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Est. 1938 Club Call G4HRS

Sponsored by: Affiliated to:

The Journal of

Horsham Amateur Radio Club

April 2018

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Contents

In this issue 3. Notes from the Editor Modern methods

4. The auction A rundown of the spring junk sale

5. All directions The fox reveals all

7. The news Small

8. Space viewing An upgrade 10. Tune in An inventors tribute and a round up of the latest broadcast news

13. A trip to Ireland Tour the coast guard

29. Diary of events Full listings for the month

Cover picture: Robin G3OGP auctioning a TS700

Published by Horsham Amateur Radio ClubHARCNEWS is produced at home by G4JHI

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From next month’s edition a new method will be trialled out for distribution of HARCNEWS following suggestions from some readers since today one can use various options to share files. One of the issues with sending out files by email is if it is larger than a certain size it won’t send or recipients don’t receive it. Selected readers will be receiving information from me by email in preparation

Editorial

for next month and if successful the scheme will be rolled out to all in due course. The file size of this newsletter does seem to have risen in recent times and by making the PDF file larger better quality images will appear. To help with production of this magazine all those sending in articles are encouraged to use electronic methods and priority will be given to items received this way.

In coming month’s some monthly regularly columns may start to appear less often or in alternate editions but the volume of material received could have an influence on this.

David G4JHI

Copy deadline for emailed items for May edition 20th April - This is now the preferred method for sending material to this newsletterFor items sent by email please send to this address:

harc.news@g4jhi.co.uk

Membership list 2018

A list of HARC Club members for this year is now being compiled. For those who are new to this it includes your name, callsign, address with post code and telephone number. We do not put email addresses in this.

If anyone has any specific details not to be shared please let the Editor know and any changes to callsigns or other details.

If you have moved QTH in the last year and haven’t advised anyone on the committee please let me know the details. If in doubt please check last years list or ask me for a copy.

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March Meeting

Junk Sale

This year’s Spring Junk sale coincided with a rather bad spell of cold and snowy weather. Despite this there was a reasonable turnout and plenty of interesting items started to arrive. Once the sale got going a section of mobile antennas were put up for auction which are always sought after. Then a couple of TV sets came up one of them was ex-kitchen in full working order and both were sold for a bargain price.

Various rigs appeared from time to time such as the FT290, TRC-3000 (CB), FT208R, TS700 followed by an LDG antenna tuner. Other items of interest were bags of components including assorted resistors, oscilloscope, network analyser with manual and an AVO 8. At the end of the evening the Treasurer reported a good sale which was enjoyed by all.

Thanks go to auctioneers Mike and Robin, hander outer Jon, Steve, Paul and Alistair on finance, Mick on catering and David on door duty.

Mike G8CKT auctioning an Avo 8

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Brilliant sunshine and freezing temperatures were the order of the day for the start from Mannings Heath village green. Ten teams took part and were soon on the trail of the hidden station G4HRS/P (op G3SWC) located at King’s Standing Car Park on the edge of Ashdown Forest, 6Km north of Maresfield and at the junction of the B2026/B2188.

Fox Hunt DF results – 25th February 2018

By Bryn G3SWC

The radio path from Mannings Heath had an intrusion of the Handcross Ridge but once this was overcome there was a clear LOS path to G4HRS/P as can be seen from the profile below. This meant that the signal at the start was somewhat weak but readable.

G4HRS/P Hidden Station Kings Standing Car Park TQ 473301

The radio path is 26.8Km and the bearing from Mannings Heath startpoint is 088 degrees (East North East).The plot shown is purely representative as the antenna heights I used are not accurate.

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Transmissions commenced on the HARC club channel of 144.725 at 1000 hours with a duration of two minutes and then every ten minutes for two minutes. Some cryptic clues were given commencing at 1040 –

The arrivals at Kings Standing Car Park were as follows –

Sadly M0TWM Jon & Lucy and G3OGP Robin didn’t make it to the finish!

The majority adjourned to The Lamb at Piltdown for refreshment (including a pint of Harvey’s for some) and traditional Sunday lunch (13 stayed for lunch) which seemed to be enjoyed by all!

Congratulations to Andrew & Janet for coming first, arriving at 1108 over a driving path of an absolute minimum of 23 miles (36 Km) is no mean feat – well done! Maybe you are the next “Fox” ??

G3SWC 28.02.18

1040 I am east north east from the start 1050 I am in a public car park and can be seen from the road 1100 If you have gone to the trees in a row you have gone too far (Forest Row) 1110 A horse owns a field to the south (Maresfield) 1120 A radio tower can be seen from here (Police training centre 1 Km south) 1130 You might see Poo & Piglet in this area (AA Milne’s characters. Poo Bridge

& Poo Car Park 1 Km NW) 1140 A viewpoint is close by (Just NW of junction B2026/B2188) 1150 The King is not sitting in this car park (‘King’s Standing car park’) 1200 An ice cream van is outside (Walls ice cream!)

