News
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- Written by: Chris G4ZCS
- Category: News
- Hits: 81
First, may I wish you all a very happy New Year, with loads of DX.
My year ended with a month's haul of 315 contacts, including 60 US counties and a couple of US islands.
The new ones included both Kent and Newport from Rhode Island, Kern, San Luis Obispo, & San Benito in California, Los Alamos and Sandoval in New Mexico, plus El Paso in Wyoming. The grand county total is now 1107 out of a total of 3077.
The DXCC total is 206, however as I am working a lot of 60m (which is not included by the ARRL) my score shows up as 202 leaving me in 49th place behind Rob and George.
On the radio front, I have been messing about with the Icom 7610 Rx filtering in order to improve the received audio quality. This has bought about a great improvement and now exceeds the old Elecraft K3. This reminds me that as part of my impending Spring clean, I will be offering the K3 for sale. If you are interested then please contact either myself or Berni.
This month's picture is from a QSL card by 9Y4LDK. To quote the old Guinness advert 'imagine what two can do'.
Unfortunately the bureau is getting very slow, so no new cards for a while.
As I have been feeling a bit off lately, not too much writing for the month. Better next time.
Cheers
Chris, G4ZCS
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- Written by: Maintenance Guy
- Category: News
- Hits: 45
Terry G0SWS was on the 40m net this morning - this lovely sunrise over Mablethorpe beach was captured from his local town webcam.
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- Written by: Maintenance Guy
- Category: News
- Hits: 98
When was the last time you set yourself a new challenge?
What do you mean you're too busy, too old or too _____ ? (fill in the blank yourself)
This is my latest mission.
Can you believe that the Cuckfield ROC bunker has NEVER been activated? I couldn't believe it, but there are loads of bunkers that are in the same 'un-activated' state.
They may not all have the natural charm of a beachfront location, the wildlife rewards of a Local Nature Reserve or the panoramic views of a SOTA, but they all have a fascinating history, and I'm always interested in that.
It's sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole, researching Horsham ROC 2 Group HQ and it's associated network of Royal Observer Corps bunkers and infrastructure. I love history you can wander about the local area and experience first-hand. I always remind my long-suffering family members that when you're standing right next to something like this, the only dimension that displaces you from the full reality of these places is the small matter of time. What can I say... my kids spent untold hours growing up in museums.
Forget being dragged around retail parks and run-down town centres buying over-priced Christmas tat that nobody wants, and get bunkering with UKBOTA!
Berni M0XYF
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- Written by: Maintenance Guy
- Category: News
- Hits: 83
Finally! It's only taken them 10 years, but Chris G4ZCS will be happy!
Read the ARRL notification here: https://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-allocates-60-meter-world-wide-amateur-band-approved-at-wrc-15-continues-amateur-use-of-four-addi
It's not everything that US amateurs wanted, but at least (hopefully) the band allocation itself will now be officially recognised for awards etc.
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- Written by: Maintenance Guy
- Category: News
- Hits: 83
Today saw the re-imagining of the once iconic and globally respected British Rail (if you can filter out the memories of what it was actually like towards the end...) with the government offering a glimpse into the future by recycling something that looks for all the world like the misty-eyed past.
It reminded me of the dirty, smelly interiors of the slam-door rolling stock I used to ride to work, and I was reminded once more of those days just a few hours later, when I was presented with this version of the classic moquette seat fabric from back then.
I think we're going to need a bigger allocation for data-modes...
Forty metres at tea-time. It was madness. Everyone was just pouring on more and more power, trampling deliberately over the weakest signal on the band like animals. When you're having to fit 50 data exchanges into the space taken up by one SSB signal, something's not right.
Welcome to the future. I hope our railways have better luck, but I doubt it somehow.
Berni M0XYF
