Comments for The Radio Officers' Association

Comment on ROARS Nets by David Ellis

David Ellis — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:41:35 +0000

Net report for Thursday 16th May.

On net tonight: 2E0MPC/Mike, G3LAA/Tony, G4ISP/Dryden, G4NCZ/John, G3OGP/Robin, MI0RPT/Richard, G3OND/John, G4LFU/Tony, GW3YAF/Dave.

G3LAA/Tony now back from Turkey, thanked 2 ROARS members for 20m DX nets while there. Interesting theme started by 2E0MPC/Mike re repairing ships antenna from bosuns chair. Conditions very good tonight on 40m, with lots of 599s.

Comment on The AGM 2013 by Joe Duffy

Joe Duffy — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:26:39 +0000

Excellent AGM weekend again. They seem to get better every year. Congratulations to all the organisers
for a job well done. Since Tony S doubted by duel nationality I will produce 2 passports next year.
Just one complaint I must make. The return bus driver from Chelmsford to Stanstead Airport would not accept my Seniors Bus Pass so I informed him I would be voting for Independence next year at the referendum and stopping the deliveries of North Sea Oil for his bus thereby putting him out of a job!!.
Keep up the good work lads. Looking forward to next year.
Best regards, Joe Duffy.

Comment on ROARS Nets by David Ellis

David Ellis — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:01:45 +0000

Net report for Thursday May 9th.

Announcements: Attended Charles/G0GJS funeral today. Beautiful ceremony, very moving, and gave our colleague a good sendoff.

On net tonight: 2E0MC/Mike, G4NCZ/John, G0CHV/Mike, G4LFU/Tony, G4KJD/Ian, EI3ER/Tom, G0LKI/Walt, G4ISP/Dryden, G3YAF/Dave (immediately after net closed).

2 members reported QSOs with Tony/G3LAA currently in Turkey on 17m. Condx were excellent tonight on 40m, with most reporting rst 599. Newby Ian was in great form with good jokes – he says the master on one ship was so strict they even had to wear uniform in bed!

Comment on ROARS Nets by David Ellis

David Ellis — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:12:02 +0000

Net Report for Thursday May 2nd.

Announcements:

1. Charles passed away in the early hours last Friday, funeral next Thursday 9th May 1300 LT at All Saints Church Chelmsford, ROA will be represented.

2. ROA AGM last weekend was fb, all business completed ok, lots of fellowship and fun, 2014 AGM same venue (Chelmsford).

On Net tonight: G4LFU/Tony, EI5CA/Tom, MI0RPT/Richard, G0LKI/Walt, G4KJD/Ian, G3OND/John, EI3ER/Tom.

Conditions were spoiled by a contest, but otherwise signal reports were good. Welcome to G4KJD/Ian, from Devon, new to the ROA and the net.

Comment on ROARS Nets by David Ellis

David Ellis — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:46:41 +0000

Net Report for Thursday April 26th.

Announcements:

1. Charles has suffered a stroke and is now gravely ill.

2. The AGM falls this weekend in Chelmsford.

3. Unofficial results of MRD. The ROARS team were overall first worldwide with the most QSOs.

On net tonight: MI0RPT/Richard, G4LFU/P, tony, G0LKI/Walt, EI3ER/Tom, EI5CA/Tom, G3OGP/Robin, G4ISP/Dryden.

Condx were very poor, with high QRN. I couldn’t hear G4ISP, but heard MI0RPT working him just after the net closed.

Comment on Braid by Roger Lancaster

Roger Lancaster — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:43:50 +0000

Hi Roger. A mutual friend of ours, your namesake Don Chapman, would like to contact you. His email address is searover.don@gmail.com and he lives in Canada.

Regards, Roger Lancaster.

Comment on Emergency Rxers by Bruce Morris

Bruce Morris — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:09:21 +0000

I have a spare MONITOR Rx, going cheap! Can bring it to the Chelmsford AGM.
Likewise a LIFEGUARD A/A Rx.

Comment on ROARS Nets by David Ellis

David Ellis — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:13:59 +0000

Net report for Thursday April 18th.

Announcements:

ROARS team MRD Scores. 121 ship stns, 26 coast stns, 53 other stns. Congratulations to the ROARS team members.

On net tonight: 2E0MPC/Mike, GD4RGR/Ken, G0CHV/Mike, MI0RPT/Richard, G0CHV/Mike, G4LFU/Tony, G3OND/John, EI5CA/Tom, G4NCZ/John, EI3ER/Tom.

