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NEW!I'm a bit late with this. I was told a couple of weeks ago but it slipped my mind!
GB3WG, the 70cm repeater overlooking Port Talbot is up and running. Its' output is on 433.150 with an input of 434.750 (shift of + 1.6 MHz) and the CTCSS is 94.8 Hz (F) or open with a 17.50 Hz tone.
On another, related, matter all systems are go at the moment for the Cardiff D-star Voice Node. If all goes according to plan it should be on the air on the 19 July. Fingers crossed!
NEW!The club now holds a cirtificate from the powers that be stating that it has passed the requirements to be an Examination Centre for all Amateur Radio Examinations.
I know of one member that has expressed an interest in taking his Full exam, but he has to pass the Intermediate first! Best of luck to him and any others who take the Intermediate.
Intermediate Licence Class course planning is well under way. Expected course start will be September. You will need to have passed Foundation Class (whether you've applied for the M3 / M6 Licence or not) to take the Intermediate exam.
Watch this news page for further information updates, pricing etc.
Interested parties please contact Steve, GW6CUR, or Robin, 2W0LAZ, to register for a place.
Information from GW6CUR . Additional information from ukrepeater.net.
GB3WW is now active at a location above Port Talbot. This will enable Cardiff radio Amateurs to access it with few problems on a base antenna. The coverage map suggests it would cover some of the west side of the valleys Merthyr, Penderyn, some parts of Pontypridd and the Rhondda. It will have blanket coverage in Bridgend, Maesteg, Swansea, Porthcawl, Llanelli and up to the west of Cardiff, allowing communications with locations as far west as Tenby and beyond.
Operating details are:
RV62 or 145.775 output, 145.175 input, obviously -600 kHz split, with 94.8 Hz CTCSS or 17.50 Hz tone.
The repeater is on a clock that switches it off at 2300hrs, switching back on at some time (0630 has been suggested but not confirmed) in the morning.
It has been reported that there is an audio fault that causes the audio to be dropped sometimes. The keeper and technical team are aware and a solution is being worked on.
UPDATE 20/05/2008: I have had official confirmation that the problem was resolved on Sunday 18 so all should be well now.
I can report that a NOV has been issued for a D-Star repeater or, more properly, a "bit-regenerative digital node", for Cardiff.
The NOV grants use for a 70cm band bit-regenerative digital node which is to be sited on County Hall in Cardiff Bay.
Main coverage will be most of Cardiff, a large part of Newport, some of Weston- Super-Mare plus high ground surrounding Cardiff with access from other "good spots" in the surrounding areas.
The commissioning of the site will begin shortly with erection of an antenna system. The node is expected to be on-air in a couple of months and will be announced in this column.
To be able to use the node you will require a D-STAR compatible radio covering 70cms (Icom IC-2820 (with UT-123 fitted), Icom IC-E91 (with UT-121 fitted), Icom IC-E92D (no extras required) and the Icom U82 (with UT-118 fitted) are the available radios meet these requirements in the UK at time of writing).
Further D-STAR info can be found on the D-STAR UK Wiki.
A D-STAR promotional video is available on the ICOM Global website: www.icom.co.jp. I've experienced a problem with the "Play" for the European vid. I hope this will be resolved soon.
Further repeater / bit-regenerative digital node information is available at http://www.ukrepeater.net.
There was a meeting about D-STAR in Bedford on March 1.
One of the things that was decided was simplex calling frequencies. It was agreed, with the ETCC (RSGB Emerging Technologies Co-ordination Committee) and those present, that the following frequencies should be used for simplex D-Star calling:
You need to make sure your in the "all mode section" when you move onto another frequency after establishing contact.
To read the full minutes of the meeting see: This page.
Further D-STAR info can be found on the D-STAR UK Wiki.
Chairman Steve, CUR, is pleased to confirm that the club is now the holder of the callsign "GW8NP", well actually GC8NP but the C is optional and we could / will use W in it's place.
Thanks go to Sid Merryfield who helped to make this possible. For those that don't know, GW8NP was the callsign of Cyril Parsons who was a founder member of the club.
This callsign, along with GW4LFO, can be used for club events by members empowered by the holder, the only criteria is that, unless supervised by a full licence holder, the user must hold a full licence.
I received a communication recently (well 5 Jan actually) saying that there will be "some experiments for this new mode of operation" in the Cardiff area shortly (well, once the D-STAR equipment has been acquired).
This could mean that the Cardiff area may get a D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio) repeater in the future.
Not sure what D-STAR is? See D-STAR appendix entry in the Glossary for more info.
Interested in this new mode of operation? Already got a D-STAR enabled radio and want to help out? Contact me at the usual address and I will pass your details on.
Following on from Steve's announcement last week (4 Jan) about the location for the Radio cupboard in the storage room adjacent to the main hall after the building works have been completed, I can now report that we will be using the main hall as our meeting place unless it is otherwise occupied.
The arrangement is that from Friday 18 Jan we will meet in the main hall. The caretaker will let us know when the main hall has another booking and, on those days, we will meet in the smaller hall that we have been using up to now.
This gives us extra space and the room for Foundation courses to continue. We are also looking into the possibility of holding Intermediate courses and exams as well.
I believe that will will need to set out tables and chairs to use and pack them away afterward, but this is a small price to pay for the extra space.
It was sad to see the low attendance at this years AGM, it seems a shame that more members couldn't make it.
After the agreement on last years minutes the Chairman, Steve, CUR, gave his report on the year. He thanked the other members of the committee for their work, Jackie and Denise for serving and organising the refreshments and the members in general for their support for the club in its venue moves.
