M i d S u s s e x M a t t e r s - Mid Sussex Amateur Radio Society

Volume 2, Issue 8
M i d
S u s s e x
M a t t e r s
December 2014
Editors Chit Chat
Inside this
issue:
R.S.G.B. Annual
2
Construction
/
Competition
4
From the
President’s
Corner
5
From the Chair
December 2014
Diary Dates
Fish and Chip
Supper Photos
6
6
7
Well Done Alex!
Please read all about it inside.
Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year
Please take note:From January 1st 2015 midsussexmatters@gmail.com will no longer
be a valid email address for you to send copy to.
The email that copy can be sent to is newsletter@msars.org.uk which
is running in tandem with the Gmail at the moment.
Best Wishes
Stella, Editor of MSM and Publicity Officer
1
R.S.G.B. Annual Construction Competition
‘Designer’ Category: Remotely Operated Antenna
Switch (Prototype)
Function
This design allows a wireless operator to change antennas using
radio data link modules, thus reducing the number of antenna
cables
feeding
the
transceiver/A.T.U..
Switching
is
virtually
instantaneous.
Method of operation
The Antenna Switch is in two parts: the coder and transmitter, and
decoder, power relays, control board and receiver. Coder and
decoder are 8 bit address-8 bit data handling I.Cs. Both radios are
wide-band F.M. .
Coder ABS Box
2
Remotely Operated Antenna Switch (Prototype)
Continued
An antenna is selected by using a rotary switch fixed to the coder
box. This action sends a signal via a data input and the transmitter
to the receiver and the decoder data output, i.e. the wireless link
(For information on coder, decoder and radios, see appendix). A
high output on the data output (V.T. = Verified Transmission) will
‘switch-on’
the
associated
F.E.T.,
that
in
turn
latches
the
appropriate relay; the relay stays latched until the rotary switch on
the coder box is moved to another position.
Antenna Switch Cabinet Top End View
3
Remotely Operated Antenna Switch (Prototype)
Continued
Antenna Switch Cabinet
Protection
The braid of each antenna and its associated relay pin are
connected to a common ground which is the underside of the
P.C.B., which in turn is connected to an external earth. This
precaution is necessary in the event that all antenna inputs
are in place but not the cable to the radio.
For more information please contact me on
m0tot@msars.org.uk
Alex. Henderson m0tot
4
From the President’s Corner
Winter is here with rain and cold but Christmas is also coming up fast
so get ready to enjoy yourselves!
DX conditions continue to amaze me with lots of worldwide rare ones
out there even on 10m. Those of us who chase these are still doing well
despite the fact that we should by now be down the slope of the
present cycle which is still showing little sign of declining.
Gavin, G4LYX is back aboard his yacht for the winter and is now calling
into the 15m net using the call V26GW/MM so listen for him telling us
about blue skies and warm seas as we watch the rain come down here.
At present he’s still near Antigua but has plans for setting sail soon.
I am delighted to report that Bob, N4XAT is back on the air after
unexpected surgery and hope that he is soon back to full health.
All in all MSARS have had a good year with several excellent lectures,
successful outside events and, as usual one or two Junk / surplus
equipment sales, and an amazing on line Newsletter which just gets
better and better. All this has been achieved by your hard working
committee to whom we all owe a debt of thanks.
Stella and I wish all of you a Happy and Peaceful Christmas and a
Healthy (there’s no chance of it being prosperous) New Year and I’ll try
to keep the 15m and 80m nets going in 2015. Remember though, the
nets need your support, where were you all last Sunday morning I
wonder?
Take care,
73, Ken G3WYN.
Mid Sussex ARS Net Times—all times local
Sunday
0800
3.740MHz+/-QRM
Sunday
1100
145.350MHz
Weekdays
1330
21.330MHz+/-QRM
Tuesday
2030
3.725MHz+/-QRM (SCARF)
Wednesday
2000
145.350MHz
GB3HY is currently switched off due to aerial, receiver and
site issues, this will continue for the foreseeable future.
5
From the Chair December 2014
This is the last MSM for 2014 so let me congratulate all those involved in making
2014 another good year for MSARS.
November saw our Grand Autumn Surplus Equipment Sale and a great selection
of used equipment filling the tables round the room. Unfortunately Martin G1DVU,
our guest auctioneer, was not well so we had to ask for volunteers to do this for
us: luckily Chris G0GMC and Chris G3YTU stepped in and managed to shift most
of the equipment that was for sale. At the end of the evening the Society had
made a profit. Thanks to all those that helped out.
Our Annual Fish and Chip Supper was enjoyed by twenty guests. All enjoyed the
‘pass the parcel’, again with a difference, it looked and felt like a giant turkey
when the game started but contained a variety of gifts, down to the last one
being a box of mint chocs. Thanks to Sue G6YPY, also to all that helped decorate
the room and with all the other jobs we had to do at the end of the evening.
Finally, Val and I send all the members and their families all the very best
wishes for Christmas and the New Year.
Until next year
Russell Nelson
G7TMR
Hon Chairman MSARS
2 Jan
Radio Night
9 Jan
Meet the Committee
16 Jan
Radio Night
23 Jan
Radio Night & Table Top Sale
30 Jan
DC to Light 2 ‘Bend It & Stretch It’
6 Feb
Radio Night
6
Oooh
those
chips do
look good,
where’s
mine?
Let’s have a sip,
that wine looks
lovely!
7
www.msars.org.uk
Mid Sussex Amateur Radio Society
2014— 2015
Our normal
"QTH"
is Cyprus Hall
President
Ken Gibson
G3WYN
01444 412420
Vice President
Mike Pollock
G8KMP
01444 244953
Chairman
Russell Nelson
G7TMR
01444 236795
Secretary
Kim Newland
G7AIE
07787 770059
Treasurer
Sue Allen
M6EUS
01798 815286
Programme Secretary
Sue Davis
G6YPY
01273 845103
Vice Chairman
Derek Pirrie
2E0KDL
07968 253580
Shack Managers
Kim Newland
Adrian Allen
G7AIE
2E0SDN
07787 770059
01798 815286
Publicity Officer
Stella Rogers
SWL
01273 844511
Course Administrator
Adrian Allen
2E0SDN
01798 815286
Committee Member
Gavin Wylie
G4LYX
01273 845388
Lead Instructor
Chris Saunders
G4ZCS
QSL Manager
VACANT
Burgess Hill
Sat Nav
RH15 8DX
We meet most
Fridays in the
Millfield Suite
7.30pm till 10pm
Postal Address is:
MSARS
Mrs S Davis
30 Bonny Wood
Road
Hassocks
West Sussex
BN6 8HR
Email (call sign)@msars.org.uk
(This will only work from a members email
address registered with the society)
Newsletter—Editor Stella Rogers SWL
All articles and photographs are the copyright of the authors. Contributions are
invited from Society members and should be sent to newsletter@msars.org.uk
Otherwise you can use Snail mail to my address at:
28 Damian Way,
Keymer,
Hassocks,
West Sussex,
BN6 8BJ.
If you have some great old pics that need to be aired I can share them with the rest
of the club.
Best Wishes
Stella
8