First Activity weekend of 2026 - ALL bands

[radiogareth]

This weekend 7/8th Feb sees the first activity weekend. A chance to try out last years gear/anything new you have built/acquired and perhaps try some local vertical to vertical contacts on 2m or 70cms.
With cheap 'dongle' based RX solutions available (see last CQ-TV) and SDR_Television a free download, if you have a Libre SDR or Pluto you can try any bands 70MHz-5.7GHz both TX and RX.
Especially 2m & 4m, please report any contacts here to help keep the NOV renewed.
Gareth

[radiogareth]

I'll be experimenting locally tomorrow Sunday 11am onwards using 146.5MHz (vertical co-linear) and 437MHz with either a horizontal full-wave dipole or a vertical co-linear.
Gareth (JO01AI Hayes Kent).

[G7VVF]

Hi Gareth,
I have connected my winterhill to my dual band 2m/70cm vertical. I dont suppose I'll get you but I can have a look. What symbol rates are transmitting

Duncan

[g0mjw]

I forgot I am afraid. I can do 70cm 200w or so.

Mike

[g0mjw]

Well I am getting into GB3TV at least.

Screenshot 2026-02-08 134720.png (823.94 KiB) Viewed 367 times

I think Gareth is too far away for a dipole.

Mike

[G7VVF]

HI MIke,
I don't think I have any chance of receiving you, as there appears to be some mountains in the way
Duncan

G0MJW - G7VVF.png (495.56 KiB) Viewed 363 times

[g0mjw]

Not with a vertical. I am using a beam. I can't even get into GB3HV so little chance. Just trying GB3SQ

Mike

[G7VVF]

Gareth's path to me is not so bad though he does have some high ground at his end

G4XAT - G7VVF.png (469.81 KiB) Viewed 354 times

[radiogareth]

Did some tests this morning with Justin G8YTZ this time trying 70cms on the white stick colinears. Interesting that this did NOT work with even 6 watts whereas the same setup on 146.5 was good copy at 1Watt. All 333ks/ 2/3.
Then using my horizontal Full-Wave dipole (so some gain) on 70cms and Justin using his 9dBd beam we got a picture, but only just. Suspect there is a whole lot of multi-pathing on 70cms (houses/chimneys.trees etc) which spoils things on 70cms. FM signals on Co-linear to colinear were comparable with 2m.
Duncan, we should be able to work when my mast is back up (waiting for risk of frosts to pass, adds 10m AGL to JO01AI09KQ) and definitely if I go /P to here JO01AI35UF before the pesky trees get leaf on them, maybe even after as that direction falls away so trees lower etc...I could run 2/70/23 or 13 from there by arrangement.
Least we tried
Gareth