Issue No. 49 - 1st April 2011

****** Postal charges and the cost of stamps rise on 4th April 2011 ******

The Bureau gives out a feeling of having been a little busier during the month of March. It would be nice if this was the start of positive signs for the future; we can but wish.

Nick 5X1NH continues his work in Fort Portal, Uganda but good to see that he still has active air-time and is still happy to pause for members when heard. If you have not yet worked him you need to get the rig switched on for not long now before he returns to the UK on 15 April.

Mal provided us with yet another surprise in guise of 3W7W as he operated from the shack of an old friend Wayne. He was active on 28 March from 0800Z to 1000Z for the benefit of our VK members. On 30 March from 1300Z to 1600Z for the benefit of our EU members. I looked forward to cards arriving marked up for 3W7W so that I could see which members managed to make contact. In fact thanks to Mal 3W7W and Alan VK6PG we already know that they were: VK6PG, VK6AJ, VK2NU, G3XSN, G4IVB, G3YEU, GØSWY, G3ASG and G4BXQ. Well done lads and of course special thanks to Mal for struggling and putting in the hours. All those listed are Bureau users which will make my life easier of course.

This is to be followed by Mal being active as XV2LC and XV4LC, the latter of which will be a new one for us all. Mal advises that he has never worked any RSARS members when active as XV4LC so an extra challenge.

Note: Mal, like an increasing number of our overseas travellers will only QSL on receipt of your card. Mal spends quite a lot of money on his cards, hand-painted silk (check previous newsletters for samples) so he has no intention of sending cards to members who do not request one by a QSL card.

The Society covers the cost of VK/ZL postage for cards sent to Ron VK6RV, the VK/ZL Bureau Manager, so cards are certainly not sent every month. Usually only twice per year unless there is a quick build-up owing to VK/ZL member activity. If you want a card from Mal get your card to me early. "I DO NOT GET INVOLVED WITH MEMBERS WHO DO NOT USE THE BUREAU - IN THIS CASE SEND YOUR CARD DIRECT TO VK6LC WITH SUFFICIENT FUNDS FOR MAL TO RETURN YOUR CARD. A NORMAL UK SAE IS TOO SMALL AS THE CARDS ARE NOT UK STANDARD SIZE so don't send one." I had to obtain large envelopes for re-forwarding his cards, and it was my pleasure to do so. If in doubt check with VK6LC direct. To Bureau members I look forward to receiving your cards for onward despatch?

RTTY and PSK nets continue to produce cards, and I think it is these cards that have given the Bureau a slight buzz this month. Thanks must go to Bill in Buckie and his regular supporters. Good to see one of our most recent new members, David 2EØZFF also joining in the RTTY and PSK nets. I have spoken to David, via email and PSK and RTTY, and I am aware that digital modes are his main interest in radio. Need a point or two? Why not give digital modes a try you may enjoy it. Ask our members John EI5JN and Paul GØBHI who have just dipped their toes into the digital waters. Cards are already coming in and out of the Bureau containing details of their growing number of exchanges. Many of our overseas members get involved with these modes, which reminds me I must start looking for 5X1NH on RTTY before he returns.

Need to know more about digital modes? Just do a search in Google. There is not only free software available, Ham Radio Deluxe, FLDIGI, Digipan (new version due and I am one of the beta testers for Mac OS X version) There are many others including MixW but for that you have to spend a bit of brass. There are many circuit diagrams available online for you to make your own rig-to-computer interface or if you have a birthday due I would suggest a look at the Tigertronics SignaLink USB which whilst small it is of excellent quality and contains its own high specification sound card. Again for more information use friend Google and just search for Tigertronics SL-USB and all will be revealed.

Nets continue to run very well on both 40 and 80 metres, although some days are better than others of course. I had my concerns over what effect the move forward of the clocks would have on nets. Owing to other priorities the first 40m net I was able to monitor was the one that I run every Tuesday afternoon from 1400hrs (Chilwell time ) around 7.170MHz ± QRM. Sadly my first net after the clocks were changed was fraught with noise. S9 for most of the time, not in this house as it has been checked, so a bit of outside searching to do. Many thanks to Pat GW3KJW and Peter GØRGB for taking over when all were lost.

(Full details on our website and/or the March 2011 "MERCURY" journal)

• The May Activity 01 - 31 May 2011
• RSARS 50th Anniversary Activity 18 June 2011........... (check "MERCURY")
• 5X1NH until 15 April 2011
• XV2LC (two numbers) 10 - 15 April 2011
• XV4LC 21 - 24 April 2011
• V21RP (G0FHK) 07 - 27 May 2011
• F/G3PNF (with new number) 20 May - 8 June 2011
• GB2AFS from Colerne 30 May - 8 June 2011
• GB4AFS as above 30 May - 8 June 2011

One to look out for, one of our latest members, Noz 5B4AIX. Already active and I have one card for him already, thanks to Les EA5AVL, who else Les, and any other members catching Noz on SSB, will definitely have their cards confirmed quickly for Sam G4OHX will be looking after the cards for Noz, as he does for Don 5B4AGQ/C4SIG and others.

So if all the events above, especially the 50th Anniversary activity (all will be revealed in "MERCURY") plus improving band conditions, are not enough to get you dusting off the rig and joining the Bureau (5 x 2nd class stamps will get you going) I don't know what is. Further in-depth detail is available on the RSARS website.

* It was March 2007 that my predecessor, Peter G3YOB, went Silent Key and the numbers shown are March totals until that sad day. Next month's Newsletter will show a higher than normal April total for I took over on 5th April. The balance of cards received in March, still in envelopes, that travelled with the Bureau to Chilwell are included in the April 2007 total. Have I been turning out these Newsletters for four years? I suppose so as this is number 49.

Once again it is the number of cards received by the Bureau that gives a true reflection of RSARS member exchange activity. Any questions you have my email address: bryanm0oic@virginmedia.com

May all of your Bureau envelopes be heavy ones.

73, Bryan MØOIC
RSARS 3867
QSL Bureau Manager