Aug 19th/20th Activity Weekend

[M0DTS]

I'm thinking of going out Sunday to IO94LI with 70cm and 23cm..
May go and setup Saturday evening and be on early Sunday to catch any tropo, early finish though ~2pm.

http://tropo.f5len.org/forecasts-for-europe/

Rob

[radiogareth]

Hi Rob (and others), I've acquired a decent 23cms beam and will put it up at home, available today and early morning Sunday should there be any enhancement. I've not got mega power (yet) but can put 5W into 20dBi.
We can but try.....
Gareth

[M0DTS]

Ok Gareth, would be interesting to test from home here too.
3m dish + QRO...

[radiogareth]

I need to set up a decent RX section (filter and preamps & minitiouner) but can be ready in maybe an hour?
It must be working (the beam) as I can get into GB3JV with a bare Pluto - 1.4mW via 13m Westflex103 and I can hear the Martlesham beacon on a bare Langstone, S1/2.
Gareth

[radiogareth]

Well that was a bit quiet, despite plenty of RF being fired around between ROb, myself and Arthur. I used my new-to-me WIMO 37 element 23cms beam, an excellent match on 1250MHz on the pump-up mast at home. I was pleased to hear the Martlesham beacon on a bare Langstone (no filters or preamp) at S1-2.
I tried to access the Enfield repeater GB3EN but nothing doing.....5 watts not enough I expect, best I get on with that amp while we can still play extensively on the band....however, my sidelobes at 90 degrees were getting into GB3JV, so I aimed the beam directly at it. Then I removed the linear, so a bare Pluto delivering 1.4mW into the beam via 13m of Westflex 103. After careful aiming I got a MER of 12dB! (333ks 2/3FEC). This wasn't quite enough for 2000ks but it did try and lock.
Next Activity weekend is 2/3rd September according the the back of the latest CQ-TV. I will be working in Warwick that weekend and have arranged for either the Saturday or the Sunday 'off' depending on others availability and the weather.
I can take 23,13, 9cm all DATV/NB, also 6cm FM TV and 10GHz/24GHz DATV/NB if anyone is around and fancies attempts at paths etc.
Gareth