Since losing our regular VHF/UHF site at Crabwood, near Winchester a few years ago, we have been unable to find a suitable alternative, and again we reluctantly decided we would not participate in VHF Field Day 2026.  However we did notice that on the Sunday of the Field day weekend (5th September) the 3rd 144MHz Backpackers contest was taking place between 10:00 – 14:00 UTC, so we decided to take part.

The Backpackers contest is aimed at low power stations with a single antenna no more than 6m above ground level.  There is a special category for “HillTopper” stations, which allows up to 25 watts and permits operation from a vehicle, provided the engine is switched off.

We decided to operate from the G4DKH campervan, in a layby on the Morestead Road near Winchester.  This location has clear take-off to the north, west and south, but is slightly obstructed to the east by Longwood Warren.  However it is not as busy as the carpark at nearby Cheesefoot Head – particularly on a sunny weekend!

​​We used the Club callsign G6IVR/P for the activation.  Equipment used was an IC706 Mk2G transceiver (dialled back to 25 watts output), and a small 4 element yagi at 5 metres agl.    

Operators Ken G4DKH and Chris G7LWV were joined by cyclist Bob G3ZHV in the afternoon. Over 4 hours of relaxed operating, we achieved 31 contacts in 14 locator squares across G, GM, GW and F.  Best DX was GM4DIJ/P at 488km.  We heard (but didn’t work) stations in Netherlands, Germany & Switzerland.

Band conditions were good, the weather was fine and a great time was had by all – another grand day out!

A regular annual event on the IVARC calendar is the National Field Day contest, held over the first weekend in June, and this year was no exception.

The RSGB National Field Day (NFD) is an annual amateur radio event hosted by the Radio Society of Great Britain. Participants set up temporary off-grid radio stations in outdoor fields or remote locations to test their ability to operate effectively under emergency conditions, independent of mains power and permanent infrastructure.  It is highly competitive, with clubs scoring points for making as many accurate contacts as possible with other portable, fixed, and international stations within a set 24-hour period.  All contacts are made using Morse Code.

​As in previous years, we operated from our regular site at Canada Common, near West Wellow in Hampshire – thanks once again to John G8FMQ for allowing us to use his field.

Weather conditions were not favourable, with heavy rain and high winds over much of the weekend. However we were fortunate to be able to set up and dismantle the station during dry periods.  Radio propagation conditions also were not ideal compared to previous years, however we did manage contacts with West Coast USA, and a check on the Reverse Beacon Network showed that we we were heard in New Zealand!

As in previous years, we used the club’s TS590 transceiver running 100 watts to an extended W3DZZ dipole for 160, 80 & 40m bands, with a CobWebb antenna for 20, 15 & 10m bands. Antennas were mounted at an approximate height of 10m agl, on the club’s portable trailer-mast.

In view of the weather and the availability of operators, we made the decision not to operate for the full 24 hours.  We closed down the station around midnight and re-started at 6am on Sunday morning.  We achieved a total of 598 contacts, which was similar to last year - a good result considering band conditions.

Many thanks to Steve G8XEV, Graham G3XSD, Richard G3OTK, Chris G7LWV, Peter G4JHC and Ken G4DKH who all helped set up, operate, support and pack up.  Another successful NFD, in spite of the weather – a great time was had by all.

In what has now become an annual event for the club, IVARC club members again took part in SOS Radio Week, operating special event station GBØSR on 17th May 2026 on behalf of Solent Rescue from their lookout station on the clifftop at Lepe Country Park, overlooking the Solent.

Established in 1971, Solent Rescue is an independent rescue charity run entirely by volunteers, and funded solely by charitable donations. Operating from a lookout on the clifftop at Lepe Country Park, Solent Rescue works alongside the RNLI and NCI, and operates two inshore lifeboats providing a 24/7 response as an emergency service to HM Coastguard.

Our station was set up adjacent to the Solent Rescue lookout station, and the setup was similar to last year, running 70 watts to a short doublet antenna at about 8 metres above ground.  Operation was almost exclusively SSB on 40m.

Radio conditions can best be described as “interesting” – with high levels of QSB, and frequent periods of little or no activity followed by pile-ups lasting over 30 minutes!  However in just 5 hours of operating, we achieved a total of 132 contacts with stations in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Belgium, Channel Islands, France, Ireland, Italy, Germany & the Netherlands.  We also managed to contact other SOS Radio special event stations in Caister, Dungeness, Falmouth, and the Lifeboat station in Urk (Netherlands).

​In addition to being adjacent to the Solent Rescue and National Coastwatch Institution lookout stations, the location in Lepe County Park also qualifies as a POTA activation (GB-0404) and a Bunkers On The Air site (B/G-0336), and we worked several POTA and Bunkers stations during the activation!

Many thanks to club members Chris G7LWV, Peter G4JHC and Ken G4DKH for their support in setting up and operating the station.  Thanks also to club member Tim 2E0CXQ (who is also a Launch Advisor) and Linda from Solent Rescue for hosting us and providing much needed refreshments throughout the day.

