radial - raibc

RADIAL
Season’s Greetings
To All Our Members
Winter 2006 / 2007
Volume 50 No. 4
Quarterly Journal Of The Radio Amateur Invalid & Blind Club
Patron: THE LORD RIX Kt CBE DL, G2DQU

The RAIBC Stand at Donington Park September 2005
Front Cover Picture -
The radio shack and aerials of John Hoban G3EGC.
It’s centrally heated as well!! - See John’s letter inside.

R a d i a l
The RADIO AMATEUR INVALID and BLIND CLUB
Founded in 1954
Registered Charity Number: 802348
Affiliated to the Radio Society of Great Britain
This Month’s Contents
Editor’s Keystrokes, M0DZO 2
From Our Chairman’s Pen, M0AID 3
Alan’s Aerial Helpline, G2AJL 4
Membership Secretary’s Report, G0MWO 5
A Message From Your Committee 6
Radial Is Now Available By E-mail 8
Club Corner, Doug BRS54163 9
Tuning Around, Doug BRS54163 10
RAIBC Club Nets 12
A QRP Christmas, Jeff Davis N9AVG 13
Tommy Wigg G3SKF - Obituary 20
Meet Your Committee 23
You’ve Got To Have A Laugh 25
Members On E-Mail 26
Silent Key 27
An Appeal For Help, Judi M3NKW 28
A Night Of Pleasure And A Question, Angie M3PYM 29
Welcome New Members 30
Members Letters 31
Loan Equipment 34
General Notices & Spring 2007 Copy Deadline 36
Pullout Sections In Magazine Centre
Club Information Pages
2006 AGM Minutes
Radial Editor and RAIBC Webmaster
Amanda Hambidge M0DZO c/o 55 Flora Road, Hay Mills, Birmingham B25 8BH
e-mail webmaster@raibc.org.uk editor@raibc.org.uk or amanda@m0dzo.co.uk
www.raibc.org.uk

