Tonight Dave gave a very interesting talk on contesting using digital modes with the N1MM Contest logger. For all those that are interested in using digital modes and the N1mm Loggers Software you may find the link here.
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February 2012 will see the establishment of a Morse Training Group within Lincoln Short Wave Club. The purpose of this group will be to teach Morse Code to new learners and also to help others increase their own Morse Proficiency. The standard software being used with the group for training purposes is MRX Morse Code which has been made possible by the kind help of the developer John Samin VK1EME who’s software is being used by various armed services around the world including our own military. MRX Morse Code is shareware and is available as a free download from John’s website, being shareware some parts of the software are disabled after 30 days, but you are still able to use the important training parts of the software. The Morse Training Group is also looking for Mentors for the students, so if you are an experienced Morse operator then your help would be appreciated. If you would like learn Morse or to improve your own proficiency, then contact the Morse Training Group please use the online contact form. During the AGM held on the 11th January the following members of the club were elected to serve on the Lincoln Short Wave Club committee.
New members of the club committee are
The new committee hope that they can serve the club to the best of their abilities and for the club to have another successful year. If you want to contact any members of the committee, you can use the online contact form. Club members enjoyed a workshop with sound guru Bob Heil (K9EID) at their meeting on Wednesday 14 December. However Bob was not in UK and conducted the workshop from his sound lab in Illinois, USA. Club member Clive Catton (G1BSN) and his company Octagon Technology made the link possible using Skype. Bob attended the National Hamfest, hosted by LSWC in conjunction with the RSGB, with his UK agents Waters and Stanton. His workshops were attended by many visitors to the show and proved a great success. ‘Unfortunately, club members were unable to attend the workshops as they all had work to do keeping the National Hamfest running,’ said Club Chairman, Chris Jones (G0PIO). ‘When Bob became aware of this he offered to present a special workshop for us via Skype.’
Bob was able to demonstrate his philosophy of microphone design and how ham radio had led to his work with some of the most influential rock bands of the late sixties and seventies. His best buddy Joe Walsh (WB6ACU) of the Eagles encouraged Bob to make better microphones for not only ham radio but for recording artists and broadcasters.  Joe and Bob (Photo Heilsound)
Bob’s microphones are used by international stars all over the world. Stevie Wonder’s band uses them. In the UK pop sensation Jessie J is a fan of Heil Microphones. Joe Walsh uses them. After Bob’s association with the Who’s Quadrophenia project years ago, they will use Heil gear on their new Quadrophenia tour in 2012. Heilsound now has a Pro sound division and an Amateur Radio division. Bob’s passion for the hobby is evident in his involvement in HAM Nation, a weekly internet show about all things ham radio. HAM Nation airs live each Tuesday at 6:00 PT/ 9:00ET on http://live.twit.tv. A bit late for us in the UK but repeats can be found on the net.
Bob’s other passion is organ music. He is an accomplished organist and has played since his teens and plays regularly. He has produced several CDs. When he was told about the 1896 Father Henry Willis organ at Lincoln Cathedral, he asked ‘Can I play it?’ We made sure he could.  Bob at the historic Father Willis organ at Lincoln Cathedral - regarded as one of the finest exaples of its type
Bob enjoyed his trip to the National Hamfest for a number of reasons but this must have been one of the highlights for him. Having played professionally for a number of years, he found his way around the keyboards without too much difficulty.  Heilsound sneakers
The Bob Heil Skype workshop was a UK first for Lincoln Short Wave Club and as the club comes to the end of it’s 90th birthday year we can also claim another first. Being responsible for the Lincoln Cathedral organ being played for the first time by someone wearing sneakers!
The Lincoln Short Wave Club decided that it would do something special for its 90th birthday and did something that would be of benefit to radio amateurs worldwide. Former club member Sid May (ET3SID) works in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and has worked tirelessly to develop amateur radio in that country. He asked for our help and we provided a rig that became the main station for ET3AA at the university. Such has been the interest in ham radio that 58 students have been studying for licensing exams.
