RAFARS Monthly Newsletter

MEMBERSHIP NEWS.

RAFARS welcomes the following new and re-joining members:
1840 Albert SWL
4988 Jim GM4NNH
4989 Rodney VA7FB
4990 John GD4RAG

SILENT KEYS:
3845 Eric G3FKI

CALL-SIGN CHANGES: None notified

RAFARS SUBSCRIPTIONS APR 2021-APR 2022

The Treasurer would like to express thanks to all members who have paid their subscriptions so promptly. Those who haven't are reminded that subscriptions were due on the 1st of April 2021.
A payment form was included in your QRV Journal. Membership is still £14 a year.

VACANCY AND DESPERATE FOR A RAFARS CONTEST MANAGER

If any member is interested in taking over as Contest Manager, please contact the RAFARS Secretary by email at Secretary@rafar.org
In the meantime all Contest correspondence is to be sent to contest@rafars.org
As Contest Manager can be a demanding Council Post it would be ideal if a Member of the Contest Team could take the job on.

FALKLAND ISLANDS AMATEUR RADIO LICENCE VP8

In 2020 the Falkland Islands Communications Regulator sought to revalidate all extant Amateur Radio licences. Notices and advertisements alerting amateur radio licence holders to the need to revalidate their licences were published. It has come to the attention of the Communications Regulator that, not withstanding the advertisement of the need for amateur radio licences to revalidate their licences some existing licence holders failed to do so. Given this, the Communications Regulator has decided, exceptionally, to permit one final opportunity for all historic amateur radio licences to revalidate them before the 31 Aug 2021.
Also see RAFARS website under Latest News. for full details.

RAFARS WEEKLY ZOOM NET

RAFARS will be running an experimental weekly Zoom Net on a Friday between 1400-1800hrs. This has been requested by the membership and it has been agreed to run the net to allow members to get together for a virtual chat. This net is not meant to replace the traditional nets but hopefully will allow for the pursuit of one of our aims which is communication.
The Net controller will vary depending on who is available during the period.

Further details will be posted in the RAFARS website Latest News section and joining details will be published in the Member Area. If you have not yet registered for a password for the Member Area, then see the website for details.

AIR DEFENCE RADAR MUSEUM, RAF NEATISHEAD GB2RAF RAFARS PERMANENT S.E.S.

GB2RAF will still be operating from the QTH of G4PSH as per Ofcom NoV Licence 1-68D2038 until such times the Museum re-opens in May 2021. (Awaiting Government approval). Antenna Tests and SES Shack Covid19 Rules to be assessed and approved before the station goes back on the air from the museum.

RAFARS CONTESTS, RALLIES WITH RAFARS STANDS AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS IN 2021.

Owing to The Coronavirus. Events may be cancelled, check before you attend or take part.

All Contest Volunteers/Queries and Contest log sheets to Contests@rafarg.org Contest Rules can be found in your RAFARS QRV Journal, QRZ Call Book or on the RAFARS Website: https://www.rafars.org/contests/

RAFARS QRV JOURNAL

Please send your news and items for inclusion in the QRV Journal to QRV@rafars.org
Do not forget RAFARS QRV JOURNAL requires content from you, the Members.
Without your submissions QRV will not have enough content to keep it interesting. Why not pen an article? The membership would no doubt enjoy reading about your experiences in Amateur Radio; illustrated by your photos that would that would be an excellent bonus. Please continue to send your stories, articles, events, pictures, personal profiles, your shack and letters.
Digital jpg photos should be sent as attachment to Word documents. Please do not import them into the text. Send to the QRV Editor at QRV@rafars.org
If News Desk receives any correspondence/pictures/stories that are not relevant to the News Letter they will be forwarded to the editor to be considered for the QRV Journal.
Talking QRV is available in the Members Area of the RAFARS Website https://www.rafars.org/tqrv/

COUNCIL MEETINGS 2021

• 15 June
• 7 September
• 16 October (Not a council meeting, AGM & Dinner)
• 16 November

