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LRS member Brian Flynn GM8BJF talked about The Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) at the meeting of the LRS on Wed 25th March 2015.
The club is now the proud owner of a 6GHz HP-8753C VNA thanks to the generosity of Norrie GM1CNH. Brian GM8BJF is the custodian and "minder" of the instrument. His talk covered the operation of the VNA along with some background on transmission line measurements and a demonstration of it in use. Several members brought along items to be measured.
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Brian Howie GM4DIJ talked about and demonstrated Antenna Modelling Software at the LRS meeting on 11th March 2015.
Brian writes: "The design and building of antennas at one time required vast testing ranges with expensive equipment. Analysing and optimising antennas once took many hours of painstaking measurements, hand calculation (if you understood the maths) and modifications with no real guarantee of success.
Modern software now allows you to determine the pattern, feed point impedance and even the SWR of your antenna system before committing to cutting metal or hoisting wires thus avoiding expensive or time consuming mistakes". Full report.
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Malcolm Hamilton GM3TAL talked about "Using a Vertical Dipole Array on a Scottish Beach" at the LRS meeting on Feb 11th.
The vertical dipole array (VDA) has become the de facto antenna of choice for many DXpeditions to remote oceanic islands. The reasons why these antennas work well were discussed along with a brief review of the way that 2 element arrays operate.
Malcolm wanted to discover whether the VDA would work in other locations and to understand at first-hand what is needed in practice for successful operation. He described the practical construction and use of VDA antennas with Nick Henwood G3RWF (shortly after his talk to the LRS on Nov 26th) on the shores of Loch Fyne during the CQWW contest in November 2014. Malcolm reported on the outcome and offered hints for others who might be tempted to use this interesting antenna.
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The subject of the LRS meeting on 25th February was that mysterious place where we are told we shall be archiving all our digital "stuff" in the future. LRS President Andy Sinclair MM0FMF talked about The Cloud, what it is, why it's used and whether it will rain all over your data. Not a simple subject!
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Our good friend Geoff Crowley MM5AHO braved snowy roads on January 28th to talk about his Maritime Mobile adventures off the west coast of Scotland in 2014. Geoff, along with Mike Eccles, GM3PPE, and Matt Crowley MM1EUI, actually activated Little Cumbrae Lighthouse after having tried for 2 years in a row. Geoff and Matt then spent a week activating various other lighthouses and exploring more West Scotland coastal hideaways including the isolated West Loch Tarbert on Jura. Geoff's talk also included his crew's entry into the notoriously difficult Scottish Islands Peaks Race earlier that year where over half the boats failed to complete the 3 day race which covers 3 islands, 3 mountains, and strenuous sailing between Oban and Troon.
Click for Full Report with lots of photos and a video.
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