SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS

W8/MM5PSL

Peter will be leaving the UK on the 14th October 2010 and spending a couple of days at a farm near Parma, 80-miles west of Detroit USA. Then flying up to up to Legacy House at 'Doc and Tom', a small lake near Clare, 150-miles north of Parma.
Peter is not expecting to be QRV from Legacy House until about the 18th or 20th October.
(Note this is a well-earned holiday for Peter, so the holiday comes first, although equally his passion for amateur radio and RSARS are there at the front.)
No VE3 trips have been planned yet and may not materialise. He will be touring/visiting/fishing some of the time but whatever happens, info will be fed back via the Pilot (Kit GM4EMX).
Thereafter and subject to conditions and itinerary, Peter is hoping to be QRV most days from 18th October to 8th November usually at 18:00 UTC. Frequencies: 14.056/14.040 MHz CW or if conditions permit 14.270 MHz SSB. He will also listen for VK/ZL activity on 14.143 MHz SSB, VE/W activity on 14.180 MHz.
Peter will also be visiting an old friend, Ken, WA8REI at Saginaw, 80-miles south east of the lake. Ken is hoping to have a new tower up with a 7-element Yagi on a 24ft boom by the time Peter arrives there or soon after. Here's hoping!
Please note re CW (no pun intended) Peter does not consider himself very proficient in Morse and probably attains only 12wpm. Like the Pilot he has to write everything down, so adequate spacing between characters would be appreciated please.

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UPDATE 17th October 2010

Peter has arrived safely and all is well. He is still at the farm at Parma. Planning on going up to Doc and Tom lake on Tuesday. Should have the antenna up by Wednesday or Thursday and looking for members.
WX has been nice. Sunny today and yesterday. Temps in the high 50's F, low 50's at night.
Thereafter and subject to conditions and itinerary as published, Peter is hoping to be QRV most days from 18th October - 8th November usually at 18:00 UTC.
Frequencies: 14.056/14.040 MHz CW or if conditions permit 14.270 MHz SSB.
He will also listen for VK/ZL activity on 14.143 MHz SSB, VE/W activity on 14.180 MHz.

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UPDATE 20th October 2010

Since Peter has arrived he has had lovely WX in the USA. About 36F on the 19th with bright sunshine all day.
(100% plus better than snow-covered Aberdeen this morning)
Peter arrived at the lakeside house about lunchtime on the 19th and the antenna is up; a Hustler 4BTV 4-band trapped vertical for 40, 20, 15 and 10m. Ground plane has only three radials, one with the end in the lake. Worked SSB stations in PY and W on 10 and 20m. Getting good reports for SSB. Antenna works a treat. A temporary problem with CW. We don't have a mono jack plug for the key! Too late and too far to get one tonight 19th. so no CW for the moment.
Plan for today 20th October, SSB only, 14.270 MHz at 18:00 UTC with fingers crossed, plus calling from time to time or listening for calls through until 23:00 UTC.

CLOSING THE STORY
Received 8th November 2010

So that's it for this year from Peter W8/MM5PSL.
Peter listened Sunday morning but a US Sprint event put paid to any chance of contacting UK. Peter has to tidy up and pack everything away over the next few days. On Monday (USA) Peter heads back out to the farm, and away from all that interesting wild life that has been keeping him alive with interest outside the panoramic window by the lake.
Peter only managed a total of eight RSARS members. He heard several others calling but they couldn't hear him. The problem seems to be a mix of poor propagation and not the best choice of antenna. A dipole above the roof might have produced better results. However one has to mitigate the situation as Peter has to rely on others for putting up antennas. But I believe we must thank Peter despite his self-criticism for putting in a gallant effort whilst on holiday, as do all our members who take the time to activate the name of RSARS. Peter started taking the antenna down on Sunday night US time and he was still not finished as it got dark. Like quite a few of us in our mature years or as Peter says "Not as young as I was!". It's taking Peter a lot longer than he had expected.
Peter will be making his way to civilisation , on the 9th and 10th November, and flying home from Detroit on 11th to Heathrow, staying a few days with his sister in Bedford, then back to Scotland and the Shetland Island by 16th November, via Edinburgh and Sumburgh airports.
Peter will sort out all of the QSL cards when he gets home and dispatch to Bryan.
Thanks to all the members who have relayed the details of Peter's activities by e-mail, radio nets, Text and word of mouth. It's just a big big pity there were not very many QSOs. Certainly it has not been as successful as Peter would have wished or hoped for. (Quote "Maybe next time de W8/MM5PSL!").

FOOTNOTE: 14 December 2010

G3SIG
Yes, the well-known call sign but this time SOMETHING SPECIAL!

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the activation of G3SIG as the "Quicksilver" team call, Dave G4ETG will take on the call once again for the weekend 15/16/17 May 2010 - using the RSARS Affiliated Number F287.
Dave's plan is to operate for as long as possible on all three days and the operation will be SSB only - CW was never used with Quicksilver as it was a public display.
Quicksilver was part of the Royal Signals Recruiting Team. The other part being the White Helmets Motor Cycle Display Team. You can read the full story on the website at: http://www.rsars.org.uk/quicks.htm
You may contact Dave by e-mail: wizard.g4etg@ntlworld.com

 

GB95STD
this St. Dunstan's call (affiliated to RSARS) is to be active from 24th February to 6th March.
St Dunstan's Amateur Radio Society, (G3STD , G8STD) - Contact: Mr E John, G3SEJ, 52 Broadway Avenue, Wallasey, Wirral, CH45 6TD. This is a national organisation for men and women blinded in the service of their country.

