Report from Sandringham Charity Horse ride Sun 10th May 2015

A big turnout out of around 220 riders for this one. The route had been changed from previous events and was changed again on the Friday before to cater for some irrigation pipes!
No medical or other incidents of note to report.
Radio wise we ran a good net on 2m with 5W to our usual low slide-up mast with localised cross-band talkthough to allow the flexibility of control location.
We also set up a HF net on 80m which worked for most apart from the control location. It turns out the voltage convertor that is used to stabilise the battery outlet is an excellent localised HF noise generator – back to the drawing board with that one!

Thanks to the members that were able to assist on this one.

Report from West Norfolk Countryside Ride Sunday 29th March 2015

Thank you to all the members that turned out to support this charity horse ride around the Houghton estate. We had just under 150 horses taking part on one of the most challenging days of weather in a long while. Heavy rain showers, hail & lightning led to some very extreme conditions for the riders. Thankfully no injuries to deal with.

The set up of 5w VHF  to a low mast dual band collinear worked faultlessly throughout – even the lightning avoided it!!!

Houghton Control

The control position!

Houghton Mast

Mast & crossband repeater

Hougton View

Some of the line up

Group AGM Sunday 02Nov2014

The groups AGM took place on Sunday 2nd November.  Officers of the group were re-elected and remain unchanged:

Chairperson & Group Controller: G1SCQ -Kevin

Vice Chair & Technical Officer: G4OKH – Martin

Treasurer: M3MPD – Larry

Secretary: M3JKO – Joey

 

Item discussed included control trailers, equipment, progressive licence training, voluntary sector coordination & the 146 to 147MHz NOV.

 

 

Report from Sandringham Charity Horse Ride 12 Oct 2014

Thank you to the members that turned out to support this event on a foggy morning!  Weather improved and the organiser had a record number of just over 260 riders taking part. There were couple of riders off horses but these were dealt with promptly.

Radio wise we used the usual antenna and radio arrangement with 5w on 2m fed from a 70cm talk through to allow a flexible control.  We also tried HF on 3.663MHz to a couple of locations but there was S9 of noise at control which made it very challenging.

Group AGM Sun 2nd Nov 2014

The groups AGM will take place at the usual venue of the Scout Hut at North Runcton on Sunday 2nd Nov at 14:00. This is the venue where King’s Lynn Amateur Radio Club meet and is easily accessible from the A10 or A47. The agenda will be sent out to registered members.

Sandringham Charity Horse Ride Sun 12th Oct 2014

We are looking for volunteers to help provide safety cover at this multi-distance horse ride. Some locations are coverable by hand-held and the others require a little bit more in terms of equipment. More details of the event can be found on the events page here.

If you are free to help please contact the group controller.

Report from Sandringham Walk Ten Sat 30th Aug 2014

Thank you to all the team that turned out to assist at this new event for us. Around 650 people took part in this event through the grounds and scenic drive at Sandringham.

We put up a small mast with good coverage to the whole of the area from 5w at 145.200 MHz.  One of our operators travelled with British Red Cross to attend a couple of minor medical incidents on the course. Once again local knowledge proved very useful.

Event coverage for us was completed by 21:00.

 

Sandringham Walk Ten Sat 30th Aug 2014

We are looking for volunteers to help provide safety communications cover for this charity 10km walk. Timings and locations to be finalised but will be in the Sandringham area during the evening and given the potential terrain 4×4 operators are useful but some of the road crossings will be easily accessible by normal vehicle.   User service will be Red Cross.

Please can you let the group controller know if you are available to assist.

 

Deials of the event can be found on the vents page here.

Report from EGB Horse Ride Ringstead 21/22 June 2014

Thank you to all members that turned out to assist with safety communications at this event. No issues were encountered with riders either day with thankfully none getting misplaced!

We used the usual set up of small mast and dual band collinear with 10w on 145.200MHz. This covered well on Saturday but on Sunday we encountered some difficulty getting through to CP3. However a well place station on Peddars Way crossing near Fring relayed messages on VHF.  We also attempted a low power HF test on the Sunday but sadly the 5W on small antenna at control was not quite enough to get through to CP3 even though the received signals were good from there on both 80m and 40m.