February 2012
Issue 71
Welcome once again to another month of reports and highlights.
It’s always a pleasure to hear from new members, and new entrants to CW and the activities within the society. This month I’ve received two new entries from our EU members. One a newcomer to the society and comparatively new to CW, Tom SQ5RIX and Fritz. DL4FDM. A most cordial welcome to you both. I hope you’ll both look out for them
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As many of you are aware, we have encountered some problems with the mailing of 25 th anniversary mugs that are being offered by the society. I can report that the replacement items have been mailed by other means, and as of yet no problems have been reported. Once again I apologise for inconvenience caused to individuals affected by the treatment of their purchase by the courier (My Hermes/Parcelnet) used. I had decided to suspend the sale of the item until the problem had been resolved, I now am happy once again to offer the mugs for sale.
Visit http://www.m0bpt.org.uk/25th%20mug/FISTS%2025TH%20ANNIVERSARY%20MUG.pdf for more information
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On to business. Lets look at reports received for the month of February.
Fistly from Fritz DL4FDM, who comments
Dear Robert,
herewith I send you my first entry to the FISTS-Ladder.
It´s not much, but I was big fun and I hope to take part more often in the future.
Best wishes and vy73
Fritz DL4FDM (HB9CSA)
Welcome Fritz. A pleasure to have you on board, and look forward to hearing from you again in the 2012 activities planned.
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Greg G0DUB comments;
Hi Rob,
Some conflicts with RAYNET and family activities meant I
could only be on for one session this month but at least it wasn't a zero score. A shack reorganisation over the February half term holiday has brought the Vibroplex bug into play :-) I have not had any adverse comments on air so far but it's only a matter of time...
73,
Greg, G0DUB
Fists Nr. 6095
Hello Greg. Pleased you got the Vibro up and running; I’m sure that you’re sounding good on the bug.
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And from Erkki OH7QR
Hello Robert,
Here comes my log for February Ladder. I worked two new members SQ5RIX Tom and MM0GYX Ian; besides the usual good friends. Many thanks to all.
73 de Erkki OH7QR fists 8318
Hello Erkki, pleased that you got Tom in your log.
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From Gra. G3ZOD.
Hi Rob.
During the Ladder sessions, I was pleased to meet up on the air for the first time with FISTS members Tom SQ5RIX, Robert DJ1PQ, Colin M3JCA, Brian G3WCY, Geoff G0DDX and Ray GW4PUC.
My comments in the January BP on the 6m UKAC and CW resulted in some feedback from Darren G0OTT and Jim G0HGH. Sadly there were no QSOs between the three of us in the February UKAC - hopefully next time. I aim for 50.092 +/- QRM during the UKAC (that's not been an issue so far! HI).
Tom SQ5RIX also submitted an entry nominating FISTS CW Club in the February RSGB 80m CW Club Championship contest. Unfortunately I don't think this is allowed for stations outside the UK; I'm waiting to hear back from the RSGB Contest Committee. However, like the UKACs, FISTS members in the UK who are not RSGB members can submit entries in most of the club contests if they nominate the club - doesn't even have to be a CW contest! I believe this covers the 80m Club Championship, 80m Sprint and UKAC contests (but not the AFS contests, although the ones this year are over anyway).
I've made a little progress towards the FISTS Prefix awards - I wonder if anyone could persuade Ofcom to start issuing amateur radio callsigns with a 9 in them?!?! HI HI.
Here's a reminder that anyone who would like to use the "Q" and "O" prefix variations in their callsigns - I've now got mine for G3ZOD and MX5IPX. You do need to have your license number ready, otherwise it's very straightforward and I received my NOVs within 2 minutes of applying. See http://www.rsgb.org/news/articlelinks.php?id=0316
Until next month, 73 de Graham G3ZOD FISTS #8385
Hello Gra. Thanks for the news, updates, information etc. Seems like you’ve had a busy month!
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From Phil 2E0DPH
Hello Rob,
Hope you are well, here is my log for the February 2012 Ladder
Yet again good conditions and activity on both weekends especially 40m. Great to work you all again and especially good to hear and work Graham using the club station M5IPX.
See you all again next month.
73 Phil 2E0DPH
Fists 14543
Hello Phil. Good to hear from you, and good to see that you’re getting the club calls in your log.
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From Peter M5ABN
Hi Rob,
Attached is my log for February, good fun as usual. I would like to thank all those Fists members who took the time to welcome me back to the ladder in the January Brasspounder, it's nice to be missed.
Hopefully l will able to give the leaders a run for their money Hi Hi. So look forward to March.
73 fer nw Pete M5 ABN #6423
Hi Pete. Your lack of presence has been sorely missed by us all. Look forward to hearing from you in March.
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And from Darren G0OTT.
Hello Rob,
Please find attached my ladder activity for February.
I only managed to get on the key on the 26th, so was very pleased that conditions were very good in the afternoon session.
The QRM was really bad by the end of the session with contest stations closing in on both sides?
I managed to work quite a few stations, new and old.
I had a nice chat with Graham as GX3ZQS/a and thanked him for the wonderful log converter programme.
It was nice to meet up with Mike G4NCU, we had a rag chew for nearly an hour and it was thoroughly enjoyable, I cant wait for the next one.
The evening session was less fruitful but still kept me busy for nearly the whole 2 hours.
