THE FIRST CLASS C.W.

OPERATORS CLUB
Editor: G4BUE

NEWS SHEET 574

(Callsigns in brackets indicate G4FOC op) August - 30 and 10m (G4HZV) Until 21 W4/G3VCN Until 23 HA7PB by N3SZQ 10-22 EA6/G3RWL 25 Deadline for FOCUS 32 28 Deadline for September N/Sheet 30 Committee meeting September - 40 and 15m 4/16 BT1IARU by PALOU and K1ZZ 25 Deadline for October N/Sheet 26-28 RSGB HF & IOTA Convention October - 80 and 17m 3 June and Chriss Open House 4 Lords

August 1997

A man should keep his friendship in constant repair - Samuel Johnson (1755).

BANDS OF THE MONTH FOR AUGUST ARE 30 AND 10 METRES

Friends A packed News Sheet for you this month. I have had to reduce the size of the print to get everything in, but I hope you can still read everything alright. Our English summer is fluctuating between lovely hot sunny days and cooler miserable rainy days, not as nice as last year but better than many. HF band conditions also seem to be fluctuating with 20 metres having been open to the USA quite late in the evening. By the last sentence you will realise I am back on the air, not with the Butternut as planned, but with my old field day antenna with the ends cut off - 66 feet centre fed with open wire feeder to an ATU in the shack. Although it is only 25 feet high it seems to be getting out pretty well and early indications are that Highcroft is going to be a nice quiet QTH for receiving. I discovered my Butternut had been damaged in the move and the repairs to it will have to take their turn with the many other jobs that need doing around the house. Maud tells me that ticket sales for Lords are progressing well and the list of overseas members attending is shown overleaf. G3LIK is organising an interesting photograph quiz to test the memories of members and G4HZV compiling a members' DX QSL card collection. G3KTZ is organising a second station and G3MXJ is pursuing a special call sign to be used. A trumpet fan-fare and a smart new banner are two more of the new attractions for our 50th post-war annual dinner. See you up there? Congratulations to Bill, G3LTV, on is nomination to be President for 1998. Bill will be installed at Lords. In Members' News of this News Sheet is an item from G3LPN who has fallen into an embarrassing situation due to a copy of the Callbook having been circulated outside the membership of the club. Please remember that much of the information, especially phone numbers and, sometimes, e-mail addresses, is given on the basis that the semi-confidentiality of the information will be respected. While the members concerned are happy for it to be circulated within the club, they do not wish it to be generally circulated outside. Callbooks should always be treated as for Internal Use Only. Meeting on 19 July at G4BUEs QTH attended by members (except G3KDB and GW3KGV) and G3PDL, President. Ticket sales and arrangements for the Lords dinner were discussed. G3LTV was nominated 1998 President and the recipient of the 1997 Al Slater, G3FXB, Trophy was agreed. The accounts will be audited for the next meeting when 1998 subscriptions will be reviewed. Acknowl-

FOC CALENDAR

5 Mauds Open House 28 Deadline for November N/Sheet November - 160 and 20m (G3KTZ) 17 Deadline for FOCUS 33 25 Deadline for December N/Sheet December - 30 and 15m (GW3KGV) 6 Florida Dinner 27 Deadline for January N/Sheet January 1 1998 Subscriptions due 27 Deadline for February News Sheet February G3WGV and K5VT Spratly Island 6-8 Marathon 17 Deadline for FOCUS 34

