GM4RIV

Big Water of Fleet Viaduct Picnic

A second outdoor meet at Big Water of Fleet Viaduct (nearest postcode DG7 2BP or NGR NX 5564) is proposed for a day in the week beginning Monday 14th June. The location is a few miles north of Gatehouse of Fleet near the former railway station. Again, the actual day will be chosen about 3-4 days in advance when we see what the weather pattern is. This is open to ALL radio amateurs.

GB3DG can be accessed from the site so it would be possible to provide some form of talk-in for those suitably [ … ]

Because of the ongoing Covid 19 situation and the restrictions, it looks as though we would be breaking the law to carry on with the previous SK sale plans. If we carried on, we could open the gates to the club and others having hefty fines imposed on them.

Please be aware that all plans remain subject to updated Covid 19 restrictions.

As we do not want the items to be left in the present shed for the winter we propose that items will be open to bids, please read the following and act accordingly.

1. You can [ … ]

On Saturday 12th September 2020, WARC is planning to hold a carefully socially-distanced sale event at this address:

Glenamour, The Queen’s Way
Newton Stewart
DG8 7AE

The event is a combined SK sale for GM3ZYE and GM3VNW.

All plans are subject to government advice and may be changed on short notice in case of new lock-down measures or other official safety recommendations.

Under the circumstances, we have given much thought to questions of safety. Fortunately, it is reasonably easy to arrange a safe event for everybody at the location.

• We will use a shed with two doors, [ … ]

GB2LG will be operational from the Mull of Galloway for International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend on
22-23 August 2020.

Due to Covid-19 the callsign will have to be activated by a number of separate solo stations, operating from the car park.

Our anchor-man will be Davy MM0LGR, who plans to be there for most of the weekend. Then other club members will be welcome to join Davy on-site with their own separate /M or /P stations and use the GB2LG callsign.

The callsign has been authorised, the GB2LG QRZ page [ … ]

Let’s Stay Together

WARC is still meeting every Thursday evening. Until we are once able to meet face-to-face at the clubroom we are meeting on GB3DG and on Zoom.

Club members present and past are receiving regular email updates with the current Zoom password link (if you’re not receiving these emails, please contact info@gm4riv.org )

Everyone is also invited to join the D&G RAYNET net, every day at 12:00 on GB3DG.

The WARC Sunday Morning Net is still active at 10:00 on GB3DG.

Thursday Evening Meetings

We meet on GB3DG at 19:30, and usually move online to Zoom at 20:00 [ … ]

With great sadness, we must inform you that Jimmy GM3VNW has passed away at the grand old age of 98. He had been confined to home in Girvan for a few years, but Eric GM0FSZ visited him often and says his mind was as sharp as ever.

Which is saying a lot, for Jimmy was a charismatic character, full of wit and charm, and always finding something to smile about. Even in his 80s, his attitude to life was that a walking-stick was actually a dancing-cane in disguise – which he would demonstrate at the slightest [ … ]

Yesterday the WARC committee met on Skype to discuss options for meetings, presentations and the SK sale originally scheduled for March 28th. These are the decisions we made:

• On Thursday evenings at 7.30pm, we will meet for a Net on the GB3DG repeater.
• From 8pm on Thursday evenings, we will also meet on the WARC channel on Zello. Access requires a password – please contact us by email and we will send it to WARC members. Please read this article for some background on Zello.
• The talk night on April 2nd is postponed. We hope to find [ … ]

As you all know, these are difficult times for group meetings small and large. The WARC committee has followed government advice regarding the Coronavirus pandemic closely, and we have decided that now is the time to take action.

All “face to face” WARC meetings are now cancelled, until further notice.

This Thursday the committee will meet on Skype to discuss alternative plans for meetings, presentations, and the scheduled SK sale. Please watch this space, we will post an update on Friday.

There will be a “Shack sale” of the equipment of SK Robin Bellerby (GM3ZYE) on Saturday 28th March from 10:00 to 16:00, QTHR. There will be items to bid on, items where no reasonable offer will be refused and piles of “Freebies”. A list will be available soon. Please contact Clive GM4FZH for further information.

This reminder was written by Peter GM7NFF. Thank you!

All UK licence holders are required to revalidate their licences with Ofcom at least every 5 years. Radcom are suggesting that you pick a significant date such as your birthday and do it yearly. This would seem to be a good idea and means that you don’t find yourself unlicenced.

Ofcom do not send out reminders. It is your responsibility.

You can do it via the Ofcom website, or Email them at spectrum.licencing@ofcom.org.uk – but if all else fails call 02079813131. I did and got a very helpful lady on [ … ]