Pete GM4BYF, Mike GM4IGS, Brian GM4DIJ, Peter GM4DTH, Danny GM6CMQ,
Andy MM0FMF, Norrie GM1CNH. All photographs and report by Peter GM4DTH.
The GM3HAM/P Contest Group of the Lothians Radio Society operated in the RSGB 2m Trophy Contest on 3-4 September 2016 from our usual site in the hills near Gatehouse of Fleet in Dumfries & Galloway.
Equipment: Yaesu FT736 plus linear amplifier.
Main aerial: 17-element M² narrow beam width.
Secondary: wide-beam circularly-polarised 4-element Tonna. (Not high enough)!
Claimed score: 194 QSOs; 72,893 points; Best Dx: F6APE; LOC IN97pi; Dist. 872km.
The weather was reasonable on Friday afternoon. With the forecast indicating poor weather for Saturday, construction started early. The aerial system and the tent were in place by early evening. A trip was made to Gatehouse and the Bank of Fleet hotel for the evening meal. The food in the Bank was good and the helpings were generous. Alas it lacks quality beer so afterwards we walked to the Mason's Arms for a refreshment.
The Saturday weather was dull with light showers. The station was assembled in dry conditions and was tested well before the start of the contest. Propagation under those conditions was not exciting but contacts were steadily filling the log including the south coast and France. We had two visitors from the Livingston club, Bob MM0XRI and Rob 2M0RWH, who were amazed by the range we were achieving. Their previous experience was limited to low performance local stations. The tent was well lit by a LED strip light. The night time photographs show how effective it was. The contact rate had fallen to virtually zero by one AM. At that time we packed in for the night.
Sunday morning was bright and sunny with a clear blue sky. The early birds had the station operational. Propagation felt better and activity was boosted by other contests overlapping the Trophy times. The last contact was made back to Edinburgh with Colin GM4HWO using a basic station. He initially had problems with the settings of his transceiver which was set for split frequency working. Once overcome the contact was made.
Click for Video by Peter GM4DTH, including beautiful aerial (drone) shots of the site.
Andy MM0FMF and Danny GM6CMQ erecting the operating tent.
Getting the beam ready for erection.
Up she goes with the help of the gin-pole.
Slightly aerial view of the completed site taken by Peter's UAV - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. He also shot aerial video of the site (click to view).
Andy MM0FMF pounding out the CW.
Pete GM4BYF hard at work on the computer, looking for spots
Danny GM6CMQ (in camouflage gear).
Brian GM4DIJ trying to pull tht weak signal out of the noise.
Brian GM4DIJ
Norrie GM1CNH with visitors from the Livingston club, Bob MM0XRI and Rob 2M0RWH
Pete GM4BYF & Mike GM4IGS
Nice shot of the equipment (see list above) with Mike GM4IGS.
Mie GM4IGS, Brian GM4DIJ, Norrie GM1CNH & Andy MM0FMF
Isn't modern technology wonderful!
The time came quickly to dismantle the station which was rapidly achieved despite a short heavy shower.
The following days were used to check the accuracy of the logs and to eliminate typing errors. As in other contests there were some stations who were inconsistent with the required contest exchange. Once the results are known we will revise any contacts flagged as failed and determine the cause. Last year a contact was flagged as having the wrong callsign. The flagging was faulty and it turned out that we were that station's best DX!