1998 PRESIDENT

3. KF2AT: EI5BW, F3AT, G4RMV, K5DQ, VE3DZZ (+W9NN, G3LIK). 3. W4PM: G3IEW, K1JD, N2UU, W4DGJ, YV1NX. 3. G3YXX: G3WUX, G4HZV, GWFJT, W3NZ, VE7NH. 2. VA3LK: EA8CN, G3IEW, K4EF, N4VJ, VE7BS (+WIAK). 2. N3BB: G3WGV, JA1NUT, K5NA, K9BG, N4VJ (+DL4CF, W9GIL, W3NZ, N3RS, VK2AYD, VE/ G4VXE). 1. K2VCO: DL4CF, G3WGV, K1RH, K2VUI, W2MUM (+W2AMS). Invitations have been sent to N4KG and GORH 6. A45ZN: VK8AV. 6. W1XU: W6OV. 5. GCHV: G4PKD, EI5BW, G3LIK, G4YNU, G3IY, W3NZ. 5. K7OQ: K7UOT, K4LTA. 4. K5AX: EA8CN, W4QM, K5DQ. edgement of a donation of $150 from the West Coast Dinner was made and a feasibility study for the re-writing of the FOC History Book is to be made. Current membership stood at 475 and 17 Associates, and temporary Associate membership was granted to K8OHG. The new club ties had been obtained and were ready for sale to members at 7.50 plus 1 postage (or $15 to W2MUM). A suggestion from G3WGV for an Internet FOC Web site was agreed in principle and his proposal to research and offer options for committee was accepted. A suggestion from G3JUL to change the Marathon scoring system was declined. There will be a vacancy on committee in October when G4HZV stands down and a volunteer to organise the 1998 annual dinner will be needed.

Starred List

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION by G3MX

4. K2ZR: WB2YQH, W2AMS, G3RXP . 4. K1SM: W1AX, K1AJ, W1BIH. 4. WL7E/7: ZL1MH, G4ODV. 2. VK6VZ: VK6LW, G4ODV, VK2BJ. 1. G3PDH: G3RXP . G2FIX (73): Silent Key. G3JHF (965): Silent Key. G4DJX (1441): new address - 5 Meadow Close, Marshalswick, St Albans, Herts AL4 9TG; tel 01727 869652. GIHM (1519): new address - 10 Hunt Hall Lane, Welford-on-Avon, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warks CV37 8HF; tel - 01789 750606. VE3/G4VXE (1623): new address - 907 - 105, Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 2B3, Canada. VK8AV (1526): new telephone/fax - 89 528 560. W1OT (1280): new address - 125 Montrose, Williamsburg, VA 23188, USA; tel - 757 564 7388.

Amendments

Additional Nominations

CALL BOOK INFORMATION by G3MXJ

COMMITTEE MEETING by G4BUE

G3KDB, G3KTZ, G3LIK, G4BUE and G4HZV are due to retire from Committee in October. G3KTZ, G3LIK and G4BUE are willing to continue serving but G3KDB and G4HZV have decided to stand down. Nominations for members willing to serve on committee, in particular to take over the organising of the Annual Dinner from G4HZV, are invited, and should be sent to me by 28 August, please. My apologies to Elliott, W2MUM, for omitting him from the Marathon results on page 2 of FOCUS 31. He should have been shown:North American Open Section
85. W2MUM 333 0 68 92 85 22 0 0 0 4 23

COMMITTEE by G4BUE

1997 MARATHON by G3LIK

Everyone below Elliott is moved down one position.

