If you consult the financial report handed to every attendee at last years AGM this will give you some idea of our essential annual overheads, and just to take one example you will see that our subs at their present level do not cover the cost of our insurance premium.

It is possible that any increase in membership costs could have a detrimental impact upon the number of members signing up each year. Unfortunately this is a risk we have to take. But we hope that all members will appreciate that to survive we need to make changes and will still continue to support the club and enjoy the comradeship and facilities that go with it.

After all, Ladies and Gentlemen, at the end of the day, it is your club.

Since the installation of our telescopic tilt over tower several changes to our antenna array have been made. In 2005 the erection of the Thunderbird TH11DX for HF has revolutionized our DX ability and many exotic and rare countries have been worked. Unfortunately this has had a slightly detrimental effect on our VHF and UHF DXing.

Also due to aging legs and bodies in general our outside activities have somewhat dwindled. The days when we could climb up Kinder Low carrying antennae, rigs, batteries, masts and beer to take part in the Practical Wireless QRP VHF Contest have now passed until a more youthful contesting team comes to the fore. Despite this the desire to enter contests has not diminished, only the physical ability. As the majority of contests that we entered were for VHF and UHF it seemed sensible to set ourselves up to still take part in these events in the future but now from the comfort of our shack where all the facilities are available and it is comfortable and warm with brews, butties and beer close to hand.

So plans were made to install VHF and UHF beams onto our tower along with the TH11DX so that we could extend our operation in these bands to SSB modes to complement our FM activity and further extend the operational activities available to members.

Towards the end of 2005 work began to make it possible to operate our rotator from both the HF and VHF/UHF shacks. Stuart Wilson G7MFK took this on board. He made some special connection boxes which he installed in each shack to enable the rotator controller to be plugged in to either shack.

The next part of the job involved the VHF side of things. Our equipment inventory showed that we already owned a 19 element Tonna beam so this was dug out and work began to install this in January. The antenna was assembled, the tower was tilted over and it was fitted. Also a new length of coax with new connecting plugs fitted was run from this to the shack but not connected as the weather turned nasty when this aspect of the work was reached.

For UHF we had to purchase a new antenna as we did not have one. The choice was once again a Tonna but this time a 21 element version was selected. This was ordered from Waters & Stanton as usual and after its delivery the installation began on Sunday 5^th March.

Once again the Tower was tilted over. The 70cms vertical that was already installed was removed and the Tonna beam fitted in its location. New ‘N’ type plugs were connected to each and of the existing coax and the cable was re-run to the shack.

Both antennae were tested with an antenna analyser and found to be just about perfect so our Yaesu FT847 was connected up and operation began.

Beginning on the 4^th March we took part in the RSGB March 144/432 MHz contest as a test for the new installation. We operated on VHF on the Saturday and on UHF on the Sunday immediately after the UHF beam was fitted. Despite poor band conditions we worked down to Leicester on VHF and our first contact on UHF was measured at 160 Kms to the South Midlands but later bettered it by working into Holland.

The photograph shows Chris Cunliffe G7OOD and Ian Moth M0IJM operating the station after the successful installation.

After all this effort and hard work it is hoped that we are able to take on the best of this countries contesting teams and give them a run for their money as we have been known to do in the past.

Many thanks are due to the following members who were involved with the overall project.

Photographs by Geoff Oliver G0BJR

Congratulations are due to Paul Riddle who has recently passed the Radio Amateur Foundation Course and Examination. Paul’s callsign is M3MUO

On Thursday 16^th March we held an Extraordinary General Meeting at the Club to vote on proposed changes to our Constitution. The changes put forward were to be made in Section 6 which covers Membership of the Club’s Committee.

The proposals came from 4 members who had raised concerns about this section and put forward the alterations. The proposed alterations were circulated by email to members several weeks beforehand for thorough digestion so that concerns about the changes could be aired and ironed out before the meeting took place.

At the meeting the proposals were voted for unanimously by members attending whose number more than exceeded that required to form a quorum. The new Constitution will be written up and circulated by email to all members in due course.

The following items are in the club diary for the next few months.

Thursday 27^th April 2006 at 20.30 hours
"The Magic of X-Rays" by Geoff Oliver G0BJR

Thursday 25^th May 2006 at 20:30 hours
"The History of Royton" by Frances Stott

Thursday 29^th June 2006 at 20:30 hours
"QRP" by George Dobbs G3RJV

All members are welcome to attend these talks. Also if a particular talk is of interest to your family members and friends please invite them to come too, they will be most welcome.