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Editor’s Keystrokes
Hi again,
Well another 3 months, indeed a year have flown by again
and I find myself writing this piece. A lot of changes have occurred
since the last Radial and these are detailed in the following pages.
I must admit I’ll be glad when 2006 is over, and all the seasonal
festivities as well and I can get down to getting my life a bit more
sorted out and stable, I’ll also be glad when the dark nights are gone.
The trouble is it is wishing one’s life away which is not a good idea.
I’ve not made much progress on the SDR radio kit I mentioned in
last issue, whenever I try and get down to it something else crops up
and intervenes, but I hope to have something about it in the next
issue. John Hoban G3EGC is also building one of these kits as well.
I’ve now set up the mailing group for the e-mailed PDF Radial, so it
will be a first try this issue, I’ve got my fingers crossed!
Later in the magazine you will find a piece from Angie M3PYM
which Alec sent me, it was lifted from the RAIBC E-mail group, so I’ll
have to keep my eye on that group for more useable material!
As an answer to Angie’s question about breaking into an HF / LF
net as opposed to a VHF / UHF net, I’ve always used the same
technique for both, ‘tail ending’ i.e. speaking as soon as the person
who was speaking last drops carrier, and waiting to be called in.
Ah well It’s time to shut up shop for this issue, all that remains is, in
the words of the Goons to wish you all ‘A Merry Christmas And
Custard!’ - And a happy and prosperous New Year to you All.
Amanda M0DZO / G7TUA
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FROM THE CHAIRMAN’S PEN
It feels a little strange sitting here writing my first item in Radial as
Chairman, and thinking about condensing my thoughts into 300
words or so. As many of you will know, I have no problem in
producing reams of text, but today this feels somehow different.
You will read later a letter from the Committee and the minutes from
the AGM, and perhaps wonder about the changes that have taken
place within the club. At this stage all I can really say, is that I’m
more excited about the future of the RAIBC than ever before.
Your new Committee is a good mixture of both youth and
experience, and we are busy taking a fresh look at everything the
club does, and attempting to lay sound foundations.
To me, this club has always been about building friendships and
improving the lives of us all through amateur radio. Whether we are
disabled members or supporters, it shouldn’t make any difference to
the pleasure we can derive from helping each other.
The key to this of course is ‘good communication’. If you as a
member feel the club is irrelevant or unapproachable, we may as well
not be here at all.
I am continually gratified when I hear amateurs on the bands talking
about RAIBC in affectionate terms, but disappointed when I learn of
amateurs with disabilities who have never heard of us or have failed
to get help. We must work hard to maintain the affection in which the
club is held and strive to keep it relevant as we move forward.
Without question, we need to raise the profile of RAIBC and start to
rebuild our network of members and supporters right across the
country.
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The club needs to be pro-active in providing the services any
disabled amateur needs, and must show real encouragement and
practical support to affiliated groups such as the Reading Rattle
cassette service.
We certainly don’t have all of the answers to make the RAIBC a
success, but the Committee does have a vision for it’s future and I
hope it will come up to expectation!
Have a peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year, and I look
forward to possibly working you on one of our nets one day soon!
Kelvin Marsh M0AID
RAIBC Chairman
Alan’s Aerial Help Line.
I am prepared to help fellow members to solve their aerial
problems, whether it is a simple dipole, or a nest of dipoles, G5RV’s,
Delta loops, end fed, Carolina windoms etc..
If you are experiencing difficulties i.e. TVI or RFI, I will endeavour to
solve your problems, aerials are my specialist subject, please send
me a letter detailing your problems and a stamped addressed
envelope to 452 Castle Lane West, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH8 9TZ
and I will respond to your letters with the best advice I can give.
There is an old adage ‘If you can’t hear them you can’t work them’.
I would be pleased if I can solve your problems, please let me know
if I have been successful in helping you to get the best out of your
particular aerial.
Alan J Lees G2AJL 1359.
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Membership Secretary’s Report
Winter 2006
Once again we approach the end of the year and my Christmas list
is written and I now await the results.
I am however quite sad for it has been decided that this copy of
Radial will be the last for all those members that are behind with their
subscriptions. I am very sorry to say that they will number well over
100 members. Of course we will welcome back all those that wish to
rejoin.
This is very depressing for me, if you look back over my previous
reports, they nearly all talk about subscriptions or rather the lack of.
When you realise that you are no longer receiving your copy of
Radial, it will wake you up.
So treat this piece as a wake up call: PAY UP or no more
RADIAL and you will no longer be eligible to keep your loaned
equipment.
Your subscription of £7 does in theory cover the costs of printing
Radial but unfortunately if so many do not pay then we sponsor
Radial from our hard earned takings from rallies.
Talking of rallies we are getting very short of help for collecting
items and for manning the stall.
The new committee is now settling in and with the aid of telephone
conferencing we have been able to hold a number of meetings very
successfully, with a much wider spread of committee membership
we are now able to hold meetings with a full attendance.
73 and a Happy Christmas & New Year.
Alec Gaffin G0MWO
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A Message From Your Committee
Dear Members
If you have been diligently reading through the magazine, you will
by now realise there have been some significant changes happening
with our club.
Those of you that attended the AGM will know that it was not the
easiest of meetings. There were some very searching questions and
a general dissatisfaction about how certain aspects of the club have
been handled.
The Committee explained that certain changes had already taken
place, and that with the backing of the members, there was still much
more for the Committee to do. The members graciously accepted this
explanation, and gave us the opportunity to sort matters out.
We are pleased to report that the important items on the AGM
agenda were passed unanimously. These included the election of a
new Vice Chairman, Keith Ruffell G7EDT, a new Equipment
Manager, Quentin Cruse GW3BV, and the change to the Constitution
allowing telephone conferencing.
You can read the Minutes of the AGM in this issue of Radial in the
centre pull-out section. The Committee took the decision to produce
condensed minutes this year, rather than the verbatim report of
previous years.
Following the AGM, our Chairman Dave Jones G0HHP had to retire
from Committee duties for personal reasons following illness within
his family. We are very pleased to say that Dave is remaining as
Midland Representative for RAIBC. We also had to find
replacements for Vicki, Treasurer, Ann, Chairman's Secretary, and
Richard, Duplications Manager.
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These positions have now been filled from within the Committee,
and a full list of all the changes is available in the centre pullout and
on the club web site, www.raibc.org.uk.
On September 23rd we had our first telephone conference, where
Kelvin Marsh M0AID was elected from within the Committee as
acting Chairman until the 2007 AGM. Since then, we have had
three further Committee meetings via telephone conferencing, where
we are reviewing every aspect of the club and putting in place the
foundations for the future.
One of our main priorities was implementing stringent financial
protocols on all expenditure and income, and making sure every
Committee member / trustee is fully aware of every transaction,
leading to full accountability.
We feel strongly that every action MUST be fully justifiable to the
membership, and that full transparency of the club's activities is vital.
With Quentin operating a new requisition system for equipment
purchases, and Arthur Gordon MM0ZOP taking on the position of
Treasurer, we are attempting to bring the financial transactions of the
club up to standard.
You will read in the AGM Minutes, we were unable to bring
scrutinised accounts to the AGM for approval. This was mainly due to
the need to find another examiner, after our original choice felt that
charitable accounts were outside his area of expertise.
As this letter is being written, the accounts are being scrutinised by
a new independent examiner, who hopes to report back by the end of
November.
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Looking to the future, we have much work to do. It is vital we redraft
the Constitution to properly reflect the new protocols of 'best practice'
and set down a sensible agenda to keep standards high.
We will be giving proper notice in the Spring Radial of Committee
positions due for re-election, with nominees listed in the Summer
issue, in time for voting at the AGM.
We are starting to publicise the club within and outside of the radio
amateur fraternity, and it is again vital we start building a network of
supporters and helpers right across the country. Most importantly, we
need to start improving the connection between everyone in the club.
If you have ideas, let us know about them. If you have the
enthusiasm and passion for propelling the club forward, stand for
election to the Committee and help us make good things happen.
So there you have it, our aim is improved organisation, transparency,
and full accountability within the Committee and club.
We very much hope these changes will be supported by the
membership.
The RAIBC Committee
Radial Is Now Available By E-Mail
Did you know that you can now get Radial in PDF format?
Well you can, Just send an e-mail to the Editor, editor@raibc.org.uk
and you will be included on the Radial mailing list. Radial will arrive in
your inbox as an e-mail attachment on the day it goes to press and it
will help the club save money as well.
All you will need to read the PDF copy of Radial is a copy of Adobe
Acrobat Reader which is available on the RAIBC website, and most
likely to be already installed on many machines as standard.
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R a d i a l
Club Corner
Hi everyone, I would like to take a few moments to take time out to
say, a great big thank you to G0HHP David for all the hard work and
and many hours that he has spent putting together Club Corner over
the years, many thanks David for all your hard work. He kindly asked
me if I would take the job on, its a very hard act to follow, but I’ll do
my very best.
I’d also like to thank Alec G0MWO for all the hard work he is doing,
and also our Editor, without her none of us would be able to read this
great little mag that we are so lucky to have.
My thanks also go to the rest of the Committee and all the people
who help our disabled and blind members I extend my good wishes
to you all. . .and I know everyone that has anything to do with this
club will agree with me.
Since I have been a member of RAIBC it has given me a different
view of the world of amateur radio, I have great pride in being a
member of RAIBC and what it stands for. I only wish that I could do
more to help people young and old into this great hobby and it is a
great hobby and long may the club continue.
So don’t forget let me know what you are doing, what stations you
are working etc. for without input there is no output!
Good luck in your dx’ing.
73 Doug 2075 BRS 54163
P.s. The other day I had to take a visit to my Doctors, I took along
some Radial mags and dropped them off in the waiting room. You
never know it might create some interest and get us some new
members!
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Tuning Around
Hi everyone, well here, we are again, I do hope every one has
enjoyed this lovely weather that we had.
Firstly I would like to say that I’m sorry, if I have upset any swl or
operator, by seeing me on the cover of the last edition of Radial.
You might say what has a horse got to do with amateur radio, my
reply is nothing, the reason being that the editor asked if anyone had
any interesting pictures for Radial to send them in.
And being a nation of animal lovers I thought that it might be of
interest to some. Once again my apologies if I have upset some of
you.
O.k. moving on, on a lighter note I would very much like to thank
Quentin GW3BV on the interesting report that he so kindly sent in,
many thanks Quentin. Unfortunately I’m just a poor swl hi! and I don’t
have any VHF equipment.
I wonder Quentin, did you get a Diploma for the German football
stations that you contacted, I wish you good luck in your dx’ing and
look forward to the next time, many thanks my friend.
The bands have not been so good for me this time around, I’ve
been suffering from a high level of noise on the frequencies, let’s
hope we do better in the coming months.
This is the report from where I live and some of the stations I have
managed to log this time.
20m: JW7VK, CU8F Azores Island lighthouse, HS0ZEE Thailand,
IK1DAQ, C5DXC The Gambia, YU1ARC, 406DX Montenegro,
WD8CCC, EC1EW, F3ZA,K2EK,VE7JE, EA5CWR, SP5PB/2
Lighthouse, DL0HDF Lighthouse, MM0MWC/P Lighthouse, Orkney
Islands, 403AB Montenegro, YB4IR Sumatra, Indonesia.
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I was talking to Alan Lees G2AJL on the twisted pair the other night
and he asked me if he could send in his report and activity on the
bands.
I told him I was interested in any report that I get from either swl’s or
operators. We had quite a long chat and a very interesting gentleman
he is, he has a very nice setup as you will read in his report, so here
goes.
160m, Mainly UK Stations.
80m, HB9BWM, Switzerland, 0X5ACW Greenland and continental
stations and G, GW, GM, El,
40m, CT9FF Madeira Island. S52QR Slovenia, UZ6HZH Russia,
UA9FAT. Russia.
20m, SV0FO, Macedonia, SV2BET, Greece, 7X2ED Algeria, 9A2LH,
Croatia, VE2FDT, Canada, T99A, Bosnia, CU3CD, Azores,VKSBW,
Australia, 0E3GRU, Australia, ET3SID, Ethiopia, UA2AO, Estonia,
Z21BP, Zimbawe, KC4ZL, USA.
15m, KL7GH, Alaska, PP5YC Brazil, KH6FA, Hawaii, LU5DUT,
Argentina, ZS5FG, Africa, EA3VM, Barcelona, VQ9AC, Chagos
Archipelago, V6QLQ/YB5,Sumatra, JR3BOT, Japan, ZV1EN, Greece,
VP1DK, British Honduras, ZB2IB, Gibraltar, C56/GL7UTA,
Gambia, H18XJD, Dominica, 5B4ES, Cyprus, T12LTA, Costa Rica,
9K2BE, Kuwait, HL12SF, Korea, 4Z4VG, Israel,TU4EI Abidjan,
6Y5DA, Jamaica, VU2KGB, India, 0A4AMH, Peru, P29KM, New
Guinea, A4XGC, Oman, ZP5ZGF, Paraguay, 5N8SIIE, Nigeria,
ZF2ML, Grand Cayman, ZL2AUS, New Zealand, PJ8AD,
Antilles,VP2MDG Monserrat, YB0ADW, Indonesia, XE1MPT, Mexico.
10m, 9H1O, Malta, F6GCM, France, 0N6GBO, Belgium, WB0VBH,
USA, S54BN, Estonia, EA3DT, Spain, 9H3FGA, Malta. 1K3BOS,
Italy.
Alan adds: “All these stations were worked between 4th October
and 10th October at times between 13.00 to 16.50 local time, using a
Kenwood TS570DGE and a Yaesu FL2100Z HF Linear, 400 watts.
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The aerial is a G2DYM 2 trapped dipole, 133.6ft long, inverted vee
configuration, east, west, compass wise, 65 ft above ground level,
with a 30 ft x 18 ft counterpoise, consisting of 12 mm copper tubing,
drilled every 2 ft with a1/16th inch drill.
All this is connected to a 3/4 inch spigot, which is a foot above
ground, which I occasionally pour water down to keep the earthing
system moist.
Connected to the spigot, is some Cadmium Copper lightning bar, 1
and quarter wide, 1/4 of an inch thick, this is then bolted to the
outside wall and comes into the shack to a buss bar made out of the
same lightning conductor bar to which all my earthing leads from my
HF Rigs go to one central point.
Alan lives in Bournemouth and has an excellent take off point from
where he lives, and some excellent dx if I may say so.
So there you have it that’s me done for this issue, it’s so nice to hear
from other operators who take time out to contact me let me know
what they have been doing on the air and give me some information
to put into this column.
So don’t be shy, let me have your reports large or small, don’t forget
the cup for the operator with the highest number of stations heard or
worked.
73 Doug BRS54163, 2075
RAIBC Club Nets
As many of you know, the club runs nets for members on various
days of the week on 80, 40, and 2 metres.
Why not call in to one of these nets and give it a try? You never
know what you are missing.
Full net details are available on the club website or in the
information pullout in the centre of each Radial.
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R a d i a l
A QRP Christmas
"A foot of new snow and it's still falling, this is getting bad," Tom
muttered to no one in particular. Just then Stella walked in with a sad
look on her face and Tom knew right away. "The kids aren't going to
make it, are they?" he asked. "No," she answered, "I just got off the
phone with them and the roads are all closed."
Great! Two days before Christmas, and the world had come to a
halt. Tom gave his wife a hug and said, "Well Mother, we might as
well get over it, nothing much we can do now but wait this thing out."
In the 50 plus years since the couple bought the house they had
weathered many winter storms, but this would be the first Christmas
without the kids and, now, the grandchildren. Nature could be cruel,
but at least they had plenty of food and firewood, and there was
ample gas for the generator in case the power went off.
"I think I'll go see if the repeater is still on the air," Tom said as he
headed to his ham shack over the garage. Being a radio amateur
had its advantages, and emergency communication was one of them.
He fired up the VHF set, and--sure enough--the local repeater was
alive and busy. Several folks in the community needed assistance,
and snowmobile deliveries were being organized accompanied by
hams to maintain communication.
As with many things, people take communication systems for
granted until they're suddenly unavailable. Two years earlier, with the
proliferation of cellular telephone technology, Middletown decided it
no longer needed Amateur Radio to assist during emergencies.
A few months later, the river overflowed its banks during a massive
rainstorm. Lightning wreaked havoc on the power grid and even
cellular telephones were overloaded or knocked out altogether.
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With one loud clap of thunder Amateur Radio was back in the
disaster communications business in Middletown. The Town Council
went so far as to give the Middletown Amateur Radio Club access to
a county building to serve as a communications headquarters and
monthly meeting spot.
Stella walked up the stairs to the radio shack with a hot cup of
coffee for Tom. She figured he'd be spending quite a lot of time on
the air during this snow emergency. She was wrong. Tom wasn't all
that fond of 2-meters, really. He'd always been a CW op. In fact, for
years he never even owned a microphone for his HF gear. To him,
ham radio was and would always be, CW.
His high school print shop teacher had convinced him to get his
ham license in 1939. A few years later, Uncle Sam took note of his
radiotelegraphy talents and made him a Navy radio operator aboard
the USS Missouri. He served from 1941 until the end of the War and
even was present aboard the Missouri for the formal Japanese
surrender.
Not long after the War, he married his high school sweetheart,
Stella, and started what would be a 40-year career at the telephone
company. They had three children and still lived in the very house
they'd bought brand new as a young couple in 1947.
Tom was a tinkerer, and he'd built several transmitters and even a
few receivers. But he was a serious brasspounder and could handle
30 to 40 WPM with ease. His station was always as clean as his
signal, and any piece of equipment he built was a work of art. It
wasn't good enough just to work and look good--it had to be perfect.
Other members of the local radio club poked fun because Tom had
a habit of making sure that even the screw slots on anything he built
were aligned in the same direction.
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He didn't buy his first commercially made gear until 1961 -- a
Hallicrafters SX-140 receiver with a matching HT-40 transmitter. That
was the only store-bought equipment in his shack until over a decade
later, when his best friend died suddenly. His friend's widow gave
Tom all the equipment in her husband's shack, including a complete
Collins S-Line.
That gear took a special place in Tom's heart and shack, not so
much because it was the "ultimate station," but because it had
belonged to his closest friend.
After retiring in 1986, Tom quit building equipment. He maintained
several skeds with on-air friends from around the world. Saturday
nights were his favorite, for it was then that he met with a large
number of old Navy radio ops on 7.030. He really enjoyed those rag
chews!
But, one-by-one, the gang started to dwindle as more and more of
his buddies became Silent Keys. It depressed him so that when his
main receiver quit working in 1993, he didn't bother to fix it. K9NZQ
was off the air for the first time since World War II.
Stella was worried enough about her husband's depression that she
told the kids about the problem. They chipped in and bought him a
brand new 2-meter FM radio for his birthday thinking that would
cheer him up. Tom listened to the local repeater every day, but he
rarely transmitted. It just wasn't the same.
She had hoped that having all the kids and grandchildren at the
house again this Christmas would perk Tom up and chase away the
lingering blues but now the weather had ruined that plan. "I think I'll
go out and make sure the generator still starts," he said as he
passed through the kitchen. "The power lines are beginning to ice
up."
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Once he was out the back door, Stella took the opportunity to
quickly and carefully wrap her gift to him. One of his friends had
suggested to her that she buy Tom a kit for Christmas.
Taking his suggestion, she ordered a small QRP CW transceiver kit
he'd recommended. She didn't know if he would like it, but with this
weather she was especially glad it had a arrived a few days earlier.
Like it or not, at least he would have something to open on Christmas
morning.
Day turned into evening and somehow the power stayed on. More
snow was falling outside. The TV was calling it some sort of record
snowfall for central Indiana. When Tom said he was going to bed and
it was only 6:30 PM, she decided it was time.
"Let's go ahead and open our presents now, and not wait two more
days" she said, handing him the gaily wrapped box. He didn't really
want to open presents, now but he didn't want to disappoint Stella,
knowing that she was still upset about the kids.
"All right, let me go get yours first," he agreed. In a few minutes
they were opening their presents. She seemed to really like the
bread making machine. He was more than a little surprised as he
opened the little QRP kit.
"There now," she allowed, "that will give you something to do for a
few days and it will keep you out of my kitchen." Tom knew he'd been
underfoot lately. "You're sending me to my room without pie?" he said
with a smile. "Go on with you. I'll bring pie up to you as soon as the
coffee quits brewing," she said as he headed back to the shack with
the little box in hand.
By the time she walked in the shack, pumpkin pie in one hand and
hot coffee in the other, Tom had unpacked the box, sorted the parts
and was halfway through the instructions. She was happy to see he
at least looked interested and left the room with her fingers crossed
that this might cheer him up.
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He didn't leave the shack until nearly midnight. By then, he had half
of the components soldered to the main board, and he had wound
several coils. "If the power doesn't go out," he muttered, "I could
have this thing running by Christmas!"
The next morning he awoke at 7:30 AM, two hours later than usual.
Stella already had the bacon frying when he walked into the kitchen.
A quick look out the back window revealed yet another foot of fresh
snow had fallen last night. He was glad to see blue sky and sunshine
and hoped that meant the worst was over. After breakfast he was
back in the shack, soldering pen in hand.
Tom was genuinely impressed with the little kit. The instructions
were clear, and it looked to be of high-quality. He had already
convinced himself, though, that he would never make a contact on 40
meters with less than 3 W. Nonetheless, he was happy to have
something to keep his hands and mind busy. And it was a good thing
that he'd kept up that dipole so he could see if this radio actually
worked.
By 7 that evening, the kit was nearly finished. He was ready to
apply power and begin initial testing. Stella knew that her decision to
buy the little kit was a good one when he asked if she'd mind if he
ate supper in the shack. By 11 PM Christmas Eve, the kit was
finished. He plugged in the headphones, hooked up the antenna
connection, and applied power.
The noise level jumped, and he knew things were working when he
moved the VFO ever so slightly and instantly heard a QSO in
progress. "Now, that's a good sign," he said to himself. He pulled off
the headphones and headed upstairs to tell Stella the good news.
But she was fast asleep. It was midnight. No point in waking her up
now. He slipped back to the shack and put the headphones back on.
73 ES MERRY XMAS OM DE W5WBL he heard as one QSO
completed.
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Tom moved a little higher in the band until he heard a strong station
in QSO with a VE6 in Vancouver. He was more than a little
impressed with the sensitivity of the receiver. After listening to a few
more QSOs he continued moving up the band until suddenly, he
heard a familiar call sign.
CQ CQ CQ de XE3HHH XE3HHH XE3HHH K. Tom almost couldn't
believe it. Here was his old friend Miguel in Mexico calling CQ. He
listened as Miguel called several more times with no reply. Thinking it
silly to even try, Tom grabbed an old straight key and plugged it in. It
was the first time in years that he had even touched a key. "This will
never work" he thought as he tapped out XE3HHH XE3HHH
XE3HHH de K9NZQ K9NZQ HW CPI OM?
Tom's jaw dropped when almost instantly Miguel came back.
K9NZQ de XE3HHH FB OM I THOUGHT YOU DIED HI HI MERRY
CHRISTMAS AMIGO. The two chatted for nearly an hour until Miguel
had to go.
After the final 73, Tom sat back in his chair and rubbed his chin. He
couldn't help but smile when he thought of just how much fun this
day had been. Building the little kit and actually working an old friend
just seemed to make his day complete. He would have bet half his
retirement pension that there was no way to work Miguel with less
than 3 watts.
He knew some guys who worked QRP regularly, but he had always
assumed that actually making contacts was a pretty rough and risky
business. At least he never thought it would be that easy.
He was about to shut down the rig and go to bed when he heard a
loud CQ just off the frequency where he worked Miguel. It was
KL7DD. Tom reached for the key figuring he'd get in another quick
QSO--or at least make the attempt--then go to bed. KL7DD turned
out to be Joe in Point Barrow, Alaska.
Page - 18

