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www.wythallradioclub.co.uk Nov –Dec 2014

Wythall Radio Club meets from 8pm every Tuesday and Friday evening at Wythall House, Wythall Park, Silver Street, Wythall, B47 6LZ, near
Birmingham. Visitors are very welcome. Wythall Radio Club is affiliated to the Radio Society of Great Britain. Contact
g0eyo@blueyonder.co.uk

No blood spilt at the AGM!

The Wythall Radio Club Annual The club held Foundation, Inter-
General Meeting to place on Tues- mediate and Advanced courses
day 21st October at Wythall House. through the year and also intro-
Some 32 members attended and duced an on-line Foundation
behaved themselves. The Chair- course for those anywhere in the
man, Secretary and Treasurer gave UK that cannot get access to a
their reports on what has been a classroom based course.
very successful year for the club.
The minutes of the meeting have Morse classes are held every
been circulated to members via the Tuesday and open Committee
G4WAC Yahoo Forum and a copy meetings every month.
placed in the Yahoo files section. We took part in VHF Field Day
and SSB Field Day in the park’s
A ballot was taken for the officers far field and we assisted the
and committee member positions WCA in their hosting of the Fun-
and the results were as follows: The highlights of the year were a very Run, Carnival (which had to be cancelled
successful Xmas and Easter Contest, DF due to bad weather) and Bonfire night.
Mike G4VPD elected as Chairman with Hunt, Xmas party and profitable Rally in
32 votes March. G100RSGB was also an extra- We received a grant from John M1JSS’s
Anita M6DUO elected as Secretary with
ordinary two day event that went off very employer Western Power Distribution
31 votes
well and attracted some very high power which paid for the new repeater antenna
Ian M0IDR elected as Treasurer with 32
visitors. and also from the Fun-Run committee for
votes
our assistance in providing communica-
The votes for the 6 committee places Every month Chris G7DDN has arranged tions at their event.
were as follows: visits from interesting speakers on a
Peter M5DUO elected with 32 votes wide variety of subjects. It wasn’t an entirely happy year though. In
Jim 2E0BLP elected with 32 votes December we heard of the untimely and
Lee G0MTN elected with 32 votes The website continues to be updated sudden death of Colin M0GJM and simi-
Kevin 2E0NCO elected with 32 votes and is visually and factually one of the larly at Easter we lost Walter M0GRO.
Phil 2E0WTH elected with 31 votes best club websites in the country and the We were able to dispose of Colin’s equip-
John M1JSS elected with 32 votes G4WAC Yahoo group continues to be ment on behalf of his family and Walter’s
the club’s main format for communicating family kindly donated his equipment to the
David G0ICJ and Chris G7DDN acted with members. club for our use and club funds. We have
as Tellers for the ballot. named the Annual Xmas Fox Hunt after
We have spent a significant amount of Colin, with a suitable trophy and similarly
The Constitution was amended to reflect money on new equipment and facilities for Walter, the Easter Contest now has
the fact that whilst the club year ends on this year with a complete replacement of two trophies in his memory.
31st August all subs must be paid by the the main antenna system, feeders and
beginning of the AGM for that year, rotator; a new collinear and repeater I have no doubt 2015 will be just as excit-
rather than end of November. antenna; two new easy ups for portable ing with fresh challenges. We have a new
and special event use; winkeys, pmr sets venue for the Rally, back at Wythall Park
Also on a show of hands the commit- and morse sounders. after 11 years away, and we have the
tee’s decision in February to recom- GB3WL 70cms repeater to go live. All the
mend an increase in subscriptions from The classroom and entrance walls and above is possible because a lot of people
£15 to £20 to cover basic rent and insur- floors have been re-painted, making it a give up their time to make it so.
ance costs was ratified by a majority nice environment for training and meet-
with only two opposing. ings. For that we thank you.
RSGB advice for responding to the Ofcom consultation