At the time of writing these talks are confirmed bookings however they could change at short notice for various reasons without notice in writing. Please check our web site, your email inbox and of course the Chairman’s announcements for the up to the minute news.

RSGB 144MHz UK Activity Contest & Club Championship
The first Tuesday of every month from 20:00 to 22:00 hours

RSGB 432MHz UK Activity Contest
The second Tuesday of every month from 20:00 to 22:00 hours

RSGB 432MHz Trophy Contest
Saturday 6^th May from 14:00 to 22:00 hours

RSGB 144MHz May Contest
Saturday & Sunday 20^th/21^st May from 14:00 to 14:00 hours

RSGB 144MHz Backpackers Contest
Sunday 11^th June from 09:00 to 13:00

The contests listed above are given for guidance only. It is subject to change, cancellation or augmentation without notice in writing.

For last minute information about our contests calendar please catch the Chairman’s announcements on Thursdays or contact our Contest Manager Chris Cunliffe G7OOD.

Geoff Ashton M0AUG who fell and broke his leg just before Christmas is recovering well. His plaster has been removed and he is walking upright once again and without the use of crutches but he still has a slight limp.

George Stead G0GSQ who fell down the stairs at home has been transferred from a Nursing Home in Norden to another in Heywood to be with his wife who has been a resident there for some time. George has a hand held and can been heard on GB3MB in the mornings – give him a shout.

Arnold Broadbent G3PYH sadly suffered a heart attack and a stroke in February. He has spent some time in Hospital but is now recuperating at home. Arnold visited the club on Thursday 30^th March and was looking well. He celebrated his 80^th birthday during the previous week.

The Chancellors budget report, released on Wednesday 22^nd March 2006, not only raised taxes it also touched on a subject that affects all Radio Amateurs, namely Spectrum Use, see below

From the Budget Report - Spectrum Use

3.16 Radio spectrum is a vital resource for communications and other services, and the public sector uses over a third of the entire spectrum for defence, aeronautical, maritime, scientific and emergency services. In December 2005, Professor Martin Cave published an independent audit of spectrum holdings in the public sector.6 The Government agrees with the audit that there is scope for more efficient management in the majority of public sector spectrum.

3.17 The Government has today published detailed plans for the implementation of changes to public sector spectrum, in response to the audit’s recommendations. This will create new opportunities for public bodies to make more effective use of their spectrum holdings, by enabling and encouraging trading and increased sharing with other users.

3.18 To support this, Ofcom has agreed to take forward work on defining the spectrum rights of public bodies. Departments will outline specific proposals for the release or sharing of spectrum by the end of 2006, and the Government will produce a spectrum strategy in March 2007. This will examine current spectrum use and forecast future requirements. Spectrum charges will also be more consistently applied across the public sector to provide stronger incentives for efficiency, and Ofcom plans to introduce pricing in aeronautical and maritime radar spectrum from 2008.

The "detailed plans" referred to can be seen at http://www.spectrumaudit.org.uk/220306.htm

by Trevor Hawkins M5AKA

The editor would like to thank all contributors to this edition of Old Hams News. The next edition is due to be issued in July 2006. Any contributions for this edition should be forwarded to the editor, Geoff Oliver G0BJR on or before Thursday 22^nd June 2006 to ensure inclusion.

Articles will be accepted on many formats, by email to "news@oarc.org.uk", by word of mouth, hand or type written notes, or as a .txt file on a CD ROM or 3½-inch floppy disc. Photographs, drawings, circuit diagrams and other graphics to enhance your article will also be most welcome.

If you submit an article for inclusion in Old Hams News and you do not wish it to be included in the Internet edition you must state your wishes at the time of submission. Otherwise the editor reserves the right to include/exclude your article as he sees fit.

For reference the officers and committee members are listed below and will be happy to help with any enquiries you may have.

Chairman – Geoff Oliver G0BJR
Secretary – Mike Crossley M1CVL         Treasurer – Peter Rushton G7PMZ

Craig Taylor G7MCT     Chris Cunliffe G7OOD
Stuart Wilson G7MFK     Jeff Hollowood G7LMI
Sue Burgess G0RKE     Keith Graham M0KGM

N.B. Old Hams News is the official journal of the Oldham Amateur Radio Club. It is distributed free of charge to all fully paid up members of the club. Articles appearing herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor, the Officers and Committee, or the membership of Oldham Amateur Radio Club. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of articles included, the editor is not responsible for any inaccuracy that may occur.

Written, edited and produced by Geoff Oliver G0BJR

© Oldham Amateur Radio Club 2006