Come along and have you say, maybe even pay your subs !

There will be a short talk on ther project and a chance for those that participated to show yours and say how you found the build.

Come and  see!

This evening’s talk will be a short presentation on receiver sensitivity followed by a rig clinic.

Mike’s recent experience in re-tuning his K2 revealed just how sensitive that little rig is.

Dave will present a talk on how to measure sensitivity, featuring a practical demo of the K2 and the story of why Mike needed to re-tune it.

After this there will be a rig clinic. If you want your receiver measured, bring it along.

Please note we need to be able to get the audio out from the rig to a 3.5mm jack socket

Icom IC9700: how does it measure-up
as a VHF DX transceiver

The Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 5DG.
Open 10:30. Traders. Free parking. Bring & Buy. RSGB books. Raffle included
in entrance programme; more tickets available. On-site catering.
Contact: Stuart Jackson on 07880-732534

http://www.radioactivefair.co.uk

The Blackpool rally is on 26 April 2020, so it's time to start planning our involvement for this year, including content for the club stand etc.

Trade club stands and bring and buy.

http://www.wmrc.co.uk

Dave, G8KBB and Vincent, M0LCR will talk about the work they and other club members have been doing recently on the New Packet Radio protocol on the 430Mhz band

Remember packet radio from 30 years ago?  It's had an update.  F4HDK has produced a neat design for a high speed packet modem called 'NRP-70.  It nips along at half a megabit per second on 70cms.

Dave, Mike, Paul and Vincent have been experimenting.  Come along to the club this next Tuesday - Dave & Vincent will tell you all about it.

Exam update
Tony Kent, G8PBH

Dave, G0BCU, describes his solution to improving the frequency stability of his classic Yaesu FR50B receiver

Coronavirus: PM says everyone should avoid office, pubs and travelling https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51917562

Following his excellent talk on tropospheric propagation last year, Evan Duffield,

M0TJU from Stockport Radio Society has a talk on useful tips for operating on HF, including the modes SSB, CW, RTTY and PSK.

Do come along on the 17th and listen to Evan's approach to working on the HF bands.

No real format to the meeting, so a chance to chat with other club members on any amateur radio issues (and others), see what's going on in the shack etc etc.

A talk via “Zoom Video Conferencing” on the software and the hardware that several club members are using and developing to operate FreeDV which will then be followed by a live on air demo.

If you would like to participate please contact us.

Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 8AL

Next Tuesday (7^th April) will again be a three in one session. No formal talk this time. Instead:

• A natter night (bit like a big net)
• A chance to check your zoom setup
• An opportunity to try freedv / smalldv reception on air on 2 metres again and get advice on setting it up

Another get together via  ZOOM.  Paul, G1DVA will give us the story behind GB7AM, his D-Star and P25 repeater in Poynton.

Again via ZOOM, we propose a catch-up on some of the many SDR's now in use by doing some very short demo's by Steve, Alan, Dave, Mike, Peter and Paul

The NARSA 2020 rally has been cancelled due to CV19 and will resume again in 2021.

Yes the next NARSA Blackpool Rally dates announced as being Sunday April 26th.

Probably a short discussion on the various HF antennas used by club members, particularly antennas for restricted locations - more to follow?

Jeff, G1DYN will take the role of Quizmaster in a general knowledge quiz.

Jack will be describing the antenna he uses to receive the 60kHz standard frequency  transmitter located in Cumbria and also the amplifier which allows it to be positioned remotely from the receiver. He will also be describing his current experimental work using this type of antenna at 1.8MHz.'

The presentation will be about 160m activities from Tunisia, experimenting with various RX antennas, contesting on topband, involving youngsters, 7X7X Low bands DXP, etc.

A couple of short presentations of items, hopefully of interest, revealing what some members are up to in their shacks.  Mike, G4VSS and Peter G4LLG will oblige this time!

Steve, M0MOI will share his experiences in the design of an up converter for Es'hail satellite use.

