Radio hams signal their intent to help

Europe trip to activate rare call will aid charity

A group of amateur radio enthusiasts have come up with a novel way of raising charity cash.

The members of Stirling District Amateur Radio Society are heading to Lichtenstein at the end of the month to set up a radio station for one week and activate a rare call sign known as HB0.

The eight `radio hams’ plan to leave on May 30 and drive 1,200 miles with all the equipment to set up three stations in the tiny central European country and transmit different frequencies at the same time.

The group are inviting other radio enthusiasts to call them and look up their QZR page – which provides the code for who is calling. They will send the callers an acknowledgement.

Ross Hutcheon (31) from the group said: “The reason for going there is that, being a small country, there are not many radio amateurs living there so the HB0 call is not often heard on the air.

“We are expecting to be called by people from all over the world, most of who will look up our QRZ page which has a link to donate money for the Glasgow children’s hospital charity. In return for this they will receive an acknowledgement receipt (QSL) card from us confirming the contact like the one in the top right of the QRZ page.”

Also heading along on the trip are Billy McFarland (31), Johnathan Bowes (44), Robert Drummond (65), Hugh Martin (67), John Brown (54) and two other members.

They are now accepting donations to their fundraiser.

You can donate by going to www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/hb0-gm4uye.