Here’s a summary of the activity on the Essex Ham Monday Night Net this evening, Monday 11th February 2013:
The net started at 8pm on GB3DA, the local 2 metre repeater for Essex. For details of the net, see www.EssexHam.net
Here’s the attendance list for this week’s net:
- Pete M0PSX in Southend, in the chair
- Fred M6BZW in Maldon
- Rob M6KDP in Maldon
- Ian M6HPR in Buntingford
- Nick 2E0CGW in Brentwood
- Norman M0FZW, mobile on Canvey en route to his quiz night
- Paul G8IUG, Stevenage
- Tim M0TWW, Westcliff-on-Sea
- Ken M6BZS in Eastwood
- Matt M6VNE in Colchester (licenced for just two weeks, with thanks to the Havering club)
- Lucy M6ECG in Brightlingsea
- Tom 2E0TNC in Tiptree
- James 2E1GUA in Chelmsford
- Peter G1FOA in Chelmsford
- Mike M6KEB on Canvey
- Dave M0WDG mobile in Kent
- Clive M3SSB in Danbury
- Gary G0BDY in Brentwood
Topics for the evening as follows:
- The Two Tree Island field day
- Hot topic for the night was training: Why is it so hard to find an amateur radio course in Essex? (More on local training: Ham Radio Training in Essex)
- Local clubs and their websites, which are either out-of-date, or have no training course dates listed. Lots of positive words for CARS in Chelmsford for their courses, as well as the Havering Club
- Should clubs and local radio suppliers offering a “getting started pack”? Good suggestion Nick!
- What was missing from your training course:
- Putting up antennas and feeds.
- Doing things in the right order. Principles > Build > QSO
- How to operate in a net or on a repeater
- QRZ – Thanks to Mike for reminding us that when entering a QSO in QRZ.com – check both sides of the input screen – as some settings are set to a default (including power, mode, etc)
- The idea of personal development for amateurs – Like Lego blocks… perhaps getting more watts for getting M6 experience and completing more practicals. (Thanks Ian)
- Is there enough of an incentive to progress?
- How can we keep M6s in the hobby? More activities? More club nights?
- Plans for Ofcom to reclaim callsigns not in use. If you’ve progressed from M6 to Intermediate, you may lose your M6 callsign in the not too distant future.
- Thanks to Gary for recommending a 70cm contest tomorrow… 432.200MHz SSB
Thanks to everyone for attending tonight’s net! We wrapped at 23:05… a great night, and lots discussed.
Handy Links
- Checking your propagation with WSPR. See our guide: WSPR Explained
The Essex Ham Monday Night Net is on GB3DA, the repeater based on Danbury. Please show your support by joining the Essex Repeater Group, or making a donation.
Got a comment about this week’s Monday Night Net? Please add it below.
