RSARS QSL BUREAU – Newsletter 109 (Bryan’s Bureau Blog)

Future and Current Events: (Full details on our website)

Special Event and DX Stations. (Including members travelling away from home)

(N2DAN Key Award) to 29 June 2016 G4LRG

GB0PAL 100th Ann of British Pals WW1 01 - 28 May 16 GW0WEE

GB4BOJ 100th Ann Battle of Jutland 01 - 28 Jun 16 GW4XKE

GB2RSM Museums on Air 16 - 19 Jun 16 M0GKD

GB0SOM 100th Ann Battle of The Somme 01 - 28 Jul 16 G4KLE

There is another for October already notified and maybe another for June so it is all happening –

“every little helps” Yes, they all have affiliated numbers. (perks of the job as I have them all listed)

Members are needed to operate G3SIG during 2016

2016 Area Operator

April GI3SIG GI3KVD

May G3SIG M0OIC

June Vacant

July G3SIG G4JVJ

August Vacant

September Vacant

October Vacant

November Vacant

December Vacant

If new members appear (well, we can but hope?) during nets I or Linda 2E1SIS (with me beside her)

will exchange with G3SIG (England only of course) if that month is not already allocated. However,

it would be better if another member was ready so please look at the vacant 2016 months and contact

me before all places are taken?

I am aware that a number of members require GI3SIG, a couple to complete the set, so I wish David

best band conditions during April.

QSL Bureau Users

As always, the list of members using the bureau is shown on our website (always front page - latest

updates), in both callsign and member number order. Latest edition is dated 01 April 2016. Please

check this before sending cards to members for if not listed your cards will be returned to you. Copies

of the bureau list can be sent to members (PDF file) by email if having trouble downloading from our

website. You have my email address and it will be my pleasure to assist.

I am pleased to report that cards are being received into the bureau. That is the good news. The bad

news is that a number of these are for members who have never used our bureau, they will be returned

to senders. Please check the RSARS website (latest updates) where the lists of bureau users are pub-

lished.

Members joining the bureau since 01 March 2016

M1CCF re-joined

The Statistics: (March)

Cards Received Sent

2006 542 523

2007 79 203

2008 206 131

2009 84 220

2010 160 228

2011 160 102

2012 224 637

2013 293 469

2014 363 192

2015 66 183

2016 87 22

Cards have been received from Rick AI5P for members working VP2MXP 4063 on the island of

Montserrat. So members can see what they may have missed, or an image of the card to be sent in

their next batch, mine is below. A collectable for lovers of all things ‘The Beatles’

Finally, there is bad news and there is good news. The bad news is that we have lost the company of

David Z63MED from Kosovo. The good news is that David has retired to the USA and is expecting

to obtain his US license in due course. I would like to record my thanks to David for keeping us busy

on radio and me busy in the bureau. Importantly we look forward to a sked when his new callsign is

known.

Special Event Callsigns

With the lack of our new members calling in to nets we are very dependent on members travelling

overseas, and closer to home, those running Special Event calls. Members holding full licences can

apply for a NoV for what they may consider a worthwhile event. The last one applied for and operated

by M0OIC was GB8MC which was to commemorate 800 years since Magna Carta.

Various callsigns were considered with Ofcom finally agreeing with my request for GB8MC from 01

to 28 June 2015. I had a great time operating SSB, CW, PSK31, PSK63 and RTTY. A total of 629

stations were logged, all less those eQsl.cc only etc, receiving a card via RSARS, RNARS, RAFARS

or RSGB bureaux. I had a couple of OQRS requests and they were done within 24 hours. I also

registered GB8MC with LoTW, eQsl.cc (AG), HRDLog and of course Club Log. Full detailed infor-

mation was listed on QRZ.COM.

GB8MC worked 629 stations in 53 countries with 31 of these having been confirmed to date. What I

do find surprising is the fact that QRZ.COM shows 2,374 lookups? I find this strange only having

worked 629 stations but no doubt I could find out the reason.

I have been operating the RSARS QSL Bureau since March 2007 so am celebrating (hi!) my 9th

Anniversary by publishing my 109th Bureau newsletter. As one may appreciate I have seen a varied

assortment of cards passing across my desk. I mentioned David Z63MED now no longer operating

from Kosovo. However, thanks to him I remember Z63MED daily as I have the QSL card sent by

him to acknowledge our GB8MC QSO on my desk beside me. It supports my cups of coffee and is

shown below, both front and back.

Yes, it is a waterproof beer mat which is one of no doubt many used at their Queen’s Birthday Party

2015 at Kosovo. I don’t think there will be many of these found in Nottingham but we do have our

fair share of beer mat collectors I think. No, this one is not for sale.

So there you go, if you wish a little radio excitement why not get out the history book (many on-

line), find a suitable military event, submit your Nov to Ofcom and twist the arm of Mike G0SWY

for an AFF number. You will have fun and make a lot of people happy. I just look at it as a way of

giving a little back. I always send cards but some don’t, and as RSARS no longer require them for

claims you will not be under any pressure. If you don’t wish to purchase cards (our Society will not

pay for them) it will cost you nothing but your time.

M0OIC

RSARS QSL Bureau Manager