World Amateur Radio Day

18th of April is World Amateur Radio Day. Anybody have any special plans for the day?

For me firstly it's my wedding anniversary, so I won't have a whole lot of radio time available. Also have to drive one of my sons to Gatwick in the morning. I'll take the uv5r in the car, probably be my only chance of any sort of contact that day

Hi Neal,

I had a listen out for the W.A.R.D special event call signs whilst I had a chance yesterday but conditions were a bit 'meh'.

Hope your day was a good one and congratulations on your wedding anniversary.


All the best,
Victor

Had some on ft4/8 with the added bit on there call yesterday but as you said Victor it was a lot 'meh'.

hi i worked that ward station yesterday 5 9 hope others have cheers paul m0kbd 73s

Thank you Victor. Once duties were done in the morning most of the day was pretty quiet, which was nice, and went out for a meal which is something we haven't done a whole lot of over last couple of years.

I didn't have any QSOs that day. I did have a little listen, but as per the last few days the conditions haven't been great to my QTH and I've made very few contacts. Whenever I have heard and tried for stations I have been beaten by /QRP suffixers as the wanted station pulls in all the QRPers. It feels everyone is tagging that on at the moment. I just sit and give a little wave to my radio, mic unkeyed, saying "I'm QRP too, but I'm calling abiding by my licence conditions. If you answer me and ask I'll let you know my power".

Mild rant aside, just wondered if their were any ham activities anywhere that people may of gone to? Any club stations open to visitors or other sorts of open days? Just seemed like a good day for that sort of thing to take place.

No worries Neal, glad you had a good day mate and a meal out sounds like just the ticket treat for you both.


Radio conditions have been pretty poor/strange of late, maybe something to do with the CME that hit. (?)

I think with our late Easter the WARD was going to be a back burner event with many concentrating on Easter celebrations and getting together with family or short breaks. I know we seized the opportunity to have family over as none of us have been able to do that for the couple of years before.

Easter is a little earlier next year so let's hope that World Amateur Radio Day is a little more exciting next time.


"QRP Only" can be a bit of a misnomer Neal and I understand your rant about it, I've been scolded in the past for using 10 watts then lectured about 5 watts being true QRP! But then as you mention many more will add "/QRP" just to get the contact regardless of what power they are using.

To be fair there are some decent operators who will give the opportunity for 'Foundation', 'portable' and 'QRP' only to call in giving them a chance of some log book entries. There's a really great guy Seamus in Ireland, (forget his call sign), who makes such calls and I love to hear it. Even that can lead to a 'pile-up' of QRP stations calling in and I've yet to break it yet!  (Hoping the 'new' antenna will help once I get that sorted.) But as you know yourself, when conditions are ripe those measly 10 watts can do a fantastic job on their own merit.


Amateur Radio, funny old game.....I wonder if cooks argue about pastries, breads, cakes, etc. or encompass the interest as a whole?

Well put Victor. My rant was only a minor one. I've played enough games and other activities in past, and still do, where many people play to their own rules or interpretation of rules.. or guidelines, that, as long as I am not really competing with anyone other than with myself I can remain happy enough with what I am doing to continue doing what I am doing. <that made sense to me just about

Looking forward to the short skip starting proper, might even get a QSO with you on 10m with your new antenna  I'm still struggling with conditions on 10m currently. Came home at lunch and and two Lebanon stations were romping in. I called for over half hour but never got back to either of them. I have talked with one of them previously too. Felt a little despondent when I went back to work.

Has CT ever done anything for WRD in the past? Maybe we can do some sort of activity or net for it next year...

Ha! Ha! I know exactly what you mean there Neal.

Some short skip would be handy to catch 'locals' and I'm sure we'll catch each other some time on one of the bands mate. Last year my rig wasn't working, this year it was the antenna issues but now I'm finally there.....I hope.


I shouted for Joe, OD5ET like mad on 10m today too. Didn't get him either!

Just been listening to the 80m RSGB Club SSB competition tonight - sheer madness. I think half of them are wasting time just shouting at each other to QSY from 'their' frequency. Wall to wall it is.


Sounds like a plan there with a World Amateur Radio Day event next year and I'm not sure if CT has done anything like that before. Be great to do something even if only for fun such as getting as many contacts on any or as many of the bands for the day. Be better to do something in the spirit of the day rather than simply glorifying it.

....I need to write this down somewhere so I don't forget!

Brilliant idea there Neal. (You might have to remind me next year, 'cos I'll write it down then lose the paper! )