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Diary of Events
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THE
WAY IT ALL HAPPENED !
SEPTEMBER 1999
Grant aid of �7,000 confirmed
Lord Rix G2DQU confirmed as guest of honour at M2000A launch on 31st December 1999
Icom UK confirmed as major sponsors to M2000A
South Midlands Communications confirmed as major antenna suppliers to M2000A
FDS Graphics Ltd confirmed as QSL card suppliers to M2000A
CompuData UK confirmed as computer hardware supplier to M2000A
OCTOBER 1999
Greenwich Council grant planning permission for 3 towers granted by Greenwich Council
Meeting with Greenwich Council Leader
LBC radio interview
RSGB Presidents G4JKS (1999) and G3OZF (2000) confirm they will be present at M2000A launch
M2000A presence at RSGB HF & IOTA Convention
NOVEMBER 1999
Strumech Versatower confirm provision of one M80 tower
Mayor of Greenwich confirms his attendance at M2000A launch
South Midlands Communications confirm provision of further M80 tower
Guilbert Furniture confirmed as suppliers of M2000A furniture
Display Colour confirmed as suppliers of M2000A exhibition display material
1st M2000A contact to be with ZL6A in Wellington, New Zealand
DECEMBER 1999
M2000A operating awards launched (full details on this website)
Nevada Communications sponsorship confirmed
Financial support from RSGB confirmed
Greenwich (M2000A) - Tema, Ghana (9G0ARS) sked confirmed - both on "0"
Meridian
G3VHB confirmed as provider of 3rd M80 tower
10 Greenwich schools confirmed as visiting M2000A
M2000A insurance cover confirmed
QTH for M2000A operation featured on front cover of "Radio Communication"
Mobile towers (2 at 70ft, 1 at 40ft) erected supporting antennas for all bands from 3.5 to144MHz
Meeting with Mayor of Greenwich
21st December 1999: With a lot of hard work from the team and generous
help from various companies including Bronzeshield Lifting Ltd. The
antennas and towers were erected. See the pictures page for shots of these impressive
arrays. M2000A is using 3 M80 mobile towers courtesy of South Midlands
Communications (SMC), Strumech Versatower and Chris Swallow G3VHB.
Antennas are Hygain TH5; Cushcraft A3WS (with 10MHz extension); Create AFA40 (2 element
7MHz) beam; 3 element Create monobander for 28MHz; 4 element Create monobander for 21MHz;
3.5MHz Dipole; 11 element QTEK 144MHz yagi; and a 5 element QTEK 50MHz yagi.
23rd December 1999: Internal exhibition display started
25th December 1999: M2000A team enjoyed quiet
Chrismas Day with their families!
28th/29th/30th December 1999: Internal exhibition display completed.
5 complete stations (3 x HF, 2 x VHF) assembled. M2000A is using all Icom UK transmitting equipment,
including IC-756PRO, IC-746 and IC-775DSP transceivers. TV crew filmed part of
station assembly and interviewed Dave Lawley G4BUO and Bob Treacher
(Project Organiser).
31st December 1999: Official M2000A launch.
Lord
Rix G2DQU opened event. Mayor of Greenwich and RSGB Presidents also
present. Champagne reception. Celebration M2000A cake cut.
First QSO is with ZL6A in Wellington, New Zealand as ZL enters the
new Millennium. Other Millennium QSOs with 9G0ARS, HS2000, 9H2000, JA1RL/1,
W1K, W2M, K3Y, WY2000, 8J1RL, ER2000A, YR2000, DK2000, ER2000L, ZM4IR and others.
M2000A open to the public briefly. 3,443 QSOs in first 24
hours.
5th January 2000: RSGB Bookstall open offering discounted titles to RSGB
members. Howes M2000 20m receiver kit on sale to tempt newcomers to
become interested in amateur radio.
7th January 2000: First school visit. 24 pupils (aged 7 and 8) visited
the station. Several exchanged Greetings Message with station in Adelaide, Australia
(VK5).
9th January 2000: M2000A active in RSGB AFS CW contest -
over 220 QSOs made in 4 hours on 3.5MHz CW using only 200w to dipole. QSO total in
22 hours over weekend of 8/9 January was 2,915.
10th January 2000: 10,000 QSO target passed.
14th January 2000: Over 100 school children have now visited M2000A.
Highlight today was the exchanging of Greeting Messages with Jeff, 9H1EL,
in Malta.
15th/16th January 2000: QSO total over 22 hour period this weekend was
2,925. 128 DXCC entities now worked. 37 Cray Valley RS (CVRS) members have now
operated the M2000A station.
18th January 2000: 15,000 QSO target passed.
20th January 2000: Cray Valley Radio Society meeting held at M2000A.
25 members present.
22nd January 2000: The Mayor of Greenwich visited M2000A
and passed Greetings messages to two
amateurs in the USA.
26th January 2000: 20,000 QSO target passed.
29th January 2000: M2000A has now worked over 150 DXCC
entities and has achieved WAS and WAZ -
all in 240 hours of operation!
30th January 2000: Dave, K2SIX, visited M2000A
and had successful few hours operating on 50MHz, including our first Es QSO - to Italy.
1st February 2000: 24,000 QSOs made in 263 hours of operation from
31st December - an average of 90 QSOs per hour.
9th February 2000: 11th school visit. Local European Member of
Parliament visited M2000A
11th February 2000: QSO No. 30,000 made at 0900z. Gordon Primary
School visited - all 33 children passed Greetings messages.
15th Febrauary 2000: M2000A team organised
"Supporters' Afternoon Buffet" to thank all supporters for their support.
16th February 2000: 35,000 QSO barrier broken. 1,000 QSOs today - first
weekday this has been achieved. 182 DXCC entities now worked.
18th February: Last school visit.
19/20th February: M2000A entering ARRL CW contest
as Multi-Single entry.
24th February: Visit by Charlton Athletic Football Club.
25th February: Visit by Icom UK and the Radio Society of
Great Britain.
27th February: Last Public Open Day
29th February: Las day of M2000A operation.
6th March: Mayoral reception at Greenwich Town Hall for M2000A
team.
June: QSL cards now available.
June: Video now available at �10 or $15. UK: Paul
G3SXE 24 Furze Road, High Salvington, Worthing BN13 3BH. USA: NTSC version
from Debra N6MQQ
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