LEFARS News – February/March 2019
Compiled by John Ray G8DZH
[Updated 7th March]
Dear LEFARS member,
With winter well underway, the evenings beginning to get lighter, it’s time to look forward to getting outside and “playing” radio. January and February are traditionally quiet months for LEFARS events although the activity on the LEFARS Facebook site remains lively.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/lefars/
Use the URL above to keep up to date with the latest news and events. There’s photos taken during the Canvey Rally (3rd February) and the LEFARS New Year lunch on 19th January. Lot’s of other discussions and threads as well.
Diary of Events – Club meetings at All Saints House
March 2019
1st: Visit by RSGB District 123 Regional Rep., Dave De La Haye MØMBD and Region 12 Rep., Peter Onion GØDZB.
15th: Night-on-the-Air, HF.
29th: Talk, “Review of the VERON Rosmalen Radio Rally 2019” by John Ray G8DZH
& Dick Clark G4DDP.
April 2019
12th: Annual General Meeting.
26th: RSGB Video Lecture Night, “Sporadic E Revisited” by Jim Bacon G3YLA.
May 2019
10th: Night-on-the-Air, VHF.
24th: Talk, “Top Tips for Working DX” by Fred Curtis G3SVK.
Chairman’s Notes
The Chairman, Richard G4DDP, reminds us that the AGM is on the 12th of April. He encourages anyone to consider standing as a committee member, subject to 2 years’ membership of the club.
Secretary’s Waffle
With winter receding the prospect of going portable becomes more of a pleasure to contemplate.
We have invitations from Team SNB, Trinity Buoy Wharf, Rainbow and Dove to look forward to. The Royal Gunpowder Mills will not be putting on a VE weekend as usual though this will be happening next year. They will however be putting on a weekend theming The History of Themselves, tying in with The Cucumber Festival at Waltham Abbey. Saturday will be a set up day and they expect to fill Queensmead with displays and re-enactors on the Sunday and bank holiday Monday.
The position of Public Relations Officer on the committee is still open, would all applicants please contact me so that we can make a short list.
73
David Priest M0VID
Email: mailto:secretary@lefars.org.uk
Membership Secretary’s Report
John G1DJI reports that, at the time of writing, 118 members have renewed their subscriptions for another year. He has sent out a gentle reminder to the other 30 or so or last year’s members who have yet to renew.
Royal Gunpowder Mills 4th -6th May 2019
The VE weekend of the 4th to 6th of May at the RGM has been cancelled by the organisers of the event. It is not known why this has been cancelled but it is a disappointment as the event was very popular and gave the club some very good publicity.
RGM group members will be supporting an alternative event to be held in its place with the full-size marquee and display. More information when available (see also Secretary’s Waffle), a more prominent position on the main field is being sought.
John Mulye G0VEH
RGM Co-ordinator.
Email: mailto:g0veh@lefars.org.uk
Rallies February/March
RSGB Rally List – https://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/
February 24th
Bredhurst R&TS (BRATS), Rainham Radio Rally, The Victory Academy, Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, Kent. Doors Open: 10:00. £2.50 entry
http://brats-qth.org/brats/images/club_forms/Rally2019.pdf
http://brats-qth.org/brats/index.php/about-us/73-rainham-radio-rally
Saturday March 16th
VERON Rally. 44th National Radio Flea Market. (Over 300 stands; Several LEFARians are attending!)
Autotron, Graafsebaan 133, 5284 NL in Rosmalen (Den Bosch), Holland.
http://radiovlooienmarkt.nl/
March 24th:
Hamzilla Radio and Electronics Fest. Hosted by the Dover ARC. Opens 10am -4pm.
Gateway Building, Discovery Park, Innovation Way, Ramsgate Rd, Sandwich, Kent. CT3 9FF.
www.hamzilla.uk
April 14th
WEST LONDON RADIO & ELECTRONICS SHOW (Kempton Rally)
Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames, TW16 5AQ.
Doors open at 10am
www.radiofairs.co.uk
LEFARS Club Nets
A reminder that the LEFARS Club net on 2m FM is held every Thursday at 20:00 (local time) on 144.625 MHz. This is a change of frequency from 144.725 MHz and has been in place for a few months to avoid QRM. Where possible the callsign G4ONP/A is used; Marc G0TOC has done a rota of participating stations who act as Net Controller (updated on the LEFARS Facebook page but shown below until the end of March).
2019 Main Standby
14-Feb G8DZH M0VID
21-Feb M0MBD G0TOC
28-Feb G4DDP G8DZH
07-Mar M0VID M0MBD
14-Mar G0TOC G4DDP
21-Mar G8DZH M0VID
28-Mar M0MBD G0TOC
Even if you don’t want to participate in the net, please just check-in with your callsign…
There is also an informal net on 144.625 MHz after the GB2RS news on Sunday morning. GB2RS news reader Dave De La Haye M0MBD takes reports first; recent weeks has seen some after breakfast chat to discuss the news ?
At all other times 144.625 MHz is used as a chat channel by LEFARS members.
73
John Ray G8DZH
Newsletter Editor
Loughton & Epping Forest ARS
E: editor@lefars.org.uk
