LLAIS Y DDRAIG
THE
DRAGON’S VOICE
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GW4TTA
/ GGC4TTA CYLCHLYTHYR CLWB RADIO AMATUR Y DDRAIG NEWSLETTER OF THE DRAGON AMATEUR RADIO
CLUB Club web pages: - http://www.gw3prl.toucansurf.com/DRACHomePage.htm GWANWYN 2008 SPRING
Rhif
84 No. *************************************************************** |
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Cynhelir
cyfarfodydd y clwb yn Neuadd Ebeneser,
Lon Foel y Graig, Pentre
Uchaf, Llanfairpwll, ar Nos Lun
y cyntaf a’r trydydd yn y mis am 7.30 ar gyfer 8.0 o’r gloch. Croeso i ymwelwyr ac aelodau newydd. Club meetings are held at
Ebenezer Hall, on the first and third Monday evenings in the month at
7.30 for 8 .0 o’clock. Visitors and new members
are welcome. OS GWELWCH YN DDA, pob gohebiaeth at yr ysgrifennydd. PLEASE ADDRESS
all communications to the Secretary; Martin Snow GW3PRL, Rhwng y
ddwydre, Brynsiencyn, LL61 6TZ.
Tel: 01248 430848. email: - martinsnow1943 at hotmail dot com |
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PWYLLGOR/COMMITTEE Cadeirydd
– John E. Parry GW3VVC – Chairman. Is-Gadeirydd- Danny Shurmer GW7BZR- Vice Chairman. Ysgrifennydd-Martin Snow GW3PRL –Secretary Trysorydd
John Brimecombe GW3GUX – Treasurer Aelodau/Members - Tony Wright GW0LIS Gwilym
V WilliamsGW2DLK Stewart Rolf GW0ETF John Jones MW0BER |
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Newsletter Editor. Dewi E.
Roberts GW0ABL, 23 Lon Hedydd, |
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RHAGLEN / PROGRAMME Llun/Mon
Ebrill /April 7th To
be announced
Ebrill/April 21st Discussion night
Mai/May 5th Junk Mai/May 19th Talk on Wylfa
Power Station Also various Special Events and contests. Dates to
be confirmed once Club participation is confirmed. Other interesting talks in the pipeline including
one on radio controlled model aircraft – coming soon? |
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THE |
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Some
good new has been released about the future of the North Wales Amateur Radio
Rally, which had been sorely missed by local radio amateurs and clubs. Not
only was this the annual focus for us to get hold of that bit of equipment or
buy a particular component, it was also the venue to meet in person those
friends and personalities who would otherwise have remained as voices on the air. I will always
remember turning round suddenly on hearing a certain voice, hoping to look at
him straight in the eye for the first time but only to look him straight into
his tummy area. He was at least a foot taller than I had imagined him to be!! On
the 13th March a majority of North Wales Amateur Radio Clubs sent
representatives to a meeting convened to decide on holding a Radio Rally at Ysgol John Bright, Llandudno on 1st and From
what I can gather the big need will be helpers because the NWRS is now
smaller and does not have the man power needed. The proposal is for other
clubs in addition supply volunteers and any surplus monies would be shared
out to the clubs on a pro rata basis. Money to launch the Rally is by a
benefactor’s loan and admin costs will be dealt with by the NWRS. There will be space for 200 tables; the
crunch is that clubs will be charged £10 a day for a table which may call for
a rethink as to what we do. But do not forget if you want to help please do
it through the DARC club. Listen out for more details. But
the Show goes on, we have a RALLY and we wish it all well. |
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Martin, GW3PRL, has been busy again and has
renovated the club logo, the original certainly was
a bit worse for wear and in need of a spring clean. The original logo came
into being as a result of a club competition held on |
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There were a surprisingly large number of entries, 39 in all and the original version of the logo was chosen by a large majority of the members and then accepted by the committee. At the time I wrote in the club’s newsletter “I personally was amazed at the artistic talent and ingenuity which was revealed from amongst the members.” Unfortunately most of the entries would have been costly and were too elaborate to be reproduced on tee shirts etc. During the judging each entry was given a number and remained anonymous until the winner was chosen. It was then revealed that the chosen logo, amid cheerful shouts of “Fix! Fix!”, was a design by yours truly. |
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A previous logo had been designed, with a dragon holding a microphone and reference to the Dragon Breaker Group, but the above resulted by the need for an amateur radio emblem. So there we are, can I suggest that you use this logo on your QSL cards and perhaps we can persuade the committee to look at having tee / sweat shirts produced for sale to members. The original shirts were lacking in colour because we tried to keep the costs down, but in this day and age it might be better. Can I also suggest that we tap the artistic merits of the members and have a competition one night (with plenty of notice in advance) for perhaps a club banner or club QSL card. |
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These need not necessarily be accepted – but just for the fun of it! |
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CAN YOU HELP ? |
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With
the years having caught up with me and sitting in a cosy corner slowly
chewing the cud, I find that I have time to think. The unfortunate part is that I dose off and
fall asleep and then wake having forgotten what I was originally thinking
about. Don’t get me wrong, I still feel
anywhere between 18 and thirty years of age and plan to do many things
but it is the arms, legs and the other bits and pieces that don’t
comply. Everything, of course gets
blamed, it is either too cold, too hot, too wet, too
dry, too far, too late, even blame the pills or the Labour Government. I am eternally grateful for all the help
that I have, that I can get around especially with being taxied to club
meetings by John VVC our chairman. I
have noticed recently how kind everyone is, how helpful. In the past ( it has happened twice)
I was pinched when passing old ladies in Tesco.