RAIBC Members Information Pages
Honorary Vice-Presidents
Brigadier ‘Johnny’ Clinch CBE, G3MJK. The ‘Pippins’, Dummer Road, Axford,
Basingstoke, Hants. RG25 2ED. Tel:/Fax:01256 389439
John Brown G3DVV Boulters Barn Cottage, Churchill Road,
Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 5UT
C O M M I T T E E 2 0 0 6
Chairman Kelvin Marsh, M0AID Highgrove,
Creech Heathfield,
chairman@raibc.org.uk Taunton,
Somerset,
TA3 5EW
01823 412087
Vice Chairman &
Membership Liaison
Keith Ruffell
vicechairman@raibc.org
Treasurer
Arthur Gordon, MM0ZOP 16 Swordale Crescent
treasurer@raibc.org.uk Bonar Bridge,
Ardgay, IV24 3EH
01863 766 660
Membership Secretary Alec Gaffin, G0MWO 509 Kenton Road,
memsec@raibc.org.uk Kenton, Harrow.
HA3 0UL
RAIBC HelpLine Tel: 020 8204 2347
Equipment Manager Quentin Cruse GW3BV 01970 639180
equipman@raibc.org.uk 45 Brongwinau,
Comins Coch,
Aberystwyth,
Wales SY23 3BQ
Vision Impairment Liaison Kelvin Marsh, M0AID 01823 412087
egroupman@raibc.org.uk

