The February RSGB club update has now been uploaded to the members’ area. As an affiliated club, all members of SKARS are able to receive the update. If you need access to the members area, please ask the chairman to grant you access (or reset your password).

The current committee members (as voted at the AGM on 3 Jan 2020) are

Chair: Steve Marsh, M0NMA

Club Secretary: Brian Hiley, M0YBX

Club Treasurer: Steve Marsh, M0NMA

Member Representative: John Uttley, G6CQD

We are always trying to keep our activities fresh and attractive to our members and potential new ones. Our new Social night at The Royal Queen in Belton Lane, Grantham, is on Tuesday 12 November at 7:30 – No need to bring your radios as it is just a social gathering, so it is also spouse-friendly (should they wish to attend!). If you want to know more about the club, just come along and say hello!

Under 18s are welcome – the pub just asks that they remain with an adult after 9pm.

Location map: https://maps.google.com/?cid=5781847479981282853

South Kesteven ARS had a fun-packed day at the recent JOTA event with around 50 Scouts, Cubs and Beavers from Grantham and District using the special event call sign GB1FS. Stewart Mason M0SDM, Andrew Kiddle G4HVC and Konrad Emery-Ford M0KVF logged 24 QSOs on 80m using the club FT-450D rig (last year’s prize from Waters & Stanton for winning the RSGB small club of the year ) and an OCFD.

Not a bad result, given many of them were long QSOs, not quick 59 contacts! The highlight had to be the contact with GB100GP who must have been very busy over the JOTA weekend. The team also demonstrated CW with an oscillator and helped to explain to the Scouts, Cubs and Beavers what the hobby was all about.

SKARS are pleased to announce that it was the first club to have been allocated a CWC callsign – GB19TB (Trent Bridge) which will coincide with the Test Match there on 6 June. SKARS will activate the callsign from 10am to 10pm on HF, using SSB, CW and FT8 modes.

Just look at that Quad Antenna!

The current committee members were voted in at the EGM on 5 April 2019:

The Calendar has now been updated with activities for the rest of 2019.

Meetings will be on 1^st and 3^rd Fridays of each month, between 7:30 and 9:30.

·         1^st Friday meetings will be social events where members can have a general chat, use the club radio and bring their own kit / questions for others to help with or to tell us about.

·         3^rd Friday meetings will be talks on a variety of topics and the calendar will cover the next 6 months. Doors open at 7:30 for talk to commence at 8pm.

18 January Zello and Network Radio Sean Burton 2E0ENN
15 February CW Brian Hiley M0YBX
15 March CB Radio Richard Shireby G0OJF
19 April Grounds and RF Earthing Stewart Mason M0SDM
17 May Recapping a Radiogram GB19TB preparation Richard Shireby G0OJF and Richard Chappell M7CHP
21 June First Aid Konrad Emery-Ford M0KVF
19 July CTCSS Richard Shireby G0OJF
20 September Building U/VHF Antennas Martin Yallop G4YNT
15 November Modelling Antennas (or Aug) Brian Hiley M0YBX
20 December Christmas Party Steve Marsh 2E0WCG

Activity Events
6 June Cricket World Cup GB19TB Brian Hiley M0YBX
Sept Field Day
Mid Oct JOTA Stewart Mason M0SDM

Richard Powley (M0IGM) passed away on November the 3rd at the Grantham Hospital Hospice. Richard had been unwell for some time.

Richard first came to SKARS after he answered a call for volunteers to help at one of our JOTA stations and became an active member, a regular on the club net and participated in other club activities and meetings, always keen to offer his advice and assistance to new operators.

In May this year Richard spent an entertaining couple of hours talking and accepting messages over the radio from the members of a local scout group after we went to give a talk and demonstration, going out of his way to assist.

Richard spent much of his life in Germany and after coming back to the hobby operated for a while operated as M/DJ0MDW.

The committee and members of SKARS send their condolences to his wife Joy and his family and friends.

South Kesteven ARS have once again proved they are an award winning society

RSGB Region 13 winners for three years running

National Finalists for three years running, 3rd in 2015, 2nd in 2016 and now finally grabbing the first place for their hard work and efforts in 2017

Collecting the award on behalf of SKARS was Stewart Mason (Event coordinator) and his son Noah at the National Hamfest on 29th September 2018. The club received a voucher for £500 and is looking to buy a transceiver from Waters & Stanton the sponsors of the competition.

Club of the Year winners announced

Congratulations and thanks to all SKARS members and the committee for their hard work.

Abdel Mesbah M0NPT came along to SKARS on the 6th July 2018 to give a talk and demonstration on operating through Amateur radio satellites.

As well as a powerpoint presentation Abdel was able to demonstrate the operating of an SSB linear transponder on FO-29 during two passes that evening. Using a Yaesu FT-847 and a handheld homebrew antenna made a number of successful QSOs. (Video and photos by Stewart Mason M0SDM)