Welcome to
Thames Amateur Radio Group

October Updates

TARG opened its doors with an invite to sister clubs in the area to visit as networking is the way forward. Then, on Saturday 11, our Secretary, Andy M0IXY (right in photo), was part of a panel at the RSGB convention in Milton Keynes (live-streamed) where sucessful clubs gave an insight as to what has worked for them. This sharing of good practice has been really helpful and already we are putting into place some of the ideas we picked up from others. This was a real achievement for the club and thanks for all the hard work that made it happen.

Sept – Cadets Visit TARG at Southend Airport

TARG’s Vice-Chair, John M0LFX, is also a volunteer at the Vulcan Restoration Trust at Southend Airport. He is able to share his expertise from one group to the other.

On the 28 September, TARG were pleased to receive a visit from local Air Cadets at a Special Event Station arranged under the call sign MX0VUL (VUL being short for Vulcan). Several of these Cadets had been successful in obtaining their Amateur Radio Foundation Licence following training delivered by TARG.

Their visit included a tour of the Vulcan aircraft itself. Photos with permission. Of special interest was the radio equipment that are the actual instruments used when the aircraft was operational. The Radio principles used (High Frequency for long distance, and Very High Frequency for the control tower) are the same as what many Amateur Radio enthusiasts use today.

Sept – Foundation Course Success for Air Cadets

Over the weekend of 20 and 21 Sept, at the invitation of a local Air Cadets Training Officer, TARG delivered a program of tuition for the Foundation Licence. This was a full package of teaching by five TARG trainers culminating in the RSGB examination resulting in seven new members to the hobby.

The Cadets are amazing groups of people with excellent leadership. A lot of work by TARG to prepare material and we are delighted with the outcome.

Sept Meeting 

Your best multiband rig and big antenna are at home but you are on holiday with a VHF-only handheld. Wouldn’t it be great if you could connect to your rig from your hotel room, or your car. Well, you can. Andy M0IXY showed us how.

In short, the radio is connected to the internet and your lap top is connected to the internet; that way you can operate your radio from your lap top. There are certain precautions you need to take – like making sure you can turn off the radio in an emergency. Problem solved. Recent changes in the Licence conditions means Foundation Level can do this too.

August Meeting – Part 2. 17th Aug

TARG were at Southend Airport using Special Event Call Sign GB2VCJ. Visitors could view the Vulcan close up and see other exhibitors around the grounds including military vehicles. We were there, giving a demonstration of live Amateur Radio operation. It was a good day with lots of public interest.

With so many public events this year, see the list below, we were bound to make an impression. As a result we are now in the process of revising our Training (new web page to be added shortly) in response to the interest in the hobby. This applies to people who wish to take their Foundation Licence and those who already passed their exam and are looking for help in practical operating. There is a wealth of expertise within the Club and this is good time to get involved.

August Meeting – Part 1. Weekend of 9th and 10th.

Using Special Events Call Sign GB2EMV, TARG were at the 2 day Military Show at Rettingdon in Essex. Amazing displays of tanks, guns, armoured cars, reenactors in military uniform from many campaigns across the world and much more. Lots of army type vehicles with antennas but radios that didn’t work. TARG set up a transmitting station that did work.

Had contacts across a range of modes. Notice the VHF “white stick” and the circular Mag Loop for HF. A lot of hard work by those who were at the stall flying the flag for Amateur Radio. Nice to meet other hams and those interested in how to learn more.

July Meeting at Wickford 

Andy’s presentation made it so clear. We often think of amateur radio satellites whizzing by with only a few seconds to make contact before it disappears over the horizon. But Q0-100 is in stationary orbit over Africa with a huge footprint (photo). It uses 13cm for uplink and 3cm for downlink so won’t work with an ordinary amateur radio unless you convert these to Intermediate Frequencies (that will work). Each stage has a different piece of kit that are all joined together in modular format. Andy’s demo did just that. Andy M0IXY is Secretary of TARG.

Even if you are unlikely to use it yourself – learning how it works is another credit to your amatur radio credentials.

