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- Written by: Chris G4ZCS
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Well, here we are, another month gone with Spring arriving and we will see what the equinox propagation will bring.
Following on from last month, I have been trying to get my new radio to run reliably with my computer log, the CW programs, and the FT8 programs. Because of the problems, I set up the radio with a spare laptop to test it. All went well and with only 5W a good number of USA stations were worked together with 4 new DXCCs added to the year’s target.
The connections to the main PC were a nightmare to get to work reliably with all sorts of settings that sometimes worked and other times caused a complete system lock-up. Having spent a ridiculous amount of time going round in circles, with some help, I eventually nailed down the problem.
The new radio & its cable were picking up signals in the range of 2.5 to 5.1 GHz (Bluetooth & WiFi) well out of its design range. Thanks to Berni he suggested the problem might not be the settings but could be the USB cable in use. So, following his advice I bought a new one that is double shielded and has proper ferrites on each end.
Bingo! It all works as it should have all along using the settings I had been trying. (Many thanks Berni)
Lesson learnt? Don’t rely on junk box components, they are there for a reason HI. HI.
Seriously, I am reminded of all the lessons I learnt from the 'old guys' - most of which I seem to have forgotten.
Back to the DXing.
The 1st of the month brought the ARRL contest which gave me a couple of new counties. The next few days produced D68Z, ND7DX/KH6, VP2MMN, V44KAI, and SV5DZR. On the 7th I managed both Nigel VP8TXF and Ian VP8CIW on their DXpedition on the Falklands. On the 9th I got VK9CU, and the 10th EP4HR, XE2KK, C6ACK, OA1F, as well as MP7DX on Guernsey.
To top-off the first half of the month I managed ZL4TT, the first ZL of the year and the first CW DX on the new rig after the big fix! The third week showed a slight change in conditions with Africa and Alaska on 15m and Korea on 20m. Even Ghana on 60m with 90W and FT8.
In the last few days, the gremlins struck again. This time a really bad noise background to the lunchtime net. It was so bad there had to be a problem somewhere. On reflection my noise floor has been gradually increasing for several months, and it was this that had prompted the new radio. Having checked all the radio settings, I remembered the junk box problem. Surely not again?
So, I went on a loose-wire hunt. Success! The patch coax between the ATU and its power supply made an awful noise when waggled. This cable is one of only two I have ever bought ready-made, although it is five years old. Ten minutes with a big soldering iron and back to good as new. The 15m band went quiet as a mouse and the SWR dropped to 1:1. During the tests after, I managed to work South Africa and Lombok Isl’ with hardly any background noise. Another problem solved!
Attached is another present from the postman. This American Samoa activation used an early version of the Radio In a Box (RIB). These are hopefully going to open-up many protected Pacific islands to DXpeditions in the future.
The 29th and 30th was the big SSB contest that I had been looking forward to having a go at. Unfortunately, medical problems intervened, so not this year. However, the month ended with a score of over 170 for the year.
Next month I’ll be reporting on some real DX. One contact in Haywards Heath and a second outside Brighton Hospital. Both in full colour!
73's
Chris G4ZCS
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- Written by: Maintenance Guy
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Spent a fun afternoon up at Jack & Jill on Friday. Checked into the Lunchtime Net at half-one, and when that was done, I set up my new (old) SGC SG-230 antenna tuner on the roof of my car, and attached it to about 8m of wire held aloft by a 10m fibreglass pole, itself supported by a drive-on mount.
I picked up the tuner off eBay a while ago, and although most of them seem to be cream-crackered in 2025, this one still works pretty well, though like most of us old folks, it does seem to need a little RF up it's coax to warm up before it'll behave properly.
Another antenna system to add to my growing collection. My long-suffering wife now refers to my car as the 'radio van'.
Anyhow, 2 hours operation on FT8, 39 contacts made on 9 bands. Yes, 9 bands I tell you!
My last article on POTA raised a little bit of interest in a couple of members, so come on you lot - get to a park near you soon!
Berni M0XYF
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In my experience February is usually a quiet month. Following on from the new year rush and before the equinox propagation changes. January finished with 116 DXCCs in my log.
So, it has been a good time for rag-chewing and discussing the merits of Whippet racing! On the 7th after a net with poor conditions, Gavin picked up a WA1 call and had a story swap about the old days. When they finished, I jumped in and discovered that Rich and myself also had much in common. His station is a top of the USA range one, located on a man-made island in Eastern Florida surrounded by salt water and the island is covered with ground rods permanently below sea level. No wonder he has a good signal!
