Watsonian Reports - 1970s

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May 1970, p.23-24 – RADIO CLUB

Since our last report, the Radio Club has been actively engaged on the H.F. Bands once more. As a result of some alterations to the school, the Radio Shack was "Out of Bounds". At this time we decided that a new transmitter was required.

     After viewing various models, we agreed upon a Sommerkamp FT-DX 150, SSB transceiver. To raise the money for this, we collected wastepaper which was later sold to a scrap paper merchant. When the requisite amount was reached we bought the transmitter and any day one can hear the school pulling in the stations on the 10 metre band.

Unfortunately, we do not yet have access to the Shack where we can use our three element beam aerial. At the moment we are using an aerial strung over the Junior Quadrangle from the Woodwork Room. Using this we have been able to contact most Continents, but we expect much better results from our beam.

On higher frequencies, we are continuing with our weekly "sked" with GM8BPL at the Mary Erskine School for Girls. We recently, bought a Four over Four Slot Yagi aerial to send stronger signals to Mary Erskine's but we have not yet been able to get this put up.

At this point we must thank Messrs. Dixon for their donations of components and waste paper. Although we did not have any. candidates for the December session of the Radio Amateurs' Examination, we wish good luck to our three candidates for the May session..

We must especially thank Mr. T. Simpson, GM3BCD, and Mr. J. Millar, GM3XUY, for their unfailing help in making our Radio Club what it is.

.M. J. S. Cooke.

 

November 1970, p.82 – RADIO CLUB

The Radio Club has again had a very successful year. Another member, Howard Orgel, has obtained his transmitting licence, call: GM8DUT, and two others are “in the pipeline”. The Centenary Station GB3GWC was  a great success, operating on all bands from 80metres to two metres, and the associated exhibition of home-constructed equipment and a demonstration of colour television also went well.

     Thanks are due to Mr Simpson GM3BCD, Mr. J. Miller GM3XUY,  and Murray Cooke GM8CWH, for organizing the activities of the club, and also to all those who contributed to the wastepaper collection.

    H. Orgel; N.C.

 

May 1972, p. 32 – RADIO CLUB

Since our last report three more members have gained their amateur radio licences, these being Edward Bain, Roger Manners and Robert Dalgleish. They now hold the callsigns GM4AIS, GM3ZVL &. GM3ZVB.

     The weekly "sked" with GM8BPL at Mary Erskine's School for Girls has now been extended to include GM8EWQ at Daniel Stewart's College, and GM3ZWO at George Heriot's School, although the schedule has not been maintained by us in recent weeks due to reconstruction of some of the equipment.

     At the present time a fair number of boys are engaged in building simple V.H.F. radios as a group construction project to encourage pupils to take an active part in the practical side of electronics.

    The Radio "shack" is open to boys every lunch hour, the time being spent in mending radios for the Blind, attempting to mend televisions, making use of the oscilloscope recently donated to the Radio Club, as well as many other ploys.

     A party of boys is going to Cockenzie Power Station during the Easter Holidays and it is hoped to arrange other visits during the Summer Term.

     Finally we must thank Mr T. Simpson GM3BCD, for the help and advice that he gives so freely to members of the Radio Club.   R. Dalgleish.

 

November 1972, p.87-88 – RADIO CLUB

The Radio Club this term has seen an increase in transmitting activity on the short waves since the installation of a more efficient aerial system on the roof of the school. Contacts have been made with all parts of the world. An upsurge of interest in teleprinters has resulted following the acquisition of many old units.

     Three club members all holding transmitting licences (Robert Dalgleish GM3ZVB, Roger Manners GM3ZVL and Edward Bain GM4AIS), went on a Successful Sanson Award expedition touring round various British Counties in a van containing a large amount of radio equipment. A great many contacts were made, all on VHF, with amateurs in all parts Of Britain. Mr. Simpson is to be thanked for his help and encourage­ment given towards the organisation of the expedition.

It is hoped that by next session Angus Skinner will have obtined his amateur radio licence so that the club transmitter may be kept in operation.   R. Dalgleish.

 

May 1974, p. 32-33 – RADIO CLUB

There has been a general increase in activity, since last session, and a.number of items of equipment, including a two metre transmitter, have been under construction or repair during the lunch-time meetings.

Three. members have recently obtained their amateur licences, these being Gavin Brown, Roger McKinlay, and Kenneth Ovens. They now hold the call signs GM8 JOG GM8 IQR, and GM8IRZ respectively. The transmitter in the shack, kindly lent to the club by Mr Miller, GM3 XUY, is therefore in use most lunchtimes, and a number of contacts have been made, despite problems with the aerials.

As for the future, a visit to the B.B.C. has been arranged, and we also intend to hire a few films of general interest, on the topics of radio and electronics.     K.J.Ovens.

 

June 1975, p.30 – THE RADIO CLUB

The Radio Club started the year with a rather unsuccessful but enjoyable portable expedition to the Knock near Crieff. A large selec­tion of homemade two metre equipment was taken on the trip but despite this and the large number of operators present (five in all) only two stations were contacted.

In December Alan Campbell and Malcolm Nimmo both success­fully passed the Radio Amateurs Exam and Malcolm Nimmo now holds the call sign GM8JVZ. This brings the total number of operators in the club to four with two more members sitting the exam in May.

During the first term the V.H.F. receiving set-up was improved with the purchasing of a converter to feed the clubs EC 10. Mr Simpson kindly constructed the converter and contacts have been made as far away as Glasgow and Dundee.

In the second term the club held a junk sale which raised over five pounds, the best sale the club has held for many years.

Plans for the summer term include another portable expedition and hopefully by the time this appears in print the new radio shack wall will be well under construction.

On the whole it has been a very successful year with the number of operators still increasing and the club once again becoming involved with amateur radio around Edinburgh. Once again we should like to thank Mr Miller for running the club and Mr Simpson whose experience and advice the club heavily relies on.

R.A.McKinlay.

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COMMITTEE: 1974-75

President         ...         ...         ...         Gavin Brown

Treasurer ...     ...         ...         ...         Kenneth Ovens

Secretary         ...         ...         ...         Roger McKinlay

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New photograph (2022) of 1974-75 club members from Ken Ovens,
ex-GM8IRZ/GM4FBX:

 

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