June Special Event Station (15th)

TARG had an operating station (GB2VFD) at the Southend Airport to Visit the Vulcan on Father’s Day.

A great array of equipement on view for the public to see modern amateur radio in operation, and view some historical radio artefacts.

This provided an opportunity for club members to benefit from experimenting and learning about amateur radio in operation. This is the third major field event this year; a great job by the committee in setting this up to help promote the hobby and have lots of fun in the process.

The TARG banner was on prominent display so that passing members of the public could be inspired by what they saw with the hope they will want to find out more and keep the hooby thriving. Do get in touch.

June Meeting (6th)

This picture says so much. 1) Guest speaker from Thurrock Acorns Amateur Radio, Nick G4HCK. 2) At our new premises with large clear monitor for presentations. 3) Online streaming via laptop with reliable fibre Optic connections for our online audience.

Nick gave an educational, and humourous, walk thought his life in amateur radio that was inspired by his father who, during WW2, scavenged electrical parts from shot down Nazi aeroplanes for intelligence purposes. There followed a remarkable display of radio sets, including one from a Russian tank, that helped him through the hobby right up to downloading images from satellites.

May Meeting

How’s that for a blue sky! Another perfect day for practical field radio for TARG at North Weald Airfield on 3rd May. Using Special Call sign: GB2VEE (Victory in Europe). We had HF, VHF, Satellite in operation (spot the antennas) and good social banter. Arrived at 8am to setup for a 10am start. So much to learn at these events. See how close we were the taxiway. 58 QSOs from 20 countries. What a great way to spend a day.

April Meeting

The first of our major events this year. Held at North Weald Airfield (as part of Airfields on the Air) so, in addition to the radio we watched helicopters taking off, training planes taxing a few yards from the shack and a jet fighter doing touch-and-go. One TARG member had a round trip of 120 miles – and well worth it.

As always with these events there was so much to learn in terms of practical field craft, such as the effects of the wind that twists around directional antenna, to snapped connectors, software hitches and QRM. We had satellite communications which resulted in an amazing 112 QSOs from 31 countries, and on 2m many contacts closer to home.

A much more detailed report is in the newsletter. Within a stones throw of us was the LEFARS caravan which was operating on 40M and we had a visit from from the Region 12 RSGB representative.

March Meeting.

Our last at Canvey Island – was all about the popular D-Star network with a practical demo of how to use it. Using the airwaves to get to Hern Bay repeater we shot down the internet and connected with a Reflector tucked away in a Server somewhere that allowed us to speak with USA. It works! Well chuffed. Being D-Star, having typed in our coordinates, it told us where the receiving unit was located with an arrow and distance.

February Meeting.

The second meeting at our venue in Wickford. Pleased to be joined by a guest from Harlow and LEFARS (Radio Amateur clubs). The theme was practical QSO and set up on 20 and 40m. A TARG member was in Milton Keynes and tried to tune in but was unable to make contact – but that didn’t matter as the whole point of the exercise is to try.

January Meeting.

New Year, new venue. Revisions to the Constitution approved so now right to up date. Followed by a presention on the traditional January non-radio subject, this year, Solar Observations from a do-it-yourself pin hole camera, to getting up close online. Reference made to the Solar exhibition in Greenwich (photo) and the Moon is coming to Basilon.

 

List 2024 TARG events in 2024.

• Dec. Interclub Social and Boxing Day Field Ops
• Nov. AGM and Social
• Oct. Inter-club meet up at TARG.
• Sept. Digital Voice Multi-Mode Repeater AND Special event at North Weald
• Aug. Foundation Training
• Jul. Special Event Station at Slough Fort in Kent.
• Jun. 2 TARG events. One at North Weald Airport and the other at Southend Airport
• May. It was all about D-Star.
• Apr. TARG and Acorns at Essex Wildlife Trust. Watch the Video.
• Apr.  Low power protocol called LoRa.
• Mar. Hot Spots
• Feb. Canvey Rally and Pagers
• Jan. A non-radio subject, Northumbrian Smallpipes.