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This weekend, Friday 15th October thru Sunday 17th October is #JOTAJOTI weekend. If you are fairly new to radio, then it may not be immediately apparent what this is, so here are the highlights.
Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) is an annual celebration of radio operation by the global Scouting family, and is a big deal for that organisation. It's a fantastic mix of camping, global campfires, live shows, fun challenges and of course assisted and supported radio communications for our young people around the world. It's educational and a lot of fun.
Of course, with the pandemic situation last year, the vast majority of social gathering was curtailed, but inventive and creative as both Scouts and radio amateurs are, that didn't stop JOTA 2020 from taking place. What happened was that radio links were supplemented with Internet links, relays and bridges, allowing keen future radio operators to carry on regardless. #JOTI really did save #JOTA in 2020!
This year, the digital communications theme has rightly continued and expanded, and together with more traditional radio operation now provides a hugely exciting platform for promoting all communications technology, the values of global citizenship, and young people's role in creating a better world. Make sure that if you are on air this weekend, you make some time to welcome the amateurs of tomorrow.
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I have today updated the MSARS website cookie policy. Whilst I don't expect a torrent of interest in this notice, I want to be completely transparent to all our website visitors. I have let the new website organically permeate into the search engine indices of the world for the last nine months, but now it's time to exert some influence and ratchet up our profile a little bit. To do this effectively, I have registered the website with the Google Search Console, which will basically let us see what visitors to our site searched for in Google to bring them here. The long and the short of it is that we can use that to tailor some of our content (or at least to position it optimally) to generate more interest and ultimately to grow the club.
Here is the updated paragraph:
We do not use, or indeed condone, the use of cookies or any other technology for tracking, advertising or general profiling purposes. We do however subscribe to Google Analytics through the Google Search Console programme. We only do this to better understand which search terms bring people to our website so that we can improve and focus our content on what you want to see. If you choose to use the Google search engine, you will already have consented to Google using your search data for their own uses. Should you wish to avoid this, there are many other excellent search engines out there such as DuckDuckGo.
At the end of the year, I will produce some traffic analysis, which in itself might sound as boring as a top-band net (come on, I'm ready for you!) but you might well be surprised.
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A Talk by Jon Wymer
Next Friday night at the hall (15th October 2021), we are lucky enough to have Jon Wymer along to talk about this fascinating subject. A subject which generates much interest and discussion amongst amateurs. Foundation level licencees may very well be happy with their 10 watt power allocation, whilst many full licence holders will never use more than the typical 100W output from their off-the-shelf radios. But there is more to it than that, and what does it take to boost RF output anyway? Wouldn't it be interesting to increase the somewhat lower power ratings your radio produces on VHF and UHF? Jon will be bringing some example hardware, old and new to look at. What you need to bring are some questions and maybe some biscuits. I've told you before, I like those pink wafer ones.
We will be livestreaming this event on Zoom, so that other members who cannot be there will be able to join in too. Sounds like one not to be missed.
The new, improved quality video (we hope!) will also be available after the event via our Video Page and on our YouTube channel. The link for the Zoom livestream is here:
https://zoom.us/j/9024503912?pwd=SGV1U2tvb0RQTjFwNGtkTWJOcFBFQT09
This event is open to non-members as well as members. Please feel free to watch live, courtesy of the Mid Sussex Amateur Radio Society!
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This was yesterday's big announcement from the RSGB. I was going to write up a piece on what it means for amateur radio clubs going forward, but (and not just because I'm being lazy...) Pete M0PSX from Essex Ham has done an excellent job, and I don't think I could improve on it, so check it out here: https://www.essexham.co.uk/rsgb-removes-practicals.html
You can view a copy of the RSGB announcement here in .pdf format:
What do you think?
Send me an email with your thoughts and I'll post them somewhere appropriate on here.
Berni M0XYF
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If not, why not?
Anyway, skittles are back on the menu this Friday night.
No, not that type of skittles - you're supposed to be on a diet!
