BARSCOMDUNMOW

STEBBING

NOTLEY

RAYNE HALSTEAD

WITHAM

COLCHESTER

COGGESHALL

Monthly Communication of theBraintree and District Amateur Radio Society

GX3XG

G3XG G6BRH

BRAINTREE

December 2017…that’s right OM, my handle is S A N T Aand I’m /aeronautical mobile this evening !

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Dec2017

UPDATE !

Well what a month Novembersmeetings were. Firstly the talk byNeil and Colin, aided by Owen, onDigital Radio. A very interestingevening. I think everyone learntsomething, but felt there is muchmore to learn about digital radio.Thanks again to Neil, Colin, andOwen.

Next was the Surplus EquipmentSale, with the emphasis being onSurplus Equipment and not Junk.This year I think we raised themost money ever. Helped by thesale of some of the club’s rigswhich had not been used for manyyears. Thanks to all who broughtalong items for sale. Thanks toeveryone who dug into their pock-ets. It was nice to see Tony andAnn who travelled down from Pe-terborough to visit the club.

We have just the Christmas socialto go, and then it will be the end ofthis year’s events. The programfor next year’s evening meetings islooking very interesting, withsome new topics to look forwardto.

Chairman’s ChatJohn, M5AJB

Contents Chairman’s Chat …………… 2 Meeting Report……………… 4Martin Luther Special Event…..…8Ham Wordsearch ……..………..11 Rallies/Contests…………….13/14 Committee Info ……..…… .... 14 Club Info …………………… 15

Thought for the month

We are still masters of our fate;We are still Captains of our souls.

W.S.Churchill

Meeting Cancelled

Please note the 26th Decembermeeting is cancelled. There willbe an informal 2m net instead

Well that’s all for this month. I wishall members a very Merry Christmasand a Happy New Year.

Best 73’s John M5AJB.

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Dec2017

time slots, which makes themspectrum efficient.

He explained that different TalkGroups (TG) encompass differentgroups of repeaters; TG1 –Worldwide, TG2 – Europe, Etc.Of the different versions of DMR,MARC (Mortorola AmateurRadio Club), Brandmeister andPheonix, repeaters in this area usethe latter of the three.Programming of radios isfacilitated by means ofdownloading “codeplugs”, for thegroup of repeaters required. Theseare free of charge and eithercompiled by user groups or clubs,or by equipment vendors for thebenefit of customers.A convincing home producedvideo with Colin M6NCU mobileand Neil operating a base stationwas shown demonstrating in acontrolled test that when ananalogue signal was scratchy a

DMR – A NEW MODE FORAMATEUR RADIO

Neil M0NAS gave an illustratedtalk on the subject of DigitalMobile Radio (DMR) to clubmembers. He described the Tier 2DMR standard used in amateurradio where two pairs use the samefrequency but in 30 millisecond

Meeting ReportsGeoff G1WRH

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Dec2017

Questions were answeredthroughout with operationalfunctions being demonstrated, e.g.echo, and online tracking ofrepeaters in use. The meetingconcluded with a discussion on thepros and cons of the mode and theimportance of good repeaterlocation for optimum coverage.

SURPLUS EQUIPMENT SALE

Planning for this commencedmany months in advance with theclub’s asset list being scrutinisedto indicate any little used itemswhich could be sold with thespecific aim of raising funds forthe purchase of newer equipment.Melvin took up his usual positionas auctioneer, with Davedescribing the items for sale,Edwin as cashier, and John asrunner.

digital signal gave better audioquality. We were advised thatbattery life of DMR handhelds istypically 40% better than that oftheir analogue counterparts.Colin took over to describe therange of transceivers available tothe amateur fraternity. Theseranged from handheld devices inthe region of £79 to mobiletransceivers from £300 - £400, notlimited to one manufacturer. Hethen made a contact using aMotorola 4600 through therepeater GB7HA (keeper Neil),with an operator Paul inBirmingham. Colin and hiscontact then switched to a useractivated TG to clear the originalfor other users. Owen M3OIL wason hand throughout to answer anytechnical queries and subsequentto the meeting offered the loan ofa handheld to members to try outthe mode.