1st 1108 M0GJH Andrew & Janet 2nd 1128 G4EFO Mick 3rd 1132 G8CKT Mike & Yvonne 4th 1141 G4TPO Steve & Maria 5th 1143 2E0XRT Rik & Nikki & jnr ops 6th 1155 G4LRP Adrian 7th 1156 G7BBP Jenny & M0JGD Jim 8th 1158 G4TMC Paul & G3ZBU Alister

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Automatic ATU

The company Sandsis have announced their latest new product a Smart Micro Auto ATU. The unit measures 24cm x 14cm x 4cm and includes voice recognition. It features all the common antenna connection types and covers from LF up to 30 MHz. One will be able to simply say commands such as “tune on 80 metres for best VSWR” and once this has been set it will be remembered for the next on air session. The manufactures were asked if they could provide a photo of the unit but declined saying that we would have to wait until the launch in April.

Feedback

Last month’s Web Trawl link http://www.bandconditions.com/ Richard G3ZIY advises that this is really aimed at HF conditions over the USA, and their ionosphere is different to our ionosphere at any given time, is localised and doesn’t even cover Alaska. However the UK propagation data may be helpful for assessing the USA-UK paths.

News from HARC

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TV Addict

by David G4JHI

Satellite

Feedback

Following last month’s article about my specialised satellite dish and the 4000 channels which it can reach Michael Fadil G4CCA comments as follows:“ You then mentioned, however, that you watch no more television than you did in the old days when only 3 programmes were available. In the really old days there was only one programme, the BBC, receivable on an ex-radar 5 valve IF strip and displayed on a VCR97 6” green cathode ray tube…...ah happy days”.

Sky Q

I have now received questions about SKY Q! Please note that I am not expert in this and don’t have one of these receivers and do not work in the TV industry. However, I do know one person who has a SKY Q system and I asked what they thought of it and was informed that mostly it is used for watching Eastenders! The SKY Q boxes are smaller than convention receivers of this brand but have all the necessary connections that most viewers would require.

If you want to send the output to another TV set then you can get add on RF distributors I believe but really the best way forward is the multiscreen option where one can view on another TV or device such as an iPad etc. Yes this will cost extra! Probably the best feature of Sky Q is the ability to be able to record up to 6 channels at once and in the future 12 will be possible on supported models! With all the OnDemand services available, is this really a necessity?

I am guessing that the majority of the way that one operates this platform is very similar to a Sky+ HD box of which my household uses except that the EPG has a new look. Now the technical bit. For SKY Q one needs a new type of LNB with 2 outputs. One if for horizontal polarization and the other vertical polarization. Conventional LNB’s have both polarizations on each individual output.

Fig. 1 image source Satcure http://www.satcure.co.uk

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There is also a Hybrid LNB available which gives 2x Sky Q outputs and 2x standard outputs for feeding Freesat and free to air receivers. I have also seen one advertised that has an additional 2x standard output for even more receivers. A standard LNB receives the signal from the satellite in the 10 GHz – 12 GHz region and down converts the signals to between 950 MHz and 2150 MHz. The new SKY Q LNB does the same except uses the frequency range from 230 MHz to 2359 MHz (see fig 1).

Therefore both cables between the dish and set top box must be completely separate from other cables as many viewers have satellite, UHF TV and VHF radio signals combined and sent down the same cable which is not suitable for SKY Q. It is important that leakage is avoided and good quality screened satellite TV coax and connections should be used.

Moving soon

ITV has announced that the subscription channel ITV Encore exclusive to Sky is to close and become and OnDemand service only and this is due to happen in the spring of this year so very soon now. However the service will be offered to other platforms and through a new package on SKY.

Pulled from platform

On Thursday February 22nd Channel4 HD and the OnDemand service All 4 left the Freesat platform following a dispute regarding carriage fees. Channel4 continues on Freesat in SD. Some viewers are not impressed but the HD version can be tuned in manually using non-Freesat mode since this continues to broadcast on satellite free to air.

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Broadcast Listener

Tribute to Trevor Graham Baylis CBE 1937 – 2018

In the late 1980s or early 1990s, Trevor Baylis saw a television programme about the spread of AIDS in Africa and realised that a way to halt the spread of the disease would be to educate and disseminate information by radio. Within 30 minutes, he had assembled the first prototype of his most well-known invention, the wind-up radio. The original prototype included a small transistor radio, an electric motor from a toy car, and the clockwork mechanism from a music box.