The Treasurers Report was promising, but Selwyn, AXG, pointed out that the new venue was a drain on club resources that we were lucky enough not to have had before. The raffle was subsidising the extra outlay at the moment so things don't look too bad for the future.
The Refreshments were reported to be doing well, the cup a soup and rolls going down well with the members (no pun intended!).
Robert, ZHM, reported that the Foundation courses and exams had gone well this year but expressed concern over the fact that we had no spare room for teaching or examination now. This will be looked into in the new year.
Brian, GKX, started his website report by handing over some monies to Selwyn that were received from advertising space on the website. It is not a great sum but it will be a small monthly income and very welcome. He also reported that there were lots of ideas for content for the site but pointed out that he has to research subjects that he has little or no knowledge of very carefully and it takes a lot of time. He invited members to supply articles either written or in audio format (including the ancient cassette tape!) on subjects that they know well, he can then type them up and put them on the site. Steve, CUR, added that he was impressed with the website and asked for a round of applause to show members appreciation at Brians' efforts.
Andrew, MGB, reported that the events and program for the past year had not been an easy task due to the venue moves, but the arranged items were quite well received and supported.
Syd, NQQ, the club President, gave his report on the year, starting with an apology for his sparse attendance in the last two years. The reason being the illness and hospitalisation of his wife. He thanked the committee for its hard work in difficult times. He seemed surprised at being asked if he would continue as President and, as no one spoke against his reappointment, he accepted the position.
Steve, CUR, read out the proposals, proposers and seconders for the committee members for the coming year.
Mark, WGK, has had to drop out as he is moving to be closer to his work. Robert, WQV, has also had to drop out of the committee as he will shortly be moving out of the area as well. James, SGR, had resigned earlier in the year due to other comitments.
The proposed committee members were:
Chairman; Steve, CUR. Secretary; Robin, LAZ. Treasurer; Selwyn, AXG.
Other Members; Brian, GKX. Andrew, MGB. Ray, NKG and Dave, MWL.
The comittee appointments were proposed and seconded en bloc and, as no one spoke up against any of the appointees, they were accepted as the new committee.
The meeting ended with a surprise for our out going Vice Chairman, Robert, WQV (pictured, centre).
We will be sorry to see one of our longest serving club members go, but he is moving due to family commitments and is sorry to be leaving us. He will be welcomed to any future meetings and says he will keep in touch.
Due to adverse feedback about the quality of the bread rolls it has been decided to get higher quality ones. Unfortunately they come at a higher price.
From Friday 26th October 2007 the rolls will be Kingsmill and cost 15 pence each.
We will see how this goes and reassess the situation at a later date.
Due to continuing problems with parking, the state of the hall on arrival, no working equipment etc. it was felt that a more suitable venue be sought for the club meetings.
Two venues were found to be available, the Allensbank Scout hut, which we have used before in the summer, and St Philip Evans Church Hall in Llanederyn.
After a discussion on 29th September 2007 with all the members that could attend the meeting, it was felt that the better option would be the Church Hall as there is a proper car park, disabled access and toilets and all the tables and chairs are already laid out.
Date for your diary: Friday 19th October 2007, This will be the first meeting at the new venue.
Anyone not sure of the location? There is a map here
We (the Committee) have now revised the pricing for refreshments at the club meetings:
Although we didn't have too much time for planning the event on the 21st July, some events being planned months, if not years, in advance, the club made a good showing of Amateur Radio at this local fete, explaining to the interested what was happening, etc.
There were a few contacts made on VHF and some on HF, despite the rather loud music from the 'disco'. I thought I would never say this but a contest that day would have been good, if only to increase the contact rate!
The weather was kind to us, whilst cool and cloudy most of the day we only experienced a few spots of precipitation.
Thanks to Steve & Caroline, James, Ray, Wayne, Selwyn and Brian & Denise the small event went quite smoothly and, I think, was enjoyed by all. Also thanks to Robin for the photos in the Special Event section.
The club newsletter is re-launched this month. It is available on-line in PDF format for reading, printing out etc. or from club meetings on paper.
It is hoped that all future issues will be archived on this site. Anybody with old copies of H.A.R.C that could lend them for scanning into the site archive or for any articles to be included in future issues, please contact Robin 2W0LAZ or Brian MW0GKX.
We are now in a position to offer members the laminated membership badges again.
These are available to order from Brian MW0GKX at a cost of £1.50 each.
There are now 2 styles:
Original, all text version. 
Photo version.
Photos can be either digital,email or disc, or a normal photo or 'pasport' style of photo (will be returned).
The photo style is especially useful for members assisting with special events, as it shows event officials that you are the rightful holder of the badge.
Delivery should to be the meeting following your order.
28th February 2007 and the new (I think improved, but then I am biased, Brian) site went 'live' today (This is part of it!). The domain name is still the same - Highfields-arc.co.uk. It is very much a work in progress and will be updated fairly frequently.
I have had a few requests to make it 'blind browser friendly' for our visually impaired readers and I am endeavouring to do just that. If the browser readers have any problems please let me know via the email link in the Committee section or at a club meetings and I will try to sort it out.
If anyone has any comments, things to add or things that they think should not be here let me know as above. (Pictures of special events etc always welcome but please let me know from when/where they were taken) Brian, MW0GKX.
After 29th June 2007 the Club will no longer be meeting at The Highfields Centre. After 26 Years at the Centre this will be a sad occasion.
The Centre is where it all started and will be greatly missed by all. Our local authority has decieded to turn a purpose built Disabled Centre into an Office block. What a waste you may exclaim, but that is the way our local Council works these days.
It seems even disabled people were getting charged for the privilege of being there.
