1. Editorial.

Many of you will be aware that we have had considerable difficulty in the past year in obtaining suitable speakers for our regular ‘first Wednesday’ (now changed to ‘First Thursday’) meetings. You will see below that for the first part of 2000 we do have a number of excellent topics on the agenda; I would like to suggest that ALL members should consider the possibility of speaking to the club for a meeting, or part of a meeting, on a subject of their choice – not necessarily radio related – representing their own particular interests. I have always been amazed at the wide range of other interests followed by radio amateurs. Why not share some of your enthusiasms with the rest of us.

I’m volunteering to set the ball rolling with ‘The Love of Trams’ or ‘Under the Wires’ (date to be decided); who’ll add to the list? Maybe Ant could do something on ‘Canals for Everyone’ and perhaps we could persuade the local archaeological society to address us of the ‘Industrial Archaeology of North West Shropshire area’. (I just read a fascinating book about the Gresford colliery disaster in 1934 – not quite Shropshire, but nearby). How many would be interested in a day out/picnic to one of the narrow gauge railways in North West Wales (the Tal-y-llyn, Ffestiniog or Welsh Highland), or even a trip up Snowdon on the rack railway? Or up the Great Orme on the cable cars – which brings us back to trams!

The need to attract new blood into the hobby of Amateur Radio is an ongoing problem. You might like to know that I’ve been investigating the possibility of the club running a novice training course locally. The RSGB does seem to have imposed a great deal of bureaucracy on the process as we are relatively remote from main centres of population, but I’m hopeful of being able to do something to encourage prospective amateurs, members and others.

Finally, you will be aware of the recent relaxation in the morse code requirement for access to the HF bands. If any of our class ‘B’s would like to achieve their G5.. status (by passing the 5 wpm test) I’m sure we could arrange some training (on and/or off air) and loads of encouragement!

73

Terry S.

2. Rolling Programme:

Note that we've now changed to 1st and 3rd Thursday evenings, which avoids the Wednesday evening congestion. It should also gain the attendance of two more members, hopefully without losing one!

Year 2000

3. Equipment

From a number of sources the club has acquired various items to dispose of to members (or retain for its own use), to the extent that the time has come for a ‘Surplus Equipment’ sale. We have already numerous boxes from the late Ken Wyatt’s (G6ICX) garage clear-out containing lots of components (including several chunky looking transformers), books and magazines. We also have a wide range of components donated by a former audio engineer (not all audio related). So, why not delve into the innermost recesses of your shacks, attics, garages, garden sheds etc. and turf out that radio equipment you know you’ll never use or need again; let someone else provide storage for it for the next few years.

Now, being realistic, I don’t see that we can use the Sweeney for this, so any suggestions for a venue? The sooner the better, I think, as my garage (and Ant’s) are cluttered enough already!

There are still a number of items for disposal on behalf of the late Ken Wyatt (G6ICX) of Baschurch available, viz:

Also, Ant was approached recently by M1CZW, Derek, in Oswestry who asked us to advertise that he has a quantity of junk-box items, which Ant said we'd be in touch about when we have a sale. Also he wants to sell the following three items of equipment:

Telstar KH6 6m handheld with case, £37.50
Alnico DJS11 2m handheld with case, £37.50
Nevada MS1000 mobile/base scanner, am/fm, £100
(500KHz-600MHz & 800-1300 MHz )

All believed to be in ‘as new’ condition.

More hardware! Stan (G1MAB) has been given a number of keys etc. by David Hardy (ex G8AJA). Stan writes:

‘They were given with no strings attached and he just asked that I should try and find them a good home. I told him that I would probably give them to the club and he was quite happy with this. Details are as follows:

1. HAM KEY MkI made by the Ham Key Co of St Louis. A double paddle.

2. The Ultimate Iambic Paddle BY1 made by Bencher Inc Chicago.

3. Himound Straight Key HK 707 Tokyo.

4. Datong Morse Tutor. No batteries but tested OK.

‘I showed them to Bill G2FDF and he was quite impressed and thought they might be worth a pound or two. They are of no use to me so I happily donate them to the club and hope you can dispose of them and perhaps get donations to the club funds.’