C O M M I T T E E
2 0 0 6 - CONTINUED
Education Officer
Bob Holton, G0BST
educator@raibc.org.uk Tel: 01952 281034
Duplicating Manager
Peter Hunter, G0GSZ
dupman@raibc.org.uk
Rally Co-ordinator
Keith Ruffell
Northern Ireland Committee
Terry Barnes, GI3USS
Bill McVeigh MI0CTA
96 Crawfordsburn Rd,
Bangor,
Co. Down,
BT19 1BT
Tel: 02891 473948
CORRESPONDING MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE
EMC Problems
Les Hawkyard, G5HD
Accountant/Auditor
POSITION VACANT

Minutes of the 29th Annual General Meeting of the
RADIO AMATEUR INVALID AND BLIND CLUB
Held at the Leicester Amateur Radio Show, Donington Park
9th September 2006 at 15:00 hours
1. Present: David Jones Chairman G0HHP, Alec Gaffin Membership
Secretary G0MWO, Keith Ruffell G7EDT, Kelvin Marsh Vision
Impairment Liaison M0AID, Bob Holton Education Officer G0BST,
Amanda Hambidge Radial Editor M0DZO, Ann Walton Chairman’s
Secretary, Carlos Garthwaite G1UAI, John Evans G7CEC,
Dennis Shelford G8VRO, Quentin Cruse GW3BV, Edwin Smith
G1SKR, Jackie Marsh (as note-taker for Kelvin)
2. Apologies: Vicki Cowell Treasurer, Richard Neale-Gardner
Duplications Manager M1EYA, Arthur Gordon MM0ZOP
Scottish Representative, Bill McVeigh MI0CTA, Peter Hunter
G0GSZ, Roy Gerard G3LAZ, Arthur Evans M0BLM.
3. Minutes of the 28th A.G.M.: Corrections were made to names
and callsigns. Proposal to accept the minutes by Dennis Shelford,
seconded by Amanda Hambidge
4. Matters arising: The Treasurers absence was noted and
discussed further in ‘any other business’.
5. Chairman’s Report: The Chairman thanked everyone for
attending the meeting. Special thanks were given to the readers
who enable blind and partially sighted members to receive
Radial on disc. Work has been carried out to keep up to date with
the Charity Commission’s requirements for the accounts.
Accounts for 2005/06 have been submitted to the auditor, but not
yet approved by this Committee.

The Accountant’s fee will be in excess of £1000. The process has
been delayed due to the initial new auditor being unable to
continue.
6. Treasurer’s Report: No report was available at this time. Dave
expects figures for Loan Equipment to be included next year.
Loaned assets of the Club stand at approximately £50,000.
There was a vote of censure against the Treasurer.
Several members requested answers to questions regarding
equipment and treasurer information and were unsatisfied with the
lack of information forthcoming. Kelvin informed the members that
there had been some changes made to the equipment purchase
and issue which will be of significant benefit to the Club.
Kelvin also explained, due to clarification about the status of the
Committee as the Charities Trustees, a fresh approach to
transparency and accountability was taking place. With the
backing of the Membership, the Committee was seeking approval
to rapidly sort things out.
7. Acting Loan Equipment Manager’s Report: 136 members
currently have equipment from the club. After 4 years the
equipment has been written off, this policy will change and will
now be included in the assets of the Club. Details of equipment
currently in stock were given. The value of this stock is
£18,238.08. This will be shown in next year’s accounts along with
the value of radios out on loan.
8. Membership Secretary’s Report: 253 members not up-to-date
with their subscriptions will be removed from the list - those with
equipment are to be contacted for it’s return, as per the loan
agreement. Alec reminded members that subscriptions are £7 for
the year, many people still paying £5 or £6.

