HARG

No not a subdivision of SMERSH or other dastardly world domination groups.
Having our daily walk in the 'hot weather park' we stumbled across this mob setting up HUGE antenna and settling in for the weekend with a well sorted selection of campervans and tents.

The local Amateur Radio Group ( the H is for Hills) participating in an annual commemoration of John Moyle, a hero amongst radio enthusiasts. Also a competition to log contacts with nationl and international fellow 'Ham' radio folk and practise setting up communications which in times of disaster, floods, bushfires etc radio is the only communication available as power goes down. They power with generators, batteries and even solar panels. Classic examples are Cyclone Tracy and more recently Hurricane Katrina and yes even 911.

The lads and one lass were very sweet and tolerated numerous questions while muttering about dipoles, metres, interference, antenna, the ionosphere and call signs...all sweetened with large slices of chocolate mud cake.

When we returned this evening lots of contacts had been made, as far afield as Spain, and all were settling in for a night of more call signs, a few beers and tweaking antenna.