NARC puts on school display for National Science Week

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Published: 14 March 2023

Last Updated: 14 March 2023

NARC took part in National Science Week on March 11 this year with a display and radio demonstrations at Norwich CNS School.

The school’s “Super Science Saturday” featured a whole host of different events and NARC was only too happy to assist. CNS was one of the schools that made an ISS contact with astronaut Tim Peake.

Steve G0KYA and club president Malcolm G3PDH put on a demonstration HF and VHF station using the club call G4ARN (Amateur Radio Norfolk).

NARC also demonstrated a Flex Maestro, which was connected via the internet to Malcolm G3PDH’s home HF station, showing how amateur radio has moved with the times. While Chris G0DWV and Andy M0NKR demonstrated a Geochron device with real-time weather, flight information, radio propagation, satellite tracks and much more.

Simon M0SIH and Sam M7EBX from the clubs “Bright Sparks” group put on an electronics kit display which visitors could experiment with.

Tammy M0TC showed electronic construction and helped 20 youngsters make their own Morse Code keys and buzzers. They were then able to send their name via Morse code thanks to Jim G3YLA, gaining a special certificate in the process.

Contact was also made with Norwich's twin City of Koblenz in Germany on 40m in a regular monthly net. Other HF contacts were made with the USA, Canada, Finland, Germany, Malta, Russia, Switzerland, Italy and Cyprus via SSB, CW and FT8.

Other displays demonstrated TV, voice, digital and satellite communications and attracted a lot of interest.

To see photographs of the event click here

Brickworks Champion...

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Published: 04 March 2023

Last Updated: 04 March 2023

Hopefully many of you who went to the RSGB presentation on Brickworks interesting and inspiring.

To take this forward in NARC we now need our own 'Brickworks champion'...

This is someone in NARC who newly licensed amateurs can come to help them get on the next stage of their journey in the hobby using some of the ideas and rewards which Brickworks has to offer. Of course the NARC Brickworks Champion will have the full support of the clubs training team and committee behind them.

You might already be involved in our training team or feel you would like to get involved afresh. Please have a think and see if you can help the club give something back as we really do need someone to do this...

If you are interested and want to find out more please contact me with no obligation and we can discuss.

Thank you.

David G7URP

Exam Secretary

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https://rsgb.org/main/beyond-exams-building-experience/brickworks/brickworks-activities/

NARC Charity of the Year - members choice... (only 2 weeks left!)

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Published: 04 March 2023

Last Updated: 16 March 2023

As we approach our AGM where we will announce the sum raised for our 2022 charity of the year, the membership will also need to choose which charity or charitable cause to support with he clubs fund raising efforts in 2023.

So this is your chance to make a real difference to a charity that means something special to you. If you are a current paid up NARC member and would like your charity to be considered for our nominated charity for 2022 please drop me an email with your chosen charity. You will have the opportunity to pitch it to the membership at the AGM (or I can read it out if you prefer) and the charities proposed will be voted on by all those members present at the meeting. 

In recent years we have raised significant sums for good causes...  your proposed charity could be next.

Please let me know as soon as possible and at the very latest by 31st March.

David G7URP

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Speaker of the Year - please vote as its YOUR award!

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Published: 17 February 2023

Last Updated: 16 March 2023

Our AGM is on Wednesday April 5th at CNS School and each year our members vote on their favourite talk from the previous year - these have all been online via NARC Live.

As we did last year we have made it very easy and quick to do online. Just click the link below and vote - its very easy and you just enter your name and callsign so that auditors can verify membership - no other personal information or email address etc is needed.

Speaker of the Year 2022 Voting form

You must be a current paid up member of NARC to vote and please only vote once (this will be checked)

If you cannot vote this way please contact me and I will give you an alternative, but this is easy and safe! 

Only 34 votes received so far... less than two weeks left to vote now (by 31.3.23)

Also... 

The people who run your club...