9. Vision Impairment Liaison’s Report : Thanks were given to the
many volunteers who read for the Club.Discs for licence courses,
Advanced mock exam paper and an 8 DVD set of an Intermediate
course are available to members. Both the IC7000 and Ic-703
manuals have been requested to be recorded and Kelvin will
progress this with his readers.
10. Education Officer’s Report: Bob will carry out home visits to
assist those people needing additional support to attain the RAE
and will work with people outside a 50 mile radius using a variety
of electronic means.
11. Radial Editor’s Report: The website has been improved. As
usual the editor is appealing for copy for the magazine. The
magazine is now available in PDF format and members wishing
to receive this need to contact Amanda - this saves money for the
Club in copying and postage.
12. Duplication Manager’s Report: Report submitted. Richard is
duplicating Radial for those who receive it on CD, but will be busy
with other duties until January 2007 and duplication of other items
will be carried out by other members.
13. Election of Committee Members: Quentin Cruse was
introduced to those present, with experience of Committee work,
living in Wales and having disabilities himself. Quentin was
elected as Equipment Manager.
The position of Vice Chairman became vacant due to the
resignation of Robin Hewes. Keith Ruffell was introduced to those
present and duly elected as Vice Chairman.
14. Video and Telephone Conferencing: An Amendment was
agreed to the Constitution to allow Committee meetings to also be
held via video and telephone conferencing. Kelvin will make the
arrangements with the Charity Commission for this to be ratified.

15. Membership Liaison Officer: It was agreed to appoint Arthur
Gordon to this post to co-ordinate assistance for members
moving into Sheltered or Residential Accommodation, to enable
them to continue their hobby of Amateur Radio. He is asked to
liaise with members who already have arrangements for doing
this.
16. Any Other Business: A request was made for Vicky to stand
down as Treasurer due to the lack of a report being available to
the members. Dave will action this.

RAIBC Net Controllers:
PETER HALLAM GI4GVS GI0IBC HF
KELVIN MARSH M0AID G4IBC HF
JOHN BROWN G3DVV G4IBC HF
ROGER BAXTER G0KME G4IBC HF
CARLOS GARTHWAITE G1UAI GB1IBC VHF
GORDON WIDDOP G0PTO GB1IBC VHF
STEPHEN CLAXTON G0TOT GB1IBC VHF
KELVIN MARSH MOAID ‘Early Birds’ HF
JOHN HAMMOND G0FLP G4IBC C.W. HF
ROBERT HUGHES-BURTON MWORHD GB1IBC VHF
QUENTIN CRUSE GW3BV GB1IBC VHF
R.A.I.B.C
CLUB NETS
There are regular club nets operated by members and supporters. The club callsigns are as
follows: (VHF) GB1IBC (HF) G4IBC and from Northern Ireland GI0IBC
MONDAY
(start)
10.00 FM 145.500 MHz G1UAI (GB1IBC)
(Home Counties)
(then QSY)
TUESDAY
10.00 SSB 7.050 MHz or 3.743Mhz GI4GVS/G3DVV (GI0IBC)
M0AID operates the‘Early Birds’ net at 09.30 until the main net at 10 00
10.30 (North Wales) FM 145.400 MHz MW0RHD/GW3BV (GB1IBC)
14.00 CW 7.025 MHz G0FLP (G4IBC)
WEDNESDAY
14.00 SSB 7.050 MHz or 3.743Mhz M0AID (G4IBC)
THURSDAY
10.30 (North Wales) FM 145.400 MHz MW0RHD/GW3BV (GB1IBC)
19. 30 (Manchester) FM 145.550 MHz G0PTO (GB1IBC)
20. 00 (Swanage) FM 145.350 MHz G0TOT (GB1IBC)
FRIDAY 19:30 SSB 3.743 MHZ M0AID (GB4IBC)
Nets Run From Northern Ireland
gi4gvs@qsl.net
SSB 3.743 MHz GI4GVS (GI0IBC)
FRIDAY 19.00 (During British Summer Time months)
SUNDAY 15.00 (During the winter months )
All times are local clock time. When propagation conditions are bad on 40 meters,
PLEASE CHECK 3.743 MHz
Please contact the Radial Editor with any information you may have
about VHF / UHF nets.

Did you know that the RAIBC has an E-mail group?
Well, we do. It is open to all members and supporters. We welcome you along, and
value your input.
To join the RAIBC Email group, send a blank message to:
raibc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Full instructions for using the group will be sent by return.
If you would like to be added to the group manually,
send an email to
kelvin@qti.org.uk
RAIBC HELP-LINE
0 2 0 8 - 2 0 4 - 2 3 4 7
This Help-Line is run by our Membership Secretary,
Alec Gaffin, G0MWO.
Please be aware that the BT 1571 answering service is
in operation. If you do not get a reply DON’T hang-up.
The answer service will take over. (it could take 20 rings)
Leave a message and Alec WILL get back to you.

R a d i a l
Joe also was ex-Navy, so the two hit it off right away. What started
off to be a "quick" contact turned into a two-hour QSO. Joe only had
trouble hearing Tom a couple of times. The little QRP rig was holding
its own and making a believer out of Tom in the process.
Four contacts later, Tom was exhausted. About the time he shut
things down and headed for bed, Stella walked in. "Merry Christmas!"
she exclaimed. "What time did you get up? I didn't hear you get out
of bed?"
Tom wasn't sure how to tell her he had been up all night 'playing
radio' so he just replied, "early." "Well, I've got breakfast ready," she
said as she walked back down the stairs.
He was still thinking about the contacts he made last night when he
sat down at the kitchen table. "You know Mother," he said with a
smile, "this might have been one of the very best Christmas's we've
had in a long, long time.
After breakfast, let's call the kids, but then I need to be back in the
shack by noon because I told a guy that I would meet him on 40
meters to help him check out his new antenna..."
No doubt about it. K9NZQ was radio active once again.
Copyright © 1998 Jeff Davis, N9AVG All Rights Reserved
May Not Be Reproduced in Any Form Without Written Permission
Page - 19

R a d i a l
Tommy Wigg G3SKF
In 2004, at the age of 92 G3SKF decided
that it was time to call it a day, and after 12
years finally handed over moderation of
the Tuesday morning RAIBC net to John
Brown G3DVV. The net had been one of
the most important features of his weekly
schedule, but as long as his health
allowed, he still continued to listen in.
However, such occasions became
increasingly rare, and on 4th August 2006
he died peacefully in his home in the New
Forest.
Thomas Charles Maxwell Wigg was born on March 17th 1912 to
Harold Wigg, an x-ray pioneer, and Blanche Maxwell. He was
educated at University College School, London, and went on to read
engineering at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge from 1930 to 1933,
where he coxed the first eight to their oars and won the University
Coxwains’ Skulls. After leaving university he worked for a while for
Stewarts and Lloyds of South Africa in their Birmingham office, but
frustrated because he saw little chance of his work taking him out to
South Africa as he had hoped, in 1936 he decided to try his luck in
India.
Having contracted appendicitis on the boat sailing out, he soon
found himself in the British Military Hospital in Dalhousie, where he
then commenced working as a civilian for the Military Engineer
Services. An extended period of leave in England in 1939 resulted in
another eventful boat trip back to India: he heard George VI’s
declaration of war in the radio room of an Italian ship with eight
different nationalities, including a German!
Page - 20

