We are looking at a few things to keep you all informed and engaged. The CW nets are proving popular & DX net is takjng off too. There is a new message and file sharing group at CRAhub on groups.io which is becoming popular and we are looking at holding virtual meetings on Skype. Please message a committee member for details of Skype if you are unsure and how to join the group meetings.
************************ NEWS UPDATES. ................. DX NET COUNTRY LIST NOW AVAILABLE IN DOWNLOAD SECTION. ....................................... LATEST 28/3/2020 DX NET. The DX net will continue on th Fridays from around 14:30 on 20 metres 14.215 (if nothing heard please use DX cluster to check GX3CO) or tune up/down. During the net, Kevin M0KEB will be net controller. IMPORTANT INFORMATION for future DX nets we will also be using 145.350 + or - as a net information frequency. The reasoning behind this is as follows below. On 20 metres and possibly other frequencies that will be used, it will often be probable that participating stations will not be able to hear net control, but could well hear the DX station. If this were to be the case then that particular station could be advised on 145.350 when it is his or her turn. INFO 26/3/20 As from Monday March 30th, there will be two new weekly nets, both on 145.350. Monday at 14:00 Friday at 10:00, both will carry on as long as people stay on but 16:00 on Monday and 12:00 on Friday would be the cut off time. ****************** The Thursday 80m net will now run every week until further notice. ------------------------------- CRA CW Programme Why not take the chance of the seclusion at home during the current pandemic situation to have a go at learning CW? Lots of members have expressed interest since the idea was mentioned a week ago and Liz G0MDL and Jonathan G0DVJ are putting together the idea of how it will work. Liz is collecting a list of members interested. It will consist of some on-air sessions on 2m FM - maybe three slots a week - possibly before or after some existing club nets as well as other times in the day, as well as suggested practice inbetween using lcwo.net online from any device or computer. People with 2m SSB/CW capability will also be able to take advantage of the existing CRA practice nets on Sunday and Monday evenings if they wish. If you are interested: 1. Let Liz G0MDL know. 2. Download and read the article by Jonathan G0DVJ about learning CW which he recently updated to v5. 3. Join lcwo.net and make a free account using your callsign as username. 4. On lcwo.net, look for the CRA CW Programme user group and apply to join it. Jonathan will authorise membership asap. 5. If you are a complete beginner: - print out a copy of the CW character sounds at http://aa9pw.com/morsecode/morse-code-alphabet/ - say the sounds and the character to yourself multiple times for 4 or 5 characters at a time to gradually commit the sounds to memory. The order we would like people to learn them from scratch is the one that lcwo lessons also use, so everyone does the same thing. The first 5 to learn would be: K M U R E 6. Watch here, look at the forum threads on the CRA subgroup of lcwo.net or join the on-air nets to find out when the on-air practice will begin. Please see downloads section for Morse Code Advise and download it. Thanks Jonathan G0DVJ ......................... UPDATED 25 03 2020 .......... Following the first session on Tuesday at 8-9pm, the remaining sessions this week will be 6.15pm on Wednesday and Thursday. Also a session on Friday at 4pm. The sessions in future weeks may settle at different times when there are no contests to clash with after club nets. More info soon. It is appreciated that not everyone will be able to make every net, but we have enough participants to be able to keep the momentum going between us. Jonathan has also set up a questions page on our LCWO forum, where Jonathan, Bruce, or myself can answer your queries. Keep checking back for new updates ========== Club DX NET. In order to encourage more members to contact other countries, and get the points necessary for some our new awards, while some of us have more time at home, we will be running some nets where the stronger station running the session can contact the station, and pass them round to make contact with us lesser mortals. We are also reducing the number of countries required for our first award, in order to encourage more take up of our certificates. Kevin M0KEB, and Jonathan G0DVJ have offered to run the nets. Watch this space for further information. An email will shortly be circulated to members. 73 Liz G0MDL :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: CRA HUB GROUP Many people are either cautious or suspicious of social media and therefore avoid it at all costs. The disadvantage of that is the exclusion of information that should, and could be easily accessible to all. To that end Garry & Mark have set up a groups.io, club members only, group where members can post topics and messages that can be seen by members only. Please click on this link to gain access to the group wher the CW message and link to the CW advice download is available. 73 Garry M0MGP & Mark M0LTG Good to see members signing up to the .io hub, welcome to you all. PAST EVENTS Wakes Colne Observatory Click here HARIG Quiz Click here RSGB 144MHz May contest results June meeting - "Bite Size Radio Topics" JULY - CRA Field Radio Weekend 19th/20th AUGUST 2017 Naze Tower Activation weekend 20 August MULTI-DF SUNDAY. Details here Special Event | 
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| Past meeeting Programmes | Check our Newsletter section for details of past meetings |
| Date | Event |
| January 16 2020 | Hank Garretson W6SX dB for free. By Skype |
| 13 February 2020 | Logging Past & present - Garry M0MGP |
| 19 March CANCELLED | Direction Finding Roy G4JAC |
| 23 April CANCELLED | Inter Club Quiz at CRA |
21 May CANCELLED | RSGB Propogation Video With Q & A |
| 18 June 2020 | T. B. C. |
| July 2020 T B A | QO 100 SatteliteBuild Mark M0LTG |
| August 2020 | Observatory Meet T B A |
| September 2020 | Medley of presentations Portable set ups |
| October 2020 | Annual General Meeting |
| November 2020 | TBA |
| December 2020 | Christmas Party Bring a plate |
CW FACE TO FACE SESSIONS.
Current CRA Training Course Dates: |
NB: | * Intermediate and Advanced courses are available to CRA members only |
For more information, or to register your interest in attending a future course please contact the Treasurer
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CURRENT
STOP PRESS
All meetings and events CANCELLED due to COVID 19 until further notice
FUTURE
CANCELLED
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J O I N U S
During the year we hold regular club meets with various topics being covered on the third Thursday of each month. We have a Field Day in July (ask committee member for details) an evening at The Observatory in August, an Inter Club Quiz with HARIG & 2 Special Event Stations at The Naze, Walton.
Did I mention we do TRAINING too!
WANT MORE DETAILS
CONTACT VIC M0VLL
CLUB CONTESTS
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NEXT IS the CC series
80CC DATA April 23rd
FT4 April 27th
80CC SSB April 15th
80CC CW April 6th
ALL ARE 20:00--21:30 UTC
Please contact Garry, Mark or Herbie if you need any help setting up logging or would just like to have a go but not sure how.
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COLCHESTER RADIO AMATEURS
AWARD LAUNCH
Herbie G6XOU receives 10,000 grid confirmed award.
Keith G6NHU receives 2 awards.
We are pleased to announce that CRA is now offering THREE awards, Postal Counties,
Grid & DXCC Countries awards.
Each award is available in worked, verified or heard (for swl's) and in various modes.
The awards will be managed by Herbie G6XOU and Garry M0MGP, an example below.
Criteria & Claim Form HERE.
THESE ARE OPEN TO ANYONE NOT JUST CRA CLUB MEMBERS
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