEE 'HE Radio Systems and Techniques ' operator. Depending on the propagation condi- come extent under good and poor conditions. Corference Publication No 411 includes 'A tions and the type of data to be transmitted, the The CCIR conditions are based on the Watterson Comparison of HE Radio Digital Protocols ' by proper settings can significantly affect per- model taking into account SNR, fading fre- T J Riley of the US Institute of Telecommuni- formance. This is especially true of Clover. quency spread (Hz) and multipath delay (ms). cation Services (ITS). This covers an investi- "Of the five protocols tested, PacTOR and For details of the equipment setup used for gation into five amateur radio digital protocols. AmTOR are the most widely implemented. performance testing, etc: if would be necessary The intention is that the US Federal Emergency Clover and G-TOR are proprietary protocols to consult the original paper in the IEE Confer- Management Agency (FEMA) should use these implemented by their respective developers ence Book which should be available in some test results to determine the protocols that could only. PacTOR2 is beginning to appear in mo- good technical libraries. But the brief details serve as an interchange with the amateur com- dems of several manufacturers but at the time given here should provide at least some illumi- munity in the event of a national emergency. of the tests was available from only one. To nation to data-mode enthusiasts.

HATELY ANTENNA J. BIRKETT 25 The Strait, Lincoln LN2 1JF TECHNOLOGY GII/13 H AT (Partners: J. H. Birkett, J. L. Birkett)Tel: (01522) 520767 NEW SUPPLY OF MICROWAVE COMPONENTS "X" BAND GUNN DIODES 0 £1.80, HIGH POWER Kenfield Place. ABERDEEN AB15 7UW Tel & Fax: 01224 316 004 T BAND GUNN DIODES 0 £8.60. "J" BAND (12 to 18 GHz) GUNN DIODES 0 £1.70, HIGH POWER"J" BAND GUNN DIODES 0 £5, 24 GHz GUNN DIODES 0 £2.30, "X" BAND DETECTOR DIODES LIKE 1023 @ 50p, 1501E 0 £1.60, TAPE ENDED 0 £3 for £1.60, 18 GHz LIMITING DIODES @ 50p, COMPONENTS MONOBAND MODELS GENERAL INC. 50 OHM LOADS TYPE CBT-150-3 IN 2 HOLE MICROWAVE PACKAGE @ £1.95, 10416C 2 GHz DIODES 0 75p, MURATA "X" BAND PUCKS 10 for £1.20. NOW READY OFF PRODUCTION EX-MOD STRONG 3W DIA MAGNETIC MOUNT 0 £5 (P & P £2). VHF PIN DIODES @ 5 for 75p, 50 LOW POWER H.F. PIN DIODES 080p, 50 ASSORTED VARICAP DIODES Towards the end of October we will have been delivering the first of the new (4 75p. AIRSPACED VARIABLE CAPACITORS 10+10+20pf 1:1 £3.50, 150+150pf @ £3.50, 100+2000 12 £3.50, MONOBAND CROSSED FIELD ANTENNAS 200+300pf 0 £3.50, 250+250pf 0 £3.50. 250+250+20+20+20pf 0 £3.50, 365+365+365pf @ £4.95, C804 CFL 14 for 20 metres 100 W capability, SWR less than 1.5 over TYPE 10M, 25pf, 50p1. ALL AT £3.50 each. SPECIAL OFFER: 360+380pf V." SPINDLE @ £2.50, 5 for £10. 200 kHz, size 32 centimetres diameter (1 foot) - Price £44 inc. FETS 2N3819 42 35p, J304 e 25p, J230 @ 20p, DUAL GATE 3N201 0 80p, BF981 0 35p. R.F. POWER TRANSISTORS H.F. S01487, 100 WATT, 12 VOLT WITH DATA 0 £12.95, £22 PAIR. CFL 3.6 for 80 metres 100 W capability, SWR less than 1.5 over VIDICON CAMERA TUBE P831 0 £5, SCHOTTKY BARRIER DIODES BAT85 @ 15p, H.P. 5082-2835 0 100 kHZ, size 1 metre diameter (3ft 3in) - Price £75 inc. 20p. ELECTRICAL BARAMETRIC ALTIMETER TYPE MK22 AS USED IN V-BOMBERS 0 £16 (P&P £6). Both these small antennas are lightweight, and inconspicuous. Held RADIO ALTIMETERS INDICATORS 450 KNOTS 0 £10. horizontally, they radiate vertical polarisation omni-directionally, low 240 VOLT MAINS POWER SUPPLY OUTPUT 27 VOLTS D.C. 15/17/20 AMPS, WEIGHS 22kg 0 £35 (P&P £10). angle. Access, Switch, Barclaycard and American Express cards accepted, P&P £2 under £10, Over Free, Send for data and explanation of our latest Patent Application. Unless otherwise stated. C.M. HOWES KITS Available by post and for callers.

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MFJ- 941E Atu • Kills local ORN - lets signals through Improve the • No more electrical interference! performance of • RI sensed for transceiver use (150W) your mobile ' Up to 20dB noise reduction • Recovers signals below the noise! • 144 - 146MHz bandpass filter / MI fitrx,..1 ' Adjust to suit local problems • RF sensing on Tx - Max 50W ' 50 - 50.3MHz 10W SSB Z ee; 2 2:21 • Kill that thermostat pmblem - ' " • . • ' ' • Requires 12v • RF speech processing • 10MHz xtal filter - 4", 7.• is -.gm:- • Super performance MFJ- 250X 1kW load MFJ- 1704 Coax Switch • Ideal way to 6M DXiny 160m to 10m ATU - 300W Price Wires, Coax and Balanced Feed Cross Needle VSWR & Power Down! 4-Way 3-Way antenna selector • 1kW Dummy Load Coax By-pass position - Dummy load socket • Oil cooled design Internal Balun - 30 or 300W position • SO-239 socket Switch 260 x 180 x 70mm • Ideal for !Mears • 1MHz to 400MHz • lkW max MFJ-989C 3kW ATU • DC - 1GHz MFJ-259 HF Analyser Mirage B-2516 2m Linear • Single Band CW transceivers Price • 750Hz xtal IF filter • Up to 5W RF output Down! ' Semi Break-in Connect to Models for 40m. 30m 20m and 15m. aerial or coax and measure ' 1.8 30MHz 3kW with Roller Coaster resonance and MFJ-9420 20m SS • Cross needle PEP and Avge meter impedance in • "T' network with 4:1 built-in baluin • Matches wire, coax or balanced system SECO MS. ' By-pass and antenna selector switch Turns hours ' 270 x 375 x 115mm into minutes • 144-148MHz FM. SSB, CW and ideas into ' Input 10 - 35W Output 25 - 160W MFJ-16010 LW AT antennas! • Adjustable Tx/Rx switching P .L.4.-71 ' Fully protected against VSWR e ' • Remote external keying : • r - r ' Long Wire ATU ...... _ .. . £49.95 ' Low noise GaAsFET pre-amp ' 300W pep rating - aria ' 160 - 10m • Requires 12.8V e 17 22 Amps 14.150 • 14.350SSB (CW option kit • Tunes any wire • 1.8MHz - 170MHz • Impedance " Size 405 x 76 x 140mm 10W RF Output ' Use Home ' Digital Readout ' AA batteries or There's a wide range of other Mirage High performance receiver • Use Portable ' Resonance ' 12v external amplifiers in our New 1998 Catalogue Very low current drain • SO-239 to tx. • VSWR WATsON Base Antennas WATsON Fibre Glass casing and pre-tuned. Fit and forget. Watson - Unbeatable WATsON Lapel Talker Watson sell more VHF base antennas m the UK than any other manufacturer. Famous world-wide, they are sold in Earpiece with lapel mic. USA and all major European Cushcraft R-7000 Vertical Cushcraft HF Antennas and PTTModels for all countries. Buy the best from makes including Motorola. the UK dealer you can trust What the nine say! for honest service and friendly R-7010 advice. We recommend l WEixrte relemsesiy WATsON QS-110 Speaker Mic. Par nat,c3:1 ncaa « Watson because we know 7 Band ertical .An exc.ettent DX they work - rugged, long last- 40 -10 ing and low VSWR! No other impressed with A-3S range can beat these well 80M option Kit Available Available in versions to standard of work- A3S 3 El. 10, 15, 20m 21(W Gain 8dB engineered antennas. manship and ease match all models. Just F 5 25dB El. 8.45m Boom 4.72m £389 tell us which transceiver of erection" W-2000 6m - 70cm £89.95 All aerials have A4S 4 El 10. 15. 20m 2kW Gain 8.9dB you have. i2i6 2,8 4dB 2.5m long) SO-239 sock- F.B 25dB El. 9.75m Boom 5.48m fee W-30 2m70cm £39.95 ets, mounting A3WS 3 El 12 & 17m 2kW Gain 8dB WATsON hardware for Base Mic. (3,6dB 1.15m long) FtadCen'and to me F/B 25dB El. 7.66in Boom 4.27 £299 W-50 2nv70cm £54.95 masts up to "IdoeY ,,u 10-3CD 3 El 10m 2kW Gain 8dB F/B 30dB tden • en 14.53.2dB lem long) 62cm diameter El. 5.38m Boom 3e5m £189 seeinvestme ga nt VO.' tich W-300 2m/70cm £69.95 and three radi- 15-3CD 3 El 15m 2Kw Galn 8dB F/B 30dB Superb audio quality. 16eedB 3.1m tong) als. All tuned for lasts' El. 7.38m Boom 4.27m £249 Can be powered UK bands. 20-3CD 3 El. 20m 2Kw Gain 8dB F/B 30dB from most modem El 10.96m Boom 6.1m £369 rigs 8 pin mic plug or • 7 Bands 40-10m 20-4CD 4 El. 20m 2Kw Gain 10dB FIB 30dB use internal battery. WATsON Mobile Whips • Power 1.5kW PEP El 11 ro Boom 9 75m £499 Full connection ' Height 7.3m (24ft) 40-2CD 2 El. 40m 2Kw Gain 5.5dB F/B 20dB details Inc. Stainless Steel • 7 x 49 inch radials El 12.9m Boom Sera £499 Mobile Whips with • Self-supporting QS-400 Mount hinged base. Pre-luned. WSC-2 Belt Case WSM-270 Mag Ant W-285 2m whip WATsON WATsON £15.95 £24.95 Clip onto dash grill and W-770113 2m/70cm Whip £24.95 simply push handheld or ' Dual; Band 2m/70cms GPS in between sprung fin- ' Mini Magnetic design gers. Another great idea • Super strong magnet from Watson! WATsON1 W-3CK Cable Kit • Base just 29mm diameter ' Pre-tuned for 2m & 70cm UK WATsON QS-200 Holder Combined quick release • Low Profile whip A 5m long spring dip and bell loop. • 2.75m of mini coax - BNC Price Down 50%! mobile cable kit Self adjusting. fits all • Power rating 50W max. randys. Keeps your Dash mount using 5D-BD cable for handys. handy handy! Exdusive WATsON WC-128 Counter Watson design - beware Matching hatch mount with of inferior copies!! £12.95 adjustable angle and £79.95 Now being shipped to WATsON VSWR Meters thumb wheel UK Goy. departments.

W-GMV Deluxe Key • 1MHz - 2.8GHz • LCD Display W-220 1.6-200MHz 5/20/200W £69.95 • BNC Whip Antenna ' Very sensitive "off air" W-420 118-530MHz 5/20/200W £69.95 • M-cads and Charger W-620 1.6-530MHz 5/20/200W £129.95 WHX-7000 2mr70cm

Distributed in UK by W & S SGC Products A real wood and brass key made exclusive- ly for Watson. This heavy duty key has dual . _ . SGC-230 Auto Wire ATU ball races and is crafted to a very high • Dual hand "Gainer" whip 2m / 70cm standard. A finely balanced instrument. ' 21cms long fitted BNC connector PW Review The SGC-230 a tuner Short Wave that will automatically Mast or base station Duplexers MFJ-564 Iambic Key Mag. Sept. resonate any length o' says - " the wire over the range 1.8 Power Clear is - 30MHz. Hang it under £59.95 simplicity itself - the guttering etc for a simple end fed auto you'll certainly hear the difference." system 100W max. £349.00 A complete DSP audio filter and speaker Split-1: 1.8-225MHz Split 2: 350-540MHz unit in one smart case. Works with any SGC-231 Auto Wire ATU - masommemme l receiver. Requires 12v DC. Superb unit. Power 300W New verslon of "23G' unit Loss 0.2dB This iambic keyer is just like the famous £299.00 Socket SO-239 above, but covering 1.8 - Bencher but about half the price! The 54MHz. Works with any SG-500 Power Cube Save on coax cable! Accepts masts up to extremely heavy base and fine movement length of wire. (12v DC). 2.25" diem. Includes water-proof plug makes for a very nice key to go with your Just feed with RF. £499.00 Here's a 500 Watt output solid state linear shrouds. Use indoors or outdoors. latest transceiver. Recommended by us. that will operate between 1.6 - 30MHz. Multimode Modem Input of 50-90W is Probably the ulti- Free - Phone required and the DC r mate modem. 0500 supply needs 10 - 18V Almost like having a Fast Order @ 40A (SSB). PTT or programmable computer inside your RF sensing modem. Send for full specification £989.00 £599.00 Line 73 73 88

Enquiries: Tel. 01702 206835 / 204965 Fax. 01702 205843 Waters & Stanton PLC 22, Main Road, Hockley, Essex SS5 40S VHF/UHF Amplifiers from Vine RF Power Modules Just in — Transistor amplifiers from T E Systems. All these amplifiers are I 3.8VDC powered. with switchable GaAsFET preamps. The range is extensive from TOC & Mitsubishi and just :ome example: follow... Band P In P Out £ Band Pin I' Out E Standard parts stocked, replacement parts fOr many 6m 10 170 319 2m 25 350 509 Yaesu/ lcom transceivers, ideal for linear PA designs. 6m 10 375 499 2m 80 350 459 Part Frequency Pwr/Mode Price (1 off) 100 359 6m 25 375 459 70cm 10 M57726 144-148M Hz 43W/FM £43.71 2m 2 150 319 70cm 10 185 569 M57729 430-450MHz 30W/FM £42.00 2m 10 200 329 70cm 25 185 529 M57737 144-148MHz 30W/FM £27.23 Please w iteicall for illustrated catalogue of the full T E Systems rune. We also M57762 1.24-1.3GHz 18W/SSB £67.53 sell our well-known AlphaPower rai ge of HF amplifiers and he widest M57788M 430-450MHz 40W/FM £66.99 selection of HI-7V HI' antennas in Europe. Please ring. fax or Email us for details. M67715 144-148MHz 13W/FM £36.48 Vine Antenna Products, The Vine, Llandrinio, Powys SY22 6SH M67727 144-148MHz 37W/SSB £124.59 01691 831111, Fax 01691 831386, Email [email protected] M67728 430-450MHz 60W/SSB £99.04 MI407-01 Pin diode up to 800MHz/25W £1.21

Many other frequencies/ power combinations available, please call with your requirements. WILSON vAntEv Data sheets available for specific items on request. (PROP JIM FISH G4MH) Call for Amateur/ Education discounts or volume pricing

Over 2500 different types stocked, Ham Radio, Military, Audio, COMING SOON - Linear Vintage, etc. power amplifier 'Starter MITSUBISHI 6146A £17.63, 61468 £19.98, 6146W (MilSpec) £19.98. 6JS6C (NEC) Packs' for 2M & 70cm. ELECTRIC £25.85, 6L.06 (SOV) £17.63, 6.186A (NAT) £29.38, 12BY7A (NEC) TOC also stock Modem. Networking and GPS receiver and antenna f11.75, 128Y7A (USA TYPES) £9.99. 6HF5 £23.50, 5728 (SVT) £49.35, 5728 products, visit our web site at http://www.tdc.co.uk for more information. (CETRON, USA) £56.40, 3-50026 £155.10, 811A (SVT) £19.39 Stroudley Road Matched pairs available * VAT included Basingstoke Plus £2.35 pp & ins * Most major credit cards TDC Hampshire Many more available. SAE for list to: TELE C O M D ESI G N C O M M U NI C ATI O NS LT C> RG24 8FN

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t d4111S re,t "DTR7-5... Remarkable performance!" - says Peter Hart i 40o i Hear them on the bands! This remarkable little rig is ideal tor \ A‘MS'iç:/7/ Jt- your next 1P operation, regular ,N 40m ORP activity, travel and ..e Computer & Electronics Show -`-‘,,, holidays. Transmitter: Stable Colpitts Z The Original Stafford Computer Show - Est 1989 VFO. covering 7.0-7.1 MHz. ve Power output nominally 5 watts àae. et, into 5011. erj Saturday 8 November 1997 • 10.00am-4.00pm --„- Receiver: Direct-conversion. Band-pass tuned circuit at input giving good rejection of 'out of band" signals. Low- . Bingley Hall, Staffordshire Showground, Stafford i--* noise devices used throughout, resulting in a sensitivity figure of around 1RV MOS. d le off A518 Staff ord-Uttoxeter Road-Signposted from J14 on M6 DTR7-5 CW TRANSCEIVER, Only £158 plus £4 p&p e Bus Shuttle from Stafford BR The Kit "with all the bits"- just £97.80 plus £4 p&p

Send SAE for brochure or call Alan G4DVW on 0115 9382509 ermuia • Computers • Accessories • Multimedia • Satellite • 7 Middleton Close, Nuthall LAKE ELECTRONICS Nottingham NG16 1BX • TV • Amateur Radio • Electronics • Bring & Buy. (Callers by appointment only) • and much much more •

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CQ...CQ! Call in on the Entrance Price Adult - £3.00 Children under 14 - 50p GOOD NEWS Concessions CHRISTIAN NETS OAP's, RSGB members, Student Card, UB40 - £2.00 Every Sunday at 8am and 2pm on Advanced Tickets - £2.00 + SAE 3747 kHz or 144.205 MHz at 3pm, sharing Christian fellowship over Sharward Promotions the air. Organising Computer Shows since 1988 For more information telephone 01803 854504 •or write to our Membership Secretary Knightsdale Business Centre WACRAL 30 Knightsdale Road - Ipswich - IP1 4JJ # 51 Alma Road, Brixham, South Devon, TQ5 80R Tel 01473 741533 • Fax 01473 741361 See Internet Web Pa .e H11P://www.00PPO.demon.co,uk

76 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 CRYSTAL OSCILLATORS Output Crystal Division CRYSTAL CONTROLLED oscillators are com- frequency frequency ratios mon in transmitters at HE and higher bands, but 71.59090 kHz 3.57955 MHz (NTSC) 10,5 not standard at LF. The reasoning is that an 72.00000 kHz 18.43200 MHz 16,16 72.80000 kHz 5.82400 MHz 16,5 acceptable error or drift is a large fraction of a 73.72800 kHz 1.84320 MHz 5,5 low frequency such as 73kHz, and this percent- 73.72800 kHz 3.68640 MHz 10,5 age accuracy is attainable without crystals. This 73.72800 kHz 7.37280 MHz 10,10 CHRIS TRAYNER, G40K W is true, and several successful LF transmitters 73.89365 kHz 4.43362 MHz (PAL) 10,6 32, Moor Park Villas, Leeds, Yorkshire, LS6 4BZ E-mail: [email protected] have been built with VF0s. There are, however, 73.89365 kHz 4.43362 MHz (PAL) 12,5 circumstances where one needs far better accu- 73.89365 kHz 8.86724 MHz (2xPAL) 12,10 racy and, equally important, stability. Some of Table 1: Low cost crystals suitable for 73kHz. N PAGE 45 this month is a descrip the DX QS0s have used extremely narrow-band receivers, for instance 25mHz (1/40Hz) by tion of the technique used for the natural and man-made — is at its lowest. Most G4JNT, and G3PLX. For this work a VFO will record-breaking 393km one-way operation is close to 72.1kHz. 073kHz QS0 on 13 July when Peter not do. A frequency drifting by ten Hertz is quite Ranges exceeding 1000km may soon be acceptable for SSB but, as Andy Talbot points Martinez, G3PLX, received extremely slow possible as on 7 September, and again two out, it rules out the narrow-band techniques Morse from Andy Talbot, G4JNT, as described weeks later, Toni Baertschi, HB9ASB, heard in the September column. This mode is espe- which he has pioneered. He appeals to very slow "different CW fragments" including part of a Morse transmitters to use good crystal control. cially useful at LF because of the relatively CQ call. He is using a 3m diameter loop an- The normal technique is to run the crystal at a stable paths compared to higher frequencies; it tenna in a very quiet location. is also a band where extremely good oscillator higher frequency and divide it down; circuits to stability can be achieved. do this are common [2, 3]. The trick is to choose AND IN CLOSING... the final frequency and division ratio so that the KEY LARGO crystal is a common, cheap one. The division is An E-mail newsgroup has been set up to ex- done by digital ICs which normally divide by 2N, change news of QS0s, who will be transmitting Communication theory [1] tells us that, if you a round number in binary. There are plenty of when, sources of components and so on. To send more slowly with the same transmitter ICs which divide by other numbers, however, subscribe to it, you need to send an E-mail to power, you can be received despite more back- especially 5, 6, 10 and 12. Table 1 shows fre- [email protected] with the message ground noise. Alternately, you could get further quencies around the 73kHz band which can be body just containing "subscribe rsgb_lf group" with the same noise level. This is easy to under- derived from standard crystals using two such (with no punctuation and without the quotation stand if you imagine a listener to a Morse trans- 74LS dividers. The 74LS90 has division ratios marks). You should get an initial E-mail reply mission trying to decide whether the key is of 5 and 10; the '92 has 6 and 12; the '93 and '190 confirming receipt, with instructions of how to down, in other words whether the carrier is there. to '193 have 16. Two '90s are available in one unsubscribe if you change your mind. If the keying rate is slowed down then, with pack as a '390, and two '93s as a '393. These ICs Another method of feedback is the 80m net suitable equipment, the listener can accumulate have many variants you will need to check that which been running on 3673kHz. Following the received signal strength over a longer period they will run at your frequency. the HE Convention meeting, this has been — you can regard this either as integrating or replaced by two new nets on Saturdays, at 9am averaging. The advantage comes because the on 3720kHz and at 7pm on 1973kHz. signal remains constant, so the accumulated ACTIVITY measurement rises linearly with time. The noise THERE ARE NOW eleven stations capable of LATE NEWS is random, however, and tends to cancel out. The transmitting over at least a few tens of kilome- accumulated noise rises as the square root of the tres, and most exchanged technical ideas at the As we go to press, the RA has announced the time(this assumes the noise to be random, such LF Forum at the RSGB HE Convention in introduction of a new band at 136kHz. Further as background hiss. The assumption is invalid September. The bulk of activity is in the south- details are on this month's `RadCom News' for such interference sources as TVs and electric east of England but also in Cornwall and Cum- pages. Also just announced is the award of the motors). The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) thus bria. The excellent receive set-up and operating Datong Trophy to Andy Talbot, G4JNT, for his rises as the time divided by the square root of the skills of John Moore, G4GVC, in Leicester- well-documented LF work. time, which is also the square root of the time. shire, have led to him being able to hear (and For instance: if you increase the dot period by a record) several stations more than 200km away. REFERENCES factor of nine then the accumulated signal will This is using conventional 'normal speed' CW. [1] Communication Systems, 2nd ed., A.B. increase nine-fold; the noise three-fold; and the He expects to be able to transmit shortly. Carlson, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1968. SNR by a factor of 9/3 = 3. This is of more than The best time to listen for activity is between [2] 73 LF, RadCom, July 1996, p75. academic interest at LF, where low aerial 0630 and 0900 on Saturday and Sunday morn- [3] Am I within the band?, RadCom, Dec 1996, efficiencies limit the radiated power. ings. This time of day is when band noise — both p.37.