I suspect a couple of men forgot that this week saw the start on our summer QRG of 7017 KHz +/- QRM. It was a big improvement over 80m, which, now that the evenings are light, is very poor.

Comment on Maritime Radio Day (MRD) 2013 by Malcolm McLeman

Malcolm McLeman — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 03:57:27 +0000

Looking forward to seeing you throughout MRD Tony…

Malc/F5VBU/GM3UIN ex TA2/G3UIN

Comment on Is there anybody out there? CQ CQ CQ. by Malcolm McLeman

Malcolm McLeman — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 03:52:52 +0000

Bruce if you’re not already a member of Shipsnostalgia I suggest you join.
Plenty ship to ship to-ing and fro-ing on there with it’s own radio section.
Finding info on the Salvor should present little or no problem either.
73

Malc/F5VBU

Comment on The Long Silence Falls by Tim Strickland

Tim Strickland — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:10:54 +0000

My thanks to all involved in the putting together of The Long Silence Falls. It is an excellent tribute to our former lives. Tim Strickland G4EOA

Comment on Ships, Radio Rooms and Radio Officers by Michael McDonald

Michael McDonald — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 21:19:33 +0000

Regarding the Signing On Document pictured above concerning the mv Dunstan. I served on the Dunstan from 3rd September 1955 to 15th August 1956. I believe that the call sign may have been GYFK. My disappointment was that during the period that I served on the Dunstan it did not go up the Amazon, but it did a lot of pleasant coastal hopping along the Brazil coast and nice visits to New York.

Comment on Collective Call signs by Roger Bentley

Roger Bentley — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:07:11 +0000

GGSC was used by Admiralty it meant SHIPS IN COMPANY – this I believe referred to groups of warships at sea. I last saw it a hard copy book issued to ships and think it was titlled BRITISH SHIPS CALLSIGNS it was an official publication. i certainly recall seeing it on the Derbyshire n 1953-53. Does anyone else remember this publication.? Cheers, Roger

Comment on Is there anybody out there? CQ CQ CQ. by BGraham

BGraham — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 21:05:19 +0000

Wow! this reminds me when in trepidation , I fired up the Oceanspan , first trip, on the old Pennyworth for a TR to GNF and got an immediate reply!. Many thanks guys and will keep in contact. Very interesting info indeed esp about 490 Kc/s, makes restoring the Salvor viable and I don’t need to scuttle back to 1910 and start winding copper!. er, I changed the Savor 2 O/P valves to more modern types called QV 06/20 and rewired the bases. Lots more gravy!. Think the drive is faulty but will try a dummy load and poke about.
Coos Bay is only 45 ft long and the Wire aerial is a ‘Z’ with a 20ft whip at the end, a 100 turn tapped loading coil on the wheelhouse roof and a sq yd of copper earth plate bolted to ships bottom. It all worked well and GLD, EJK and even GNI were worked.
Reckon the RX could do with new hard valves and capacitors replaced but MIMCO made these things to last! pity about us!!.
So QSL on that OM’s, my Email addrs is coosbay1968@gmail.com give me a call.
73′s Bruce

Comment on Is there anybody out there? CQ CQ CQ. by Tom Frawley

Tom Frawley — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:01:01 +0000

Hi Bruce, ref the valves, I’m sure you can get them from many a UK supplier, just google radio valves UK with KTW63 and the list of suppliers pops up. Good luck with the restoration of the Salvor are the 807′s ok don’t have the circuit diagram but following the diagram in the Oceanspan you may well find similar circuit and point to the problem, its many a year since I faultfind on that rig.
Sole surviving sparkie in Ireland? You are surely a collectors item! Sparkies were Ireland’s greatest export at one stage, there are hundreds about but only so many wish to advertise themselves with the ROA cannot understand that. The ROA was formed for precisely that! Get a members list from John Garner and see who is close to you.If you can make the agm in Chelmsford better again. Communication? I suppose apart from calling Valentia on IF you can choose ham radio they have an allocation on 490kHz and possible fire up the rig on that. Plus the h/f spectrum. Aerials, do you have a long wire/whip in situ and want changing Danielson and Mayoh have a few good ideas check that out. Earthing plates on the hull is that a major difficulty.
Nice to meet you Bruce. From Tom in Galway. At sea in the 70′s, bulkers and general cargo, ashore in the 80′s.

