Activity Weekend 18/19th March 2022

[M0DTS]

Hi All,

I'll be out portable on Saturday from ~10am until 3pm(at latest) - probably at IO94MJ.
I'll have 70cm and 23cm TV.

Hope to see you on.

Rob

[radiogareth]

SHould be on most likely from home, JO01AI Bromley Kent 70cms QRO and 23 qrp.
Gareth

[G3GJA]

The forecast looks wet so I'll be on from home, IO93TR, on Saturday using 23cms & 70cms.

Sunday looks better and I might be tempted to try portable at IO93PV with 23cms.

Clive

[M0DTS]

Well there is the possibility I could do Sunday instead from midday maybe.... But Saturday it is for now.

I'll post here if any changes.

Rob

[M0DTS]

OK, Now changed to Sunday from around Midday IO94MJ.

Rob

[radiogareth]

Weather down here also better on the Sunday so will aim for activity only on Sunday.
Gareth

[Mike-G8DLX]

Aiming to do some tests between Rugby Club house and Geoff G3TQF around 15:00 this afternoon. I will be TX on 70cm from the club Geoff will be on 23cm. Talk back will be on 144.75 if clear. We will only ba a short distance apart but if anyone else is near IO92JJ please call.

Mike

[radiogareth]

I'll be at JO01AI35UF Keston Near Biggin Hill Kent for a trial from a car park on a bit of common. Unless 'Parkie' turns up and finds some reason I can't. Not bad to the North, but suspect trees may impede Westwards, however, the extra height over home (2 miles away) might clinch the deal. I'll be on ZELLO ATV South from 10ish, hope to be up and running by 11-11:30. 2m talkback if I can support the antenna for it.
Gareth

[radiogareth]

Well that went well.....the car park was nice and quiet, mostly just people emptying their dogs in the surrounding woods and no hassle from any stroppy Parkies either (but it was a Sunday).
Worked into GB3JV on 70cms and 23cms (pretty much LOS so expected) and used my Ionica based 'LNB' to receive it no problem.
By now Rob was up and running and with some persistence he got my picture despite the radar interference. I very nearly got his signal (headers decoded) and occasional flashes of 'MER' up to 15dB. Lots of multi-pathing apparent on the band viewer. Checked my two filters using the 50MHz capability of the Pluto (as band viewer, that is SO GOOD) and benefitted from the SSB Electronics Preamp that I picked up S/H recently.
Interrupted Noels lunch and got him to set up for RX. Lots of multi-pathing but a fairly quick copy was managed one-way.
The new FogStar LiFePo4 battery willingly delivered up to an amazing 50amps of current and was holding 12.4 volts at that load. The 4mm2 supply cable wasn't quite so happy.... A total of 25A/hr was consumed during my outing, the bluetooth app on my phone agrees with the two Power meters I had in line with both outlets. Other than the capital cost, I can't recommend these batteries enough. (Note Ford US are now using this chemistry in their US Electric cars...).
Pic shows the set-up, other than a bit cold it all went well.
Gareth

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