torbayars

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  • Why is Amateur Radio referred to as HAM radio?

    There are a lot of licenced radio operators around the world that may often wonder why Amateur Radio is referred to as HAM radio. Also a lot of licensed radio operators already know this.

    This could be one of the reasons below: (why I say one of the reasons is that I am not 100% sure of this, so to cover my derrière, I am not responsible for this statement).

    The word “HAM” as applied to 1908 was the station CALL of the first amateur wireless station operated by some amateurs of the Harvard Radio Club. They were Albert S. Hyman, Bob Almy, and Poogie Murray.

    At first they called their station “HYMAN-ALMY-MURRAY”. Tapping out such a long name in code soon became tiresome and called for a revision. They changed it to “HY-AL-MY”, using the first two letters of each of their names. Early in 1901 some confusion resulted between signal from amateur wireless station “HY-ALMU” and a Mexican ship named “HYALMO”.

    They then decided to use only the first letter of each name and the station CALL became “HAM”.

  • Annual Construction 2025 entries

    Click to watch the video of TARS’s 2025 Construction Entries

  • Satellite Communication Part 2 by Don, G4NNP

    video up on our youtube channel, click to watch.

  • Yaesu DVI Port-Why Is It Not Compatible with HDMI?

    Has the reason been discovered with the ancient DVI-D connection popping the display chip in the Yaesu radios? watch the video.

  • Whilst keeping to a “vintage” theme. Click read more

  • Vintage presentation by M0WSZ

    Click on the image within the read more section to view the video of Jeff, M0WSZ, talking and demonstrating the “older” equipment.

  • Satellites’ presentation by our very own, Chris, G4DCH

  • The Southwest Cluster on DMR

    The Southwest Cluster on DMR TS2, TG950 is growing repeater by repeater. Take a look, join in any conversations with any of us on here from Basingstoke to the Scilly Isles.

    Click on the image to take you to the website!

  • VNA by G8UUG

    A great presentation was had last meeting.

    Ever wondered how to work your Nano Vector Network Analyser? well, tonight is your lucky night!

    Come and join Andrew, G8UUG for an explanation on how to use this very useful tool.

  • Antenna Field Day

    Thank you to all who attended the field day on the 4th, was much appreciated and also a big thanks to Brandon’s (2E0HWJ) sister & family for allowing us to use the very nicely placed field! It did get a touch chilly but the sun was in and out.

    Taking place was a complete usage of the radio spectrum, from 80m to 70cm.

    Brandon – 2E0HWJ, Jeff – G4ELZ, Jeff – M0WSZ, Lin – M0TCF, John – 2E0SPS, Dave – G6YJO, Les – G0NUZ, Mike – 2E1MYK and John – G0CDB attended.

    Quite a few contact made to other countries and a few local ones too! G4ELZ was clicking away on CW, M0WSZ on his handheld taking part in the 2m simplex net making back to the net controller G4VUD in Newton Abbot whist end-stopping my meter in the field & 2E1MYK communicating through the Weymouth 70cm repeater to the SWC DMR network with a QSO from the Isles of Scilly via the repeater at Poldhu Cove.

    M0WSZ on the 2m Simplex net
    Bendy!
    G4ELZ Morsing away
    48metres with of copper wire pulling over the mast quite nicely.
    Looks like M0TCF finally contacted the Cadbury’s Smash Martians!
    ATAS on the extended mount