RSGB Clubs Newsletter
October 2013Please find below a link to the RSGB Clubs Newsletter for October 2013, which as always we hope you find useful and informative. Please also take time to read the letter below from Roger, G3LDI, concerning the GB2CW Morse Scheme.
73
Mark Allgar, M1MPA
Commercial Manager
Radio Society of Great Britain
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? GB2CW Morse Scheme
I am writing in my capacity as the RSGB Coordinator for the GB2CW Morse scheme.
Whilst we have a willing band of hardworking volunteers who participate in the scheme, we need more help if we are to maintain and develop our base of good CW operators.. In trying to turn that situation around, I would like to see a GB2CW scheme in every Club in the UK thus giving every newcomer to the hobby the opportunity of experiencing the benefits of CW. I know that several Clubs already operate some Morse training without participating in the GB2CW scheme. However, including their activity within the GB2CW scheme would add tremendously to the profile of GB2CW. It would not alter the method that you use, just make it more available, and the times and frequencies known too. Let me explain.
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Background
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GB2CW was instigated a number of years ago to allow prospective amateurs to complete their Radio Amateur Examination to allow them to use HF. Volunteers helped prospective licensees attain their 12 wpm test which was then mandatory.
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When Morse proficiency at this standard was no longer required to obtain a licence, the scheme more or less disintegrated. A few carried on tutoring but very little publicity appeared and it was in 2006 that G3LDI questioned the viability of revising the GB2CW scheme. The rest, as they say, is history.
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We now have a working scheme with between 35 and 40 transmissions on a more or less even split between HF and VHF from a team of volunteer tutors once again. Not only that, but we have a list of volunteer assessors that can invigilate at an organised Morse test with a very attractive certificate being available from the RSGB. This is endorsable for speeds up to and including 30 wpm.
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Your club
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In order to improve the scheme’s coverage it would be good to see every Club in the UK, affiliated to the RSGB, have their own GB2CW scheme. It only takes an hour per week on two metres FM to put something very worthwhile back into the hobby that we all enjoy so much. It can be hard work, as we have found, to try to persuade newcomers to learn Morse and gain a certain standard, but it is also very rewarding when newly-proficient operators take to the air,? It is not just newcomers to Amateur Radio, of course, who might benefit from a local scheme, and clubs may find demand from unexpected quarters of their membership.
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How it works
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As co-ordinator for the GB2CW Project, I issue a letter of authorisation to each volunteer. The information needed in order for me to do that is:
1 RSGB membership number.
2 Full name and address and contact Email and/or telephone.
3 Day, time and frequency you will operate.
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You can use either HF or VHF. The schedule is in the RSGB Handbook or Yearbook, and on the website?? where you will find full details of the scheme.? If it is a local Club project aimed at members, then VHF, 145.250MHz FM would be the best operating frequency. You can have interaction between you and the class, using your own call and use GB2CW when transmitting the Morse to the class. I find this is better because you do attract a regular class each week and build up a knowledge of their progress, plus it becomes a fun thing to do with the banter that goes on too.??
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The GB2CW Project will always welcome Assessors as well as Tutors, so if any of your members feel they are competent enough for that, please encourage them to apply. Ideally we need the same number of each and some regions are severely depleted! ??
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I would like to offer a vote of thanks to those already doing this worthwhile job and I do hope that you carry on. Those Clubs that do not have a GB2CW scheme running, can you please discuss this at a forthcoming committee meeting of your Club so that we can really make some huge strides in the UK at promoting this mode. I am always open to suggestions as to improvements and/or other things that we can do in order to achieve the results that are so needed.? Likewise, if you have any questions please email me and I will respond.???roger@...
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Thank you for reading this anyway and thanks for discussing it too. I look forward to the deluge of emails from new volunteers and assessors!??roger@...
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73 de Roger, G3LDI,? RSGB GB2CW Coordinator. | 
