432Mhz is by far my favourite band and since becoming QRV again after a break of almost 10 years I am bit troubled by the lack of activity ;o(
I started on 70cms back in the 80's and have many fond memories of this band... going portable on my push bike (I was 14) going up the downs in Kent with my FT790 and a home made 9 element plus a set of phased Dipoles hanging under a kite ;o)
Now that we no longer pay I licence fee - and the MOD have a choice of what they do with their allocation - the age old expression "use it or loose it" has never been more true! Back in the 80's we organised a Monday activity evening which was quite successful and I remember working Dave /P from Chard in Somerset - call sign long forgotten ;o( and many others with my (now all silent key) radio pals: G0IRV, G6IFK, G4VRI and others.
If you would be interested in participating in a similar revival I am prepared to provide a really nice trophy, along with certificates, web page, discussion forum and league table for an event running from September 2008 for a year. My thoughts are something like this:
G0IRV Memorial Trophy for most UK & Ireland Counties worked during the given period - think nice big (70cm high?) trophy to be kept for a year.
Certificate for working 20+ suffixes (A-Z) with GB3HQ counting as an H for example. 1. Mixed Modes, 2. All SSB, 3. All CW, 4. All Data?
Additional discretionary award TBC. This would be based on nominations and votes from those participating in the event.
Following an email conversation with Norman G3FPK (editor of RadCom VHF/UHF) and Bryn G4DEZ, I initially thought it would make sense to align this with the Scandinavia activity nights but Tuesdays would then clash with the 2m and 23cm events, so maybe stick with Mondays?
Modes of operation would be pretty much "anything" as long as 70cm is involved "somewhere" along the path (so no direct PC-PC Echo-Link) but EME, OSCAR, Repeaters etc etc would all count as after all it's about generating activity.
The suffix and counties award would be for contacts on the activity evening - I propose 1930-2200 local UK Time? - with the most UK & Ireland Counties requiring the entrant to have collected at least 20 suffixes also.
Start date would be the first Monday after the 6th September 2008 which was Charlies Birthday (G0IRV) until the last Monday before 5th September 2009.
Let me know what you think and IF we can generate enough interests, I look forward to lots and lots of paperwork and extra admin! HI
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About G0IRV: Charles (Charlie) Lockyer received his Silent Key in 2001 after a long and happy life and was joined by his wife Mollie on the 8th June 2008. Chas served his National Service in the Far East as an RAF Radio Operator and remained a keen Short Wave Listener through out his life and was a long standing family friend. On my 10th (or eleventh?) Birthday he gave me a Crystal Set Kit therefore passing his love of the wireless (and I hope some of his knowledge? HI) along to me. After much pestering by his brother (the late G4VRI) Chas sat the RAE and was patient enough to mentor me through both the written test and CW. He was very active on 70cms from his home in West Malling in Kent (JO01EH) for many years whilst avidly constructing all manner of home brew equipment and remarkably effective antennas.
I inherited his call sign (which I have applied to reactivate) and if we can create interest in this proposed activity evening I will use G0IRV on the said day and provide a special QSL card in appreciation of your support and enthusiasm for 70cm.
With kind regards,
NIGEL HEARNE de GW0IRW (G1HRW and G0IRV pending Ofcom re-issue)
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