Welcome to the Orkney Amateur Radio Club website. Orkney is a group of over seventy islands lying off the northern coast of Scotland, surrounded by the North Sea to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Situated in the tail end of the gulf stream, the sea and air temperatures are a degree or two warmer than mainland Scotland - but gale force winds are very common, and wind speeds in excess of 100mph occur from time to time (not good from an antenna point of view!).

Orkney has a long history with the first settlers arriving over 6,000 years ago (that's a few thousand years before the Egyptians built the pyramids!). There is a great deal of spectacular archaeology here, some of which is of world importance. This includes stone circles, burial chambers and even entire preserved Neolithic villages. In more recent history, there is evidence of the Vikings who invaded and settled here. Many of the islanders are of Norwegian descent.

Fishing and farming are the traditional industries. However tourism is playing an increasingly important part in the economy. Good communication links, including regular ferries and flights, mean that the islands are no longer remote. Wildlife is very abundant in and around the clear blue waters, and over the unspoilt hills, fields and moorland. Many rare and migratory birds can be found here at different times of year. Seals and dolphins are commonplace, and Killer Whales are occasional visitors.
 

AMATEUR RADIO IN THE ORKNEY ISLANDS

Radio telecommunications has always had an important role to play in this remote group of islands. As a consequence, there have been radio amateurs here since the early days of the hobby. Currently, Orkney has quite a few resident hams (particularly given its small population). Some are more active than others, but it is fair to say that there is usually a presence on the HF bands most days (sometimes 6m and 2m gets a look in too!).

A number of these local amateurs used to meet informally from time to time; and on occasion activated various island locations. In 2000, it was decided that an actual club should be formed. This would allow for a constitution, committee, callsign and more importantly affiliation to the Radio Society of Great Britain. The club has been steadily growing in numbers ever since; partly because of amateurs moving into the area, and partly because of the new licence classes encouraging people to take up the hobby.

Recently, Orkney was chosen as a site for an experimental 5mhz (60m) beacon (GB3ORK). We also have our own 2m repeater GB3OC (channel RV52, input = 145.0500Mhz, output = 145.6500Mhz, CTCSS enabled Tone C 77.0hz).



If you live in the Orkney Islands and are interested in becoming a radio amateur, we are able to provide tuition for the Foundation Licence and the Intermediate Licence. The club has two registered tutors which allows both examinations to be taken locally. The Foundation Licence Examination can be taken at approximately one week's notice, and the Intermediate Licence Examination is available in accordance with the RSGB timetable. 

The club meets on a monthly basis (see the NEWS section below for details of the next meeting). The meetings vary throughout the year, from informal chats to video presentations, to planning the next island activation. Whatever we are doing you would be most welcome to join us. If you are here on holiday and your visit coincides with our monthly why not drop in and say hello?  If you do intend to come along, it is advisable to check that the meeting is taking place as dates/location sometimes vary - telephone Mark Simpson on (01857) 616350.
 

QSL INFORMATION

NEWS

June 2008	Isle of Westray (EU-009  OR-02  Lighthouse SCO-158)   Friday 13th June to Sunday 15th June 2008   Three club members (GM0WED, MM5DWW and MM3XUI) will be operational from the lighthouse on the Isle of    Westray during the weekend. Click here for more information.
August 2008	GS8R  Special Event Station  - The 850th Anniversary Of The Death Of St Rognvald Friday 22nd August to Sunday 24th August 2008     &     Friday 29th August to Sunday 31st August 2008
		The club will be operating the special event station GS8R as part of a programme of activities, including: lectures, concerts, visits by Viking longships, exhibitions etc. to commemorate the 850th anniversary of the death of St Rognvald (pronounced Ronald). In Norway our sister special event station will operate from Bringsværd, within a few hundred metres of where Rognvald was born. GS8R will operate at Scapa Bay, within a few hundred metres of where Rognvald embarked and disembarked on his journeys across the Pentland Firth to Scotland and further afield. Click here for more info
4th July 2008	Visitors To This Website Using technology provided by ClustrMaps we are able to see where our website visitors are located. If you would like to have a look at our current geographic data please click on the icon below.
5th Aug 2008	Club Meeting    The next club meeting will take place on Tuesday 5th August 2008 at the Orkney Club, Harbour Street, Kirkwall from 20.00 onwards. Everyone is welcome.

ORKNEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB AWARD CERTIFICATES

Of the seventy or so islands less than twenty are populated. From an amateur radio point of view very few are active on a regular basis. One of the main aims of the club is to activate as many of these rare islands as possible; and several dxpeditions are undertaken each year. To help facilitate this, the club has created two awards specifically designed to create interest in the Orkney Island group.

 

If you require further information, follow the "Award" link in the menu above.