The positions of Officers and Committee are also up for election so if you would like to stand please complete the proposal forms which are at the club, or if you are not attending CNS but would like to stand please contact me and I will get this into the file (someone standing needs other members to nominate and second their application).

Nominated charity 2023

We are also seeking nominations for the clubs adopted charity for 2023 - please email your nomination to me by 31.3.23

Nominations and voting for ALL AGM business close on 31st March 2023.

Thank you

David G7URP

Construction Competition - what are you going to enter?

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Published: 23 February 2023

Last Updated: 23 February 2023

The NARC Construction Competition is open to every NARC member and you can enter anything radio or electronics related which you have made yourself.

It may be a commercial kit or something of your own design and may be something you made some time ago or recently. It can even be something you have entered previously as long as it has not won!

The judging will be done at our AGM which is on Wednesday April 5th at CNS and to enter just bring your entry to openly display from 19.00. Please make a simple sign with your name and what the project is - you can also leave any notes or drawings for your project. The judge will mainly be looking at quality of construction and attention to detail, regardless of whether it is a complex bit of equipment or a simple kit.

The judge will be last years Construction competition winner Mark G0TMT and he will judge entries between 1900 and 2000 and then announce the winner Live that evening in the awards section of the AGM.

We look forward to seeing what you have made!

David G7URP

NARC Club news and views...

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Published: 23 February 2023

Last Updated: 18 March 2023

Your news and views go here - have your say...  (you just have to email it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Do you have an RSGB trophy?

If you hold an RSGB trophy which is due to be returned to them in time for their AGM next month then Peter M0RYB has offered to take it to RSGB HQ when he goes on 6th April.

If this helps you please get in touch with me David G7URP and I will put you directly in touch with Peter.

National Hamfest 2023  CANCELLED

The organisers of this years Hamfest have just announced that regretfully this years event has had to be cancelled, but it hopes to be back at Newark in 2024. For more information see https://www.nationalhamfest.org.uk

Our own Barford Norfolk Radio Rally will be going ahead as planned on Sunday 2nd July 2023

NanoVNA round table workshop - Wednesday April 19th

Thanks to Tony M0TDK who has offered to bring his Nano VNA in for an informal round table demo and workshop. Please bring yours!

NARC Live Wednesday 8th March

A recording of the previous NARC Live can be seen here:

https://youtu.be/DZVswgMP020

Morse Clock?

If you experiment with electronics how about this Morse clock project?

https://www.elektormagazine.com/labs/arduino-morse-clock

Do you have a new FLUKE Multimeter type 8x V ?

Thanks to Steve M7CNI for important safety news on these popular multimeters:

https://www.fluke.com/en-us/support/safety-notices/8x-v-safety-notice 

Interesting news from Colin G0OOR...

https://hackaday.com/2023/02/18/the-usaf-almost-declares-war-on-illinois-radio-amateurs/ 

David G7URP

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Are you sure you still have your lifetime license...?

Although amateur radio licenses are now for life they MUST be revalidated at least once every 5 years with Ofcom. Its quick and easy - I do mine every year near my birthday. Just sign into your Ofcom account and confirm all the details remain the same...    

73, David

NARC membership 2023

NARC membership is just £10 for full membership for 2023.... we want to maintain this going forwards too but we need everyone to rejoin to make the numbers add up, so please rejoin. Details are on the website under 'Join us'.

NARC Live!

NARC Live is always broadcast live so that viewers can ask questions etc, but it is recorded and uploaded to Youtube within a few days of it being live-streamed.

And to watch any of these recordings of NARC Live or other video events please go to https://www.youtube.com/c/norfolkamateurradio/videos

Something to say, show or sell?

This section is open for any NARC member to share news, ideas or tips with anyone who reads the newsletter (around 300 people subscribe), so if you have anything like this please send it to David G7URP via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The most effective way to sell or buy something through NARC is to list it on the Club website on the For Sale Forum as non members look there too - it is free but you just need to register for the website first.

  Please let me have any club news to put here and/or NARC Live:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.    Thanks  David G7URP