www.gb3sd.radiouk.com
SUPPORTING GB3SD and GB7SD (WEY2)
AUTUMN 2004 NEWSLETTER
The
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Group will be held at the Chickerell
Church Hall on Tuesday the 19th of October 2004 at 7.30 for 8pm. We hope
that all users of GB3SD and GB7SD will try to attend and support us. If you
are unable to attend the AGM please send your subscription and/or any donation
you may care to make to our Treasurer whose address is given later. The proposed
annual subscription for 2004/5 is £12.00 and life membership is
£120.00. The Group is entirely self-financed and has to fund all the
equipment provision and maintenance, plus site rent, electricity and third
party insurance. The contributions to our running costs that we receive each
year are very much appreciated and essential to ensure the repeaters future.
THE STATIONS The Group provides and maintains the 70cm Voice Repeater GB3SD, which was switched-on on the first of July 1976 as part of the first phase of Amateur UHF Repeaters in the UK. It has been remarkably reliable, having been out of service for only a few weeks in total, mainly for maintenance of the mast and aerials. The other station on the site is the Packet Radio Node GB7SD (WEY2). This provides user access to the Network on 144.95MHz. It was switched-on on the 22nd of November 1986. The stations are located at Bincombe Barn on the Ridgeway, approximately 4 miles North of Weymouth and 530 feet above sea level.
REPEATER STATUS Following on from the extensive refurbishment in the summer of 2001 GB3SD has continued to perform well with no major problems and its greatly improved performance has been maintained. In June, a mains electricity failure revealed that the power supply back-up battery was faulty. This was replaced with a pair of new 24 amp/hour units. This has doubled the capacity and should give up to 24 hours of low power operation in the event of any future mains failure.
The Packet Radio Node GB7SD (WEY2) is now under the care of Eric, G0CGL who runs the Wool DX Cluster Node. Since Eric’s work on the station last October the link to GB7CGL (WOOLDX) has been working reliably.
A complete log of all activity on the site and both stations current status is available on our Internet Pages at www.gb3sd.radiouk.com where the ‘News’ page is updated regularly.
MEMBERSHIP AND SUPPORT Over the years many individuals have contributed to the success of our group, far to many to name here. The archive of activities available to read on the SDRG Internet Web Site provides some idea of the effort needed to commission and maintain an Amateur Radio Repeater Station. The Group has seen success and occasionally failure in its endeavours but it is important to remember that everyone involved has been a volunteer. Whilst there are still a few regular users who have not paid or renewed their subscriptions, membership of the Group has been maintained at a reasonable level, currently just over 40. We have also had some very generous donations. Thank you all, as without your past, present and future support, GB3SD and GB7SD could not exist.
If you are in any doubt about your membership status please contact the Treasurer. A list of paid up members will be available for inspection at the AGM. Also, the Repeater Keeper, Geoff, G0EVW has an up to date list of members and their contributions.
AGM VENUE From Weymouth, proceed west towards Chickerell along the B3157 Chickerell Road from its junction with Lanehouse Rocks Road for approximately two miles. At the bottom of a dip, on your right, you will see East Street, with a brown sign to the 'Turks Head Inn'. In East Street, take the first turning on the right and the Church Hall will be seen ahead on the left.
SDRG2000 COMMITTEE
Secretary: Les Barnes, G0FAJ, 5 Boldre Close, Poole BH12 2HP
Home phone: 01202 460174 Mobile phone: 07721746628
Treasurer: Rob Mott, G0ECX, 27 Walpole Street, Weymouth DT4 7HJ
Chairman: John Newman, G0PGT
Other committee members: Mike, M0NJR and Thelma, 2E1HSA
GB3SD Repeater Keeper: Geoff Watts, G0EVW, 46 Links Road, Weymouth DT4 0PE Mobile phone: 07969074153
THE FUTURE AND FINANCES The five-year lease on our site is up for renewal at the end of this year and our secretary has already been advised the cost is likely to be £250.00 per annum. This will require a commitment by the Group to a further five years of maintaining the site and equipment and raising almost £2000 in running costs, for which ultimately the committee is responsible. This will require an annual income for the next five years of around £400.00. Although our treasurer currently reports a healthy bank balance of £1463.46, the committee consider it essential that we maintain a reasonable contingency fund. In his Annual Report our Treasurer recommends a small increase in subscription levels to £12.00 annually and £120.00 for life membership. The Committee recommends the membership to support this proposal at the AGM.
You can use the form below to send your subscription and/or any donation you wish to make. Cheques should be made payable to the ‘South Dorset Repeater Group 2000’. Please do not send cash through the post. If you require a receipt please include a SAE.
To the Treasurer, South Dorset Repeater Group
Mr R Mott, 27 Walpole Street, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 7HJ
Please find enclosed my contribution to the ‘South Dorset Repeater Group 2000’
Proposed Annual Subscription: £12.00……………….….
Proposed Life Membership: £120.00………………........
Donation: £………………………..........
Total enclosed: £………………………..
Full Name:………………………………………………………………………
Call or SWL:…………………………………………………………………….
Town:……………………………………………………………………………
County:…………………………………………………………………………..
Post Code:……………………………………………………………………….
Telephone:……………………………………………………………………….
E-mail address:…………………………………………………………………..