Comment on Is there anybody out there? CQ CQ CQ. by Peter Gavin

Peter Gavin — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:25:20 +0000

Hi Bruce
Sounds like an interesting situation there. As it’s just 40 years since I changed my last set of valves I can’t help personally but was wondering if you have tried contacting the Marconi Veterens Association? I am sure that there must me a treasure trove of information available through it’s members. Incidentally I think we may have some shared maritime connections and I would like to QSO via email if thats OK?
Regards
Peter

Comment on MV London Statesman by Jeremy Phillips

Jeremy Phillips — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:36:28 +0000

Tony
Many thanks for the information, much appreciated.
I sailed on her in the early 70′s when she was attacked by the Viet Cong in Vietman, and nearly sunk her and I even go to send SOS, the full monty, alarm signal as well.
Walked off the bridge wing into the lifeboat as she had a bit of a list!
Best wishes
Jeremy.

Comment on MV London Statesman by Tony Selman

Tony Selman — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:17:21 +0000

Jeremy.
London Statesman was GLPA.
Regards
Tony

Comment on Radio Rooms: Chas. York collection by Chas

Chas — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 20:34:45 +0000

just noticed the Gallant Tiger – yes, she was sold and renamed KYLA. Couldn’t find a pic of G.Tiger. Also no photo of Torrent/5LUR, but have pic of twin sister Royal Eagle, same shack.

What I found was that radio rooms on FOC ships were in general bigger than on UK vessels, and more often than not adjacent to the cabin, unlike UK ships where cabin usually on a different deck! I remember on Colorado Star, to answer the auto alarm I had to take a long trek by torchlight along an outside deck, up 2 flights and through the wheelhouse/chartroom to get to the shack! No fun on a cold night

Comment on The Long Silence Falls by Chas

Chas — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 20:17:49 +0000

A really good value for money purchase! Many great witty stories, can’t praise the team enough for their leviathan efforts in putting it all together.. Mni Tks QRX Vol2?

Comment on Marine Radio Day (MRD) 2013. by David Ellis

David Ellis — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:41:30 +0000

I replied directly to Tony, but here is the QSL Policy for MRD:

Only QSLs via the buro and EQSLs will be used. We do not ask for QSLs, but, if asked, agree to supply one. I have a good stock of the latest ROA QSL cards and will do the donkey work if you provide the following: callsign, band, date, QSA/QRK, name. Preferably in an .adif file, but any format accepted. The same goes for EQSL.

There is no special QSL card for the event, but the new ROA QSL card is fine and will do the job nicely.

Dave.

Comment on Marine Radio Day (MRD) 2013. by Tony Sedman

Tony Sedman — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 15:29:48 +0000

Hello Dave,
Many thanks for listing me to use the call MX0ROA for the Maritime Radio Day (MRD) 14th-15th April 2013.
I have notified CEPT management Istanbul. Turkey about my intention to operate as MX0ROA with the provisio that the call is prefixed TA4/MX0ROA.
I’m taking the YAESU FT 450D and the I-PRO Traveller Antenna plus a few ancillary bits and pieces.
Had to download the CEPT Rules in P/L Turkish for the benefit of Customs at the airport and local Police. As you know Turkey is a CEPT country and they (radio amateur management) obviously think it prudent to have a copy of the CEPT conditions handy for those officials who may ask for it. Otherwise I may end up festering in a Turkish jail accused of being a spy !
What do we do about QSL’s, I guess there will be a special QSL-card for this event?
73 Tony Sedman. G3LAA.

Comment on ROARS Nets by Tom Frawley

Tom Frawley — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:03:36 +0000

Congrats Clive and welcome to the website

Comment on Maritime DVD’s by Tom Frawley

Tom Frawley — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:15:39 +0000

Excellent link, thanks Tony.
Aside, . . . now that we have a video clip from Paul ref radio in Jamaica, perhaps others will send suitable video from their time at sea.I remember so many guys with cine cameras, there must be ‘merchant navy’ material out there.

Comment on ROARS Nets by Charles Shelton

Charles Shelton — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:51:11 +0000

Well done Clive. Will look for you. 3538 is currently prime and am using the call GX0ROA.
73 de Charles G0GJS

Comment on ROARS Nets by David Ellis

David Ellis — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 10:54:04 +0000

Clive, Congratulations on the new ticket, only one to go! Will QSX for you on 80m. I am often on 40m during the mornings as MX0ROA, and condx are best then – hope to work you. Also, if you can do it, the new 60m band is excellent during the mornings for UK skip.