THE 1997 WINDLE TROPHY

Score updates can be passed to any G3LIK, G3MXJ, G4BUE or any committee member. An asterisk against the call indicates the score has been updated this month. Table shows the scores received by 1000z 30 July 1997.
GM3POI* 343 W1HMD* 307 K4KQ* 292 K9QVB 292 W4QM* 284 G3KTZ* 264 N6NT 251 K4LTA 248 W9GIL 236 G3LIK 235 W3NZ* 223 GIVZ 222 G4ZVJ 222 K5DQ* 210 W6DU 209 K4EF 207 DL6TQ* 202 W3VT 188 W6CYX 187 W8KJP* 186 W4FOA 185 G3ZEM 182 G4PKD* 180 SM5COP*180 K9BG 178 N3SZQ* 178 DL4CF* 177 G3KDB* 174 W1BIH 172 G3IY* 171 YV1NX 170 G3JZV 169 G4HZV* 164 N1BB 164 KT5X* 163 G2FDF 160 OZ4UN* G4ODV* K7UOT* GBQV* OH2FOC K1RM* ZL1MH N4AR K7UOT G4RMV F3AT* W9GW ZP6CW* W4DGJ* NP3G AC5K* W1WEF G3VMW 160 157 155 153 152 150 150 146 144 143 142 141 139 138 136 134 134 131 JA7SSB 131 W8XM 131 G4SFO 130 G3MXJ* 127 GM3JKS*127 OK1KT 127 AA5DX 126 AA5TN* 126 G3IEW 113 NP3F 112 K5XK* 111 ZL2AGY* 111 G3LHJ* 110 G3RCU 109 G4BUE* 109 K6RA* 109 G3MCK 107 N4XR* 107 G8VG* 106 W2DX* 106 U3DR 104 G3RVM* 103 G3VCN* 102 LA1IE 102 W5GEL 101 DK4LX* 100 G3HZL* 100 G4BJM 100 K6TS* 99 PALOU* 99 ZL3GQ 99 K1JD 95 G4DJX* 93 N4LS 93 W6THN 93 G3KKQ 92 VE3DZZ N4TO G3IZD EA8CN* W6GTI G2HKU* W1NV GEBW W1HT W2GW* K6DC W4CK* W6IJ W8AV K4FU K6OU G3TXF 90 89 88 87 86 85 85 84 84 84 80 80 80 80 75 75 73 KC7V* G3WGV K4BAI GM4SID PABW W4TAJ GM3UA K4DL WB2YQH* GW3KDB VK8AV YO4PX WA4SNI G3CWW W9NN* G3NOH* GW3SB* 73 72 72 70 70 70 69 69 69 68 68 68 67 66 65 64 64 GM3SID G3JJZ OZ1LO W1HL G4XRV W1FJ* GW3KGV G3NKS OX3XR* OH2EA* LA3FL* W1RM G4FNL LA2UA W4DHZ KP4L VE3AR 63 61 60 58 57 57 56 56 56 51 50 49 46 45 45 44 43 SM6AOU DJ9SB K2VUI K1MEM* G3SXW ZL1AH GIHM* GM3HUN K1AJ VK3MJ W2MEL N4WJ W8VSK JP1BJR W1AX ZS6AL K4LT 42 41 40 38 34 33 28 25 20 20 18 11 11 10 10 8 7

The new club ties are now available for 7.50 plus 1 postage from Maud Slater, or for $15 from W2MUM. They will be available at Lords. Overseas members who are either booked or known to be attending are: 4X1FC, 5B4/ G3LNS, DL4CF*, DL7AKC*, F/G4BLX, K1RM, K2VUI, K5NA, N4AR*, N4TO*, OZ1LO, OZ1LQH, VE7NH, VK2AYD, W1FJ*, W1HMD*, W6CYX, WA1G, ZL3GQ* and ZS6QU. Those indicated with an asterisk are on the list for June and Chriss Friday Party - see below. June and I have found it increasingly difficult to organise our Friday Party the last two years due to the amount of work and finance involved, and have reluctantly decided to make 1997 our last one. We have also decided to restrict the numbers to 50 (which seems appropriate for the 50th annual FOC dinner!). It is therefore more important that you let us know you will be coming this year - the list is already up to 21! It is suggested that members travelling from London catch the 11.02am train from Victoria Station arriving at Billingshurst at 12.8pm, ask for a cheap-day return. We will be waiting at the station to drive you the short distance to Highcroft. Fast trains to London leave Billingshurst at 38 minutes past the hour arriving in London 68 minutes later. Those travelling by car are invited to arrive by 11.30am to help with transportation from Billingshurst. We look forward to seeing you at our new QTH.

CLUB TIES by G3LIK

LORDS 1997 by G4HZV

LORDS FRIDAY PARTY by G4BUE

MEMBERS NEWS by G4BUE

AC5K: Wes was QRV from Galveston Island (NA-143) 26 July in the IOTA Contest and made a few contacts with his mobile set-up handing out a multiplier to the Deserving. DJ3KR: Jurgen made over 1000 CW QSOs during his recent BV3/DJ3KR operation and found 17 metres the best band for Europe. He has since been QRV as JW/DJ3KR again. DL7AKC: Jens counted DJ2BW, DL6TQ, DJ8FW, DJ5ZN, DL4CF, G3XAQ, G3VMW, G3ZEM, G4ZVJ, G3SXW, SM3EVR, K7GE, PALOU and OK1KT at Frederikshafen. He and DL4CF will be attending the RSGB HF