VAL- L'1 4UJiUt'I'Z OtISTAIS Prices from CUSTOM MANUFACTURED CRYSTALS AND OSCILLATORS only £289 — WEATHER WIND SPEED FUNDAMENTALS OVERTONES M ONITORING ATA GLANCE & DIRECTION FREQUENCY RANGE PRICE MODE FREQUENCY RANGE PRICE **Co mputer Datalogger available** only 1.5 to 2.0 MHz E9.E,J 3rd OVT 21.00 to 60 00 MHz £7 50 2.0 to 4.0 MHz £9.00 3rd OVT 60.130 to 75.00 MHz £8 75 4.0 to 6.0 MHz £8 75 5th OW 60 00 to 110 0 MHz f8 50 Features (ticp ',dent on model) 6.0 to 22.0 MHz £7.50 5th OVT 110 00 to 126.0 MHz fl 0 00 * WIND SPEED & DIRECTION ei 22 to 26.0 MHz £9,00 7th OVT 125.00 to 175.0 MHz £13.50 9th OVT 170.00 to 2250 MHz £13 75 * ELEGANT MAHOGANY CABINET (choice of light or dark) 1.5.2.0MHz available in HC6/U or HC33/U only * BAROMETRIC PRESSURE * OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE 20 - 10.0MHz available in HC6/U HC33/U HC18/U or HC25/U only 10.0 .225.0MHz HC6/U HC33/U HC18/U HC18/T FiC18/TT HC25/U HC25/T HC25/TT and HC45/11. * HUMIDITY & DEW POINT with MIN & MAX - C & F W'e'e 't•v,tett:- ete 'try. st,ecHea ?"_nve- 2.00MH2.,,,,l' be supplied in HC25/U. * RAINFALL * COMPUTER INTERFACE For HC18,7 I... I . ' TT & ' • 6mm ht.) and HC45/U add f5.00. Delivery approx 2 weeks. For 5 day EXPRESS service add 50% to above prices. * SUNSHINE HOURS. Prices Milliffill111 order charge £10.00. do not accept credit cards_ * 12-24v or MAINS ,n less otherwise requested fundarr, - • - tones for series resonant operatior Send for colour :.here applicable please state the atav,:: ecupment the crystals are to be use, bent-hairs now will assist us in providing the correct specifications. R&D C•vsta's available to PM R and other commercial specifications. Custom Manufactured TTL and CMOS oscillators 3 5 • 85MHz £20.35 each 1 - 4 pcs. Instru-MeT QuartSLab Marketin g Ltd Tel (01843) 866662 1115.11- PO Box 19, Erith, Kent DA8 1LH Fax (01843) 866663 eidwe uonelielsui Phone 01322 330830 Fax 01322 334904 SAE with enquiries please Beaufort House, Percy Ave, Kingsgate, Broadstairs, Kent. CTIO 3LB

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 77 Call Points Multipliers Total LOW/MIDDLE BAND TABLE Score Band Pos Call Stations Best 1VIult GOEMG/P 8027 21 168567 wkd DX(km) Score G4ZME/P 4014 20 80280 1.3GHz 1 G8VOI/P 33 491 16203 2 G6XDI 30 534 16020 G3FYX/P 3855 18 69390 3 G4PMK 5 525 2625 GOAPI 3671 18 66078 4 G3PHO/P 4 182 728 MIKE DIXON, G3PFR G3PHO/P 3720 15 55800 'Woodstock', Gazebank, Norley, Warrington, 5 G4KNZ/P 3 189 567 Cheshire WA6 8LL G8VOI/P 3191 16 51056 6 GOJMI/P 3 41 164 G4LIP/P 3955 12 47460 2.3GHz 1 G8VOI/P 5 214 1070 G4MAP/P 2823 16 45168 2 G4KNZ/P 4 189 756 G4BCH/P 2610 14 36540 3 GOJMI/P 7 89 623 HIS YEAR'S Martlesham Microwave GOMJW/P 2474 13 32162 4 G4PMK 1 525 525 Round Table takes place on 9 Nov 5 G6XDI 1 86 86 ember at British Telecom's labora G3JMB/P 1847 13 24011 3.4GHz 1 G8VOI/P 3 214 642 tories in Suffolk. As in previous years, G6PHJ/P 568 8 4544 T 2 GOJMI/P 7 89 623 it is expected that many of the country's leading G4DDK 1991 2 3982 3 G4KNZ/P 3 189 567 microwave operators will be present, together G3YKI/P 836 836* 5.7GHz 1 F 1 GHB/P 6 435 2610 with a few representatives from mainland Eu- GOUPU 128 4 512 2 G4BRK/P 7 363 2541 rope. G4KN/P 213 2 426 3 G8VOI/P 4 371 1484 There will be a programme of lectures, a * No counties logged, therefore no multipliers 4 GOJMI/P 4 89 356 bring and buy sale and the customary array of advanced test gear on which to test or align your Table 1: RSGB 10GHz Trophy results, 1997. HIGH BAND TABLE latest microwave gear. Refreshments will be lOGHz 1 G3GNR 29 1275 36975 available at reasonable cost. In the September RSGB Microwave News- 2 G4BRK 44 826 36344 Free entry tickets (as required by BT secu- letter, there is a short but comprehensive article 3 G8APZ 20 958 19160 rity) can be obtained from Malcolm Bell, by John Brown, G3DVV describing an easily 4 G8VOI/P 43 386 16555 G4CXT, whose address is 50, Avocet Lane, built '2400MHz Signal Source'. This could be 5 GOAPI 37 446 16502 Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, Suffolk IP5 7SE. useful to anyone, unfamiliar with the band, 6 G8LSD/P 35 410 14360 Please list the names and callsigns of all those trying to set up equipment for the first time. 7 G3PHO/P 32 385 12320 for whom you wish to obtain tickets — not Further details, if needed, can be obtained from 8 G3JMY 22 487 10714 forgetting an SASE for the tickets. John, QTHR, or on 01608 644371 — before 9 G3JMB/P 29 335 9715 lOpm please! Alternatively, of course, you 10 FlGHB/P 17 416 7072 2.3GHZ NEWS could build the more complex 11 G8DKK 18 272 4896 CHARLIE SUCKLING, (but more versatile) G4DDK004 12 G8AYY/P 11 200 2200 G3WDG, (right) has recently design which is well established 13 G1MPW/P 9 207 1863 announced a new 2.3GHz as an excellent andversatile drive 14 GOJMI/P 17 92 1564 transverter project for which he source for both the 2.3 and 15 G4KNZ/P 2 189 378 intends, if there is enough de- lOGHz bands. 16 G4PMK 2 48 96 mand, to produce PCBs for home 24GHz 1 G3UYM/P 6 144 864 construction. Charlie is THE RSGB 1 OGHZ 2 G8VOI/P 4 81 324 well-known worldwide for his TROPHY CONTEST 3 GOIVA/P 4 75 300 IOGHz designs, launched in the 4= G3PHO/P 2 81 162 THIS EVENT, held over the early 1990s, which are still popu- 4= G8AYY/P 2 81 162 first weekend in May, attracted lar and available through the 6 G3GNR 3 40 120 some 16 entries and the winners, Microwave Committee Compo- 7 GOJMI/P 2 38.5 77 by a wide margin, were the nents Service (c/o Petra Suck- 8 G3GNR/P 1 43 43 Northern Lights Group, op- ling, G4KGC, 314A Newton 9 G4KNZ/P 1 11 11 erating with the callsign Road, Rushden, Northants NN10 OSY). 47GHz 1= GOJMI/P 1 11 11 GOEMG/P. Their best DX was 422km. The The present design for the 2.3/2.4GHz band 1= G4KNZ/P 1 11 11 nmners-up were the Telford and District Ama- is understood to be based on a no-tune LNA, 76GHz - teur Radio Club, callsign G4ZME/P, with a mixer and image filter on one PCB, using a 145GHz - best DX of 272km. The results are given in 144MHz IF and easy-to-get components. The Table 1, courtesy of G4JNT who adjudicated Table 2: 1997 Operating Ladder as at 19.07.97. mixer is a sub-harmonically 'pumped' design, the event. using a few milliwatts at 1088MHz, derived GB3OHM, located at I092AJ, 171m ASL, is Congratulations to the winners and run- from a 'cut-down' version of the G4DDK004 back on air With a new antenna. Reports re- ners-up: also to all entrants who bothered to put oscillator/driver source. The PCB will incorpo- ceived so far say that it is putting in strong in an entry, your support is much appreciated! rate all the switching and interface circuits, signals in Markfield near Leicester (1092IQ, at using PIN diodes for both the 144MHz and 56km) and the QTH of G4LRT (109211, at 2.3GHz switching. A receive noise figure of BEACON DEVELOPMENTS 62km). about ldB is expected, with a transmit output of ROY, G3FYX, has finished building the Any other reports would be most welcome, a few milliwatts. Charlie is also planning to Gloucestershire Repeater Group's lOGHz bea- to Ian Gordon, G8IFT, E-Mail address produce a series of linear PA modules to pro- con. GB3CXX will be sited at Cleeve Com- [email protected]. duce up to 10W output. mon, locator 1081X W81 at 342m ASL, on a Andy Talbot, G4JNT, Microwave Commit- The first prototypes should be ready in the frequency, of 10368.940MHz. The antennas tee Chairman, needs a builder for the GB3SC* next few weeks and, if anyone is interested in will be omnidirectional, although there may be family of beacons at Purbeck, Dorset, a site 'beta-testing' any of the modules, then please some 'shading' to the north from the Cleeve already used by the lOGHz beacon GB3SCX. write to Charlie at the address given earlier. tower. The beacon is on 'soak-test' before Engineering is required for the bands 2.3 to This project should be suitable for receiving being handed over to the repeater group. Fur- 24GHz, excluding lOGHz. If you would like to Mode-S satellite transmissions, as well as for ther details from Stewart, GOLGS, QTHR or help in this important project, please con- normal terrestrial use—and it should be easy to via packet at GB7LGS. tact Andy by telephone on 01489 787424 get going. The country's only 3.4GHz beacon, or E-Mail [email protected]

78 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 earth connection. A wire can be fixed to the tube using a ju- bilee clip. TE n Another solution is to use the tube to insert a length of galvanised wire or thick copper braid- ing into the ground. The copper tube is withdrawn and the galvanised wire at- tached to the tube by bending the last uuRRESPUNDENCL 10cm back on itself into the tube as shown in Fig 2. times not practical and a good connection to Then simply push ground is necessary. the tube and wire

My difficulty was that my house is located back down the hole, Fig 2: Placing a ground on the North Downs. Beneath the house and and withdraw the connection. garden are several hundred feet of chalk and it tube leaving the is difficult to get a good earth system. I needed galvanised wire in the ground. a simple method of drilling deep holes for I used this method to drill six holes close to ground connections. where the ATU is located. I used four strands of The solution was to use a length of 15mm 2mm wire in the hole adjacent to the ATU, The Fig 1: Using high pressurewaterto drill a hole in the ground. copper pipe with the garden hose connected to earth 'stakes' are 2m or so apart and the joining one end via compression fittings, available at wires are 10cm beneath the surface and sol- most large DIY stores. Then, with the water dered where appropriate. Not every drilling EARTH CONNECTIONS flowing through the pipe, push it into the ground was successful. Obstructions like stones un- THIS IS A SIMPLE idea for constructing earth with a pumping action as shown in Fig 1. Using derground caused abandonment of that par- mats for antennas requiring a ground. The this method holes with a depth of 3 metres have ticular hole. normal method of providing a counterpoise for been achieved. Once a hole has been drilled, the This hole drilling system may work in clay HE verticals is to use radials, either raised or copper tube can be left in and the hosepipe and other soils but I have not tried it. buried. For the lower bands radials are some- disconnected. This tube can then be used as an Gavin Menzies, G4IQV

A UPDATED TABLES ice. Accordingly, they have applied to use an it is extremely difficult to see how sharing will THE LATEST update to the 1997 Oper- additional 30MHz in the 10450 to 10500MHz be even remotely possible. ating Ladder is given in Table 2, split, as sub-band, 'sharing it with amateurs'. Their Further complications arise from the fact previously, into the Low/Middle band table calculations are, apparently, based upon the that the IARU preferred alternative`weakflux' (1.3GHz to 5.7GHz) and the High band table assumption that amateurs use receivers to copy (ERO/CEPT terminology) sub-band is at (10GHz to 145GHz). Even though some of the signals at the —90dBm level. 10450MHz, as is the internationally agreed scores may appear to be minute, it is most This could not be further from reality; ad- Amateur Satellite Service allocation. Needless encouraging to see so many multiband entries, vanced amateur narrowband receivers are ca- to say, we have lodged strong objections to many of them portable with low power equip- pable of copy at —150dBm or better: even the these proposals and await the response of the ment. Don't let a small score or a small number simplest of wideband designs, when properly Radiocommunications Agency to the real facts of contacts or poor DX deter you from making set-up and used with a good, gainy antenna is of amateur operation in the upper part of the an entry. Send your entry to Peter Day, G3PHO, capable of copying signals at better than — lOGHz band. at 146, Springvale Road, Sheffield S6 3NU, 100dBm! The potential loss of a further 30 or 50MHz of telephone 0114 2816701, or E-mail The proposers also seem to be unaware that our 'bread and butter' microwave band could [email protected], or [email protected] advanced amateur stations may be operating render the upper part of the band completely The All Time IOGHz Squares/Countries ta- with output powers, at the antenna, of 10 to useless for weak signal purposes. The current ble should be available for the next Micro- 16dBW at the present state of development, so international narrowband allocation at 10368 — waves in the January 1998 RadCom. 10370MHz is alreadyunder constraints in the UK with regard to beacons and unattended operation and band planning for the present and projected GOOD & NOT SO GOOD activities will become extremely problematic. THE GOOD NEWS is that the move out of the 10,150 to 10,300MHz part of the 3cm F U R T H E R R E A DIN G band is now complete in the UK and there have been no serious problems so far — at RSGB Microwave Handbooks Vol 1, 2, 3 least, none that I've heard of. edited by Mike Dixon, G3PFR The bad news is that one of the three WLL service providers licensed to operate this RSGB Radio Communication Handbook service appears to be 'unable to operate' its network in the 150MHz allocated to that serv- Practical Transceivers for Novices by John Case, GW4H WR 'Base' unit using the G4KNZ Gunn PSU/modulator as described in October's Down lo Eanh( p44) and Plactica/Tfansmillois forNowees. The unit can be All the above available from the RSGB. used as a personal, attended WB beacon on See pages 90 and 91. 10,400MHz.

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 79 ily industrialised regions had been identified as They were joined on 18 August by an interna- causing severe degradation to system perform- tional team from Germany, Belgium, Slovenia, ance. The survey will be extended with Hungary, Japan and the Czech Republic in TMSAT's launch using its advanced pro- round-the-clock efforts to reinstall and test grammable receiver. Such knowledge may be more than 40 electronic features which had to used to devise methods, such as frequency be removed to permit structural changes and, diversity, as a counter-measure. generally, to prepare the satellite for a safe and VIN THOMPSON, GM4ULS This topic was followed by 'Radio As- successful launch. The Larches, Harper Way, Scone, Perthshire, tronomy: Practice and Problems' from Pro- Despite all these endeavours it became ap- Scotland PH2 6PVV. fessor John Ponsonby of Manchester Univer- parent by the end of August that a launch on sity, Nuffield Radio Astronomy Laboratories, Ariane 502 was no longer pos sible. So, a dummy Jodrell Bank. The problems here were also an load is due to replace Phase 3D. Alternatives ORTY YEARS on from the launch of ever-rising tide of interference from active are being sought but the satellite is likely to be Sputnik 1 and nearly 36 years (De services, military and commercial, satellite TV grounded for several months. Maintenance, cember 12) since the launch of the first and telephone, some intruding into bands not insurance, a different launch structure etc are Famateur radio satellite, AMSAT -UK' s allocated to them which caused damaging in- likely to prove expensive — finding the money total membership is little more than two per terference to radio astronomy bands. This he is just one of the consequences to be faced. cent of licensed amateurs in UK. About one described as allowing "one of our major view- quarter of the members are in other countries. ing windows on the universe to become fogged SPUTNIK «3' Only a small minority of UK members are by man-made interference". IN FEBRUARY this year an agreement was currently active. The support of the remainder Dr Craig Underwood, G1WTW, of UoS signed between Russia and France to com- is much appreciated but I find the overall lack contributed 'A Decade of Research into the memorate the 40th anniversary of Sputnik 1. of interest in space activity puzzling. Effect of SEUs in Commercial Memory De- Two groups of high school students have co- vices Used in Space' (see Satellites, September operated to build a functional scale model (1:3) AMSAT-UK COLLOQUIUM 1997). of the original — a model was shown at the THREE WEEKS before the Colloquium, held James Miller, G3RUH, held our attention Colloquium. Students from Russia have built at the University of Surrey from 25 to 27 July, with a description and demonstration, (includ- the body and those from France the radio trans- Ron Broadbent, G3AAJ, reported in Oscar ing a repeat outside the lecture hall) of the mitter intended to 'beep-beep' from space after News that 53 applications to attend had been Phase 3D Ranging System to which I referred launch from the Mir space station on 4 October received (compared with 98 in 1996, 158 in in September's Satellites. (not a 'first' launch — two short-lived Iskra 1995, and 198 in 1994). Unexpected work on satellites with Mode K transponders were Phase 3D was seen as one reason for the short- AMSAT-UK AGM launched in 1982 from Mir' s predecessor Salyut fall. Ultimately, some 30 more attended, the THE AGM FOLLO WED the Colloquium with 7). The model, running on dry batteries, should total being between 80 and 90, including a large the customary smooth despatch of the routine have a life of between one and two months. contingent from outside the UK. Despite this items on the agenda. The committee was re- Output power is expected to be between 100 disappointing response which, of itself will elected en bloc and a distribution of duties and 200mW and antenna polarisation is circu- attract consideration for the future by the com- continues in preparation for the end of the year lar. Modulation is FM and the audio signal is mittee, the event was a clear success. Thanks when Ron Broadbent gives up the reins. As an around 1.3kHz and will vary with temperature. are due to Richard Limebear, G3R WL, for ordinary member I should like to recognise the Frequency will be between 145.810 and compiling a varied and interesting programme, contribution made by those in administration, 145.850MHz. to the indefatigable G3AAJ who, as usual, saw not as glamorous as design and construction to the smooth running of the 'domestics' and to nor as immediate in satisfaction as operating, RS SATELLITES all who gave talks and papers. The following but indispensable in today's complexities. NOTHING MORE has been heard from, or selection of items for report from presentations about, RS — 10. RS- 16 (see RadCom July 1997, of high standard is purely personal choice re- PHASE 3D UPDATE p81) remains restricted to its beacon on stricted by space. NEWS OF A hitch in the launch arrangements 435.504MHz transmitting telemetry, normally Referring to TMSAT, due for launch later broke at the Colloquium and was reported in CW, but you will hear a high-speed output this year, Chris Jackson, G7UPN, and John RadCom (Sept 1997, p 10). Since the necessary occasionally when the satellite is in view of Paffet of the University of Surrey gave details structural modifications to the satellite were Moscow. Those who wish to hear RS-12 and do about the new generation of UoSATs and the assessed, substantial efforts with 16 to 18 hour not have 10m downlinks are reminded of the ground station requirements, including the chal- workdays have been made by workers at the alternative downlink, including a CW beacon, lenge which the implementation of a new re- Integration Laboratory in Orlando, Florida. between 145.910 and 145.950MHz. ceiver would present. The satellites will in- corporate: mechanical improvements; a more advanced earth imaging system with momen- tum wheel control of spin to avoid blurred images; a new computer based on the Inte1386EX plus a maths co-processor; a new system of telemetry and telecommand and a high-speed downlink of 38.4kb/s to handle the significantly increased data. The G3CDK memorial lecture was given by Geoff Perry MBE who took us through remi- niscences of 'The Kettering Group: from Hobby to Profession / Obsession', enlivening the seri- ous underlying theme withhis customary flashes of humour. We heard a report, again from John Paffett, about how the UoSATs, although not specifi- cally designed for the task, had been used to measure the global long-term interference en- vironment within the satellite VHF band. Ar- Three members of the AMSAT-UK committe at the Colloquium earlier this year. From left: Dennis Kitchen, eas, especially but not exclusively, over heav- GOFCL; Barry Sankey, G7RWY; Ken Eaton, GW1FKY.

RADIO COMMUNICATION November1997 DATA STREAM

144.9375 —12.5kHz: channel. Unallocated Avail- enormous initial outlay for equipment. Several able for issue on NoV GB7 mailboxes and nodes years ago the Norfolk AX25 Group tried to make subject to local agreement. headway with a 9k6 23cm link but this was 144.950 — 12.5kHz: channel. AX25 BBS User unsuccessful. The group is in the process of access. Recommended for BBSs previously on getting a 19.2kb link going. This is taking a long Data Stream 144.650. time, and encouraging users to change from 1200 144.975 — 25kHz: channel. High speed only. All to 9k6 at the user level is not easy. ROGER J COOKE, G3LDI channels, except those allocated for high speed, Packet users also seem to be stuck with the The Old Nursery, The Drift, Swardeston, are 12.5kHz and efforts should be made to ensure same Net software that was current some years Norwich NR14 81_0 that equipment used meets the appropriate speci- ago. Most of our European counterparts have fication to ensure adjacent channel interference is dealt with the increasing user numbers by intro- minimised. This is particularly important for busy ducing other software, such as Flexnet, which BBS and node user access ports. All channels are will support DAMA operation, which I think we HE RSGB Datacomms Committee (DCC) has announced the ratified user access or user to user and, in accordance with should be seriously considering in the UK (see bandplan for the new 2m data sub-band IARU policies, there should be no inter-node or January's Data Stream). I know that one group (see October' s Data Stream) shownbelow: inter-BBS linking in the 2m band. has now installed Flexnet and I would be inter- T Packet/User groups should start to plan for the ested in reporting on their success in using this. 144.825 — 25kHz: channel. High speed only 144.850 — 12.5kHz: channel. AX25 BBS User frequency changes in line with the new bandplan. Austria are still using a mixture — Flexnet, access. Recommended for BBSs previously on To ensure that best use is made of the channels Thenet and Die Box—as shown in the packet map 144.550. available it would be wise for SysOps to reach of available routes (Fig 1). 144.8625— 12.5kHz: channel. Unallocated. Avail- early agreement in preparation for submitting able for issue on NoV to GB7 mailboxes and requests for Notice ofVariation (NoV) frequency TRIBUTE TO G7OEB changes to the DCC. All requests for frequency nodes subject to local agreement. GORDON BROOKES, G7OEB, was instrumen- changes should be submitted to the regional DCC 144.875 — 12.5kHz: channel. TCP/IP User ac- tal in producing one of the most comprehensive member and not direct to the Mailbox or Site cess. Recommended for TCP/IP systems previ- listings of World-wide BBS and Nodes. Quite a Clearance Managers. ously on 144.5625. few BBSs have this listing as part of their file An announcement detailing implementation 144.8875 — 12.5kHz: channel. AX25. Priority to system, including mine. Sadly, Gordon passed dates will be posted on the network in due course. be given to DX Cluster user access where re- away this summer and will be missed. This information will be available once the DCC quired subject to local agreement. However, his BBS listing will last, and will be has confirmed that other services currently using 144.900 — 12.5kHz: channel. DX Cluster user kept up to date by Barney, 2E1CPA @ GB7BEN. the new sub-band have made plans to change access. Recommended for DX Clusters previ- Barney can copy disks if anybody is interested in frequency to new allocations. ously on 144.675. obtaining this World-wide listing. 144.9125 — 12.5kHz: channel. Ad-hoc packet. One to one users etc. Will not be issued for use on HIGH-SPEED LINKS F U R T H E R R E A DIN G GB7 mailboxes or nodes. DURING THE past decade of packet activity in Packet Radio Primer by Dave Coomber, 144.925 — 12.5kHz: channel. TCP/IP User ac- the UK, little progress has been made in the G8UYZ and Marlyn Croft, G8NZU cess. Recommended for TCP/IP systems previ- organisation of a backbone high-speed network. ously on 144.625. There are many reasons for this, not least the Available from the RSGB Book Shop.

G3LDI@GB7LDI;E-Mail:[email protected]; tel:01508 Fig 1: Packet network In Austria. See pages 90 and 91. 570278.

Bereich Wien OKONK OKONA DX-Cluster OKOPPL OKONKT 0E3XLR E1XIR 0E1XHB

0E3XSR 0E1XGR 0E3X5R-8 DBOLNA 0E1XGR-13 DBOWGS Landau Wegscheid DBOLNA DBOWGS E3XNR

r — O 0E1XLR 0E5XAR 0E3XBR 0E3XWR g 0E1XAB HG1KYY 0E5XCR 0E3XIAIR RIMY 0E1XLR BRATISLAVA 0E5XL 0E5XBR 0E1XGR Linz OE1XIR OMOPBA DBOAAT 0E5XIIL 0 E1XC 0E5XEM w..rœmr 0E5XLR DBOAAB 0E3XBR DBOHP DBOAHO Miinchen DKVD DBOAAB DBOHOB 0E5XZL 0E3XLR DBOBAX DBOMPG 0E2X0M DBOSIP Salzburg 0E3XBS HB9GR • 0E2X0M 0E2XBR HB9KNB HB9EAS ClE7XAR HG1KYY 0E9XPR 0E7XHR 0E7XKJ 0E7XWR 0E7XBR 0E7XCT 0E7X1R 0E9XPI 0E6XWR 0E7XVR 0 E7XGR HA1VH 0E9XER CiE7XLR DE7XPR OEURR OFEXSR 0E7XCI HG1Z 0E7XKR DE2XSR DESXAR 0E6XHR

0E7XMR 0E8XHR IR3BZD • 0E7XJR DE8XFIR

Station Type Software

0 Network eerie B = Die Bax 0E8XPR 0E8XPK D = Gateway/Box 0E5DXL 9A1XZG Li Mailbox F = Mailbox F8FBB R Maribor Zagreb = RMNC/Flexnet A DX-Cluster T = TheNet S SYKO W = Mailbox WORLI LJU7 Y = BayCemNode/Ma Max

RS G B RC1541

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 81 A ALINCO DEALER INNOVATION-QUALITY-VALUE YOU

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V e r t. = 1 The DR140 is simple to operate, easy to program and • Up to 5W RF output (with optional dependable in use. The clean design, large controls EBP-36N battery pack) 8895 • 40 memory channels £8 P&P and display show that Alineo are listening to what operators are saying. The DR140 combines solid • Includes NiCads and charger Alinco's 10W on 6mtrs version of the DX-70 TH above. construction and easy maintenance with popular • CTCSS tone encoder fitted Narrow receive filters and CTCSS fitted as standard. features and advanced functions. • Battery save function • Scan function • Optional receive to cover Airband, PMR & Marine • Time out timer setting 49,95 X-1 HF Antenna uner 118-135.995MHz (AM) 136-173.995MHz (FM) 8 P&P • 51 memories • Time out timer • Alpha numeric display • 50W FM output El h9e95 • Electronic squelch • c/w DTMF mie DJ-191 E 2 Metre Handheld A new slim line 2 meter handheld The EDX•1 is a coaxial tuner with built in Power and DR-150 2 Metre Mobile that's easy to use and has an SWR meters. The ATU is rated at 120W and covers enormous clear display. 160-10 meters including WARC bonds. • Up to 5W output (with 9.6V NiCod pock) DR-605E Dual Ba le - 8219 95.- • 40 memories channels - - • Cloning facility A full featured 50W 144MHz FM • CTCSS encoder mobile radio that's crammed full of extras. The DR-150 • DTMF fitted takes mobile radios into the 21st century! • Battery save facility Easy to use twin band • Optional extended receive • AM/FM 135•174MHz • Scan functions • 50W12m1•35W (70cms1 mobile TX that delivers • 400-480MHz 108-137MHz• 800-950MHz • Time out timer • 100 memories both high power and • Channel Scope • view activity either side of your • Full Duplex performance with user channel • 1200 and 9600 bps packet input MICRO SIZED HANDHELDS • CTCSS encoder fitted friendly features. • Channel or Frequency display • Programmable timer Covering 2mtrs or 70crns • ideal for local DR-610E Twi bile • CTCSS encoder • Dual VFO repeater use. • 100 memory channels • Search and Scan facilities • 20 memories • 340mW output option • Squelch timer • On air cloning facility • Repeater shift • Scan function DJ-S11E 144MHz VHF R-430 UHF Mobile 111.541C 70(ms UHF £129.95 The DR-610E dual bond transceiver equipped with Alinco's Advanced Channel Scope utilises o 'Real Time Wafer thin credit cord size with Monitor' on 11 different frequencies simultaneously DJ-C1 receiving Airband coverage. giving you quick visual scanning capability and the • 300mW RF output • Repeater offsets potentiol for making numerous contacts. A rugged easy to use 70cm rropile transceiver wits • Extended receive coverage optional extended coverage. • 136-174MHz FM • CTCSS encoder • Sicolied c/w earphore_ > • 420•470MHz FM • AM Airband RX • 400 - 490MHz • 20 memories expandable tb 100 • Channel Scope • 120 memories • 35W RF output • CTCSS encoder DJ-C1 144MHz 8 95 • Full duplex • VHF 50W/UHF 35W max *Frequency or channel display DJ-C4 430MHz 18 P&P tiv6a4tte Att4,ea Dede 4o A Lifc tel: 01705 662145 fax: 01705 690626 • 189 London Rd • North End • Portsmouth • Hants • P02 9AE • http://www.nevado.co.uk (DISTRIB UTI O N DIVISI O N NEU • infoenevoda.co.uk