73s,

Dave.

Comment on ROARS Nets by ROA Administrator

ROA Administrator — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 10:41:31 +0000

Greetings the net. for information .This is clive evans passed RSGB intermediate exam . new callsign is 2E0CPF taking advanced 5th december. Listening to sked on thursdays cannot always be on air due other commitments thursday evenings. however will try and qso when possible . rig is still 10w . qth Sale South Manchester. usually alot of qrm ON 7017 so will qsx on the 3 mhz freq.
so hopefully qso soon.
best wishes

Comment on The AGM 2013 by Marconi Veterans Association » Radio Officers Association

Marconi Veterans Association » Radio Officers Association — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 16:57:42 +0000

[...] http://www.radioofficers.com/news-2/news-the-agm-2013/ [...]

Comment on The Long Silence Falls by Tom Frawley

Tom Frawley — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 21:27:34 +0000

Tony you’ll be glad to know that the Irish have received their delivery! Guess they were shipped on the slow boat. But a wonderful read. It will certainly generate a huge interest across the navy circles. No, I won’t mention a follow up! I can just imagine the amount of work that went into this, wow.

Comment on by Tony Selman

Tony Selman — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 21:26:05 +0000

Tom, I will get on the case for you.

Comment on by Tom Frawley

Tom Frawley — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 20:40:09 +0000

Hmmm . . . I don’t seem to have received my copy of the book as yet (3.1.13) Must give a reminder, perhaps Santa’s vehicle got a puncture crossing the Irish Sea.

Tom EI3ER

Comment on The Long Silence Falls by Charles Shelton

Charles Shelton — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 13:16:51 +0000

My two copies received December 19th. Looks a superb read. Away for the holiday but will settle down for THE READ on return. A colossal effort by all involved….Very many thanks. Charles Shelton

Comment on by Geoff Valentine

Geoff Valentine — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 17:27:51 +0000

I would just like to take this opportunity of thanking all the members who have put together “The Long Silence Falls”. It is as usual concerning the ROA, an extremely well produced and professional book, well done.

Wishing you all the very best for the New Year.

Geoff Valentine
G0UVX/ZC4VG

Comment on by PCragg

PCragg — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 14:50:10 +0000

I’ll second that – some fascinating stories. In David Barlow’s account of his introduction to life as an RO, I picked up on the comment that he wished he had been taught to type. I well recall being taught to touch type at Norwood Technical College (NTC); the keys were covered over and we were sent Morse code to transcribe. The idea was that we would directly correlate,for example, the Morse sequence dot dash as little finger of left hand in the middle row without associating it with the letter A. This is a skill that has never left me, and I’ve been grateful for my typing ability ever since. Especially now that we all use keyboards for everything. So I was surprised to read that typing was not taught at Colwyn Bay. Was NTC unique in this, or was it a later update to the syllabus? (I was there in 1958-ish.)

Talking of NTC, I was told that unofficially if one wanted to contact other ex-NTC ROs while at sea one would call for GNTC. Did this ever happen, or was it wishful thinking?

Phil
G3UGK

Comment on Brush up on Your Aldis – read Morse Code from Space by Charles Shelton

Charles Shelton — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:32:43 +0000

Time is 22:10:30 GMT. Check trajectoey South West/North East.

Comment on Training Schools by John Bell

John Bell — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 05:35:31 +0000

The full name and address of the Manchester Brookes Bar college was:-
The College of International Marine Radiotelegraphic Communications
Overseas House
Brookes Bar
Manchester 16

Regards – John Bell 057

Comment on ROARS Nets by Charles Shelton

Charles Shelton — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 15:17:26 +0000

Prime calling QRG is now 3538 khz. as condx. change. 7017kuz. now secondary.

Comment on ROARS NETS by Charles Shelton

Charles Shelton — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 15:13:06 +0000

FB Clive and congrats. Condx not ideal at moment. Prime calling QRG now 3538.
73 de Charles Shelton G0GJS

Comment on ROARS NETS by clive

clive — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 10:41:38 +0000

this is clive evans – noted all reports .fyi passed rsgb intermediate new callsign
is 2e0cpf for now. will try net again next week but alot of qrm my end. qth sale south manchester and using a 10w tx .
bfn

Comment on Emergency Rxers by GHulse

GHulse — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:55:01 +0000

Hi Clive.