R a d i a l
He reached India via Singapore, and soon entered military service.
After Cambridge he had served as a reserve officer in the RAF,
learning to fly a Tiger Moth out of Filton. However, at the age of 28
he was now considered too old to fly, and so resigned his
commission and joined the Royal Indian Engineers.
A succession of postings saw him ending up as Staff Officer Works,
planning and building the base for operations against the Japanese
in E. Command, work for which he was to receive an OBE.
Over Christmas 1945 he returned to England, this time in a
Sunderland flying boat, and promptly met an assistant pathologist
who was working with his father in Worcester. He and Sheila Mary
Newstead married in September 1946.
After he had been demobbed with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel,
he joined the United Africa Company, a subsidiary of Unilever,
working first in Nigeria and then in Ghana. It was there in 1954, when
Sheila and the young family had had to return to England, that he
discovered amateur radio as a way of keeping in touch.
9G1BV, as he was then, quickly became a dedicated ham, and the
passion continued after he returned to England in 1960 to settle in
Chislehurst, Kent. His first rigs he built himself, describing them as
home brew, and even at the age of 86 he was to surprise a couple of
young salesman with his technical knowledge when he moved up to
the world of modern high-tech.
His work had continued to take him abroad regularly, above all to
East Africa, and after retiring in 1973 he spent six months in Jamaica,
advising a company there. As a pensioner he kept himself busy with
a variety of voluntary activities, working for the local Housing
Advisory Centre, as governor of an old peoples’ home, and chairman
of the local Conservative Association.
Page - 21

R a d i a l
Later in Hyde in the New Forest, to where they moved when Sheila
retired in 1981, he continued his political work, chaired the local
branch of the Royal British Legion, and even delivered meals on
wheels until he was nearly 85! Radio increasingly became the central
feature of his routine.
Even more so after Sheila died in 1997 and his mobility became
more and more limited. It was one of his few means of contact with
the outside world, as with great determination he stayed on alone in
the home he loved so dearly, looked after by a battery of carers.
From 1992 he had run the Tuesday net. He was always terribly
disappointed when he couldn’t make it, and it was with great regret
that in the end he had to give it up. He is survived by three children,
Michael, Felicity and David, and six grand-children.
Tommy’s Tribander Aerial
Page - 22

R a d i a l
Meet Your Committee
Quentin Cruse GW3BV, Equipment Manager
I have always been interested in electronics and radio especially
since my father purchased a CB set when they became legal in
around 1984. The desire to tinker with electronics and for some
reason clocks was encouraged by my Grandfather. After I had been
ill for some time my interest in radio was rekindled and I started
listening to amateur radio stations and collecting call signs. I
eventually had enough of that and wanted to do some of the talking
myself!
Due to my disabilities it took a great deal of effort to prepare for the
RAE. I did so by sitting a correspondence course from Pete
Pennington G4EGQ. I sat the RAE, passed and became MW1SZC.
In late 2002 after much blood, sweat and tears I took the Morse test
and was given permission to have my late grandfathers call G3BV.
As soon as I became a class A I applied for loan equipment from the
RAIBC and was given a TS570D.
My main radio interests are digital modes, SOTA, the 5 megahertz
experiment and Qrp. My health severely limits what I am able to do
in any area of life but at least with radio I am always learning and can
dip in and out of the hobby as my health allows.
I was and still am over the moon with my loan radio and the
generosity of the RAIBC. Ever since I have been an avid supporter
and advocate of the club and was only too pleased to be asked to
take on the role of equipment manager.
I am keen to be of help to the members but also to raise the profile of
the RAIBC as much as possible. I am sure that if I or my parents
had been aware of the RAIBC when I was younger then I would have
enjoyed the help of the club many years earlier and no doubt been
licensed earlier as well.
Page - 23

R a d i a l
I want to make sure that wherever possible every radio amateur and
swl knows about the RAIBC. That way we can make sure that
everyone who needs our help gets it!
Arthur Gordon MM0ZOP, Treasurer, Welfare Liason Officer.
My name is Arthur Gordon. I have been elected as the treasurer of
the RAIBC. I am 77 years of age, and until I retired in 1990 I was a
community nurse. I also served in the RAF as a nurse on air
ambulance duties, and later in the operating theatre. I have only
been a radio amateur for about 4 years, and a member of the RAIBC
for 3 years.
I have also served on various hospital committees, and also as a
Community Councillor. I hope to bring these experiences to the
members in any way that I can. I have considerable knowledge of the
workings of, and regulations concerning, hospitals, nursing homes,
care homes and sheltered accommodation.
As well as treasurer I am also listed as Welfare Liason Officer, and
as such it will be my past experience in the Health Service which I
hope will be of help to members who are forced to give up their
homes for a more regulated abode.
Page - 24

R a d i a l
You’ve Got To Have A Laugh !
Hum it...
A weary traveller stops at the only restaurant he can find open so
late, that's close to the highway, and the restaurant has a piano bar.
The music was too inviting to resist, and the traveller decided to take
supper in the area next to the piano. About half-way through his
supper, to the traveller’s amazement, 4 little alien creatures come out
from behind the piano and nonchalantly walk out the door. The
traveller, wanting to be sure that the creatures were part of the piano
player's act, asked "Do you know 4 alien creatures just walked out
from behind the piano?" Came the reply, "No, but if you'll hum a few
bars I'll try to pick it up."
Cereal.
Did you hear about the bizzare murder that happened in Fort
Lauderdale overnight? The body was discovered in a bath tub of milk
and sliced bananas. The police suspect a cereal killer.
Hmm!
A blonde suspects her boyfriend of cheating on her, so she goes out
and buys a gun. She goes to his apartment unexpectedly and when
she opens the door she finds him in the arms of a redhead. Well, the
blonde is really angry. She opens her purse to take out the gun, and
as she does so, she is overcome with grief. She takes the gun and
puts it to her head. The boyfriend yells, "No, honey, don't do it." The
blonde replies, "Shut up, you're next!"
And On That Note!
That’s Shallot!
Page - 25

R a d i a l
MEMBERS ON E-MAIL
Peter ..............
Alec ................
Eric ................
Alan...............
Alec ..............
G0GSZ - - - - - - - - - - - peterg0gsz@ntlworld.com
G0MWO - - - - - - - - - - alec.gaffin@btopenworld.com
G0RAR - - - - - - - - - - - aub@ericg0rar.wanadoo.co.uk
GM4FLX - - - - - - - - - - alan.lovegreen@ic24.net
G5LW - - - - - - - - - - - - alecg5lw@juno.com
Jim................
John...............
Kelvin............
Peter..............
SWL - - - - - - - - - - - - - jimmar@eurobell.co.uk
G3DVV - - - - - - - - - - - john.brown@g3dvv.demon.co.uk
M0AID - - - - - - - - - - - kelvin@kjmarsh.freeserve.co.uk
GI4GVS - - - - - - - - - - gi4gvs@qsl.net
Robin ............ G3TDR - - - - - - - - - - - g3tdr@thersgb.org
Charles......... G0ECQ - - - - - - - - - - g0ecq@btinternet.com
Quentin......... GW3BV - - - - - - - - - - equipman@raibc.org.uk
Trevor............. M1CZX - - - - - - - - - - trevor@ruane.plus.com
Bob............... G0BST - - - - - - - - - - - bobandcicely@yahoo.co.uk
Dave ...........
Bob .............
Bill ...............
Ron ............
Keith ..........
Alan ...........
Bill ..............
Ken ............
Gordon ......
Eleanor ......
Martin.........
Pete............
Barry...........
Colin...........
Reb.............
G4HAZ - - - - - - - - - - - Kdavehope@aol.com
MW0RHD - - - - - - - - - bobmw0rhd@onetel.com
G6NB - - - - - - - - - - - - bill@g6nb.freeserve.co.uk
G3DSV - - - - - - - - - - - ron@g3dsv.me.uk
G0WQD - - - - - - - - - - keith@g8eap.demon.co.uk
G1AEU - - - - - - - - - - - alang1aeu@aol.com
G6DJE - - - - - - - - - - - wsmart159@aol.com
G3KNB - - - - - - - - - - - ken@g3knb.freeserve.co.uk
G4GUW - - - - - - - - - - gordon105@btinternet.com
GI0OHG - - - - - - - - - - gi0ohg1@aol.com
G0TVD - - - - - - - - - - g0tvd@g0tvd.org.uk.
M0PCA - - - - - - - - - - m0pca@btinternet.com
SWL - - - - - - - - - - - silverfox8442@aol.com
G4IER- - - - - - - - - - - colinear75@tiscali.co.uk
G6XCJ / G0CJM - - - - beavisjones@btinternet.com
Page - 26