He will talk mainly about the design ethos, demonstrate filtering out the odd harmonics from square waves and then explain why he doesn’t use it!

https://rsgb.org/main/blog/tonight-at-eight/2020/06/05/27-july-getting-started-on-qo-100-by-dom-smith-m0blf/

A very different format this year due to lockdown.  Full details on Page 18 of the June 2020 PW

https://batc.org.uk/live/RSGBhttps://batc.org.uk/live/RSGB

https://rsgb.org/main/blog/tonight-at-eight/2020/06/05/15-june-raspberry-pi-by-mike-richards-g4wnc/

As the title suggests, Jeff G1DYN will give us a look around the shack at G1DYN.

We again welcome Evan Duffield, M0TJU, from Stockport Radio Society, to deliver his presentation on HF operating tips

https://rsgb.org/main/blog/tonight-at-eight/2020/06/05/29-june-antennas-for-small-gardens-by-steve-nichols-g0kya/

Did you know these operate on 13.56Mhz just below the 20m band?  Or that the card generates a subcarrier just above the band?  Dave has talked about contactless cards before - but many members won't have heard it.  Join us on Tuesday for an updated presentation.

In a recently release video from the 2019 RSGB Convention, Tony Canning discusses what can be done about urban QRM, which affects most of us to some extent!

https://rsgb.org/main/blog/tonight-at-eight/2020/06/05/13-july-how-to-check-for-vdsl-rfi-by-john-rogers-m0jav/

Graham Coull is a part time ship keeper on the Ross Revenge and DJ on Radio Caroline which is now a legal broadcaster in the UK. He will talk about his time on the ship and some of the technical details about the vessel and the equipment. If asked nicely he will probably relate some of the more humorous stories as well.

https://batc.org.uk/live/oscar100net

We'll take a look at the ever popular Raspberry Pi, including setting up a Pi and some demonstrations of the uses club members are finding for this versatile piece of equipment, as follows:

Part 1 – Dave – “From box to booted” – covering the basics of how to get it up and running

Part 2 – Mike – A trip around the applications – a quick look at the types of radio projects that use a Pi

Part 3 – Steve – A short introduction to Python

Next in the 'Show Us Your Shack' series, Peter G4LLG will give us a look at what's in the shack.

Lee, G0AMU will take the role of quizmaster for this session.

https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/speakers.html

Still with an eye on social distancing etc, Jeff G1DYN and Lee G0AMU will play the part of 'foxes' in Grapenhall Village.  Note the earlier start time to hopefully complete in daylight!!  Note the times.  Start on the car park outside the clubhouse.

Tonight at the Warrington ARC, James M7JDJ and Dave G8KBB will deliver a talk in two parts.

First Dave will briefly cover the theory of Vector Network Analysers

Then James will deliver a hands on presentation of how to use it

The Committee will describe the steps taken to comply with Covid regulations and guidelines towards safely opening the clubhouse.  Members will then have the chance to share their views and comments regarding attendance at the club in the near future.

Part one of a two part event tonight.

Join us this evening by Zoom to hear the first part of Jeff G1DYN's presentation on portable operation.

Part two will be two weeks later on 15th September

GQRP Club 2020 Online Convention

The GQRP Club has released a detailed agenda for its Online Convention 2020, taking place on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th September

tickets available https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gqrp-club-2020-online-convention-tickets-115417887007https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gqrp-club-2020-online-convention-tickets-115417887007

http://www.gqrp.com/convention.htm

members price £4 non members £10

https://rsgb.org/main/blog/tonight-at-eight/2020/07/21/7-september-portable-adventures-with-summits-on-the-air-sota-by-james-stevens-m0jcq/

Phil G6GIY is well know to many in the club for supplying a range of Motorola Astro transceivers for 2m and 70cms.

What makes these rigs stand out is their support of the P25 digital mode.

Join us on Zoom to hear more

WARC will be operating a special event callsign from the church in Croft to participate in the Churches OTA event and introduce amateur radio to folks visiting on the day.

Part two of a two part event tonight.

Join us this evening by Zoom to hear the final part of Jeff G1DYN's presentation on portable operation.

