10th December 2024 GB3HO moved onto new aerial, 70cms coverage much improved. GB3WS to be moved onto new aerial and combined with GB3HO early in 2025. 13th November 2024 New Diamond X-200 dual band aerial with new LDF450 coax and folded dipole control aerials installed on mast. 17th October 2024 Mast installed and tested. 24th September 2024 Mast support brackets welded to vertical barn ‘I’ beam, many thanks to our site owner Peter. 12th July 2024 Mast recovered from undergrowth and fully tested; installation plan agreed with site owner. 1st July 2024 Site survey for replacement (ex-Swedish military) telescopic mast and aerial system for GB3WS and GB3HO. Repeater aerials to be moved to northwest corner of building to provide improved consistent coverage. Works TBA. 28th May 2024 GB3WS/GB3HO aerial replaced with a new Diamond X200 dual band 2m/70cm 6dB aerial. Crackles and de-sense issues resolved. GB7WS DMR repeater in Billingshurst providing good service to surrounding area. 11th May 2024 Both GB3WS and GB3HO now replaced with Yaesu System Fusion DR-2XE (FM/C4FM) dual mode repeater equipment. Both repeaters still suffering crackling and minor de-sense issues. GB3HO cavities replaced with a Procom filter assembly. 11th April 2024 Having made numerous visits to the GB3WS and GB3HO repeater site at Itchingfield (which has been a “voyage of discovery”) it has become abundantly clear that the repeater hardware is “old and tired”, now needing more ongoing support to keep it operational. The current hardware for GB3WS is, in fact, the GB3MH backup repeater on-loan from Richard, G4ANN. After much discussion it has been decided to replace both GB3WS and GB3HO repeaters with Yaesu System Fusion DR-2XE (FM/C4FM) dual mode repeater equipment. 2nd January 2024 It was always Mick’s (G4EFO, SK) intention that HARC should take over the management and operation of GB3WS, GB3HO and GB7WS. Accordingly, the HARC Chairman, Adrian (G4LRP), now holds the official Notice of Variation for each repeater from Ofcom. 27th December 2023 Michael (Mick) Senior G4EFO 27th December 2023 It is with much sadness that I have to report the sudden passing of Mick Senior G4EFO on Wednesday 27th December 2023 aged 73 (just one day before his 74th birthday). Mick was a West Sussex fire-fighter who retired early from the service but kept himself busy with his small business installing domestic and professional aerial systems all over the south of England until a few years ago. But even in his early seventies he could still be found on a ladder or roof somewhere installing aerials and satellite dishes for family and friends. Mick obtained his first licence, G8EFO, in the early 1970’s, and then a few years later, G4EFO. Mick joined HARC (Horsham Amateur Radio Club) some fifty years ago, becoming one of the club characters, always there to offers support and advice, often followed up by several beers! In the 1980’s Mick became an integral part of the Sussex Repeater Group helping with the early 2m and 70cm repeaters in the Brighton area. He then moved his attention to the north of the county running 2m and 70cm repeaters in the Horsham and Crawley areas. His interest in repeaters led him to become a member of the RSGB Repeater Committee, offering support and advice to would-be repeater keepers all over the country (during which time he worked on a part-time basis for Microwave Modules). After the RSGB Repeater Committee, Mick became the RSGB Region 10 Manager for several years helping to support all the local radio clubs in the area. Mick loved travel, visiting family and friends in Germany, and trips to ham radio rallies in Europe. Friedrichshafen was a firm favourite of his for many years, where members of the Horsham and Crawley radio clubs would join him. Apart from ham radio, Mick could always be found helping in his local community, being very supportive of local charities and organisations. He was the Worshipful Master of the Radio Fraternity Lodge No. 8040 in 2006 and 2007 as well as several other local Sussex Lodges. In later life Mick had great pleasure becoming Santa at Christmas time visiting many schools and charities to raise funds for disadvantaged children – and yes, the beard was real, being grown especially for the season. Mick was ones of life’s remarkable characters; generous, caring, and a lovable friend who will be sorely missed by all. He lived respected and died regretted. My condolences go out to Julie and his sons Dan, Matt and James. Adrian Boyd G4LRP (Chairman Horsham Amateur Radio Club) GB7WS – News Update Licenced, full details