The Ofcom Amateur Licence Review con- allow for a simpler, more flexible ap- amongst UK amateur licence holders
sultation period finished on 20th October proach for identifying Amateur Radio and the RSLs are deeply embedded into
and we hoped that WRC members took stations? amateur psyche. This arrangement has
the opportunity to read the proposals and also been acknowledged and under-
make their own views known. No-one has Q6 suggested RSGB response: stood by amateurs outside the UK. The
much confidence that our views are going ‘No – Not as proposed. A clear definition implications of making the RSL optional
to be taken into account by Ofcom and of callsign usage and the current maxi- could be huge including causing confu-
we are our own worst enemy, as at a re- mum interval of 15-minutes should be sion in DXCC, contests and within the
cent count only 300 radio amateurs had retained. However the requirements that VHF/UHF community in easily determin-
responded (although probably a lot more a station must be clearly identifiable at all ing beam headings, etc.
now). On another consultation this year times and that the identity be given in a
with regard to extending spectrum access format consistent with the modulation in The consultation refers to confusion
to various parties between 143MHz - use are supported (but that specific within the Amateur Radio community.
169MHz apparently more CBers re- terms such as voice or Morse Code However the root cause of the problem
sponded than did amateurs. should not be used).’ appears to be within Ofcom who at
times have issued a mixture of licences
Ofcom proposed a number of changes to Question 7: Given the current uncer- with the RSL embedded or not embed-
the licence and Q1,6,7 and 8 are listed tainty amongst Radio Amateur licensees ded in the core main station address
below with the recommended RSGB re- in relation to Clause 2(2), do you believe callsign. The proposed change will cer-
sponse. I have not included the more that it would be a practical solution for tainly cause confusion resulting from the
detailed explanations of the proposal, Ofcom to remove this clause and to in- optional inclusion of the RSL for Foun-
these can be found at http://rsgb.org/ sert additional wording into Clause 13, dation and Full Licence holders and the
main/operating/licensing-novs-visitors/ as proposed above? related, but very different, Question 8
licence-review/rsgb-guidance-responding- mandatory changes for Intermediate
ofcom-consultation-updating-amateur- Note—Q7 and Q8 (for Intermediate Li- Licence holders.
licence/ censees) need to be read together as
both affect the use of RSLs. It is clear that the changes outlined in
Question 1: Do you agree with the pro- both Question 7 and Question 8 below
posal to include, as a matter of course, “The Licensee shall use the following constitute a major impact. The RSGB’s
the 470 kHz and 5 MHz bands into the appropriate Regional Secondary Locator view is that the arrangements for the call
Licence for all Amateur Radio (Full) licen- after the United Kingdom Callsign prefix sign prefix in our current licence meets
sees? “G”, “M” or “2” as specified in Section 1, the requirements laid down in the ITU
when identifying the Radio Equipment in Radio Regulations. We thus have the
Q1 suggested RSGB response: accordance with Clause 13(1):” opinion that no change is necessary. We
consider Ofcom should listen to and
‘No – Not as proposed. I agree that the and Ofcom’s comments that “we under-
respect the Stakeholder position for “no
bands should be made available to all Full stand that there is confusion as to ex-
change” and “if it is not broken don’t fix
Licencees but in exactly the same way as actly what Clause 2(2) means”
it”. A better approach would be for Of-
other bands to which amateurs have ac- com to fix the root cause of the problem
cess on a Secondary basis. The standard It has been a licensing requirement in
the UK for many decades to use the rele- mentioned in the paragraph above.
wording applicable to other amateur
bands should suffice i.e: vant RSL to indicate the location of the
transmitter. As well as a requirement it (continued on Page 3)
“Secondary. Available on the basis of non has become custom and practice
-interference to other services inside and
outside the UK”