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Dec2017

Items sold:

Icom IC271 £200Icom IC471 £160Yaesu FC902 ATU £125Yaesu FC707 ATU £75Various £87.30

Total £647.30 net

Although on the day it wasslightly disappointing to see thenumber in attendance, thepresence of viable items ofequipment and the high reservesset, together with membersdigging deep into their pocketsresulted in a good outcome assummarised below. Items not soldincluding a receiver with reserveprice of £80, and two itemscurrently under repair will betaken to the Canvey Rally in thenew year.

BADARS Club LibraryWe hold a collection of books and DVDs that feature electronicconstruction, operation, the history of radio, shortwave listening and otherforms of technology to do with radio, including the ‘Secret’ workcarried-out by amateurs during the war years.

Most hires are 20p per session.

19-01-17 …7

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to a web server that allowed you tocheck which stations you hadworked. The additional twostations (HG500REF andHG500PRO) could be used tosubstitute for two missing stationsfrom the other twelve.

I worked my first one (HG500N)on 3rd of November. When Ilooked it up on QRZ.com andlearned about the award I decidedto try and collect the rest of thestations.

Date Band Callsign 3 20 HG500N 4 20 HG500I 6 20 HG500A 6 20 HA500M 7 20 HG500R 9 20 HG500U 9 20 HG500T 9 20 HG500E 9 30 HG500H10 20 HG500L17 20 HA500R

I also worked HG500REF on 17mand HG500PRO (which seems tohave avoided finding it's way intomy log book!) They were all"rubber stamp" QSOs, but some ofthem took me outside of my CWcomfort zone due to themoperating much faster than Inormally go.

In the JOTA report in November'sBARSCOM there was mentionthat the Special Event stationHG500T was worked during theweekend. This was one of 14stations which were active duringthe month of October to celebratethe 500th anniversary of theReformation and to honour thememory of Martin Luther.

Twelve of the stations used theletters "MARTIN LUTHER" astheir suffix:

HA500M HG500LHG500A HG500UHA500R HG500THA500T HG500HHG500I HG500EHG500N HG500R

These were all operated by "Ráió éSzabadidő Klub" (Radio andLeisure Club) who offered anaward certificate for working alltwelve stations. Claiming theaward was made very easy as thestations were uploading their logs

Martin Luther

Special Event

PeterO, G0DZB

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Dec2017

While I worked them all on CW,they were also active on SSB andPSK during the month. Withenough stations worked to claimthe award I pressed the "AwardDownload" button and receivedmy certificate.

On-line log showing Peter’sQSOs

Club Equipment

You can borrow the club’s AerialAnalyser for only £1/day and theMorse Tutor (Less Battery) for

50p/2-week session.Ask one of the Committee for

information

Cont.d on P10

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Dec2017

Peter’s impressive certificate

Your Committee wish all members a happy ChristmasAnd invite you all to the club’s social evening

on the 12th December.

This year we will be providing a finger buffetInstead of the normal sit down meal

There will be a range of food to cater for every body.There will not be an evening feebut we would invite members

to bring along a raffle prize if they wish.Thank you all for your support during the last year

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Dec2017

Ham Wordsearch

How many ham related words canyou find? Words may be forwards,backwards, up, down or diagonal.

Answers next month

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Dec2017

Dec 12th

Christmas social

Dec 26thNatter NightInformal Club Net

Jan 9th 2018Natter night and TXF16

Jan 23rd 2018PAT / PAC Testing / Prep for

Canvey Rally

Feb 13th 2018TX Factor 17

Feb 27th 2018Datamodes Demos

PSK,SSTV,Logging

Mar 13th 2018Rig Clinic, club equipment

checking for 2018 events

Mar 27th 2018digital voice

Apr 10th 2018Talk/presentation from Essex

Fire and Rescue

Apr 24th 2018Sausage and mash

May 8thQRP Operating Evening/mota

update

May 11,12,13thMills on the Air

May 22ndThe AGM

Jun 12thAir Ambulance Talk/presentation

Jun 26th Club BBQ

Jul 10thConstruction Contest

Jul 24thAerial Clinic

Aug 14thRidgewell Airfield meeting

26th-28thSummer camp

Club Net - 08.00 pm local time, 2 Metres (S15) (145.375 MHz)First, third & fifth TUESDAYS

