Introduction
The GB0BR Railways On The Air (ROTA) amateur radio Special Event at Horsted Keynes Bluebell Railway Station took place on Saturday 23rd September 2023, with operators from the Downlands Radio Group Gavin G6DGK, Kevin G4XBG, Chris G4TZA, Aharon 2E1ALC & Chris G3YTU with Phil M5BTB assisting with the logging. It was good to welcome Bob G0BUX who helped with the setting up of the mast and antenna in the morning.
It was good to see Berni M0XYF, Chris M7VJE and Kim G7AIE who were welcome visitors during the day from the Mid Sussex Amateur Radio Society (MSARS). The mobile phone and data signals at the top of the field above the car park have very poor coverage and help from Chris M7VJE with accessing the QRZ.COM website to check callsigns and station details was most welcome.
Radio equipment and antenna
The half size Doublet (66ft - i.e. cut for 40m) was used with the apex at about 15ft a.g.l. supported by a mast made from NATO glass reinforced fibreglass interlocking poles. The ends of the antenna wire were raised up to about 8ft a.g.l. using two fibreglass and aluminium decorators’ poles.
The TFA Battery Digital Clock worked this time with three spare batteries just in case and was readable even in the sunlight. The Icom IC-7000 transceiver worked well with the MFJ-974HB balanced line tuner. There was a loose connection at one time between the radio transceiver and the tuner which resulted in a very low transmitter output. This was discovered quickly and the UHF PL-259 connector on the tuner tightened and full transmitter power was restored.
Railways On The Air stations contacted
A total of 112 contacts were made of which there were 19 ROTA Stations on 40m with signal strengths being quite good most of the time although there was some QSB (fading) and continental interference later in the afternoon.
Logsheets & ADIF
The GB0BR log sheets have been typed into an Excel spreadsheet and imported into the DX Shell ADIF Master program and saved as an ADIF file. This has been uploaded to eQSL so that anyone who contacted us can download a QSL card automatically for contacts that have been made.
Chris G3YTU
Thanks
MSARS members were congenially invited to attend the station by the Downland Radio Group, for which we are are very grateful. It was a magnificent day out, and the weather treated us all very well. This is one of my favourite events of the year, and it didn't disappoint in 2023. The beautifully constructed antenna (by Chris G3YTU) performed really well all day. If you want a lesson in quality wire antenna construction, you won't find better than G3YTU's creations.
No tent required this year, as the breeze on top of the hill was mild, and the temperatures were quite pleasant in the sun, if a little chilly in the shade early on. Chris must have been boiling hot in his arctic survival suit.
Hope you enjoy the photos, and thanks to Aharon 2E1ALC for the top one.
It was great to see everybody, and the MSARS folks were made very welcome. Let's hope that between us, we can organise many more events such as these, as it would be a great shame if such Special Event Stations don't get the support they need to carry on into the future.
Berni M0XYF
