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A few members are probably wondering why I've been harping on about 2m recently. My answer to that is multi-fold, and as I'm feeling a bit cheeky today, I'll tell you:
- Because it's our least well-supported net and desperately needs defibrillating
- Because any potential new amateurs will probably start off with a 2m/70cms handheld and would benefit from listening-in before plucking up the courage to get involved
- Because I think Russell would appreciate a hand, given the years of personal commitment he's shown to supporting it
- Because 2m is awesome, and I can't imagine for a moment how up-in-arms we'd all be if we lost it to the French aeronautical lobby or whoever.
I'm the new boy around here, but other than NFD & RDF activities, what kinds of things have the club done on 2 metres in the past? Is there anything we could do to spice things up around here? Hint: now is your chance to bang on about the old days, how great it was when you could buy a bag of tripe for fourpence ha'penny and still have change for a donkey ride home. Yes, I'm trying to get a reaction.
It would be great to resurrect something that worked perfectly well before, and to re-introduce it to the current membership. Maybe stick some new knobs on it?
I don't know. Send me your thoughts. Let's plan a day out messing about with radio. It'll be springtime before you know it and none of us are getting any younger.
Meanwhile, we had six people on the net this morning, so thanks to Phil M5BTB, Terry M0TPJ, Adrian M0TCD/M, Russell G7TMR, Dick G1CWP and myself. Merv M0WVE nearly made it, but got roped into doing a bit of hoovering at the last minute 😝
Right, next Sunday on the net, let's go for eight stations. The club record is twelve I believe, and I'll resort to the Twittersphere if I have to!
Berni M0XYF
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Firstly, it was great to see Philip pop up on Zoom for the Enigma presentation by Mark Baldwin last Friday. Great to have Philip with us again for 2023 too.
What I did notice, is that last October he was sporting the callsign M7ANW, and here we are three months later and his callsign is M0LIP. Now I may have got the wrong end of the stick (wouldn't be the first time!) but that looks like a remarkable achievement to me?
I think he said he was also a volunteer at the NRC at Bletchley, so very well done on your impressive achievements in, and contribution to this great hobby.
Berni M0XYF
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A couple of requests please.
Firstly, I'm after an 'Instagram account manager' for MSARS. We already have a Facebook page, which basically looks after itself, a Twitter feed, which I run, and a YouTube channel where I post any original videos I come across. What we don't have, and what I'd really like to add is an Instagram feed.
More importantly, I'd appreciate it if one of our members was prepared to step up and 'run' it for us. I just don't think I can take on another feed. I want it purely to cover all the bases in terms of publicity.
All it would entail is for someone to set up an account and 'brand' it as the MSARS Instagram feed, and then post one or two photos to it each month or so. Nothing more and nothing less. I'll link to it in our Social Media menu here on the website, and that'll be it. It'll be up to the account manager to source (preferably take) original photos to which the club can claim the rights, and post them with whatever supporting tag-line is appropriate. I don't really care what it is, as long as it relates to our hobby and is of interest. Theme it however you want. Go crazy. Put your own spin on it.
Please have a think if it's something you could do. There will be no pressure or expectation - we don't work like that. Anything is a bonus.
Secondly, we have a handful of new members who'd like to join our Sunday morning 2m net, but it's so poorly supported by MSARS members, it's a bit of a joke. Surely we can get a few of us on there each week. It's an ideal place to introduce beginners with handhelds and basic antennas.
Let's start tomorrow! No time like the present. 2m simplex is SO much nicer than HY. If a few people can be bothered, Uncle Phil may have a surprise for you. I might even have a surprise for you!
Come on people. How about it?
Berni M0XYF
Update
I didn't post this article until fairly late last night (Saturday), but Adrian M0TCD read it and pitched up for the VHF net this morning, and it was great to hear him on. Unfortunately, he had to dash off to fix a water leak at home towards the end, so I hope that was on the 'dripping-tap' end of the leakage scale and not the 'floating-furniture' end!
Four of us on this morning, and it was a bit of a laugh. Myself, Phil M5BTB standing in for Russell G7TMR in the chair, and Terry M0TPJ - another regular Sunday morning participant.
Right, that was a good start. How many can we get on next week? Dust off your 2m rigs ladies and gentlemen, and let's hear you on the radio.
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I would like to place on record my thanks to Stella Rogers for a couple of the less well publicised things that she has done recently which help to maintain and support our society.
Firstly, I know that Stella has recently managed to have our contact details updated on the RSGB website. Now this may seem on the face of it to be a trivial thing, but trust me, it was not.
Stella has also taken it upon herself to send our monthly event schedule to the RSGB for publication in Radcom, which is all great publicity for MSARS.
Well done.
And now for a personal view of mine.
Not so 'well done' to the Radio Society of Great Britain.
Whilst I understand that the RSGB is not the most wealthy organisation in the world, and that it is partly staffed and supported by many hard-working volunteers, it is simply unacceptable for our national society, to whom we pay a not insignificant annual fee from our meagre club funds, to take nearly EIGHT MONTHS to update our contact details on their website. I should tell you that Stella's dogged persistence has saved the RSGB board of directors from a proper email-lambasting from me personally (as a fully paid up RSGB member) for the inexcusable delay in achieving this simple administrative task. I expect an awful lot more from them.
While I'm at it, I'd also like to say that our local (not regional) RSGB representative was about as much use as a chocolate fireguard in getting our details updated. Not good enough, volunteer or otherwise.
Berni M0XYF
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On Monday, February 6, 2023, Anthony Luscre, K8ZT will present on the topic of QRP operating during the RSGB's Tonight @ 8 webinar. This is a great opportunity to learn more about this aspect of amateur radio and ask any questions you may have. The webinar will be streamed live on the Society's YouTube channel and their special BATC channel, so be sure to mark the date in your diary and tune in for another informative and engaging presentation.
If you're interested in joining the webinar, visit the Society's website for more information. You'll be able to watch the presentation live and interact with Anthony Luscre and other attendees in real-time. This is a great chance to deepen your knowledge of QRP operating and connect with other enthusiasts in the field. Don't miss out on this exciting event.
This article has been written by the ChatGPT artificial intelligence 'robot', and has subsequently been checked and edited by:
Berni M0XYF
