Activity in 2010 2009 2011
Three More Foundation Passes
A further three of the Air cadets that we have been training passed their Foundation Exam on Wednesday 22nd December 2010.
Congratulations to the candidates, and many thanks to all the tutors. The Cadets had to wait for a couple of weeks to get their licences due to the heavy snow disrupting postal services, operations at RSGB HQ and the Christmas / New Year holidays. We are looking forward to working them all on the air in early 2011.
Peter Trowbridge G3BLN SK
Members were saddened to hear that Peter Trowbridge G3BLN passed away a few days before Christmas 2010.
Peter was an excellent CW operator and had been a member of Poole Radio Society for many years, having previously been a Marconi radio operator in the merchant navy and later running his ‘Atlanta Radio’ business in lower Parkstone.
Peter’s interests covered all bands from lf to microwaves. He introduced several members to SSTV using the DL4SAW software.
The picture (right) shows Peter proudly holding a working replica World War II suitcase transceiver that he built. A full tribute to Peter appeared in G4PRS News.
Yet Another Foundation Pass
Another of our candidates passed the Foundation Exam on Monday 20th December 2010. Glen M6ODC took his exam at home. Viv, the invigilator has to trudge through the snow and ice to get to Glen’s house so that he could sit the exam! Congratulations to Glen M6ODC, and many thanks to Viv for invigilating and to everyone who helped Glen.
Even More Foundation Passes
Eight of the Air cadets that we have been training passed their Foundation Exam on Saturday 4th December 2010.
Congratulations to the candidates, and many thanks to all the tutors. Many of the Cadets had got their licences within a few days of passing. We are looking forward to working them all on the air.
Intermediate Course Underway
A latest Intermediate Course got underway on Friday 3rd December with many candidates enrolling.
Yet More Foundation Passes
All 5 candidates who took their Foundation Exam on Friday 26th November 2010 passed.
Congratulations to (left to right in the photo) Karol, Sean M6CMA, Roy M6RLY, Sue M6SUU, Peter M6PAB, and many thanks to all the tutors.
Within one week of taking his exam, Sean had got his licence and had worked stations on 2m, 20m, 40m, and 80m with contacts 7 different DXCC entities!
Poole Radio Society Helps Channel 4 Titanic Programme
Poole
Radio Society was pleased to assist with Twenty Twenty in the making of Episode
5 of the Channel 4 series ‘Titanic: The Mission’ which was broadcast during
Autumn 2010.
Members set up two stations, one on the cliffs at Anvil Point, near Durlston Park, and one on-board a boat off the coast.
Jamboree on the Air (J.O.T.A.)
The first Scout
Jamboree on the Air (J.O.T.A.) was held in 1957 and was organised by Les
Mitchell G3BHK from Wareham.
It became so successful he subsequently handed it over to the World Scout Council in Geneva to organise.
After a gap of many years, Poole Radio Society facilitated two J.O.T.A. stations for the Scouts this year. Both stations were very successful in achieving their objectives.
GB0LMS at St Aldhelm’s Head
On Sunday 17th October 2010 we operated GB0LMS for the Langton Matravers Scouts at St. Aldhelm’s Head.
The Scouts made two excellent wooden masts (one shown in the picture on the left) to support an 80m doublet antenna, at about 40 feet. This enabled some 50 QSOs to be logged including stations as far apart as South Carolina and the World Scout HQ in Geneva HB9S.
A number of Scouts visited the station with a handful wishing to send greeting messages.
The Scouts are delighted with the commitment from Poole Radio Society, and the Guides have already approached us with a view to doing something similar for their Thinking Day during February 2011.
Thanks to Les M0ARM, Peter M0PTR, Alan G4UWS and Alan M0GKD for their support.
GB4PNS at Canford Heath
On Saturday
16th October 2010 we operated GB4PNS for the Poole North Scouts, at their Scout
Hall on Canford Heath to help the Scouts obtain their Communicator Badge.
We set up 5 stations, four receive only, and the fifth for transmitting and receiving. During the afternoon the Scouts tuned in and logged stations from Cuba to Russia, Estonia to Qatar, Canada to Indonesia.