Furthermore some of the proposed

clauses set concerning precedents that if
subsequently applied to other bands
would radically change specific aspects of
amateur radio in the UK. Of particular
concern is Paragraph 2.26.6, which
should be omitted entirely, as well as the
phrase ‘electronic equipment’ in 2.26.3

With respect to Paragraph 2.26.6, near-

field measurements at these frequencies
are very difficult to determine with any
accuracy and in any case are irrelevant at
the power levels in use. Clause (e) in
Notes to Schedule1 of the existing licence
is sufficient and does not need to be rein-
forced in relation to the 472kHz entry.’

Question 6: Do you agree that Clause

13 of the Licence should be amended to

Nov –Dec 2014 Page 2

Is this you? - thoughts on operating
My rant ensues as the result of a recent disrupting the conversation that was going calling from the wrong geographic area)
contest experience.. on before. and half of the world starts yelling about
Imagine the scene. You are in a bar or the transgression. In the process,
other social setting and want to chat with You are not sure that you can be heard so causes even more problems and confu-
someone. You are not successful and for you start to screech “Waaalow” “Ola” (Pick sion. (Answer: listen).
various reasons, so you decide to do the your language) and start whistling. Or buy a
following: device which makes an horrendous whis- I recommend the Dx Code of Conduct
tling noise which disturbs the conversation page as being worthy of a read. 1st point
You can't hear the other person and start of the others. is, I think, the most valuable: listen, lis-
to shout. He hasn't heard you so you start ten, listen.
to shout continuously, drowning out the Not acceptable behaviour, correct?
conversation your mate is trying to listen The Code of Conduct page is here:
to. I recently made a comment on the reflector http://www.dx-code.org/english.html
about this problem (Which has gone on
You can hear the other person but decide forever). As a postscript, on the reflector there
to yak away regardless of whether they was some mention of operating split
are conversing or not. You butt into a A few comments made in response spring frequency. One member was unsure
conversation which has already been to mind: about how to do this and was worried
started and is still going on. about trying it as his rig manual made
Callers too keen and don't listen (Answer: some dire warnings about damaging the
The person talking asks “Horatio, what do listen some more) tranceiver. A corporation trying to pro-
you think”? Your name is Xerxes and you tect themselves from possible legal li-
butt in. Un-gentlemanly behaviour (Answer: behave ability in my opinion.
yourself! And listen)
The person asks “Is there anybody here If anyone needs to find out how to work
from Newcastle”? You answer “Yes I am Sometimes there is a lack of information split frequency, there is plenty of exper-
from Ulan Bator”. from the Dx station (Answer: listen some tise within the club.
more and do not transmit until you know
Someone who knows that you are from what he is doing/where he is listening). Stan G4JGV
Ulan Bator (not Newcastle) shouts that
you should go away, repeatedly. Thus The “Police”. Someone does something
wrong (like calling on the wrong frequency,
Two dates for the
Ofcom licence consultation continued diary:
DF Fox Hunt Dec 27th
Q7 suggested RSGB response: the Q6 requirement for clear identification commencing 10am
‘No – there is no need to change cur- and be inconsistent with Foundation and
rent mandated and widely accepted Full licensees.
practice.Any change of current practice
will lead to both confusion and disruption Q8 suggested RSGB response:
both nationally and internationally. To do ‘No I disagree – All call sign classes
otherwise would do away with more than should be treated in the same way by re-
50 years of practice, widely understood taining the current clause in respect of the
throughout the world and would create callsign prefix’
far more confusion than is currently al-
leged to exist‘ Cornwall to get K as RSL Wythall Radio Club
Question 8: Do you agree with Ofcom’s We were all shocked when right in the Xmas Party; Saturday
proposal to amend Clause 2(3) of the middle of the Ofcom licence review they 13th Dec commencing
Licence to require Intermediate licen- announced that they had granted Cornwall
sees to transmit a call sign that reflects the special regional secondary locator of K 7pm in
the location of their main station? on the grounds that the Cornish parlia- Britannia Room
ment was called Kernow. This was done
Compared to the proposal in Question- without the RSGB’s support.
7, this introduces a totally different (and
potentially discriminatory) requirement It certainly looks as if Ofcom are losing the
for Intermediate Licensees. Furthermore plot. Watch this space for future develop-
by locking the callsign to the main sta- ments.
tion address rather than the actual loca-
tion of the transmission, serious confu-
sion arises (with for example a 2W0xxx
station operating as that in Scotland for
example). This would be in conflict with

