Don began with a look back at some early SDRs (Software defined radios),  their parameters and some of their short comings with regard to frequency and operations.  He pointed out that the easiest way to locate an SDR connected to the internet was to use the popular online search engine.

Don had two laptops for the presentation, one connected to the internet and the other presenting the video projected programme

Don said that one of the most popular on line SDRs is the KiwiSDR. He pointed out that the KiwiSDR is different from other SDRs. It is a standalone device that attaches to a local network and can be accessed through the Internet. A browser is used to connect to the user interface. Most other SDRs generate raw IQ data and need to be connected directly to a PC or laptop running OS-specific  installed software.

It is possible to access over three hundred KiwiSDRs right now at the site rx.kiwisdr.com The owners of these Kiwis have made them publicly available. Once on the page, you will see there are quite a few SDR sites to choose from. Most will show the aerial in use: it’s this writer’s opinion that some are not very good at real DX.  However, some stations have full size dipoles and one in the US has a 500 foot Beverage pointing toward Europe. Station VE6JY at Lamont, Alberta Canada has 17 aerials (by my count)  and you can find him easily as he’s second on the list.

At the top of the SDR list you will see a green button marked ‘KiwiSDR Map’ which will take you to a map of the world showing all the KiwiSDR stations around the world!  Believe me, you can spend many hours searching these receivers!

A former member of this society paid us a visit to explain the ins and outs of LoTW. Fred started by explaining the usual problems sending and receiving QSL cards and why someone might not want to do it.  Mainly, the cost of postage and the long wait for a response. Other then collecting cards because they look nice,  they can be used to gain awards from the ARRL  (American Radio Relay League), the equivalent to our RSGB.  The first award, the DXCC Century Club is awarded for working and confirming radio contacts with one hundred different listed countries. Of course, back in 1935 when this award was first offered, it was much more difficult to gain the necessary one hundred than now. In 1945 the award criteria were altered and along the way some ‘countries’ were dropped from the list, while new were added.

Fred showed pages from the LoTW  website  (www.arrl.org/logbook-of-the-world  ) that includes all the information you need to get started. You do not have to be a member to install and use the small programme (called TQSL) that does the necessary authentications for you when you upload your contacts.  As other radio ops upload their logs, your contacts can be cofirmed without sending cards. Updates to the programme can be installed over your existing TQSL programme when they are released.

There followed a live demonstration of accessing the website and the items that needed to be filled in to get started.

After the demo, Fred signed up three new applicants, saving them the copying and sending of their licence and ID through the post.

This evening, the meeting was a general get together for a chat.  During the meeting, Dave, G4FKI did a rig check on Paul’s, (G1GSN) ICOM rigs that are used to transmit the GB2RS news on Sunday mornings.  Using a communications test set they measured the performance and checked the power and deviation,  Now, ‘all sorted and adjusted’