1-3 July 2022 - GM3HAM/P - RSGB VHF NFD - Gatehouse of Fleet.

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Station GM3HAM/P was operated in RSGB VHF NFD from our usual site in the hills behind Gatehouse of Fleet in Dumfries & Galloway at locator IO74WV. Operators included Pete GM4BYF, Brian GM4DIJ, Peter GM4DTH, Mike GM4IGS, Norrie GM1CNH (& son Andrew), Danny GM6CMQ & John 2M0JTU. We were joined by several welcome members of the Wigtownshire ARC including Ian GM3SEK, who operated on 2m.  

Ian reports: The other Wigtownshire ARC members who were able to attend were Michael 2M0FMJ, Jon 2M0HDL and his son Lewis. (It was also the first time we had all three met in person for more than two years)! In the nature of things, they were all a bit awestruck on their first visit to a full-on VHF contest site, but they learned a lot and I'm sure they will be back.

Wx: many showers on Saturday, fewer on Sunday. Windy & showery during take-down.. 

Station managers: 6m (Sat) / 4m (Sun): Brian GM4DIJ & Mike GM4IGS; 2m: Peter GM4DTH; 70cm: Pete, GM4BYF.

    Submitted scores:

Band    QSOs   Points     Best-DX    Dist. km

6m:         52      19,923      LY1KAP/P      1886 

4m:         52      15,716       G5LK/P           622 

2m:        118     36,164       F5SGT/P         754 

70cm:     44      15, 651      OR6T              749

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2022-08-17 VHF NFD RESULTS - LRS GM3HAM/P

          1. Restricted Sec. - 2nd place - cert. 

          2. 50MHz - Band Leader - cert.

          3. 70MHz - Band Leader - cert.

          4. 144MHz - Runner-up - cert.

          5. 432MHz - 3rd place overall.

           Click for RSGB results page.

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On arrival on the Friday evening, the tents were erected. We then adjourned to the Masonic Arms in Gatehouse for an excellent dinner where the large portions were appreciated!

Colin GM4HWO was unable to attend due to Covid virus, so his usual delicious bacon rolls were greatly missed at breakfast!

Report in prep - psp.

Photos tnx Peter GM4DTH & Brian GM4DIJ.

 

 

 

 Erecting antennas on the Saturday morning.

 

 SWL Andrew & OM Norrie GM1CNH, John 2M0JTU

 

SWL Andrew turning the beam.

 John 2M0JTU working on a beam.

 

 The 4m station with 11-element yagi beam at 10m agl.

Brian GM4DIJ & Mike GM4IGS at the 6m/4m station. 

 

 The 6m/4m station with the magnificent 6m beam built by Brian DIJ many years ago.

It was lowered and converted to 4m early on the Sunday morning.

 

 Fallow-deer seen in the field near the tents.

 

Late Saturday evening - 2m still active.

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6m/4m Station GM3HAM/P Report - Brian GM4DIJ & Mike GM4IGS

6m Report by Brian GM4DIJ:

We arrived on the Friday, but little could be done apart from putting up the scout tent and measuring out the mast sections. The weather looked a bit threatening.
 
The next day, the weather had improved, but it was quite breezy. Ian GM3SEK arrived at about 9 to provide much needed help in putting the masts together. When the 6m beam went up, we found the scaffold clamps were slipping, so down it came for tightening, We had to replace one since it no longer gripped properly.
 
After the mast went up  myself and Mike assembled the station. At this point with 2 hours to go, I spotted I'd left the logging laptop back at Sandhead. Fortunately Mike had his and we got the necessary software and Internet connection going. Lessons learned - look at the checklist before driving off!
 
Conditions on 6m weren't too good and it was very slow. We did manage to make 3 SpE contacts which helped cheer the score up. Most of the rest was weak tropo. Portable activity was much lower than in previous years. 
 
Myself and Mike GM4IGS operated for the entire 6 hours

 

6m (50MHz) GM3HAM/P Entry:

 Equipment: IC-7300 - 100W.

Antenna: 9-element yagi (GM4DIJ)

52 valid QSOs, 19,923 pts, best DX: LY1KAP/P 1886km.

 

 6m QSOs map.

 

4m Report by Brian GM4DIJ

There wasn't much to do to change the equipment as it was identical to 6m. However we did have to re-configure the antenna for 4m. We were a bit late in doing this, but judging by 6m activity, and previous years experience it wasn't going to matter. Swapping the antenna was painless and we were on the air at 9.30, only 1/2 hour late.
 
As predicted, it was slow going again. There was no SpE, but signals were a bit better than 6m.
 
The only major trauma, was when were  taking the mast down and the gin-pole fell apart. Swift action prevented the antenna collapsing in a heap I'm guessing the slippy coupling found its way onto the gin pole.
 
Again myself and Mike were on for the full 6 hours.

 

4m (70MHz) GM3HAM/P Entry:

Equipment:  IC7300  50W.

Antenna: 11-elment (GM4DIJ)

52 QSOs, 15,716 pts, best DX: G5LK/P, 622km.

  

 4m QSOs map.

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2m (144MHz) station GM3HAM/P: report and photos by Peter Dick GM4DTH

Operators: Ian GM3SEK, Peter GM4DTH, Danny GM6CMQ, John 2M0JTU.

Equipment: Elecraft K3 transceiver + transverter + LDMOS amp., pwr 100W

Antenna: 17-element M2 yagi at 10m agl, 195m asl.

Score: 118 valid QSOs, 36, 164 pts. Best DX: F5SGT/P; IN88KD; 754km.

Propagation felt "average" as far as northern France. One instance of long-range propagation by meteor-scatter or sporadic-E with station IQ5NN in Loc. JN63GN being heard for a few seconds.

2m station operated by Ian GM3SEK and John 2M0JTU

2m QSOs map.

Danny GM6CMQ taking a rest after a spell of operating on 2m.

 

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70cm (432MHz) GM3HAM/P Report by Pete GM4BYF

Operator: Pete Bates GM4BYF. Et al?

Equipment: IC9700 to a solid state amp 100W.

Antenna: 38 element M2 yagi 10m agl.

Score: 44 valid QSOs, 15,651 pts, Best DX: OR6T JO20KV 749km.

70cm problem - water got into coax connection - don't know how/why and a short tail became faulty. Lost a few hours on Sunday morning as a result.
 
70cm QSOs map.

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