Just to let you know I am now member and will be in touch. Re our meeting last Sunday at the shack liverpool

Graham

Comment on ROARS Nets by Charles Shelton

Charles Shelton — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 10:49:56 +0000

Thanks for the ‘drop down’ Tony, its a great help

Comment on ROARS Nets by David Ellis

David Ellis — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 07:39:05 +0000

I like the new drop-down. Well done to Tony! And a good idea from Tom.

Comment on Ships Call Signs by Kris Dunham

Kris Dunham — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 21:02:38 +0000

As a PS GJQD fits for Horsted as it’s the callsign allocated to her previous incarnation as Moorwood in 1945. Courtsy of Signal Letters of British Ships 1959.
Cheers
Kris

Comment on Ships Call Signs by Kris

Kris — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 20:42:03 +0000

Hi Graham,
Free Enterprise I is listed with the callsign GIAR in my copy of Lloyds Registry for 1975-76. ONo. 5120752 built 1962-4.
Cheers
Kris

Comment on ROARS NETS by David Ellis

David Ellis — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:54:16 +0000

Thanks, Tom, for the report. For me, condx were much better than the previous week.
73s,
Dave
G4AJY.

Comment on ROARS NETS by Tom Frawley

Tom Frawley — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 21:15:31 +0000

ROARS Net . . . Oct 25th 2012 . . . Tonight we had the following on 7017
G0GJS Charles, Chelmsford, EI5CA Tom, Shannon, EI3ER Tom, Galway, G4AJY Dave, Southend, G0CHV Mike, Morecambe Bay, G4NCZ John, Manchester. I (EI3ER)could hear everyone fine from Galway, 55 to 59 but I think there were problems with some of our net. QSB and QRM from the EU. We moved down frequency to 7015 and this helped with the QRM so hopefully we didn’t lose anyone who was in the noise calling. John G4NCZ gave low QSA to Charles and QSP was required but I did notice that everyone was on QRG and filters worked fine.Tom’s EI5CA new paddle is getting a good airing, it does take a bit getting used to from the up/dwn key but once used to a paddle very hard to go back to up/dwn again. Charles finished off the net about 8.15 p.m and took a quick call from OK1CRX who wondered what all the action was . . . . . . End net report.

Comment on ROARS NETS by Tom Frawley

Tom Frawley — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 20:41:37 +0000

Ref the net on 18 Oct 2012, it is a good idea to mention the QTH of the operators for QSA
G0GJS/Charles . . Chelmsford
G4AJY/Dave . . . Southend
G0CHV/Mike . . . Morecambe Bay
EI5CA/Tom . . . Shannon
M6MPC/Mike . . . Glossop
EI3ER/Tom . . . Galway

Comment on ROARS NETS by Tom Frawley

Tom Frawley — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 20:23:13 +0000

ROARS nets . . From Tom/EI3ER using a Window, 100W. . . Thursday 18th October, we had a busy net on 7017Mhz this evening. Even though lots of QRM, adding filtering managed to keep out most of the continent. Charles G0GJS is the net controller and the call-ins included G4AJY/Dave, EI5CA/Tom, M6MPC/Mike, G0CHV/Mike. Dave had problems QSO’ing with Charles as the skip distance covered their QTH’s, they live quiter close. There may have been others who called in, but QRM conditions may have kept their calls to QSA1 or nil. Those stations that could not hear each other, we managed QSP which kept all in contact. EI5CA is using a new paddle and apologised that he is not completely au fait with it just yet. We looked out for a new member ROA Jim, G3KAF but sorry Jim nil hrd, perhaps next week. One problem that we can face from time to time on the net is that we are not all on the exact spot frequency, so when we switch on filtering we can lose one or another. However its not a major issue and we all enjoy the net each week. So, . . that is the W/T net report from 18th Oct 2012.

Comment on The Long Silence Falls by Charles Shelton

Charles Shelton — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 14:48:04 +0000

Hello Ian. I have ordered 2 copies some weeks ago direct from John Garner. Just providing this comment for reference. Charles

Comment on More Radio Rooms by Tony Selman

Tony Selman — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:48:34 +0000

Very disappointed to see Mr Valentine is not wearing a shirt. Obviously Bibby Line standards were slipping by this time and not the Rig Of the Day that one would expect from a future ROA Web Team member. Certainly would not have happened in the companies I worked for.