The Sidmouth Amateur Radio Society first saw the light of day in 1982 and it was formed by members of the former Sidmouth CB club. By 1982 CB had run its initial surge of interest and some CB users moved on to take the City and Guilds Radio Amateurs exam. The formation of a local Amateur radio club was the next requirement. The club first met at the science lab at Sidmouth Community College where in house talks and lectures were held. Some radio operation was possible but this was limited by the inability to install any type of external antenna.
SARS 1982 first meeting at Sidmouth College
(current members Dave G6XUV and John G6YWX, second and third from right)
Radio on desk looks like Yaesu FT-480r Multimode FM/CW/SSB 10 watts output.
In 1983 the club moved to The Norman Lockyer Observatory at Salcombe Hill Sidmouth. Meetings were held in a derelict "Green Hut" located just east of the current Victoria Dome. Most of the club nights were involved in making the hut weather proof; under the guidance of carpenter John Hartnell (G6YWX) we clad and insulated the internal walls and fitted new roofing material.
In 1984 the observatory site was purchased by the East Devon District Council from the University of Exeter, and the Sidmouth Astronomy Society and the Radio club started to use the site for their meetings and activities. At this time the green shed was abandoned and the Radio Group moved into the main building and started limited operations from the members room (now the NLO Library).
During early 1984 a chance radio contact with a station in the US spawned the idea of a special event station to mark American Thanksgiving Day in November of 1984. The special event call sign GB2UST was obtained and the NLO was assigned the job of being the UK link for the day. Work commenced to get all the equipment needed either by using members own equipment or by the loan of transceivers from Reg Ward's radio shop in Axminster. Antennas for all the required frequencies were constructed, including a 14 MHz quad antenna precariously perched on top of two 20' scaffold poles! When the day arrived (22nd Nov 1984) numerous contacts were made with the US station WA1NPO located at the living history settlement in Plymouth Massachusetts. The weather on the day was typically British with heavy rain and high winds. When we arrived at the NLO site the following day our treasured 14MHz quad antenna was a mangled mass of twisted tube and wire. We all agreed we had been very lucky that the day had been such a great success.
Sidmouth Amateur Radio Society in 1984
Article above from Rad Com, November 1984Sidmouth ARS, 1984
| Left to Right: 1. John Stanford, G6YTL 2. Steve (SWL) 3. Bob Tedbury, G6SNY 4. Mike Marsh, G1IAR 5. John Hartnell, G6YWX 6. Dick Harding, G6BJL | 7. Dave Lee, G6XUV 8. Graeme Boull, G4NVH 9. Laurie Leask, G2BIM 10. Paul Kent, G1EEK 11. Robin (SWL) 12. Mike Welch 13. Bob (DCC Representative) |
Tower Installation, August 1989
Ron Hamson aligning the base frame prior to concreting.
Left-right: Colin G3DPX, Paul G1EEK, Steve Crask G7AHP, Ron G8NOQ, Alan G7DYB.
In 1989 the Mond Dome at the NLO was converted into a small Astro Planetarium and a Radio room was constructed. This enabled us to have a permanent radio room that we could use for club meetings and open days. The call sign GB2NLO was obtained for the station. This call sign is one of only 38 allocated throughout the UK for permanent special event stations.
During the early 1990s Bob Tedbury (G6SNY) held computer lessons at the NLO and instructed many members in the use of DOS etc.. His amusing and instructive way of teaching allowed us all to get a good founding in the mysteries of computing.
Dartmoor Radio Club Chairman presenting a gift to NLO Radio Group Chairman Bill Gregory (G3AQM) during the DRC Visit.
Dartmoor Radio Group visiting the NLO
In 1995 the Sidmouth and District Astronomy Society and the Sidmouth Amateur Radio Club amalgamated to form the Norman Lockyer Observatory Society (NLOS) and signed a lease with the East Devon district Council to run the observatory site. Also, at around that time, a new larger (60 seat) planetarium and a second radio room were constructed. This enabled us to split our HF and VHF/UHF operations and, by the use of windows and split doors, the visitors on open days were able to see the radio shacks in operation.
Patrick Moore officiated at the opening ceremony for the new planetarium, which took place on 29th September 1995 (see plaque below). Patrick had also visited in August 1992. He showed great interest in the radio group and tried his hand on the Morse key, having been a radio operator during the Second World War while serving with Bomber Command in the RAF.
Patrick Moore with Bill Gregory (G3AQM), at the NLO, 30th Aug. 1992. (Photo: Bob Tedbury G6SNY)
Above: Weather satellite picture for the day of Patrick Moore's August 1992 visit (it was pretty rough), with autographed NLO information sheet.
Plaque commemorating the opening of the James Lockyer Planetarium on 29th September 1995.
The 90s was a period during which the NLO site became a vital link in the Packet Radio network that spread across the world. As a packet node we linked to CDN, a node at Crediton and ILP, a BBS node at Ipplepen (Torquay). Operation was on 70 MHz, 144 MHz, and 430 MHz. and the service was available 24/7. This ran without fault for the whole of the 90s. By 2000 the rise of the Internet meant that the use of packet wained and the equipment was eventually switched off in 2000.
Dave Lee, G6XUV, June 2009 - Nov. 2010.
Patrick Moore officiated at the opening ceremony for the new planetarium, which took place on 29th September 1995 (see plaque below). Patrick had also visited in August 1992. He showed great interest in the radio group and tried his hand on the Morse key, having been a radio operator during the Second World War while serving with Bomber Command in the RAF.
Patrick Moore with Bill Gregory (G3AQM), at the NLO, 30th Aug. 1992. (Photo: Bob Tedbury G6SNY)
Above: Weather satellite picture for the day of Patrick Moore's August 1992 visit (it was pretty rough), with autographed NLO information sheet.
Plaque commemorating the opening of the James Lockyer Planetarium on 29th September 1995.
The 90s was a period during which the NLO site became a vital link in the Packet Radio network that spread across the world. As a packet node we linked to CDN, a node at Crediton and ILP, a BBS node at Ipplepen (Torquay). Operation was on 70 MHz, 144 MHz, and 430 MHz. and the service was available 24/7. This ran without fault for the whole of the 90s. By 2000 the rise of the Internet meant that the use of packet wained and the equipment was eventually switched off in 2000.
Dave Lee, G6XUV, June 2009 - Nov. 2010.
Coming soon more of the Radio Group history from 2000 to date.
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