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 cuslhcraft A NEW UK CORPORATI ON DIS RIBUTIDI 1

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VHF/UHF Beams • 13B2N 2mtr 13 element Yogi 15.8 dbd £129.95 17132 2mtr 17 element Yogi 18 dbd £199.95 A14410SN.2mtr 10 element Yogi 13.2 dbd £85.95 A148.20T.2mtr 20 ele. crossed 11.1 dbd £105.05 A3S 719B 70cm 19 element Yogi 15.5 dbd..£109.95 13B2N 'now * 729B 70cm 29 element Yogi 17.8 dbd..£169.95 postage and packing £8 on each item Contest winning designs for 144 - Dual Band Yogis 146MHz and 430 - 440MHz. Cushcraft HF beams enioy proven performance on DX-peditions, Computer aided design ensures they are made from high quality aluminium, heavy duty element A27065 ..2m/70cm 3+3 element 7.8 dbd £59.95 maximum gain and dean polar clamps and stainless steel hardware. A27105..2m/70cm 5+5 element 10 dbd £79.95 diagrams. Rugged aluminium A3S 10, 15, 20 mtr 3 element Yogi £389.95 postage and packing £8 on each item construction and stainless steel A4S 10, 15, 20 mtr 4 element Yogi £469.95 hardware performs in all weather Satellite Antennas conditions. Ultramatch balanced feed A3WS ...I 2, 17, mtr 3 element Yogi £299.95 22XB .2mtr 22 el. OSCAR Yogi 14 dbdc £229.95 systems have 'N' type connectors. A743 ....30, 40, mtr kit for A3S £129.95 738XB .70cm 38 el. OSCAR Yogi 15.5 dbdc.£209.95 A744 ....30, 40, mtr kit for A4S £129.95 22XB and 738X8 feature circular polarisation switching feature lower A103 ....30 mtr kit for A3WS £119.95 postage and packing £8 on each item A5055 postage and packing £10 on each item 6 Meter Antennas HF Rotary Dipoles A5035 ..6mtr 3 element Yogi 8 dbd £89.95 A5055 ..6mtr 5 element Yogi 10.5 dbd £149.95 A5065 ..6mtr 6 element Yogi 11.6 dbd £249.95 postage and packing £8 on each item Vertical Antennas HF Verticals The ultimate in multiband verticals! The R700 features 10 50m including WARC bands expandable to 80m. Slim profile, ruggedly constructed traps, no ground radials required make it the ideal choice for small gardens. R7000...10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 30, 40 meter D3W 12, 17, 30 mtr Dipole £199.95 half wave vertical £369.95 D4 10, 15, 20, 40 mtr Dipole £259.95 R80 80mtr add on kit for R7000 £129.95 D40 40 mtr rotary Dipole £229.95 AP8A ...10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 30, 40, 80 mee: postage and packing £8 on each item quarter wave vertical £229.95 APR I 8A .Radial kit for vertical antennas £54.95 HF Mono Band Beams postage and packing £8 - £10 for R7000 VHF Verticals AR2 2mh RINGO 1.2m long 3.75 db £39.95 ARX2 . .2mtr RINGO RANGER 2.8m 5.5 db £49.05 ARX2B .2mtr RINGO RANGER 114.3m 7 db £59.95 ARÓ 6rntr RINGO 3.1m 3.75 db £59.95 ARX6 .. . .6mtr RINGO RANGER 7.3m 5.5 db £199.95 postage and packing £8 on each item

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RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 83 RSGB National Field Day 1997

D

Putting up the antenna at the Guildford and District Radio IELD DAY can be as back next year. Field Day fun ex- the highest overall score on 20m Society, G5RS/P. 'high-tech' or 'low-tech' tends beyond the British shores: which wins them the Frank Hoosen as you want it to be. All we had a fantastic checklog from G3YF Trophy. Fthat is really needed to top US contester Fred Laun, K3ZO, Participation have fun on the HF bands in this and G3UIN operating as F3D M/P THE COMMITTEE was pleased contest is a site, tent, generator, would have finished above half Restricted and this year to see entries from new- antenna and rig. There is a feeling way in the Open Section listing. QRP among some that you have to be comers GOWDY/P, MMOAPF/P, high-tech to compete, and that this Open Section THIS YEAR G3MXF s flight north GMOFRT/P and G4SJM/P (apolo- deters the 'ordinary' club from from Sussex to Orkney paid off as gies to any we may have left out), entering. The reality is less high- THERE WAS A noticeable shift his partnership with fellow but each year it seems that some tech than most think: the Reading this year in favour of the Open Sassenach GM3POI netted them groups fall by the wayside. Club pioneered automatic rig / PC Section. Lichfield, G3NKC/P, the top spot in the Restricted Sec- A proposal was put for a 'basic' / antenna switching some years brought out the antenna hardware tion and the NFD shield for the section, in which dual-receive rigs, ago, but as far as we know, only that has seen them dominate SSB highest overall score. Their domi- PC logging, and automated antenna Park Air, G3KHZ/P, and Bristol, Field Day and it clearly works at nance is confirmed by being band switching would be banned. Reac- G6YB/P, among this year's en- the low end of the bands as well, leaders on 40, 20, 15 and 10m: this tionto the idea was decidedlymixed, trants had true 'single button' band giving them a clear win to take the year they were ideally placed to and we have not yet heard from changing. Many groups used FT- Bristol Trophy. Second-placed take advantage of short-skip con- groups who used to enter NFD but 1000s, but look at GOAAA/P who Oxford, G5LO/P, used wire an- ditions to Europe. Just six stations don' t any more —what is it that makes were challenging for the top spot tennas and despite a rig failure, did exceeded 1000 points on 10m, and you stay at home in the first weekend using what they call an 'ancient' enough to beat off the challenge in five of these were north of the of June? From comments received, TS-930 with a single ATU which a very competitive section. They border. New to the top ten are clubs are finding it increasinglyhard had to be retuned at each band will receive the G6ZR Memorial Inverclyde, M MOAPF/P, and to find CW operators, and if one or change. Trophy. Just failing to break into Stratford-on-Avon, GOSOA/P. two crucial people are no longer So, in the decidedly mixed the top ten for the first time, Second-placed Gravesend, around, the rest feel unable to carry weather of early June, seventy GOFBB/P had a 'secret antenna' G3GRS/P, is not the only club to on. There may be some scope for groups went out on Field Day. which helped them hear through win their 'home' trophy: the QRP neighbouring clubs to join forces in Some were competing for the top the QRN on topband, and close section was the only section which order to put out a team. On the other spot; some to improve on their behind G40DV/P placed twelfth saw an increase in entry, and Read- hand, some groups have an excess of score from last year; some to test with just one operator: are there no ing, G3ULT/P, fought off compe- available operators and in this situa- the water; some just to have fun. other CW contesters in Cornwall? tition from Leicester, G3LRS/P, tion it doesn't take much to organize David Buddery, G30EP, went out Congratulations also to and Stockport, G6UQ/P, to win a 'B' station, which might be used to keep alive the tradition that has Addiscombe 'B', G3RQZ/P, for their own Reading Trophy. for training or to try for a single-band seen him out on every RSGB Na- award. tional Field Day since 1938. The In an effort to encourage new Highland Group, GM4DGT/P, had entries, the Committee recently a feeling that this was not their decided to introduce a new award year: they shifted location to one starting in 1998 for the highest more suited for the party that was placed group whose operators have planned on Friday evening for the not entered NFD before. We hope 50th birthday of one of their mem- newcomers will have fun in Field bers. On Saturday morning sev- Day, but in order to do well you eral of them learned that partying have to build experience, and all and Field Day don't mix. Their the operators of the leading groups new site had Ben Nevis to the are active in contests throughout south east and they also learned the rest of the year. If Field Day is that the British Isles' tallest moun- your only contest of the year you'd tain is very effective at blocking be doing very well to finish higher signals. But they'll certainly be Fred Handscombe, G4BWP (left) and *Carramore, Coldharbour Rd, Penshurst, Paul Hayes, 2E0ANY (now MOBD W) Tonbridge, Kent IN11 8EX. at G4MBC/P.

84 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 GM4DGT/P operated from near Fort William, with snow-capped Ben Nevis to the south-east.

than half-way up the results table! but in the Restricted Section you Z‘i From information supplied on are limited to a single antenna so the cover sheets, there was a total of you can only listen while the main 259 operators, averaging just over rig is not transmitting. Life would three and a half per station, but be simpler if the manufacturers many more helpers were involved. had not let the genie out of the We know of one group which had bottle and started producing dual- twenty licensed hams on site help- receive rigs, and the second re- ing setting up antennas, cooking, ceiver rule was introduced in re- filling the generator as well as just sponse to this development. Clubs being on site for the fun of it, while who have an FT- 1000 can, with a a few people did all the operating. little thought, provide for two op- Maybe scope for a 'B' station next erators to scan the band, one on the year? As this is just a 100W contest main VFO knob and one on the there canbe surprisingly little QRM second VFO knob. Those opera- away by one point on 160m. Open to quieten them" — G3IZD/P; from a second station at the other tors could both have keyers avail- Section leaders G3NKC/P came "Comments, especially humorous, end of a large field. able, and some leading groups have out top on both topband and 80m. bring the NFD report to life!" — If you come out and help with the gone down this route. Despite the high QRN levels, some G3JKY/P; "NFD this year clashed station in any of the ways we have Especially in the Open Section, DX was worked on 160m, most with the Steelworks Gala, so on described, and certainly if you keep it may be more effective to use a notably CDXC, G3OZF/P, who Sunday we had a bouncy castle the checklog or do some operating, totally separate receiver which can was called by an LU (Argentina)! next door with an unsuppressed then you are part of the group and be used on another antenna to scan Although we have moved to compressor, an S9+ public address Field Day rule 4 is quite clear that another band whilst the transceiver computerized checking, much vol- and Spice Girls lookalikes. Wx members ofyour group cannot work is actually transmitting. In any case unteer time is spentprocessing your was great except for the horren- you for points in the contest. On the the rule is simple: count the receiv- NFD entries. Special thanks to dous storm just as we were taking other hand, it is OK for a club ers. You can use a dual receive rig GOJQN for keying in the paper the station down. Although we do member to pop out to the site to see on its own, or you can use, say, a logs, and to G3SH and G4TSH for our best in the contest we make the how the lads are getting on and then TS-940 with a TS-430 receiver doing the number crunching. Each weekend a social occasion with a go home and give the station a few section only. You cannot use an year the Committee is very pleased barbecue and plenty of wine and points, but it is not in the spirit of the FT-1000, TS-950, IC-775, IC-781 to receive many comments on what amber nectar" — G4FUH/P. "Didn't contest only to work your own club or IC-756 plus another receiver. is one of the most popular events get my Sunday share of 10m short and no-one else. The Committee is We feel that misunderstandings of the Society's contest calendar. skip traffic. Heard Torbay work- reluctant to take the draconian step could arise, and the temptation to Space does not allow us to publish ing DLs but I couldn't hear them at of removing unique callsigns from put the transceiver into 'dual watch' all your remarks, but they are ap- all 100 miles further west" — all logs, but seeking to give your mode might be too much. preciated and help to guide us when G40DV/P; "On the Sunday after- own group an unfair advantage by This year, seventeen groups considering rule changes. We are noon a helicopter dropped in right working them and no-one else is were inspected, and we aim to in- especially grateful for expressions next to our site carefully avoiding spoiling it for everyone. spect 10 — 20% of groups each of condolence on the passing of the antennas. We had noticed a year. The inspectors will be asked David Hill, G4IQM, who had han- stretch limo parked not far away, to check for observance of the sec- dled NFD entry arrangements in and Fergie stepped out of the heli- Equipment ond receiver rule. recent years. Here is a selection of copter with one of her daughters. FEW EQUIPMENT problems were other comments from an eventful Unfortunately we didn't get her to reported, apart from the usual crop 1997 NFD. inspect our station, but the pilot of generator failures. Only about a Tactics dropped by for a chat" — G6YB/P; third of groups were using 12V BEING PLACED TO take ad- Soapbox "Prefix caused a few problems. rigs. These at least can be run from vantage of the short skip condi- Poor start, on 160m the ATU was a car battery in case of emergency, tions, especially on 10m, was the "Only three ops this year, enthusi- a 100W space heater for caravan! while the generator is repaired. If key to success this year. Even if asm for CW contests difficult to 10m made up for everything being you need 240V AC on site, it pays you are not near centres of ham generate and we feel that only open from early Sunday morning to check the generator out thor- activity it is worthwhile looking at working streams of European until the end"— MMOAPF/P; "First oughly beforehand, and consider 10m at the very start of the contest, portables is not very exciting to time most operators had done NFD either a spare, or take a 12V rig and it pays to check back on the those who are not into CW or con- and the event was enjoyed by all. on-site as a backup just in case. band frequently throughout day- testing" — GOCRW/P "Good en- Long openings on 10m especially Generators remain the weak link in light hours. When 10m is not fruit- joyable contest, conditions on on Sunday. Rain static at times this supposedly 'technical' contest. ful, the game is to 'chase the porta- higher bands getting better" — meant we could draw 1 in arcs from There was a preponderance of bles' on the other three bands dur- GORGH/P; "First Field Day was the antenna to any grounded metal- FT-1000 rigs at the top of both ing daylight hours. The Orkney in 1951 from a tent in G8SK's work! Operators' CW skills im- listings. Some confusion crept in group's success on these bands garden in Enfield. These days, as proved enormously throughout the this year as to what was or wasn't has already been noted. In the Open night comes on I delay turning on contest"— GMOFRT/P; "Never op- acceptable as a rig combination. Section the clear winners on 10m the light and keep at it until I can erate NFD after a birthday party Field Day rule 2 allows a second were Strathmore, GM3GBZ/P hardly see the log, for it is then that into the wee small hours and never receiver to be used in addition to a (perhaps there is something in the the ghosts ofNFDs past come back try to work UK and Europe through transceiver which has only one water?), while East Notts, G3TBK/ once more — G8SK, G6LL, Britain's highest mountain" — receiver section. This rule was in- P, came out top on 15m. As has G3EGD, G2BCA, G2DG W and GM4DGT/P; "Splendid conditions troduced so that those not using already been noted, G3RQZ/P's G3AAU, all seem to crowd around on 10m and good wx much appre- the FT-1000, TS-950, IC-781 etc dedication to 20m paid off, while and listen with me and offer their ciated. GW3SB has taken part in would not be at a disadvantage. long-time single banders advice — 'if you can hear 'em you most Field Days since 1938 and as With almost no contest-grade re- Bromsgrove, G3VGG/P, regained can work 'em — G3HJF/P; "Op- a personal remark said this was the ceivers available on the market, in the lead on 40m. The other suc- erating at a Neolithic stone circle, most enjoyable Field Day he can practice the second receiver is usu- cessful single bander was Lowes- maybe we offended the gods as the remember". — GW4LZP/P. ally the receive section of a trans- toft, G4KDL/P, on 80m in the wx on Saturday was tremendous: FULL RESULTS ceiver. How to use the receiver is Restricted Section, while G3GRS/ rain, lightning, wind and thunder. on page 86 left up to the ingenuity of the user, P beat GOAAA/P just seven miles A sacrificial offer of paella seemed

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 85 CONTEST CLASSIFIED

HF RULES NFD RESULTS 1997 (see Report on pages 84/11.:1)

1997 IARU REGION 1 160 M CONTEST OPEN SECTION THIS CONTEST IS sponsored by IARU Region 1 and the 1997 edition is processed by ARI Pos Call Oub 16083 160P 8083 80P 40Q 40P 2119 2OP 159 15P 109 10P QS0s Points (Italy). 1 G3NKC/P Lichfield ARS 72 1385 229 786 227 758 254 797 131 427 153 1006 1166 5159 Oxford & DA RS 75 1247 173 608 229 760 233 729 141 480 III 712 1062 4536 Purpose: This is a world-wide competition: everyone may work everyone else, including 2 G5LO/P 3 G3KHVP Park Air Group 2 1218 142 517 201 667 238 737 123 399 138 919 1004 4457 stations in his own country. The contest may be entered by all licensed radio amateurs and 4 G3WOUP Newbury &DARS 3 1179 160 590 197 627 284 855 105 349 128 845 1037 4445 SWLs. 5 6314.1A/P Torbay ARS 7 1036 174 569 182 597 260 758 86 261 140 926 989 4147 6 G3TB1UP East Notts CG 7 1145 215 693 174 566 195 552 157 490 97 603 995 4049 Date and Time: The contest will be held on the third full weekend of November from 7 G4ALE/P Addiscombe ARCA 39 1023 170 595 187 627 187 560 97 307 136 891 916 4003 140OUTC Saturday until 080OUTC Sunday. In 1997 it will be on 15 / 16 November. 8 G3SDC/P DeMontfort Univ ARS 13 826 175 604 215 676 199 597 148 454 128 813 978 3970 9 G6YB/P Bristol RSGB Group 53 774 130 449 270 820 316 885 127 396 82 524 1028 3848 Mode: CW only. 10 G3VER/P Vendee, RC 30 927 178 582 196 681 189 536 97 316 90 590 880 3632 11 GOFBB/P Windmill CO 84 1269 199 609 130 402 148 421 38 138 115 729 814 3568 Entry Categories: SO = Single Operator; MOST = Multi Operator Single Transmitter; SWL 12 G401.19/P Cornish RC 93 705 139 522 159 563 219 711 108 333 74 502 792 3336 = Single operator short wave listener. Note: single operators may operate up to 14 hours. Rest 13 G3GLUP Tollesbury CG 33 1004 119 418 170 594 142 465 66 217 80 544 710 3242 periods must be marked clearly in the log and must be at least one hour long. Multi operators 14 GM3GBVP Strathmore CG 81 596 8 26 132 414 208 599 56 164 216 1269 701 3068 15 G3XZW/P Taunton &DRC 84 654 /23 458 140 467 235 785 60 191 45 290 687 2845 may have only one signal on the air at any given time. Everyone is permitted to use 16 G4FOX/P Melton Mowbray ARS 90 690 57 194 220 710 197 610 47 141 80 496 691 2841 PacketCluster and such use does not change a single operator into a multi operator. 17 0413RA/P Bracknell ARC 172 1249 84 310 260 863 0 120 399 0 0 636 2821 18 G4FUH/P Scunthorpe Steel ARC 92 690 101 387 144 475 181 546 30 96 102 605 650 2799 Frequencies: 160m only, 1810 - 19501cHz. Participants must carefully observe the IARU 19 GM6NX/P Stirling SOARS 95 643 16 50 45 158 129 368 56 191 204 1197 545 2607 band plan as well as their national regulations and limits for 160m. 20 G3ZME/P Telford &DARS 61 468 104 375 110 388 165 457 76 225 95 566 611 2479 21 G3SET/P Maidenhead &DARC 97 770 70 261 120 380 97 346 62 211 63 408 509 2376 Exchange: Send RST and a two or three letter/ digit district code (ie DOK for DL, Dept for 22 G5FZ/P Lincoln SWC 83 630 135 451 127 363 104 314 54 159 71 438 574 2355 F, County for G, State for USA, Province for I and VE, Territory for VK, and so on). 23 G3XRT/P Ilford RSGB Group 87 652 81 271 133 449 150 501 50 160 31 228 532 2261 24 G3CNX/P Grimsby ARS 112 824 0 0 344 1086 0 0 0 0 35 216 491 2126 QSO Points: One (1) point for each complete QSO. 25 GORGH/P Harwich ARIO 55 418 160 552 146 449 107 335 25 78 42 289 535 2121 Multipliers: One (1) multiplier for each different district code, and one (1) multiplier for each 26 GM4MFL/P Easter Ross RC 46 286 63 188 44 123 108 311 84 277 63 833 408 2018 27 G4VRS/P Aylesbury Vale RS 91 698 53 210 133 467 87 282 10 37 34 256 408 950 DXCC / WAE country. 28 G3JKY/P Clifton ARS B 162 1152 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 130 774 292 926 Final Score: The sum of QSO Points time the sum of multipliers. 29 G4EKT/P Hurraca ARC 63 422 94 357 71 248 175 518 64 214 5 28 472 787 30 051K/17 Reigate AIS 50 374 40 150 89 330 73 212 42 124 55 372 349 562 Logs and summary sheet: Logs should be A4 and must show all the QSO data. A summary 31 G4CW/P North Kent RS 43 318 82 286 75 208 86 263 29 97 36 166 351 338 32 G3VGG/P Bromsgrove &DARC o 0 424 1237 0 0 0 0 0 0 424 237 sheet (including a signed declaration) is required, as well as a 'dupe' sheet (if more than 100 o 33 G3RQZ/P Addiscombe ARC B 0 0 0 353 1086 0 0 0 0 353 086 QS0s are logged). Logs on disk are appreciated (K1EA or ASCII formats). Logs must be 34 G3VCP/P Crystal Palace &DRC 30 209 45 165 69 226 27 93 10 30 43 298 224 021 postmarked not later than 31 December 1997 and sent to: IARU Region 1 Contest, c/o ARI 35 G3GHN/P Clifton ARS A o 0 65 217 224 700 0 0 0 0 289 917 Contest Manager, Paolo Cortese, I2UIY, PO Box 14, I-27043 Broni (PV), Italy. Alterna- 16 G3NFC/P Burton upon Trent 43 321 18 54 88 308 48 139 0 0 0 0 197 822 &DARC tively, logs in ASCII format (or as attached files) may be sent via E-mail to [email protected] 37 GOWDY/P Rainham RC 0 0 213 546 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 213 546 You will receive an acknowledgement of recript of your log within 48 hours. Please note that these addresses are valid only for the 1997 contest. There will be other addresses published RESTRICTED SECTION for subsequent years. Pos Call Club 1609 60P 80Q 80P 409 40P 21/Q 20P 199 as 199 10P 980s Points I GM3POUP Orkney RO 117 867 85 329 231 823 333 1072 189 625 232 1479 1187 5195 Penalties: Logs will be carefully checked by the contest committee and mistakes may cause 2 G3GRS/P Gravesend RS 166 259 202 760 198 715 203 692 106 368 26 841 1001 4635 a score reduction. 3 G3OZF/P Chiltern DX aub 164 222 190 695 199 733 145 505 143 515 10 754 951 4424 SWL: Listeners are required to log the callsigns of both the station heard and the correspond- 4 GOAAA/P Three As CIS 170 258 174 626 196 669 197 626 107 384 22 816 966 4379 5 G4MBC/P Mid Beds CA 168 249 169 627 189 638 202 664 91 328 29 851 948 4357 ent station. Score is calculated based only upon the station heard using the same rules as 6 G4FNL/P Sussex Downs CG 151 121 147 521 212 713 211 651 89 295 01 656 911 3957 transmitting stations. A callsign may not appear more than 3 (three) times as a correspondent. 7 G3UES/P Echelford ARS 131 005 157 582 206 704 157 551 81 294 07 699 839 3835 SWLs must log no more than I (one) QSO on each line of their log. 8 MMOAPF/P Inverclyde CO 51 400 176 624 53 491 176 538 104 324 232 1297 892 3674 9 GOSOA/P Stratford on Avon 144 090 164 576 19 438 131 417 53 182 102 679 713 3382 Awards: Plaques for the first three stations in the SO category; plaque for the first station in &DRS the MOST and SWL categories; certificates for country winners. 10 G5RS/P Guildford &INS 134 962 200 699 25 382 157 521 41 152 73 460 730 3176 11 05BK/P Cheltenham ARA 101 762 87 641 42 469 143 423 66 219 105 638 744 3152 Notes: The exchange from the UK should be the three-letter County Code, as shown in the 12 G312D/P Cumbria CC 105 770 71 623 50 466 201 662 2 6 90 580 719 3107 1997 Contesting Guide (the two-letter District Codes come into effect on 1 January 1998). 13 G3ASFUP Edgware &DRS 96 720 58 582 76 605 217 703 55 152 48 344 750 3106 Please note that there have been some rule changes to the IARU Region 1 160m Contest since 14 G3SFG/P Southgate ARC 115 828 59 584 67 552 203 626 55 179 50 334 749 3103 last year. 15 GMOFRT/P Aberdeen VHF Group 32 244 36 474 20 384 53 482 68 201 190 1127 699 2912 16 GOCRW/P Crowborough &DRS 147 1122 90 346 39 513 29 443 24 81 38 255 567 2760 17 G4FRS/P Farnborough &DARC 88 621 35 487 34 517 70 555 61 197 55 362 643 2739 18 G4BP/P Scarborough ARS 118 932 10 409 03 378 08 348 39 140 54 384 532 2591 NOTE: RSGB HF and VHF/UHF Contest Rules for the 19 G3MA/P Gloucester AR&ES 88 662 81 592 95 " 319 48 428 31 94 31 199 574 2294 20 G8FC/P RAFARS 75 576 07 356 29 440 03 343 92 297 39 268 545 2280 remainder of 1997 are in the 1997 Contesting Guide, 21 G4ARN/P Norfolk ARC 84 644 49 532 69 232 67 481 12 38 29 180 510 2107 published in the September 1996 RadCom. The rules for 22 G4SIM/P Ripon &DARS 83 557 73 224 03 332 86 274 47 166 63 412 455 965 23 GW4LZP/P Meirion ARS 76 572 48 160 73 233 41 152 37 124 93 588 368 829 1998 were published in the September 1997 RadCom 24 G3CMH/P Yeovil ARC 49 362 78 230 89 211 114 321 33 100 42 254 405 478 25 GM4DGT/P Highland CO 43 339 88 346 74 267 60 206 48 186 6 40 319 384 26 G3YRC/P 01 Yarmouth &DARC 53 392 56 210 81 269 83 281 4 14 10 62 287 228 27 G4KDL/P Lowestoft RC 0 0 344 1059 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 688 059 28 G4FBS/P Horndean &DARC 0 0 79 292 104 381 40 138 6 22 II 68 240 901 CONTESTS THIS MONTH ()RP SECTION Pos Call Club 16083 160P 804) 80P 409 44P 209 11IP 159 15P 109 10P 950s Paints HF Contests I G3ULT/P Reading &DARC 60 480 66 254 82 284 51 180 36 133 48 352 343 1683 Date Time Mode Contest 2 G3LRS/P Leicester RS 76 590 63 240 87 286 44 163 16 62 35 254 321 1595 Sat 1 /Sun 2 Nov 1200-1200 CW SU Ukrainian DX Contest (Nov 97 p29) 3 061.1Q/P Stockport RS 66 497 50 186 63 239 91 310 28 84 42 264 340 1580 Sat B Nov 2000-2300 SSB/ CW Club Calls Contest 4 G3H1F/P Sempeter Parasse 33 254 24 80 39 156 11 41 22 73 II 88 140 692 Fri 71 Sun 9 Nov 2300-2300 SSB Japan International DX Contest 5 G30EP/P 030EP 0 0 11 34 6 22 20 72 3 12 0 0 40 140 Sat 8 /Sun 9 Nov 1200-1200 CW 1 SSB /Mixed Czech /Slovak OK 1 OM Contest (Nov 97 p29) Checklogs are gratefully acknowledged from: VK8AV, RU4HH, K320, HP1AC, G3WKS, F3DM/P, 2118/NK6F, YU7SF, G3NKS, Sat 8 1 Sun 9 Nov 0000-2400 RTTY WAEDC RTTY Contest G2HLU, GW3KDB, G6LX/M, G3XNG, 5I34/G3LNS. Sat 15 1 Sun 16 Nov 2100-0100 CW 1.8MHz CW Contest Sat 15/Sun 16 Nov 1400-0800 CW IARU Region I 160m Contest (full rules in this issue of Contest Classified) Sat 29 /Sun 30 Nov 0000-2400 CW CQ World Wide DX Contest (Oct 97p29) ARDF RESULTS VHF Contests Date Time Mode Contest Sat I /Sun 2 Nov 1400-1400 CW I44MHz CW and Marconi Memorial Contests SOUTH MANCHESTER QUAD - 8 MAR Sun 2 Nov 0800-1400 CW 6-hour I44MHz CW Contest Pos Name Club Tx A Tx B Tx C Tx D Tue II Nov 2030-2300 LOCAL All RSGB 432MHz Cumulative Contest 1 Brian Bristow Mid Thames 2057 2138 2337 2258 Fri 14 Nov 2030-2300 LOCAL All RSGB 1.3 /2.3GHz Cumulative Contest 2 Chris Plummer S Manchester 2031 2120 2337 2257 Wed 26 Nov 2030-2300 LOCAL All RSGB 432MHz Cumulative Contest 3 George Whenham Coventry 2257 2135 2035 The rules for all RSGB HF and VHF / UHF contests were published in the RSGBContesting Guide in the September 4 Graham Blomeley S Manchester 2359 2230 2118 1996 RadCom. Brief rules for non-RSGB contests, which are listed in italics above, can be found in the RadCom HF 5 John Hall Ripon 2218 2111 or VHF/ UHF columns, which start on the pages indicated. An annual HF contest calendar can be found on page 6 Alan Simmons Mid Thames 2146 2257 47 of the 1997 RSGB Amateur Radio Call Book and Information Directory. 7 Graham Phillips Echelsford 2132 2259 • Please note that the wrong dates were given in News' in the October RadCom. 8 Andy Collet Colchester 2130

