{"id":665,"date":"2016-06-20T18:28:23","date_gmt":"2016-06-20T17:28:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/?p=665"},"modified":"2016-06-20T18:29:17","modified_gmt":"2016-06-20T17:29:17","slug":"bulletin-20th-june-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/bulletin-20th-june-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin: 20th June 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>On Net<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>REA Radio Branch in Joint Military Communications Exercise<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/alphacharlie.org.uk\/exercise-blue-ham\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"674\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/bulletin-20th-june-2016\/air-cadets\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/air-cadets.png?fit=358%2C83&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"358,83\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"air cadets\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/air-cadets.png?fit=300%2C70&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/air-cadets.png?fit=358%2C83&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-674 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/air-cadets.png?resize=300%2C70\" alt=\"air cadets\" width=\"300\" height=\"70\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/air-cadets.png?resize=300%2C70&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/air-cadets.png?w=358&amp;ssl=1 358w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Besides the regular Saturday net this weekend I made a late decision to take part in exercise <a href=\"http:\/\/alphacharlie.org.uk\/exercise-blue-ham\/\" target=\"_blank\">BLUE HAM<\/a>\u00a0with the UK Air Cadets. \u00a0This took place on Saturday and Sunday 18th and 19th June 2016, as part of their 75th anniversary commemoration. \u00a0The aim of the exercise was\u00a0to test\u00a0the cadets ability to communicate using HF radio on a band of frequencies, shared with radio amateurs. \u00a0The exercise was nationwide and competitive.<\/p>\n<p>The aim of activating G3RE was to show support for this, have fun and see what I could learn.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Choose your weapons&#8230;.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"672\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/bulletin-20th-june-2016\/2016-06-20-17-46-49\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/2016-06-20-17.46.49.jpg?fit=3478%2C1194&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"3478,1194\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;SM-N910F&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;4.8&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;500&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.1&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"2016-06-20 17.46.49\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/2016-06-20-17.46.49.jpg?fit=300%2C103&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/2016-06-20-17.46.49.jpg?fit=640%2C220&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-672 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/2016-06-20-17.46.49.jpg?resize=510%2C175\" alt=\"2016-06-20 17.46.49\" width=\"510\" height=\"175\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/2016-06-20-17.46.49.jpg?resize=300%2C103&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/2016-06-20-17.46.49.jpg?resize=768%2C264&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/2016-06-20-17.46.49.jpg?resize=1024%2C352&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/2016-06-20-17.46.49.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/2016-06-20-17.46.49.jpg?w=1920 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/> For the day I chose\u00a0to use the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Clansman\" target=\"_blank\">UK\\PRC320<\/a> and on low power, (5 watts) if it would work. \u00a0I reasoned this would be a better test of operating skill both ways. \u00a0I knew the approach would have two chances. \u00a0Either it would work OK if shortwave radio conditions were good, or communications would be very difficult. \u00a0As it happens, \u00a0my own schedule was limited to a quick test on Saturday, late in the day. \u00a0Also\u00a0two sessions on Sunday morning (interspersed with\u00a0shopping at the station commanders request.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Results for G3RE<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Radio Conditions:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Not optimal. \u00a0The prediction chart was showing the maximum usable frequency for short range communications was depressed, somewhere below five megahertz at the time of day. \u00a0This prediction was checked out by listening to the band for stations at various ranges and it appeared true. \u00a0See receiving below.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Transmitting;<\/strong> \u00a0Of the three stations contacted, MRE80, MRE68 and MRE43 \u00a0&#8211; 2 were worked on 5 watts and the last on 100w.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Receiving;<\/strong>\u00a0 On the heard list were two stations in Scotland, MRE24 and MRE25 who seemed to be a touch louder than the nearer contacts\u00a0which was consistent conditions. \u00a0The average power available to cadets ranged from 30W to 100W.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Station Organisation: \u00a0<\/strong>I had opted to use a more difficult option rather than use a lot of power or a more sensitive radio set, one with a rotary tuning knob and digital display for example.\n<div id=\"attachment_673\" style=\"width: 281px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-673\" data-attachment-id=\"673\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/bulletin-20th-june-2016\/icom-rig\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/icom-rig.jpg?fit=271%2C186&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"271,186\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"icom rig\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;The easy option&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/icom-rig.jpg?fit=271%2C186&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/icom-rig.jpg?fit=271%2C186&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-673\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/icom-rig.jpg?resize=271%2C186\" alt=\"The easy option\" width=\"271\" height=\"186\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-673\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An easier option<\/p><\/div>\n<p>If you are familiar with the PRC320 you will know how difficult it is to tune across a range of frequencies and locate a signal. \u00a0(After a few minutes your fingers will probably be sore and bleeding. \u00a0(I exaggerate :).As it was, the cadet stations were spread across the entire band. \u00a0I concede &#8211; the\u00a0easy option would probably have increased my chances of more contacts, however\u00a0to counter the problem of sore fingers,\u00a0as an aid,\u00a0I used a spotting receiver, the Software Defined internet Radio located at Hack Green in Cheshire. This also helped me to overcome local noise which has a deafening effect on my radio.<\/p>\n<p>To report locations, both cadets and amateurs used the amateur <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Maidenhead_Locator_System\" target=\"_blank\">maidenhead locator system<\/a>\u00a0 (or QTH Locator) to send a grid reference. \u00a0On the web I found a very interesting <a href=\"http:\/\/qthlocator.free.fr\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">digital map<\/a> to help me to decipher and pinpoint the stations I heard. \u00a0So I also used that, as well as the usual websites, an aid.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Summary of Activity<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For a potential total of 99 cadet stations I sensed cadet participation was quite low compared to what it could have been. \u00a0I could only see a few stations active at any one time by reading the exercise website. \u00a0G3RE was just one of a fair number of amateur stations on the air, and the data from their combined results &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/alphacharlie.org.uk\/blueham\/contact_table.php\" target=\"_blank\">published here<\/a> will make an interesting snapshot of the Five megs amateur band at the time.<\/p>\n<p>The exercise web site made imaginative use of mapping to display locations and data to provide a running score but I felt this was one aspect that had more potential.<\/p>\n<p>Overall this brief period of activity was a bit of fun and I learnt\u00a0some lessons, especially about log keeping, spur of the moment decisions, station organisation, raising the standard of my receiver and putting up more power.<\/p>\n<p>I am sure the Air Cadets and amateurs involved enjoyed it. \u00a0My effort didn&#8217;t win any certificates, but my final comment is that contacts with military radio stations are quite rare these days, probably due to a move to UHF secure communications.<\/p>\n<p>G3RE\u00a0remains\u00a0open for communications exercises on 5Mhz for both amateur and military training.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to the air cadets for the opportunity. \u00a0If this exercise runs again I would be happy to participate for the duration.<\/p>\n<p>73 de Stu<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Net REA Radio Branch in Joint Military Communications Exercise Besides the regular Saturday net this weekend I made a late decision to take part in exercise BLUE HAM\u00a0with the UK Air Cadets. \u00a0This took place on Saturday and Sunday &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/bulletin-20th-june-2016\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-radio-operating","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6cNPB-aJ","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/665"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=665"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/665\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":675,"href":"https:\/\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/665\/revisions\/675"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=665"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=665"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reasignals.net\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=665"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}