Author Archives: Andrew Thornton

Useful Amateur Radio Software and Websites

On the 16th March, there will be a talk by Chris, G4FZN, and Pauline G8HQW. The subject will be “Useful Software and Useful Websites to improve your Amateur Radio experience”.

Over the course of the evening, we will monitor aircraft for reflections, and introduce you to the KST chat rooms, DX clusters, Log of the World, Club Log, and more!

Talk on “Summits on the Air”

Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday 19th January, at Hudswell Village Hall. We’ll be using the large room, with well spaced seating, and encouraging everyone to social distance where appropriate.

Andy, G6PJZ, will be hosting a talk about “Summits on the Air” (SOTA), an award scheme for operating portable amateur radio stations in mountainous locations. Andy is a keen SOTA operator, and will be sharing his experiences of mountain-top operations, such as his recent trip up High Stile in the Lake District, where he was operating on a variety of HF and VHF amateur bands.

Change of Arrangements for Radio Club Christmas Party

The Radio club Christmas Party was originally going to be held this coming Wednesday (15th December) in Hudswell Village Hall, and the room had been booked.

However, with the number of COVID cases escalating, and the new Omicron variant in circulation, it has been decided that the meeting will not take place in person, and will instead be held via. Zoom. The meeting will take place at the usual time of 19:30 on Wednesday 15th December.

Dave, G8YPN, will still be running the Christmas Quiz. Everyone is also asked to bring along something radio-related, to show to members and talk briefly about for a few minutes. Unfortunately, the virtual nature of the meeting does mean you’ll have to provide your own drinks and mince pies this year.

Upcoming Meetings

The Club’s Christmas meeting will be on Wednesday 15th December, and this will be a new idea for a meeting. You are asked to bring something interesting along connected with radio, and tell us a bit about it. Maybe bring a rig along, maybe a QSL card, maybe something else that’s a little more unusual. There will also be the usual mince pies available.

Going forward into next year, the club will continue to meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month, with a break in August, when many of our members are away. Wherever possible, we’ll try to arrange some sort of talk or event for the third Wednesday of each month, whilst the first Wednesday will be more of a casual meet up, chat, and “on the air” night. The meetings page has been updated accordingly, and will be amended as we start booking in events for 2022.

After the last 18 months, the committee is trying hard to get the club up and running and back up to strength again, and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Notice of 2021 Annual General Meeting 3rd November

The 2021 Annual General Meeting will now be held on Wednesday 3rd November at Hudswell Village Hall.

We will review the minutes of the last AGM in 2019, as no meeting was held during 2020, due to COVID restrictions. We will also review the club’s activities over the last two years, report on the state of the club’s finances, and elect members to the committee.

As part of the meeting, we will be discussing membership fees for 2021-2022. The cost of renting the hall for meetings is increasing from November, so membership costs may have to change accordingly.

We will be holding a free raffle for members attending the AGM, and the winner will receive a free copy of the 2022 RSGB Yearbook.

Wire Aerials and Feeders

CRDARS returned to Hudswell Village Hall on 1st September for a discussion of wire aerials and feeders, led by Mac, M0RIE. Mac led us through a variety of interesting subjects, including how radio waves behave in near and far field, how aerials are affected by other wires within the near field, and how changing the type or connection location of the feeder can affect the behaviour and/or impedence of the antenna.

Mac provided some useful resources that may be of interest to anyone who would like to learn more: