10th December 2005 Changed Return Coding. 2003, added GB2MT & 2MT to Title. Added the extract from GX0MWT Log signed by Princess Elettra. Amended the E-Mail Address for 2MT & GX0MWT on this page.
100 Year Marconi Celebrations.
Saturday, 8th December, 2001 in
Chelmsford Town Centre
Chelmsford Borough Council requested
CARS to produce a Special Event Station in the centre
of Chelmsford.
CARS arranged with the RSGB that their mobile special
event station mounted in a lorry would be active by the
Shire Hall in the High Street.
It is called GB4FUN, for further details see the
front cover of RadCom for November and the write-up
on pages 10 and 21 of December's issue.
The lorry turned up early on the 8th December and
was positioned in the pedestrian precinct in the
middle of Chelmsford. Members of
CARS got it going on the air and introductory QSOs
were made with known stations. The station using GX0MWT
operated formally from 1000hrs.
Geoff, G3EDM from his Little Baddow location made
contact with VO1S, Signal Hill, Cabot Tar, Newfoundland
on 20 metres at 1047 (0717 their local time). Wayne,
the operator had travelled there to operate to the UK
for this event as it is really just a rocky outcrop.
He was using a 260 foot dipole and 100 watts.
He was joined by VO1NA, Joe (1) from St Johns at
1111 and VO1FB, Joe (2) both running 400 watts.
Princess Elettra in the mean while was being
transported around Chelmsford in the Council limo to
unveil a number of Road Signs which proclaimed that
"Chelmsford was the birthplace of radio".
Princess Elettra turned up on time and after
launching the Council's Book on Marconi climbed
the steps into GB4FUN escorted by CARS Vice-President
Charles, G0GJS.
Looking on is Ken, G7RFT (centre).
Charles passed the microphone to
the Princess and although there was a high local
audio and RF noise her message could be heard in
the quiet Canadian locations.
Her Message was
"In celebration of the occasion of the
Marconi Centenary of the first Atlantic radio
transmission, the Princess Elettra sends greetings to
the people of Newfoundland and to all who have benefited
from the invention of Guglielmo Marconi, my Father".
There was a lot of media interest and many members of the public came forward and said how they had worked for Marconi over many years. One said he had met both Marconi and the Princess and his photograph was still hanging in the GPO Tower, London.
Looking on is David, M0BQC, Secretary to CARS.
Our thanks to David, M0BQC, Tony, G4YTG and Colin, G0TRM who turned out in Victorian Gentlemens atire.
They were assisted by Chris, G0IPU and Martyn, G1EFL and many other CARS Members who explained about Amateur Radio to the many persons who took an interest.
Thanks to the RSGB for providing the GB4FUN lorry and to Pat, G0SBQ for suggesting we have it.
We will QSL all Contacts with a special QSL Card, however we do not require cards sent to us - thanks.
Our QSL Manager for 2MT and GX0MWT Direct QSLs is G3PEM, QTHR. Usual procedure is requested.
Additional Photographs in the
Precint
Wednesday, 12th December 2001 Marconi
New Street Celebrations.
The Marconi Company, in cooperation
with CARS staged an Amateur Radio Station at its
premises in New Street, Chelmsford. This is the first
building produced in the world for the production of
Radio Equipment and was built in record time.
Marconi commercial equipment operated
into a vertical aerial mounted on the roof.
Full power was available on all bands but
propagation limited what was used.
SSB and CW was used to made 125 contacts.
The very special Call-Sign 2MT (yes! 2MT) was used.
Note, this Call-Sign will be used in early evenings
during the next few weeks.
2MT operated 2 Metres (VHF) FM on 145.375Mhz on
Tuesday, 11th of December from 1845 hrs on 2 Watts.
Contacts were made with many Chelmsford and district
stations. All station worked will receive a special
QSL Card. Likewise the QSL Card will be sent to all SWL
who submit a log to G3PEM, QTHR.
Additional Photographs in New Street
Wednesday, 12th December 2001 Marconi
Celebrations from The Writtle Hut.
Wednesday, 12th December 2001 Marconi
Celebrations from around the UK
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At the same time (1000 to 1500hrs),
as the New Street site operated 2MT, CARS ran
GX0MWT from Marconi's Writtle Hut where Broadcasting
started in about 1922. This hut is
housed in the Chelmsford Science and Industry Museum
at Sandford Water Works.
The Society's favourite aerial was used which
straddles the water course from the weir which ensures
such a good take-off. The Society's new rig (FT 847) was
used for the first time to make 145 contacts while the
"old" rig (IC 747) was used to make 195 contacts.
Tony, G4YTG flew his Aerial Kite similar to that used
by Marconi 100 years ago - it flew at 200ft.
It is over 8 foot high!.
It supported a vertical 100 foot high wire aerial.
The kite string is tied to the fence behind Ken, G7RFT (right).
Note the Honda generator.
G4YTG has kitted out a van box car with amateur radio
equipment which is towed to a site for instant portable operation.
Tony and Charles made 85 Kite contacts including 30 with the
Royal Naval Amateurs Net.
About the same time (1000 to
1500hrs), as the above events, George Banner, G3AHX
was scheduled to key a 1.6kWatt Spark Transmitter on
1.7MHz. In the event we understand that this was
cancelled with advice from the RA.