Norfolk Operates GB19AUS for the Cricket World Cup
/Members of Norfolk Amateur Radio Club (NARC) have been operating GB19AUS (Australia) as part of the Cricket World Cup celebrations.
At the club’s recent “Radio Active” event, held on National Field Day (NFD) on 1 and 2 June, GB19AUS was given an airing, making more than 500 contacts.
The latest session was held on Thursday 6th June at Chris G0DWV’s well-equipped QTH and featured Julian 2E0DJR operating RTTY on 17/20/30/40 and 80 metres, making almost 200 contacts. Malcolm G3PDH and G0DWV, did a combination of 20/40 CW, SSB and FT8 on 20/40/80 and 160 metres, adding a further 350 contacts.
Malcolm G3PDH kicked off on 20 CW at noon, while Julian spent all his time on RTTY and had fun, running 400W to beams on 17m, 20m and 40m.
Activity on 80m and 160m for the call sign had been low and it was suggested by the coordinators that they try to activate these bands. After Malcolm left, Chris G0DWV moved to SSB/FT8 on 40/80/160m up until midnight when he finished.
“Conditions could have been better and there were times when calling for a few minutes resulted in no response – then you were spotted by someone and it went mad!
There were other times when it was a wall of callers (80m SSB) or a continuous stream of data on RTTY and FT8 with no spotting.
It is easy to operate with the callsign and even with a limited station you would have fun. Julian would encourage anyone to have a go and says it has rekindled his interest in the hobby after last weekend’s Radio Active NFD and GB19AUS.”
NARC says it will activate the call sign again in the near future as the Marathon runs from 30 May to 14 July 2019. Other activation’s of GB19AUS have been undertaken by G4CJC, G3PDH, M0NKR, G3SVK, G4FAL and M0DHP.
Special UK and international call signs are active on nine HF bands using SSB, CW and Digital modes. The UK is activating 31 special call signs with 11 for the cricket grounds in England and Wales and 10 for the tournament teams.
There are also call signs for Scotland, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. All UK call signs start with the prefix GB19.
