The Journal of Horsham Amateur Radio Club - September 2021 - Est. 1938

Club Call G4HRS                      Est. 1938

                  The Journal of

         Horsham Amateur Radio Club

                  September 2021

Sponsored by:                      Affiliated to:

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Contents
               In this issue

 3. Notes from the Editor
		Socialising and compliance

 4. Big announcement
		From the Chairman

     6.    ‘Over there’
		Throwing your voice

 7. Listening to broadcasts
		A latest roundup

 11. Diary of events
		Full listings for the month

     Cover photo: The Rock of Copenhagen

                           Published by Horsham Amateur Radio Club
                           HARCNEWS is produced at home by G4JHI

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Editorial
On the 5th August a contingent of club members descended on the Three
Crowns Public House at Wisborough Green for an official club evening social.
Mick G4EFO had duly booked the establishments marquee in the beer garden.
It was estimated that a total of 13 arrived including Jon M0TWN and Lucy
from afar.

The drinks ranged from alcoholic, soft to tea with a delightful ‘white teapot’. In the distance a member
of staff was making ‘pizzas’ although no one of our group decided to indulge. Conversations ranged
from when we might have the ‘next meeting’ to what’s David G4JHI been doing to his house with
lots of scaffolding up…! Service at the bar was fairly swift and we were able to bring all the tables
together now that the social distancing rules have relaxed. No doubt we’ll have another social at
that same venue next year!

The first date for the EMF exposure for frequencies above 110MHz is November 18th, 2021. The
RSGB and Ofcom websites contains lots of information regarding this and an updated EMF calculator.
There is also a useful video on YouTube explaining how to use the calculator.

https://rsgb.org/main/technical/emc/emf-exposure

http://ofcom.org.uk/emf

https://rsgb.services/public/publications/emc/emf-calculator-v0.1.2-rsgb10a.xlsx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9NYlQwbCZQ

David G4JHI

              Copy deadline for emailed items for October edition 20th September
              - For hand written items the deadline is 12th September.

              For items sent by email please send to this address:

                                       harc.news@g4jhi.co.uk

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HARC meetings to resume on Thursday 2nd September

Good news. HARC meetings to resume on Thursday 2nd September. Just had confirmation that
the Guide Hall in Denne Road is now open for other users.

The September meeting will be a Bring Show and Tell, so you can tell us all what you have been
up to over the last 18 months or so of lockdown.

October will be our transitional Junks Sale (so you have plenty of time to sort out all that valuable
surplus equipment you have been collecting over the last year or so).

November will be a HARC / CARC challenge, Alister was volunteered to create a fiendish challenge
to keep our friends from Crawley (and Stewart G3YSX the current President of the RSGB) on their
toes!

Finally December will be the normal AGM.

Keep your eye on the HARC web site for any further info on club activities and social events for
the coming months.

I'm sure you don't need to be reminded, but the above is all dependant on the dreaded Covid
pandemic, fingers crossed all will be as near to normal as possible.

Adrian G4LRP

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HARC AUTUMN JUNK SALE

Thursday October 7th 2021

2000 Hours start

Doors open 1930 for viewing and arrival of items

Free entry

Food available

The Guide Hall
Denne Road
Horsham
RH12 1JF

See you there!

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Dummy Load - Or Just A Load of Dummies?

                         By Julian Thompson G1ODN; 26 July 2021

Ever considered the absurdity of radio ventriloquism? I wanted to find out!

Personally, I’d define ventriloquism as ‘sit-down’ comedy (i.e.: not ‘stand-up)

‘The BBC story’ defines ventriloquism not as ‘the throwing of voices,’ - but as an ‘artform’ - to make
speaking sounds appear to come from a source other than the speaker’

* As the late Ray Alan explains, ventriloquism is an artform, that can be traced back for more than
1000 years. During the previous Millennium, most members will recall that Alan became a household
name on TV– using a slurred ‘sottish’ voice, projected via a Dummy called ‘Lord Charles’

Were radio ventriloquists quietly forgotten about as they often moved their lips?

* Historically, I discovered that it was socially acceptable for so-called ventriloquists to move their
lips as that took second place to comedy, dressing-up and having a rowdy night out at ‘Good Old
Days’ Music Halls “Once Again…. Good Evening, Ladies and…. Gentlemen!”

* During the 1940’s American radio featured ventriloquist (Edgar Bergen) Dummy 'Charlie McCarthy'
conversing hilariously with well-known movie stars such as WC Fields on ‘The Chase and Sanbourn
Hour’

* Meanwhile here in the UK, across the pond, famous guest appearances were unaffordable, so it
was no surprise that ventriloquist Peter Brough’s ‘Archie Andrews Show’ became a BBC radio hit
during the 1950’s (also during the 1960’s as ‘Educating Archie’ on TV)

* At this point, as a child from the 60’s, I recall my own grandfather’s hilarious ‘Archie Andrews’
puppet act. I always laughed at him, as he was always comical, even though he always moved his
lips!