86 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 CONTEST CLASSIFIED

HF RESULTS, continued VHF RESULTS

7MHZ CW CONTEST • FEB 1997 4TH 144MHZ BACKPACKERS - SEP 1996 STILL AT THE BOTTOM of the sunspot cycle and conditions remain mediocre. There ACTIVITY AND CONDITIONS appeared to be good for this event with many entrants seemed to be more of a north-south/east-west split this year, with stations to the west seeming commenting favourably: "RF conditions well-up, lots of activity", GW4MGR/P; "Excel- to have better conditions towards Japan, whilst southern stations seemed to favour the USA. lent!", GWODRM/P; also echoed by GI7JYIC/P who amassed another excellent score and the The number of entrants in all sections was marginally up this year and this is good news. best DX from such an extreme location. "Quite good to the east for a change", GOSOO/P; The winner of the Open Section is Ron Stone, GW3YDX, with a total of 864 QS0s and 95 "Some good near European DX", GW8ZRE/P. This is certainly reflected in the good QS0 Multipliers, giving a grand total of 931,475 points. To achieve this remarkable total, Ron used rates in several of the logs. Things were obviously harder going further north, with an FT-1000MP driving an amplifier into a two-element Yagi at 105ft. In second place came GMOCLN/P reporting: "A little enhancement at the start of the contest, but the European Steve Wilson, G3VM W, with 825 QS0s and 96 multipliers, giving a grand total of 897,120 stations faded as the event continued". There was certainly a fair contingent representing GW points. Steve used an IC-765 into an Alpha 9113 and a KLM 2-ele Yogi at 65ft. in this event. Were there any hills in Wales still left vacant? GW8ZRE/P notches-up his third The Restricted Section had a runaway winner in the form of Clive Penna, GM3POI, from win of the year in the true spirit of the Backpackers series. Congratulations to all certificate Orkney. Clive complained, as did the rest of the GM crew, that the MUF dropped below 7MHz winners and runners-up. David Johnson, G4DHF during the night. Still, he managed 407 QS0s and 76 multipliers giving a score of 242,060 points. Clive runs an FT-1000 and a 32ft ground plane. The overseas entry rose by thirteen to 102. The overall winner is Des Watson, ZD8DEZ, 10W SINGLE OPERATOR from Ascension Island. Des made 115 QS0s and 52 Multipliers to boost his score to a massive Pos Call Pts QS0 Mull Loe Ant Best DX Km 89,700 points, just narrowly pipping Steve Ireland, VK6VZ, who worked 72 stations, 32 I* GW8ZRE/P 31548 114 33 1083JF 7ZL OT6B 593 counties and a grand score of 84,240 points, a mammoth effort. Well done Des and Steve. 2* GOSOO/P 12214 63 31 109ISE 9Y DFOOL 627 Just two entries were received in the SWL Section, and the winner was Jean-Jacques 3 GOUVVP 7512 43 24 I083VC 8Y TM6P 560 Yerganian, ONL-383. 10W MULTI-OPERATOR 70% of UK entries were received on computer disk, which allows more rapid log checking. 595 Several entrants suggested that the RSGB bring forward the start time to 120OUTC, and this I* GOVHF/P 39380 97 44 JOOIPU 4x9Y DF2IAX/P 2* GW4MGR/P 36648 112 36 I083JA 13Y, DLORD 717 suggestion will be looked at. 3 GWOSYG/P 23872 80 32 107INP I 3Y PA6NL 619 Thanks to VK4XW, SP5FLB, DLOGRH, SP6YGB, VK3XB, GWOKZW and SMOBDS for 4 G8NWM/P 22202 62 34 I092TR 2x 12Y DFOGVT 656 their checklogs. Toni Wylie, GM4FDM 5 G8PNN/P 15100 60 25 I095BF 2x17Y OT6B 652 6 GMOCLN/P 13552 50 28 1085RU 3x14Y OT6B 731 7 G4FUR/P 10300 67 25 I091VG 10Y TM1T 488 OPEN SECTION RESTRICTED SECTION 8 GOTYM/P 7104 39 24 109411 13Y GUOEMG/P 518 Pos Consign QS0s Mull Points Pos Consign QS0s Molt Points I GW3YDX 864 95 931,475 I GM3P01 407 76 242,060 3W SINGLE OPERATOR 2 G3VYI 321 53 155,290 2 G3VMW 825 96 897,120 14. GI7JYK/P 25284 69 28 I074DT 9Y TM2DX 746 3 G4EOF 264 54 116,100 2* G8JAY/P 22752 64 36 1091A W 17Y DFODX 700 3 GOIVZ 629 82 533,656 4 G3WPH 278 52 112,060 3 GWODRM/P 16497 78 27 1082KW 17Y PI4GN 668 4 MOARC 616 84 506,940 5 G4TSH/P 260 52 106,340 4 GWOGRUP 16044 59 28 I072XB 9Y • PA6NL 558 5 G40DV 566 84 475,020 6 041IY 271 51 105,570 5 GWOPZO/P . 15012 64 27 1073X8 5Q TM2DX 533 6 G3LET 550 87 473,715 7 03LIK 244 52 102,180 6 G1JDM/P 10426 57 26 1091SV 9Y GSPNN/P 493 7 GOSDX [I] 526 81 458,865 8 G5MY 225 52 92,820 9 G3YEC 249 52 88,400 7 G7LQD/P 9744 52 24 I083PF 2X9Y TM6P 606 8 G3HEI 546 82 445,260 10 GOLZL 250 49 85,750 7 G70MO/P 8164 47 26 I081QD 4Y GI7JYK/P 457 9 GM6MD 442 76 432,060 11 GOORH 179 48 60,000 8 G4RUL/P 7587 39 27 1000CT 9Y G3WRS/P 406 10 06YB [2] 559 73 402,595 12 G3RSD 223 41 55,145 9 G4MD/P 2567 23 17 I092GL 5ZL TM2DX 299 11 GM4YXI 369 73 206,955 13 GOWJF 172 38 54,910 10 G7OZFJP 2520 34 18 1082TC 8ZL F5KA/P 390 12 GW3JXN 407 65 204,425 14 GOADH 198 40 48,000 13 GOGWA 354 61 181,780 15 G2HLU 171 40 42,400 3W MULTI-OPERATOR 14 G2QT 306 61 169,885 16 G3HZL 167 40 40,600 I* GW4IDF/P 14415 53 31 1082ICA 17Y TM6P 545 17 G4CXT 134 36 37,620 15 G4CWH/P 301 60 165,000 2* G 1 WKS/P 9772 55 28 JOOIED I 3Y LX2DF/P 418 18 G2AFV 167 38 37,240 159,040 3 G6TTL/P 6630 35 26 JOOIMD 14Y DLORD 411 16 GORGH/P [3] 332 56 19 G3MPB 157 38 35,910 * = Certificate winners 17 G37DW 261 61 120,475 20 G4CZB 140 36 32,760 18 G3GLL 256 57 110,295 21 G4KDL 148 35 29,750 19 G3UFY 187 46 78,890 22 G3HQX 137 34 29,240 20 GMOAZC 194 46 52,440 23 G3WNI 135 32 27,200 24 G3KNU 124 36 26,640 144MHZ BACKPACKERS TROPHY 1996 21 G3S11 165 40 51,000 25 04EBK 132 32 25,760 22 °DIG 173 43 45,795 1996 SAW ANOTHER excellent response to these series of contests which have continued 26 GOWHO 158 29 25,230 to gain in popularity. They have also become increasingly more competitive and keenly 27 G3YAJ 140 31 24,800 [11 Operated by G3LNS, G3X20 and GOOGN. fought with competitors displaying innovation, great determination and considerable plan- 28 G41QM 85 31 17,825 [2] Operated by GOJQN, G3TKF, GOWKW and 29 G3GMS 101 28 16,240 ning to maximize their station's potential in the face of stiff opposition and high levels of G3XSV. 30 G6QQ I 11 26 16,120 QRM, not least from other contesters in the major 24 hour events. The tabulation shows all 31 G3BPM 93 29 14,935 131 Operated by GOSTW, G4FTP, G4EYE and stations who have participated in three or more events. All scores have been normalised 32 G31FF 86 28 14,280 GOD Vi. alongside the section winners, thereby allowing stations the opportunity of moving sections 33 G3GMM 77 27 11,745 throughout the series. The run for the trophy was very tight indeed, with a three-way split! 34 G3'fXF 71 23 8395 35 GW3SB 60 21 6825 As stated in the rules, the results of the fourth event had to be used to determine the winner. 36 G3ZGC 21 10 1150 GOVHF/P won the series and hence the Trophy in line with the current rules, and they and the operators of G(W)4IDF/P and GW8ZRE/P deserve every praise for their efforts. OVERSEAS SECTION Special mention should also be made of GI7JYK/P who achieved some remarkable Pos Callsign Score Pos Callsign Score Pos Callsign Score contacts and won his 3W Single Operator section on two separate occasions. Considering his I ZD8DEZ 89,703 35= HB9DX 12,285 69 OH2RL 6150 extreme location away from the main centres of activity and the low power output, this was 2 VK6VZ 84,240 35= DL3BRA 12,285 70 HB9IAL 6090 truly an outstanding performance. David Johnson, G4DHF 3 N4AR 43,890 37 OK1HFP 11,590 71 YO3GDA 5945 4 VK4EMM 43,200 38 OK1DOL I 1,340 72 0M3TU 5125 5 HA8FK 33,125 39 N672 11,220 73 SP2AHD 4860 Pos Call BPS BP2 BPS BP4 Total 6 EA6ZY 30,870 40 HA3GA 10,915 74 SP3GTS 4800 1= GOVHF/P 1000 1000 991 1000 3000 4760 7 LY2ZZ 26,320 41 UX1HA 10,880 75= SP7HB 1= G(W)4IDF/P 887 1C4)0 1000 1000 3000 8 HAOHV 24,960 42 OKI ACF 10,830 75= DF3OL 4760 I. GW8ZRE/P 1000 560 1000 1000 3003 9 4Z4KX 24,750 43 RN6LE 10,730 77 OK2PBG 4680 4 GI7JYK/P 724 1000 861 1000 2861 10 4K9W 24,640 44= LA4E1 10,545 78 LZ2SX 4290 931 2498 II 237CEF 21,930 44= OK2TBC 10,545 79 SP9AGS 4203 5 GW4MGR/P 338 567 1000 12 HA8TP 21,600 46= YL2UZ 10,260 80= UA6LAK 4025 6 G8JAY/P 1000 319 542 890 2432 13 W3DAD 20,800 46= SP6EVX 10,260 EA/G3OLU 4025 7 GOGRUP - 730 1000 634 2364 14 9M2OM 20,460 48 SM6NM 10,175 82 LY3BA 3795 8 G7GUC/P 439 1000 755 2194 15 UR7QC 19,710 49 YO6BHN 10,150 83 DJ5NN 3220 9 G1WKS/P 197 489 629 678 2118 16 0E6U 18,095 50 RX3DRU 9940 84 1111GNU 2520 It) GWODRM/P 742 - 623 652 2017 17 U5WF 17,380 51 OK2ABU 9555 85 LZIBJ 1980 I I G4RUL/P - 666 963 300 1929 18 UY8W 15,375 52= UN9FB 9450 86 NK6F/5 1950 12 G8NWM/P 688 576 502 564 1828 19 WIEND 15,210 52= SP5CGN 9450 87 SMOAJV 1890 13 GOSOO/P 263 775 664 387 1826 20 FL48Z0 15,120 54 K3Z0 9300 88 JA6UBK 1800 14 _ G8SRS/P 1000 330 443 1773 21 UA3LID 14,800 55 LY3NJM 9120 89 OH1LVR 1700 344 1596 22 K9BG 14,760 56 OK1AVY 9100 90 OK1DSA 1235 15 GMOCLN/P 395 857 23 HA3GE 14,400 57 SP6MQ0 9065 91 LZ2UZ 1200 16 G7TQR/P 727 332 436 1495 24 UT5EH 14,060 58 UX IHW 8500 92= 0M3BA 1050 17 G7LQD/P 441 534 381 393 1369 25 HAOIH 14,040 59 SM3TLG 8480 92= ZL2ALI 1050 18 GOTYM/P 352 456 324 180 1132 26 S53F 14,000 60 LY2FF 8352 94 SP9ADV 1040 19 GIJDM/P 178 133 330 412 920 27 SP2UKB 13,975 61= VE1AYY 8100 95 JA9XBW 805 20 G70MO/P 311 - 236 323 870 28 YU7SF 13,500 61= VK2AYD 7650 96 SP5GICN 750 21 G8PNN/P 186 146 286 383 855 29 HA8RC 13,455 63 OK2ON 7350 97 SP3BOL 520 22 GOUVI/P 232 344 238 814 30 0M3UN 13,230 64 UA2F1' 7285 98= OM1AW 450 23 G6TTL/P 272 77 45 460 809 31 OK2KRT 13,200 65= 01C2A1 6900 98= PAOTA 450 24 G7OZE/P 326 107 113 100 546 32= OK2BNF 12,915 65= LAIIE 6900 98= JE13WKE 450 25 G4MD/P 217 - 236 323 480 32= 01C2QX 12,915 67 LZ2VP 6880 101 PA3BEJ 405 26 G4FUR/P 95 102 78 261 458 34 OK1DMS 12,380 68 HAI VE 6600 102 LA5QC 210

RADIO COM MUNICATION November 1997 87 CONTEST CLASSIFIED

VHF RESULTS, continued

432MHZ CUMULATIVE CONTEST - AUTU MN 1996 70MHZ TROPHY - SEP 1996 APART FROM GOGCI who found plenty of DX in session two, it was generally considered YET AGAIN, I find myself writing about the weather - wet and windy this time. Despite this, that the final session produced the best conditions, with openings to Sweden, Denmark, there was only one fewer/P station entering than last year - I'm forced to admit that the missing Holland and Germany. In 1996 the South Birmingham Radio Society, G8OHM, improved station was my group, the Black Sheep - we called off our planned trip to our Yorkshire Dales on its previous year's placing by winning three sessions and being placed first ahead of Andy site in favour of a nice warm shack in Leeds. Barter, G8ATD/P. The winner of the Single Operator section was Robert Ferguson, Entries and activity were both up compared with last year, which is most encouraging. GD4GNH, who operated using an FT-736R which gave 25W to his 4 x 21-element DJ9BV Many operators commented that there were more stations on the band than before. The antenna array. The second-placed UK station was E Boyd, G8CRN, who used an FT 726R competition was a little more clear-cut - Spalding and District ARS 'A' repeated last year's / FT-767R giving 80W to his 4 x 17-element set up. The Bentley Radio Club, GOVZS/P, narrow victory in the Open section, with Northern Lights in second place. Steve Redfern, entered into the spirit of the contest by going out portable and using a Standard C58 to give G4AEQ, had a clear run in the Single Operator Fixed section; Gerry Schoof, G I SWH, was 10W to a 9-ele Tonna. It was notable that they used FM only and received 001 as the incoming second. Well done, both. serial number for every contact as no other contestants operated on FM! Peter Bowyer, G4MJS The Netherlands' support for the contest continues with G H B Vervenne, PAOGHB, the leading overseas station and Frank Laanen, PE1E WR, placed second. A check log was gratefully received from Davide Bruijn, PEI FZH. Several Novice stations were recorded in OPEN SECTION entry logs but there were no entries to claim certificates for the leading and second highest Pos Group Call Loe QS0s Pts Mutts Score Pwr Ant DX km Novice operators. Frank Howe, G3FIJ, thought that missing the "best two sessions due to I* Spalding &DARS A GM4DSP/P 75DH 67 1066 47 50102 150 218 G4YPC/P 633 RAE class commitments" had cost him the chance of a certificate. However, the process of 2' Northern Lights GD4I0M 74QD 81 948 49 46452 160 2x5 G6SRC/P 498 3 Spalding &DARS B GM4DHF/P 74NQ 66 894 48 42912 120 216 G4YPC/P 546 normalisation meant that he had faired well in the three sessions for which he submitted an 4 Flight Refuelling ARS G4RFR/P 80AQ 78 870 47 40890 160 12 GMOFRT/P 701 entry, resulting in him winning the 25W to a Single Antenna section. Paul Mastennan, 5 Black Sheep CG G6YIN 93E7 76 665 52 34580 160 5 G3TCU/P 492 G3RHH, was placed second in this section. 6 Swale ARC CG G6SRC/P 01W 70 708 48 33984 80 8 GMOFRT/P 670 Ian L Cornes, G4OUT 7 G4YPC, G4XBF, GOMM/ G4YPC/P 00EW 75 713 45 32085 70 8 GMOFRT/P 693 8 The A Team (Warrington) CG GM4YNL/P 85RS 53 657 39 25623 160 8 G4RFR/P 619 9 Kintyre Window Cleaners CG G3TCU/P 791X 48 682 35 23870 150 2x6 GM4YNL/P 669 SINGLE OPERATOR NORMALISED RESULTS 10 G3BPM/P G3BPM/P 800U 68 576 41 23616 50 8 GMOFRT/P 566 11 Aberdeen VHF Group GMOFRT/P 86RW 37 601 34 20434 70 7 G4RFR/P 701 Pos Call Score Ant Pwr 9/10 24/10 8/11 25/11 10/12 Best DX km 12* South Devon RC G4SSD 80FI 53 442 32 14144 19 9 GM4DSP/P 570 1 GD4GNH* 3000 4x2 I elY 25W 236 26 212 141 681 OZ2LD 1050 13 Salop ARS MIAXW/P 82PN 49 352 39 13728 100 5 GMOFRT/P 487 2 PAOGHB* 2448 30e1 10W 146 238 182 36 661 SM6CEN/M 822 14 G I EHF/P G1EHF/P 9IQF 46 288 32 9126 40 6 GM4DSP/P 565 3 G8CRN* 2343 4x17e1 80W 196 486 155 0 237 DGIGLH/P 683 4 G4AGE 2304 2x2 1 elY 25W 143 622 127 0 698 SM7DEZ 956 SINGLE-OPERATOR FIXED SECTION 5 G8NEY 2234 2x2 I elT 25W 151 195 120 89 963 SM6CEN/M 1139 6 G7LRQ 1773 2x19elY 25W 141 210 114 90 231 D19DL 524 Pos Call Loe QS0s Pts Mutts Score Pwr Ant DX km I* G4AEQ 93PE 80 641 48 30768 140 2x6 G3TCU/P 473 7 GOGCI 1375 21elY 120W 30 439 44 65 189 DG7NBE/P 679 2* G ISWH 8300 66 547 47 25709 150 8 G3TCU/P 440 8 G3FU* 1294 21elY IOW 0 136 97 87 0 GD4GNH 445 3 G3XDY 0208 63 575 44 25300 150 6 GMOFRT/P 594 9 G3RHH* 911 21elY 25W 103 58 51 33 79 PAOGHB 433 4 G4PIQ OIMU 71 589 41 24149 160 8 GMOFRT/P 611 10 PEI EWR* 898 21elY 25W 56 115 53 0 411 OZ2LD 656 5 G4ZTR OIKW 46 430 39 16770 100 5 GMOFRT/P 598 II G3YHF 841 19eIT 25W 103 61 40 0 216 DG3LAV 762 6 G4AFJ 92H0 58 359 43 15437 50 8 GMOFRT/P 488 12 G7ULL 500 18elY 25W 0 0 37 27 134 PAOGHB 266 7 G3NKS 8IXU 61 397 40 15880 80 5 GMOFRT/P 566 13 GOUPU 311 9elY 25W 34 23 0 14 68 GD4GNH 300 8 G3LVP 8IWV 52 352 41 14432 75 5 GMOFRT/P 561 14 G1MZD 212 2e1Quad 10W 29 8 0 0 76 PAOGHB 328 G4NKC 82SM 49 417 33 13761 160 4 G3TCU/P 437 15 G4IDF 211 0 34 0 22 0 GUM-IL 273 9 10* G4FOH 02BA 51 347 39 13533 25 5 GMOFRT/P 571 ALL OTHER SECTION NORMALISED RESULTS 11 GOAEV 8IWL 45 313 34 10642 10 5 GMOFRT/P 608 12 G8GSQ 9111 47 295 36 10620 25 5 GM4DSP/P 532 Pos Call Score Ant Pwr 9/10 24/10 8/11 25/11 10/12 Best DX km 13 G IOGY 01GR 41 309 33 10197 10 4 GM4DSP/P 573 1 G8OHM* 3000 24elY 300W 99 0 162 68 693 SM6VSZ 1056 14 07AZP 90AS 38 285 28 7980 60 8LP GM4DSP/P 563 2 G8ATD/P* 2355 17elY 100W 92 0 69 108 262 SM6CEN/M 1016 15 G8PNN 95EF 21 203 39 7917 150 5 G4RFR/P 529 3 G4DDUP 1247 2x2lelY 25W 0 172 31 0 39 OZ6OL 965 16 G3F11 OIKV 28 270 27 7290 20 4 GM4DSP/P 577 4 GOVZS/P 32 9eIT 1 OW 0 0 0 0 22 G I YDI 63 17 GOEHV 94FW 28 242 27 6534 60 2eIHB9CV G4RFR/P 499 * = Certificate winners. 18 G I GEY 94DV 27 239 23 5497 15 3 G4RFR/P 491 19 GI4KSO 64XK 19 247 21 5287 100 3 G6SRC/P 586 20 G8FMC 9IPT 30 20 26 5200 25 5 GM4DSP/P 510 21 G3KAC 8 1 QK 28 192 26 4992 20 5e1 HINCVGM4DSP/P 476 144MHZ 24 / 6-HOUR CW / MARCONI MEMORIAL 22 GWISXT 81LQ 15 95 14 1330 10 3 GM4DSP/P 440 CONTEST - NOV 96 THE PORTABLE STATIONS all endured cold, wet, windy weather, only to fmd that radio conditions were equally poor. This view was almost unanimously echoed on the fixed station 144MHZ CW CUMULATIVE CONTEST - AUTUMN 96 cover sheets, although there were some interesting variations. "Only heard two non-UK A SMALL NUMBER of entries for this contest and conditions didn't produce any long haul stations throughout", GMOCLN/P (no contact with either); "First time in seven plus years no DX. It's interesting that all of the 'best DX worked' were stations that didn't enter. I often hear German worked - or even heard", G4OUT; "Where are all the Gs, only worked seven", stations on CW looking for that elusive DX, so I was somewhat surprised that there were so G3JRM. Serial numbers received from stations in mainland Europe suggest that things few entries. Perhaps some of you keen 2m DXers could use this contest to hone your CW skills weren't much better there. Generally, better propagation cropped up on a north - south path. for the big Aurora or tropo opening that we're all waiting for! Well done to G4BRK and Checking was very comprehensive, and this showed up some wide variations in logging G4OUT, winner and runner-up respectively. Lee Adams, G4RKV accuracy. While this didn't change any table positions, some entrants will be wincing at the loss of points. Everyone got the same treatment - you weren' t picked on! Pos Call Lac 3/9 18/9 3/10 18/10 28/10 Norm Best DX km Power All logs will be sent forward to ARI for inclusion in the Marconi contest; there is no longer 1* G4BRK 1091DP 109 101 40 47 0 3000 GM4OGI 499 70 any need to send duplicate logs or cover sheets. Congratulations to all entrants on their 2* G4OUT I092AT 82 81 0 39 0 2384 G3YSX 245 40 perseverance. Steve Thompson, G8GSQ 3 GOADH 109IKO 0 71 41 31 0 2363 G3PJ 238 100 4 G4MMH 1083IG O 0 21 17 34 1874 G3CNM 172 25 5 G4XPE I092GH 26 0 13 26 0 1109 G3KZR 206 10 24 HOUR.SECTION S 6 G4CUF I083QL 24 21 0 0 12 781 G3F1.1 288 10 Pos Call Points QS0 Loe Power Ant DX km * = Certificate winners 1 G4ZTR 17685 57 OIKW 25 11 DL8CM/v1/P 745 2 G4OUT 13570 60 92AT 40 12ZL F5KOJ 702 3 G4BRK 10739 38 91DP 70 9 DFOCK 828 4 G3FU 8092 28 OIKV 10 9 F6HYE/P 697 ARDF RESULTS 5 GOIZU 2221 14 91111 25 HB9CV TM6P 345 6 GOYAE 1951 10 OIIS 5 5 DLOKM/P 382

24 HOUR SECTION M TORBAY TOPBAND QUALIFYING EVENT - 8 JUNE I G4XBF/P 90759 245 00EW 400 15 F6DEV 887 Pos Name Club Tx A Tx B 2 GW4VVX/P21211 72 81KR 18 9 F6K1.1/P 951 1 Andy Collet Chelmsford 1501 1541 2 Andrew Mead Chelmsford 1608 1525 6 HOUR SECTION S 3 Dick Smelts Chelmsford 1621 1539 1 G3JRM 14964 43 02UL 100 17 DKOSAX 811 4 Trevor Gage Mid-Thames 1623 1540 2 GMOCLN/P 8006 25 851W 80 14 G4XBF/P 580 5 Graham Phillips Echelsford 1501 1624 3 GOADH 5646 40 91K0 100 13 DKOBN/P 646 6 Bill Pechey Mid-Thames 1547 1629 4 G4XPE 3762 17 92GU 10 10 TM6P 518 7 George Whenham Coventry 1542 8 Geoffrey Foster Mid-Thames 1543 - 5 GOPZO 1109 19 83LI 10 12ZL G4XBF/P 355 9 Graham Nicholls Banbury 1545 6 HOUR SECTION M 10 Alan Simmons Mid-Thames 1550 - 11 Colin Merry RSGB 1602 GOFBB 30530 105 01E1 350 2x17 F6K.1.1/P 770 Andrew Mead and Dick Brocks qualify for the National Final.

