Archive for the ‘Radio’ Category

Is winter over yet?

Posted 25 Feb 2013 — by Alex
Category Radio

December seems a long time ago. I had a different job and radio was still up there on the ‘things I do when I’m not at work’ list. Since then I haven’t stopped at my new job, its nice to be busy but its really interferring with my radio stuff! The cycle race I marshalled at last May (with my trusty Yaesu VX8-GE) has me as an entrant and my MSF reciver project has yet to be turned into a PCB.

its not looking good

but

Winter is almost over. I’m getting out on the bike in the mornings and evening going to and from work, which means, the evenings are free(er), which means I’ve uploaded my MSF receiver to circuits.io and there is progress with getting a PCB made up, it’s almost warm enough to think about re-cabling the minor antenna farm. The salty air is a continual problem with my antennas and it may be time to go ‘full stealth’ the aluminium ( note correct spelling ;-) ).

All this points me in the direction of thinking about radio. If I’ve got time to think about it then I’m not far of ‘doing’ it. Very positive steps. Spring is on its way

144Mhz UKAC contest

Posted 03 Feb 2013 — by Alex
Category Radio

After the unsuccessful Christmas cumulative contest I thought I’d have another go at the UKAC 144Mhz contest. I will be portable again from one of the local hills that I can get access to easily from the car and without having to drive for miles. I better sort that out tomorrow before its too late. Last time I operated from a farm track near a water pumping station with enough metal furniture around to ‘help’ propagation no end. Its a toss up between there and somewhere near Whitehaven that is just as quick to get to. Lets hope its not as cold as last time.

6 and 10 reports

Posted 03 Feb 2013 — by Alex
Category Radio

Martin Harrison, G3USF has been busy with a couple of 6 and 10 report available at the usual location. The longer of the 2 is a retrospective bumper report from June 2011. The longer report is obviously from 18 months ago and a testament to how complex the collection, organisation and presentation of the data is. Keep up the good work Martin

GB4LBC problems

Posted 28 Jan 2013 — by Alex
Category Radio

Well it never rains….

Sometimes it snows

Other days it blows a gale

That’s the simple tale of gb4lbc this weekend. Our special event station barely made it off the ground. Or rather it nearly did because of the wind. Any wire antennas would have been blown down and would have hurt someone.

So its a shame we didn’t get much air time this weekend but maybe next time.

Better safe than sorry

GB4LBC cut short because of a rescue

Posted 23 Jan 2013 — by Alex
Category Radio

image

Whilst operating the GB4LBC special event station on Sunday we had a very urgent knock on the door. The station manager burst through and announced that the crew were launching for real. We stopped the session immediately and got well out the way.

The crew managed to get the boat into the water in what seemed to be seconds and before long they were out of sight and off to help a struggling fishing boat. It made the sos radio week just that little bit more realistic and hopefully it was just as one off.

Let’s hope that next weekend is not as busy for them but just as busy for us. Our 250 or do contacts, mainly on Sunday, were very much appreciated and thanks to everyone who took the time to answer our calls.