{"id":499,"date":"2016-01-17T07:25:11","date_gmt":"2016-01-17T07:25:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/?p=499"},"modified":"2016-01-18T05:39:35","modified_gmt":"2016-01-18T05:39:35","slug":"bulletin-16th-january-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/bulletin-16th-january-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin: 16th January 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"oos\"Spike Bernard G4AKQ remembered on the Airwaves<\/strong><\/p>\n

A small group of amateur radio enthusiasts who regularly met with Spike G4AKQ when \u00a0transmitting from his radio shack in Gillingham – gathered on the international short waves this morning to pay their respects to him and his wife Dora Bernard RIP. \u00a0A short article describing the funeral was read out over the radio.<\/p>\n

Listen here<\/a>\u00a0to the radio net. \u00a0(the reading starts at 10 mins 50 seconds into the recording). Read it here<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>together with an article from Kentonline.<\/p>\n

From the Service<\/strong><\/p>\n

As a founder of the REA Radio Branch and a keen professional and amateur radio operator Spikes life in our\u00a0community was highlighted during the\u00a0service together with his military history and his achievements\u00a0in the NHS as a Dementia Champion. \u00a0The order of service proudly bore his photograph as well as the branch badge he designed.<\/p>\n

With the branch standard in the backdrop, together with that of the Southampton and Medway Branches of the REA on parade alongside our Standard Bearer Tom Milne, about a hundred people lined the avenue as he drew up to the church,\u00a0many of his comrades wore\u00a0the veterans uniform\u00a0– corps head dress, insignia and medals\u00a0to show their respects. \u00a0The radio branch was well represented at the funeral and two branch members acted as pall bearers and escorted the family, while a small contingent of members were present in the congregation.<\/p>\n

Radio Exploits<\/strong><\/p>\n

The service was conducted by a personal friend, padre Steve Spencer and during the service he\u00a0related a particular story from the cold war era. \u00a0Spike answered a radio call for help after hearing an amateur radio transmission from Poland about a young woman in difficulty during pregnancy. \u00a0She and the unborn child\u00a0were\u00a0in danger and\u00a0needed drugs which weren’t available behind the iron curtain. Spike relayed the message to various agencies who located the drugs and then\u00a0delivered them to a border checkpoint on the Inner German Border to be handed over to the East German authorities for onward transmission. The outcome was never recorded. \u00a0(His\u00a0action\u00a0is quite remarkable given the high degree of security, the official secrets act and various restrictions around amateur radio during the period. \u00a0It was a mark of his skill and compassion that he carried it off – ed.)<\/p>\n

Read a \u00a0transcription<\/a>\u00a0of the service here.<\/p>\n

In among the tributes laid out in remembrance, were photographs of spike operating his radio stations DL5XW<\/a>\u00a0and club station DL5YQ. \u00a0He also operated under many calls from various locations as can be seen here<\/a><\/p>\n

A VETERANS HOPE<\/strong><\/p>\n

I hope there\u2019s a place way up in the sky,
\nWhere veterans can go, when they have to die.
\nA place where a guy can buy a cold beer,
\nFor a friend and comrade, whose memory is dear.<\/p>\n

A place where no doctor or lawyer can tread,
\nNor a veteran affairs type would ere be caught dead.
\nJust a quaint little place, kind of dark, a little smoke
\nWhere they like to sing and have a good joke.<\/p>\n

The kind of place where a lady could go,
\nAnd feel safe and protected by the men she would know.<\/p>\n

There must be a place where old vets go,
\nWhen their pain is finished and their walk gets slow.
\nWhere the cognac is old and once again we are young,
\nAnd songs about war and comrades are sung.<\/p>\n

Where you see all the fellows you have known before and,
\nThey call out your name, as you come through the door.
\nWho would buy you a drink, if your thirst should be bad,
\nAnd say to the others \u201cHe was quite a good lad\u201d.<\/p>\n

Then through the mist, you spot an old guy,
\nYou have not seen in years and you realize the past has gone by.
\nHe would nod his head, and grin from ear to ear,
\nAnd say \u201cWelcome buddy, I\u2019m pleased that your here\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor this is the place where veterans come,
\nWhen their journey is over and the war has been won.
\nThey have come here to be happy and get a good rest,
\nThis is heaven, my son…you\u2019ve passed your last test.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Poem Anonymous) – reproduced with permission Paul Finnis who read it during the service.<\/p>\n

Branch Matters<\/strong>
\nA\u00a0proposal that the branch make a contribution to Dementia UK<\/a> in Lieu of any flowers was made by Tom G4CMG and voted at a committee review during the Christmas break. \u00a0Personal contributions in memory of Spike can be made at the link above.<\/p>\n

Radio Conditions Today<\/strong>
\nThe 80 meter amateur band supported good communications with a little interference off to one side of the frequency making for relatively good reception from the remote receiver at Hack Green, Nantwich in Cheshire where the recording above was made.<\/p>\n

The remainder of the the net was dedicated to engineering communications and a study of the propagation which was typical for the time of day and year on two frequencies.<\/p>\n

Skype<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is proposed Skype is used as an engineering channel for the Radio Nets and tomg4cmg is the Skype Name of Tom G4CMG who is coordinating that.<\/p>\n

Digital Smart Technology for Amateur Radio – D-STAR<\/strong><\/p>\n

A number of branch\u00a0members are now equipping with D-STAR.<\/p>\n

How D-Star works. \u00a0<\/strong>As a computerised service the call sign and various other details of transmissions are registered in a worldwide database (on the\u00a0the web) so that stations can be located automatically and linked to, wherever they are in the D-Star network. \u00a0Instead of being transmitted using the old analogue frequency modulation (FM), the voice is digitised and sent in data packets containing information about the sender and receiver as well as the voice information. \u00a0Text is transmitted simultaneously. \u00a0Apps can be used to send text and pictures. \u00a0The global DSTAR network\u00a0facilitates worldwide communications\u00a0using\u00a0radios or computers.<\/p>\n

Radio Nets (two way conversations between 2 or more radio stations) are conducted around\u00a0various remote repeater sites (aka) gateways. \u00a0Once formed, a net may operate around the gateway\u00a0locally, or a user can link to another gateway across the internet. \u00a0Alternatively he or she may choose to\u00a0communicate via computer servers known as reflector sites. \u00a0Direct communications are also being made on various amateur bands including Short wave.<\/p>\n

Several Branch members are known to have D-STAR and the club station G3RE will operate on D-STAR eventually.<\/p>\n

When it is ready the branch will\u00a0publish its details. \u00a0At the moment Reflector DCS005 has been suggested but equally the international reflector REF001C is a good starting point.<\/p>\n

In the mean time you can locate various branch members in the network and work directly. \u00a0At the time of writing G4IYK is listening on his local repeater GB7OK in Bromley, Kent. \u00a0G6TGO is active as well as G6XRE.<\/p>\n

NB. \u00a0D-Star is one of \u00a0three digital networks being constructed by radio amateurs.<\/p>\n

40 Meter Band<\/strong><\/p>\n

Proposals have also been made to form a lunchtime net on 40m. \u00a0Most regular Net Operators are now equipped for PSK31.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

73 and Best Wishes,<\/p>\n

Stu – G4IYK<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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