88 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 tle„, THE meà IHI/IIII E,,,..... HAN18011 IN Edited by Dick Biddulph, G8DPS eimilte rSUCCESSOR THIS to thee1 VHF/UHF Manual is the

111111 essential guide to the theory IIla and practice of amateur radio L reception and transmission on the VHF and UHF bands. It gives the CI) reader the background to such es- sential topics as antennas, EMC, propagation, etc together with con- e structional details of many items of equipment. As most amateurs today 1111111 use commercial transceivers, the ern- e ) phasis is on accessories and add-ons which are relatively simple to build.

111111 11 317 pages; hundreds of Mus- Chapters included: e trations and photos; 272 x introduction to VHF/UHF Dave Stockton. GM4ZNX 199mm. Getting started Dick Pascoe, GOBPS

Propagation Ray Flavell, G3LTP

1; 71 If you work the Receivers, transmitters & transceivers Mike Wading. G6IQM Steve Thompson. G8GSQ VHF/U HF ban ds Geoff Pike. GIOGDP

Antennas & transmission lines Peter Swallow, G8EZE this is the book EMC Dave Lauder. GOSNO

for you - Data Modes Chris Lorek. G4HCL

Amateur television Brian Kelly, GW6BWX dikulle order your copy Satellite communications Ron Broadbent, G3AAJ

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So The Radio Amateur's Guide To EMC 1st Ed (RSGB) £8.92 £7.58 many new licensees have asked the Radio Frequency Interference (ARRL) £13.12 £11.15 question "What do I do now?" that we GENERAL TECHNICAL decided to publish this :wide to help all ARRL Handbook 1998 (ARRL) TBA TBA Introduction to RF Design (ARRL) £25.62 £21.78 new amateurs through those early uncertain days. PMR Conversion Handbook-NEW 1st Ed (RSGB) £15.28 £12.99 Radio Communication Handbook 6th Ed (RSGB) £21.00 £17.85 Technical Topics Scrapbook 1985-89 1st Ed (RSGB) £9.45 £8.03 W1FB's Design Notebook (ARRL) £8.61 £7.32 Members' price: £4.99 (plus P&P) Solid State Design (ARRL) £12.23 £10.39 Test Equipment for the Radio Amateur 3rd Ed (RSGB) £10.97 £9.32 The New Shortwave Propagation Handbook (CO) £14.34 £12 19 Radio Data Reference Book 6th Ed (RSGB) £10.35 £8.80 Buy the two Pocket Guides - Your First LF Experimenter's Source Book 1st Ed (RSGB) £7.50 £7.50 HISTORY Packet Station and Your First Amateur World At Their Fingertips 1st Ed (RSGB) £6.30 £5.35 Station - as a gift for a new licensee . . . LOG BOOKS AND LOG SHEETS Log Book - Transmitting (RSGB) £3.67 £3.12 Just the thing to show them how much Log Book - Receiving (RSGB) £3.67 £3.12 fun amateur radio can be! Log Book Cover (RSGB) £6.50 £5.52 Log Sheets - HF Contest (RSGB) £4.20 £3.57 Log Sheets - VHF Contest (RSGB) £4.20 £3.57 MAPS/CHARTS/LISTS/ATLASES H O W T O O R D E R Region 1 Beacons, UK Packet & Repeaters (RSGB) £1.05 0.89 Countries/Awards List (RSGB) £1.05 0.89 PRICES: Please quote your Membership AVAILABILITY Goods are available over Great Circle DX Map (A4 card for desk) (RSGB) £1.57 £1.33 number or callsign when ordering. All the counter at OSOS HO 9.15am to Great Circle DX Wall Map (RSGB) £2.62 £2.23 prices include VAT (where applicable) 5.15pm. Monday to Friday. Grid Locator At:as (ARRL) £7.34 £6.23 and are subject to change withoJt notice. PAYMENT: Payment may be made by Locator Map Of Europe (A4 card for desk) (RSGB) £1.04 0.88 POST & PACKING: Pease add £1.25 cheque or postal order. These should be Locator Map Of Europe (wall) (RSGB) £1.57 £1.33 (overseas £2.00) for one rem and £2.50 crossed and made payable to 'Radio Locator Map Of Old West Europe (wall) (overseas £4.00) for two items or more. Society of Great Britain If sending cash (RSGB) £1.57 £1.33 Overseas rates for more than two items please use registered post. We accept Meteor Scatter Data Sheets (RSGB) £2.62 £2.22 carnes an extra 50p per item. Overseas Visa/Access/Amex cards and our tele- International 0SL Bureau List (RSGB) £1.05 £0.89 deliver as are by surface mail (up to phone number for credit-card orders is World Prefix Map - colour (A3 desk) (GR PUB) £3.53 £3.00 12 weeks delivery) - Air Mail rates on 01707 660888. Our Giro account number 1997 Prefix Guide (RSGB) £5.88 £5.00 request. is 533 5256. DXCC Countries List (ARRL) £1.05 0.89 World Map of Islands - folded (HM) £21.00 £17.85 O R D E R F R O M: RUB SALES (CWO) Lambda House, Cranborne Road, Potters Oar, Hens ENE 3JE MICRO WAVES 24-hour Sales hotline: 01707 660888 • Or use our lax: 01707 645105 Microwave Handbook Volume 1 3rd Ed (RSGB) £10.49 £8.92 Web Site: http://www.rsgb.org Microwave Handbook Volume 2 2nd Ed (RSGB) £15.74 £13.38 Microwave Handbook Volume 3 2nd Ed (RSGB) £15.74 £13.38 Microwave Set, Vol 1, 2 & 3 (RSGB) N/A £30.00

90 410," / LI N E 13C0C0IC C A T A L C:0G1 MORSE CODE NON-MEMBERS MEMBERS Your Introduction to Morse Code (2 tapes) (ARRL) £11.02 £9.37 Morse Instruction Tapes 5 to 10WPM (2 tapes) (ARRL) £8.93 £7.60 The Radio Amateur's Morse Instruction Tapes 10 to 15WPM (2 tapes) (ARRL) £8.93 £7.60 Morse Instruction Tapes 15 to 22WPM (2 tapes) (ARRL) £11.02 £9.37 Morse Code For Radio Amateurs 8th Ed (RSGB) £4.19 £3.56 Guide to EMC Morse Code The Essential Language (ARRL) £5.35 £4.55 OPERATING AIDS by Robin Page Jones, G3JWI Amateur Radio Operating Manual 4th Ed (RSGB) £12.23 £10.40 The RSGB Rig Guide 1st Ed (RSGB) £11.75 £9.99 This excellent book will enable you to ARRL Operating Manual (ARRL) £17.83 £15.15 avoid EMC problems by practising Low Band DXing 2nd Ed (ARRL) £16.26 £13.82 DX Edge Propagation Aid (XANTEK) £14.69 £12.49 good housekeeping. The underlying ARDF Handbook 1st Ed (RSGB) N/A £5.20 causes, as well as the remedies, are CIRP (LOW POWER) given so that you are well prepared to G-ORP Club Antenna Handbook (GORPC) £7.33 £6.23 G-ORP Club Circuit Handbook let Ed (RSGB) £8.92 £7.58 tackle any problems which turn up ORP Power (ARRL) £12.55 £10.67 W1FB's ORP Notebook (2nd Edition) (ARRL) £8.30 £7.05 now or in the future. The book's CiST MAGAZINE (ARRL) positive lighthearted approach to One Year (airmail) (AA AL) £88.24 £75.00 problem-solving is reassuring if you One year (surface mall) (ARRL) £34.41 £29.25 Two Years (surface mall) (ARRL) £70.73 £60.12 are faced with a sudden crisis - summaries are given Three Years (surface mail) (ARRL) £103.24 £87.75 at the end of chapters to give 'immediate action' information. If RADCOM BACK ISSUES AND BINDERS trouble ever does come to your door, you can reach confidently for Radio Communication Easibinder (RSGB) N'A £6.29 Bound Vols: 1986, '87, '94, '95, '96 available (RSGB) £25.00 £21.25 this book! Back Issues: Please phone for availability (+p&p)(RSGB) £3.50 £2.50 RSGB NEWSLETTERS DX News Sheet - (Inc postage) (RSGB) £32.95 £28.00 Members' price: £7.58 (plus P&P) Microwave Newsletter • (Inc postage) (RSGB) £11.15 £9.50 RIO Newsletter - (inc postage) (RSGB) £7.06 £6.00 Free samples of newsletters and overseas rates are available on request. SATELLITE Satellite Anthology - 3rd Edition (ARRL) £8.40 £7.14 RadCom on CD-RO M Satellite Experimenters Handbook (ARRL) £14.69 £12.48 The Space Radio Handbook 1st Ed (RSGB) £13.12 £11.15 The Weather Satellite Handbook (ARRL) £15.74 £13.38 1996 EDITION SHORT WAVE LISTENER To meet the requests of many of our readers we have produced this Complete Shortwave Listener's Handbook 4th Ed. (TAB) £24.41 £20.75 first CD-ROM which includes the editorial pages from everyRadCom Passport to World Band Radio (IBS) £17.91 £15.23 published in 1996 and, as a bonus, we have also included all the 1996 S OFT W A R E Instant Morse (CD-ROM) (RSGB) £43.08 £36.62 issues of D-i-Y Radio as well! SkyCall Callbook (Version 3) (RSGB) £23.29 £19.80 No longer will you have to rummage through all your back PC Windows Format (5 x 3.5" disks) SkycaIl Upgrade disks (5 x 3.5" disks) - 1997 (RSGB) £17.59 £14.95 numbers to find that elusive piece of information - with our easy 1997 Super Frequency List (CD-ROM) (KLINGENFUSS) £26.56 £22.58 search operation you can find it easily and quickly. 1997 Radio Amateur World Callbook (CD-ROM) (W&G) £44.58 £37.89 Conversation Guide (CD-ROM) (DARC) £28.24 £24.00 • Search all editorial pages of each and every RadCont from RadCom '96 (CD-ROM) (RSGB) £18.81 £15.99 CallSeeker '98 (CD-ROM) - NEW (RSGB) £13.95 £11.90 January-December 1996 by SPECIAL MODES using any word, article title, Am Packet Radio Link Layer Protocol (ARRL) £6.82 £5.80 name or page number. RTTY Awards (BARTG) £4.47 £3.80 Slow Scan TV Explained (BATC) £5.00 £4.25 • See every page, photo, cir- Packet Radio Primer 2nd Ed (RSGB) £8.92 £7.59 Packet, Speed 8‘ More Speed (ARRL) £15.88 £13.00 cuit diagram and data in all VHF/UHF technical articles and reviews. The VHF/UHF Handbook - NEW (RSGB) £18.80 £15.95 Radio Auroras 1st Ed (RSGB) £9.43 £8.02 • Print any page or diagram on VHF Contesting Handbook (RSGB) NA £4.25 to your home printer- invalu- VHF/UHF DX Book (Reprint) 1st Ed (DIR) £18.00 £15.30 UHF/ Microwave Experimenters Manual (ARRL) £16 42 £13.96 able for circuit diagrams or UHF/Microwave Projects Manual (ARRL) £11.61 £9.87 component lists! SUNDRIES Badges: Callsign standard (includes engraving)(RSGB) N/A £4.00 CallsIgn deluxe (includes engraving) (RSGB) N/A £4.50 Lapel mini (RSGB) N/A £1.20 Members' Price: £15.99 (plus P&P) Lapel standard (RSGB) N/A £1.40 RSGB TIES Red or Blue (RSGB) N/A £9.50 24-H OUR SALES HOTLINE: 01707 660888 CAR STICKERS RSGB Diamond (RSGB) N/A £1.00 I Love Amateur Radio (RSGB) N/A £1.10 For your convenience I'm On The Air (RSGB) N/A £1.10 EMC FILTERS you can now send in your order by E-mail to: Packet of 2 Ferrite Rings, FAIR-RITE 43 Material (AKD) £4.50 £3.82 Filter 1 - Braid Breaker (AKD) £9.40 £7.99 Filter 2 - HPF For FM Band 2 (AKD) £9.40 £7.99 Filter 3 - HPF & Braid Breaker (AKD) £9.40 £7.99 [email protected] Filter 4 - Notch Al 145MHz (AKD) £9.40 £7.99 Filter 5 - Notch Al 435MHz (AKD) £9.40 £7.99 Filter 6 - Notch At 50MHz (AKD) £9.40 £7.99 Remember to add post & packing (see How to Order - opposite) and Filter 7 - Notch At 70MHz (AKD) £9.40 £7.99 include your full name, callsign and mailing address with your order. Filter 8 - High Pass 6 Sect (AM) £25.88 £22.00 Filter 10 - 28MHz Notch (AKD) £9.40 £7.99 Filter 15 - 21MHz Notch (AKD) £9.40 £7.99 24-H OUR SALES HOTLINE: 01707 660888 Filter 20- 14MHz Notch (AKD) £9.40 £7.99

h tip e.,

RSGB Members wishing lo place an advertisement in this section must use the official form can be entered into. Licensed members are asked to use their callsign and OTHR. provided their incorporated on the label carrier of Radio Communication. This will prove membership and must be address in the current edition of the RSGB Amateur Callbook is correct. RS members will have to for the current month. No acknowledgment will be sent. Ads not clearly worded, or which do not provide their name and address or telephone number. Please include your town and phone number comply with these conditions will be returned. If an ad is cancelled no refund will be due. An in the free boxes provided to assist readers. Advertisements will be placed in the first available edition advertisement longer than 60 words will be charged pro rata. Trade or business ads, even from of Rat/Corn. members, will not be accepted. Traders who wish to use this facility must send a signed declaration The closing date for copy is the first day of the month prior to publication cg, the deadline for that the items for sale are pan of, or intended for, their own personal amateur station. The RSGB March is 1 February. reserves the right to refuse ads, and accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for the quality of goods for sale or exchange. Each advertisement must be accompanied by the correct Warning: Members are advised to ensure that the equipment they intend re purchase is not subject remittance, as a credit card payment. cheque or postal order made payable to the Radio Society of to a current hire purchase agreement. The purchaSe . of goods legally owned by a finance company Great Britain. Please note that because this is a subsidised service to members, no correspondence could result in the purchaser' losing both the goods and the cash paid.

Yaesu HF tow> FT-101E with external VFO FV- 10-80 vertical antenna no ATU needed £65. monitor, cherry keyboard, mouse, 3.5 floppy 1016 8. CW filter, spare 6JS6C £180. Kenwood Amstrad 1640 twin 514 drives colour screen £30 130m8 hard disk dustcover. £100. Inspect. col- HF tow' TS-520SE; no mic hence snip at £153. ono. 01252 373257 (Aldershot). lect any or carriage at cost. 01442 257839 FOR SALE Artwork lightbox RS556-272 £25. DC PSU Philips CHEAP or free old gear. Valves such as light (Hemel Hempstead). PE4804 variable 35V 2A + 35V 2A, £20. Manu- house triodes In tuneable coaxial cavities. 807s FT-302, FT-301D, YD-301 scope. PC-301 tuner, als for electronic units, buyers inspect/collect, EF5Os and many others. Components assem- FP-301D keyer. complete station £500. FT-277 working demo. Tower/post on ground. Moving bl ies and units from 1940s onwards. Some show- £100. Ten-leo Argosy 11 £300. Sony video CUSHCRAFT A3 td-band Vagi complete with 0TH so all items will be sold at best offers by end ing evidence of imperfect storage conditions. Walkman £500. MFJ525A analyser £1130. KW- Kenpro KR600 h/d rotator dismantles ready to Nov. G3JKF QTHR. 01293 538442 (Crawley). 01993 812 313 (Woodstock, Oxon). 107 Supermatch £50. Himound keyer MKY02 collect £295. Tokyo Hy-power HL-1K all band HF 70CM 50W linear £85. 100W dummy load £20. 2/ CLEAROUT MFJ SWR analyser and case £140. 350. Silent key sale. G3KLM. 01903 883834 linear amp 160-10m Including WARC bands £475 432 twin SWR 100W meter £65. Grid dip meter Daiwa PS-304 £60. Timewave DSP59+ new (Arundel, Ss). including brand new pair of 4CX250B/M valves £25. 01623 424792 (Mansfield). Eprom £95. Trio 4A 12V DC PSU £25. Revex HF FT-7570X HF tmr boxed. manual FC-757AT inspect and collect. GARCG. 01924 362144 88 ele multibeam for 70cm £30. 10XY for 2m £20. through 700m SWR bridge £50. 40m heavy rotor auto ATU boxed, man. £550. PWR (2) 24 amp (Wakefield). Paul, 01920 871639 or mobile 0378 408834. cable new £20. 2/70 vertical £20. Revex 2 way £50. Versatune II MFJ boxed, man £75, 0151 (Ware). antenna switch £15. Samsung laptop 3865X16 638 9574 (Wallasey). ICOM 736 100W HF tow and 50MHz. Built-in Al loom 575A 28 /50MHz multimode built in 240V power pack but battery U/S £90. Hoffi 3kW FT-7570X Mk1 HF Wig good working order rea- PSU auto ATU. manual, boxed, very good condi- PSU CTCSS encoder HM8 mic Toyko hypower antenna switch 4 way £90, 0401X. 0191 251 sonable condition £350 ono. Datong multimode tion £950. Yaesu FT-8000 compact dual band FM HL66V 50MHz 60 watt amp £475. Yaesu FT- 3051 (Newcastle upon Tyne). filter model FL3 good working order £65 ono. tow wide band receive. CTCSS. Dedicated packet 7470X general coverage tow fitted with FM tcxo CLOSING down sale, G6HRZ. Purchase cir- JPS ANC4 antenna noise canceller as new £70 socket and many other features. Manual, boxed Includes MH1B8 hand mic MD1 desk mic & cuits. Price agreed on collection. Offers can be ono. G4EBX OTHR. After 6pm. 01773 812766 very good condition £325. Watson adjustable mobile mount £475. DRAE 24 amp 13.8V PSU taken. 70cm, 2m Yaesu FT-780R all unused. 2m (South Normanton. Derbyshire). desk stand for h/held £10. Buyer collects or pays mint £85. VCI VC3000LP ATU new unused Trio 711E 50 20 amp Watson power supply. FT-790 mic & manual £225. FT-470 mic, manual carriage. 01986 798 524 (Woodbridge). £120. AOR AR-8000 h/held scanner 500kHz to 01925 821515 (Warrington, Cheshire). spkr-mic, fbaid/FNE117 battery packs NC29 1900MHz new unused all mode with charger COTSWOLDS 0TH enjoying elevated position charger PA6 car adaptor Magmount dual-band ICOM IC-728 HF tow gen coverage Flx. FM unit £240. Call after 6pm please. GODKM. 01934 7204 ASL end private drive, fields to sicle. 4 antenna £295. Standard C5800 multi-mode mic fitted £495 ovno. AEA PK-900 multimode termi- 815239 (Weston-super-Mare). bedrooms, double garage with inspection pit & manual £225. Microset 700m linear £50. Dee- nal unit with PC Pakratt V2 and AEA fax Ill £275 AEA Isoloop (ex w/o) 10 - 30MHz antenna, clw and office / shack / playroom above. Lounge. Cors 2 ele ZL-special 326. All ono. 01743365818 ovno. Both boxed and superb cond. GOFRO LC-2 controller. handbook. Ideal flat - dweller dining room, newly refurbished bathroom and (Shrewsbury). OTHR or E-mail Peter_charlesworth@ email. DXCC no problem! £150 ono. G3JKX QTHR. WC, separate WC, fitted kitchen. gch, dg, mains FT-990AC boxed excellent condition £1000. msn.com 01757 638551 (Goole), 01952 299677 (Shropshire). services. Over 240ff perimeter plot. 60ft till over Heathkit SB-101 value HF 80-10m £150. Wanted AEA PK-900, Pakratt for windows mint boxed Strumech with full planning. £125.000. Graham. KW-2000 filter and wiring diagram. 7-9pm only ICOM T7E dual band h/held tow with charger £250. G40IX. 0191 251 3051 (Newcastle upon GOSUB OTHR. 01453 757467 (Stroud). please. 01952 274978 (Telford). spare battery. Separate speaker microphone Tyne). CUSHCRAFT 1382N 2m Vagi new unopened FT7B HF ton 80-10m 50W with mic, manual. leather case and instruction manual, boxed in ALINCO DR-150E 50W 2m FM hardly used box £95. A27010 used £30. G40IX. 0191 251 mobile mount, good condition £190 include car- very good condition £205. loom CT17 communi- never mobile boxed with manual £200 ovno. 3051 (Newcastle upon Tyne). riage. G4CVA OTHR. 01636813767 (Southwell). cations interface level converter RS232, boxed, Also Alinco DR430 35W 70cm FM hardly used DRAKE MN2000 tuner £350. Ten-leo scout tow G2DAF type homebrew SSB / CW Tx largely instruction manual £35. Buyer collects or pays never mobile boxed with manual £200 ovno. Buy noiseblanker 15 /20 /40 / 80 modules £300. Hy- complete but requires debugging and finishing carriage. Would consider part exchange on any both for only £380. Absolute bargain. GOVZH. gain explorer 14 beam £200. 01902 491033 off. Also G3TS0 based homebrew SSB/CW Tx. item for Drake R4C receiver in good condition. 01582 612929 (Luton). (Wolverhampton). Working most bands but could probably be 01986 798524 (Woodbridge). ALINCO DR-605 2m 70cm mint boxed £295. DRAKE R4A original hdbk £125 ono. G4BWP improved. Both with full data, no PSUs £50 each Alelo DR-1200 2m 25W FM mint boxed £150. OTHR. 01638 552080 evenings. (Newmarket). plus carriage. Ian, GM3LGU OTHR. 01369 870 KENWOOD TS-440S excellent condition. boxed, G401X. 0191 251 3051 (Newcastle upon Tyne). DRAKE tuner MN2000 £380. Ten-Tec Scout HF 341 (Dunoon). with AT, SSB + CW filters. microphone. manual ALTRON 3 section wind-up mast with horizontal Icvr with 15. 20, 40, 80 modules noise blanker G4PMK spectrum analyser built in quality case £690 or vno. Collect or plus carriage. Brian. facilities complete with rotator and cage, with £280. 01902 491033 (West Midlands). £40. Homebrew 'T-match 100W I-1F ATU / SWR G7IMD OTHR. 01302 770769 (Doncaster). masthead 2m preamp. 8 ele. Vagi antenna with DRESSLER D200 400W 2m linear £350. Yaesu meter £20. SMPSU include. fan 5V 21A 12V H&V switch + 6m 3 ele 6m antenna also with FT-101E 10-160m fan mic £125. Cushcraft R5 7.4A £10. Two telequipment D53 dual beam SHACK clearance sale. Yaesu F7-77 100W rotator controller and all cables. £400 ovno. HF trapped vertical £100. 2/70 base colinears scopes one working, one f or spares £60. Radcom WARC SSB tow with CW filter vgc £295. Yaesu 01227 274484 or 01634 666972. (Kent). 4ft £25. 10ft £75. 4m /12 wave base vertical £15. last 4 years. David, GOUYJ. 01344 777295 FR-5013 amateur Rs £35. MFJ 9040 50m CW AMER1TRON AL811X HF power linear amp Alvin. G6DTW. 01372 277945 (Ashtead, Sur- (Bracknell Area). ORP £95. AR-88 working needs attention £25. WARC bands 3.811A new spares good cond rey). GROUND post for 40ft tower. Brand new, never Himound brass key HK802 £45. Kent paddle key £650. Daiwa HS-660P SWR power meter £80. EDDYSTONE 730/8 £70. H/kit HW100 £50. Yaesu used, offers, swap WHY. Also 500V megger old £15. Airtech sig gen type 201 £15. All prices ono. GOPJI. 01934 812543 (Weston-super-Mare). FRG7 £125. H/kit osi scope £25. B/W TV 12in but gwo £15. 01723 362537 (Scarborough). Alan, GOKMC OTHR. 0385 921093 anytime or AR6 6m collinear new and unopened £35. PK88 £15. H/krt-1M22 analyser £15. 0181 883 3474 HEATHKIT SB200 linear amplifier £300. Micro- evens and weekends 01296 658037 (Aylesbury). 9600 baud TNC plus PC Pakratt It software (London). wave modules 10 / 2m transverter £60. Maplin including manuals £110. ETM5C electronic keyer FOR sale IC-735 tow: vgc £450. Peter, G3JXR. Ranger top band receiver £20. Dymar 4m port- TRIO TS•830Svgc £350. G M3UNJ OTHR, 01333 including manual 340. ARRL antenna book 16th 01908 642398 (Bletchley). able (one channel crystalled) £10. Bumdept 470 421272 (Fife). edition £10. All plus carriage and packing. Bob, FREE to collector RadComs 1983 1996 complete portable crystalled spares Including other crys- G3VXJ. 01903 231466 (Worthing). take away one lot free various mains transform- tals charger and units £20. Voltage converter 24 YAESU FT-726R technical supplement sat-mode- ARMY C-12 HF tcvr with mic. PSU, cables, gwo ers high and low o/p. 0116 2876459 (Leicester). / 12V 410 8 amps £8. 30 snip mains filter £10. Pye Inc 70cm FM-USB-LSB vgc workshop manual £180. Drake RR•1 marine receiver £160. Valves, FT-101ZD with FM and spare 6146158 and manual PF8 £6. Pocketphone with battery £4. Wanted micr £450. Mobile trans Yaesu FT-227R unboxed, believed unused: at £15 ea: 813 and boxed £225. Can deliver if required. Rich- 58220 linear. GOUWB OTHR. Evenings only. memoriser 10W o/p 2m VHF / FM £75. BNOS (Willard) 4CX350A (Amperex); 4CX250A ard. GOAIH. 01642 866101 (Teesside). 01608 685476 (Brailes). linear amp with preamp 70cm 432MHz 50W £50. (Eimac). Al £5 ea: 00V03•20; CV485. Carriage FT-102 with three matched 6146B three CW / HEIL dual element mic HC4 HC5 footswitch boom BNOS linear amp 144MHz 100W HF preamp extra. Wanted PRC316/A16, accessories, any- SSB fitters excellent condition but requires at- assembly £100. Boxed, mint Heil headset boom £50. Yaesu FT-101Z° HF tog full coverage FM thing considered. G3GTJ OTHR. 01963 240319 tention £160. Target HF3 splendid £100. mic liC4 £60. Boxed, mint. 0401X. 0191 251 fitted receives OK needs two valves to transmit (Castle Cary). GM3CFS OTHR. 01847 821268 (Castletown). 3051 (Newcastle upon Tyne). £150. BNOS PSU type 12 / 25A stabilised 13.8v ATU manual for novice or beginner, long wire etc. FT-225RD 144MHz multimode fur with Mutek HENRY 2K Classic console special p/s for 240V £50. Yaesu loudspeaker £30 cash only. Denny, New case. new £100. Sell for £50. (firm!) Also Iront end classic DXJcontest radio excellent con- 50Hz excellent condition £890. Buyer collects. G1SFU. 01279 302061 (Harlow). ele keyer, squeeze keyer, model EK-160 almost dition £395 or offers. Swedish brass hand key GOWAZ QTHR. 01564 742710 (nr Redditch). brand new £60. Contact. GMOVCN Ward Long. £35. Pair 9 ele Tonnas and two way power HENRY Radio 2k Ultra linear 80m through 10m 2M 400W and 70cm 400W contest systems. Also 01577 863711 (Milnathorl). combiner £40. Deskjet 500 b/w printer £60. inc 17m 2 x Eimac 8873 grounded grid Modes FT-290 £175. 9 ele Tonna £25. 12 ele HB Vagi BIRD watt meter with peak reading switch 2.5kW Inkjet printer four eagle 6 ele 144MHz antennas, conduction cooled RF, deck 20Ibs PSU 67Ibs £20. AR40 rotator £60. TNC200 boxed £80. and 100W HF inserts. Leather hard case, mint divider, frame, coax 16dBd £100 or offers. Mike, vgc £1100. Dancom row HF/MF SSB HF 1200 Motorola MC micro PMRs with manual for con- £195. 6401X. 0191 251 3051 (Newcastle upon G4FBK OTHR. 01923 822766 (Watford). Danish marine transmitters 1.2kW SSB output version £85 ea. FT•790 £195. 21 ele Tonna £35. Tyne). FT-225RD with Mutek. TS-770 2m + 70cm all using MRF 422 X8 for PA. Power supply require- Hansen FS7 2m /70cm /200W SWR meter £45. BUTTERNUT compact multiband HF beam ex- mode boxed £325. FT7B £250. FP12 £60. FT- ments 24V DC +30%/-10% 1500VA. Have all Syledis manual £5. Scopes. HP-X-Y display. 107M £285. FV-107 £40. FT-902DM boxed £275. cellent condition £145. Realistic HTx100 28MHz parts to build good PSU full manuals technical 171580 MK3 £65. TRS80 portable £75. Marconi FT-5200 unused offers? All items perfect condi- CW/SSB mobile as new £135. TS-180S inter- data etc. Cost 12k new for two one for spares TF-995B 200kHz - 220MHz signal generator tion WHY? May part exchange. 01788 334471 requires good electronic engineer and home mittent top band fault. Mint £220 ono. FT-57A £85. 4011 gatv mast £55. Real weatherproof (Rugby). £500 ono. Buyer collects. 01569 765224 (Aber- CTCSS 290/69011 new £30. Digital multimeter steel case, cream 38 x 60 x 21cm unused £29. FT-290 Mk1 2m multimode nicads charger carry- deenshire). £15. Digital SWR 150-1500 £55. VHF/UHF freq 32ft heavy portable mast in wood case £55. 5211 ing case ex cond boxed. rn/rn 30W linear - NV-GAIN TH -7 with balun good cond £320. Pres- counter £25. 757 Mk2 frontfacia £10. FT-707/ portable mast £95. Foam-dielectric coax 60p/m. preamp. SWR power meter. 2 element beam. ently on tower. Trio TR-851 700m multimode. 757 external relay box £20. GS-065 alignment Hellax. multicore 23cm transverter £185. 23cm DRAE 6A PSU. Bargain £200. Weitz SWR power superb. Offers? loom R-7000. Offers? BBC B bearing new £35. H/duty rotator £150. MRF245/ 20whb £75. Ring of six 20395 £495. 26 ele loop meter 1.8 • 150MHz boxed £25. Maplin's grid dip text disk etc £20 collect. R•7100 loom full spec pair MRF247s wanted. Dimond X30 dual band yagis £9 ea. 10ft professional dish good to oscillator_ New, boxed £30. All above items in ex £675. 3kV linear suitable capacitors £20 each. colinear new £40. 01953 884305 (Walton). 10GHz £95. 400W dummy load £60. Noise cond. GOA DL OTHR. 0161 280 3064 (Radcliffe). 01473 311665 (Ipswich). generator £45. ex-ITV 5f1/2ft solid dishes on BUTTERNUTHF6V6 band vertical antenna never FT-290 Mk2 plus matching FL-2025 linear, boxed, ICOM 551 50MHz tog internal PSU. 10W, mod universal mounts on massive tripods £140/£110. assembled with instructions £105 ono. Unused manuals. DeeComm fixed collinear and for 48 • 50MHz. + spectrum 100W RF switched Spectrum analyser £150. RadCom 1945 - 1995 Capco Sp-300 ATU matches long wire and co- Magmount mobile antennas included. Nicads. pre-amp £325. Call GOJHC after 6pm. 01772 £150. Much else. G4NVA OTHR. 01477 533011 ax £120 ono. BBC 'B' computer + challenger receipts. One price £350. Tiny 2 'INC Pacomm 423099 (Preston). (Homes Chapel). RAM disk drive includes Kaga Taxam colour Siskin, plus MJF changeover switch. Boxed, all ICOM 706 CW filter AT-180 auto ATU 80W 2m 40FT P40 Strum ech telescopic/Mime r tower with VFIJ, Kaga Taxam dot matrix printer extra disks leads included packet radio primer book. Soft- amp with preamp. Boxed, mint £750. G40IX. ground post & top hat: needs new cables £140. RAMs games quick sale £50, Challenger Gap ware one price £100. IBM 386SX PC 14in colour 0191 251 3051 (Newcastle upon Tyne).

