Transmission 1 website and forum

Just a little plug for a forum I lurk about on, and yes it is radio related, thank-you !

http://www.transmission1.co.uk/

A great site with lots of user reviews on equipment from PMR to Chinese handies, also a very informative forum with radio related sections including Amateur radio, short wave listening and scanning, oh and even the old chicken band !

In fairness the sites roots are CB, as are a lot of the posters, but don't dismiss the site, as most are very knowledgeable radio users.

Along with a trading section and downloadable manuals, this site's worth a look, IMO.

Behringer Eurorack UB1202 Mixer - The quest for better audio

Impressed with the SSB audio of fellow club member, Andy, 2E0OJE, I happened to see on Ebay this Behringer Eurorack UB1202 Mixer with the correct leads for my Kenwood TS-480.

One click later and the item was mine, and here it is.

It's still early days, and with Andy's help we have set up the audio on-air, I was looking for a mellow bassier audio, I have also set up the custom EQ software via the Kenwood program which you can save to the User setting.

My first contact since I have used the new set-up was with GM8LFB on 10m.

Walk around the Exe Estuary.

With time on our hands and the bands quiet along with the need to get some fresh air, we took a drive out along the nearby coast road via Shaldon, Teignmouth, Dawlish and Starcross, through Kenton, nearly to Exeter, but a short right to a small car park beside Exminster Marshes.


Situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty and protected by The Exe Estuary and surrounding wetlands being deemed by English Nature a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Protected Area, we came across the Turf Hotel is one of the few pubs in the country that cannot be accessed by car. Walking, cycling and by boat are the means employed. There are also 2 ferries from Topsham and one that operates along the Canal from Double Locks.

We are thinking of a train trip to Exeter, bus to Topsham and then the ferry to the Turf Hotel, one or two shandies, then the train back to Torquay..

Multiple PSK signals changing frequency, opinions/explanations ???

I have just witnessed the strangest thing, listening on 7160 to the WAB (Worked All Britain) net when a load of 5/9+ PSK signals just appeared on the frequency, and then a few seconds later went away.

This happened a few times, it wasnt just a rogue station, at first I thought it was someone fooling around, but no when I checked the waterfall, it was numerous signals.

Here is a screenshot of PSK reporter, hopefully you can see my call and the frequency, and the stations recieved, just click on it to enlarge.

UPDATE - This was really so strange that I ran downstairs and picked up a camera and made a video, hopefully it shows what I am trying to say, please I would dearly love some comment on this.

A day out at sea.

Today the XYL had the day off, so we decided to take a boat trip to Dartmouth via Brixham, I also thought I might be able to do some 2m radio, however checking the license schedule only a full UK license holder can operate maritime mobile.


This fantastic boat was built in 1941 and used in the WW2 operating as a Rescue Motor Launch (RML) ship off Portland Bill, she has also done antisubmarine towing duties, she also served as a passenger ferry under the name of the Western lady III between 1947 and 2007, however she was recently found rotting in Poole harbour and was bought and restored by the Greenway ferry Company and now can carry up to 175 passengers and is 112' in length.

http://www.greenwayferry.co.uk/about-us

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkJvS13e64Q

UK stockist for the Wouxun handheld's

Martin Lynch & Sons are now the UK supplier for the Wouxun range of handhelds.

http://www.hamradio.co.uk/acatalog/Am_Handheld_Wouxun.html

I've not checked the prices against the Chinese suppliers such as 409shop http://www.409shop.com/, but if you need a radio quicker and with no chance of any import charges (in the UK), then ML&S may be worth a look.

GB6GEO geopark station at Kents Cavern, Torquay

Once again the annual Geopark event is running, and here in Torquay at a local attraction called Kents Cavern http://www.kents-cavern.co.uk/ we have a special event station GB6GEO running on all HF bands and 2m - http://www.qrz.com/db/GB6GEO

To quote from the Kents Cavern site - 'Kents Cavern is a prehistoric cave and award winning visitor attraction. The site was used by Britain’s earliest ancient humans thousands of years ago and today the cave is the only underground visitor centre in the UNESCO Global Geopark, a protected national monument and an internationally renowned prehistoric show cave'.

It's been a while since I have personally visited the caves, however it's definately worth a visit if you are ever in the Torbay area, and as the oldest recognisable human dwelling in Britain, eveidence has been found in the caves dating back around 1/2 million years ago.

The station is being run in conjunction with many other geopark stions not only in the UK but worldwide as well, all promoting their own local areas of natural interest.

I managed to work GB6GEO earlier, on every band from 160m to 6m, which was interesting, if nothing else it showed the signal differences for a multi-band antenna.

And here is the QSL card to prove the contacts !

 

It was good as well to catch up with Nick, 2E0GDQ, and his lovely YL, Tori, (not Amos) and also to meet for the first time, Paddy, M1EIW who owns the TR repeater (!! ;-) and also M6KAR, Karol, who is from Central Europe and loves VW Golf's

PC4T where are you ???

