SIGNALS SECTION (AKA RADIO)
The use of Radio forms a major activity in this squadron. For use on our ATC VHF frequencies, we have a number of Motorola Frequency Modulated (FM) hand held transceivers, and these have been used on a number of occasions to provide reliable Radio communication between the various members of the squadron. These sets have proved invaluable for communication between the main HQ building and the Comms department located in the Portacabin.
We also have an old but promising piece of equipment in a Pye 125T High Frequency transceiver, which can be set up on four separate channels in the HF frequency bands allotted to the Corps. As always time, or the lack of it, is the governing factor, but it will be a project that will hopefully be completed in the next 12 months.
The squadron is very fortunate in having three members of staff, and one cadet, who are the proud possessors of Amateur Radio licenses, to transmit and receive on the various Amateur Radio wavebands. About five years ago, the squadron purchased a second hand Icom 1C701 HF transceiver, which is capable of putting 100 watts of RF signal in to either one of the two Radio antennas mounted on or above the roof of the Portacabin, and using this equipment, many interesting contacts have been made in a great number of countries.
One very memorable contact was with an Amateur station located in Zimbabwe, and he was quite obviously one of the white farmers whose farm and assets were subsequently seized. His remarks to me, and, of course, my return comments to him, were of necessity rather guarded, and nothing could be said that would have got him in to trouble with the current Government regime.
We have also spoken on a number of times with stations in the U.S.A, and once to Kuwait.
The fact that our operating is taking place from an ATC squadron often produces a great deal of interest, from ex-ATC cadets, serving members of the Royal Air Force, and we have been known to even condescend to chat with Army or Royal Navy personnel.
Thanks to contacts with Amateur Radio clubs outside of the ATC family, we have received much help and support in our activities.
Another very valuable facility, which is granted, to the squadron under the S.E. Callsign is permission to run two completely separate Amateur Radio stations at one and the same time, on two completely different Radio bands. Both stations will use the same callsign GB2ACR, (the GB part signifies that it is a British Special event call, and the letters ACR stand for Air Cadets Rochester, or even Air Cadet Radio.), and all details of our various contacts will then be entered in our Radio log book soon after the actual contact. The second S.E. Callsign that the squadron has the use of is GB2BOB; BOB stands for the Battle of Britain, and is usually activated in September/October of each year, in commemoration of that Battle back in the dark days of 1940, soon after the start of WW2.
Over the past 5 years or so, eleven of our cadets sat the then Intermediate Amateur Amateur Radio exam (*), and 10 of them passed with flying colours.
Perhaps I should mention at this point that anyone under the age of 21 years is granted a free license up to that age limit, the license then costs, as of now, £15-00 per annum.