Nov –Dec 2014 Page 3

They are built, now just need connecting up.
The new antenna build
at Wythall Radio Club is
close to completion!
Thanks to an intrepid
group of constructors,
the dream we had this
year of replacing all the
antennas on our club
mast is almost there.
Chairman Mike G4VPD
has masterminded the
effort, which should see
our antennas in place for
a good few years to
come. Aided and abet-
ted by various stalwarts,
he has done an excel-
lent job of bringing the
whole project together.
Kevin 2E0NCO, John
M1JSS, Dave G3YXM
and Peter M5DUO
probably deserve hon-
ourable mentions here,
but there are plenty of
others too, who have
helped in this massive
task.

The original antennas

where built around 1992 and served us
well but they were suffering from corro- wire luffing ropes on the mast as they are
sion and needed replacing. As the club now nearly 25 years old
don’t intend to repeat the project again
for another 25 years, it was agreed that The feeders have been fed through to the
we should replace the rotator, and feeder shack with just the hardline for the 23cms
cables at the same time. We also took and rotator cable to do. Then it is just a
the decision to put a 23cm yagi on the case of tidying the cables and connecting
top of the mast so that we can use the up and we are QRV on all bands again.
23cm module in the club’s IC910.

The stack now includes, from the top: And we suspect there may be a few beers
downed in celebration once that is done
56 element 23cms Tonna Yagi
Well done Chairman Mike and all the
19 element 432MHz LFA-LN Yagi, with
helpers. This has been a mammoth pro-
directive gain of 18.3dBi on a 4.56m ject.
boom
13 element 144MHz LFA Yagi , with di-
rective gain of 16.1dBi on a 8m boom
6/6 (12) element 50/70MHz Yagi with
directive gain of approx 11dBi on a 5.4m
boom
Multiband HF Yagi - XR5-T - 9 element
20 thru 10 m Force12 Yagi on a 3.5m
boom, all on a new 20ft stub pole.

A new a Yaesu 2800 heavy duty rotator

has been fitted in the cage assembly on
the tower and we have replaced the steel

Page 4 Nov –Dec 2014

Antenna Review: Solacron IMAX 2000 for 12m and
10m band
I always fancied a low-angle vertical for off the ground. It’s apparent that as you
10m band and after doing my research, raise this antenna fully, the resonant
came across the Solarcon Imax 2000. It frequency will rise – as will most anten-
was a toss up between this, a Sigma 4 nas to a point. I screwed the wheels right
copy or the Sirio 827. The Sigma 4 is to the top so that I could achieve 28Mhz
now called the Sirio Vector 4000 and I right through 29.6Mhz however, I have
discounted this one because of the size lost the benefit of using this on 15m. If
of the radials which seemed excessive you leave the antenna aimed at around
for my plot , Same with the Sirio Vector 27.5Mhz, the antenna will behave rather
4000 which is just too tall. Even so, the nicely as a half-wave monopole at
Sirio Imax 2000 is still 24 feet in length. 21Mhz with SWR of less than 2:1.
But read on, it’s actually fairly stealthy Changing the resonance up towards 28
for such a tall antenna. (and actually it ended up at around 28.7),
my 15m band has gone out of adjust-
I bought Sirio Imax 2000 from Nevada ment, just over 3:1 SWR.
and it came in a box a couple of days
later. Be aware, the box is just over 8 Bandwidth is huge, from 21.9 through to
feet long since the antenna is built in 30Mhz, the SWR doesn’t go over 2:1.
three sections. The first two are rela- Currently, mine is tuned for 28.7Mhz but
tively substantial and the third section is the SWR hardly moves from there down
extremely lightweight – although no towards 25.5Mhz, where the SWR starts
doubt strong since it feels like solid fibre- to rise, maybe a whisker over 2:1. Then
glass (with the copper wire running up it falls again as it starts to become a half-
the inside). wave monopole with the SWR falling
down to 1:1 at 23.5Mhz. Dropping the
This is made for the American market frequency further, the SWR just starts to
and the first thing you’ll notice is that the become marginally unacceptable for
U bolts – supplied and pre-drilled holes 15m band. The next time I drop the an-
are aimed at a 1.5 inch pole (38mm). I tenna, I will lower the tuning rings again
prefer 2 inches and had in mind putting so that I can comfortably achieve 15m
mine on top of a 2 inch steel scaffold band within 2:1 SWR.
tube. I therefore bought a 40mm steel
tube, slotted that inside the scaffold tube 12m is also superb, still behaving like a
and widened the holes slightly to accom- 5/8th rather well and the SWR seems to
modate U bolts of 42mm. I’m not a pro- stay well under 2:1 SWR. My amplifier
fessional engineer so my hole widening copes just fine with anything under 3:1,
was slightly “Heath-Robinson”, however so I’m happy.
I was fairly comfortable with the result.
In conclusion, if you can live with the 1.5
The base of the antenna is an extruded inch mounting bracket arrangement, I’d
aluminium section that houses the say this was a first-class buy. It is rare
SO239, the coil and various innards of that I buy antennas, preferring to make
the antenna and has this integral clamp- them – but for under £100, I am genu-
ing arrangement. I was quite impressed inely impressed.
actually. The factory use a very high-
grade glue that perfectly oozes out to Callum M0MCX
weatherproof everything.

