The Short Wave Magazine November 1975 [antikvár]

FOR THE RADIO AMATEUR AND AMATEUR RADIO IbrawE fflacfaql EDITORIAL SOME LICENCE DATA There are now about 21,000 U.K. amateur licences in issue, of which some 25 % are in the Class-B (VHF only) category. Exact data are only obtainable about two months in arrear, so the "now" figure we give is necessarily an estimate—but always fairly accurate, as it turns out. Further research indicates that of the 21,000-total of the U.K. transmitters licensed, only about 55 % are members of the RSGB, the Society's own total being made up of overseas, "associate" and BRS (or SWL) members, accounting in all for about 7,000 members. Recent RSGB statements suggest that the Society expects to show a large deficit (which we estimate may be as much as L12,000) in its forthcoming summary of accounts, attributed to the effects of the inflation from which we all suffer. If these estimates are only approximately correct, it would seem that the RSGB faces a very difficult situation, financially and otherwise. CORRECTION CORRECTED! On p.259 of the July issue of Short Wave Magazine it was stated that we had been informed by the Home Office that DSB transmission is not permitted on the amateur bands. It now transpires that this was an error on the part of the authorities and that, in fact, DSB can be used by amateurs. We have no particular comment to make—except perhaps that we would not recommend widespread use of DSB above Top Band, though it is in commercial usage on marine HF bands. AMATEUR RADIO ON LAKE EYRE A remarkable story is told in the August '75 issue of the Australian Amateur Radio. Lake Eyre is normally a dried-up salt-pan in Central South Australia, thousands of square kilometres in area, on which in 1964 the late Donald Campbell made his world motor speed record in "Bluebird," on a specially prepared solid salt track. In February 1973, there was torrential rain in Queensland, flooding the rivers draining into Lake Eyre, so that for only the second time in 133 years of recorded history, the Lake itself began to fill, to a greater depth than ever known before. An enterprising group of VK3's had built for them an 18ft. shallow-draught fibre-glass catamaran, the "Red Baron," drawing only about 12in. of water and in May of this year launched her on Lake Eyre. She had an 18ft. aluminium mast on an insulated mounting, forming a vertical aerial which could be fed as an all-band antenna . . . ! In the end, using QRP gear on 20/80m., 102 stations in five countries were worked from "Red Baron," the intrepid explorers being VK3ABP, VK3YBP and VK3YFF. They sailed 75 nautical miles in the largest vessel yet seen on the Lake, and trailer'd "Red Baron" nearly 400 miles to get her water-borne. During the next year or two, Lake Eyre will have dried out once more, and it is a reasonable probability that never again in the life-span of anyone now living will it be possible to sail upon Lake Eyre. A remarkable Amateur Radio "First" indeed! WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH L100 Only 25 years ago, Ray Brown and Calder Cunningham put together their total assets (L100) and started a firm called Racal, operating as consultants and purchasing agents in the field of radio communication. This was so successful that 18 months later they were able to start a manufacturing operation. This in time developed into the Racal Group of Companies, with Hq. at Bracknell, Berks., now employing over 6,000 people in 12 countries. The Group turn-over is nearly L75 million, specialising in radio communication, data method and instrumentation, and avionics. In 1974, over 70% of the sales went for export. All this achieved in 25 years, by a couple of knowledgeable and hard-working enthusiasts risking their L100—it shows what can be done in this country, even in these times.