Until further notice, the RAFARS council meetings will be conducted via video conference at mutually agreed dates and times that may or may not correspond with the dates previously published. Members who wish to attend a virtual Zoom council meeting should contact G0DNI by email at webmaster@rafars.org at least 24 hours prior to the meeting to confirm the time and to provide an email address for joining instructions. Please note that RAFARS is unable to offer technical advice on the installation and use of the Zoom video Conferencing software. Further details for Zoom can be found at https://zoom.us

RAFAC (ROYAL AIR FORCE AIR CADETS) GB80ATC MARKING 80 YEARS OF THE AIR TRAINING CORPS

(Now referred to as the Royal Air Force Air Cadets - RAFAC)
Ofcom have approved SSES GB80ATC - 80 Years of the Air Training Corps with NoV to David M0SKT (RAFARS 4789).
Operating from the 05 Feb 2021 to the 4 Feb 2022 (Pending when Operators available). Permission has also been obtained for RAFAC Staff (CFAV) who hold a valid full UK Amateur Licence to operate the station from their home QTH by approval of David M0SKT only.
The Station will be operational on 2m and HF Bands on Voice Data and CW depending on the Operators choice of Bands and Propagation at the time.
Due to the Current COVID19 conditions there will be NO QSL Cards issued out however details are available on QRZ.com and QRZCQ pages.
Note: During the period of the NoV Ofcom may change policy relating to the NoV and working from home depending on the COVID19 Pandemic situation.
Any information relating to the RAFAC or if you are interested in joining as a member of staff contact Terry at RAFARS News Desk who is a Squadron Radio Officer and HF National Net Controller with the RAFAC. Also see www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets If you are interested in joining the RAF Halton RS, please contact Malcolm G7VRT QTHr, or the Chairman, Derf G8ZGK, QTHr in RAFARS Call Book and on qrz.com. The E-mail address is RAFHaltonRS@outlook.com or look up G1RAF on qrz.com.

RAFARS QSL BUREAU

As of 23/04/2021 outstanding QSL Cards await SAEs- NIL THIS MONTH.
Send 2nd Class Stamped SAE to Andrew 2E0NDZ RAFARS QSL Bureau Manager, at 44, Bishops Close, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire. CV37 9ED. alternatively, contact Andrew by Letter or E-mail to inform him of what you wish him to do with your cards.
If nothing is heard your QSL Card/s will be destroyed 6 months after arrival and your call sign removed from the NLs List. Cards will not be forwarded to the RSGB Bureau after the 6 months.

NEW MEMBERS ROYAL AIR FORCE AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY.

All Radio Amateurs, no need to be Ex RAF, are invited to apply for RAFARS Membership providing that you have an interest in the RAF, Military aviation and are prepared to help the society achieve its published aims and objectives.
Categories of membership are listed on our website. Check your eligibility for membership by logging onto https://www.rafars.org/join Print the application form, fill it in, enclose the appropriate fee* and then post it to the General Secretary for approval and processing.

*To transfer funds by telephone/on-line banking, RAFARS bank details are available from our Treasurer, Michael M0MJG by email to Treasurer@rafars.org or telephone 01305-816362.
If you require more information, please contact: The General Secretary G4DQP, RAFARS HQ, DCAE Cosford, Wolverhampton, WV7 3EX. Tel: 01902-372722 (Answerphone only) or e-mail Vince at Secretary@rafars.org also on www.qrz.com
HQ will be checked at least twice weekly by G0TBI for mail & messages. Emails are handled daily at home.

RAFARS NEWS DESK

Send your RAFARS EVENTS at LEAST one month in advance for the Monthly RAFARS News Letter. The cut off date is the 23rd of the previous month or send a News Flash to Terry G4PSH, RAFARS 306, e-mail address Newsdesk@rafars.org or by letter see QTHr, International Call Books or see www.qrz.com. A News Flash has to be authorised by a RAFARS Council Member.

• Newsletter is produced by Terry G4PSH RAFARS News Desk.
• Editor- Gary G0DNI.
• E-mailed Bcc as a PDF Attachment & e-mailed direct to 74 Members by News Desk (at your request). If you require the NL by Royal Mail send 2nd Class Stamps to News Desk.
• Uploaded on to RAFARS Website by Gary G0DNI Webmaster@rafars.org under News Letters.
• First Sunday of the Month by News Desk G4PSH at 1900hrs (local) on RAFARS Net 3.710Mhz.