The lower section connects to the mid-

dle section with a plated screw assem-
bly which I tightened by hand and finally
the top section has the same arrange-
ment but in a much smaller design since
the top piece is about as thin as a pencil
and certainly will waggle around in the
wind, although I’m sure with no ill-
effects.

The two aluminium “wheels” screw up

and down which changes the inductance
of the coil. As per factory, it seems to
come tuned around 27.5Mhz (according
to the MFJ analyser) when only 8 feet

Nov –Dec 2014 Page 5

 Trying to Build a Successful HF Contest Station
Episode 4: Where does all the time included sections on RFI, and about the two of “me time” so I can catch up. I had
go? visual impact to the neighbourhood. Ef- expected to have had wire antennas up
fectively I researched the common for the winter contest season. But even
It hardly seems like two months since causes for complaint from planning com- putting something up temporarily will take
writing the last update to the saga. Fortu- mittees and neighbours and did my best quite a bit of time and effort, and I wouldn’t
nately there is some progress to report, to answer them up front. Speaking of have the time to take part seriously. Next
in that my planning application has been neighbours, I have spoken to neighbours year, hopefully…
written up and submitted, although I’m who live next door or own the land next
about £200 the worse off for the privi- door to mine, and they so far have said I’m monitoring the night-time temperature
lege, once the application fee and the they are not concerned about the pro- of the new shack as we move into au-
costs of the local plan maps are added posal. tumn. I’ve just put up a new curtain rail
together. and curtain, and am fitting some extra
The only disappointment has been finding draught excluders in an attempt to keep a
Last time I mentioned that I’d few extra tenths of a degree inside.
been collecting examples of If the temperature drops too low, I do
successful planning applica- have a heater in ‘frost guard’ mode I
tions, and any suggestions and can also put on a timer to keep tabs
advice from those that had writ- on how often it operates. A friend
ten them. There was a theme of tried to keep a conservatory at a us-
providing as much information able temperate one winter, and was
as possible, so I included sec- rewarded with a large electricity bill
tions written in a layperson’s for his efforts, so I’ll be careful with
style on HF radio and antenna this. All of the electronic equipment
theory to describe why I wanted itself should be happy enough with a
my new antennas to be at a temperature that would be uncom-
particular height, and of a par- fortable enough for humans. I think
ticular size. It’s not just for the bigger concern is dampness and
show, considering the extra moisture which we should be able to
effort and cost involved. In the avoid.
end the “supporting documenta-
tion” pack comprised 44 pages, Outside, the family of rabbits that had
with lots of photos, maps and taken over the garden during the
diagrams. The application is for summer appear to have moved on
a lattice mast (retracted height (or been eaten!), but I’m still on the
8 metres, peak height 24 me- lookout for squirrels. After hearing
tres), an HF yagi with 40m di- that a squirrel had eaten through
pole above, and wire antennas some of the coax cable for the dou-
for 40m and 80m. Just so it blet antenna at the club, I’m now
would be legitimate I am also considering how I can protect a fu-
applying for permission to put ture coax run from animals as well as
up a VHF collinear. The appli- the elements. Digging a trench would
cation included a section on “Legacy”, out that Bromsgrove Council are re- be one solution and going underground,
highlighting that compared with the ma- organising their Planning Department, but this also brings its own problems.
jority of other planning applications which and a backlog in processing planning A spooky coincidence is that my boss
are for new or extended buildings, which applications has built up. Over a month’s from work James ended up reading the
could be expected to essentially exist delay is to be expected. This doesn’t last newsletter by accident after Googling
forever (considering future rebuilds), the really bother me as if I am successful I’d for something and finding a link to the
tower and antennas would have a very only start station building in the spring online version. He’s licensed as a 2E sta-
short life in comparison. Another section and summertime, but it does now mean tion but with work and family doesn’t have
on “Community” was added to remind the that any site inspection will be occurring a lot of time for the hobby at the moment.
readers of the benefits of amateur radio, when there are very few leaves left on the So “hello James” if you end up reading
including support at local events like the trees. this again. I’ll leave asking for a pay-rise
carnival, fun-run and fireworks. so I can build more antennas until the next
Aside from the planning application, edition.
The RSGB Planning Advice booklet rec- there’s been very little work done trying to
ommended not bringing up the issue of put the inside station together. Preparing Lee G0MTN
TVI “unless you knew it would be raised cables isn’t the best job to do in 20 min-
against you.” I’d not seen an application ute chunks of free time, working against
yet where it hadn’t been brought up, so I the clock. All being well I’ll find a day or