As a club we can be proud that we assisted the project in the embryonic stages can be satisfied that every time we hear pile up for ET3AA we facilitated it. Our hard work at the National Hamfest made the donation possible. This week a group of hams from the USA will assist by mentoring students and sponsoring their exams. This is their press release: ET3AA Youth Development Project and DXpedition 2011Members of our team will depart Washington Dullas Airport in Virginia on Wednesday morning, December 7, 2011, headed to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where we will be greeted by Sid May (ET3SID). Our team will include David Collingham (K3LP – Team Leader), Paul Ewing (N6PSE), Al Hernandez (K3VN) and Bill Beyer Jr. (N2WB). The duration of this trip will be 8:30 AM December 8, 2011, through 10:30 PM, December 13, 2011. The primary goal of the trip is related to Youth Development at the Addis Ababa University – Institute of Technology. Fifty-eight (58) students have been studying to take the US FCC Amateur Radio License exams since my last visit in August 2011. Our team will administer the examinations in accordance with the ARRL’s VEC requirements for Volunteer Examiners (VEs). The tests will be conducted at 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Saturday, December 10, 2011. Another session will be held on Monday, December 12, 2011, for retests and General/Extra Class license exams. Our team members will sponsor and pay 100% of student exam fees. The other goals with this trip are: There are only two radios (one at the university and one at Sid’s home) for use during this trip. The legal authorization to bring additional equipment into the country requires the Ethiopian government security approval prior to entry. Future trips will involve bring additional equipment that can be donated to students. Our team will operate from Sid May’s QTH using the call sign ET3SID and from the university using the call ET3AA call sign. Look for us on 160 thru 6 Meters using CW and SSB. I’ll work with students to install 160 Meter vertical and 80 Meter four square antennas during this trip. All antenna, coax, control cable, four square box, etc. supplies will be donated to the club. QSL Manager for ET3AA and ET3SID for this trip only: Please do not merge other QSL requests for QSO’s you’ve made with ET3SID and ET3AA in the same envelope not related to this trip. Bob will only have the logs for the ET3AA and ET3SID for Dec. 8-13, 2011. Thank you
After months of delays the SteppIR is in situ. Thanks especially to Roger G3PVU, Bob G7AVU, Pete G1FLL and Jeremie M0KWP for all their work. In total it took 18 hours to assemble, attach to mast and test. This means that the Club will have capability to operate on all bands 80 to 10 and on 4m, 6m, 2m, 70cms and 23cms. A permanent top band antenna is being looked at. Work will also start soon on a data modes installation. With such fine facilities, the Club is one of the best equipped in the country. Members will be able to request access to the shack at other times apart from the usual Wednesdays and Saturday mornings. This will allow members to book the facilities to be able to operate with guidance from a mentor who will be able to instruct on the operation of the station. This will be especially useful to members who have just passed their foundation or intermediate licence exams. Already, since the improvements to our VHF/UHF, some members are taking part in contests and made a creditable effort in Tuesday evening events.
(Left to right) Jeremie M0KWP, Roger G3PVU, Bob G7AVU (with back to camera – his best side!) and Peter G1FLL raise and secure the mast at the Club shack.
It takes a lot of work for a small club to stage an event like this and the club can be proud. Under the management of Clive G1BSN, the event has grown and grown. There are plans afoot for making it event better next year! Thanks to members of other clubs who joined us to help, and to the LSWC membership. All the volunteers worked extremely hard in very high temperatures, not only on show days but in the days running up to the show. Everyone was pleased to welcome Bob and Sarah Heil of Heilsound and the ARRL from the USA and a number of European traders to the show.
Bob Heil, K9EID (right), presented M6BYE with his winning prize, the latest HM-12 Heil microphone released a few months ago. This microphone was donated by Waters & Stanton as part of their contribution to the National Hamfest. Roll on next year! Show dates are 28 and 29 September 2012
OFCOM have granted Lincoln Short Wave Club permission to use the callsign GB11NH for activity at the event site at the Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire. The station will be on the air from Tuesday 27 September until Sunday 2 October on 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, 10m and 2m. SSB and CW. The same callsign will be used for talk-in to the event from 8am on Friday 30 September, the first day of the show, on 145.550 FM. Visiting amateurs can operate the station on production of a copy of their licence and photo identification. The station will be situated in the information marquee in front of the main hall. Operators from the station will available to offer morse tests on demand I started The Morse Crusade after years of frustration, warning people about the pitfalls in learning slow morse, only for it to fall on deaf ears. The Crusade has now started with the aim to educate people about Morse and modern learning practices, bringing about changes to enhance the Morse experience. Continue reading The Morse Crusade If you are thinking of having a Free Morse Test at the National Hamfest and would like to pre-book it, it is now possible by sending an email to morse@g5fz.co.uk |
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