Clifton Country Club Net Sunday 18^th July 2021

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This net was mooted by Lawrie (G4FAA) in preparation for “freedom day” on Monday 19^th July when many of Covid 19 restriction are to be removed.

When I checked 80m 30mins before the net the band was almost deserted, with the exception of a couple of DL’s working AM on 3.675.

Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised a few minutes after 3pm (BST) to hear Lawrie (G4FAA) and Colin (G0UJK) in conversation on the net frequency.? I was slightly ‘late on parade’ as I had been monitoring the activity on 40m, in case poor conditions on 80m forced us to ‘up stakes’ and QSY to that band.

However, both Colin and Lawrie were very readable, albeit their signals were hovering around S3 to S7 in the dips and swells of long slow QSB.

Both Colin and Lawrie said had been saddened by the news that Peter(G3PJB) was now SK. Colin went on to say, knowing Peter had been a member of the Royal Signals ARS he passed the information regarding Peter’s passing to members of the local Royal Signals net. A number of those present on the RS net had known Peter and appreciated Colin making the effort to notify them.

Meanwhile the weather in the UK had turned decidedly tropical with expected ambient air temperatures of 28C to 31C expected by the end of the afternoon.

Lawrie said that he was operating in his conservatory where he was ‘melting’ in 30+ C, even with a 50watt fan directed at him. The heat had been the main factor for him not using his valve driven KW equipment, opting for the cooler solid-state Icom kit in lieu.

Colin said he was pleased that life was slowly returning to normal, being employed in the construction industry he was now on a three-day week and looked forward to the industry gaining momentum.? During the extra time at home Colin had been working on improving his UHF/VHF antennas, to this end he had deployed a new longer pole to support his 2m and 70cms arrays.

He also said that he had been spending time at Peter (G7ULL)’s QTH in Chislehurst as Peter was recovering from major surgery.

I am sure we all wish Peter (G7ULL) a speedy and full recovery.?

During his time at Peter’s hill top QTH Colin had worked both 2m and 70cms making contacts with ease. This had in part inspired Colin to upgrade his own VHF and UHF antennas.

I said that I had given a few points away during the VHF Field Day over the weekend of 3^rd & 4^th July. Disappointingly conditions were reasonably flat, although I worked into central France, eastern regions of Germany and northern Scotland with 50watts from my FT991A and an 8ele at 50ft. My usually reliable contacts in GW and GD were not heard. Last year I had the advantage of 100watts output of the TS2000. Saying that I found the receive characteristics on the FT991A were much superior.

Earlier this month I assisted Terry (M0TNE) who lives about half a mile from me to deploy a Hexbeam. My AA600 antenna analyser showed excellent the points of resonance and acceptable SWR on each of the six bands straight out of the box without any need for adjustment. This antenna has a fairly small footprint being a mere 6m in diameter and has proved very effective allowing Terry to hear and work stations from 20m to 6m that were not available to him before.

Lawrie said he was not sure what a Hexbeam was but assumed it was similar to the ‘cobweb’ design. I agreed there are similarities although the Hexbeam has the appearance of an inverted open umbrella and the feed arrangements are somewhat different. I reminded Lawrie that there is a photograph of a Hexbeam on page 88 of August’s edition of RadCom.

Colin told the group he had taken advantage of the recent periods of enhanced propagation on 2m working into SP and OK. His best DX for this season of ‘tropo’ and sporadic e was into Serbia, some 1300 Kms.

Lawrie suggested that I should come up on the 2m UKAC evenings held on the first Tuesday each month. Both he and Colin are regulars on these short evening sessions.? I noted the next session in my diary, but I did explain that I am the wrong side of high ground to my south which can prove awkward for working into north-west Kent, such that the GB3VHF beacon is barely readable.

Before the net I had received apologies from John Lambert (G3FNZ) who stated that his mobility problems prevented him accessing his ‘shack’.? From John Rose (G3OGE) who is blighted with serious local QRM together with a very restricted antenna system which makes radio very difficult. Also from Peter (G3RQZ) who was attending a family BBQ, well it was one the hottest days of the year. Peter went on to say that he hoped to attend Peter (G3PJB)’s funeral at Halstead on Thursday. And finally from Frank (G3WMR) who had family commitments in Kent.

I told Colin and Lawrie that as a result of the relaxation of Covid restrictions Suzanne and I are anticipating being ‘maritime mobile’ again reasonably soon. We had hoped to be visiting and cycling in Greenland and Iceland during August. However, the Greenland and Icelandic governments have placed restrictions on visitors from the UK due the very high rate of Covid infections here.

We are now booked on a shorter ‘nautical meander’ that will be staying in ‘home waters’ round the UK. We will be taking our KX3 and on gaining the Captain’s permission to operate (not in any way guaranteed) we will notify those on our ‘maritime mobile’ list as to operating frequencies and times.

At present we are looking at using a wire antenna in lieu of our centre loaded G-whip. This would remove the need to change the loading coil when moving bands, thereby lowering our ‘passenger contact profile’ by reducing the need to move between the operating position and the deck above where the antenna is deployed.

As the time reached 4pm (BST) it was decided to ‘tie the ribbons’ on the Clifton ‘freedom day’ net.

Catch you on the wireless!

73 es stay safe de Tony es Suzanne.

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