MALVERN HILLS RADIO AMATEUR CLUB

NEWSLETTER #1 2001

Once again we are at the beginning of a new year, and almost a new committee. Roy G7RVM has rather gallantly taken over from Dave 041DF as Secretary, but this still means the club is looking for someone to take over the post of Treasurer, as Steve GIKWF will be stepping down from the post, due to work commitments. In the meantime Heather has volunteered to act as caretaker until the end of February. If you would like to serve on the committee please let myself or a member of the committee know, before the February meeting if possible.

Chairman Dave Davies G4EYJ 01684-565799

Treasurer Post Open

Secretary Roy Jinks G7RVM 01684-566755

Member A Bob Bisland G7WIG 01684-562610

Member B Andy Ross G7OFC 01684-574192

It's that time of year again when subscriptions are due. The good news is that they are to remain the same as last year, at £ 10 for everyone, which also include membership to the Malvern Town Club. It would be helpful if you would let Heather have your subs at the next meeting.

Members of the Avon Valley Radio Club are looking for operators for a TDOTA station, which they are organizing for the Worcester Division Guides, which is to be held on the 20 and 25th of February at the Young Peoples Centre at Perdiswell. AVRC are hoping to have 3 HF stations operating for the expected 300 plus guides. If you are able to spare a few hours to help out, please contact Peter G0WXJ on 01905726740.

Dave G4EYJ

Hi Joe. Please tell Dave that I would really enjoy coming back and doing more Backpacking. 1 would really enjoy the Club too. Glad to hear that there are new officers and Folks willing to keep it running smoothly. The Malvern Club certainly meant a lot to me by extending a very warm welcome hand to someone so far from home. There is still a chance I'll be coming back after April on a new contract.

Thanks to Joe G3CLE for this contribution.

Last year Members who are unable to attend the February Meeting and subsequent meetings and still wish to continue their membership can send their subs. to Roy G7RVM at his home address:- 52 Frederick Road Malvern WR14 1RS. Cheques should be made payable to:- Malvern Hills Radio Amateur Club.

This is a unique and ambitious Millennium Project. It brings together Leicester City Council and the University to create a centre of excellence in space science. Spring 2001 will see the opening of the National Space Science Centre in Leicester. The NSC Amateur Radio Society has been created with the objective to present the Amateur Radio Satellite Service at the Space Centre. They have been given a highly visible location for the operating desk, right in the 'Space Now' section of the public area. One of the main aims of the Space Centre is to 'bring space science to the people'. There will be artifacts, demonstrations, interactive displays, a planetarium, a space theatre, The Challenger Learning Centre and more. From the comfort of viewing windows, visitors will be able to watch satellites and space instruments being built, and Leicester University's satellite CATSAT being controlled and monitored by the research team ( www.spacecentre.co.uk) for more information about the centre. The NSC Amateur Radio Society have to equip and man the station and deliver their promise of a high quality exhibit. RSGB have made a donation towards setting up the Space Centre. Peter Kirby GOTWW General Manager of RSGB has made the following comment 'I think without doubt that the NSC -AR Society will probably be the most important permanent Amateur Radio Station in the UK in our efforts to interest young people in all things radio.' AMSAT-UK in a splendid gesture of support, will be providing equipment for the station to the value of £2000. Amsat members will be able to operate the station by arrangement and the Society plan to include a wide range of activities running throughout the year. Their operating program will be shared with the Centre as events happen in 'Space Now' and are likely to include voice, Morse, digital store and forward, ATV, S STV, 38k4 downlinks images and telemetry capture and analysis. Voice contacts with the International Space Station are expected to be a popular feature

Thanks to John Heath G7HIA Secretary NSC-ARS for permission to reproduce extracts from his article 'Thank You Amsat-UK" in the December 2000 issue of OSCAR NEWS.

Your Secretary feels very honoured to have been asked by John to visit and 'do some operating' when the station is up and running. The NSC -ARS callsign has been confirmed as M1NSC.

If you would like to learn more about satellites, news and how to operate them why not listen or take part in the weekly AMSAT Net for the Midlands on a Thursday 1900hrs local time VHF frequency 144.280 MHz callsign M1ASE. with John as Net Controller.

Robert G8ATE and John G7HIA will be on all the available analogue satellites to mark the anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's historic journey into space on April 12th 196 1. Extended operations are planned for 7 days with a Special Call. Commemorative Certificates will also be available. If you would like more info. to take part 1 will be happy to supply necessary schedules etc.

AO 40 (Phase 3D ) Work is still continuing to ascertain the state of the satellite. Telemetry is being received on S Band on a frequency of 2401.325~. + or - Doppler. It will be some time before any operating schedules are known. The situation doesn’t look too good.

Dave G4IDF and Roy G7RVM are hoping to field teams to take part in the contests this year. If you are interested in taking part please get in touch. In the 1st contest last year, Malvern Hills RAC B, operating as GW4IDF/P (Dave & Dan) claimed 1st. Place in the 3W Multi operator section. Congratulations. The first contest is on 20th May 1100 - 1500 hrs UTC.

To produce this Newsletter we need articles, or anything you may think could he of interest to members for inclusion. NO News NO Newsletter. Please try and make a contribution.

That's all for this time.