Now I find younger female hands helping me to reach up to the top or bending
down to the lower shelves to reach the goods, old age has its compensations. This
has got me thinking (lets hope that I keep awake) of what each one of us can
do in 2008 for the success of the club and I think the answer must be “What
can I do to Help”. This hobby of ours,
Amateur Radio, is I think, very unique in the variety of options that are
open to us. Some like to sit and operate their rigs, their ambition being to
talk to all parts of the world. Some like to talk others prefer the Morse
key. Some years ago I visited Dan GW3HCL‘s shack and for a while was puzzled
– something was missing although his log book was packed? It then struck me
–there was not a microphone in sight, only some well used Morse keys!! To other amateurs the hobby means
construction of equipment and experimentation, Radio and Electronics owe a
lot to our predecessors who built their own rigs and opened up the spectrum.
But I could go on and on. Today,
despite the “black boxes”, as club members we can still progress and help in
so many ways. It is not a question of what “They” (whoever they are) have
done but what “We” as club members can do.
Do not take things for granted, everything will be set up for you, it
is up to you to make the club a success. So at the next meeting, between
times, the next event or contest “What can you do to help”. As I was finishing the column I received the following letter from Martin GW3PRL, I wish that as the Editor I could receive more letters from the readers. He asked me to tone it down a bit but I have decided to print it in full. It does, I think, represent the view of other members and I cannot see that it is nothing more than the view of one who has the wellbeing of the club at heart. I cannot see that what he says can be taken amiss, but if you have a different view or agree/disagree with Martin why not write in. Or better still “What can you do to help”. ********************************* |
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To The Editor, DARC Newsletter. |
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After
experiencing a depressingly low showing of interest by members for operating
GB250TT, the question has to be asked – where
is this club going - and what do
the members really expect? The
Dragon ARC is blessed with quite a few people who are very generous with
their time, experience and equipment. There are Trainers for all levels,
Invigilators, Morse teachers, Club Officers, Editor, Webmaster, Special Event
workers & Station Managers, those who tow Caravans, offer of use of shack
- equipment & antennas, QSL Manager, Speakers, Door keepers, Catering
Managers, and some I’ve forgotten to mention – sorry. They
are all busy people with families, jobs, other responsibilities and last and
by no means, least - being radio amateurs themselves, and they give up their valuable
amateur radio time to run our Dragon Club, and help to make it the successful
club it is, indeed several fulfil more than one role in the club. But
it’s the same small group of people who do all the work – all the time –
every time!! It’s a complete mystery
to me why some of our members come to the club at all, but I guess they just
want to get away from ‘the hearth’ for a while, well that’s their problem OK,
but while you’re at it, why not do something for the good of the club – be a contributor. Do
not ask yourself – “What can the Dragon club do for me?”, but rather, “WHAT
CAN I DO TO HELP THE DRAGON CLUB” and my fellow radio amateurs? Don’t
just sit on your generously proportioned posterior, get it in gear and give
the club a talk about a topic you know about, organise your diary, so you
turn out and operate at / or run a special event, paint the caravan, maintain
equipment, teach a subject, run a
section of the club, operate the club equipment, build an antenna for club
use, run a Christmas party or entertain us there, raise funds, or just help
with anything that is going on, even turn up and make a cup of tea. But
for the love of Mike DO SOMETHING!! This
is not intended for those who have any form of physical disability, amateur radio
clubs are designed for your benefit and we are happy to provide a service you
can enjoy. This is intended for the physically fit navel gazers! Don’t sit on
the fence, have an opinion! If you can’t manage heavy HF antennas, get into
VHF/UHF, the gear is smaller and lighter and the club needs such events. If
you have some time and space, you could take over the QSL managers job. If
you have a computer and a phone get going on publicity for the club and its
program. Organise a club visit to a place of interest. But
frankly, if you can’t be bothered doing any of the above or thinking up
something to do yourself, perhaps
you should consider operating QRQ - QRV - /M ! Martin, GW3PRL. ********************************** |
