Cambridge Amateur Radio Club repeater VE3SWR went QRT

The Cambridge Amateur Radio Club VE3SWA’s repeater VE3SWR went QRT earlier last month following a break-in at the shed where the club stores its equipment.

Stepping up and lending a helping hand ( or is that a 'helping ham') the Kitchener-Waterloo Amateur Radio Club.

While the Cambridge club sorts out the damage and the losses from the early September incident, members have been given use of the Kitchener-Waterloo club's equipment and repeaters. Harry Niezen, VE3HZ, The President of the Kitchener club told CBC that it was natural for the club to open its doors to help fellow hams.

According to a story on the CBC website, Scott Mitchell, VA3GGT, The President of the Cambridge club said that the club's electric generator went missing along with numerous tools after the break-in.

Part of the storage shed had been set on fire and the club's repeaters suffered smoke damage. The club's duplexer had been thrown to the other side of the shed and was destroyed.

Cambridge Amateur Radio Club - https://www.cambridgeham.ca/

HEMA Award Scheme Updates

The HEMA Summit award scheme is slowly expanding with Cyprus, East Malaysia and West Malaysia being added to it and the first activations occurring from these regions in the last few months.

There's been the first World HEMA Day on 1st and 2nd September 2023. There was a good response and all certificates have been sent out. Congratulations to Bill M0DXT and David M0YDH as joint top scorers. It looks like it will be run again around the same time next year.

A Smartphone App for Android smartphones "HEMA Assistant" is in the testing phase and spotting and listing spots with the app are working. Other features are still under development.

If you want to learn more about this amateur radio portable operating scheme and to check if there is a qualifying summit (or summits) visit http://www.hema.org.uk.

YOTA Month 2023

December is Youngsters on the Air, or YOTA, month and is an exciting opportunity for you, your club, school, or social group to host an amateur radio station with the aim of getting youngsters active on the amateur bands.

Once approval from Ofcom is received, the RSGB will provide access to the special callsign GB23YOTA and a full list of operating slots will be made available on QRZ.com.

These slots will be first-come, first-served, so check your calendars and reserve your place as soon as possible. If you’d like to register your interest for YOTA month, or simply ask for further information, you can email Jamie, M0SDV at yota.month@rsgb.org.uk