I have just tried to go on his blog at http://dutchhamradio.blogspot.com/ and received a 'blog not found' error - I hope that as Paul put it the 'summertime blues' haven't got to him ?

Hope that you are OK Paul, let us know.

73 Paul.

Not so tidy as Adam's shack..

I think I am going to have to ask Adam, M6RDP to come round a give my shack a tidy-up as I dont think I was born with that particular gene, and the GL generally keeps out of that area, unless she's after a hair band, of which she has 3 draws full.

Having said that I do love my 'organised' clutter, everything works as it should.

Unusual conditions on 20m ? Opinions..

Today from the mobile and with 10 watts I had contacts from my location in Paignton, Devon into N. Ireland with GI4EBS and MI5LYN/M, both were a good 5/9+20dB, with myself 5/9.

These two stations are around 320 miles away, to me this seems like a Sporadic E contact like you would get on 10m, or a typical inter'g' on 40m/80m, I've never heard any 'G' stations on skip on 20m before.

There was no fading on the signals either way.

BOGOFF

BOGOFF - No I wouldnt dream of being so rude, this acronym is common here in the UK, it stands for Buy-One-Get-One-Free, so rapidly getting to the point it means I have two blog subjects today.

First is that I made my first contact on the 'magic band' 6m this afternoon to IZ5MJZ, Rolando, NW Italy. It was a pretty difficult contact with literally only my callsign confirmed, still contact was made, the antenna I used was my ex-cb Sirio 827, a 5/8 vertical, it has a low swr on 6m, but how resonant it is I have no idea, but between my long wire and the loft mounted co-linear (which is a 6m/2m/70cm) the Sirio has the better 'ears'

Secondly, a pal of mine, Nick, 2E0GDQ kindly lent me a 2m handie after a recent conversation. I already have an Icom IC-E7 which I really like, but it's only 1.5W output, and after talking to Adam, M6RDP and his experiences with his Jing Tong, I am now in possesion of a WEIREWEI V1000, it's 2m with an output of 5W.

I have to say the extra power means I can access the local repeater even from downstairs in the house, something I can't do on the Icom, in fact I keyed up by the computer here and the mouse promptly froze up along with a very loud buzz through the speakers, RF overload !

Morse code generator kit.

One requirement for the Intermediate Licence 2E0xxx - (the next step on from the Foundation Licence -M6xxx) is that you have to build a small project, it's really just to show you are able to use a soldering iron correctly without damaging yourself or any components.

So I started to look on the internet as you do, I liked the idea of building a morse kit, the eventual idea being to learn the code, and what better way than on something you have built.

I found this company, Quasar Electronics, here in the UK, and here is the link to the kit I have purchased.

http://www.quasarelectronics.com/smart-kit/1123-morse-code-generator.htm

I am also gathering the bits and pieces required to build a small circuit to light a bulb, the idea here is that you know how to use a multimeter on it's various ranges including voltage and current.

Ultimately I want to take my Intermediate and Full licence around the same time, thus only requiring one lot of study.

Crazy XYL washing friendly steathly antenna

You may of heard of the Cobwebb antenna - http://www.g3tpw.co.uk/, this antenna is designed to work from 10-20m inc WARC bands, I really like the design, though I'd like something that worked 40m as well, and lose 10/12m as I have a vertical thats good for those bands.

How could I build an antenna that the GL would approve of ?

Looking out of my window earlier and I spotted my neighbours garden rotary clothes airer, it got me thinking about building a multi-band rotary dipole/quad loop which you can also hang the washing on, yes the clothes would de-tune the antenna, but I dont know about you bloggers, but I like to be out and about when the weather's good doing mobile radio or whatever.

Plus when the weather is no so good and raining, it figures there would be no washing out to dry, and so the drier/antenna could be used, as I generally like to stay in and work radio from home when it's wet out.

Crazy idea ?

CW heard on 6m

Well thats what I thought, until I realised it was the same call over and over again, and as I was tuned in at 50040, this is where the beacons transmit.

This is a time when I wish I knew my Morse, the speed of the code being sent was too quick to jot down, so I pressed DM780, part of ham radio Deluxe into action, and after a few attempts, it decoded...

G B 3 M C..

Google is most certainly your friend and soon I was looking at Location of GB3MBC (IO70OJ)

The distance from my QTH is 55 miles.

It turns out that this callsign is used for a number of beacons in the Cornwall area, including 4m,2m,70cm,23cm and 3cm.


I cant say I have ever heard this beacon before.

I have been REPORTED....

No not to the authorities for a crime, or even OFCOM, no I promise that I have been the most upstanding of citizens....no I have been reported on DX Sherlock, a nice visual dx spot watcher/map for 28 Mhz and VHF.