Several companies were approached but his idea was rejected. After an appearance on the BBC TV programme Tomorrows World this resulted in an investor coming forward to back the product. With money from investors he formed a company called Freeplay Energy. Two BBC documentaries followed the project including Trevor visiting South Africa to see the factory that was producing the wind up radios.

Trevor Baylis filed his first patent in 1992 and was a regular during the 1990’s on Channels 4’s Big Breakfast programme. Trevor died of natural causes on 5th March 2018 at his home on Eel Pie Island in West London.

Above information includes references from Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_Baylis

Monthly Roundup

by David Ansell 2E0NKC

All times BST

Medium-wave

New station Love Sport Radio has started on 558 kHz via Crystal Palace. This replaces Spectrum Radio on this frequency. Do not confuse this with Talk Sport Radio which has been on the air for years now on 1089 kHz, 1053 kHz and 1107 kHz. Love Sport Radio is not only about sport but covers current affairs and local issues. Tel No. is 020 8702 0558. Country Radio, Zbraslav, Prague heard at 17:45 on 1063 kHz with many ID’s as “Country Radio”. Radio Zemzetisegi, Marcali, Hungary heard at 17:00 on 1188 kHz in Czech language.

A station in German has been heard testing on 1584 kHz as Radio Oberfranken. At the time of writing I do not know any more about this. BBC Radio Merseyside heard at 20:20 under Spain co-channel on 1485 kHz. This frequency was vacated by BBC Sussex recently. Absolute Radio has proposed a 50% power reduction of their AM service at 5 main transmitter sites on 1215 kHz as soon as possible and to close 12 lower power sites on 1197 kHz, 1233 kHz and 1260 kHz from May 2018.

These proposals have been brought up in the context of declining listening to AM radio and increasing transmission costs. If approved it is understood that in the future Absolute Radio which currently broadcasts in mono on the DAB Digital One multiplex could switch to stereo transmissions using conventional DAB or DAB+ when this becomes available on this multiplex. Ofcom opened a consultation which closed on March 2nd and a final decision was expected to be announced by the end of the month.

Short-wave

New station World Music Radio heard at 20:30 on 5840 kHz with many ID’s. Transmitter site is Randers (this is pronounced ‘Ranners’ not ‘Rand –ers’ ! Ed), Denmark with 100 watts only to a vertical antenna. Fair signal here. Voice of America via Udon Thani, Thailand heard signing on at 17:00 on 9760 kHz then in Tibetan. Hamburger local Radio, Gohen, Germany heard at 15:30 on 6190 kHz with English “World of Radio” DX programme. This is Saturdays only.

Missionswerk Friedennsstimme heard on 6060 kHz in Russian via Nauen, Germany at 16:00 and also on Saturdays only. Voice of America Radio, Deewa heard signing off at 17:00 via Udon Rhani, Thailand. Radio Deewa is a service for Pashto speakers in the Afghanistan – Pakistan border area. Voice of America, Sao Tome heard signing on at 21:30 on 6040 kHz.

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QSL-‘s received

Deutscher Wetterdienst, Pinnerberg, Germany 5905 kHz / 6180 kHz – card showing antennae

Radio Caroline 648 kHz, Orfordness – card for report with SAE to P.O. Box 12534, Maldon, Essex, CM9 9EX

Voice of Mongolia 6005 kHz via Kall, Germany – QSL with picture of a lama-boy at a temple

End Time Radio 9400 kHz via Bulgaria – letter received from Bolton, Lancashire

Malin Head Coastguard 1677 USB – Information and photos of transmitters and antennae (see separate item below). Sent 5 Euro for reply.

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History of Malin Head Radio Station

Created by an Irish radio amateur. This includes a brief description of some of the current transmitters operated from Malin Head

MRSC Malin Head – EJMMF/HF RT

Our main HF/MF RT transceivers are currently supplied by Rhode & Schwarz. (Our previous transmitters were manufactured by SPT). The R&S units were installed in 2005 and have proved extremely reliable. The receiver/exciter module GX2900L, PA VK2900 (1Kw) and PSU IN2900. We have 4 of these transceivers units in the transmitter room. This setup provides redundancy in case of failures. Remote control is achieved using Siemens DICS Node.

This allows our Operators to control the transmitters locally and for our sister stations at Valentia Island, Co Kerry and IRVH HQ in Dublin to also have control if required. Two of the transmitters are connected to the East tower and two are connected to the West tower. They can be operated in simples or duplex mode. The West mast transceivers are used for broadcasting weather/Nav warnings and connecting vessels requiring a medico linkcall to a hospital.

We transmit on 1677 kHz and listen on 2102 kHz USB. We also use the West transmitters for sending MF DSC calls. The East mast transceivers are for the calling and distress frequency 2182 kHz. The East/West towers are radiators and are approx. 44 metres high. Each tower has an earth mat.

