Amateur Radio Build Off in Cornwall

/

On 1 August 2021, the radio operators of Cornwall are holding the first Cornwall Antenna Build-Off.

This is a free event, organised by Callum, G5XDX with the support of local stations and sponsored by PJ BOX.

As well as the Build-Off there are bring-and-buy tables available as well as refreshments.

For details of the event and competition rules please search @g5xdx on Facebook

Brendan Quest 2 metre Trans-Atlantic Attempt

/

In an update issued on July 14th, Frank Davis announced that the VO1FN Transatlantic VHF project has received important support from SHF Elektronik Siggi DJ2MM who have sponsored an MVV 144-VOX Mast Mounted preamp. The unit has been received and will be installed in the coming days.

The unit has been modified by Siggi with more sensitive circuitry to deal with the very weak VHF signals to be expected on the Transatlantic path. This preamp will also enable the station to utilize its new FT991A transceiver to transmit in return to any signals heard. He also thanked Mr. Martin Jue of MFJ for sponsoring two 12VDC BiasT units for the irish station EI2DHK and Newfoundland Labrador station VO1FN. Both units have been received.

The VO1FN location will use the Bias T to power the SHF Mast Mounted Preamp. The EI2DKH beacon is now running 24/7 beaming across the Atlantic hoping to make contact with North America. The radio is an Elad Duo SDR with GPS DO operating on 28 MHz into a transverter. The Duo output is 1 milliwatt and the transverter delivers 10 Watts into a 100 Watt linear amplifier, so all systems are cool running except the amplifier which is fan cooled.

The station run by Tony EI8JK transmitting Q65 (60 sec, sub mode C) with CW ID every even minute on 144.488 MHz with audio frequency of 1500 Hz and it receives Q65 every odd minute on 144.178 MHz with audio frequency of 1500 Hz

Swiss Radio Amateurs Face Fee to use QO-100

/

The Swiss communications regulator OFCOM charges £55 (CHF 70) to issue radio amateurs with special permits to use the QO-100 amateur satellite transponders

A post on the USKA website indicates OFCOM wishes to protect license-exempt users in 2.4 GHz and OFCOM reserves the right to withdraw the special permit if there are problems.

The special permit entitles the holder to use a transmitter with a maximum output of 100 W PEP for a satellite uplink in 2400-2410 MHz. As part of their application radio amateurs must submit the following information:

  • Call sign and license number

  • Location (place name, address)

  • CH coordinates (new coordinates, e.g. 2,600,000 / 1,200,000, not Google degrees!)

  • Antenna gain (dBi)

  • Antenna height above ground (m)

  • Direction of the antenna (°)

  • Elevation of the antenna (°)

  • e-mail address

  • Telephone number at which the surgeon can be reached while the system is in operation

Switzerland's national amateur radio society USKA - https://tinyurl.com/IARU-Switzerland