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New Contest Part 2

Chris Colclough

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Written by Chris Colclough

Don't forget folks this weekend sees the second of the new UK/EI DX Contest with the CW event. Full rules can be found at the UK/EI DX Clubs website, or scroll down the page for the details in the first blog.

Good luck if you are entering and have fun.

Seasons Greetings 2015

Chris Colclough

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Written by Chris Colclough

As the 2015 year end draws ever closer, we like to wish all our friends around the world seasons greetings in their home language, and we do appologise if we miss your home language off the list, if you email Chris, G1VDP, he will add it for next year.

Lets hope that 2016 brings everyone good conditions on the radio and we hope to work you on one of our trips.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd dda

Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo

Full Results of The First UK/EI DX SSB Contest No Available

Chris Colclough

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Written by Chris Colclough

Steve (GW4BLE) announced this week that the full results and list of prize winners are have now been published and are on the UKEICC website, available here.

Well done to all who took part and congratulations to all prize and certificate winners. Lets hope for a good turn out of entrants in the CW eveny in January.

Nice Article

Chris Colclough

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Written by Chris Colclough

Another interesting piece of reading has been sent our way.

http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-amateur-radio-obsessives-who-send-messages-from-the-ends-of-the-earth

This article about dxpeditioning by some famous names was sent to us via one of the forums that a number of the boys subscribe to. Well worth a look and read. In fact Atlas Obscura is a nice site for info from a different angle on our small planet.

Amateur Radio - A 21st Century Hobby

Chris Colclough

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Written by Chris Colclough

A new video has been brought to our attention about Amateur Radio in the 21st century. Made for the RSGB with the guys who make TX Factor it gives an insight into what Amateur Radio is about, it also features one of our antenna gurus antennas in one of the scenes that is used by the pupils of Schilcotes School in Yorkshire - Charles (M0OXO) has close ties with the school through one of his friends who work there. 

to view the video in full visit the following website https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x6x_6mDVlQ. We think it is a good way to get young people into the hobby.

New Contest

Chris Colclough

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Written by Chris Colclough

At last a contest where stations from the UK are wanted and count for multipliers. This should make for some interesting pileups for even the smallest station as the contest gets going.

The United Kingom and Ireland Contest Club (UKEICC) are starting a new contest this year where UK stations will count as multipliers - full rules here. The contest will be over 2 weekends, the SSB leg in December and CW in January (5th/6th December 12:00z to 12:00z and 23/24 Jan 12:00z to 12:00z) so plenty of time to get some practice in.

For the first couple of years the rules will allow stations from around the world to work each other, and every first contact with a DXCC on each band counting as a multiplier. But to really boost the score stations from outside the UK/EI will need to work each district code on each band for extra multipliers.

"What are the district codes?" I hear you ask. These are based on the first 2 letters of the stations postcode, for example mine would be CV, or as in the case of Sheffield (where there is only 1 letter) add the last letter of the city name SD. EI stations will use the abreviation for their county. A full list of the codes, along with a full list of the rules can be found on the UKEICC Contest page.

We also would like to announce that Ant, MW0JZE, is sponsoring some of the trophies available so get on the air and win a nice certificate for the shack wall and a trophy to stand on the shelf above the radio.

And We Have Another Winner

Chris Colclough

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Written by Chris Colclough

Not only do we win our categories in CQWW and other contests, but we also win in the ARRL 10M contest.

Ant, MW0JZE, loves 10m and had a "good go" in the ARRL 10m Contest in 2014 using his Hexbeam built by himself. This past week the postman delivered the attached certificate showing him as being the number 1 station in Wales - and there were a couple of others who entered this one too.

Well done Ant, and I believe he will be "having a bash" in this years event on the weekend of 12th/13th December so give him a call - you never know he may be that elusive Wales multiplier you need.

New Lifeboat Station for St Davids Lifeboat.

Chris Colclough

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Written by Chris Colclough

We thought we just had to share this news and information as this is where we sail from to Ramsey Island (EU-124), and if ever there was an emergency the guys who would have to rescue us.

So we feel that this is a cause worth following and raising funds for. If any of you would like to donate to this cause then please contact Thousand Islands Expeditions and mention where you saw the info, any amount helps from pennies through to pounds.

Or if you are in the area and can get to the auction then go along and help raise the funds to equip the lifeboat station and support these volunteers.

MX0LDG Lundy Island EU-120 2015

Chris Colclough

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Written by Chris Colclough

Another activation by one of our members and friends. Our antenna guru is off on his travels to Lundy Island - again this is taken from Tim's website. And please USE OQRS FOR BUREAU CARDS.

MX0LDG Lundy Island EU-120 2015

The Lundy DX Group will be active again from Lundy Island IOTA EU-120 from the 6th to the 13th October 2015 QRV as MX0LDG.
This year's team will be M5JON John, M0ILT Pete, MW0JZE Anthony & G3JKL John. We hope to be QRV around 1400 UTC on the 6th .

