Bob G7AVU will be giving a talk on the Lincoln Repeaters on the 27th March starting at 8pm in the Village Hall, Aisthorpe. Whether you use the repeaters or not please come along as issues such as ongoing abuse and poor operating will be discussed along with other repeater related topics. This will be a chance to have your say and show your support for the work of the Lincoln repeater group.
For the second year in a row we had a tie for Chairman so Steve M5ZZZ and Roger G3PVU agreed to take on the job between them; Steve will serve for the first half and Roger the second. No nominations were received for the position of Activity Officer but since the AGM Andy G0FVI has been co-opted onto the Committee as our Activity Officer.
Officers
Chairman 50/50 Steve M5ZZZ and Roger G3PVU
Secretary Pam G4STO
Treasurer Stephen M5SJM
Activity Officer Andy G0FVI
Ordinary Members
Adrian M0NWK
Alistair 2E0TEF
Ian G4EVK
Les G1LQB
Peter 2E0FGA
Members of the club at their Christmas Dinner which was held at the Fox and Hounds in Willingham by Stow.
A few members of the club taking part in a ‘Pub’ Quiz organised by Steve M5ZZZ; we stopped at half time for a few refreshments.
On the 28th November we were treated to a talk on Amateur Satellites by Stephen 2E0SSM. He started by talking about the different types of orbits in use by all satellites and then moved onto the more specific orbits and the various types of satellite that amateur radio uses. A look at antenna’s and the effects of doppler shift leading to the need to correct frequencies followed. Stephen also gave information on which frequencies to listen on and some very useful websites for those of us who wanted to try it out for ourselves.
The talk was very well received and Stephen gave a demonstration after the talk using the equipment in the club radio shack.
Mary G6SWZ
Photo Alistair M0TEF
Wednesday 21st saw the LSWC hold their annual Construction Contest for the Joe Rose Memorial Trophy. Last year saw us two different versions of ATV transmitter. One being for home use including a partly assembled water cooled power amplifier (For an update see below) built by Adrian M0NWK. The second, and also the winner for last year, being a fully portable transceiver in a case built by Jason G7KWP.
This year Started off with a similar theme. Adrian M0NWK, started off by showing us his Arduino powered controller for a comtech 23cm ATV transmitter.
This was achieved by removing the dip switches from the transmitter and replacing them with a SSR (Solid State Relay) board. These relays are then controlled by the Arduino which also shows the selected frequency on the front LCD.
Adrian also showed us the completed Water Cooled Power Amplifier which was shown the previous year. Also shown was an Arduino controlled Temperature monitor.
Next up was Andy G0FVI. Who has constructed an 80m CW receiver which will eventually become a transceiver in time. By choosing an IF of around 10.695 this allowed him to use bits from numerous scrap 11m radios he had laying around.
All stages were built and tested using a sig gen/scope etc. before being connected. Great care was taken with the construction of the VFO, whose spectral purity I was finally able to look at using an SDRplay RSP1A and a beta release spectrum analyser app.
Controls are IF (RF) gain, volume, RIT, AGC fast/slow and VFO.
When I complete this I will add a prefabricated board for PA and some TX/RX switching (should just about fit). I will sample VFO and mix with TX XTAL oscillator, add some filtering and off to PA. Might be an idea to have a go at matching XTAL filter in the receiver too.
Next up was David G6MAF. Who had constructed a RF tap, or signal monitor which covered 2-30MHz. A device like this is very useful for monitoring your own transmissions by connecting straight into the feed line. With 50 ohms through to the antenna from the transmitter, a second output is taken and attenuated for feeding into a device such as a spectrum analyser etc…
For the final item we made full circle as Bob, G4PDF, showed off his portable 5GHz ATV Transceiver. The equipment was all installed in a box which was mounted to the back of the dish which was then fixed to a tri-pod. The transceiver included a screen overlay showing his Callsign and also converted a received GPS signal into a locator which is also displayed.
It was at this point after all had builds had been shown that contestants left the room for the remaining to vote on who’s they thought was the best. After discussions about complexity, imagination, modules or scratch built & uniqueness, the vote was in.
The contestants were called back in and the Winner was…… Bob G4PDF, with his 5GHz ATV.
The trophy will be awarded at the clubs AGM.
