Radio society head to the Isle of Wight

The Newbury and District Amateur Radio Society is taking part in the Islands On The Air competition

THE NEWBURY and District Amateur Radio Society (NADARS) will take part in the Radio Society of Great Britain's flagship radio competition on the Isle of Wight this weekend.

Fresh from the recent Island Games, the Islands On The Air competition will see the Isle of Wight on another international stage, with the Newbury club station G7N setting up a full scale radio station from Whippance Farm in Gurnard.

The club is taking its own trailer mounted 100ft extendable mast and various other poles to the Isle of Wight and erect wire and rotatable antennae to talk to other radio stations all around the world.

NADARS chairman, Jeremy Willis, said: “Our club take this competition very seriously.

“There are over 2000 entries worldwide and we have succeeded in getting very close to the winners over the past ten years that we have been coming to the Island.

“This particular spot is ideal for radio as it is close to the waters edge which gives excellent long distance propagation to Japan and Australia.

“Marconi, who performed many an experiment from the Island in the early days of radio, would be proud of us.”

The competition starts today (Saturday) at noon.