Monday 19/12/2011

The last radio play night of the year at the Banstead Scout Hut with the boys.

I took a bit of gear I purchased at a junk sale for spare parts. This box of bits had been well made but was not complete and I was not sure what I had?  After a lot of discussion we think it is a part built Spectrum Analyzer.

I don’t know how Stuart seems to get these pictures of us working.  

Chris and Neil playing with a MKARS80 and a Spectrum Analyzer.

We will be back on the 9^th of January.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Monday 12/12/11

Another well supported radio play session in the Banstead Scout Hut. Some Short Wave Listening took part and various radio topics were discussed.

This coming Monday will be our last for a couple of weeks due to the Christmas break.

We would like to wish all of our readers a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  

Monday 05/12/11

It’s almost the end of the year with just a couple of more sessions before the end of the year.

Chris, Denis and I were working on the MKARS80 for Chris, not long before it will be on the air for real.

Neal, Steve and some of the others were playing practical Yari design.  This was done by building an antenna and taking measurements.

Plus lots of discussion on radio topics.

Monday 28/11/11

Colin (M6BOY) my son was over from Ireland for a few days and managed to join us for our play evening.

Colin had built a GQRP Club "Limerick Sudden" Receiver Kit for 40 metres and this evening turned out to be a good chance to connect it to a good antenna. Stations from all over Europe were logged.

"Limerick Sudden" Receiver Kit

Steve (G1MPW) showed us an Elecraft power/SWR project he purchased from ebay. We tested this with the trusty FT101ZD and it seemed to be working fine.

I got involved with helping Chris (2E0CTH) with the setup and first alignment of his MKARS80 transceiver. We will continue next week.

MKARS80 transceiver

A very happy M1MRB 

All this as well as a lot of discussions and tea drinking.

Monday 21/11/2011

Another great night out with the boys in Banstead.

Chris (2E0CTH) was working on his MKARS80 Kit which is coming along nicely; it will soon be on the air. Chris also showed is an AOR 2002 he purchased at the CATS Bazaar.

Andy and Mick were discussing antenna installation problems, what would be the best antenna for Andy’s QTH. Paul `turned up for the first time and enjoyed himself.

Steve and I were looking at a couple of AVO 8’s as well as a motor control PCB.

Laurence and Alex did some operating.

Plus tea, coffee and biscuits all night.

Next Monday Colin (M6BOY) will be over from Ireland and visiting the group.

Monday 14/11/2011

This Monday I did some operating on the HF bands. My best contact was S52WW in Slovenia on ten watts with my Icom IC-703.

Icom IC-703

Chris was building MKARS 80 which hopes to have it on the air in the next few weeks.

Also the Tea and Coffee were flowing :-)

Monday 07/11/2011

This Monday we had an operating night, putting the Yaesu FT101ZD on the air. This is a lovely old radio and while it is more difficult to set up than modern rigs it works well.

Denis also fixed a handheld radio for Barry. All in all, another good night out with the boys.

Monday 31/10/2011

This Monday night turned into a multimeter night. Chris and I spent some time with Laurence explaining the basic principles of how multimeters work and how to use them.

Steve and Denis were trying to repair and AVO 8 which had a open circuit movement. Unfortunately I was right in my diagnosis but they had fun trying to fix it.

 

  An AVO 8

Modday 24/10/11

Another good evening in the Banstead Scout Hut.

Steve and David were discussing how to fix AVO multimeters. Steve showed us  an AVO he has just renovated and AVO 8 which looked great as well as showing us some of his AVO spares.

There was a big discussion on the RSGB EGM of which I could not advise the guys which way to vote.

Chris and I recorded our report on the RSGB convention for the ICQPODCAST. This was done in the car park in my car because this was the only place we could find which was quiet.

Next Monday I have offered to give a quick overview on multimeters and how to use them.

Monday 17/10/11

The Monday night group was well attended this week. Various discussions were had on a number of topics in including a very lively debate about what is happening in the RSGB.

Chris (2E0CTH) was experimenting with some HF mobile whips with great effect.

Tea, Coffee and biscuits are all on tap all evening.

All in all another good night out with the Guys.

Monday 10/10/2011

Back from the RSGB Convention after a very busy weekend. Denis (M0NDJ) has put a new HF antenna at the Scout Hall. This is an offset dipole which we tested Monday night.  This worked very well and should be a great asset during JOTA and other operating events.

Saturday we took part in JOTA assisting 7^th Banstead Scouts in this event.  We operated 2 metres and HF, had some fun with Morse and APRS and got the young Beavers and Scouts to make their own QSL Cards.

This was a very satisfying event for us, resulting in some very happy youngsters.

Tim (2E0TTA) and I (Martin M1MRB) would like to thank all helpers:

Neil  (M0ZEY) and Chris (2E0CTH) for HF and Morse

Mick (2E0RBH) for the QSL card templates

Andy for APRS

And the Scouts with Licences who helped Ales (M0WOJ) Laurence (M3NVK) and Zachary (M6ZLP)

But most of all our thanks to Karen for doing shopping and bringing the tea, milk and biscuits.

Monday 03/10/11

This year seems to be moving so fast, however we still have a chance to do some group operating.  We discussed what we could do for 7^th Banstead Scouts on the Jota weekend. We agreed to do Saturday the 15^th and attempt to show some of the more modern aspects of amateur radio.

Chris and Steve spent some time looking at another 2 metre linear amplifier which was putting out low power.

Andy and Mick asked some questions on the full licence which they are studying.

All in all another good evening.

Monday 26/09/2011

 There was some operating on PSK31 in the back room by Andy, Mick and Lawrence.

I took a faulty 2 metre linear amplifier and circuit along to our play night in Banstead. While I did not fix it, it did generate a lot of discussion. It has a switching fault in that it the relays stay engaged when the PA goes into transmit.

Circuit at: http://www.tokyohypower.com/pdf/circuit_hl37v.pdf


Let’s see what turns up next Monday