This was blogged very recently, cant think who it was, but many thanks to them.

http://www.vhfdx.info/spots/map.php?Lan=E&Frec=28&ML=M&Map=EU

I can only think I was reported because I sent a spot to http://www.dxwatch.com/dxsd1.php?f=20 after the 10m contact with CT2IVH, Paulo in anadia, Portugal, who gave me a 5/5.

The 10 metre band, music to my ears..

10m is currently the most open I have heard it in a long while, this is great news for any fans of this popular band !

Just worked (1800 BST) EA8BQM for my third contact into the Canary's, also CN3A in Morroco, but best DX so far on 10m, A65BP in the United Arab Emirates for 3534 miles.

Even better is that these were all worked from the mobile at my work location, of course in my 'lunch' break !

10m open last night.

Went along to the radio Club last night, and after a discussion about trying to contact a station in Central Africa on 12m, I ws asked if I've had any luck on 10m.

Weeks ago, yes, a couple of PSK31 contacts into S.America, but nothing since, in fact I said I am yet to make a voice contact on 10m, and would dearly love to having been an 11m op in my past radio life.

Anyway the club finished and I switch on the radio in the truck, to hear a very good 5/9 EA8CDI, Luiz in the Canary Islands calling CQ, not one to miss out I call back and am instantly acknowledged, despite a mini pile-up.

We continued to have a conversation as I drove home, he was never less than 5/7, with him 5/9+ at home, though gone about 15 mins later at 22.00 BST, looked like the propogation just went suddenly.

Absolutely chuffed to have made this contact.

1st Amateur radio QSL card recieved.

Had a nice little surprise in the post this morning, a QSL card from IV3PTU, Valenti, from Northern Italy, for a recent 40m PSK31 QSO.

Looks like I am going to have to get some of my own cards printed, as I have only been using eQSL.

Dartmoor portable op's

After our walk around Haytor on Sunday, the GL had to go to work on Monday, for me it was my final day off before going back myself today, so what better way to spend it than going back up the Moors and throwing some almost random wire up in the air.

Procured from work for such activities were some aluminium poles, these have been drilled and can be bolted together to form a length of around 20', along with the homebrew 3 band dipole and a nice quiet tourist free location around 1300' ASL after an hour's setting up I was ready to hit the bands.

20m was very open to Europe and Stateside, with 15m absolutely dead, and on 40m mostly Germany and a few inter 'G' heard.

I made no contacts on 20 or 15m, but did manage 3 inter g's on 40m with Bob, G3ITH in the Midlands, and Ian, 2E0IMT around 8 miles from Bob.

Also I made contact with another portable, this time well 'up north' with GM8UPI, Dave, in his caravan on the Isle of Skye, I was given a solid 5/5.

And here is picture of the mobile with the homebrew portable set-up.

To round off a great day I also spoke with Adam, M6RDP and Eddy, 2E0EDY, from Torquay and Exmouth respectively on 2m from Haytor Rocks, where we also tried accessing a couple of echolink nodes, no contacts though.

A couple of snags cropped up with the portable op's, one is that the pole needs a base as when I was guying one side of the dipole the pole swivelled in the scaffold bracket and crashed to the ground, resulting in lots of tangled wires.

Also with the 2 wire dipole, I need to figure out an easy way to pack and unpack it, so that I dont spend ages de-tangling wire, takes me back to my early kite-buggying days.

I did think about building a collapsable vertical, but I like the 2 wire dipole as it is truly resonant on 3 bands, a vertical would not be, two bands at best.

Working Weymouth and Walking..

Last minute idea as I woke up this morning, said to the GL, lets go up on Dartmoor and do a walk, only proviso is that I get to do some radio, I was greeted with a somewhat mute reaction, as she loves walking, but does not share my love of the radio.

All did not go to plan as I could not find the keys to my 'truck' a trusty old over-tyred jacked up Vitara mobile radio shack, so also missing was the key to my other car and the house key, not good.

As I have not used either vehicle since Thursday I could not remember where I had put them, anyway after turning the house upside-down as you do, they were found in my electronics tool box in the radio room...??

So were off, stop off at the local supermarket for lunch nibbles and we are up on Haytor (457 m, 1,499 ft ASL) by around 1300.

We have several books of walks published by Bossiney Books (http://www.bossineybooks.com/) who make a lot of local walk books for Devon and Cornwall.

The walk we did today takes in Haytor Rocks, but better still the disused Haytor granite quarry, which supplied granite for many of London's buildings including the 1832 London Bridge.

There are distinctive tracks with granite kerbs around the quarry, this was part of the Haytor granite tramway built in 1820.

Here you can clearly see the old track.

Here you can see a hole in the granite - this was the hinge for the moving part of the points.

This is a 'tourist' pose of me and the Icom IC-E7 which brings me nicely to my first contact on 2m simplex to a G7 (did not have pen/paper) in Weymouth.

Shortly after a mobile on dartmoor and finally a G0, Colin in Exmouth, this was on the Torbay repeater, which I accessed easily even behind and down from Haytor.

Overall a really good afternoon, which nearly never happened, thanks to my bucket-brain.