WoSARS

Glasgow’s busy and fun club dedicated to fans and hobbyists of amateur radio. We’ve been going since 1970 and have a wide base of members who contribute to the hobby in many different ways. Here you can find out loads about the hobby, our club and the members and see pictures of us in action.

There will be no club meetings on the 23rd or 30th of December. Meetings restart on January 6th 2012.

The Solder Group also takes a break until 11th January.

The WOSARS Christmas Social Night will be held on Friday December 16th at 8 PM. Food will be provided, along with live music courtesy of John GM0KTO’s band. This promises to be a fun event and all members are welcome to attend. BYOB.

On Friday 18th November former WoSARS member Rod Macduff GM4AWB/VK6MH, who is currently visiting from Australia, will give a talk about military HF radios and in particular Q-Mac HF-90, which he designed. All members and visitors are welcome to attend what will be a fascinating talk. Start time as usual is 7:30 PM for  8:00 PM.

There will be no club meeting on Friday September 23rd, as the Multicultural Centre will be closed for the September Weekend holiday.

WoSARS took part in the Radio Society of Great Britain Single Sideband (SSB) Field Day again this year, on the 3rd/4th September 2011. We used the usual set up of the FT-920 running 100W in the Restricted Section, delta loop antenna supported by two sets of scaffolding poles, diesel generator power supply and N1MM logging software. The location was Alan GM4TOQ’s field behind Windyhills sub-station near Hardgate, Clydebank.

The operators this year were Ross GM7WED, Alan GM4TOQ, Campbell 2M0RRO, Kenny MM0ZUN, Craig MM6YUJ, Alex GM7OAW and Charlie GM8XGI.

Our weather stayed largely OK with some rain patches, but since we were operating from the ‘Carahome’ the situation was comfortable enough! No mishaps this contest with equipment, so all ran smoothly enough.

The total claimed score was 936 with a QSO count of 254, though two of these were mistakenly made on Top Band (which is not a band you can use in this particular contest – oops!) Not our best results, but then again, when you’re having fun on the radio and out in a field, who cares?

-Ross GMWED, Chairman, West of Scotland [Glasgow] ARS

Video link 1 Video link 2

A live demonstration of PSK31 data mode communication over HF radio will take place at this Friday’s club meeting. PSK31 facilitates keyboard-to-keyboard PC communication and is effective even with smaller antennas, limited transmitter power and background noise. For those new to this mode this is the perfect chance to see and experience it in operation.

 As usual the club opens at 7:30 PM for an 8 PM start.

A major event in the WoSARS calendar is the annual GMFF Scottish Flora & Fauna radio contest. This year took us to Loch Druidibeg National Nature Reserve on the island of South Uist. Our mobile radio station, a caravan body mounted on a 3 ton LDV truck, allowed us to operate in comfort  regardless of the weather. The operating team of Campbell 2M0RRO , Ernie GM0EZP, Eugene GM0VIQ, John GM0WRR, Alan GM4TOQ, Ross GM7WED and Craig MM6YUJ achieved in excess of 600 radio contacts. A full report on our trip is available on the GMFF Contest website.

 

The club visited the Museum of Communication in Burntisland, Fife in August. We were fascinated by the range of equipment on display. We saw beautifully constructed and restored 1920s and 30s amateur and broadcast radio equipment, vintage television sets a replica of John Logie Baird’s “Televisor” TV receiver. Equally interesting was a working Strowger mechanical telephone exchange through which we could make telephone calls and a shortwave radio transmitter used by spies during the cold war. The museum staff were very knowledgeable and made us thoroughly welcome. A few of the exhibits we saw are shown below.

Hi all members,

This is a reminder that the Centre is closed for Friday evening meetings on the following dates:

Friday 15th July – No meeting (Glasgow fair)

Friday 23rd September – No meeting (September weekend)

Christmas (23rd and 30th December) – CLUB OPEN AS NORMAL

Ross GM7WED
Chairman, West of Scotland [Glasgow] ARS

Here is a little gem… a copy-typed version of the diary kept from the formation of WoSARS in 11 Sep 1970, to the AGM held 4 May 1974. Tom GM3EDZ recently produced this and I’ve typed it up for all members to see – it’s very interesting reading!

Some of you will remember all this happening first time round, but even if you don’t then it’s fun to see how the club *used* to be run. Many of the proposed changes to the way the club is being run from the last AGM have their roots in this diary.

Enjoy! Ross GM7WED, Chairman

WoSARS diary 11 Sep 1970 to 4 May 1973