I worked from home using a simple home made 1/2 size g5rv squeezed into my garden as an inverted V with the legs bent near the ends.
Not the ideal setup but at least it allowed me to work the contest from home.
The classic section allows you to operate a total of 24hrs over the 2 days, I managed 13.5hrs running 100w from a ft 710 and M1MM logging software.
So even with a fairly simple set-up you can achieve a respectable result. So why not give some of these international competitions a go! You never know how you will fare.
73
Ernie
Andy MM7IFX – Report
CLICK – To View
Hi all,
The results CQ WW SSB 2024 have arrived and my first contest with the new callsign MM7IFX was a great pleasure and a new Scottish record, which I am extremely happy about. We are waiting for the results of the CW round and the first club classification for WEST OF SCOTLAND ARS.
Andy’s The Mobile ‘Shack’ – CLICK To View
And looking at CQWW ‘Standings’ for Scottish Stations:
I thought I’d put a bit of a report on here for everyone to see, a little on the late side as I’ve only just managed to sort out and fill in the gaps in the log! We had a good few hours operating GS4AGG up at the club shack, over the 3 hours we’d made nearly 70 QSOs, with some repeat call ins… although this isn’t a contest so it doesn’t really matter too much how many you make, the aim is purely about promoting activity on the 2m band (specifically FM). It’s supposed to operate like a traditional net, but in reality that doesn’t end up being the case so much, in my experience the vast majority just call in, some come back later on.
Equipment in use at the Shack
As most of you are aware the shack tower is still not reinstated, however the temporary pole setup that we’d figured out, and Archie helped put up on both our test run and the actual event worked pretty well. Not quite as well as it would’ve been on the tower when extended but by most accounts we were still putting out a very strong signal.
Ernie GM0EZP Operating
I should hope so after spending £50 getting a 15m length of fancy italian coax to use, rather than an old length of RG213 that was lying about that’s probably older than me! In theory that worked out to us putting out about 170W ERP.
Jack GM4COX Operating
Overall everything went pretty smoothly and we managed to put the station on for the full 3 hours, with only a couple of quieter periods for 5 mins or so. The station was operated by myself, Jack GM4COX and Ernie GM0EZP, with support from Archie GM4KNU and David MM7FZU.
Monday the 6th February 2023, at Clydebank Crematorium, saw a large gathering of family, friends and amateurs (inc a good turnout of WoSARS Members) paying farewell to WoSARS (and CAMHAMS ) Member – Gavin MM1BXF.
Although the wx was a bit grey outside, the proceedings within the Chapel brighten up the winter day with recollections of Gavin’s short but full life.
Led by celebrant Pamela Clocherty, with reflections from Bex – Gavin’s XYL, a ‘timeline’ covering Gavin’s early years at Dumbarton & Aberdeenshire, through his work years in the telcoms cellular industry, the Czech Republic (OK), returning to Cambridgeshire, then finally along with Bex’s, back to Scotland. His early introduction to radio and the mischievous side of it along with his ‘well-kent’ buddy, accomplice and Best Man – Allan MM1BJP. His fascination with the hobby and the ‘amassing’ of kit which never seemed to diminish, to Bex’s exasperation.
The celebration also included a eclectic selection of music which again reflected Gavin’s (and to a certain extent Bex’s) varied tastes.
Farewell Gavin, there was so much to look forward to, but it wasn’t to be.
Checkout more photos of Gavin on the WoSARS Gallery – HERE.
And a short video of Gavin operating from WoSARS Shack, 144 SSB, September 2021 – HERECourtesy of Ray GM4CXM.
Well it all started with an email from James 2M0RMP ………..
“…………..26th Oct 20……………….Jack can you email me your number I have a wind up mast that needs a new home…………..”
In discussion with James, he said he’d met a nice lady who lived just outside St Andrews in Fife and had a tower in her back garden with a ‘protrusion’ upon it; both were required to be removed.
A VersaTower with a ‘Protrusion’
Well what else could we do but help out this nice lady with a trip though to the sunny ‘Fife Rivera’.
And indeed, in June the ‘gang’, Alan GM4TOQ, Sam GM4BGS, Ted 2M0VGY and yours truly headed through to the ‘sunny’ east coast to administer the necessary surgery.
The Fife ‘TEAM’ (Picture Courtesy of Alex Paris)‘Dropping’ The TowerSam & Ted Perform Surgery – Removing The ‘Protrusion’
Sparks ‘Fly’ As Alan Cuts The Ground Post
It was intended to try and remove the Ground Post from below the surrounding grass level but this proved beyond the kit we had with us on the day, resorting to cutting it off with a grinder. Not ideal but it did the trick.
And WoSARS would like to thank Alex Paris and family for allowing us to remove their elaborate ‘flagpole’ and return it to it’s rightful place in the hierarchy of radio towers. Thanks folks!
And discussions are initially on-going within the Committee as to the use that the tower will be put to. These will be presented to the Members in due course as to their own thoughts.
And, who was the original amateur that owned the house? Alex had no information but did have some communication from Ofcom – with just a reference number on it, but no amateur callsign – a fat lot of use that is! Well I carried out a wee bit investigative work using QRZ.com’s search facilities and tracked GM4DPC ; still listed on QRZ, though a SK for many years? (he left the QTH many years ago). I contacted Ofcom on Alex’s behalf, to inform them that GM4DPC no longer lived at the QTH. They acknowledged accordingly and as a consequence his entry in QRZ maybe removed?
Oh the ‘Protrusion’? Not too sure, but I think it’s was being used as part of a Wi-Fi node for the village years ago when there was limited landline/mobile internet facilities? I have it at my QTH and at the time of writing this article, I have still to ‘sweep’ it?