Confused by type numbers? You need the RSGB Rig Guide. See pages 90/91

92 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 MEMBERS' ADVERTISEMENTS

ICOM 735 PSU ATU 3550. Yaesu FT-7 £175. cables £80. Jones brass red base twin paddle boxed with manual £350 ono. In excellent con- one in about 1948 and not use it? G8DPS Trio 7200 £40. MM Iraq counter £30. SEM OHM £35. MEJ latest keyboard keyer with paddle dition. GOAEX QTHR. 0113 2250314 (Leeds). QTHR. 0181 399 8787 (Surbiton). elim £20. Osker SWR £20. 2 x Capco loops HF/ interface £65. Brass pump Swedish key £45. TWO FL-2001B linean, one mint but both require EDDYSTONE slow motion drive type 898. Good LE £250 the pair. Yaesu FT-101E + Y0100 0191 251 3051 (Newcastle upon lyse). new 572Bs. Offers. Butternut HF5B Butterfly price offered. GW3KAJ QTHR. 01686 413511 scope £250 pair. 250Hz CW filter FT-990 £50. KIM KT34A 4 element tri-bander £350. Mutek beam. Buyer collects all items. 01524 410058 (Llanidloes). 01782 625661 (Stoke-on-Trent). TVVF50C 144- 50MHz transverter £160. Tokyo (Morecambe). FT-209R with accessories, and spares or scrap ICOM 751 £425. Brian. G3GSI. 01435 883248 Hy-power HL-166V 50MHz linear £150. Contact VALVES, All tested good only £2 each. 6A35. Phillips CD-100 boards and chips circa 1982 CD (Heath( ield, Sussex). Tim, GI4OPH. 01247 468442 (Bangor). 6AQ5. 6AS6, 6AT6, 6I3H6, 6BJ6, 6BR7, 6BS7. player any info on component sources greatly ICOM IC-70 receiver 100kHz/30MHz fitted FM KW Atlanta transceiver 400W gwo. Nice and 6BC17A, 6BW6, 6B1N7, 6CB6, 6CH6, 6F33, appreciated. Steve. GOEZ8. 0976 964004 manuals boxed excellent Rs £350. Kenwood clean. Unused last 10 years. All manuals and E88CC, E91AA, EA50, EA76, EB41, EB91, (Gloucester). AT-230 ATU 9 bands £125. Kenwood DFC230 circuits. Digital readout unit, separate VFO. It's E8081, EBF80, EBF89, EC90, EC91, ECC81, HANDBOOK ancVor circuit for Heathkit SB610. frequency controller for 1S-830S etc £50. too powerful for my new 0TH. Can deliver for ECC82, ECC84, ECC88, ECC91, ECF80, EF40, Also 2 chips MC-790P all expenses refunded. Starmaster electronic keyer fitted mains pack cost of petrol £190 ono, Phone anytime. Eric, EF91, EF92. EF94, EF95, EF183, EF184, EZ80, G4HQD QTHR. 01440 761948 (Haverhill). £25. Trio hand mic up/down facility £10. G4YYR G3VUV. 01952 590445 (Telford). E281, EZ90. Please add £2 postage, cheques HF linear wanted for disabled op old, cheap QTHR. 01453 764090 (Stroud). KW-2000B good condition, little recent use. Com- to: K Bailey, 40 Seymour Close, Birmingham, possible repair WHY. GODIZ. Can collect. 01271 ICOM IC-735 with 250Hz filter original packing plete with Shure hand mic and KW EZmatch. 829 7JD. 864855 (Ilfracombe). £550. Icorn IC-706 complete with mobile mount Buyer collects price £120 ono. Cash or wit- YAESU 2m FT-225 RD £390. Kenwood TS-430 HUNTER or Explorer linear amp, also 14MHz MFJ mobile tuner and 20, 40 & 80m pro-AM nessed cheque (white stick op). Phone Andrew PS-15 PSU £475. G3WBN. 0181 654 2761 bandspread coil for HRO/MX receiver. GW3LJS whips £700. Carolina Windom full size £50. Howell, G4ABL QTHR. 01264 59210 (Andover). (Croydon). QTHR. 01267 202321 (Carmarthen). 01908 563600 (home) or 01908 566556 (work). KW107 ATU with handbook £75. 486 DX280 YAESU 7573X, FP-757GX, PSU, boxed. manu- ICOM AT-500 HF automatic antenna tuning unit. (Milton Keynes). CPU 5V £10. GOUWB. Evenings only, 01608 als. Tranzmatch plus Ezitune, diamond SX-200, G3GHB QTHR. 01386 792582 (Worcester). ICOM IC-737A HF tow internal ATU mint £795. 2 685476 (Brailes). SEM wavemeter, Kenwood LPF, PK232MBX KW109 / KW207 Supermatch ATU in any old elm mini beam for 10-15-20 and 6m £75. KW2000B with matching PSU both in vg condi- plus PSU, manual. Excellent cond. £600. Buyer condition required for the odd parts, such as Stomop hone 6000 70cm FM £75. 01474823797 tion plus handbook spare valves and SWR me- collects. GOIOX QTHR. 01271 22151 KW109 tuner capacitor. David, GOUOG. 01823 (Gravesend). ter £145 ono. G3A10 QTHR. 01892 822836 (Barnstaple). 323015 (Taunton). ICOM IC-AT160 auto ATU £200. Icom PS-55 (Pembury Kent). YAESU FC-1000 single wire automatic antenna MOTOROLA MT1000 UHF ti/held, tow. Wanted PSY £100. Yaesu MD1 base mic £60, FT-69011 LATTICE tower 60f1 4 section similar to tuner with instruction manual £185. GORUG. circuit diagram, user manual, service manual. multimode, BNOS 50W amp/preamp, CTCSS, Versatower with head unit. Fixed base plate 01428 712031 (Surrey/Wilts Border). Can photocopy and return undamaged. Any Info m mount, shack use only £425. TS-700GII 2m mounting with 2 autobraked winches. Guys also YAESU FT-290 Mk1 with nicads soft case mobile reqd. Also battery charger unit for above. Rich- multimode base £200. Handheld scanner up to available. Buyer collects from Lincs £400 ono. mount and 25W linear £200. Yaesu FRG-7700 ard, G8ITB. 01689 602948 (Bromley, Kent). 960MHz £75. 2m 9 ele x Tonna £40. 2m 4 ele Contact Ian, G4LPL. E-mail Bobalena receiver with FRT-7700 ATU and FRU-7700 2/ PA/KENWOOD for 130V 15W tevr. Prefer match- Tonne new £30. 1250MHz 23 ele Tonna new compuserve.com. Answerphone 01572 771398 6/air converter with all manuals excellent condi- ing Kenwood PA. Offers considered. 50W out- £35. Maspro 70cm 12 ele beam new £30. Co- or mobile 0802 341559 (Leicester). tion £200. 01608 641038 (Chipping Norton). put would suffice. 0171 935 7119 (London - phased dipoles folder for 70cm ideal repeater LINEAR RF concepts 10W 160W 2m preamp YAESU FT-290 911 pristine as new with all acre office hours). use £135. H/duty rotator £150. G250 £75. 01953 multimode £195. 3401X. 0191 251 3051 (New- all items including tin amp new boxed. Bargain at REBUILDING KW600 linear wanted coil tap- 884305 (East Anglia). castle upon Tyne). £425. Also, Yaesu FT-101ZD Mk3 excellent ping points and tuning info req any help wel- ICOM 17E 70cm / 2m handie, case nicad & M2 extra heavy rotator digital control. The best cond new PA valves, fitted 2 mths ago £325. come. Ron. GONXC. 0191 586 6383 (Dur- charger boxed £195. AOR8000 scanner 3 there is. Cost £1400. New unused, bargain Ring anytime. 01203 382215 (Nuneaton). ham). months old. Nice's charger boxed £230. Weller £750. 3401X. 0191 251 3051 (Newcastle upon YAESU FT-290 92 VHF multimode, boxed, as REPLACEMENT 100mA meter for Coder AT5 PSD2 soldering station new boxed £30. All above Tyne). new. c/w nicads charger handbook case. Mint Tx (type SEW MR38P). G4GTX QTHR. 0191 as new plus postage. Could exchange some for MANUAL or circuit diagram for Schlumberger condition £300. Phone Mike, GOPSM QTHR. 5284435 (Tyne and Wear). good FT-690RII. Terry, G40XD. After 6pm. frequencycounter type 2602/2 can anyone help? 01983 740413 (Isle of Wight). SPY tows of any period wanted by private 01462 435248 (Hitchin). Ian Lauder, GM3PZG QTHR. 01346 518756. YAESU FT-290RII plus FL-2025 25W clip-on collector. Especially AMKIII. 53/1 Rx, 51/1Tx INDEX ORP Mk1 £300. Index ()RP Mk2 £395. (Fraserburgh). amplifier boxed with manual vgc £425 ovno. NP3 Tx PRC64 PRC67 RS6. Also German MICROWAVE Modules 10m to 70cm transverter Kenwood TR-851E 430MHz all-mode 25W Mint. G40IX. 0191 251 3051 (Newcastle upon rcws 112113 E52 E53 swaps poss. Incomplete Tyne). late model and 50W 70cm amplifier and 70cm boxed manuals, mounting bracket as new £525 units and accessories alSO reqd. Bill JAYBEAM 2 element tribander in gwo buyer four way antenna splitter offers over £175. Mr ovno. Tel after 6pm. GOWSW. 0171 394 3688 MacDonald, 40 Latchett Road, London, E18 collects price £95 ono. GOGVA QTHR. Phone McHardy, GM3JFG OTHR. 01381 600 451 (London). 1DJ. anytime. 01772 621954 (Lancashire). (Cromarly). YAESU FT-51R 2m/70cm handheldwith extended URGENTLY required for Daiwa MR-750E ro- KAM plus ver7 with hostmaster boxed mint £185. OSCILLOSCOPE: Gould 031420, digital stor- receive. covers AM airband etc. Mint condition G40IX. 0191 251 3051 (Newcastle upon Tyne). age, 20MHz, no manual, no probe, hence £180. £295. Call John, G4YDM. 01914162606. (Wash- tator. Motor units model MR-750U. Must be in KEN WOOD TM-251-E £240. Kenwood TH -79E G3WW0 QTHR. Evenings. 01603 270363 (Nor- ington). good working condition. GW3JSV QTHR. rapid charger. 2 batte spkr mic case £295. wich). YAESU FT-726R 2m 70cm 6m satellite board 01686 640388. Kenwood SP-31 spkr £45. All mint, boxed. RACAL RA-117E gwo no case £110 ono. plus matching speaker SP-767, boxed, manu- VERSATOWER wanted for Warrington ARC. G40IX. 0191 251 3051 (Newcastle upon Tyne). Eddystone EC-10 gwo £55 ono. ST5 RTTY als, excellent condition £650. GOHWQ OTHR. W40 ideal but any base acceptable. George, KENWOOD TM732E dual band mobile boxed terminal unit wkg nice case 99% finished, with 01892 663061 (Crowborough). G3OGQ. 01925 267553 (Warrington). with manual mobile bracket mic and power lead TX3 software £30 ono. 01392 216579 (Exeter). YAESU FT-7473X complete with mic manual VIBFIOPLEX twin paddle key and electronic £280. G3FUN OTHR. 01795 532608 SILENT key sale. MFJ-259 £180. Kenwood PS. boxed £350. Datong PC1 general coverage keyer. Two or three element tribander with (Faversham). 30 £80. Microset PSU 13.8/7A £50. Kenwood converter £100. Kenwood TR-8300 70cms xtaV manual. Three or four section lattice mast with KENWOOD TR-751E 2m multimode tow: com- SM220 monitorscope £120. Adonis desk mic cant mobile £150. 01639 881150 (Port Talbot). low retract height. 2m radio IC-275E or similar plete with mobile mount manual boxed. Contest £45. Yaesu MD100 mic £60. Gem quad £250. YAESU FT-747GX HF few 100W 12V DC with base unit. All in good condition please. Will winner very clean gwo. Buyer collects. Keith, Valor/Proam mobile antennas Lack. Drake L7 heavy duty leads MH.1 B8 mic £340. Ring John Collect anywhere. 01902 737330 (Wolver- G4YQW. 01532 2552615 (Leeds). chassis no valves £250. MM 3 / 50W 6m amp anytime. 0151 530 1973 (Liverpool). hampton). KENWOODTR-950050cm multimode never used £65. MM 10 / 50W 70cm amp £75. H/brew 2m YAESU FT-747GX HF tcw 100W 12V DC with VLF equipment. Old ship's Decca navigator mobile, good condition, original handbook pack- amp 2X4CX25013 £350. Ten-Tao Omni6 com- leads NM36 mic in vgc hardly used £380. Heavy and aerial. Ship's Omega receiver, AR88LF, plete PSU and many filters Eoffers. 01691 duty 450MHz 12 ele yagi aerial £20. 170MHz ing and microphone £190. Trio PS10 power RAI 7L. Old AM transmitter about 1kW. Need supply and loudspeaker combined, vgc original 831111. (0swestry). VHF dipole £10. Yaesu FT-290R Mk1 multimode not be working. Also cheap CW memory keyer packing and handbook £40. Purchaser pays SPECTRUM analyser HP141 1250MHz £500. tow SSB/ FM £200. Sentinel VHF to HF receive and bird insert 2-30MHz 1kW.G3MEW QTHR. postage. GOMDZ. 01636 830005 (Nottingham). Stomo 4000 h/held 70cm £25. 102E lookalike converter £25. 0131 336 5915 (Edinburgh). 01726 73608 (St Austell). KENWOOD TS-140 with CW filler £475. Sony £25. All ono batteries with Whelds. G6TDG YAESU FT-7573X mint condition boxed service WANTED Heathkit DX-100U also military TXs AN1 active antenna £35. Kenwood TR-7500 + OTHR. 0121 475 4037 (Birmingham). manual £440. Data general MV-2000 computer & RXs from 1940 onwards WHY? Original PS6 power supply £125. Cushcraft FI5 Mk2 TEN-TEC Omni 5 perfect condition complete with £20. Stomo VHFbase station £20. G3ZLJ OTHR. manuals Larkspur & Clansman required. vertical £100. Kenwood SP-430 £30. Kenwood full set of filters, PSU, mic and ong packaging 01902 761339 (Wolverhampton). BC-10 charger £10. PB8 battery £15. Psion £675. G3CYL, 01252 617521 (Fleet. Hants). YAESU FT-890AT HF tow' with auto ATU. Boxed GOTBI QTHR. 01384 872157 (Kinver, South organiser LZ64 £30. Tony. G4KHTOTHR. 01482 TENNAMAST Adaptamast wall mounting type + with manual £750. Jaybeam 10XY 2m crossed Staffs). 843457 (Hull). winch, brackets etc, as new £125. Carriage Vagi with phasing harness £40. 0115 9587161 WANTED Mercury 'white box' to convert to KEN WOOD TS-140S HF tcw excellent condition extra. G4ZJB reg 0TH Sheffield. Phone anytime. (Nottingham). 10GHz narrow band system. Also wanted and as new £400. Buyer collects. 01462 432755 0114 2746464. (Sheffield). YAESU FT-980 £625. FC-902 ATU £135. FT-290 Capco magnetic loop antenna. Phone (Hitchin). TENNAMAST crank up tilt over free standing Mkt £195. FR-101-FL-101 spkr £225. FT- GOEWN. 0114 2468463 (Sheffield). KEN WOOD TS-430 and PS-430, good condition, mast complete with ground post head unit rota- 757GX Mk1 £395 & MD1 desk mic £75. GOEGX. WANTED urgently. Yaesu FC-102 ATU / PWR service manual £450. G4FOY QTHR. 01420 tor Mosley Mustang 3 ele triband and 10 ele 01621 815978 (Tiptree). / SWR unit c/w manual if possible. Cash 82855 (Alton, Hants). crossed 2m Vagi paper work ready for collection YAESU G-5400 azel rotator plus lower mast waiting. Can collect reasonable distance. 0181 KEN WOOD TS-440SAT with SSB filter £700. £400 the lot. Phone Les, GOJFU 0900 to 2000 separator kit. New unused 110V bargain £200 543 8440 (Morden). MC-80 £50. Datong audio filter FL2 £50. Manson hrs. 01452 862773 (Gloucester). ono. 3401X. 0191 251 3051 (Newcastle upon YAESU 1000MP Icom 765 Icom 756 Kenwood PSU EP-925 30A £50. Datong RFA broadband TEST equipment. Marconi 520MHz counter timer Tyne). 950SD Kenwood P8705 Kenwood 850s amplifier £25. Mosley triband yagi 10 / 15 / 20 £110. TF995 signal generator 100kHz -220MHz YAESU SP767 speaker unit. Good condition, Kenwood 940s auto ATU if possible or WHY. TS33JN-R 3200. Chelcom 15m 3 element Vagi £85. Microwave sweep oscillator 8-18GHz £95. Sensible offers plus postage. Richard, G8ITB, Fair price paid (no valves). GOADL QTHR. 350. SEM power meter £10. Tubular aluminium Racal 9102 power meter 1MHz-1GHZ £75. 01689 602948 (Bromley, Kent). 0161 280 3064. (Radcliffe - Manchester). masts x 2 and brackets £50. All gwo and little Phillips high res counter £85. Microwave Mod- YAESU FT-102 operating instructions. Newly used. or £1000 the whole lot. Call Andrew, ules 2m AM tow £35. 432MHz colour TV Tx licensed OAP amateur operator. Originals or GOUEF. 01452 300920 (Gloucester). (microwave modules) £65. 01823421751 (Taun- copies. Will pay full cost and expenses. Bill, KEN WOOD TS-850 £900. PS-52 £130. SP-31 ton). WANTED M1AHX. 01902 686133 (Wolverhampton). £35. TS-50 £575. AT-50 £175. IF-232C £50. All TNC Syrnek 9K6. Near new £135. A few Motorola YAESU FT-7573X11, FC-757ATautomatic ATU boxed and with manuals. Kenwood MA-5 mobile Maxars with conversion details for 2m £15 each. FP-757H0 (PSU) must be in excellent condi- ALL early wireless equipment especially Marconi antenna 3.5 - 28MHz £40. Hustler mobile an- Plus p&p, less mic / spkr. 01626 773301 tion. Contact Paul, M1BOY QTHR. 01702 (Teignmouth). items, pre-war television, crystal sets, horn tenna 3.5 - 28 (except 21MHz), quick release 528288 (Southend). TOWER 30ft aluminium 3in o/d plus 151t cast iron speakers, valves, spy sets, any condition con- and swivel mount £45. 400W 1.6 - 30MHz solid YAESU FTV-901 transverter with 2m, 70cm, state amplifier PCB complete except for 2 x support plus winch. Tower is in three sections - sidered, serious collector pays well. Jim Taylor. 6m modules. Also capacity meter or LCR TH430 transistors. Circuit diagram and data the challenge is to get it apart. House move G4ERU, 5 Luther Road, Winton. Bournemouth, bridge. Ted. 0151 632 0614 (Hoylake). £25. G3MUL QTHR. 01636 525513 (Newark). forces sale. £75. 01564 775802 (W Mide). BH9 1LH. 01202 510400 (Bournemouth). KEN WOOD TS-850SAT with heavy duly match- TRIO toll TS-830S and A-T230 matching an- AP1086 issue 1 (RAF radio stores ref nos). Also ing power supply, hand microphone. Perfect tenna tuner for sale £550. Phone Stan, G4SWA. AP1186 A-B-C-D-E. All sections and APs relat- condition. Cushcraft R-7 vertical £1250 ono. 0121 422 4407 (Birmingham). ing to radio radar equipment. Would purchase Karol, GOUNU. 01422 250770 (Halifax). TRIO TS-530SP 100W HF tcw, fitted CW 8, SSB post-war to current magnetrons. klystrons, llr EXCHANGE KEN WOOD TS-940S HF kw. mic etc. Mint con- narrow filters with SP-230 ext spkr, AT-230 cells, ignitrons, thyratrons, microwave and pla- dition £750. Icom IC-290 all mode 2m mobile. ATU, VF0120 external VFO, Daiwa NS660P nar tubes, TWTs, and special CV types. Re- EXCHANGE Mutek TVVF144 2m transverter 10m mic etc £250. Sommerkamp (Yaesu) 'F' line 1.5kW cross needle SWR bridge, LF-30A LPF. quired R1355 10D/13032, IFF-Rxs 113002, if for microwave equipment any band or Capco separates FR-10D Rs, FI-200Tx & FL-1000 kW & 600W dummy load, complete HF station, all 113067, R3121, control unit type 17 all unmodi- magnetic loop antenna. Phone GOEWN. 0114 linear. These can be used together as a ton- mint. as new, boxed etc. Little used £800 ono or fied. Excellent price offered please phone or fax 2468463 (Sheffield). £250. Trio TS-7200 2m mobile, 22 channels, exchange for 70cm mobile FM rig(s) plus cash anytime. 0171 511 4786 (London). INDICATOR unit 162/184 for indicator unit 97. IOW o/p £45. Clarke pump-up mast, extends to WHY? Paul, GOKPH QTHR. 01926 885440 A SERIOUS collector wants any small military Many British and American WW2 airborne radio 408 £250. Marine band FM tow, xtal controlled (Leamington Spa). sets any age/service. Need anca for 123, 128. and radar items for exch send for list. Mike £25. Buyer inspect and collect from York area. TS-5205E tow with manual, hand mic and Shure Looking for No 11, 12, 21, 1082/3 and TR9 accs. Green, G4EZM OTHR. 01253 347176 (Black- Contact G3WXI, not QTHR. 01759 388172 444 desk mic, plus spare set valves £325. Alan, Have sets for sale/swap. GRC-9, 19, 58, 13E- pool). (York). GOWAS QTHR, 01525 841182 (Bedfordshire). 201. Wanted any airborne equipment, pa ra gear. JRC NRD515. Complete, as new for Eddystone KEYS bencher paddle with side control for CW TS-530S 9 band classic HF tow complete with 01562 743253 (Worcestershire). 830 series Rs or Eddystone EA12. Call anytime. controlled electronic keyer complete set up with MC50 mic, YK88C and YK88CN CW filters AERIAL camera lens 36 Inch 16.3. Did you buy Walter, G3ENB. 01723 365093 (Scarborough).

