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Wednesday 22nd May - NARC Live online
Tonight we welcome Tony K8ZT with the first in a short series of talks on 'HF for beginners'. So whether you are newly licensed and yet to experience HF or an established ham but not done much on those bands this should be a useful series.
Aurora extra
Before the talk we will also put on a display of your Aurora pictures from last weekend, so please send your favourites to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 3pm on Wednesday and we will include them in our NARC collection :)
As always Tony will be with us live and so you will be able to interact and ask him questions, plus before his talk we will have your club news, stories, pictures and the solution to the latest 'What on Earth...' competition.
Please send your 'What on earth...' entry together with any news, pictures and views you can share for NARC Live! to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 3pm latest on Wednesday please.
Please join Tammy M0TC and David G7URP live at 19.30 on BATC or Facebook - everyone welcome.
Watch live on BATC or Facebook at 19.30:
Watch live on BATC:
or Facebook Live:
https://www.facebook.com/norfolkamateurradioclub
WATCHING PREVIOUS NARC LIVE's...
If you missed a NARC Live we now record most shows in the studio and upload them to Youtube within a couple of days. So you can watch almost any previous recorded NARC Live show by going to YouTube, searching for "Norfolk ARC", click on Videos and choose the programme you want to watch. https://www.youtube.com/c/norfolkamateurradio/videos
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Radio Active 2024 - Programme attached!
We are pleased to attach to our newsletter the Weekend guide for our annual Radio Active event on 1st & 2nd June.
The leaflet includes details of the full programme of talks and workshops, as well as a booking form for special offer tools and kits as well as the free Sunday lunch! Absolute Deadline for sending this form is 8pm Wednesday 29th May by email or print and hand in at CNS, but if you can send it sooner that would help a lot.
Our two Field stations are also looking for a few extra fit and willing helpers for the Friday station setups so if you can help please do come forward as soon as possible - this has been a successful event for over 15 years, however that has also seen all of our regulars get older, so we really do need a few fresh pairs of hands to help us get set up please.
We look forward to welcoming everyone to the event at our home in Gt Ellingham - you will find your programme and booking form attached to the newsletter. Any problems please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like it emailed separately.
73
David & Tammy
Attached to the newsletter - RadioActive2024.pdf
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Aurora pictures for NARC Live...
We always encourage you to send any news and pictures for NARC Live and I bet many of you have pictures from last weekends Aurora 'Northern Lights', so please email your favourites and we will feature them as a collection on this Wednesdays NARC Live.
Please send them, together with any other pics or news to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Many thanks
David G7URP & Tammy M0TC
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G2N May 144MHz Contest station THIS WEEKEND 18th/19th May
STOP PRESS :-
* Sat 18th May 1400 for 24h. 144MHz May Contest.
Preparations are well underway for a big entry by the NARC VHF team using our contest call G2N, please look out for us / support us with points or come and visit on site in the field just to the West of the old radar station at trimingham to consider helping out or even operating. What3words for the site entrance at the bottom of the field is ///cutback.fancy.lifetimes. There are also large NARC signs to show the site.
This is part of the RSGB VHF Championship. (N1MM+ log to use is VHF RSGB M1) Link to rules here
Below are pictures from our last VHF Contest station earlier in the year - please come and see us.
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NARC Contest News 139 Friday 17th May 2024
Welcome to week one hundred and thirty nine of NARC’s contest news.
Results:-
On VHF
The results of the 432MHz Trophy contest of 4/5/2024 were released very rapidly on 16th May. Entry numbers were low with 20 in the open section and 43 in the Single operator fixed section. Only myself and Stewart G4AFF enetered for NARC managing 5th and 28th places respectively. Link to results here
The results of the MayUHF contest (4/5 May) were released on 16th May. Our only entry was Stewart G4AFF on 70cm. Link to results
No UKAC results this week.
On HF
No results this week except a report from John G8VPE on the recent Spanish RTTY contest results - see below:-
The EARTTY Spanish RTTY contest (6&7th April 2024) results have been published.
In the LOW Power Single Operator Category there were 375 entries and Bob 2E0OBO came 230th followed by G8VPE in 254th place.
The URE of Spain produced a very colourful Certificate of Participation available to all entrants.
73 John G8VPE
If people are entering other contests of whose results I am obviously unaware please e-mail me to let me know the outcome and I'll mention it here.
Contests:-
On VHF
The 70MHz CW contest , part of the VHF CW championship ran on Sunday 12th May. Several NARC members entered, G4DYC, G4AFF, G8VPE and myself. Conditions were reasonable but disappointing after the excellent aurora of the previous couple of days! Link to claimed scores here
The 432MHz UKAC ran on Tuesday 14th May. I believe 10 of us were active and hopefully 9 should eneter logs. Conditions were quite good and I was pleased to work SM6VTZ at 893Km. Activity was also good. Link to claimed scores here
The 70MHz UKAC ran on Thursday 16th May. I am aware of 5 of us who turned out for it although I only managed to be home for the last 45 mins. Condotions were fairly dire with poor signals especially from io91 area. Link to claimed scores here
On HF
The 80M CC SSB contest ran on Monday 13th May. Conditions seemed quite good and activity was high. A total of 192 logs have been received at RSGB with 17 from NARC. A spectacular score once again from Andy M0NKR of 179 contacts plus the bonus station. It looks like we should once again have won this one. Link to logs received
I've had no reports of anyone working any other HF contests last weekend. Please let me know if you were and I'll put a summary in next week's news.