Any offers?

While on the subject of equipment, the club still has various antennas, masts, cables etc. available for loan to members, together with the following acquired from G6ICX for the club:

Black Star Meteor Digital Frequency Counter to 600MHz with manual (in need of some TLC),

Marchwood 30A HD PSU with documentation (home brew) – heavy.

Marconi AM/FM Signal Generator TF9925 27-216 MHz.

I also have some 4m PMR transceivers for disposal on behalf of SPUG (Salop Packet Users Group); details from me, or on the SPUG web site www.spug.freeuk.com.

Just for the record – all ‘for sale’ items offered in good faith and subject to availability, but no warranty of any kind on behalf of the club or the undersigned!

Incidentally, Ant is still on the lookout for a number of scaffold poles and suitable fixings (for antenna purposes); if you have anything spare, or know a good reasonable priced source, please contact Ant (01691 860545).

4. Contest News

Our 1999 VHF NFD performance has earned us another certificate as ‘…the leading entry from Wales on 144 MHz in the Low Power section of VHF NFD 1999’. Thanks to all concerned. Unfortunately RSGB omitted half the station operators from the citation, so I’m returning the certificates for reissue.

5. DX news.

Those of you who know Tony White (G4IOQ) of Trefonen will be interested to know he is now operational from Barbados as 8P9HW. Pat has spoken to him by telephone. Pending the erection of beams etc. he is listening out on 80m around 23:00 UTC most nights.

6. Packet news.

Packet users might already know that Malcolm, the SYSOP of GB7WXM has decided to pull the big switch permanently. This means that those who used his station as their main BBS have to seek an alternative – I guess GB7PMB at Minsterley is most likely to meet the need. However Don Goddard (G3UQH) the SYSOP is having difficulty maintaining reliable external links having lost not only GB7WXM but also GB7DEE and others and is relying at present on modem links for most mail transfers.

If any packet enthusiasts in the club feel they might be interested in helping by providing suitable links then any such offers would be gratefully received (via me, please).

7. Club Annual General Meeting (AGM).

This will take place on Thursday 16 March 2000 at the Sweeney. The formal notice of this will follow shortly. In the meantime the committee is suggesting a number of alterations to the constitution to take account of the present size of our paid up membership and ever changing circumstances. Technically, alterations to the constitution can only be made at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), but this can be scheduled to take place just before the AGM.

Many of you will be aware that this has been a difficult year financially. As a consequence we have found it necessary to recommend a modest increase in the annual subscription for the year 2000 to £7.50 (seven pounds fifty). Although it was before my time as a member of the club I understand this is still less that it was before the reduction in subscription several years ago. The treasurer and I would like to encourage everyone to pay their subscriptions for 2000 as soon as possible.

8. Web Sites and the Internet

I’m still working on the club web site at

www.qsl.net/odarc

Packet users might also be interested in looking at

www.spug.freeuk.com

There is also my personal site at www.qsl.net/g3nss (in its very early stages).

If you have a personal web site, or would like to recommend any other that might be of interest to members, please let me know and I'll include a link or reference to it on the club site.

As most members now have Email addresses, I must admit that I have taken to distributing meeting reminders etc. by this method, but I do try to ensure those without Email are not overlooked. Please ensure that if you change your Email address (typically by moving to a different ISP) you let the secretary know. If you are NOT an Email user but would like to be, then we have sources enabling this to be set up at very modest cost and a whole host of people willing to lend a hand.

Hope I haven’t forgotten anything. Good wishes to all.

Terry S. (G3NSS)

Chairman ODARC

Ruyton of the Eleven Towns, Shropshire.

Packet: G3NSS@GB7PMB

Club Email: [email protected]