Convention and Lords again. EA8CN: Andy visited Rune, SM5COP, and Heide during his recent visit to SM to rebuild the summer-house. Back home he was surprised when N4TO answered his CQ on 20 metres, followed by a QSO with W1NV, using his balcony antenna, as he had hardly heard any North American stations on it before. GIHM: Ursular has moved to a mobile home and has a G Whip mobile antenna on the ground. G3LPN was visiting in the middle of July to help put up a G5RV for her. She will attending Lords, and the Florida Dinner with Terry, N2DANs xyl. G2FIX:I regret to report that Bert passed away 23 July. Our condolences to his family. G2HKU: Ted added a home-brew stub to his HF6 vertical for 6 metres and finds it works about the same as the G5RV (both via an MFJ 949D tuner). G3JHF: Members will also be sad to know that Les passed away 6 July after a long illness. Our condolences go to Joyce who many members have met at Lords and the Harrogate Get-Togethers. G3LPN: Phil writes to express his concern over the circulation of membership information to nonmembers. He has recently been pursued by someone who, presumably, aspires to becoming a member of FOC. Phil has been subject to a string of phone calls and letters of a fairly personal nature from someone with whom he has only had passing contacts on the air and who he has never met in person. It turned out that these resulted from the person in question having obtained a copy of the FOC Call Book. Although Phil accepts that it has been common practice for sponsors to help their nominees along with copies of a Marathon or Windle lists, Phil feels that, while FOC has a role to play in the development of newcomers to the hobby, we should be meticulous about those that we might encourage to become members of FOC, particularly where this might involve handing out detailed membership information. G3VCN: Paul will be in W4 land for three weeks from 31 July and will be QRV with a small rig borrowed from W4CXH. G3WUX: Having finally got his Windom antenna erected, Terry says he should be more active now, particularly on the LF bands. He has heard good reports of the IRC filters compatible with the Kenwood TS940S and wonder if anyone can point him towards a 500Hz filter for each IF - I think I read on the Internet recently that IRC were recently purchased by a company in California; can one of our USA members confirm this, please?

G3WGV: John and Vince, K5VT, are part of a large CDXC DXpedition to Spratly Island in February 1998. G4DJX: Alans experience of moving QTH made ours fade into insignificance! On the morning of the move Sarita went into labour and while Alans parents were sorting out the move, he was at the hospital where new daughter Emma was born in the afternoon. Alan says, you could say we had two arrivals in one day!. G8VG: Pete is QRV on six metres with a IC756 and has worked G4UPS, G3UOF and OZ1LO. He now wants an all-mode rig for two metres. K1JD: Betsy and John visited KT5X while holidaying in New Mexico in June, and found he also shares an interest of sky observing with Fred. K5AQ: Don was to be QRV ES5AQ 18/30 July. K6TS: Tom had six-bypass vessels installed at the end of May and is recovering well. LA3FL: Per was joining his ship, the Crystal Symphony 16 July in San Francisco and his first two cruises are to Alaska. He will be home again at the beginning of November. N3SZQ: Joci is HA7PB until 23 August. PALOU: Lou and Dave, K1ZZ, may be QRV from the BT1IARU station in the IARU Region 3 Conference hotel in Beijing 4/16 September. VA3AH: Chas is using 100W to a vertical in the corner of the first floor deck of their new bungalow, not wanting to risk TVI with the Alpha amplifier! Chas is looking at the feasibility of selling N2DANs Mercury paddle manufacturing rights on behalf of Terry, and invites anyone interested to contact him. Chas and Denise will be attending the Florida Dinner again. VE7NH: Doug will be bringing his daughter to the UK for Lords. They will make visits to Poole, Long Eaton and Scotland, and Doug will be QRV from G3YXXs QTH, particularly for F9VN, G4XRV, OY1CT, ZS6QU, G3PQC and G3MRC (now 5X1P), his missing Augies. VK2AYD: Dave, Dee and a friend will be in the UK 3/16 October, including Lords, and then to W6 and KH6 on their way home. W3NZ: Congratulations to Fritz on winning five gold and one bronze swimming medals in the Senior National Games in Tucson, AZ in the 8589 age category. ZL2AGY: The ZL6A gang made 800 QSOs during the IARU HF World Championship and Tony did all the operating on 40 metres. ZP5CW: Doug says his new TS570S is much superior on HF CW than the TS8780.

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