Page 6 Nov –Dec 2014

CQWW 1,000 weekend QSOs on a simple vertical.
CQ World-Wide is possibly the biggest N1MM logger knows already who you
contest of the year and having just erected Even with a modest station, 1,000 have worked so it's great fun as you
a 5/8th CB antenna (IMAX 2000) recently, I QSOs are possible in one weekend. start typing someone's call into the log-
thought I'd try it out for the weekend. N1MM tells me that I operated on 18 ging window: The text turns either BLUE
hours over the 48 so it's quite do-able. I (just another QSO, no mult), RED for
Writing a report for oneself is a bit self- spent half the time hunting stations either a new county or new zone and
congratulatory and probably pretty boring down (S&P) and the other half was GREEN if the country AND the zone are
for most so let me give you the inspiration CQing (Running). new. Greens are great. These are called
to try something new yourself. "Double Mults" and I was pleased to
As you would expect, some lovely con- have Iceland, Alaska and India call me
We've all heard that 10m can be a real eye tacts were made. The scoring is based for Doubles late in the contest. These
-opener and if there is one weekend a year on the number of QSOs you made mul- really rocket your score up.
that it come can alive, it's this one. It cer- tiplied by the number of country multi-
tainly showed me how fun it can be. pliers and again, multiplied by some- I made some recordings for you and
thing called Zones (a man-made bor- have placed them on my website here:
The good news is that for the non- dered map of the world split into 40
hardened contester, the rules show that a sectors). You can see the map here: http://www.m0mcx.co.uk/cqww-ssb-
single operator can enter the "Classic" sec- http://www.cqww.com/resources.htm. 2014-example-qso-recordings/
tion which means you can only work for a
maximum of 24 hours over the two-day This means that if you made 20 contact Callum M0MCX
period. Ideal for regular guys like us - and with 5 countries and 3 zones, your
particularly suited to the day-time 10m score would be 20 x 5 x 3 = 300.
band.

Club shack and stairs get refurbished

A team of volunteers led by Kev 2E0NCO
have spent many hours in the past week
or so, redecorating the top of cellar stairs,
the stairs and passage-way and the
classroom. As you can see they have
done a fantastic job. Even the floor got
repaired with levelling compound and got
re-painted. Kev was supported by Phil
2E0WTH, Mike G4VPD,and Ian M0IDR
(forgive me if I have excluded anyone)
and we thank them very much for their
efforts.