MX0OLDG will be on 10m to 40m SSB & RTTY . Due to the electricity being turned off at midnight until 6am we will not be operating between these times.

We will endeavour to run 4 stations for the period of the activation.

2 Kenwood TS-590's
1 Kenwood TS-570
1 Yaesu FT-450 
Antennas 3 - G3TXQ Light Weight D-Hexpedtion Hexbeams Supplied by Ant MW0JZE 3 - G3TXQ Light Weight D-Hexpedtion Hexbeams Supplied by Ant MW0JZE
1 Steppir Vetical

We will be operating from Stony Croft Cottage the location of our 2012 activation which is valid for:

IOTA: EU-120 , Grid Locator: IO71pe, WAB: SS14, Lighthouse Old Devon light ARLHS: ENG 073.

Logs will be uploaded to ClubLog daily if we have a good internet connection if not on our return.
Many Thanks & 73’s  The MX0LDG Team look forward to working you from Lundy Island.

QSL Via Tim M0URX - OQRS System http://www.m0urx.com/oqrs/
QSL cards for this DXpedition are printed and will be posted out as soon as I have the logs.

Please note that MX0LDG is NOT affiliated to the RSGB. So bureau ONLY Via OQRS. No incoming cards will be collected.

OQRS is the way to go

Chris Colclough

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Written by Chris Colclough

This was written by Tim, M0URX, and can be found on his webpage. We all agree with this and would like to get more of our radio friends using the OQRS system and understand that we don't need your card as we don't apply for awards for MC0SHL and it costs to receive through the RSGB bureau as the club is not affiliated to it.

OQRS is the way to go!

Created on Thursday, 24 September 2015 19:16

Times change and how we receive bureau QSL requests has also changed, let me show you why we need to make these changes.

Here are two photographs, the first on the top left is a box of 4,500 bureau cards received from  the RSGB Bureau on Monday.

The second photograph underneath is the same box 3 days later after all the QSL cards have been processed through the logs that I am QSL manager for.

THIS is how many are then put into my rubbish recycling bin just 3 days after receiving the cards.

I want to ask please for your help! In order to keep this Bureau service going we must change the way that I receive bureau requests.

If you are requesting a DXCC or IOTA Expedition or contest QSL card you must ONLY use OQRS!

Please understand that DXpedition call signs are NOT members of the RSGB and I will be charged money to receive them.

Just as important to remember is that DXpeditions and contest stations DO NOT need YOUR QSL card.

A DXpedition is undertaken to help you obtain an ATNO (All Time New One) whether that be a DXCC, IOTA, WAB area, band, mode or whatever.

Here are some facts for you:
4,500+ QSL cards received 4,200 QSL cards thrown away!

Out of the 4,500 QSL cards, 2,000 had already been requested direct, bureau or using OQRS, in some cases all three!. If you request a bureau QSL PLEASE DO NOT send another QSL! Only use 1 QSL route.

The average length of time that the cards took to arrive with me are 2 years 6 months. If the QSL cards had been requested on OQRS then you would get the cards 2 years 6 months quicker.

One Japanese station sent me 34 QSL cards for 34 QSOs for ONE DXpedition. The work that the bureaus have had to put in in both time and money just to get those 34 cards to me is quite startling. We need to STOP the waste and get smarter in how we use our resources.

If you DO have to send your QSL in Via Bureau type ALL QSOs on ONE card or paper.

Of course there are some stations that I am QSL manager that ARE RSGB members that DO want your QSL. OY1OF, OY4TN, PJ4DX, M0URX. Please continue to send us QSL cards for those stations, for ALL other DXpeditions please use OQRS only.

“QSL Via M0URX” does NOT mean that all QSL cards that I am manager for can be sent to me Via Bureau. Only RSGB affiliated call signs can receive QSL cards.

So the best way to know what to send me and what NOT, is clear. ALL DXpedition & contest QSL requests must be made by OQRS ONLY.

For the QSL route of the rest please check on QRZ.com for each call sign. Or use OQRS. If we need your QSL we will contact you.

I have been working with the RSGB for the past year to ensure that all QSL cards for my attention are delivered to me, but this costs money. I have agreed to pay to receive for DXpediitons QSL cards that I am QSL manager for and are not RSGB affiliated.. However this is only for those that cannot use OQRS as a last resort. OQRS must be your first option to receive  ALL DXpedition Bureau cards!

Any QSL cards that ARE sent to me for the call signs I am manager for MUST be made clear “QSL Via M0URX” if not they will NOT reach me. Sorry.

ALL OUT-GOING QSL cards are sent at my cost to all IARU World QSL Bureaus, so our outgoing QSL service continues as normal.

Thank you for your help in changing the way we work with you and reducing costs and time that your QSL cards are delivered to you.