SDWS MEETINGS & COVID 19

…. an update

At the time of writing this post (mid March 2021) we are yet to decide on a firm date for when we can resume our “in the flesh” meetings in Sheffield. It is now one year since we met at the Rutland Hotel in Broomhill, Sheffield, and most of our local members have not seen each other since! Instead, we have been having video conference meetings in the form of a Sunday morning chat at 11am, using the entirely free Jitsi video conference software, which works like Zoom and Webex but does not require passwords. There are no time limits and apparently a very generous allowance re numbers of participants. The Jitsi meeting is only available to bonafide Society members so if you wish to take part you will need to either look for the weekly reminder on the members Facebook page or email the club secretary for the link.

We also run a weekly 2m FM net on 145.475MHz. You do not need to be a club member to join in so if you are interested in SDWS why not call into the net at 8pm each Wednesdsay evening? Due to the hilly nature of Sheffield not all members can hear each other so be prepared to have a little difficulty hearing some of the net members. If you hear callsigns such as M0RPK, G8BMI, 2E0YTV, 2E1WCB, G5TO you will have found us!

At the moment the greatest proportion of club activity takes place on our members Facebook page. This is really a very active Social Media outlet for SDWS and is well worth joining Facebook if for nothing else. Here you can make new friends as a member, get the answers to radio problems, especially when they concern antennas and software.

We are also very active in the contest field … especially the RSGB weekly 80m Club Contests, the weekend VHF/UHF RSGB Contests in the VHF Championships and the AFS Superleague and the Autumn Series of RSGB 80m Contests.

If the Covid regulations allow it we hope to put on a VHF Field Day station at our contest portable location at Wharncliffe (IO93FL) on the 3rd/4th July and the RSGB SSB Field Day in early September, from the same location. We are most grateful to the Wharncliffe Estate for giving use permission to use their Wharncliffe Chase site for all our portable contesting. No other clubs or individuals from other clubs are allowed this privilege

SO WHAT OF MEETINGS AFTER THE COVID RESTRICTIONS ARE FINALLY RELAXED FOR GOOD?

The committee have had preliminary chat about this and at present we have no firm decisions to take. We have a number of scenarios that we could undertake..

1. Revert back to preCovid meetings… ie a formal meeting for talks at the Rutland Hotel on the first Wednesday of each month, plus social meetings in the Rutland Bar on all other Wednesday evenings.

2. For the coming year have club talks online only using video conferencing. The RSGB are presently using this system very successfully. We will need someone in the club to organise and co-ordinate the video meetings. PLEASE OFFER YOUR SERVICES! In addition we would meeting in a centrally based pub for social evenings and/or meals.

3. Look for a cheaper meeting room than the £50 a night room we rented at the Rutland. If anyone knows of such a room (free if possible!) which we would need for 7.30 to 10pm one night a week please email the club secretary Peter, G3PHO (email address can be found on his QRZ.com page).

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS AS WE APPROACH THE LIFTING OF COVID RESTRICTIONS.