Tx Factor 26 has recently been released, some content being held over from last March due to the lockdown difficulties, some being newly produced.  Probably with some editing, we'll take a look at this edition which includes an interview with PW VHF/UHF  author,Tim Kirby and reviews of some of the latest Icom products and add-ons.

PW September 2020 issue has latest rules:

You May operate fixed or portable subject to complying with the spirit and letter of prevailing government coronavirus regulations and guidelines lines !

As usual two sections 10 Watt low power.

Full legal limit!

Two parts to tonight. Paul will give us a short presentation on a project a few of us have been playing with over the last few months - IP phones, and after the success of the morse tutor and FreeDV projects in recent months, it is proposed that we discuss and gather some ideas for some new projects to get started on.  All ideas welcome!

Phil, G6GIY will give a talk on his time in Air Traffic Control.

In response to the UK’s continuing social distancing regulations, the RSGB Convention Committee has changed the arrangements for the Society’s Convention on 9-11 October. Instead of the physical Convention in Milton Keynes, the Society is instead holding an online Convention on Saturday 10 October. Whether you’re a new licensee or have been enjoying amateur radio for many years there will be a range of topics from expert speakers that you can enjoy free throughout the day. The RSGB will announce further details of the presentations and how to take part over the coming weeks

check out some of the talks from 2019 https://www.youtube.com/user/TheRSGB

We welcome Chris Cunliffe, G7OOD from the Oldham Amateur Radio Club who will talk about the development of the Electric Car.

Jack, G3JIR will talk about some homebrew techniques and the construction of a Colpitts oscillator which is currently a club project.  He is constructing the project himself in order to help other club members to successfully complete their own vfo's.

Mike, G4VSS will talk about the RSGB Beyond Exams initiative and look at how newer members to the club, and indeed all of us, can benefit from this.

After a number of interesting projects have been identified recently, it seems like a good time to have a review and look at the progress made and hear some thoughts from members who are getting involved.

Following the recent totally 'online' RSGB Convention, we will take a look at the Keynote Address by Eric Swartz, WA6HHQ, co-founder of 'Elecraft'.

https://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2020/rclubcalls.shtml
https://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2020/rclubcalls.shtml

https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/afs.pl

Warrington Club VMP registered as WARR

59(9) plus Serial Number starting at 001.   If you are not sent a serial number, log a zero.

In addition, on SSB send: "Club HQ", "Club Member" or "No Club". On CW the equivalent abbreviations to be sent are: HQ, CM or NC  (If using N1MM+ log H, C or N)

Club HQ & Club Member stations also send their four-letter Club Name abbreviation, listed here.

The RSGB HQ Station (G#6XX or other pre-announced callsign) may be active during the contest, and will submit a Checklog - log as a "Club HQ".

An update on the website update project and discussion of what we want for the club over the next year. All welcome to join and discus or listen.

Steve Shorey’ - Retired Senior Radio Systems Engineer with the Met Police. Instrumental in pursuing many of the innovations that improved Police Communications in London through the 1990s. Licensed as G3ZPS in 1970 whilst still at school and still active’

https://www.cqww.com/

Another look at network analysers and the nano VNA - by James G5JIM and Dave G8KBB

We welcome Chris, G0FDZ with a talk on the millimetre waves, he says:

"Many of you may have glanced at the very highest frequencies shown on your licence schedule and thought to yourself "Who on earth uses these frequencies?" Well a small but dedicated group of microwave enthusiasts in the UK do and they regularly make contacts, sometimes at surprisingly long distances and with very low power".

Chris G0FDZ has been operational on these frequencies for many years and will tell us what goes on, and the techniques used for equipment to use on the bands, where the wavelength is measured not in centimetres but in millimetres - the smallest being just 1.2mm.

Chris has operational equipment for all of the millimetre-wave bands and will be describing it in his presentation.

We welcome Ian, G0XBU who will talk about the development and implementation of websdr's at Jodrell Bank and Clee Hill in Shropshire.

https://fb.me/e/13CYQHy25

https://batc.org.uk/live/

Jim, G3NFB will test our knowledge with a quiz at the last meeting before Christmas!

We welcome John, G3XDY with a presentation on the construction of VHF/UHF solid state amplifiers.