14 June 2012 - Special Event Station GS4WAB for WAB Olympic Torch Event - QTH Pete Bates GM4BYF

Details
Hits: 4249

The Lothians Radio Society operated Special Event Station GS4WAB from the QTH of Pete GM4BYF at Fairmilehead on 14th June 2012. This operation was to celebrate the presence of the Olympic Torch in the Edinburgh area on 13th and 14th June on its way to London for the Olympic Games. Operation was principally on SSB on 7.165 MHz, close to the WAB recommended frequency. Over 400 QSOs were made . 

 

Sally Hyder, 49, from Edinburgh, was nominated to carry the Olympic Torch outside Hollywood Palace in Edinburgh early on 14th June for her determination in battling MS and all the work she has done to promote Canine Partners who have helped to turn her life around.  Photo by Sheila Masson.

 

 

The following operator photos were taken by Peter GM4DTH and Alan GM3PSP in the order of operation.

 

The GS4WAB shack in the sunroom of Pete GM4BYF and Kay GM6KAY.

 

The HF rig was a Kenwood TS-2000X brought by Alan GM3PSP. Antennas were wire dipoles for 40m & 80m with a common coax feeder. There was no activity found on 2 metres.

 

Pete GM4BYF started off on 40m and ran into major pile-ups immediately, requiring lists to be complied and the stations worked in that order. Operating standards were excellent throughout the event.

 

Alan GM3PSP took over from Pete and continued working the pileups, stating that he was then going to visit his therapist! 

 

Peter GM4DTH dealt with the pileups in his usual calm GB2RS newsreader manner!

 

Vic GM3OWU brought his long experience of RAYNET working to the situation.

 

By the time that Brian GM8BJF arrived in the afternoon, the bands had become strangely quiet, which was attributed to an M-Class solar flare which had been reported. After an hour or two, conditions improved but not to the frantic level of the morning!

 

Brian MM0WZB brought his cool, confident operating style to the station.

 

Operation of GS4WAB continued until the late evening, when activity dropped to a low level. The majority of QSOs were made on 40m, with very little activity found on 80m or 20m and none on 2m. This was a one-day event for the Lothians Radio Society. On subsequent days other clubs put on stations in their areas visited by the Olympic Torch on its journey to London for the start of the Olympic Games on 27 July. Check out the WAB website for full details: www.worked-all-britain.co.uk.