Each of the Scouts logged over 25 stations and most took it in turns to exchange greetings messages, before filling in QSL cards to confirm their contacts.
Thanks to Colin G6MXL, Alan G4UWS, Colin G0IIJ, Bill G4ERV and his wife Sue for their excellent and good spirited support!
Hamfest 2010
Poole Radio Society has a stand at Hamfest on Sunday, 8th August. All sorts of highly desirable surplus equipment was available for purchase from the PRS stand.
As usual on these occasions, it was good to meet up with old friends from far and wide. We were also blessed with good weather all day and the Society stand did brisk business..
Thanks to everyone for supporting the stand.
Second Day in the Field
We were active again
from Povington Hill on Sunday 25rd July 2010.
Charlie M0AIJ (right) was active on 2m ssb, working Portugal (CT), Spain (EA), France (F), Belgium (ON), English and Welsh stations.
Charlie’s station consisted of an IC910H running 50 Watts from a 12V battery, and 6-element quad antenna.
Whilst Charlie was working the DX on 2m, Les M0ARM (left) turned his attention to the 4m band.
Practical Wireless 2m QRP Contest
Several members participated in the Practical Wireless 144MHz (2m) QRP on Sunday 13th June 2010. Apart from being rather windy, the weather was fine. We made 34 contacts in 11 squares, both down on our entry in 2009.
Advanced Course
Three candidates took the Advanced Exam on Thursday 17th June. We know that two of the candidates passed, but we are still awaiting to hear how our third candidate got on.
First Day in the Field 2010
We were active from
Povington Hill on Sunday 23rd May 2010 for the first of our ever popular Days
in the Field for 2010.
Les M0ARM/P used one of the tables to operate from.
Charlie M0AIJ/P was QRV on 2m and 70cm.
To ring the changes, Phil Ciotti was trying out a Wouxan 4m hand held transceiver.
As you can see the weather was particularly kind on the day.
Several members took their home-made 20m vertical antennas to try in the field.
There was also activity on other bands including 6m. This was the first of a number of outdoor events planned for the summer months.
Geoff’s Challenge 2010
Entries for this year’s Geoff’s Challenges were judged at the meeting on Friday 14th May. Click here to see the entries
More Foundation Passes
8 candidates passed their Foundation Exam on Friday 30th April. This was our largest course to date.
The picture on the right shows them all proudly holding their pass certificates. From left to right they are, Peter, Bridget, Tony, Speed, Sam, James (kneeling), Reg M6REG, and Alec.
Two of the candidates have subsequently joined our Intermediate course.
Congratulations to all our candidates, and many thanks to all the tutors. We are looking forward to working them all on the air when they get their licences.
Bournemouth RS Rally
On Sunday
7th March we had a stand at the Bournemouth Radio Society Rally at Pelhams.
Although attendance by traders and visitors appeared to be lower than in recent years, probably due to another rally in Exeter taking place on the same date, we had a very successful stand.
We were fortunate to have a particularly good range of ‘highly desirable items of surplus equipment’ (it really would be unfair on this occasion to describe it as junk), including a selection of brand-new test gear and components.
With the reduced numbers of visitors and a particularly good high level of support from club members, we had more time than usual to meet up and talk with many local amateurs from around the area.
U3A Talk
On Wednesday 10th February, Dave G3ZPR and Alan G4UWS gave a talk and demonstration entitled ‘The History of Communication’ to students of the University of the Third Age (U3A). The talk was well received by a packed hall of students.
Annual Lunch
Following the successful move to an annual lunch rather than
an evening meal in 
2008, we continued
kept with the successful formula on Sunday 
24th January 
2010.
We again held the lunch at the Britannia pub in Lower Parkstone.
There was a good turn out, with many members and their families attending. The food was even better than last year, and the service excellent.
It was particularly pleasing to welcome members who recently joined the Society and meet their families. These are great occasions to discuss topics not related to amateur radio.
Thanks again to Dave G3ZPR for making the arrangements.
Foundation Course Underway
We ran a Foundation Course starting on Friday 22nd January, with no less than 8 students.