Also in GB2RS this week…

Logbook of the World is now accepting FT4 contacts. The latest TQSL update, released on 22 May 2019, includes FT4 as a sub-mode of MFSK. It also adds AISAT-1 and PO-101 in the satellite category. As of 23 May 2019, over one thousand million contact records have been entered into the system, resulting in 200 million contact confirmations. Logbook of The World has 118,328 users.

Now some advanced warning about restricted access to the RSGB National Radio Centre (NRC) at Bletchley Park. On Thursday, 6 June 2019 the NRC will be running a special event station GB2DAY to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day. On that day, access for visiting radio amateurs wishing to operate the station GB3RS will be limited.

Thursday, 6 June 2019 is the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. HMS Belfast was the flagship for the flotilla supporting the British and Canadian troops at Gold and Juno beaches. Commemorating this important event, the radio station in the Bridge Wireless Office aboard the preserved cruiser will use the special call sign GB75DDAY throughout June, manned by members of RNARS (affiliated) London Group and Imperial War Museum volunteers—see gb2rn.org.uk for more details.

GB2ORM will be on the air from 7 to 9 June 2019 commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day landings from The Great Orme, Llandudno. This location played a vital role in WWII with its gunnery school positions, RAF radar station and, of course the famous Mulberry Harbour construction site. North Wales RS and Dragon ARC will be operating the station. A small party of Air Cadets, Army Cadets and Sea Cadets will also be involved.

To commemorate the work of the many D-Day signallers who were responsible for maintaining essential wireless communications during the Normandy landings, members of VMARS, the Vintage and Military Amateur Radio Society, are co-ordinating wireless nets of equipment types that were in use on that historic day. Those already planning to take part in the nets include portable stations being established at British Gold King Red Beach and near to the Bénouville bascule bridge on the Caen Canal, better known today as Pegasus Bridge. In the UK will be stations operating from a former navigation station at Beachy Head and from Windy Ridge, the site of the WWII transmitting station at Whaddon Hall in Buckinghamshire. The 75th Anniversary nets will be established from early in the morning of 6 June 2019 on 3615kHz AM. Communications will take place throughout the entire day. The net is open to all licenced amateurs who can operate using AM equipment of any vintage, but it is hoped that vintage military equipment will be used wherever possible. All amateur radio stations are invited to join in on the AM and FM nets on 6 June to celebrate and honour the work of the D-Day signallers, many of whom were targeted by enemy snipers attempting to disrupt the wireless communications of the invasion troops.

Category: GB2RS Headlines