Steven Burnand

As a lad I would collect old radio sets from the local rubbish tip and jumble sales. Then go back and plug them in. There were a few very loud bangs and I got shocks from a live chassis or two. Some theses old set’s had voltage running through the speaker and I found this out, in very much the same way. My enthusiasm grew as I repaired a few and I became hooked by the old glowing valves and listening to the short wave. I could here stations from all over the world, however some I could not tune in. Just down the road from Portland Road Gamley’s was GWM, so often, as a lad, I gravitated there. As Less had filled the place full of, old radios. I was 13 when I asked, what are those squawking sounds, on the sort wave and Less replied, radio hams. I then inquired how to listen to them and he suggested an AR88 with its BFO. My interests are still in the old equipment, although by trade I am a computer/network technician. I will be back on air soon, running a TS780S through a PC and an old faithful FT101ZD with the FM board fitted. My thanks go’s out, to all those that have helped me, get back on air again.

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Another Early October update

David Cunningham’s Talk about his life in the world of commercial radio and its technological changes over the years, went very well and was enjoyed by all. What more can I say, other than that Davids presentation was of a broadcast quality. It was good to see our club room packed out, once again, with …

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Early October update

If Carlsberg made radio clubs they probably would have made one like the Southdown Amateur Radio Society…. A new addition to the shack being the Carlsberg brass wall clock and barometer, found in most radio shacks, back in days gone by. The beer pump top with Carlsberg Export Larger on, was brought along by Barry …

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Mid September update

Last Saturday’s 2M Trophy Contest was fun and some very interesting stations were both worked and received. The Isle of Man being one of them and Guernsey another. Again distances of around 700 kilometers were worked on around 25w using a 1980’s IC271 and a 1970’s J-Beam. A good time was had by all and …

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Another Early September update

Wednesday up at the Beachy Head Site and the atmosphere was buzzing with many radio contacts from all over the UK and Europe on VHF and the world on HF. Teas and coffees served all round and an outside rag chew in the sunshine, from a radio site that is clear of the external noises …

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Early September update

This report is in retrospect as I wished to thank Jenny Clark for an excellent talk at this months club meeting and her live bat demonstration of the UK’s bats and their echo sounding abilities, using a bat monitor that was able to pick up the high frequency sounds. It was a full house with …

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Late August update

Another good day up on the hill, with plenty on interesting contacts on 2m, all modes. Our day started off with a breakfast down at the Continental Cafe in Seaside and then up on the hill at the Beachy shack. We set up the beam and wound up our more than a tenner mask, then …

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Mid August update

The logo on our banner above is a copy of an old logo created back in the 1980′s. Over the years coming up to our clubs 50th anniversary, I will be posting as much history as I can find. The last couple of weeks have seen more visitors up to the beachy site, enjoying the …

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Early August update

Last night’s club meeting went very well and Graham Somerville of BHI gave an interesting talk about the development of “Noise reduction systems” and their rang of products. Graham gave a demonstration at the end of the talk using one of our clubs radios and the results were astounding. The year is flying by and …

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Late July update

Four words that describe this months radio activity and they are BUSY – FUN – RELAXED – CONTACTS Its been a great month activity wise for our club with some sunny days up at the Beachy Shack; with many new visitors and days out at the rallies and shows. Here are a few of the …

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Early July update

Activity so far this week with more to follow. The beachy site has been active again and the weather has been glorious up on those rolling downs. Here you can or cannot see us in camo mode! Andy M6GND brought up some meals ready to eat rations up to add to military feel. We plan …

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