Upcoming contests in the next 2 weeks (all times in UTC):-
On VHF / UHF /SHF
Before each of the 2m and 70cm UKACs there is an FM leg starting 1 hour before for 55 minutes. I hear almost no activity in this from here but others may have more luck! Rules etc on RSGBCC site.
* Sat 18th May 1400 for 24h. 144MHz May Contest. Preparations are well underway for a big entry by the NARC VHF team using our contest call G2N, please look out for us / support us with points or come and visit on site to consider helping out or even operating. This is part of the RSGB VHF Championship. (N1MM+ log to use is VHF RSGB M1) Link to rules here
* Sun 19th May 1100-1500 1st 144MHz Backpackers contest. Link to rules here
* Tue 21st May 1900-2130 1.3GHz UKAC
* Tue 28th May 1830-2130 SHF UKAC
Also of interest for some on the vhf / uhf bands are the EU FT8 activity tests - see the following link for more information. These are on the first (144 MHz), second (432MHz) and third (1.3GHz) Wednesdays of each month. 1700-2000 Hrs EU FT8 series website
On HF
* Sat 18th May 0600-2100 UN DX Contest CW and SSB (Kazakhstan based but worldwide) - Link to rules here
* Sat 18th May 1200 for 24h His Majesty King of Spain CW contest - Link to rules here
* Sat 18th May 1600-2000 Feld Hell Sprint, 10m band - Link to rules here
* Sat 18th May 2100 for 5h Baltic Contest CW and SSB, 80m band - Rules link here http://www.lrsf.lt/en/
* Sun 19th May 0000-2359 FISTS Sunday Sprint, CW - Rules link here
* Sun May 19th 2300 for 2h Run for the Bacon QRP Contest - Rules link here
* Mon 20th May 1900-2030 RSGB FT4 Contest - Rules here
* Wed 22nd May 1900-2030 80m CC DATA
* Sat 25th May 0000 to Sun 26th May 2359 CQ WW WPX Contest CW - Link to rules here
* Thu 30th May 1900-2030 80m CC CW
See Link to WA7BNM for other contests not mentioned above. Several QSO parties in the USA etc.
Wednesdays throughout the year, CW ops 1 hour mini tests 13:00, 19:00, Thurs 03:00 and 07:00, exchange Name and G if not a member or CWOPS number if you are a member.
See CWOPS website for more details.
Also on Fridays 2000 to 2100 and Mondays 0000 to 0100 each week CWops runs the K1USN slow speed CW contests. Any speed up to 20wpm is acceptable. For rules see :- CW OPs SST page these contests are open to anyone.
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All RSGB contest rules and further details plus log submission at RSGB contest site
Look to WA7BNM’s contest calendar for other contests and links to rules etc at WA7BNM weekly contest calendar
A link to John 2E0TWQ’s site’s Narc contest history page - 2E0TWQ's NARC contest results page
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Contesting can be great fun but I know there's a reluctance to step into unknown waters. It's a great way of improving many aspects of our hobby including one's own performance and the quality of your station. If you have any interest whatsover please call in to the contest net on Friday evening at 9pm on 145.250MHz FM or speak to any of the regular contesters on 450. Or indeed email me!
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Submissions or comments for this news to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
73 until next week,
Phil G4LPP
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GB2CW Morse Corner 16.05.24
GB2CW Morse Corner 17.05.24
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National Field Day 2024
We do need some help on NFD! Anybody fancy an operating slot? Anybody got a long pole for holding up a wire antenna? Anybody got some time to spare on the weekend in question? Anybody know their way to the Ellingham ranch? Anybody fancy a fish and chip supper?
If your name is Anybody then we want to hear from you. Come and experience the thrill of a National Field Day. The older generation are getting weary and we need some new young bloods to assist and eventually take over.
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Morse Classes
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The beginner's class is still running at 2000 local time on Friday evenings, assuming people sign in. I don't like playing to fresh air so please do try to make your presence known.
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Key of the week.
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This is a Vibroplex Junior Bug. It is quite an ancient key but cleaned up well. However, DO NOT even think of using a bug.
It came with an original Vibroplex Junior Leather case. Presumably used by a Western Union telegrapher or a railroad telegrapher. According to the serial number archives, it was born in 1921!
CW OPS
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The four sessions are very well attended by lots of amateurs from around the world. Great practice and good fun too. Try it some time. You don't have to be a member to participate.
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David M7BLX has been taking part in some of the sessions and is enjoying his new experience. This is a sure way of practising and increasing your speed. He is improving too, larger score this week.
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NARC NET 3543KHz plus or minus QRM 2000 local time
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Other Net Controllers and tutors will not join in but will leave the frequency to those that need the experience, tuition and practice. Speed will be maintained at 18wpm.
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If you require any practice, come and join in.
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This week it will be Phil G4LPP on the usual freq. Hope to hear you there!
Malcolm G3PDH
Phil G4LPP
Dick G3WRJ
Roger G3LDI
Jim G3YLA
Colin G4EYT
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That's it, open the cage, play the music.
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If you have any input, please email me.
73 de Roger, G3LDI GB2CW Coordinator. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. May the Morse be with you.
Author Roger Cooke