At the time of writing the Cricket World Cup is underway here in the UK. And to help celebrate/promote this event on the airwaves the RSGB has setup 21 or so Special Event Stations for members of the RSGB Contest Club to Operate. So far we have managed to get over 140000 QSOs on various…
Continue readingSatellite Setup
In one of my earlier posts I mentioned I had started looking at getting setup for operating on satellites. Well I have finally managed to get this working. The setup consists of the following: 2m Wimo X-quad beam with phasing harness to make it RHC Polarised 70cm Wimo X-quad beam with phasing harness to make…
Continue readingContest Callsign
Over the past few months I have been trying to work out what contests I have taken part in that qualify for my application for a contest callsign. I had not realised but I came first in the CQ WPX CW last year, so that gives me two points for the 5 I need. I…
Continue readingRecent Activities
So I have not posted for some time, family life has been busy and work has also been keeping me away from being able to play. So what have I been up to? Since my last post on the new kit I have been enjoying using the Flex 6600M, its a great radio for CW,…
Continue readingNew addition to the shack…
I had been considering the new Flex 6600 for some time. I liked the GUI because it had and easier to navigate structure and the old PowerSDR front end was getting a bit tired. Another feature that I found myself missing more was the knobs.. I was using the Hercules DJ console more and more…
Continue readingGR0MGM – Special call for Royal Wedding
Due to the Royal Wedding station in the UK have been able to register for a special callsign to operate from the 19th May until the 21st May 2018, I decided to get one to see what I could do. I managed to get a couple of hours free this afternoon and thought I would…
Continue reading1st SOTA, at last!
For the past two years or so I have been very keen to try doing some SOTA activities. I have been building up the equipment I need to do so and I have been building antennas. The biggest hurdle was learning CW. I passed my Class A RAE license back on 1989 with included 12wpm…
Continue readingPortable 3 Band EFHW antenna
So finally the UK has been granted some nice weather, so I took the opportunity to try to finish making and tune the 3 Band EFHW that I have made to go with the MTR5B cw only Trx. I got the idea from reading Michael G0POT’s blog and attending his SOTA presentation at last years…
Continue readingSotabeams Pico Traps
So since getting the little MTR 5B, I was thinking what antenna to use with it. I have the Sotabeam 40-30-20m linked dipole which works very well, but takes a nit longer to put up. I have been using a PackTenna Mini which is a 29ft end fed with my Kx2 and its easy and…
Continue readingNew Treat – LNR MTR 5B
I am enjoying CW so much and I am spending most of my operating time on this great mode. I am still learning and one of my goal has been to get out and do some SOTA activations. I have started some chasing and that ii good fun when I get the chance. So I…
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