Blog

As discussed at the AGM we are making some changes to IOMARS meeting format for 2026.

1. The Scout Building meetings in Ballasalla will only take place on the 1^st and 3^rd Wednesday of each month.
2. The Creg-ny-Baa meetings will still be on the last Thursday of the month except in May and August when the dates will be changed to make way for the TT and Manx GP.
3. We will have testing nights, demonstrations and bring and buy sales at the Scout Building however talks will normally be at the Creg on the last Thursday of the month.

The last IOMARS meeting of 2025 will be on 17^th December at the Scout building, with mince pies. 

Not surprisingly no Wednesday meetings on either Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve.

The first meeting of 2026 will be on the 7^thJanuary at the Scout Building, followed by one on the 21^st. The first Creg meeting will be on the 29^th of January.

The new 2026 committee consists of:

President Jeanie MD8JEA 

Chairman Richard GD8EXI

Hon Secretary Rob 2D0XIC

Hon Treasurer John GD0TFG

Committee members Stuart GD0OUD and Keith GD5IOM

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the IOMARS committee

The committee have become aware that some members find it difficult to get to meetings either in Ballasalla or at the Creg-ny-Baa. If you are in this position, please contact the committee at info@IOMARS.IM and we will do our best to arrange a lift with another member.

We would like to thank all members present at this evenings AGM.

The Committee for the year 2025 is as follows:-

Richard Baker GD8EXI Chairman, John Dowling GD0TFG Treasurer, Matty Cunningham MD0MAN Secretary.

Jeanie Hill 2D0JEA remains in place as President, Stuart Hill GD0OUD and Simon Clarke MD0RTZ as standard members. 

Matty MD0MAN

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.