Also in GB2RS this week…

| December 22, 2017

Newton-le-Willows ARC will be hosting a Train The Trainers event on Saturday, 3 March 2018 at Derbyshire Hill Family and Community Centre, Derbyshire Hill Rd, Parr, St Helens WA9 2LU. Places are strictly limited, so early booking is advised. Tea and coffee will be provided, though you will need to provide your own lunch. The event is free to RSGB Members, although the club would appreciate any donation, no matter how small, to go towards the refreshments and venue hire, etc. For more information please contact Lee, M0LGL on 0741 483 6945, after 3.30pm please.

There have been some recent updates to the RSGB’s Award Scheme including the acceptance of Log Book of the World confirmations as well as traditional QSL cards. Two new awards for Foundation and Intermediate licensees encourage greater activity on the bands within the first year of gaining those licence levels. Two other awards, the IARU R1 Award and the Commonwealth Century Award, encourage contacts with countries around the world. If you’re inspired to aim for an award in 2018 you’ll find more information on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/awards.

The Radio Amateur Old Timers’ Association is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee in 2018. To commemorate this, they will be running a tiered Diamond Jubilee award throughout the year. Details will be on the Association website at www.raota.org.

The RSGB was proud to host Youngsters on the Air 2017 and is celebrating both that international event and YOTA month by releasing its final YOTA video. It is an overview of the fabulous range of amateur radio activities, achievements and events enjoyed by the 80 youngsters from 27 different countries who came to Gilwell Park in August.

ARI, the Italian Amateur Radio Association, has organised an award to commemorate great scientists. It recognises those who made a contribution to the advancement of knowledge in physics and similar disciplines that led to the development of radio. Throughout the year 12 different stations will be on the air. In January it is II4MXW, to commemorate the work of James Clerk Maxwell.

The annual KW Days take place on 6 and 7 January 2018. The KW Company was founded on 5 January 1953 by the late Roly Shears, G8KW. Last year there were 50-plus KW stations on the air. The KW Yahoo group would love to hear from clubs planning similar activities in other regions of the UK and from those overseas. Daytime SSB activity centres will be on 7.177MHz or 3.777MHz and 14.277MHz as conditions permit. Operators are encouraged to use KW gear on other bands, so if you hear some AM on 1.977MHz or MCW operating on 160 or 80 metres at night, don’t be surprised. AM and CW activity will be on the VMARS net channels—see www.vmars.org.uk.

The ARRL has announced that Maxim Memorial Station W1AW will start scheduled transmissions on 6m beginning on 2 January 2018. Transmissions on 50.350MHz will become a part of W1AW’s regular CW practice, and CW, digital and phone bulletin transmission schedule, starting with the 1400UTC fast code practice on the 2nd.

AMSAT-UK is holding a second annual CW Activity Day. It will be held from 0001 to 2359UTC on 1 January 2018. This year’s event is dedicated to the memory of Pat Gowen, G3IOR. The rules are very simple: there aren’t any. Just operate CW through any amateur radio satellite. Straight keys and bugs are encouraged, but not required. The important thing is to get on the air and have fun.

Category: GB2RS Headlines