Rhode & Schwarz Transceivers installed 2005

SPT Transmitters with SAIT CST1001 Transmitters in foreground – replaced 2005

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Base of West Tower/Mast

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Rhode & Schwarz ATU

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Skanti backup MF/HF RT

There are currently two Skanti transceivers (750W) located in the transmitter room to provide a backup service should all our main R&S transmitters fail. These units are end of life. They will shortly be replaced by new Rhode & Schwarz 500W transceivers. The Skanti transmitter use a broadband wire antenna (see accompanying picture). The horizontal section is approx. 15 metres long and the vertical section approx. 12 metres.

Skanti transceivers/Power supply units and wall mounted ATU

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Navtex

Out Navtex transmitters are supplied by SAIT. Model CST2001 and the operating software/servers supplied by ICS Electronics UK. The transmitters are 1Kw and our Navtex identifier is Q. We broadcast various weather forecasts. Gale warnings and navigational warnings on 518 kHz.

Malin Head also provides a service for UKCG to give increased coverage to the western isles of Scotland for local weather and nav warnings. This is broadcast on 490 kHz.

The Navtex transmitters use a Wire “T”. This antenna is suspended between the East and West towers/masts and is hoisted in place using ropes and pulleys with each end having 30cm ceramic isolantite insulator. The vertical is approx. 40 metres and the horizontal portion is approx 85 metres. The Navtex ATU is located at the base of the vertical drop.

Navtex and Skanti Wire antenna down leads

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Main & Standby Navtex TX with server cabinet centre

Ceramic Antenna insulator

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Navtex outdoor ATU

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Navtex and Skanti Wire antenna down leads

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MF/HF Receive Antenna

The Antenna used for MF/HF reception is located approximately 0.5 miles from Malin Head radio station. The Antenna is a wire “T” and is connected back to the centre on 600 ohm open wire balanced feeder. The feeder is converted back to 50 ohm co-ax via a Minns balun. In the transmitter room we have a 12 port distribution box once again manufactured by Minns.

12 port Minns distribution unit

Operations room 2012

MRSC Malin Head Operations room and equipment

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Alpha side equipment 2017

Screens – CCTV, Alert and notification Paging, Voice Recording.Recessed unit – Navtex receiver, Siemens Audio unit for operating the R&S transceivers, Tetra base set, Local Skanti control unit

Siemens Audio unit provides control on Rhode & Schwarz Transceivers on West mast

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Bravo side equipment 2017

Screens – AIS, Alert and notification. Tetra base set top on the left.Recessed equipment - Antenna current meters, Siemens audio unit for controlling the R&S transceivers, Modern and control unit for remote Skanti transceiver located in Belmullet Co Mayo.

Siemens Audio unit provides control on Rhode & Schwarz Transceivers on East mast

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MRSC Malin head – Winter scene

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Malin Head Operations room 2003

Various HF receivers, Linkcall unit, SPT Transmitter control units, Antenna current meters, two tone paging panel, Motorola Centracom radio switch, Navtex receiver, MF DSC receiver, Dataease logging screens, VHF DSC screen

EJM Radio room circa 1980’s

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Typical Remote VHF site radio equipment

3 channel Filter combiner cabinet

TAIT 800 series (100 watt) 3 channel transceiver cabinet. A & B radio for each channel. 100W transmitter. Ch16/67/Working channel

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1874 - 1937Birthplace: Palazzo Maredcalchi, Bologna, Italy

Researcher: Peter Homer EI4JRwww.echoireland.com

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Diary

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Apr 2nd, 80m CW Club Championship 20:00 - 21:30

Apr 3rd, 144MHz FMAC and UKAC 19:00 - 22:30

Apr 5th, Club Night: Breakfast Machine - Mervyn Huggett 2E0WVE

Apr 10th, 432MHz FMAC and UKAC 19:00 - 22:30

Apr 11th, 80m SSB Club Championship 20:00 - 21:30

Apr 12th, 50MHz UKAC 19:00 - 22:30Apr 12th, Committee Meeting - QTH G3ZBU

Apr 15th, West London Radio and Electronics Fair - Kempton Park 10:00http://www.radiofairs.co.uk

Apr 19th, Social Evening: The Five Bells - Smock Alleyhttp://www.thefivebellsinn.com

Apr 21st, International Marconi Day

Apr 22nd, Andover Radio Amateur Club Spring Boot Sale - Wildhern Village Hall 10:00http://www.arac.org.uk

Apr 26th, 80m Data Club Championship 20:00 - 21:30

May 1st, 144MHz FMAC and UKAC 19:00 - 22:30

May 3th, Club Night: High Power Small Transmitting Loops

For details on the above contests use this link and follow to the appropriate sectionhttp://rsgb.org/main/radio-sport

All above times are BST

Committee/Club Meetings and Socials start at 20:00