R a d i a l
David............... M0CNP- - - - - - - - - - - david@m0cnp.fsnet.co.uk
Peter .............. 2E1CPQ - - - - - - - - - - 2e1cpq@pgoodwin7.wannadoo.co.uk
Dave ................G0HHP - - - - - - - - - - daveg0hhp@blueyonder.co.uk
Jim ................ M3WNZ - - - - - - - - - - jimm3wnz@hotmail.co.uk
Dick ................ GM3AKM - - - - - - - - - gm3akm@blueyonder.co.uk
George............ M0CBJ - - - - - - - - - - - george@preedy7362.fsnet.co.uk
Frank............... GM0CSZ - - - - - - - - - gm0csz.kn6wh@dsl.pipex.com
Alan................. G0MAS - - - - - - - - - - alan@g0mas.wanadoo.co.uk
Alan................. G2AJL - - - - - - - - - - g2ajl@tesco.net
John................ G3EGC - - - - - - - - - - jvhradio@tiscali.co.uk
Les.................
G1LES - - - - - - - - - - g1les@uwclub.net
Don’t forget if you are not on the list and want to be, send me an E-mail with your
details. I’ll include it in the next issue. If you have already sent me your email
address and it isn’t here please send it again, It must be floating around
Cyberspace!!
73 for now. Amanda, M0DZO
Silent Key
Some of the more senior members of the Reading Rattle cassette
group will remember Michael Larkin, one of our founder members
and a frequent contributor in past times.
He passed away peacefully in hospital in the morning of Tuesday
8th. Nov.
In spite of continuing poor health, and increasing deafness he was
very much forward looking and "on the ball". Knowing his own mind
and not afraid to express it !
His Funeral service was held at Golders Green Crematorium,
North London, (Chapel E) at 10.30 on November 15th.
Regards from Graham Bedwell. G3XYX..
Page - 27

R a d i a l
An Appeal for Help
I have just joined the RAIBC and was wondering if any Radial
readers could help me. One of the main reasons I joined the RAIBC
was because my Great Grandfather was an amateur, his name was
Tony Law and his call sign was G3KNE.
I would love to hear from any RAIBC members who have any
knowledge or memories of him. He was born in Kent in the late
Victorian period. He was blinded in the trenches in France in the First
World War.
I am not sure when he acquired his amateur radio licence, but he
achieved his morse certificate in 1958. He often stood in as a net
controller for the RAIBC and Cheshire Home nets, but radio wise this
is all I know of him.
He met me when I was 8 weeks old and became silent key shortly
afterwards. If anyone can tell me any more about him I would be very
grateful. I hope I have acquired his morse ability, so I am hoping to
commence morse classes in October - transport permitting.
I became an amateur in March of this year and fight for the mic with
the OM who is also an M3. Both of us wish to take the intermediate
tests, but unlike him I think I will stop at that.
Maybe I’ll meet some of you on the RAIBC club nets soon.
73 de Judi M3NKW 2168
Judi Dale, 37 Bussey Road, Norwich, NR6 6JF. Tel. 01603 469682
m3nkw@yahoo.co.uk
Judi I think you will find that your Great Grandfather would have
obtained his licence in 1958, there was no other licence then and you
needed the morse pass to get it. - Editor
Page - 28