Another very enjoyable event raising awareness and supporting the work of the volunteers at Solent Rescue Independent Lifeboat Station.  To find out more about Solent Rescue, or to make a donation, please click here

On Wednesday 4th February 2026, a team from IVARC supported members of 11th Winchester Scout group working towards their Communicator badge.  Ken G4DKH and Bob G3ZHV set up and operated an HF station at the Scout’s HQ, using Bob’s 40m dipole and the club's TS570 transceiver.  Although conditions were far from ideal, with poor band conditions and a high level of ambient noise (!) we did manage to get 5&9 reports from a few European stations.  Fortunately Colin G4GBP came prepared with a range of alternative communications-themed activities, morse practice buzzers and even a small telephone exchange!  Chris G7LWV also participated remotely from Romsey via the local DMR repeater.

All the activities proved very popular with the Scouts – it was fascinating to watch the levels of concentration they showed in the morse practice, and it was really enlightening to see how alien the concept of a landline phone (especially the rotary dial phone!) was to 11-14 year olds!  

Thanks especially to Colin G4GBP for bringing the telephone exchange, morse buzzers and the crib sheets;  to Bob G3ZHV for providing the dipole antenna & balun, and for setting up & dismantling the mast & antenna; and to Chris G7LWV in for bravely fielding contacts with more than 15 Scouts on 70cms via GB3CW, the Winchester DMR repeater.  

The scout leaders, Leigh and Matt, both expressed their gratitude to the Club and were impressed by the level of engagement we achieved with the scouts in all of the activities we ran throughout the evening.  

Another very successful IVARC special event - a good evening, time well spent with the youngsters enjoying every part of it and learning into the bargain!.

​Colin also organised a series of other communications / science related activities over the weekend, including:

    • a telephone switchboard system
    • a ‘what does sound look like?’ with oscilloscope, signal generator and microphone
    • morse buzzer practice
    • lighting LEDS using potato batteries
    • testing acidity / alkalinity of common household liquids
    • extracting DNA from strawberries & bananas !

​Well done to Colin, Bob and Bill for running such an interesting and enjoyable event for the youngsters.  Club members – please keep the JOTA weekend dates for next year free in your diaries and come along and help / join in the fun!

​During the weekend of 17/18th May, IVARC club members participated in SOS Radio Week 2025, operating special event station GBØSR on behalf of Solent Rescue from their lookout station on the clifftop at Lepe Country Park, overlooking the Solent.

Tim Pettis 2E0CXQ, Launch Advisor with Solent Rescue, approached the club in early March asking if we would be interested in activating a special event station for Solent Rescue as part of SOS Radio Week in May.  Tim had previously given a talk on resilience and emergency communications planning to IVARC, so we were of course happy to get involved.  After confirming there were no objections from Lepe Country Park, we obtained the special event callsign GBØSR (Solent Rescue) and set about planning the activation. 

Our station was set up adjacent to the Solent Rescue lookout station, using the club’s TS570 transceiver running 80 watts to a doublet antenna at about 8 metres above ground.  Operation was SSB on the HF bands (mainly 40m & 20m).

Radio conditions were quite challenging, especially on Saturday, with very little activity evident on bands above 20m, and with high levels of QSB present.  However the fine weather lasted throught the weekend and made for a very enjoyable activation.

Over the weekend we achieved a total of 206 contacts in 24 DXCCs – a fantastic result!  We contacted stations in England, Wales, Scotland, N. Ireland, Austria, Azores, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.   Best DX was CU7BC on Faial Island, in the Azores, at 1579 miles (2527 km).

Lots of operators were looking out for SOS Radio Week stations, and we had several pile-ups lasting 20-30 minutes each to contend with – a great learning experience for all our club operators!  As an indication of the level of interest, our QRZ.com page has had over 830 look-ups so far!

Many thanks to club members Chris G7LWV, Peter G4JHC, Martyn 2E0OGR, Edgar M7WEF and Ken G4DKH for their support in setting up and operating the station.  Thanks also to Tim and Linda from Solent Rescue for hosting us and providing much needed refreshments throughout the day.

A very enjoyable weekend raising awareness and supporting the work of the volunteers at Solent Rescue Independent Lifeboat Station.

On 17th & 18th May 2025, in support of SOS Radio Week 2025, Itchen Valley Amateur Radio Club will activate special event station GBØSR (Solent Rescue) on behalf of Solent Rescue from their lookout on the clifftop at Lepe Country Park, Hampshire.  Operation will be mainly SSB on the HF bands (40m / 20m / 15m / 10m).  

We are participating in SOS Radio Week 2025 in May to help promote & raise awareness of the work of the RNLI, NCI, Independent Lifeboat Stations and Coastal Rescue teams through amateur radio.  If you haven’t heard of SOS Radio Week, find out more at www.sosradioweek.org.uk  

​​Established in 1971, Solent Rescue is an independent rescue charity run entirely by volunteers, and funded by charitable donations.  Operating from their lookout station on the clifftop at Lepe Country Park, Solent Rescue works alongside the RNLI and NCI, and operates two inshore lifeboats providing a 24/7 response as an emergency service to HM Coastguard.   

To find out more about Solent Rescue, or to make a donation, click here

The station will run from approx 10am – 4pm each day, and we will be looking for operators for the HF station, plus help to set up the station (starting from 9am).  If you are able to help out please contact Ken G4DKH directly or via the club forum.

Unfortunately Steve 2E0DUJ is unable to give his talk on Setting Up a DMR Repeater at our meeting on 28th February, which will now be a normal Club meeting.

When we have agreed an alternative date with Steve we will communicate this via the Club Forum.

​** UPDATE **  Rescheduled for Friday 9th May