6-7 July 2013 – VHF NFD – Gatehouse of Fleet

Photos by Alan GM3PSP & Colin GM4HWO

The GM3HAM Contest Group of the Lothians Radio Society had great weather for VHF NFD 2013 which we operated again from our site in the hills above Gatehouse of Fleet in Dumfries & Galloway. There were ten operators working on the 6m, 4m, 2m and 70cm bands where we made significantly better scores than last year. Conditions were excellent, including some aurora and auroral-E. Our total number of points was more than double that of last year. On the Saturday we were visited by Andre GM3VLB and XYL Veronica.

Submitted Scores

   Band   QSOs   Score      Best Dx        Grid       km    2012 Score

6m      133     43239    LA/DK2BJ    JO37nx    771     20556 

4m      111     32292    G0FBB/P      JO01ld     538     25398

2m     331    122672    F1USF        JN23cn   1396     53579

70cm    67      23907    F5ICN         JN03BF   1334     7156

TOTAL SCORE:  222,110     2012:   106,689

We were Overall Runner-Up and Leading Station in Scotland (Cockenzie Quaich).

We were Band Leader on both 50MHz and 70MHz.

 

On arrival at the site on late Friday afternoon the first priority was to get the sleeping tents pitched.

 

Then it was off to the Masonic Arms in Gatehouse for a few diet lemonades before dinner.

L-R: Mike GM4IGS, Pete GM4BYF. Colin GM4HWO, Alan GM3PSP, Brian GM4DIJ,

Danny GM6CMQ, Terry GM3WUX & Brian GM8BJF

 

… followed by dinner, when we were joined by Andre GM3VLB (behind Mike GM4IGS)

and his XYL Veronica (3rd from left), visiting Gatehouse in their camper.

 

Brian GM8BJF and Andre GM3VLB.

 

 Then it was back to the site for a few more diet lemonades before turning in.

We were joined by Chris MM0ZCT and his OM Robin GM4YPL, here with Brian GM4DIJ.

  

 In the morning our tasks were to erect the antennas and tents, and install

the equipment in time for the 3pm start, which allowed plenty of time.

Here Brian GM4DIJ is getting the 50MHz beam ready for erection. 

It was converted to 70MHz operation the following day.

 

Blind operator Terry GM3WUX from Glasgow, joining us for VHF NFD for the second time,

did a great job assembling the 2m yagi. Pete GM4BYF is on the right.

 

Terry also helped with the erection of the 2m beam.

 

Danny GM6CMQ, Brian GM8BJF and Chris MM0ZCT fitting the 70cm yagi to the mast.

 

The 70cm yagi was light enough to erect without the need for a gin-pole. 

 

The 70cm mast almost up.

 

The large 6m beam required a gin-pole and a lot of muscle-power to erect

but without any problems.

 

Another nice shot of the 6m / 4m station. The take-off from the site at 650 ft asl is

outstanding in all directions except north. Here we are looking SW towards the Isle of Man,

which is visible from this site on clear days.

 

We were well-equipped with two generators, Colin’s on the left and Alan’s on the right.

 

Andre GM3VLB (on the right, with a VHF beam neatly fitted to his head) and XYL Veronica drove

their camper up to the site. Also L-R: Danny GM6CMQ, Robin GM4YPL and Chris MM0ZCT. 

 

 With all the equipment set up about two hours before the start,

Chris MM0ZCT got in some archery practice, watched by Brian GM4DIJ and OM Robin GM4YPL.

 

Brian GM4DIJ logging while Mike GM4IGS operates the 6m station on the Saturday.

 

 

Terry GM3WUX is a very fine operator and worked on the 6m station,

including making a number of auroral QSOs on CW on the Saturday afternoon.

 

Terry brought several classic keys and paddles for CW operation on 6m / 4m. 

 

Terry waiting for his next operating shift!

 

Colin GM4HWO on the 2m station.

 

Brian GM8BJF & Danny GM6CMQ operating 70cm.

 

Danny GM6CMQ tuning 70cm.

 

The team divided into two shifts on late Saturday eafternoon, allowing one

group to go down to the Masonic Arms while the other continued operating.

They then changed-over mid-evening. 

L-R: Brian GM8BJF, Mike GM4IGS & Pete GM4BYF; Alan GM3PSP behind camera.

 

Terry GM3WUX and Mike GM4IGS back on 6m.

 

The annual spooky shot of Pete GM4BYF operating 2m late into the evening.

 

Sunday morning saw the start of another fine day in paradise.

 

But it meant work for Brian and Mike (and most of the rest of the crew)

 to take down the large 6m beam, reconfigure it for 4m and re-erect it.  

 

Robin GM4YPL operating 70cm while Danny GM4CMQ logs.

 

Colin GM4HWO on 2m with Chris MM0ZCT logging while Pete GM4BYF looks on.

 

 Pete GM4BYF operating 2m while Alan GM3PSP keeps the log.

 

Artistic amateur radio still-life shot!

 

 

Final group shot after a very successful VHF NFD with about double the scores than last year on all bands.

L-R: Alan GM3PSP, Brian GM4DIJ, Danny GM6CMQ, Brian GM8BJF, Colin GM4HWO,

Mike GM4IGS, Terry GM3WUX,  Pete GM4BYF, Robin GM4YPL & Chris MM0ZCT. 

 

 

 

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