IARU TV Contest 2024 Day 2

 An early start was made from Membury services after coffee and pastries. I then drove to Combe Gibbet, IO91GI61 from where I could see Gareth G4XAT/P on top of Walbury. 

He was worked on 5GHz, 10GHz and 24 GHz easily, it didnt really matter which way the antenna was pointed

Noel, having driven from Devon appeared from Stockbridge and was worked from IO91GC on 5GHz, 10GHz 24 GHz 47 GHz and 76GHz 

Dave G8GKQ/p appeared from Lane end, IO91JA and was worked on 5GHz, 10GHz and 24 GHz

Noel then moved to Morestead Road, IO91IB and was worked on 5GHz, 10GHz 24 GHz 47 GHz and 76GHz

While Noel moved to Butser Hill IO90 MX. I moved to Combe Masts which had a good takeoff in that direction.  On the way past I visited Gareth

G8GTZ/P was worked on 5GHz, 10GHz 24 GHz 47 GHz and 76GHz. 76GHz was fairly easy and set a new UK distance record of 53km. 

76 GHz

47GHz was harder, taking 30 minutes, mainly due to Noels synthesised LO not locking up

47 GHz

Having worked all I could on the TV contest I had a quick tune around 144MHz and found a 2m QRP contest was happening and was surprised to work GW1YBB/P using the IC705 and vertical whip on the car roof. I think he was equally surprised by the locator of G4FRE/P!!

IARU TV Contest 2024 Day 1

 Noel G8GTZ decided he would be starting the contest at Dunkery beacon IO81FD so the obvious place to start the contest was Cleeve Common IO81XW, at the roadside position which always completes the path. The normal road to the car park was closed for 6 weeks for repairs so a convoluted route was taken, which was full of sponsored walkers. However Noel was worked on 5GHz, 10GHz and 24 GHz easily as usual

10GHz towards Dunkery

Gareth G4XAT had meanwhile installed himself at Walbury hill IO91GI. I packed the gear into the man portable fishing trolley and moved to the trig point and worked him on 5 GHz 10 GHz and 24 GHz

5GHz man portable towards Walbury

Next I drove to Notgrove IO91BV and again worked Gareth G4XAT/P on 5GHz, 10GHz and 24 GHz easily

IO91BV 5 GHz

I then drove to Membury services on the M4 and stayed the night there at the Premier Inn hotel, which would be convenient for the day 2 activities. 

A visit to Dunkery Beacon IO81FD

 Having booked a 7 night walking holiday at the HF Holidays location at Selworthy, Devon I realised it was just down the road from the famous Dunkery beacon IO81FD which I had worked many times from Cleeve Common IO81XW. It was decided to take some narrowband microwave equipment to see how the site really was.

I parked at the layby previously used by Noel G8GTZ on the North side of the Beacon. First QSO was on 24 GHz SSB with G4UVZ IO80KX near Taunton.

G8CUB/P had been persuaded to go to Cleeve Common IO81XW and was a huge signal on 24 GHz NBFM, He was loud enough to work on 47GHz SSB for my best ever DX on the band at 136km. No signals were hear either way on 76 GHz.

The takeoff over the  Bristol Channel

24GHz towards IO81XW from the layby

47GHz (a dish was needed for the QSO)

Meanwhile G4LDR, G8GKQ and G8GTZ had gone to Bullbarrow Hill, IO80UU (96km)  I worked G8GKQ and G8GTZ on 24 GHz NB and DATV and G4LDR/P on 24 Ghz SSB and 47GHz CW

The setup to G4LDR/P on 47GHz CW

I also tried working G8IKP/P IO80RQ near Hardy monument and M0GHZ/P at Cold Ashton IO81KP (obstructed path the plots later showed) but no success was to be had

After packing away the gear I did walk to the Top of Dunkery Beacon to see if it was worth the extra effort of going man portable. I was not convinced!

The summit of Dunkery Beacon

The takeoff towards IO81XW from the summit