The Southdown Amateur Radio Society is a club for anybody interested in amateur radio, with members across the South Downs and even other countries.
We usually meet on a weekly basis at our Beachy Head radio site, as well as once a month in our Eastbourne-based club rooms.
We have members interested in everything from CW to modern data mode and participate in many contests each year – you can read more about what we get up to on the blog, or below.
Latest News
Following positive responses on our forum, it is proposed to resurrect these nets. The frequency will be 1976 kHz +/- QRM initially using USB to allow Clansman users to join in with unmodified radios. The first of these nets is now confirmed to be on Saturday 27th from 1400 local time. Non SARS members will be very welcome to join the net.
Control station will initially be G8DXU operating G1KAR/P from Beachy Head. Date and time is confirmed .
The Southdown Amateur Radio Society is moving closer to the South Downs!
SARS meetings will now take place on the evenings of the first Friday of each month, commencing on Friday 5th May 2023 at 8pm, at the Old Town Community Centre in Eastbourne.
Please download May’s edition of AirTime, which has now been published, to read all about the move, including further information on address and timings:
At this meeting there will be an introduction to Digital Modes by Tim M0THM and Bob G0UOI. Barry G8DXU will be bringing along some more surplus and silent key items, for sale to members only. This will include several complete VHF and HF transceivers, for spares or repair.
The society wishes to acknowledge the generosity of individuals and families for their donations of equipment. These have been very gratefully accepted and usually sold to members with 100% of the proceeds going to SARS funds.
Alternatively items have been allocated for the benefit of all users of our Beachy Head Radio Site or where serious repairs are required given to members at no charge. As a last resort electronic and electrical equipment is dismantled or recycled as required.
We normally send a letter of thanks to the families that have made donations but sometimes this may have been overlooked due to lack of contact details etc. For regularity the following individuals or families of, are thanked most sincerely for thinking of the society, when considering their donations. J. Gardiner, B. Garside / Jim M7DNW, Emily / B. Wood,
There will be our usual monthly meeting at the Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club from 1930 local time.
As at the last meeting Barry G8DXU will be bringing along a selection of surplus Silent Key and donated items. These will be offered to members at well below market prices, with all proceeds going to SARS funds. Examples include:- UNIDEN 125XLT £40 and 3600XLT £135 Scanning receivers, both in excellent working order and condition. AOR2000 £35 Scanner GWO, MyDEL G63 UHF Transceiver £14 GWO c.w programming lead & charger (With ZX and simplex Chans_ “As New” BAOFENG BF-H6 £12 Dual Band VGC c/w accessories, Boxed. Mastech Cable tracer £5 VGC with case, LDG RBA 4:1 Balan 100W+ “As new” £10. Moonraker Scanmaster Mag Mount Aerial unused in original packing £6. Members Only! Best Offer!?
Our meeting this evening will instead be held at the Langham Hotel nearby on the seafront, as the ESSC is currently undergoing a rewire that has overrun its original schedule. The meeting will feature a talk by Kevin Gordon on Undersea Cables.
Our regular society meeting on the 5th of December was a social event hosted at our regular venue, Eastbourne Sovereign Saling Club.
This was well attended with a good selection of food and light refreshments being provided. I believe that this was enjoyed by all of the members who attended.
With a big thanks to Steve G8NFZ and Richard 2E0JXU for organizing the food plus hot and soft drinks.
Members may already be aware that our annual dinner is being planned for Friday 20th of January 2023.
As previous events at the Langham Hotel have been well attended and very enjoyable, we intend to use their facilities again on this occasion also. The dinner will be from 1930. It is hoped that most of our members will attend and bring guests if they so desire. There is a booking form available on the pull-down Tab entitled MEMBERS. Blank fields show the choices of food available for selection.
Payment information is shown at the bottom of the form, with bank transfer being the preferred method. The last chance to book and perhaps, pay by cash will be at ESCC on December 5th at our club meeting.
This occasion will be led by Tim M0THM who will be demonstrating knots used for portable masts etc.
There should be an opportunity for members to try their hands at knot tying, practicing the Clove Hitch and Bowline etc. all very useful knots to know in outdoor and everyday circumstances. The session will be an informal one, with plenty of time for refreshments and to catch up with the latest news from fellow members.
New members are always welcome to pop along and have a talk to members and or committee about what SARS does for amateur radio..
This evening’s meeting will feature a talk by Tim M0THM on ropes and knots for antenna rigging – hope to see you there!
This excellent Steam, Agricultural, Commercial and Military Vehicle show will be running over the Bank Holiday Weekend from 27th-29th of August. It is located at Broad Farm near Hellingly and has many Trade stands, static exhibits plus on-site Catering, Refreshments and a Fun Fair.
Whilst again, not an official entry from the society, several members will be exhibiting their Commercial and Military Vehicles. There will be early Series One Land Rovers from 2E0JXU and M0JAO with a working Larkspur, Station Radio C12 from 1955. The Defender 110 Tithonus FFR from G8DXU a full compliment of Clansman radio equipment and a separate static display of Manpacks, as used in the Falklands conflict 40 years ago.
We will probably also display some radio equipment from the WWII era.
Callsign GB2FT has been obtained for working demonstrations of the radio equipment. Please see Calendar for further details. At 1400 (Local) on Saturday and Sunday we will put out calls on the following frequencies. 1976 kHz AM, 28.320 MHz USB and 51.70 MHz FM,