The Short Wave Magazine July 1976 [antikvár]

FOR THJE RADIO AMATEUR AND AMATEUR RADIO EDITO RIAL RSGB MEMBERSHIP Some calculations based on the most recently published figures show that of the 21,700 U.K. amateurs now licensed, fully 7,000 (or one-third) are not members of the Radio Society of Great Britain—which, of course, has something like 5,000 SWL's making up the total RSGB membership. This one-third proportion of U.K. transmitters who are non-members has remained fairly constant over recent years. (It is said, not by us, that they are the ones who are not interested in QSL cards!). COURSES FOR THE R.A.E. Düring the coming months, we shall again be Publishing, as in previous years, lists of centres offering courses of instruction for the Radio Amateurs' Examina-tion, "Subject No. 765," City Guilds of London Institute, which sets the Exam. Accordingly, we would be glad to have the necessary détails for publication from those responsible for organising such courses. Please give place, date of commencement of the course and relevant détails, QTH for student applications, fee to be charged, with if possible the name and callsign of the course instructor. Address only to: "R.A.E. Course," c/o Editor, Short Wave Magazine, Buckingham, mk18 Irq. ALWAYS INTERESTED We are glad to see at any time articles, short or long, of Amateur Radio interest, especially those covering constructional projects illustrated by drawings or photo-graphs. Material should be prepared in accordance with the guidance given under the heading "Authors' Mss." on the Contents page of any issue of the Magazine. Drawings need not be "copper plate" but must be neat and clear for reproduction by our draughtsman, who will size and style to our regulär drawing convention. Photographs should be about post-card or "half-plate" size, black-and-white only, glossy finish; pictures suit-able for block-making can very often be produced to these standards by good amateur photographers, while almost any local photographie studio can provide prints of "commercial quality." Also always wanted are pictures in the Amateur Radio context for général illustration through the Magazine. These should be fully and accurately captioned on a separate sheet—that is, not scribbled on the back of the print—and may be of stations, personalities, Club groups, mobile rigs in car or boat, and any related subject. Ali material used is paid for on publication at good rates, and should be sent to: Editor, Short Wave Magazine, Buckingham, mk18 Irq. POLICY ENQUIRY—Chris. Cooper We are asked by thé West Yorkshire Police (Gipton Division, Brotherton House, Westgate, Leeds, LS21 2RS) to publicise the fact that Chris. Cooper, of Gar-forth, has been missing since July last year. As well as being a keen SWL, Cooper was one of our photographie représentatives and hence would be wefi known at Mobile Rallies and Amateur Radio conventions. Anyone who knows anything about him—a burly extrovert, aged 38, wearing glasses, with a chin beard, and often carrying photographie equipment—should report the facts to the West Yorkshire Police (Inspector A. F. Masters) address as given, or ring Leeds 35353, with whatever information they may have. DSB NOW BARRED We have been officially informed by the Radio Regulatory Dept., Home Office, that "double sideband transmission with suppressed carrier," DSB as it is known in Amateur Radio parlance, is no longer permitted. Reasons given are that it is a mode not authorised by international radio régulations, that it is difficult to monitor without special equipment and that " no undue hardship would be placed on amateurs at the recali of this facility " RADAR FOR SMALL CRAFT Under the new Merchant Shipping (Radar) Rules, 1976, any vessel of 1600 gross registered tons and up-wards must carry radar. The Dept. of Trade recommends that ail U.K. vessels, even if under this limit of 1600 g.r.t. be so fitted—meaning the larger yachts and similar craft using crowded waterways, like the Soient and the English Channel. Indeed, anyone who has essayed a Channel crossing by night in a yacht would fully appreciate the point of this suggestion—with many big foreigners not fitted or the radar u/s when they are, and showing the minimum of lights, it can be hazardous. A trip from, say, a Soient harbour to Cherbourg or the Channel Islands—quite usuai for many South Coast yachtsmen—means crossing two busy shipping lanes. WORLD - WIDE COMMUNICA TION