coming soon. GB3WS – News Update – 02 June 2011 WS back on air 1500z. NX to follow soon. GB3WS – News Update – 23 May 2011 Off Air due PA failure. Currently investigating. Update soon. GB3NX – News Update – 26 February 2011 Off Air. GB3NX – News Update – 15 February 2011 GB7WS Echolink Internet gateway now connected. Ongoing engineering work so may be subject to short periods of interruption. GB3NX – News Update – 6 January 2011 >Now back on air at 12:15. Analogue mode only at the moment. Further update to follow. GB3WS – News Update – 22 March 2010 Off air Sunday 21 March due to power outage at site. Back on air Monday 22nd. GB3NX – News Update – 15 April 2009 Currently off air for refurbishment. News Update – 6 February 2009 Some tests have been carried out from a site in Horsham town centre, the first of a few sites. This has shown that it is not a practical site, does not give good coverage, and therefore will not be used for two meters. I still have other sites to investigate, but this will take time. In the mean time no application has been made to the ETCC to move GB3WS, and GB3NX (see below) will stay under the control of the group pending discussions with the CEPO and EPO at Horsham. The group will not approach the ETCC ref a 70cms Horsham proposal until all avenues have been explored and we are happy that it will be viable. Mike Senior G4EFO – 06.02.09 News Update – 10 November 2008 On Wednesday 5th November, I had a meeting with the County Emergency Planning Officer for West Sussex. The meeting was very useful and was received with enthusiasm. The CEPO will present my ideas at a future meeting with the County Committee and hopefully if accepted further discussions will take place. The planned strategy, if accepted will be to undertake tests from the site in question, to ensure coverage is what is envisaged. If coverage does meet the requirements and a sensible agreement can be reached with county, I will hold a meeting in Horsham to outline some plans. If all goes well we can then apply to the ETCC for a move of GB3WS. During the same period an application to re-establish a UHF repeater and possibly a 23 cms repeater will also be made, but it is envisaged to carry the work out in three phases,
It goes without saying that this is likely to be a long process and will not happen in a matter of weeks, but months. Involved in my discussions with county is the future of the 70 cms repeater at Worth, GB3NX. Therefore until all discussions are exhausted the status quo will prevail. It could well be that GB3NX will form part of the communications strategy within the county.Please remember there are four hurdles to cross,
We could fall at any one of these, therefore please be patient. I will post more news on this site as and when it happens. Mike Senior G4EFO – 10.11.2008 |
After discussions with members of the Crawley Amateur Radio Club – (now formed the Ashdown Forest Repeater Group – AFRG), who are concerned about coverage on two meters to the East of the WS site, I have decided to investigate the possibility of moving WS westwards to cover more of West Sussex, as was originally intended . This will allow the AFRG members to pursue a site at Turners Hill church and install a repeater in that location. The coverage of this repeater will be very weak into the Horsham area – (remember the coverage of the old BP/WS when it was at Worth Abbey ?) So to assist in the Crawley proposal I am looking at sites around the Horsham area. I am not going to switch WS off or apply for a site change until I am satisfied that the users of the two meter repeater in West Sussex will receive adequate coverage from any proposed new site. At present WS covers 60-70% of its intended area well, so any ‘quick fix’ move would be quite wrong, and I will not be forced into this situation. The time scale of these changes is difficult to assess and will take some effort, in order to identify possible sites, obtain permission from the site owners, carry out coverage tests, and then obtain permission from Ofcom to move the repeater. One thing I have always worked at is to obtain the use of sites free of charge. This will always be my goal, and with delicate negotiations, is possible. I therefore ask all amateurs who use the two meter repeater to have patience with this venture in order to satisfy the needs of all users and obtain better coverage for everyone. The bottom line is, all of these changes will need to be approved by the repeater management group and Ofcom so we will still need to make our case for their approval. Mike Senior G4EFO |
