Author: John Dowling

With the MGP over and August drawing to a close, looking ahead to September we have a Backpackers Hilltoppers club event on Sunday 8th September at the Begoade Rd Car Park Onchan. Matty MD0MAN will host the station and everyone is invited to join in.

Regrettably the Churches on the Air on the 14th September with John GD4RAG will not happen due to organisational problems.

To finish off the Summer season (such as it has been) we are arranging an evening dinner on Friday October 4th; venue to be decided, any suggestions welcome. Let a committee member know if you plan to attend.

John GD0TFG

Secretary

Today Wednesday 21st all TT course activity is cancelled due to inclement weather so there is no reason not to have the usual meeting at the shack tonight. See you there!

John GD0TFG

Secretary

As various club members are involved in the Manx Grand Prix this week, and it’s all hands to the pumps for marshals, the meeting on Wednesday 21st August is cancelled.

John GD0TFG

Meetings at Ballasalla  are suspended during the TT period until 12th June as several members are involved and closed roads restrict access. Enjoy the racing!

On Sundays at 1600 hrs (4pm) a rota of volunteers relay the RSGB Bulletin over the Manx repeater 70 cm network GB3IM (Douglas 430.8250/438.4250/110.9) (Ramsey 430.8250/438.4250/71.9) and GB7BR (Ramsey 430.9250/438.5250/CC3).

Tune in, catch up on the latest developments in the radio world and chat with other Island amateurs. All are welcome.

It would be good to celebrate this as many other clubs throughout the British Isles will be doing; we have investigated having a station at a Lifeboat station but for various reasons it has proved unfeasible. A station can be operated by an individual or a group, and any location may be used, including home. Individuals and clubs are invited to register and follow events online. There is a certificate for participation.

Details are on Page 11 of the March Radcom, and it runs for the whole of May.

Another option would be participating in a Lifeboat Day, when the stations will be open and there would be public attending.

Comments would be welcomed.

Interest has been shown in a project that would be useful to club members and also give useful experience to those members who have not done much in this area or would like to refresh their skills.

Initial thoughts are for some kind of QRP transceiver which could actually be used; there are some kits around from Pixie CW and sundry variants from £6 upwards with or without an enclosure to a 6-band SSB kit at around £60 that comes with a lot of surface-mount components but looks like a useable radio.

Any other suggestions are obviously welcomed, jus speak to a committee member or at Club night.

Welcome to 2024; some hardy members attended the first meeting of the year in Ballasalla despite the cold with much convivial chat. I

This year there will be an event, talk or demonstration at the shack on the last Wednesday in the month. We already have a provisional program in place, but if any member would like to share expertise or have a particular aspect of Amateur Radio they would like aired then by all means get in touch with a committee member. If there is demand we may well schedule extra events.

This month on the 31st the indefatigable Richard GD8EXI will bring his analytical equipment along to the shack for a testing evening so bring along anything that might do with a check.

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The Committee

The situation at Tromode has not been resolved, so the club will not be meeting there again until advised.

It is with regret that Brian King’s talk on the Mary Rose next week 12th September has been postponed due to unexpected events beyond our control. We will advise when the talk will be re-scheduled. It is not certain that there will be a meeting at all at Tromode.

The Committee