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TRAINING Training is still on going and is now a permanent
part of the club’s activities with one candidate for the Foundation
Examination and two candidates for the Intermediate examination. The
Examinations will takes place at the end of April and we wish all three the
very best. If they are successful, it will mean that over 100 people have
passed in various examinations since the start of the Novice Training scheme. Recruitment
is a bit of a problem in that candidates seem to come forward in dribs and
drabs. Ideally what is needed is a good number (at least 6) which would make
it possible to hire a hall and run a full course. At the moment we rely on
the good will of the Instructors who take the one or two at their homes. It
is heartening to know that we now have a nucleus of instructors who get on
with the job. It may not be realised that there is a lot of work involved in
running the various courses, a lot of paper work, the difficulty in getting vacant space at the hall (which is
registered as an exam centre) which is convenient to the candidates,
Invigilators etc. and a myriad other small details. If you know of anyone who wants to take a
course or take an examination, please let me (Dewi
GW0ABL) know, and get them listed. DO NOT
FORGET that our Training Fund needs
to be kept up and any donations or bits and pieces for sale for the Fund
would be very much appreciated – there is Junk Sale very soon!! Recently John GW3GUX and Martin GW3PRL attend a
Trainers’ Seminar in Capel Garmon,
where it was agreed that the qualifications for the Full Licence examination
is possibly higher than what was required by the old RAE examination. This is
deliberate in order that the new standards will be recognised in the today’s
world of Radio and Electronics. *********************************** |
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Across 1. Type of transistor. (6) 5. 9. ‘Tigers’ in ( 10. Type of lights or indicators.
(5) 11. Valve. (7) 13. You can get this on a
screen. (5) 16. Wave shape. (4) 18. Metal or cable. (4) 20. Cat call. (5) 21. Elettra’s father.
(7) 24. Not the cathode. (5) 25. Wartime ‘pinger’
at sea.
(1.1.1.1.1) 27. Major (musical) work. (4) 28. Boat going ‘in reverse’.
(6) |
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Down 2. Unit of
resistance. (3) 3. Collection of
papers, etc. (5) 4. What a
soldering iron bit
should be. (6) 5. Electrolytic
process for metal protection. (7) 6. Help, I am
sinking. (1.1.1) 7. ….ic electricity. (4) 8. The full 24
down. (6) 12. Croatian
inventor/Flux
Density. (5) 14. You can hear
it. (5) 15. Type of ‘keyer’. (6) 17. Units of force.
(7) 19. Single celled
organism. (6) 22. ‘Sunday joint’.
(5) 23. Not a metric
unit. (4) 24. Short unit of
current. (3) 26. Was (1.1.1) |
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THE CROSS WORD PUZZLE. In
the meantime, if you have successfully completed the puzzle, please send or
let me have a copy with your name across the top before So why not have a go, we might persuade John to devise another one. By the way phototstats will be accepted. |
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OBITUARY. It is with regret that we learn of the death of
Kaye, Dan GW3HCL’s lovely XYL who was endeared to all who knew her. Her loss
will be deeply felt by Dan and Peter their son. Condolences were sent from
the club and our Chairman and some members were able to attend the funeral.
Our thoughts are with Dan who we hope will recover in health and join us at
the club in the near future. Get well soon Dan. |
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MEMBERSHIP. An
up dated list of members shows that the membership has reached the magical 50
in contrast with the last list issued in November which totalled 43. The seven new names included Liz Cabban GW0ETU, retiring Regional Manager of the RSGB,
Janet Griffith GW0UKF , Alun
Guest Rowlands 2W0CYM and R.E.Williams
2W0REW who renewed their membership and new members Martin Francis MW3TOI,
Paul Higginson GW8IZR ,Chris Kenyon MW3NPJ . I hope
that renewed members and new members will feel welcomed and settled down in
the club. The raising of the club membership fee seems to be
a topic raised by non-members on some of the local nets, but the answer is
that only two, so far, have not renewed their membership. The two may not
have re-joined whatever the membership fee. I think we can now put the matter
behind us and concentrate on other things that concern us. |
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NEXT NEWS
LETTER. How about an article for the next newsletter,
perhaps tell us how you were attracted to Amateur Radio, a construction you
have completed or anything of a radio related subject . Don’t forget it is YOUR newsletter and not
the Editor’s and as they say on “StarTrek” – ‘AND
MAKE IT SO’ |
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13.6.08 |
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