I have changed the feed system on my W3EDP, now it has a proper tank circuit to feed it with coax stubs as the capacitor.
To change bands I have to get on the flat roof and change the tap point and coax stub, not today so stayed on 40m were it works very well indeed.
My only member in the evening session was Hal, LA4XX. Very nice to hear his wonderful K1 in action for the first time.
I was kept busy with plenty of non members, all QRP and a few G-QRP members asking for my number, had to refuse and feel guilty for being QRO at 80w :(
Really looking forward to next months bumper packed activities, EYAW and the ladder!!
Look forward to meeting members old and new(older ones a premium during EYAW)
Regards Darren G0OTT
Hello Darren. I’m very pleased that you managed to hook up with Mike/NCU. Haven’t heard him on air for what seems to be a long time. Many thanks indeed for your concise report and overview during February. I look forward to receiving many more from you during the year.
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From Peter G4LHI.
Hello Robert,
I attach my claim & report for February Activity Ladder 2012.
Quite good conditions on the bands this month, for the second Sunday at least, apart from the dreaded “CQ Tests “and I was able to get two good sessions in this month, the Fists guys certainly know how to squeeze in the tight spots hi.
I do hope conditions continue to improve for the coming year, it’s so much more fun.
I only used the usual bands for the Ladder, 40M being my main activity, just dear Erkki on 20m & Danny on2m, but did manage a quick QSO on 80m just before the end of the 26th afternoon session, many thanks Jim.
All my thanks, as ever, to members, future members? & non members, the stalwarts of the Fists Activities that are always there. I do like the Ladder for the opportunity to chat with the non members & hope to persuade them to join our Club one of these days? .
There certainly seemed to be quite a few I had not worked on the ladder before,& I did manage to work four new members & hope the QSO’s will help with your other Fists activities, very many thanks guys & do hope you enjoyed it & will join in regularly?
For this month I had 19 QSO’s for 36 points, so hope conditions continue to improve during the Year & we can enjoy our Fists Activities. The EYA Week should be in full swing before this BP is published, so hope all did well & my “85” helped your totals hi?
I was so pleased that my very dear friend Peter, M5ABN, was active again this month, very nice to work you mate & hope you may be on the Ladder regularly again, & looking forward to you beating me to the top of the Ladder again, like you did a couple of times before?
Hope the rushed QSO on 80m at the closing time on 26th may help your score Graham (G3ZOD)
Keep bashing the brass & good hunting to you all, & a very Happy & Healthy 2012
73 de Peter G4LHI # 2219
Hello Peter. As ever a very good report from you this month. Yes. EYAW will be done and gone for another year. It has surprised me just how much it has been embraced by the membership, so many come on air during the week to enjoy the enhanced activity between members.
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Derek M0DRK comments
Hi Robert,
Here is my Ladder Log for Feb. 2012. 40 metres has been really good to work almost all the stations on my log. Can't say the same for 80. Many thanks to all stations that I worked. Take care Robert, see you next month,
73, Derek M0DRK.
Good to hear from you Derek. From other comments seems like 40 is the place to be.
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Thanks to Dennis K6DF, FISTS Award Manager, for the following information.
January 2012 FISTS Awards; Congratulations to the following members:
Ray
WB6SZZ
#5703
Millionaire 4 Million Sticker
_______
Gary
AB0BM
#13663
Basic Century, Silver Century and Platinum
_______
Lynn
K8ETR
#13897
Basic Century
_______
Darren
G0OTT
#14062
Basic Century
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Lets take a look at the ladder table for the months so far.
| CALL | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUNE | JULY | AUG | SEPT | OCT | NOV | DEC | TOTALS |
| G4LHI | 36 | 36 | 72 | ||||||||||
| 2E0DPH | 29 | 30 | 59 | ||||||||||
| M5ABN | 27 | 31 | 58 | ||||||||||
| OH7QR | 31 | 25 | 56 | ||||||||||
| G0OTT | 24 | 31 | 55 | ||||||||||
| G0DDX | 20 | 25 | 45 | ||||||||||
| M0DRK | 23 | 20 | 43 | ||||||||||
| G3ZOD | 8 | 19 | 27 | ||||||||||
| G0DUB | 12 | 6 | 18 | ||||||||||
| DL4FDM | 0 | 17 | 17 | ||||||||||
| MX5IPX © | 3 | 11 | 14 | ||||||||||
| GX3ZQS © | 0 | 12 | 12 | ||||||||||
| G0ANV | 8 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||
| SQ5RIX | 0 | 7 | 7 | ||||||||||
| CN2JV | 4 | 0 | 4 |
A healthy competetive start to the ladder this year.
As no doubt you’ll know that EYAW has finished for another year. I’m looking through logs at the moment, and I’ll bring you the results in due course.
Our next activity is of course, the Titanic sprint in April. I will keep you updated with SES calls operational.
As of Now, they are;
VO1MGY: Admiralty House Communications Museum, Mount Pearl, NL. Canada.
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VI4MGY: Queensland Maritime Museum, Southbank, Brisbane, Australia.
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EI100T: Irish Titanic 100th Anniversary commemorations, Cork, Ireland.
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GI100MGY: Project WhiteStar, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
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GB100GGM: Pontllanfraith, Blackwood, Gwent, South Wales.
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Take a look at
That’s all from the stable of M0BPT for another month.
Until next time;
Keep well.
Keep pounding brass.
73
M0BPT