March 10th / 11th Activity weekend

[g8gtz]

Hopefully the winter weather will have disappeared by next weekend and the longer daylight will encourage a few more people to get on the air for the March activity weekend.

It's a great chance to sort out all the gremlins in the gear you built over the winter and use it as a practice run for the big International ATV contest in June when it would be great to see more UK stations on than any other European Country! Put June 9th and 10th in your diary now!

This is not just for the portable warriors who go out to the local hilltops but is an opportunity to get on the air from the shack and work a few locals, either using simplex or your local repeater.

A lot of people seem to be experimenting with 5.6 GHz and hopefully we will see several people out /p trying to work other groups - don't forget the current record is still 138Km and held by the South of England team

If you are planning / thinking of getting on the air or going out portable, please post your plans here.

73
Noel - G8GTZ

[G8GKQ]

I will be going to Povington Hill near Lulworth (IO80WP01UD) on Saturday with 146.5 MHz RB-TV, 5.6 GHz FMTV and 24 GHz DATV. Hopefully arriving on site about 1130, leaving sometime after 1400 or later if requested.

Please call me on 144.75 MHz or let me know beforehand if you would like me to point your way. It would be great to hear some more activity now that the weather is improving.

Dave
G8GKQ

[Wolfie G8VAT]

Oo, it's been very quiet so far.

I'll be trying for Sunday but might even get a little time on Saturday, i'll have to let the locals know..

Saturday IO93QT (ie Home location) and Sunday IO93AS Ovenden Moor near Halifax.

[keng8vdp]

I'll be active from home. IO93GM. - j36 M1

23cms Analogue

[Wolfie G8VAT]

If you're around Saturday Ken we could have another try for QTH - QTH, I have my chores (and a boiler man calling.) but then might have a spare bit of time.

Will C U on Whats..

[M0SKM]

There's every possibility I'll be on Dunstable Downs (IO91RU) on Sunday; with two metres for sure.

Maybe 5GHz if I can remember where I put all the kit.

Steve

[g8gtz]

Hi

Today (Saturday) I plan to be on site by 2pm at Butser IO90MX (or Wether Down IO90LX) with 146, 5.6 and 24Ghz

Tomorrow (Sunday) I am thinking to to go to Ridgeway above Didcot (IO91IN) which is good to the North and East - possible to work Steve at DD on 5.6 and also G0MJW and G4FRE on 24Ghz????

T/B 144.750, the relaunched www.DXspot.tv (mobile chat = https://www.dxspot.tv/dxchat/ ) or 07881914287

73 and good DX OM!
Noel

[g0mjw]

My 24 GHz has not been tested in a while. A very short distance QSO might be a wise starting point.

Still waiting for Charles before I can try 5.6 GHz digital. Was wondering if someone who understands the Pluto could make a transponder application for it that runs in the unit itself to avoid USB2 bandwidth issues?

Mike

[G4GUO]

Ummh ears burning.

In theory someone can either loop it back using one of the cores on the Pluto
or it could be looped at the FPGA level so USB2 won't be an issue.

I just have too many projects on the go. I re-wrote support for Pluto
and then I tried to get Lime support to work, hit a brick wall with that so I
am now fiddling about trying to get Minitioner-Express working with Linux.

- Charles

[G8GKQ]

A successful day out at Povington Hill in Dorset today.

Three 24 GHz voice contacts (60, 90 and 90 km), and one 24 GHz DATV Contact with G8GTZ/P at 90 km. His 1 MS signals were 21 dB MER with me and my 2 MS H264 1920x1080 HD pictures were 17 dB MER with him. 10 dB in hand for the next increase in distance.....

Needless to say, the analogue FM pictures on 5665 MHz were P5 both ways over the same path.

Also heard G3KKD in Cambridge loud and clear on 144.75 FM at 240 km, but did not manage to call him before he turned his beam.

I'm not available tomorrow, but hope that you all have a busy day!

Dave, G8GKQ