Summary/Conclusion

* Never mattered if a ventriloquist moved their lips when sitting with their puppet before a radio
broadcast audience. In any case, how would radio listeners ever have known?

References:
Mair: ‘Lord Charles is Silenced’ (2010) from History of the BBC – The BBC Story
https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/2010/05/lord_charles_is_silenced.shtml

A Gottle of Gear – Ventriloquism – History – Ray Alan - Documentary (Channel 4, 1986)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPUcg30D8NM

Ray Alan 1930-2010 – Postumous Induction 2018
https://ventriloquistsociety.com/ventriloquist-ray-alan

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Broadcast Listener

Roundup

by David Ansell 2E0NKC

All times BST and frequencies in kHz or MHz

FM

On June 25th I was sitting in my car at Bramber Castle. My car radio was tuned to 95.1 (BBC Radio
Sussex, Horsham relay). At 16:50 I heard a programme in the Italian language and 5 minutes later
the Roman Catholic Rosary was recited and after 3 minutes the signal vanished! The World Radio
TV Handbook lists Radio Maria, (Mary) in Rome on that frequency. So did I hear that actual station?
Possibly!

Long-wave

At time of writing Irelands RTE Radio One service is still off 252 for maintenance. Also Radio Algiers,
(Tipaza), Chaine 3 is missing on the same frequency and has been for a few weeks.

Medium-wave

BBC Radio Wales, Washford has reduced power from 100 to 50 Kw and is now received here with a
slightly weaker signal. The 1 watt Carillon Radio from Loughborough Hospital can be heard on 1386
at 22:00 after Radio Liberty goes QRT. Heard on my AN-200 loop antenna. Asian Sound, Ashton
Moss, (80 watts) heard at 21:20 with ID’s. Glen Hausers ‘World of Radio’ can now he heard at
21:30, Fridays on Italian Radio Relay Service on 918 from Villa Estense. But WoR best via satellite
Saturdays at 17:00 (Sky 0122). Includes propagation reports and forecast, general media news.

Short-wave

Some “specials” have been heard lately. The annual mid-winter broadcast to the 35 members of
the Antarctic Survey was on June 21st at 22:30. I listened on 7305 from Woofferton. Also a Radio
Andorra Revival was heard on August 7th from 19:00 to 21:00 on 6180 via Austria. World Music
Radio, Aarhus, Denmark has been using 25800 in the 11 metre band using AM with 150 watts.
Heard on June 19th at 20:00 via “sporadic E” propagation.

This is the first station to use this band for years! (See “QSL’s received!). This station can also use
5930 during the evenings using 200 watts from Bramming. Voice of Hope, Zambia heard at 20:00
on 6065. Radio Fana, Geta, Ethiopia heard late evening on 6110 with local music. Tuesdays at 16:00
on 15170 I have been hearing Radio Kashmir probably transmitted from Romania. In local language
but some English referred to “nonviolent democratic movement” in Kashmir.

World Last Chance Radio heard at 19:00 on 17700 from an unknown location. Their 9330 transmitter
had a tube burn out at the site in Maine and are awaiting a replacement being shipped from France.
China National Radio heard on 21695 at 11:00. This is probably jamming Voice of America Chinese
schedule at that time. Radio WWCR, Nashville heard at 20:30 on 15285. Radio Africa Network via
WRMI heard some evenings at 20:00 on 21525 when the ‘MuF’ is high enough.

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8

Recent heavy rain in West Germany flooded the Kall transmitter site with 15,000 litres of water
which put 3985, 6005 and 6085 off air with damage to electricity supply and computers. Back on air
now after a pumping marathon.

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QSL’s received

Adventist World Radio, 15515 – card for AWR via relay in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Card sent from the
stations regional centre in Bangkok

Radio Free Asia, 13580 – card sent from USA showing 2021 as the year of the Ox. The Ox is one of
12 animals used in the Chinese zodiac

China Radio International, 12245 via Kashi – card from Beijing advertising domestic “China Plus
Radio”

World Music Radio, 25800 – QSL card and car stickers along with card for Radio 208 “The Rock of
Copenhagen”

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Diary

Sep 2nd, Club Night: Bring Show and Tell

Sep 4th-5th, SSB Field Day 14:00 - 14:00

Sep 6th, Autumn Series 80m SSB 20:00 - 21:30

Sep 7th, 144MHz FMAC 19:00 - 19:55

         144MHz UKAC 20:00 - 22:30

Sep 9th, 50MHz UKAC 20:00 - 22:30

Sep 14th, 432MHz FMAC 19:00 - 19:55

           432MHz UKAC 20:00 - 22:30

Sep 15th, Autumn Series 80m CW 20:00 - 21:30

Sep 16th, 70MHz UKAC 20:00 - 22:30

Sep 19th, 70MHz AFS 10:00 - 13:00

Sep 23rd, Autumn Series 80m DATA 20:00 - 21:30

Oct 7th, Junk Sale

For details on the above contests use this link and follow to the appropriate section

https://rsgb.org/main/radio-sport/what-is-radio-sport

All above times are BST

Committee/Club Meetings and Socials start at 20:00

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