RadCom February 2016, Vol. 92, No. 2

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February 2016
RSGB Matters
8
The February/March 2016 edition of RadCom
Basics will be emailed out to subscribers on
Tuesday 2 February. It will contain features
on making the most of tropospheric lifts on
2m, making homemade coaxial traps for
antennas, taking part in the Commonwealth
Contest on 12-13 March and making a 2m
Slim Jim antenna with 300Ω ribbon cable.
RadCom Basics is aimed at new amateurs
and those who may want to find out more
about aspects of the hobby they may have
never considered.
You can find out more about RadCom
Basics and subscribe in the publications
section of the RSGB website,
basics RadCom
RadCom Basics
UK Spectrum
Report
The UK Spectrum Policy Forum, the
industry-led sounding board to Government
and Ofcom, has launched a new report:
UK Spectrum Usage & Demand (2nd Ed).
It was launched at the UK Spectrum Policy
Forum conference Enabling Spectrum
to Deliver a Positive Digital Future with a
keynote speech from Ed Vaizey MP, Minister
of State for Culture and the Digital Economy,
followed by a panel debate with some of
the report’s authors and contributors from
the industry sectors. For more information,
see
Based on studies of 11 sectors, from
space and radio to broadcasting and
transport, this study of the major users of
spectrum in the UK identifies the business
and societal activities that depend on
spectrum and the associated drivers of
value. Providing a snapshot of the current
spectrum usage and expected long-term
future needs, the report identifies spectrum
‘pinch points’ that must be addressed if we
are to maximise future growth in spectrum
value.
The report is aimed to identify spectrum
needs across a breadth of industries and
inform future policy debates to avoid
a spectrum ‘crunch’ in the long-term.
Encouragingly, amateur radio receives
good coverage – see pages 50 - 52 of the
summary and 171 - 182 in the appendices
of the main report, thanks to input from
Murray Niman, G6JYB and Graham
Murchie, G4FSG
2015 was another busy
year for the bureau. We
shipped 1,005,657
cards – around 3,017kg
or 3 tons of cards.
See the pie chart for a
breakdown. The central
bureau also processed
more than 10,000
additional cards that
could not be shipped for
various reasons. These
included incorrect call,
non-Member, silent key,
wrong country, no via or
info, no bureau etc.
We are often asked who receives the most cards. In 2015, 52% were distributed to
our sub-managers for UK callsigns. The busiest five received around 170,000 cards in
total for the following groups: Contests, GB, G0, M0M-Z and GI-MI-2I.
48% of cards were sent to 145 overseas destinations, the top 10 accounting for
around 60% of all export consignments.
Important news
Check the size and weight before you send. Royal Mail recently increased its charges
for under stamped/paid items to £1.50 for letters and packets, and £3 for parcels.
The bureau is not authorised to pay excess charges on behalf of Members so please
check before you send.
Send-all-Send-any policy
Sub-managers never know the urgency of a QSL card and there are many factors that
determine the ‘desirability factor’ of a card – something known only to the sender and
recipient. That’s why our volunteers aim to get all cards out as quickly as possible, ie
in less than 30 days of receipt from us.
Unfortunately, the number of uncollected cards still remains high. Even if you never
send QSL cards you will most likely be surprised at the incoming post, so please make
sure that your sub-manger has a collection envelope or two (details on the RSGB
website). 2nd Class stamps on C5 envelopes are always best value.
G4R and G4 review
G4R series callsign Members are advised that a temporary QSL sub manager is in
place for the G4R group whilst a review of sub manager provision in the G4 series
is on-going. Wayne Thomas, M0WAY has kindly agreed to handle G4R for the time
being. Details can be found on the RSGB website, under ‘Operating’. He can be
contacted via email to
G1-G2 Sub Manager
It is with sadness that we report that long time G1-G2 sub manager, Anthony Nowell,
BRS 94111 died suddenly, shortly before Christmas. Although unwell for some time
he remained a keen listener and greatly enjoyed volunteering. He was a frequent caller
to the bureau and also to many of his G1-G2 users. We are working with his executors
and more information will be available soon. In the meantime call holders should not
send collection envelope and refer to the website for updates.
GM4-GM8 Series
Tom Wylie, GM4FDM wishes to step down as sub manager for this range of calls
sometime during 2016 and we are now seeking his replacement. Ideally another
active GM with time and space to handle 20-25,000 plus of cards per year and with
email and basic spreadsheet skills. Tom reports a higher than average rate of non–
collection in this call range, so a proactive volunteer with organisational, time and
people skills would be an advantage. Enquiries to please.
QSL Matters