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Icom support Special Event Station celebrating
the bi-centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar is considered by many as one of the most decisive
naval battles in history - both tactically and strategically.
It not only eliminated Napoleon's plans to invade England, but also destroyed
French naval power and ensured the dominance of the British navy throughout
the world.
To commemorate the bi-centenary of the battle, Icom will be supporting
this special event station which is being run by the Cray Valley Radio
Society (CVRS). The station will operate from the National Maritime Museum
at Greenwich, South East London for an 8-day period from Monday 17th to
Monday 24th October 2005.
Icom will provide the main operating equipment comprising four radio
base stations providing the means for the team to communicate across the
airwaves.
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Icom's flagship
IC-756PROIII |
Included among the models are Icom’s latest base stations, the
IC-7800 and the IC-756PROIII as well as the IC-7400 and IC-910H. Icom
will also be supplementing this sponsorship by providing a “hands-on”
exhibit of the latest marine communications equipment.
The Cray Valley Radio Society are no strangers to high profile special
event stations. The club manned the highly successful Millennium special
event station (M2000A), making 48,000 QSOs in two months. A further 24,000
QSOs were made in 10 days for HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee
in conjunction with the Radio Society of Great Britain and the Burnham
Beeches Radio Club in 2002 (GB50). Icom were proud to sponsor both of
these stations.
This time the club expects to make at least 10,000 QSOs during their 8-day
period of operation. The club will be active on all bands from 80 metres
- 70 cm on SSB, CW and digital modes using the Icom transceivers and an
Acom 1010 linear amplifier loaned by Vine Antenna Products.
Operation will be from 8am to 10pm daily. The National Maritime Museum
will be open to the public from 10am to 5pm daily, and as entry is free,
a massive daily audience is expected. Visitors will be able to see Amateur
Radio at first
hand, and interact by passing a “greetings message”. The Royal
Naval Amateur Radio Society (RNARS) will be providing a static display.
There will be an award scheme for those contacting the station. Full details
will be available through a specially designed website (to be announced).
Special QSL cards will be available from the CVRS QSL Manager, Owen Cross
G4DFI. CVRS will not be alone in celebrating the bi-centenary as the RNARS
will be active using the callsign GB200RN. There will also be Trafalgar
activity from GB2OOT at HMS Belfast, moored on the River Thames at London
Bridge. In addition ZB2TRA will be operating from Gibraltar at the same
time as CVRS.
John Turner, G0KFO Amateur Radio Dealer Manager for Icom (UK) Ltd said,
‘Icom (UK) Ltd are extremely pleased to be onboard again with the
Cray Valley Radio society. M2000A and GB50 were very special and tremendously
successful. We are certain that this station will be just as prestigious
and successful.'
Bob Treacher, [M3RCV/BRS32525] of the Cray Valley Radio Society said,
'we are delighted to team up again with Icom. Icom provided great support
to Cray Valley Radio Society at M2000A in Greenwich to celebrate the Millennium
in 2000, and GB50 from Windsor Castle to celebrate HM Queen Elizabeth
II Golden Jubilee in 2002'. He added, ' We are looking forward with much
pleasure to using the IC-7800 and IC-756PROIII transceivers to make thousands
of contacts to celebrate the bi-centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar.'
About the Cray Valley Radio Society
Cray Valley Radio Society (CVRS) provides facilities for all those interested
in the hobby in Eltham, South East London, and surrounding areas. It also
attracts members from further afield because it is one of the UK's most
active amateur radio societies. In 2000 it organised the M2000A special
event station from Greenwich, South East London, making 48,000 QSOs over
a two month period, and in 2002 organised the GB50 special event station
to celebrate HM Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee from Windsor Castle,
making 24,000 QSOs in 10 days of operation.
CVRS hold two meetings each month at their Eltham base, and take part
in many national and international contests throughout the year using
G3RCV or their contest callsign, M8C. Recent successes include the RSGB's
SSB HF Field Day in 2003, the BWBF's
"Transmission" weekend in 2004, and the RSGB's AFS SSB team
contest and the May 144MHz Club Championship contest this year.
Membership has remained constant over the last 10 years, although membership
peaked at 88 in 2002. Although an influx of members is expected in the
run-up to their 8-day Trafalgar activity from the National Maritime Museum,
membership currently stands at 53." For more details of the society,
visit www.cvrs.org.
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