'Race to the Top'
Uploading my log to ClubLog on a regular basis, I noted that there are several other club members doing the same. One in particular, George - G4PTJ, seems to lead the pack most of the time. I have been leapfrogging with Rob M0KPD/M up to 100 DXCCs for this year. I recognised several other locals, some of whom are thought to be 'big time DXers'.
Having spent some time on the WWW, I have joined some nets. One of these gives advance notice of DX activity. Using this information, I picked up a very rare island - AS-161 off the west coast of Kerela state in India. Just a few days of activation, and hopefully the team will work from more rare ones soon. Amazingly the very next contact was with a VK9 on Norfolk Island. Just 100W on CW! Now to get the card?
Retirement
As I mentioned last month, I have been thinking of retiring my K3 for some time, well, I did it!
I now have a shiny new rig - an Icom IC-7610 - that has reminded me that I’m a real Dinosaur. Gone are all the mini-buttons with half a dozen functions each, and in, is a glossy screen with loads of menus. I’m sure that I will get to use some of the obscure functions eventually, however the improvement is dramatic and makes me wonder why I delayed the update for so long!
At the time of writing, I've had a week of fun setting up all the functions I always wanted or needed, however there remain several small niggles that are being obstinate to fix. In fact after a week of frustration not being able to get FT8 audio out of the computer and into the rig, I discovered that I am not alone. There is a bug interacting between JTDX and Windows. Apparently, it affects WSJT-X as well. If anyone else has this problem please let me know the fix.
Back to the DX chase, on the 18th I worked W1AW for the first time this year followed by a string of US stations with interesting calls. W1SE, W0W, and W0RLD. Not to be out done the Russians have R1CE and many more like it. On the 24th I managed VK9XU on Christmas Island, this was the first time since 2012 I had even heard them.
The postman has been busy again with the first card in from a string of rare Indian islands. This one, AU2S, Sagar Is’l on AS-153 from late last year.
Targets? I have decided to aim for 300 DXCCs as I am just over halfway already.
Condolences & Remembrance
As the month draws to a close, we remember Val Nelson who kept us fed & watered at many a junk sale and amongst many other occasions supporting the club, she will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with Russell G7TMR in this time of sadness.
[Webmaster] I echo Chris' remarks, and know that many members are indeed thinking of Russell, also a long-term supporter of the club of course. Deepest sympathies.
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As you may or may not be aware, 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of the passing of Louis Varney.
The MSARS committee think it appropriate that his famous callsign, G5RV (bequeathed to the society by Louis' widow Nelida) is activated more often from this year.
Society members have already given the callsign several outings since January 1st, and indeed MSARS have implemented a procedure by which any UK-based member may use it to celebrate Louis' achievements in (and lasting contributions to) amateur radio. It is unashamedly also a way to help promote Mid Sussex Amateur Radio Society going forward.
To view both previous and future activations of the G5RV call, please refer to the special 'G5RV On The Air' calendar at the bottom of our main Calendar page.
Members wishing to participate in activating the call, please check the calendar first. Anyone else who just wants to get the exclusive call in their log should keep an eye out here too!
Applicable rules for use are posted in the Members Section.
The G5RV logs will be uploaded electronically to QRZ.com, ClubLog.org and LoTW (Logbook Of The World). All files must be submitted to the club secretary in ADIF format (.adi files). No paper logs will be accepted from club members, purely because it causes extra work for our already overworked committee. The club are currently preparing an eQSL card, and also one which may be sent out via the Bureau. Exciting!
In related news, I've received some fantastic old QSL cards from Ken G3WYN.
Ken writes:
'Here are a couple of cards sent to me by Louis over the years.
One from his first ever contact from Ireland in 1978 when he an Nelida spent a week with Sean, Gerry and I in Ireland with our wives, and another sent in 1982 confirming a 10m contact with me whilst he (and Nelida) were in Uruguay on one of their annual South American trips'.
Wonderful nostalgia.
73,
Berni M0XYF
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Bob had kindly shared some of his personal photos - of times he spent visiting Mid Sussex over the years.
Hope you enjoy having a flick through. I'll post them a few at a time as he emails them over to me. These are apparently from April 2010.
Regards,
Berni M0XYF