As I know no-one reads these newsletter,

I can let you into a little secret. The team
tell me they are available for any decorat-
ing jobs you need done about the house—
but keep it to yourself!!

Nov –Dec 2014 Page 7

1901 - Our Albert's Invention
A little ode to our hobby courtesy of Joe G3LLV
______________________________________________ Well, it happened one day a well-heeled Canadian
Jeremy Boothroyd, a pleasant young lad, Was passing the shed where our Arthur was dallying.
Was struck by a story he heard from his dad. He spied the invention, including the lad's ash,
It seems that their Albert, of inventive demean, And offered to buy most of it there and for cash.
Had come up back then with his latest machine.
What the man wasn't told was the very last input,
It wasn't much to look at, of that I am sure, That went down the bugle before things went kaput,
But promised communications for the rich and the poor. Was an order for breakfast, ”Six sausages, Sue”,
The operator sat in a chair by this wonder And that one of these S's had stuck in the flue.
And spoke to another one just like it out yonder.
This gentleman thought with his luck on the rise
The workings were known to a few of his friends He would transmit some code to the far, other side.
And involved a large generator wired into the mains. The Atlantic, that is, and it's a very long way
One pulled a red lever to make the thing go Which would increase his fortune that very same day.
And spoke down a bugle but with diction quite low.
So off to the far corners of the Kingdom he went
Now a chap in the States had a code that was slow And erected a pole and then the gear in a tent.
Meaning messages could go with a suck or a blow. Where Albert's device was most firmly erected
So signaling was changed to his short and a long And fired-up just right in the way he'd expected.
And comments and greetings went just like a song.
Now he wasn't to know that someone else was out trying
Then it seems that one day there was some kind of arc To reach the far side where a receiver was laying.
Which leapt from the circuits with a flash and a spark So on switch-on the last of the S's went forth
And fried the poor creature just right where he sat On a wavelength much shorter than the other one thought.
So that all that was left were his boots and a hat.
While the result to this day is still open to question;
It doesn't seem right and it doesn't seem proper And their difference in technique have been one suggestion.
Though Albert called out loud (but not for a copper). Was it Guglielmo's or Albert's the far-side detected?
Since he had no insurance - the man was a miser, But who cares now? That path is much more than expected.
He hushed it all up so that no one was the wiser.
Joe G3LLV - 2014

Training News
The advanced course is now half way would be on Monday 2nd March. If you although we will be providing these at
through with the exam planned for Mon- think you would be interested in this Wythall if required. If you are interested in
day 8th December. We have ten people course then please register your interest the online Foundation course again regis-
sitting the exam; the class of 9 plus with Chris G0EYO on ter your interest with Chris G0EYO on
Terry 2E0XTV. For that reason we will g0eyo@blueyonder.co.uk. g0eyo@blueyonder.co.uk
be using the Britannia Room that eve-
Simultaneously, for those locally or even We now have a check list for exam invigi-
ning, which will give us plenty of room further afield and who cannot make to a lators and exam secretaries to make sure
for candidates to spread themselves out. classroom course and are looking for we are administering exams correctly.
home study, we will be running an on- The RSGB are also going to run a new
The club will be holding a Foundation line Foundation course via Edmodo Train the Trainers session in Tamworth
Course in the club-room on Monday commencing around same time. Obvi- on Sat 31st January and at least a couple
evenings from 8pm onwards commenc- ously, those participating in the on-line of us are planning to go. If you are inter-
ing on 26th January for 6 weeks with the Foundation course will have to find a ested contact Chris G0EYO.
practical assessments being carried out club local to them who can provide prac-
on Saturday 14th February. The exam tical assessment and exam facilities, Chris G0EYO

The next issue of the Wythall Radio Club Newsletter will be published at the beginning of Jan 2015

Editor: Chris Pettitt G0EYO, 23 Dark Lane, Hollywood, Birmingham, B47 5BS. Phone: 07710 412 819, E-mail: g0eyo@blueyonder.co.uk

Nov –Dec 2014 Page 8