Club Meetings, Activities and Nets

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Dec2017

Rallies

29 DECEMBER 2017

YEOVIL AMATEUR RADIOCLUB TABLE TOP RALLY

Sparkford Village Hall, ChurchRoad, Sparkford, Somerset BA227JN

There is free parking at the venue.Doors open 10am to 3pm andentrance is £3. light refreshmentsare available. Contact Bob on01963 440 167 or by email towjh069@gmail.com

14 JANUARY 2018

RED ROSE WINTER RALLY

The George H Carnall LeisureCentre, Kingsway Park M41 7FJ

Venue is easily accessible from Jct9 of the M60 (opposite the TraffordCentre). This vast hall has superbdisabled facilities, being all on onelevel. It has a huge free car park.There will be our usual bring andbuy stall and there is an excellentcafé on site. Doors open at 11am.There will be trade stands, a Bring& Buy, special interest groups andan RSGB bookstall. Further details

from John on 0787 016 1953www.wmrc.co.uk

27 JANUARY 2018

HORNCASTLE RADIO RALLY

Banovallum School, MarehamRoad Entrance LN9 6DA

Entry £2. All on one level and allindoors, with all the usualattractions including bacon butties.Free car parking on site. Traderscontact 01507 527835 for details.Tony, G3ZPU on01507 527 835 oremailtony.nightingale@yahoo.co.uk

Jason, G0IZR on 01942 735828

See RSGB website for full listing.http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

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Dec2017

CommitteeChairman: John, M5AJB 01787 460947 1 Ross Cottage, Southey Green

Secretary/Membership Secretary: Edwin, GØLPO 01376 324031 42 Panfield Lane, Braintree,

Treasurer: Neville, G8CDG

Ordinary Members: Geoff, G1WRH 01376 323223 07745 569564 Melvin, GØEMK

ContestsHF

Sun 7 Jan. 1400-1800RSGB AFS 80m-40m ContestsCWHF ChampionshipAFS Super League

Sat 13 Jan. 1400-1800RSGB AFS 80m-40m ContestsPhoneHF ChampionshipAFS Super League

Sat 20 Jan. 1400-1800RSGB AFS 80m-40m ContestsDatamodesHF ChampionshipAFS Super League

VHFDec12 1900-2000 432MHz FMAC 2000-2230 432MHz UKAC14 2000-2230 50MHz UKAC19 2000-2230 1.3GHz UKAC21 1900-2000 70MHz FMAC 2000-2230 70MHz UKAC

26-9 Jan 1400-1600 50/70/144/432MHz Christmas Cumulative Contest

04 Feb 2018 0900-1300432MHz AFS

25Feb 2018 1000-120070MHz Cumulatives #1

http://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/http://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/

Braintree and District Amateur Radio SocietyThe club meets every 2nd and 4thTuesdays of the month at St PetersChurch hall, St Peters Road, offThe Causeway Braintree. Doorsopen at 7.30 pm, meetings runfrom 8 pm to 10 pm.

Membership is £16 annually;Senior members (State Retirementage) and Junior members, under18, pay £10. A door fee of £1 isalso payable at each meeting bymembers and visitors.

BARSCOM is sent to members bye-mail on the 7th of the month;paper copies are available at the

first meeting of the month (pluspostage if appropriate).

Members may sell or exchangeequipment etc. before the start ofeach meeting, during the tea/coffeebreak and may advertise inBARSCOM free of charge.

The Club Net operates on 2 metresonly. This should make it easier forall members to remember thefrequency, and for non-membersto find the net. The net will useV30 (S15) 145.375 MHz, starting20.00 hrs local time on the 1st, 3rd,and 5th Tuesdays of each month.

Please send articles for publication tomike.adcock@physics.org

The deadline for submissions for the next edition is 1st of the month. Items will be published in the first

available edition subject to space availability.

For more information and pictures of events and projects seeour Web Site at www.badars.co.uk

Please contact our Chairman for details about commercialadverts.

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Dec2017