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 93 EVENTS DIARY SILENT KEYS

SURREY ROC - 3. Talk 'Merchant Navy Radio' by DUDLEY ARC - 24, Talk 'Bletchley Park Decoding o, CLUB NE WS Tony. GOVGT. Details 0181 660 7517, Station' byGordon,G4DGM. Details 01384277925. ever E REG RET MAX PAK- 3. Update on the MAX PAK LAN. Details DEADLINE - Items for club news should GREATER MANCHESTER 01902 741877. to record the sent to the RadComOtfice at HQ to arrive SOUTH MANCHESTER RC - 7, Computer con- SOUTH BIRMINGHAM RS - 5, AGM. Details 0121 struction project: 14. Band of the month - 7MHz; 21. 458 1603 (evenings). passing of the by the 26th of the month, le approximately Morse night; 28. Talk 'Digital Photographs' by STOURBRIDGE & OARS - 3. On the air evening: a month before publication. For example, GOOOS. Details 0161 969 1964. 17. Annual surplus sale. Details 01538 756323. following radio 26 January for the March Issue. News STOCKPORT RS • 12. Talk by John Badger of 4 Badger Boards; 19. Hot pot supper; 26, Surplus WEST SUSSEX items should be sent in writing (fax or equipment sale. Details 0161 285 0017. CHICHESTER & DARC • 4, Questions and an- ,re e.41. amateurs: letter) and be signed by the club secretary swers session; 113, Talk lndustnal Archaeology' by GWYNEDD or the person responsible for publicity. G4EHG. Details 01243 861578. GOCFX Mr W Mitchell 03.04.97 Post cards for this purpose are available DRAGON RC - 3. Dr Gwyn Roberts talks about his WORTHING & DARC • 5. On the air evening; 12, visit to VK and ZL; 17, Surplus equipment sale. Talk 'Hearing and Sound by GOECW; 19. Talk GOEJB Mr A Winter from RSGB HO. Details 01248 713647, 'Microwaves' by G8EAS & G4UET: 26. Junk sale. GOIPF Mr E A Malpas 25.08.97 Note: This is a service for clubs affiliated HAMPSHIRE Details 01903 753893, GOJKO Mr J Cox 30.05.97 to the RSGB. The announcements are FARNBOROUGH á DRS - 12, AGM; 26, Chair- WEST YORKSHIRE GIOMSG Mr T O'Shea 30.07.97 intended to notify non-members and po- man's evening. Details 01252 629422, HALIFAX á OARS - 18. Talk 'Linear Amps' by GOVJZ Mr H B Jeffrey tential members of your club of specific ITCHEN VALLEY ARC - 14. Awards; 28, Construc- Peter Rodmell. Details 01422 202306. tion evening '2m J pole in your pocket'. Details KEIGHLEY ARS - 13. Film night; 20. On the air G1JYW Dr G W Hadfield 25.08.97 events. Therefore, 'committee meeting', 01703 813827. evening: 27. Quiz. Details 01274 496222. G1XUV Mr M B Hood 12.07.97 'natter night' and 'ragchew evening' etc WINCHESTER ARC - 21, Talk 'the Internet' by NORTH WAKEFIELD RC • 13, Talk 'Scanners' by G2BOZ Mr J E Bazley 29.09.97 will not be included. Basic, unchanged Mike Adams, Details 4 Bunton Road Winchester, Alan. Details 0113 2539087. Hants S022 6HX. GW2GSX Mr D L M Williams 20.08.97 details about RSGB affiliated clubs are WILTSHIRE G2HOX Mr J Tuckfield 05.09.97 published annually in the RSGBCall Book HEREFORD AND WORCESTER SALISBURY ARC - 11. Talk 'Comings and Goings G3ADV Mr P Jackson 16.09.97 and Information Directory. BROMSGROVE ARS - I 1, Video evening; 25, of the OSL Bureau' by Gordon, G4KJV; 25, Talk by Christmas dinner. Details 01527 542266. mystery guest speaker. Details 01722 334935. G3BEU Mr AR P Calder AVON MALVERN HILLS RAC - 11. Micro electronics. SWINDON & DARC - 6. Talk 'Basic Fault Finding' G3BLR Mr W W Fergusson 17.08.97 Details 01905 351568 (evenings and weekends). by Dennis. G3LLZ; 20, Used equipment sale. De- RSGB CITY OF BRISTOL Group - 25. Home brew GM3BON Mr J B S Gilfillan 17.08.97 competition. Details 01225 420442. HERTFORDSHIRE tails 01793 822705. SOUTH BRISTOL ARC - 5, Top band activity; 12, TROWBRIDGE & DARC - 5. Entries and Judging G3FZS Mr J H Brent 06.09.97 CHESHUNT & DARC • 5, Talk 'Building Your Own Christmas raffle commences: 19, AGM: 26, Show for the 02130Y constructors cup. Details 01225 PC' by Harvey Polaris; 12, On the air evening; 19, G3ISO Mr R C White 28.04.97 your exciting CISL cards. Details 01275 834282. 864698 (evenings). AGM. Details 01920 461711. WESTON-SUPER-MARE RS - 3, Discussion G3MP Mr D J G Legge 01.09.97 VERULAM ARC - 25, Third generation mobile evening; 24, Workshop. Details 01934 415700. G3VTN Mr W F Burgess 01.09.97 communications. Details 01923 262180. BEDFORDSHIRE WELWYN HATFIELD RC - 17. Talk 'CIFIF by Rev RALLIES AND G3WVF Mr P Bailey 24.08.97 SHEFFORD & OARS - 6. Talk 'REA Radio System' George Dobbs, G3RJV Details 01707 331583. G3YRM Mr C H Stanley by Alan, G4LWA: 13, Talk 'Auroras' by Gerard. HUMBERSIDE EVENTS G4DBU Mr R J Edwards 15.08.97 G4YRS: 20. Quiz night. Details 01462 851722. HORNSEA ARC - 5. Talk 'Aritaara Design' by G4UQJ Mr K D Monk 15.09.97 This is a list of all rallies, hamfests. exhi- BERKSHIRE 341GY and GlYVL; 12, Activity evening; 19. Talk G4ZMC Mr G Allsop 26.08.97 'Attenuator Formulae' by GOTPS: 26. AGM. Details bitions and conventions notified to HO (as MAIDENHEAD & DARC • 8. Club DF gear opera- G5KT Mr K T Harvey 28.08.97 tion and alignment evening: 18 Talk 'Facts and 01964 562258. at press date). Items are given in detail for Fallacies' by G3FtZP. Details 01628 485167. ISLE OF MAN the next three months inclusive and in G7DTM Mr P J Kelly 20.05.97 NEWBURY & OARS - 26, Talk 'Measurements and ISLE OF MAN ARS - 7, Annual dinner; 27, Visit to RS27266 Mr C M Whitman June 1997 Safety' by Dick, G8DPS. Details 01635 826019. brief thereafter. Please send detailed in- Isle ol Man Breweries. Details 01624 624889. READING & CIARC • 13, Surplus equipment and formation, including contact callsign and RS33588 Mr F G Frampton junk sale; 27. Special guest speaker. Details 037 KENT telephone numbers direct to HQ and RS3470 Mr I I Boswell 05.11.96 035 4053. MAIDSTONE YMCA ARS - 7, Junk sale; 14, Talk marked 'Rally News - DIARY'. RS4101 Mr R Taylor 11.09.97 BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 'Transformers / Power Supplies' by Keith Maskell; RS88605 Mr J Humphries July 97 21, Talk 'Down on the Antenna Farm' by Peter 1 NOVEMBER AYLESBURY VALE RS - 5. Quiz night. Details Pickehng; 28, Talk 'Semi Conductors' by Keith TINE & WEAR Repeater Group Annual Auction F3DM Mr A Mercader 02.09.97 01296 432234. Maskell. Details 01634 856765. • Great Lumley Community Centre, Great Lumley. Z23JJ Mr 1J Wood 21.08.97 CHESHIRE MEDWAY AR a, Ts • 2, Talk 'Ancient Cables' by near Chester-le-Street, Co Durham. Doors open at MID CHESHIRE ARS - On the air and construc- John, GOWAN; 14, Fish and chip supper. Details 10.30am for booking goods in. Auction starts at 12 tion: 12, Talk 'Talking Book Machines' by Norman, 01634 710023. noon. Details 0191 388 2913. G4JYP: 19, On the air and construction; 26. Discus- LEICESTERSHIRE 1 / 2 NOVEMBER sions on future events. Details 01606 592207. LEICESTER RS - 10. On the air evening; 17, Talk NORTH WALES Radio and Electronics Show - WARRINGTON ARS • 11. Rig dirk for 2m 12.5kHz COULSDON ATS Bazaar - HO of 4th Purley Scout by Jenny Harris of the Leicestershire Bat Group; Aberconwy Conference Centre & New Theatre. channel spacing. Details 01925 762722. Group. Access to public is via the car park in Lion 24, On the air evening. Details 0116 231 3194. Llandudno Promenade. Opens lOarn on both days. Green Road, Coulsdon, Surrey. Admission of 50p LOUGHBOROUGH & DARC- 4. Talk '45 Records' CLEVELAND entrance tee £1.50 adults, children under 14 free. includes a free raffle ticket. Open from 10am until by Barry. GOLCU; 11. Computer evening; 18. Talk EAST CLEVELAND ARC - 7, Antenna analyser RSGB stand. Details 01745 591704. 1pm. Details 01737 354271. 'Aircraft' by Brian. G8BUB: 25, On the air evening. review by G7SMB: 14, Junk see: 21. Make a Slim 2 NOVEMBER RED ROSE Rally - Norwich Leisure Centre. Victo- Jim antenna: 28, Book review. Details 01642 Details 01509 218259. ria Road. Norwich near Bolton. ion 6 M61,. With NORTH DEVON Radio Rally • Holsworthy Memo- 475671. LOTHIANS bring and buy, parking for 300 cars. Doors open at flat Hall, 10am to 4pm. Bring and buy stand. Details 10.30am, admission £1.50, OAPs £1. free for chit- LOTHIANS RS • 12. Talk 'Are Your Keys Really CORNWALL 01409 241202. d rent: nde r 1 4 Talk-in on S22. Details 0120462980. POLDHU ARC - 11, Talk 'Memories of Marconi Necessary' by Geoff. GM4FH: 14, 50th Anniver• 8 Days' by Douglas George. Details 01326 240738. nary Dinner: 26. Computer shareware & FM Devia- NOVEMBER 30 NOVEMBER ST AUSTELL ARC - 3, Presentation 'Me and the tion workshop. Details 0131 663 8501. AMS '97 Computer & Electronics Show - Bingtey PORTLAND ARC Rally - Burton Cliff Hotel. Burton Internet' by Chris, G4MXEL Details 01726 72951. MERSEYSIDE Hall. Staffordshire Showground, Weston Road. Bradstock, near Bridport, Dorset Doors open llam. Stafford (A518 Stafford - Uttoxeter Road). Admis- Attractions include bring & buy stall, talk-in DERBYSHIRE LIVERPOOL & OARS - 4, Talk 'the Big Band': 11. sion adult £3: Children under 14 50p: Concession, 145.55MHz - 433.55MHz, Details 01305 823373. BUXTON RA -11, AGM; 25, 'What was wrong with Surplus sale; 25. On the air evening. Details 0151 OAPs, RSGB members. student card. UB40 £2. the 1997 program?'. Details 01298 25506. 722 1178. Details 01473 741533. 6 DECEMBER SOUTH NORMANTON & DARC • 3, Quiz night; 10. NORFOLK RSGB HO Christmas Shopping Saturday - Open RSGB AGM - Details 01707 659016 On the air evening; 17, Talk 'Antarctic Radio' by 10am to 2pm. The bookshop and GB3RS shack will NORFOLK ARC - 5, Construction contest; 12. On 7 DECEMBER Terry Tallis; 24, Video night. Details 01773863892. be available to visitors as will the National Amateur the air. construction ORP and Morse practice: 19. Radio Museum and Library. Morse lests available NORTHERN MOBILE Amateur Radio Rally - Talk 'Science for All' by Arnold, G3PTB: 26, On the DEVON on demand. Details 01707 659015. Details 01765 640229. APPLEDORE & DARC - 17. Quiz night. Details air. construction ORP and Morse practice. Details SOX GLASGOW Rally - Maryhill Community Halls, 01237 471802, 01953 604769. 9 NOVEMBER Maryhill Road. Glasgow. Doors open al 10.30am. EXMOUTH ARC • 5, Aerial evening. Oelads 01395 YARMOUTH RC - 14. AGM; 21. Construction; 28, GREAT Northern Manliest - Metrodome Leisure Admission • adults. £3; senior citizens. £2; children 271880. Quiz. Derails 01493 721173, Complex. Barnsley town centre, less than two miles under 14 free with an adult. Attractions include forums, special interest groups and Morse tests. NORTH YORKSHIRE from jcn 37 MI five misa walk from train and bus DORSET station. Doors open 10am. Admission £1.50, Venue Details 0141 638 7670. HAMBLETON ARS - 6. RTTY; 20, Radio quiz. POOLE RS - 7, Shack construction and repair; 14, all on one level with two large halls and excellent 14 DECEMBER Talk 'Marine Radio': 21, ORP group; 28. HFNHF Details 01845 537547. disabled facilities. Morse tests on demand from 12 LEEDS & District Christmas Computer and Ra- operation & logging. Details 01202 698142, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE noon until 3pm • donl forget to bring two passport- dio Rally - Details 0113 2874650. DYFED SOUTH NOTES ARC - 5, Shack construction and size photos and the appropriate fee. Talk-in on VERULAM ARC Rally - Watford Leisure Centre. on the air evening. 12, Open forum; 19, G4NJH 14,5.55MHz. Details 01226716339 or 0836748958. Horseshoe Lane. Gersten, Watford. Located off the ABERPORTH ARC - 4, Video 'DX pedition to Heard MARS Birmingham Radio and Computer Rally - Island'. Details 01239 810382. practical demonstration; 26, Shack constructor A405 near jcn 6 of the M1 and jcn 21a of the M25. and on the air evening. Details 01509 672846 Stockland Green Leisure Centre, Slade Road, Doors open from Warn to 4pm. Details, 01923 EAST SUSSEX Erdington, Birmingham. Doors open loam to 4pm. 262180, trade enquiries 01923 265572. Admission £1. Children tree. Includes Ires Christ- HASTINGS E & RC - 9. Remote Imaging Group. SHROPSHIRE TELFORD & OARS - 5, On the air evening: 12. mas draw, large free car park, trade stands and 18 JANUARY 1997 Details 01424 830454. special interest exhibits. Details 0121 422 9787 tor OLDHAM ARC Mobile Rally - Queen Elizabeth SOUTHDOWN ARS - 3. Talk 'Fire ServiceCommu- Junk sale 19. Club project - Inductance meter. Details 01952 299677. trader details and 0121 443 1189 for general info. Hall, C1WC Centre. West Street. Oldham, Lancs. nications' by Dick. 04KAR. Details 01825 763022. Doorsopen llam, 10.30 for disabled visitors Morse 15 / 16 NOVEMBER ESSEX SOMERSET tests on demand. Talk-in on 145.550MHz Free LONDON Amateur Radio & Computer Christ- parking. Details 01706 846143 or 0161 652 4164. CHELMSFORD ARS • 4, Junk sale. Details 01245 WEST SOMERSET ARC - 4. 'Photographing Ama- mas Rally - Lee Valley Leisure Centre, Pickets 256654. teur Radio Gear'. Details 01643 707207. Information of rallies beyond thls date are avail- Lock Lane. Edmonton. North London. Easy access COLCHESTER RA - 13, Talk 'Meteor Scatter' by able from the RadCom office on 01707 6S9015. SUFFOLK from M25 and North Circular. Priority admission for Ken. GOUR. Details 01206 822547, BURY ST EDMUNDS ARS • 18, Talk 'Professional disabled visitors. Large trade show, free parking. GLOUCESTSHIRE Mobile Data' by John, G4BAO. Details 01284 RSGB book and information stand. special interest GLOUCESTER A 8, ES - 10, Collectors item 787234 (evenings). groups. bring and buy stand. Also present this year GB CALLS FELIXSTOWE & DARS - 10, RSGB Video evening. evening. Details 01452 618930 (office hours). will be the British Citizens Band Confederation These callsigns are valid for use from the date Details 01394 273507 (evenings). which will be running a station throughout the event. given but the period of operation may vary from GREATER LONDON IPSWICH RC • 5, Kite demo evening with GOSTVV: Morse tests available on demand - don't forget to 1-28 days. Operating details are provided in an COULSDON ATS • 10. Talk 'World War II German 19. Surplus equipment sale; 26. Morse practice bring Iwo passport-size photos and the appropriate abbreviated form as follows: T 160m; L .= 80 Radio' by Richard. G4PRI. Details 0181 684 0610. evening. Details 01473 241473. test lee. Talk-in on 145.55MHz and 433.55MHz. or 40m; HF bands (30 - 10m); V = 6 and / CRAY VALLEY RS - 6, Talk 'From One Extreme to Details 01923 893929. H = Another' by GOFDZ; 20. Talk 'What is MCC?' SURREY or 4m; 2 = 2m; 70 = 70cm: S = Satellite and P Details 0171 739 5057 (office hours). GUILDFORD & ORS • 14, Used equipment sale: 23 NOVEMBER = Packet. Please send operational details of CRYSTAL PALACE & - 15, Surplus sale. 28, fneburg (the Trip)'. Details 01483 579486. BISHOP AUCKLAND Radio Amateurs Club Rally your special event station to the RadCom office SUTTON & CHEAM RS - 20. Junk sale. Details Details 0181 653 2946. - Spennymoor Leisure Centre. Good parking plus at least five weeks before publication. ECHELFORD ARS - 13. Bring and buy sale; 27, 0181 644 9945. easy access to large ground floor hall. With the 1 Nov GB5OTR: Torbay Audio, Devon. (G3LHJ) Talk 'MPEG Digital Video Compression' by Paul, usual radio, electronics, computer and bring and G4AWZ. Details 01784 456513. WARWICKSHIRE 8 Nov GBOCCC:ColeridgeCommunityCollege. buy stalls. Doors open at 11 am (10.30am for disa- EDGWARE & OARS - 13, Packet demonstration; STRATFORD UPON AVON & DRS - 10, Talk Cambs. L2 (GOGKP) bled visitors). Admission £1. free of charge to under 27, OSOs and OSLO. Details 0181 953 2164, 'BEAU' by Dr R C Whelan, G3PJT: 24, 'History of 11 Nov GB2MIL: Millennium, Pemba. TLHV2P RS 01 HARROW • 7, G2UV Talk challenge: 21. Morse Code and an Exhibition of Morse Keys' by 14s accompanied by an adult. Talk In on 145.55MHz. (GW4MTU) Details 01388 766264. Construction contest. Details 01895 476933 (eve- Gerry. G3KPT. Details 01789 773286. 14 Nov GB4RN: Royal Navy. Hants. (G3LIK) nings). BRIDGEND & DARC Radio and Computer Rally 29 Nov GB6SJ: St, John's. West Midlands. SILVERTHORN RC - 21, Junk sale. Details 0181 WEST MIDLANDS - Recreation Centre, Bridgend. Take M4, Ian 35 TLHV27P (MOAJN) 505 1871. COVENTRY ARS - 7, Guy Fawkes Supper; 14. On from the east or ion 36 from the west. Doors open SOUTHGATE ARC - 13. 360M Judging: 27, Demo the air; 21, Visit to Musical Instrument Museum: 28. 10.30am. Features bring and buy stall plus talk-in For space reasons, this month's 'Congratulations night. Details 0181 482 6795. On the air evening. Details 01203 412528 on 145.55MHz. Details 01656 660665. has been held over.

94 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 W AY AHEAD FOR MORSE? HALCYON DAYS? The 'News from the IARU Future of Amateur Charles Brain, G4GUO (The Last Word, Oct 97), Services Committee', setting out the proposed has missed the point. What some of us want, and revised Article S25 of the ITU Radio Regulations I suggest it is not just a small minority of mem- (RadCom News Oct 97), does not fully explain the bers, is some full-length, high-quality technical latest FASC approach to the amateur Morse test. articles in RadCom from time to time, as we used The 'topics' mentioned in the proposed regu- to have. These will often be topical in the sense lation S25.1 1 are as yet unspecified but could that they are the latest expositions on the vari- include a Morse test as one of several alternatives. ous topics, but in any case will be interesting. In this connection, the FASC report comments: HF NOVICE PHONE BANDS Constructional articles are not in this category, "If the Recommendation was to be consistent being for those who want to copy someone else's with the present Radio Regulations one of the I was particularly pleased to read of the design, but are useful and should continue too. topics that would be specified for operation below Young Amateur of the Year awards What this is about is coming across stimulating 30MHz would be the ability to send and receive (RadCom News Oct 97), as I have had a articles in RadCom. It is not about looking up Morse code." number of SSB QS0s with Mark, 2E0APH, things in handbooks when one is suddenly con- However, these topics are visualised by FASC [the runner-up] on 10m by way of ground fronted with a problem, or when mugging up for as being non-mandatory, leaving individual ad- wave. When the band is open and we are an exam. Like the students G4GUO mentioned, I ministrations free to decide what qualifications both active we usually have a short contact too used the RSGB and ARRL handbooks, among are required for an amateur licence, ignoring the and it has been a pleasure to then hear Mark other publications, while training to be a qualified suggested topics if they wish to. working stations all over Europe and into engineer, and still use them when they cover the RadCom readers should be aware that they are Africa with his 3W. particular topic adequately. being asked to comment on something that has not I know that this recent venture on to HE What puzzles me is why, when most people been properly explained to them. The issues in- SSB has been of tremendous encourage- think RadCom should have 'something for eve- volved were recognised by the IARU Region 3 ment to Mark, but what a pity that it is ryone', there are some who, having got every- Conference in Beijing in September, when it was subject to the present vagaries of the 10m thing they want, would deny others the same? agreed that the wording of the proposed S25.1 1 I cannot imagine that the cost of a couple of band. I know that there are some Novice "may be required" should be changed to "shall be extra pages would be a significant factor, meas- C W allocations in the HE bands, and of required" to ensure that the qualification topics ured against the resulting increase in stature of course we must not forget the phone allo- were mandatory in all ITU countries. RadCom throughout the world. But if I am wrong, cation on topband, but surely we could find The advantage of this approach, according to I would be willing to pay for a technical supple- room for an allocation in another HE band the ARRL which made the suggestion, is that the ment, as mentioned in my letter. Such a supple- where Novices could more reliably enjoy IARU would have greater control over the stand- ment would have several contributors in each ards of entry to amateur radio since it has a voice the pleasures of long distance phone com- issue, with long articles now and then by Pat in the ITU-R Study Group and Working Party that munication? Hawker, of course! would consider the matter. If we are to continue to enjoy our present Bernard Spencer, G3SMW frequency allocations we will need the par- This approach represents a way forward which I fully endorse the views of Bernard Spencer, ticipation of these young people in the fu- may be acceptable to CW enthusiasts who are G3SM W (The Last Word Sep 97). Just look back unhappy about the possible loss of the present ture and they should be given every oppor- amongst copies of the T. & R. Bulletin and more Morse test. tunity to enjoy the hobby to the full. recently RadCom and discover how the technical If Morse was one of several alternative man- Jim Brightman, GO,CAN content has so miserably declined! QST has also datory tests for HF operation, applicable to all declined somewhat, but not nearly so much as countries, CW organisations and individual en- HIDDEN CHARGES RadCom. thusiasts could direct their efforts to publicising There is from time to time comment about the low The RSGB should be more actively doing some- CW more and encouraging newcomers to enter prices of radio gear in the USA and the possibility thing to further amateur radio in the true sense of the amateur radio by that route. of ordering direct from the States. I had a recent movement. The number of amateurs obtaining li- It should also have been mentioned in the experience of ordering direct from the US which cences through weakened RAE examinations and article that as well as the RSGB, the FASC is contains a warning for anyone who tries it. I was then just purchasing expensive 'black boxes' to oper- inviting comments on its proposals. These should not buying ham gear, but the experience is still ate on the air, with little or no knowledge of what is be sent to: IARU FASC, c/o IARU International valid. therein or how the said black box works, is becoming Secretariat, PO Box 310905, Newington, CT Cost of goods in the US $279.99. appalling and shows in operating on the air. 06131-0905, USA; E-mail: iarugiaru.org (Sub- UK Charges: Technical Topics is fast becoming the only ject: "To IARU FASC"); or fax: + 1 860 594 0259 Import duty £15.03 worthwhile article. What is to be done to rightly ("To IARU FASC, c/o IARU International Sec- VAT £35.52 improve the general standard of knowledge; after retariat"). Clearance fee £5.10 all, this is the bedrock of amateur radio, is it not? Tony Smith, G4E AI, Consultant Editor, Morsum Total £55.65 I, and I believe many others, would very much Magnificat The transaction was faultless in execution but favour a separate technical publication, perhaps John Bazley, G3HCT, cfFASC comments: It must the add-on costs significant. relegating RadCom in its present form, save for be remembered that the FASC proposal is still a Technical Topics, to light reading over breakfast. John Heath, G7111A consultative document and the comments from James R Simpson, G3JRS Tony are indeed welcomed. The RSGB survey, of [We are cften told that RadCom is not like it used HF HIGH PRAISE all licensed UK amateurs, and the IARU Region to be, but a check cf the quantity cf technical 1 Conference both endorsed the retention of the I attended the RSGB HF and IOTA Convention at material appearing 20 and 30 years ago shows Morse code examination. FASC has noted these Windsor yesterday [27 September] for the first that roughly the same amount is published today views and has also taken into account the com- time. The lectures that I went to were excellent (about 15 pages per month). These days RadCom ments from a significant minority who wish to see and the technical discussions were of a very high is a lot bigger than it used to be, and what has the elimination of a mandatory test. quality. It was a really useful day, meeting others changed is that there is now more news, there are "The FASC proposal, while not defining the with similar interests and exchanging ideas. The more regular columns, more reviews and more content of ITU-R M -XXX, will allow flexibility Beaumont venue is spectacular too. This was for beginners than there ever was &fore. As for the quality, we do not turn away large numbers cf in the future. It must be remembered that the amateur radio at its very best. highly technical articles, so where is it all? Who revised proposals from FASC have yet to be John Taylor, GOAKN is writing such material? The ARRL has a sepa- considered at the Region 2 Conference before a rate technical-publication, QEX, which this year final document can be drafted for consideration Please note that the views expressed in 7he Last had cluficulty in filling its pages and had to cease Word are not necessarily those of the RSGB. We by the Administrative Council. Your views and publication temporarily. I would be interested to comments are needed and can either be sent to reserve the right to edit letters for publication. All letters are acknowledged and may be passed to have examples cf what readers would like to see GM4AUP, Chairman, RSGB LAC, c/o RSGB the relevant department or committee. in RadCom: does the article on page 45 in this HQ, and / or direct to FASC." edition fit the bill? — Ed]