LSWCs ever popular Surplus Equipment Sale took place on Wednesday 31st October in the Village Hall at Aisthorpe when regular attendees from the East Riding of Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and, of course, Lincolnshire were able to off load their surplus equipment and pick up a few bargains. The date of our next sale is 24th April 2019.
A couple of the lots
Our visitors (and some members)
Record numbers attended this year’s National Hamfest which was held on the 28th and 29th September. The George Stephenson Hall was filled with traders from around the UK and Europe together with Clubs and Special Interest Groups and RSGB Books and RSGB Committees. There was a large flea market area and outside traders together with the Bring and Buy marquee and Camb Hams with Flossie running GB18NH.
Below are a few photos to remind you of this year’s Hamfest or to show you what you missed.
LSWC was once again at the FirPark Wings & Wheels event. The Club was there from Friday afternoon through to Monday evening of the August Bank holiday weekend.
Friday afternoon Les G1LQB, Peter 2E0FGA, Stephen 2E0SSM, Steve M5ZZZ set off for FirPark from their various starting locations. Les arrived first and started setting up and putting the masts up, the great thing about the masts we use are that they are designed to be erected by one person.
In addition to previous years Steve brought down his 2m / 70cm beam and along with Les’s special rotator, aquired at a previous FirPark event, we had 2m / 70cm SSB available using the icom ic-910. We also had the usual fan dipoles covering all of the HF bands and Les’s X30 collinear for 2m / 70cm FM.
By Night fall on the Friday the antennas were ready to lifted into position in the morning for operation to begin.
Saturday morning saw the antennas raised into position and operating began.
Image thanks to Les G1LQB
Image thanks to Les G1LQB
Some contacts were made using various modes, Including CW, FM, Via Satellites and SSB on HF and 2m. One of which being an SSB contact to America. We were also joined by Mick, M6OYP and his dog for the morning.
2E0SSM working satellites. Image thanks to Les G1LQB
Pam G4STO also joined us and brought with her the usual sausages and burgers, although an unfortunate dog incident occurred with the burgers, and cooked us a late breakfast and then some lunch. We were also joined by Barry G4DBS who spent some time on the radio.
During the day we had a number of people come and speak to us with a couple taking away Foundation books and some magazines. We hope we will hear from them again to do there Foundation licence.
As the day come to an end Les, Stephen and Peter were left to camp over and were treated to a nice sunset.
After a chilly night the three campers arose on Sunday morning ready for another day.
Sunday we were joined by Tom G4OSB, who took up the key on HF making a few contacts in the morning. By 11am though the weather had turned and the rain began to fall. The public had left and some stall holders had packed up and headed for somewhere warmer. Les, Stephen, Peter, Steve and Tom braved the weather before Tom and Peter had to depart leaving just three to continue. Band conditions started to improve with some good contacts made two of which to other special even stations in other parts of Europe.
Soon Monday arrived and reading a post on the internet Stephen read that the digipeater on the ISS was surprisingly back up and running. So to see if this was true he got out his Tape measure Yagi and hooked it up to his handheld radio. Using the built in TNC / APRS he transmitted the packets not expecting to get a reply.
2E0SSM working the ISS with APPRS. Images thanks to Les G1LQB
2E0SSM working the ISS with APPRS. Images thanks to Les G1LQB
After just his second transmission he got a reply back acknowledging his message and once the pass had finished he checked the received calls log on the internet and was delighted to see his callsign listed.
As the day went on we were joined for a brief period by Roger G3PVU & Jackie. Conditions on the bands were still quiet with mainly UK stations on 80m with one or two further afield on 40m. With the weather being better the other stall holders returned and so did the public. More people come to ask questions and see what was involved. As the winds picked up it was soon just Stephen, Les and Steve remaining but when Steve had to head off for other reasons Les and Stephen decided it was time to pack up and head home.
The LSWC will be back at FirPark with some potential improvements to the station there being worked on next year.
After the excitement of our aborted foundation exam on the 28th July everything went almost smoothly this morning; the taxi didn’t turn up for Lyon and Liz and they had to get a lift from a neighbour, they arrived at the village hall at 11 minutes to 10 with the exam starting at 10!!
The village hall set out exactly as I had indicated on the exam layout – plenty of room between candidates. Thanks Peter, Les and David, supervised by Celia; if I’ve missed anyone sorry.
The successful candidates; back row l to r Andy, David and Mick, front Lyon.