R a d i a l
A night of pleasure and a question
Now if that subject line doesn't wake everyone up, nothing will!
I've not actually written about what I do with my TS2000 but after last night I
thought I would, particularly as I enjoy what Alan says about the RAIBC nets.
Well: so far I've listened much more than participated in QSOs though do join my
local club net once a month when I'm around. I love listening on repeaters, listening
to all the drivers saying where they are etc, makes me almost wish I had a driving
job! I also enjoy listening to contests sometimes, I hope to take part one day.
Over the last two or three weeks Steve has forced! me to leave the rig on
overnight. Sometimes on repeaters and once on the calling channel on 2 Metres.
On all these occasions I've awakened at some unearthly hour to hear someone
mobile putting out a call and each time they haven't been answered. Well, I ain't
gonna get up and talk to no-one in the middle of the night, the very idea! Actually I
might eventually but I'm sure I'll sound all slurred when half asleep.
Now to last night. Having been made aware that 80 metres is likely to be better at
night I twiddled the knobs around that band until I actually found someone clear
enough, and English - not that I've anything against foreigners but I only speak
English! I was very pleased as I was able to hear maybe three people talking,
Steve said he heard one of them say there were 18 in the group at that time getting
on towards midnight. He forced me to leave it on, the lovely chap that he is, and I
stood around listening for a while then decided that the QSO seemed likely to go
on for a while so climbed into bed. One of them was coming through very clearly
and I think he came from the west of England.
As time went on I heard one from Northern Ireland and much later Steve heard
one from Germany - I think I heard one who said he was in Russia too but I'd just
wakened, this was about 3:40. There was an M3 from Weston Supermare but I
didn't hear him, also a Frenchman who I didn't hear. I was amused by some tones
which sort of reminded me of someone trying to play music - no idea what that
was. Anyway I thoroughly enjoyed my broken sleep though can't remember what
they talked about particularly other than one said he has trouble sleeping. They
ranged over all sorts of topics. This was the best I'd ever heard 80 Metres.
This brings me finally to my question: at no time were either of us able to hear
new ones join in - they faded in and out somewhat or else we would be asleep etc.
So, what's the accepted, if there is one, procedure to break in. People were
certainly doing so.
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R a d i a l
I remember reading on a website that breaking in on the HF bands is somewhat
different from say 2 Metres, in as much as from what I remember the site said you
would wait until after the QSO then call the person you want. But obviously this
was a big group where things must be somewhat different and I'm thinking that if
you just said 'break' or something like that, which I've heard on 2 metres, you might
not be heard because of the obvious difficulties with HF.
If I come across anything like this again I'd like to join in, so would Steve when he
gets his licence. I'm not one for staying up late but, well, for something like this it'd
be worth it. We both thoroughly enjoyed our somewhat interrupted sleep!
73 Angie (M3PYM)
Welcome New Members
We extend a warm welcome to our new members:
2165 SWL Peter Licence Reading Berkshire
2166 SWL Brian Everington Twickenham Middlesex
2167 SWL D. F. Cownden Walthamstow Essex
2168 M3NKW Judi Dale Norwich Norfolk
2169 SWL Elaine Swift Telford Shropshire
2170 M3LKX Christine Wynn Broughton Flintshire
2171 2M0EDY Edward Higgins Paisley Renfrewshire
2172 MM0PVR Elderslie A.R.S. Paisley Renfrewshire
2173 SWL John L. Jenkins Aberystwyth Cardiganshire
2174 G0SMY Louis Silvester Rustington W. Sussex
2175 2E0CJX Andrew Baker Birmingham W. Midlands
2176 M3RPE Richard Evendon Tonbridge Kent
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Members Letters
Dear Editor,
You will probably remember that I e-mailed you a few
weeks ago and amongst other things I was critical of your choice of
picture on the front cover of the Autumn Radial. I said that it was
amagnificent picture but questioned what it had to do with amateur
radio. In your reply you expressed your frustration in trying to find
suitable picture for the front cover.
Having criticised you, I thought I should try to help!
I have been looking through my amateur radio photos to see if I
could find something suitable with a vertical format and I have come
across the enclosed.
It is a picture of my shack which is a 10 feet by 8 feet wooden shed
in my back garden. it is fully insulated and panelled inside with mains
power and telephone lines installed and even central heating! This
has been possible because the boiler is close by in the adjacent
garage.
The beam you see is a Jaybeam Minimax for 20, 15 and 10 metres
and it is mounted on a home made telescopic mast - fully extended
in the picture. The whole mast is turned by the rotator which is visible
at the bottom. Also visible is a Slim Jim for 2 metres and just near to
that, if you look carefully, you can just make out the open wire feeder
going up to the G5RV which is not visible.
I would be so pleased to help if you think that you can use the
picture on the front cover of Radial. There is no doubt that it has
something to do with amateur radio!
John Hoban G3EGC
Thanks for the picture John, as you can see I’ve used it already, a
centrally heated shed eh, what a luxury! - Editor
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R a d i a l
Dear Editor,
I always enjoy turning back the clock to the 1930’s and 1940’s when
I was the proud owner of an Eddystone All World 2, a 2 valve battery
operated receiver with plug in coils, with an outstanding performance
on world - wide amateur and broadcast bands.
I sometimes carried it on the back of my bicycle with aerial wire and
battery for listening in a country field far away from local QRM.
I wish I had it today, unfortunately it was lost during the war years.
As far as I know today there is nothing on the market today to equal
it in performance and price.
Richard Williams
Thank you for those memories Richard, I actually saw one of these
sets on the Eddystone User Group stand at a vintage
communications fair, when I asked about it I was told that a member
of the Eddystone User Group had spotted it in a skip in Birmingham
and rescued it and restored it back to its former glory, a lucky find
indeed.
I wish I had a time machine to go back and get some of these
collectable sets and put on Ebay!!
I’ve got a restoration project I’ve just started, a 1931 Mullard Orgola
3 valve receiver, it may end up as an article for a later Radial !
- Editor
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R a d i a l
Dear Editor,
It gives me great pleasure to become a supporter of
RAIBC. My Great Grandfather, Tony Law G3KNE was a blind
operator and used to act as stand in controller for RAIBC nets.
He became a silent key in 1970, just a few weeks after I was born
so we didn’t have the oportunity to work each other, and probably as
a consequence of not seeing him operate I have come to the world of
radio later than I might have done.
I now have an even greater appreciation of his achievements, (he
was blinded in the First World War) he not only became an amateur,
but was also a qualified physiotherapist, as well as having a love of
carpentry.
If there is such a thing as a ‘shack in the sky’ I hope he is watching
over my forays into radio.
Judi Dale M3NKW 2168
Hi Judi, it’s nice I think when someone in a family takes up a hobby
of another family member, I was the first person in our family with a
licence, then my Dad got his licence. I know he was ‘dead chuffed’
when I passed my Morse in 2000 and took the call M0DZO which
echoed his call of G0DZO and I’m sure your Great Grandfather
would be too! Thank you for joining us as a supporter we need all
the new blood we can get! - Editor
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R a d i a l
LOAN EQUIPMENT
APPLYING FOR LOAN EQUIPMENT
& TERMS & CONDITIONS
The RAIBC is here to assist disabled amateurs and listeners to
enjoy their hobby to the full. One way in which we do this is to lend
equipment to members. This equipment is loaned only to full, that is
disabled members of the RAIBC.
If you are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance, Attendance
Allowance, a War Pension or are registered Blind/Partially Sighted
you will automatically be considered disabled and eligible to apply to
the committee for loan equipment.
If you do not fit these criteria you may still apply. However you will
be required to explain why you consider yourself disabled and need
our assistance. We will require supporting evidence such as a
doctor’s letter.
We are able to supply receivers or transceivers that have been
modified if necessary to facilitate ease of use. You will of course
need to explain how your disability affects you and what
modifications may help.
We are unable to supply aerials, rotators, masts or linear
amplifiers.
Any equipment supplied remains the property of the RAIBC at all
times. Equipment is supplied to members on the understanding that
they remain members of the RAIBC.
The equipment on loan to members must be fully insured as set out
in the “Terms and Limitations” of the loan equipment form signed and
witnessed by you. Advice on insurance can be given upon request
Page - 34

R a d i a l
If you are successful in your application you will need to sign a
terms and conditions form. This must be witnessed by another
individual, preferably an amateur, who will become your sponsor and
jointly responsible for the equipment.
If you wish to apply please contact me, Quentin Cruse the
Equipment Manager. I can give you more details and an application
form to fill in. When the paperwork is returned I will present your
application to the RAIBC committee for consideration.
A decision will be made as soon as possible and you will be notified
by telephone, email or letter. Please bear in mind that no one is
guaranteed equipment. The committee’s decision will be final.
Feel free to contact me by telephone between 10am and 8pm
Monday to Friday and email or post whenever you like. I will be
unable to reply to emails, letters and telephone calls at weekends.
Please bear in mind that I am disabled and also have a family. This
means I can empathise well with your needs but also means that I
am not always available or able to talk for long. I will however do my
best to communicate with you at a time convenient for us both. I
look forward to hearing from you.
Quentin Cruse GW3BV
45 Brongwinau
Comins Coch
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion
SY23 3BQ
Tel: 01970 639180
Email: equipman@raibc.org.uk
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R a d i a l
GENERAL NOTICES
For FULL and UP-TO-DATE information on *COVENANTS* and
*THE S. A. M SCHEME*
Please contact the Membership Secretary or Treasurer
PLEASE NOTE: Members are reminded that RAIBC keeps its
RECORDS on a computer database.
*MORSE TUTORS/MORSE TAPES*
These items are available on loan to members trying to master Morse Code, If you
are interested in this service please contact Kelvin M0AID
(full details inside front page)
*LOAN EQUIPMENT INSURANCE*
Members currently having equipment on loan from the RAIBC are asked to note
that insurance of this equipment is their responsibility. Such can be effected either
by inclusion In a current house (contents) insurance or through Amateur Radio
Insurance Services’, who provide specialised insurance at reasonable terms to
members of the RSGB or affiliated Clubs and Societies!
RAIBC Members are eligible. If quotes from your own insurance company seem
excessive, or they seem unwilling to provide the required cover, you can apply for
full details of the specialised Schemes available to:
Amateur Radio Insurance Services Ltd., FREEPOST, 10 Philpot Lane London.
EC3B 3PA.- Tel: 020 7338 01111.or Fax: 020 7338 0112
©2006 RAIBC
Copyright of all material published In RADIAL is held by the Radial Editor on behalf
of the author who remains the owner. For permission to reproduce any material In
Radial please contact the Editor.
Views and opinions expressed in Radial are those of the contributor, and not
necessarily of the Editor, Committee or any member of R.A.I.B.C. The Editor of
Radial cannot be held responsible for Inaccuracies of any kind.
Any photographs sent for publication will not be returned unless accompanied by a
stamped self-addressed envelope
Copy for NEXT RADIAL
Please note. Items for consideration and inclusion in the next Radial
(Spring 2007 ) must be with the Editor by no later than 14 th February 2007
Page - 36

My Latest Restoration Project The Chassis
From A Mullard Orgola 3 Valve Radio Circa 1931
Hopefully By The Time The Next Radial Appears
Work Will Be Well Underway
Amanda M0DZO