VERON A22 Zuid-Limburg: A Hub for Radio Experimentation and Community in the Southern Netherlands

Zuid-Limburg, Netherlands — In the undulating landscapes of Southern Limburg, the VERON Afdeling Zuid-Limburg (VERON Section Zuid-Limburg), designated A22, serves as a vibrant and active community for radio amateurs. With approximately 117 members (as of 2014) spanning the Dutch Limburg region south of Echt, this chapter of the Vereniging voor Experimenteel Radio Onderzoek in Nederland (VERON) embodies the association's core principles: fostering radiocommunication and experimental radio research.

Regular Gatherings and On-Air Presence

The section maintains a robust schedule of regular meetings and on-air activities:

• Monthly VERON Club Evening: Held on the fourth Thursday of each month (excluding July) at 8:00 PM at Café/zaal 't Weverke, Hoofdstraat 77, 6333 BG Schimmert.
• Joint VERON/VRZA Lecture Evening: On the second Wednesday of every month (excluding July/August) at 8:00 PM, a collaborative lecture is hosted by both VERON and VRZA at the same Schimmert location.
• Weekly Sunday Morning Round: Every Sunday at 11:00 AM, the "Zuid-Limburgse Zondagochtend ronde" (South Limburg Sunday Morning Round) broadcasts news and information via the regional repeater PI3ZLB (145.725 MHz). This round, recently led by Ron PE8E from Vaals, is also accessible via a live Jitsi stream (meet.jit.si/pi3zlb), expanding its reach.
• Weekly Techno-net: Every Wednesday evening at 9:00 PM, a technical net is held via PI3ZLB (145.725 MHz).
• VRZA Zuid-Limburg Club Evening: Every Wednesday at 8:00 PM, the VRZA (Vereniging van Radiozendamateurs) counterpart holds a meeting at Café 't Volkshuis, Dennestraat 2, 6413 PV Heerlen.

Propagation News and Technical Insights

A significant contribution from VERON A22 is its detailed Propagation News, compiled by Tom Koeken (PC5D). The June 7, 2025, report highlighted a week dominated by elevated geomagnetic activity, including an unusually long M8-class solar flare on May 31, which propelled a fast-moving coronal mass ejection towards Earth. This resulted in a G4-class magnetic storm on June 1, causing auroras observable as far south as the Gulf of Mexico in North America. While Europe experienced magnetic disturbances during the day, the intensity subsided by nightfall, limiting local aurora observations. The report detailed the impact on HF bands (15 and 17 meters temporarily out, 20 meters challenging) and the compensatory effect of sporadic E-openings extending into VHF. The report also provided a nuanced outlook for HF, VHF, and higher bands, covering Tropo, rain scatter, meteor scatter (with four meteor showers in June), and EME (Earth-Moon-Earth) conditions, including path losses during apogee and declining declination. This comprehensive analysis, drawing on sources like RSGB Propagation News and NOAA, is a valuable resource for local and national operators.

Repeater Infrastructure and Maintenance

The chapter actively manages its repeater infrastructure, crucial for local communication. The PI3ZLB repeater (145.725 MHz, -0.6 MHz shift, CTCSS 71.9 Hz) covers most of the region. Additionally, the PI1ZLB 70cm DMR repeater in Maastricht (438.150 MHz, -7.6 MHz shift, CTCSS 71.9 Hz), known for its significant range due to its high elevation, can also be used for local FM traffic. Recent improvements include the replacement of PI1ZLB's antenna on April 3, 2025, with a new Diamond X50N, a collaborative effort by Ed PA1EW and Egbert PA0EJH. The chapter encourages disturbance reports via its contact form and notes that Echolink is online, with voice announcements for login/logout now disabled on the repeater, recommending headset use for Echolink operations.

Educational Initiatives and Notable Activities

VERON A22 is also committed to education. In collaboration with VRZA Zuid-Limburg, it organizes Novice and Full license courses when there's sufficient interest, with registration handled by course coordinator Tom, PC5D.

Recent and upcoming activities reflect the chapter's diverse interests:

• June 8, 2025: Zuid-Limburgse Zondagochtend ronde.
• June 11, 2025: VRZA ZLB club evening and a joint VERON/VRZA lecture (cancelled).
• June 11, 2025: Techno-net.
• June 13, 2025: VERON A31 – Accupakket for radio amateurs.
• June 15, 2025: Magnum Hambeurs NLB and ZO-ronde (PE1EEC).
• October 25, 2024: Excursion to the European Astronaut Centre / DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt) in Cologne, Germany, showcasing the chapter's engagement with cutting-edge space technology.

The VERON A22 Zuid-Limburg chapter continues to provide a comprehensive and engaging platform for radio amateurs, blending technical advancements with a strong sense of community and a commitment to ongoing learning.