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 95 W. H. Westlake RF/GSM ELECTRONICS CABLES & CONNECTORS WESTFLEX 103. low loss Airspaced. 50 ohm £1/m RG213U (eq UR67). Mil spec. 50 ohm 75p/m Engineers URM43, 5mm dia, 50ohm, single conductor 35p/m RG58CU. 5mm dia. 50 ohm stranded Conductor 35p/m RG174U. 2.3mm. 50 ohm Mini Coax.. 40p/m UR95, 2.3mm, 50 ohm Nylon Coax 3.5cilm We specialise in the supply of URM109, 2.3mm. 50 ohm PTFE Coax 50p/m URM111, 2 3mm. 75 ohm PTFE Coax 50pim URM57, 10.3mm, 75 ohm low loss Coax £1/m * Systems Design URM70. 6mm. 75 ohm Tx grade Coax 35p/m BT2002. 5mm. 75 ohm double screened Coax 35p/m RG62AU. 6mm dia. 95 ohm Coax 50p/m • Circuit Design TV. 75 ohm, low loss Downlead 30p/rn 75 ohm Twin balanced Feeder. Light/tied, 400w PEP 30p/rn 75 ohm Twin balanced Feeder. Heavy Duty. several Kw 70p/m • Development/Test 300 ohm Ribbon, standard light duty 30p/rn 300 ohm Ribbon. HD USA Slotted type 65p/rn • Production 450 ohm Ladder Ribbon Feeder, from USA 70p/m 3 Core Mains/Rotator Cable, 5 amp 30p/rn 5 Core Rotator Cable 40p/rn * Commissioning 6 Core Rotator Cable 50p/m 8 Core Rotator Cable 70P/m Aerial Wire, light duty PVC coated 8P/m Looking for a career move? Aerial Wire, heavy duty. PVC coated 20p/m Aerial Wire, medium duty PVC coated 10p/m 14 swg HD Copper 30p/m 16 swg HO copper 25p/m We can help you! 16 swg stranded copper ...... 25p/m. Single core screened, 2.3mm dia 20p/m We are the specialists! Two core screened. 5mm 30p/rn 6 core screened, 5mm 40pim Red/Black DC power Cable, 8 amp 30p/rn Red/Black DC power cable, 15 amp 45p/rn We have hundreds of permanent and contract opportunities across the FLEX WEAVE AERIAL WIRE 60p/nn Postage on cables - up to 20m £3. Over 20m £5. UK and Europe. For a fast positive response phone: CONNECTORS ETC Sell Amalgamating Tape...... £4.50 Dipole centre boxei £3 92 Broadway, BRACKNELL, Serb R612 lAR Tel 01344 489489 Fax 01344 489505 4- Dog Bone Insulators 75p Polyprop Egg insulators 60p Greenpar N plugs, 10.3mm £2.80 Greenpar BNC plugs 5mm £1.50 161 Bitterne Road West, SOUTHAMPTON, Hosts 5018 18H Tel 01703 229094 Fax 01703 220326 Greenpar N Plugs, 5mm £2.80 Greenpar N line ski. 10,3mm £2,60 Email: clivedenecliveden.co uk Vacancies: httpibmw.cliveden.co.uk Greenpar N Panel sq skt £2.40 Greenpar PL259, 10.3mm £1.50 Greenpar 5mm PS PL259 £2.50 Greenpar S0239 5mm line ski £2.50 SPECIAL N PLUG tor W103 £5.80 Special PL259 lor W103 £1.50 ADAPTORS BNC/S0239 C'50 PL259/BNC ski £1.60 CLIVEDEN N plug/S0239 £2.50 N PLUG/BNC ski £3.00 BNC plueN Sid £3.00 Pl259 plug/N aid £3.00 Cliveden Recruitment plc Postage on above connectors etc £1 per order. Lots more on our lists 30p stamp for copy. ChequerPOIStamps with order, regretfully we do not take cards. Offices at Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, London W. H. Westlake, Clawton, Holsworthy, Devon, EX22 60N Phone 01409 253758 Fax 01409 253458

Field Head Leconfield Road, Leconfield IAMP Beverley, EYorks 1lUIT TLU Essex Amateur Radio e U K Telephone 01964 550921 Fax 01964 550921 Services ROLL OF HONOUR The little dealer with the big heart EXPLORER 1200 used by GB100F to celebrate the centenary of Marconi's first BUYERS ARE WAITING NOW FOR radio transmission across water. Over 5.000 QS0's in 4 days, 124 DXCC countries. "As it, name implies the hplorrr let us do just that. Laphor YOUR PRE-ENJOYED EQUIPMENT! alter nithout let or hindrance. It was brilliant"... (ibn Jones. Chairman Ban) ARS

HUNTER 750 used by GB500JC * VHF/UHF * in the first ever QS0 with lier Majesty the Queen 'This special event station um sel up to cekhratilohn fgc lbscincry from Bristol to se,fimixii,,nd on Nand * HF Transceivers * 11,c .11anfirn. . RadCom. August 1497 was £1" " 11, d only for Ward Pere' * Station Accessories * . BRIilunceori , NIB 2m DISCOVERY, a contest winner At his first attempt. Tim Booth G4YTD. won the May County Multiplier (single op. 6hri AVOID Part Exchange client Oil using a 2m Discovery and Yaesu FF73b. tEer res le% of heel .1in and he Discover) see Web« M I Êt.39' WE PAY TOP PRICES r sfreciai eeteeteeteue team We pay cash same day or 24 hours by post. - (must end Dec. 31st) Always large stock available. Phone today for the best deals. HUNTER 750 Silent Key sales handled efficiently and personally. i £9 95 with rugged AmpereN 3-500/.0 0 1.iv-j 4 Northern Avenue, Benfleet ‘,2.alve runs a cool 7001V RNIS 0/P Essex SS7 5SN Phone/Fax now for details Telephone 01964 - 550921 01268 752522 or Email: peter(e' linearampuLu-net.com 7 days a week 8am to 8pm

96 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 PROGRAMMED PROMS for PMFi PC SSTV-DATA Tx/Ax pack £29.95 equipment. Details, SAE. Atlanta MISCELLANEOUS PC/AMIGA SSTV/Packet Interfaces. Classified Communications (RC). PO Box 5. SAE leaflets, £1/stamps 1.44 demo. Chatteris, Cambridgeshire PE16 6JT VIDEO TAPE CONVERSIONS to and Peter Lockwood, 36 Davington Road, advertisements ,, modes NTSC, SECAM. PAL Dagenham, RM8 2LR. 0181-5950823. LIMITED SPACE ANTENNA 160-10 (M), PAL (N) also VIDEO 8 NTSC. G4TYF LOG UNLIMITED ENTRIES Classified advertisements 58p per metres se overall with 76' of Digital processing Fast and DXCC Multi OSOs Database power. word (VAT inc.) minimum 14 words balanced feedline £59.95 plus £5.00 economical service. Also cine P&P. Choke Baluns Std model £36.85. Updates £5. SAE for demo - 64 £8.70. conversions. Tel G4WMP 01932 Yagi model £37.45 (state boom size) Gurney Valley, Bishop Auckland DL14 All classified advertisements MUST 846139. G5RV £28.50 all inc P&P. Amidon 8RVV - 01388 607500. be prepaid. Cores, limited stocks available. Send HEATHKIT U.K. DISTRIBUTOR. SUPER-DUPER, EISDI's CONTEST Please write clearly. No responsibility SPARES AND SERVICE CENTRE SAE for full details of all the above. LOGGER. -Highly recommended" - accepted for errors. Latest date for Ferromagnetics. P.O. Box 577, Mold, FOR HEATHKIT AMATEUR RadCom, September 1993. HF acceptance is 1st of issue month. Flintshire. CH7 1AH. EQUIPMENT. Cedar Electronics, 12 £25.00. VHF £25.00. both £39.00. Isbourne Way, Broadway Road, Cheques should be made UK WEATHER FORECASTER. Paul O'Kane El5D1, 36 Coolkill, Winchcombe, Cheltenham, Glos. payable to RSGB. Simple to use. >90% accuracy. Plastic Sandyford, Dublin 18 (00 353 1295 Telephone: (01242) 602402. protected. Only £2.99. Weathervane 3668). www.iolie/-okanep Version Copy and payment to Malcolm (G7IMD). Pentlands. High Street. 9.00 is ready now for the new RSGB PATENTS. TRADE MARKS. Taylor Associates, Ashley Wroot, Doncaster DN9 2BT. District Code multipliers. Clubs - DESIGNS, COPYRIGHT. Ljr Business Centre, Briggs House, please enquire about group "RAYNET" YELLOW REFLECTIVE prolessionai advice contact KINGS registration rates. Ashley Cross, Poole, Dorset TABARDS with "RAYNET". Medium PATENT AGENCY LTD (Est 1886 by AMLOG 3 FOR WINDOWS. What the BH14 OJR Telephone 01202 £11.00, Large £11.50, XLarge £12.00, Benj. T. King), Dir J.B. King (G5TA users say. "Knocks the spots off the 735999 Fax • 01202 735585. "RAYNET CONTROLLER" 50p extra. mem. RSGB) Regd. Patent and Trade opposition." as soon as I saw it EPSON PX4+ lap top computer, built- Mark Agent. Information, fees and running, I was convinced I had to in printer. charger Eprom for packet literature on request. Phone 0171-248 FOR SALE have a copy," "The label print facility 6161. Fax . 0171-831 0926. 73 £46.50 inc. pp. Non reversible battery is superb." "a really nice electronic WEATHER MONITOR, R & D Farringdon Road. London EC1M 3JB. connectors line/panel mounting (10 log." Demo £1.00. Full £24.00 Electronics VVM-BUSTR. Wind pairs/pack) £7.00. Mike Watson (callsign required). Cheques to: E. R. direction and speed, barometer. CO CHRISTIAN AMATEURS! G8CPH. Ipswich (01473) 831448. Gaze. Zentek. 132 Gladstone Street. outside maximum and minimum WACRAL is for you. Regular fellowship Darlington. Durham DL3 6LE. Tel: temperature. rainfall. Complete. QSL CARDS printed to your own over informal nets, activity days. 01325 482344. unused, as new £299. Telephone specification on white or coloured quarterly mag, annual conference. 01227 463576. gloss card. SAE for sample pack to: awards. Info from 51 Alma Road, The Caswell Press, 11 Barons Way. G3LLL FOR ALINCO,YAESU & Brixham. South Devon TO5 80R. Tel Woodhatch, Reigate, Surrey. 01737 01803 854504. ICOM, new and second-hand, sales 244916. HOLIDAY and service. Holdings Amateur TECHNICAL TRANSLATIONS offerec.; Electronics, 45 Johnston St, ALUMINIUM TUBE. Heavy-duty in most European languages by ex- ACCOMMODATION Blackburn BB2 1EF. Tel: 01254 59595. (scaffold) tube approx. dimensions translator to Her Majesty's Stationery FLYING FROM GATWICK? Say at Open normally Thurs.. Fri.. Sat. 20' long, 2" dia. L. " (4.5mm) wall Office. G30EP. OTHR. Ml Looge Guest house. -I minutes Lunch 12-1.30. But phone and check. thickness, 20' and 10' lengths from airport. Transport available. RESTRICTED SPACE AND FULL available @ £1.80 + VAT per h. C.W.0 Telephone (01293) 771170. SIZE MULTIBAND AERIALS, Rusper Hire (Crawley) 01293 87162' COMPUTER SOFTWARE & 28/13211. built, kits. parts. baluns. data office hours only. NORTH WALES. Caravan, bunk sae. Aerial Guide £1.50. G2DYM, HARDWARE house, camping. Elevated site. Use QSL CARDS - low cost, quick Uplowman. Devon EX16 7PH. Tel: of shack and beam antenna. Open delivery, superior designs, quality 01398 361215 anytime INSTRUCTOR MORSE all year. Rural setting. "Tynrhos". guaranteed, personal designs our PROFESSIONAL - ine ultimate Mynytho, Pwllheli. LL53 7PS (01758 DECEMBER 12th-13th, 10.00-16.00 speciality. L.S.A.E. for samples: The Morse Code training package for 740712). CLEARANCE SALE. ELECTRONIC, Standfast Press, 5 South Drive, lnskip. beginners and advanced users (for BED AND BREAKFAST/MEALS. SCIENTIFIC, 29 St. John's Street, Preston PR4 OUT. IBM PCs & Compatibles). As used by Hythe, Southampton. Old equipment. SCOTLAND NORTH COAST. the US Military, Canadian Military and components. computers, parts, ESSEX AMATEUR RADIO SERVICES. GMOEXN QTHR. HF available, the British Military! Price £169.00 + PP Packet/Pactor Tel . 01847 851774 displays, test gear, sig-gens. cables. New and used amateur equipment + VAT - Tel 01526 833042 - connectors, transducers, transformers, bought and sold. PX welcome. All email [email protected] valves, etc. Tel: (01703) 891879. warranted and serviced. 8am till 9pm. E-mail: RFJecompuserve.com. Ring Alan - 01268 752522, 4 Northern SHACKLOG 4.4 the PC logging RSGB AMATEUR RADIO POWABEAM ANTENNAS - NEW Avenue, Benfleet, Essex SS7 7SN. system. Real time and post event INSURANCE SCHEME FROM G4COM Optimised Current G4TJB QSL CARDS printed to your OSO logging. QSL labels. Database Vector Yagis. 2M-1.3WL (6 ELE) analysis, reports, import, packet specification, send large SAE for -ALL RISKS" INSURANCE 12.65dBi. 2M-2.5WL (9 ELE) samples and full product list. Unit 6. terminal. Plus lots more!! Only :ible/mobtle/base station amateur 14.96dBi. 2M-3WL (10 ELE) 15.55dBi, Wade Industrial Centre, Coker Road, £29.50!! SASE (i-disk for demo copy) rac:la and ancillary equipment. A Start £52.95. Leaflets 01288 381289. Wade, Weston-super-Mare BS22 OBX. for full details. IOTA database service for RSGB members only. Also FT-101ZD, fan. FL-2100Z 1Kw, Tel/Fax: (01934) 512757. (G3KMA) £7.50. IOTA Awards public liability and equipment for FC-902. SP-901, FV-901DM. YH-55. Manager £5.00 Alan Jubb, G3PMR, affiliated clubs and societies. Details YD-148. GPA-50 antenna (10-80). CTCSS ENCODERS £20 each, 30 West Street, Gt. Gransden. SANDY. and leaflets from Amateur Radio Custom made cabinet, all manuals, Dencoders £39 each + postage £1.75 SG19 3All. 01767 677913. Insurance Services Ltd. Freepost, 10 (inc vat) CWO MDH radio telephones. mint, complete line-up. £790. GOUYX Philpot Lane, London EC3B 3PA. (Newcastle). 0191-417 4762. Tel/Fax 01646 651599 (GW4CBR The 1997 GOLOV and G4LUE UK Telephone: 0171 338 0111. Fax: 0171 OTHR). Amateur Callbook for IBM 338 0112. EXECUTORO DALE; YAESU FT 102 compatibles, callsign data supplied GW3C01 SKETCHES TO YOUR £265, KW. 103 SWR/PWR £25. KV. by Radiocommunications Agency (E-ZEE) meter £60, 2/3 rotators £50 INSTRUCTIONS FOR QSLS etc OTHR 01758 712675. SAE for samples. April 1997. Specially written database each, 45ft telescopic mast £200. Sell fast searching by Callsign Name COURSES, to best offer. Luton 653784. QSL CARDS. Gloss or Tinted Cards. Address Postcode wildcard. WAB EDUCATIONAL CAST IRON RADIO MAST, SAE for Samples to Tvvrog Press, book numbers facilities include UK approximately 50ft. in 3 sections, Penybont, Gellilydan, Blaenau repeaters nodes mailboxes. European CITY & GUILDS RADIO Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 4EP. good condition. £125 ono. Crawley, repeaters. £12.50 PPI £1.50 J Bailey, AMATEURS EXAM. Pci:is your 01293 510000/512298. USED AMATEUR EQUIPMENT? 8 Hild Avenue. Cudworth. Barnsley • :asy way with an RAC LANDWEHR VHF/UHF MASTHEAD Buying or selling? See you at S72 8RN. pulp., study course. For details write 'www.hamradio-mart.co.uk'. Cheap or phone THE RAPID RESULTS PREAMPLIFIERS 2 metre 145MAS G4UXD's 'UK-0SO' MORSE TUTOR- £150 and 70cm 435MA £155 plus rates! No internet access? SAE: COLLEGE. Dept. JT400, Tuition PRACTISE DOES EVERYTHING! G4TNY, 41 Onslow Crescent, House. London SW19 4DS. Tel: £4.50 p&p. Write, phone. fax or e mail Reviewed Feb/94/95 'Novice News'. for leaflet. Oualitas Radio. 23 Dark Colchester, Essex CO2 SUN. 0181 947 2211 PC-compats. Everything adjustable. Lane, Hollywood. Birmingham, B47 GWM RADIO LTD, 40/42 Portland 150 tests! Teaches correct keying! 5BS. Note New Telephone numbers. Note carefully: Members' Rd., Worthing. Sussex BN11 10W. £10-99. SAE details. P. Brandon. 1 0121 246 7267. Fax 0121 246 7268. Surplus and Fe etc. SAE for list. Tel: Woodlands Rd., Chester CH4 8L13, Ads must be sent to E-mail gOeyogecompuserve.com 01903 234897 Fax 239050. 01244-683563. Members' Ads, RSGB HQ.

o c 1.:N1 MASSIVE 3 DAY SALE t 29,30,31 [«eilM: ER jt‘ NEWFLASS AT THE SHOP

RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 97 PW PUBLISHING LTD W ANTED PRESENTS DE AD OR ALIVE (preferably alive)

A further engineer is required to join the busy repair workshop of Martin Lynch & Son. If you experienced with an in-depth knowledge of modern electronic technology (Digital and RF) then Ibta5 for call today. • Excellent salary • Health Cover • Productivity bonus

Contact: Oriema5 Jennifer Lynch Personnel Department Martin Lynch 8d Son Telephone 0181 5661120 FREE diary with every subscription Advertisers index AKD 60 Quartslab Marketing Ltd. 77 Applied Tecnologies & Mi 42 R & D Electronics 77 C. M. Howes Communications 10 R & N Electronics 37 Cliveden Recruitment plc 96 Radio Amateur Supplies 37 Cushcroft Corporation 12 Radio Sport 42,43 Essex Amateur Radio Services96 Shanvard Promotions 76 FBS Ltd 48 SMC 18,19 G4ZPY Paddle Keys 48 SRP Trading 10 Hands Electronics 48 Sussex Surplus 53 Hately Antenna Technology 73 Tandy 25 Haydon Communications 65,66,67 TDC 15 ICOM (UK) Ltd IBC QRP Component Company 39 IFW Technical Services 48 Venus Electronics Ltd 39 J. Birkett 73 Vine Antenna Products 76 Kenwood Electronics IFC W. H. Westlake 96 Luke Electronics 76 WACRAL 76 Linear Amp UK Ltd 96 Walford Electronics 48 Lowe Electronics 6,7 Waters & Stanton Electronics Martin Lynch & Son 4,49,50,51,97 26,27,74,75 Nevado Communications 14,15,82,83 Western Electronics 48 PW Publishing 98 Wilson Valves 76 QSL Communications 5 Yoesu (UK) Ltd. OBC SUBS RATES (1 YEAR): PW SW M NEXT ADVERTISEMENT COPY DATE The display advertisement copy date for our JANUARY £25 £30 (UK) 1998 issue is: £30 £35 (Europe 1st Class) 4th November 1997 £32 £38 (Rest of World Airsaver) Advertisers, please note that the address for copy and £37 £45 (Rest of World Airmail) enquiries (except Members' Ads) is: Malcolm Taylor Associates Ashley Business Centre, Briggs House, Poole Dorset BH14 OJR PW Publishing Ltd. Telephone + 44 1202 735999 Fax + 44 1202 735585 Email: [email protected] Arrowsmith Court, Station Approach Web site: http://www.mta.mcmail.com Broadstone, Dorset BH18 8PW USA Advertisers can contact us at: Tel: (01202) 659930 Malcolm Taylor Associates 11 Quaker Road, Nashua, N.H 03063 FAX: (01202) 659950 quoting R11. Telephone/Fax (603) 889 3519

98 RADIO COMMUNICATION November 1997 ICOM

D ° " I L t ef r i V a le ° L a t e

1 1 1 1 theThink n aof d a d 6d u M al-ba n d a nm d ore... er

ICOM's great new handheld the IC-T8E is a tri-band

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Fe atures Inclu d e..

25kHz/12.5kHz SW1TCHABILITY • 3 BANDS • TRI -BAND

SWITCHING • SPLASH RESISTANCE • WFM Rx CAPABILITY •

Ni-MH BATTERY PACK • 2 POWER LEVELS • TONE-SQUELCH •

POCKET BEEP • SIMPLE OPERATION • AUTO-SQUELCH •

ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED VOLUME • DIRECT KEYPAD

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Icom (UK) Ltd. Sea Street Herne Bay Kent CT6 8LD. Telephone: 01227 741741. Fax: 01227 741742. INTERNET: http://www.icomuk.co.uk E-MAIL: [email protected]

Count on us! "The VX-1R is VHF UHF AM, FM, smaller than most Air Band. Police.Fire-- pagers!" TV" too? Wow" VX-1 Ultra-Compact "Over 19 hours' of -Looks like Yaesu Dual-Band Handheld use from the rechargable lithium - did it again!" ion battery!" The world's smallest HT with all the high-tech features you'd want in the world!

The ultra-compact size of the % Cell/ER

VX-1R Dual-Band is the first thing IR • OW MHz • you notice as you cradle it in your palm. But the high-tech features make this radio one you must have now! Simple combinations, using seven buttons and one knob, control this marvel of engineering. One soft key touch and wide receive VHF/UHF 76-999 MHz Rx; 144-146,430-440 MHz Tx, or AM/FM Broadcast, Airband or other public services - even TV, spring to life! Touch again for Yaesu-exclusives, SmartSearchTm ea ures and ARTSTm, or Priority Channel *Frequency Coverage Alarm. Built-in CTCSS and DCS Wide Multi-Band Receive RX: 76-999 MHz— Encode/Decode for 2m/440 amateur TX:144-146. 430-440 MHz bands, CTCSS/DCS Tone Search, •AM/FM ,TV Broadcast Receive and Dual Watch, are included along 'AM Aircraft/Public Safety Receive with 291 Memory Channels in 9 °CTCSS Encode/Decode banks with 500 mW power output. °DCS Encode/Decode °CTCSS/DCS Tone Search Backlit LCD Display shows 'Dual Watch 6-character alphanumeric capability; .SmartSearchTM backlit keypad makes operation *Auto Range Transpond Systemn" (ARTSul easy in dim light. And, although the 'Priority Channel Alarm VX-1R is the world's smallest dual- °ADMS-1D WindowsTM Programmable band HT, you get over 19 hours* of °1 Watt External Power Supply use with just a 1 hour recharge from °80 Minute Rapid Charger its long-lasting lithium ion battery! 'Flexible Antenna. Belt Clip. Hand Strap Y A E S Big features, small size--the most ••Cellular blocked ...leading the way.sm satisfying combination in the world! *Battery Life: 5-5-90 duty cycle. http://www.yaesu.co.uk

Specifications subject to change without notice. Specifications guaranteed only within amateur bands. Some accessories and/or options are standard in certain areas. Check with your local Yaesu dealer for specific details.

YAESU UK LTD. Unit 2, Maple Grove Business Centre, Lawrence, Rd., Hounslow, Middlesex, TW4 6DR, U.K. 0181-814-2001