g7kse.co.uk

There’s a bit of a battle going one. It’s been raging for a few years and its one where I never know where I am. I’m talking about the ‘finding a place for all your radio stuff’ / ‘what are all those wires?’ / ‘what are you buying now? or what do you need that for?’ kind of battle which is the lower order one which goes on in countless houses in countless countries where ham radio lives side by side with a partner that isn’t into it. The big one in our house is no you aren’t putting anything on the side of the house. This includes any kind of beam. Even if its really small.

Every now and again I can get a cheapy bit from ebay or something like that under the radar but big purchases require a long run up and stakeholder management plan that a business wanting to put a rubbish tip next to a school would be proud of.

Recently I have been attempting to suggest a full size rig that I think would look lovely in the shack (which I share with a table and chairs which we occasionally use for eating). Thingshaven’t been going according to the best laid plan and so far I have had a stiff ignoring off the XYL. Even to thepoint where last night she actually said ‘I’m ignoring you’. This to me is a postive sign as its one step up from ‘Not a chance’.

Early signs are looking good but there is a long way to go. 2011 is shaping up to be a big one and I’m sure will need lots of domestic jobs done without any sort of moaning or complaining to keep in the good books. As for timescales I think that Sporadic E season should be aimed for.

There are many people who compete in contests and whilst I’ve never really had the bug, or even been bitten there are those who’s major radio enjoyment is based around these events.

Friend……

This weekend saw me achieve a umber of contacts that I have found elusive. Not because of a lack of trying but because they’re not always on the air. I really enjoyed being able to knock off a few countries off my scant country list. Morroco, Azores and almost Japan and Aruba to name a few. The latter two were just out of reach possible as a result of a few big stations from Europe running large linears. More likely due to my minnow station not quite up to the job.

Still the positive side was over 20 QSO’s on one band without really trying too hard over a few short hours here and there in between the usual jobs at home.

Foe……

The bands were awash with contest stations, spilling out all over the place trying to find a piece of the spectrum that wasn’t filled. I heard one station begging another to QSY away from the DX frequencies. Even sadder was that that station who was clearly in the right must have switched off or moved to another band just to avoid the melee.

Mixed feelings really is the only way to describe it. Fantastic that I can get to get some QSO’s with people who actually want me to answer their CQ call, if only to get another entry in the log. Most of which have the decency to persist if the signal is weak and not particularly audible. Shame the airways are all but closed for ragchews, nets and casual QSO’s and that the self regulation that works so well is tossed aside in the clamber for space on the airwaves.

I will be participating in contests, not as a competitor but as someone who’s logbook is empty for large parts of the year.

I just got my copy of Radcom through the post today and opened up the last word section to find that I’d won a Yaesu VX-3 hand held. All courtesy of a quick email.

I’m chuffed to bits and hope that it turns up soon…Really can’t express how nice it is to be so generously rewarded for such a small email. Thanks very much RSGB