GB7ØAAF
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of Airborne Forces this station (with an RSARS affiliated classification) will be operated by Jack G3PWK on 22nd June from 0800A to give members an opportunity for a CW contact and in the afternoon Jack will call into the usual Net.
On 26th and 27th June he will be on from about 1000A and if 80m is not open will go HF.
Latest info (1 June 2010): " I have been able to make arrangements to open the station at 0830 Hrs local on the 26 June. I will be on 3740 + or - "

V21RP
Over the period 8th to 30th May 2010 Ray, GØFHK (a white stick amateur), whilst visiting the beautiful sunny island of Antigua and Barbuda, West Indies hopes to operate on 7.028MHz, 10.118MHz and 14.058MHz all +/- QRM. Times most likely are 2000 to 2300UTC but flexibility could be the word as with any member working from an overseas situation.

GB6TPR
From 13th to 25th August, operated by Sam G4OHX, this Special Event Station (Affiliated to RSARS) is in honour of the 60th birthday of The Princess Royal - Colonel-in-Chief Royal Signals.
QSL cards will be sent out by the RSARS QSL Bureau but cards are NOT required to be sent in by stations worked.

GB4HFH
("Help For Heroes") will be active 1st to 8th June 2010 at the Training Wing, 21 Signal Regiment (AS) Colerne, Wiltshire SN14 8QY at various times subject to the situation at an operational station.
And from 1st to 28th July from a post code location CF64 4TG subject to availability, social hours and conditions at the time.
QSLs via RSGB, RSARS, RAFARS, RNARS or DIRECT QSL (requires SSAE) via GW4XKE.
Further details will appear here if necessary.
Contact GW4XKE - johnny-e@ic24.net

GB5AFD
("Armed Forces Day") will also be active 1st to 8th June at the Training Wing, 21 Signal Regiment (AS) Colerne, Wiltshire SN14 8QY at various times subject to the situation at an operational station.
This call will be activated again from 21st to 30th June from BARS Sully, Vale of Glamorgan CF64 5SP.
And from 1st to 28th July from a post code location CF64 4TG subject to availability, social hours and conditions at the time.
QSLs via RSGB, RSARS, RAFARS, RNARS or DIRECT QSL (requires SSAE) via GW4XKE.
Further details will appear here if necessary.
Contact GW4XKE - johnny-e@ic24.net

Find out more about Armed Forces Day

OTHER SPECIFIC ACTIVITY by RSARS MEMBERS

I am honoured to have the N2DAN key for the year which means you can work me on CW for an extra point for which I shall be using the RSARS Affiliated Number F283. The year starts 1st July.
I shall be QRV on the usual bands from G.

G6PAA in the ANTIPODES
From about 6th to 15th December 2009 as VK4/G6PAA.
16th December 2009 to 13th January 2010 as VK6/G6PAA.
15th January 2010 to 2nd March 2010 variously ZL4/G6PAA, ZL3/G6PAA, ZL2/G6PAA and ZL1/G6PAA.

Jim is planning to be active on CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK

5R8HX and ZS5/G4OHX 
Plan:-
26th December 2009 - overnight flight to Johannesburg.
28th December 2009 - fly to Madagascar [Antananarivo (ANTO)]. I will be QRV as 5R8HX.
3rd January 2010 - fly to Jo'burg.
4th January 2010 - fly from Jo'burg to Durban.
4th to 16th January 2010 - I will be in ZS5 (St. Lucia) and as long as I can get my dipole over a couple of trees I will be QRV as ZS5/G4OHX.
17th January 2010 - Jo'burg to UK on an overnight flight.
As usual, the holiday comes before radio JUST !!!!!!!

F/G3PNF
Going to France for a week from 3rd - 10th September. Operating from late on the 3rd to late on the 9th. Should be on 80, 40, and 20 metres, mostly on CW with the N2DAN key, and its associated Affiliated number.
To contact Dennis by email: signaller@live.co.uk  

XV2LC and XV4LC
Greetings to all RSARS Members.
I will be on a DX-Vocation, returning back to Vietnam 12th August 2010 to 10th September 2010.
There will be remedial repair work on the antennas in Ho Chi Minh City and to activate my old station XV2LC again. I know I have worked 75% of our active members on Phone or CW and this trip an RSARS Affiliated number F292 has been allocated to lift the challenge (thanks to Mike GØSWY) .
I will spend the time as required to get you all, if conditions allow, 20m and 40m may be the key!! I may also be operating from the West Coast north from Vung Tau at a seaside location of Ho Coc where I did operate the low bands in 2007.

5B/G3RWF
Off to Cyprus Tuesday 7th September 2010 for 16 days (to 23rd September).
To contact Nick by email: nick@henwood.demon.co.uk

5Z4LS
 
G3RWF returning to Nairobi, Kenya on 23rd November 2010 and then on to Fort Portal, Uganda on 30th November. Returning on about 16th December.

Email Nick at: nick@henwood.demon.co.uk

SOME SOCIETY MEMBERS' REGULAR ACTIVITY

VA3TRM
Terry usually checks 21170kHz and 21056kHz every Thursday at 1300Z for possible RSARS contacts but recently (November 2007) has said he will also be on 14210kHz or 14142kHz [plus/minus QRM] on Thursdays from about 1330Z for an hour. Good hunting and don't forget his website is at http://va3trm.ve3kbr.com/
Terry also uses VA3SIG and VE3RCS
Email Terry at: va3trm@cogeco.ca

SOME SOCIETY CALL SIGN ACTIVITY

G4CCF/F054
March 2008: In the interests of the Society Awards scheme this call sign is now held by Sam, G4OHX on behalf of the Society and will be activated in the near future.

G3SIG
This peripatetic call sign in its several manifestations (G, GD, GI, GJ/GU GM & GW) has its own G3SIG AWARD special page which details the Rules, the historical data of the Awards earned by members and the future movements of the call.