Activities in 2008 2007 2009
Intermediate Course Underway
Our winter Intermediate Course got underway on Friday 5th December 2008 with 6 students enrolled. Licensing Conditions, Safety and EMC were all covered on the first evening!
More Foundation Passes
On Friday 21st
November 2008 a further 6 candidates sat and passed their Foundation
Exams.
The picture shows the 5 candidates who sat the exam at Creekmoor. From left to right they are Jon Storey, Mike Norris, Eddy Cobb, Richard Noon and Bill Rees.
We made also made special arrangements for a disabled candidate to sit the exam at an alternative location that better suited the candidate’s needs.
Many thanks to the tutors and particularly those who went out of their way to support the disabled candidate.
Many of the candidates went straight on to start on the Intermediate Licence Course.
Pictures & Voices from Space
Members received
some Slow Scan Television Pictures from the International Space Station during
October 2008. They were received on 145.800 FM using SSTV standard Robot
36. In addition some voice contacts were heard using a small hand-held
transceiver with a ‘rubber duck’ flexible whip antenna.
Foundation Course Underway
Our Autumn 2008 Foundation Course started on Friday 19th September, with 5 candidates enrolled.
4 Metres
Several members are getting equipped for the 4m band. Some are using ex-PMR equipment converted to the 4m band. Others are using transverters. Transverter kits from Spectrum Communications in Dorchester are popular with members.
Hamfest 2008
As usual we had a stand at Hamfest on Sunday 10th August 2008. All sorts of highly desirable surplus equipment was sold, including a very nice 13.8Volt 12Amps power supply. Thanks to everyone for their support.
Annual Barbeque
The annual barbeque took place on Friday 8th August. It was well supported again this year. Thanks to everyone who supplied food and drink and in particular to Alan M0GKD for providing the cooking facilities.
Drinks and Nibbles
Paul Thompson, one of our successful Advanced Licence candidates, organised a Drinks and Nibbles evening at his home on Saturday 28th June 2008, to thank everyone for the series of training courses he attended from Foundation and Intermediate to Advanced. Many members and their partners attended a very enjoyable evening.
Practical Wireless 2m QRP Contest
On Sunday 8th
June we participated in the Practical Wireless 2m QRP contest. It was a
great introduction to contest operating for a number of recently licensed
members, several of whom seem to have caught the contesting bug!
Operation was from Povington Hill in Dorset, using just 3 Watts of 2m ssb from an Icom 706 into a 9-element yagi beam with power supplied by batteries.
39 contacts were made into 16 locator squares including one into Scotland. Following adjudication we came 49th out of 92 entries.
The weather was excellent making for a really enjoyable day for all involved.
Advanced Exam Success
No less than 5 candidates from Poole Radio Society sat our first Advanced Exam on Friday 22nd May. We are pleased to report that all five candidates passed. Congratulations to them all, and many thanks to all the instructors!
Geoff’s Challenge 2008
Entries for this year’s Geoff’s Challenges were judged at the meeting on Friday 9th May. Click here to see the entries
Graham M0GAB Silent Key
Graham Barlow M0GAB passed away on 27th April 2008. From 1997 until moving to Weymouth, Graham was a member of Poole Radio Society generously contributing to virtually every activity. His skills at raising funds for the club remain legendary. He edited the newsletter for a period and supplied refreshments at many events where the club participated. He was a keen operator on many bands and modes, and was always keen to try something new.
Bournemouth RS Rally
On Sunday 11th
March 2008 we had a stand at the Bournemouth Radio Society rally at Pelhams.
Apart from selling ‘highly desirable items of surplus equipment’ (a.k.a. junk) we were pleased to meet up with many local amateurs from around the area.
Many thanks to those members that gave up their time to help man the stand.
Annual Dinner (Lunch)
This year for a
change, we decided to have a lunch rather than a dinner and change the venue to
the Britannia pub in Lower Parkstone.
These changes certainly seemed popular with members and their families, with attendance up 50% on last year. It was particularly pleasing to welcome members who recently joined the Society and meet their families. It looks as though we will be continuing this arrangement in future years as it was so popular.
Thanks to Dave
G3ZPR for making the arrangements.
More Intermediate Course Successes
Congratulations to Alex and Hugh on passing their Intermediate Exam with us on 1st February 2008.