BATC 2020 50/70MHz Contest

Having participated in the BATC 144/432 MHz contest (and won it) It was time to think of the upcoming 50/70 MHz contest. Originally slated  for September 19 and 20, after I pointed that the sunday clashed with the RSGB 70 MHz AFS contest it was changed by BATC to a saturday 1300 to 1900 contest. As the IO82lB site, used for the 144/432 contest has interference on 70MHz somewhere else was needed. The previously used IO82QL Titterstone clee site was chosen

The thought of putting up a 5 ele on  6m and a 5 ele on 4m was discounted  quickly. I remembered that back in 2014 I bought an Innovantennas  dualband 4 ele on 6m and 4 ele on 4m antenna so that was unpacked (for the 1st time) The assembly manual wasnt very helpful, but a few emails to Justin got the answers. The boom and 4m elements fitted in my car, but one end of the 6m elements had to removed so it would fit.

Arriving on the site around 1000 it was found to be very very windy. The HF dipoles of the IOTA contestants were blowing all over the place. The possibilty of not being able to put up the antennas (one for the 50/70MHz yagi one for the 144/432 talkback colinear) was considered. As a test the 4/6m antenna was assembled on the mast and eventually raised to the skies. The swr was 1.8:1 on 6m and 2:1 on 4m but this was not a day to adjust antennas. It ws decided another mast was too risky so 2m talkback ideas were abandoned!

Had a 2 way on 4m with G8GTZ (MER15) Tried on 6m, Noel copied my signal easily but due to loud interference coming from the radio station at the bottom of the band I struggled to receive him, but eventually I copied him at 66ks near the top of the band (for my only 2 way QSO). Worked G0MJW on 4m (MER6). Due to the fine work of Noel acting as a Zello to 2m transponder, hooked up with G8VPG and had a 2 way with him on 4m (MER 16) When he turned his beam on noel he was still MER8 with me! Tried 4m and 6m with M0DTS with no luck, but my 4m signal was detected!. Worked Arthur G4CPE (for the 1st time!) on 4m (MER peaked at 7.5) at 156km for my best DX. He could not copy my 6m, probably due to cross polarised antennas. Copied Noel at MER6 when he transmitted 4m at Arthur! Managed to get my 6m received by G0MJW in the final act of the day

On 4m used Portsdown 2019 +modified G4DDK nacton 437/71MHz transverter + MITSUBISHI brick (20W) +minituner. On 6m Portsdown 2019 +modified G4DDK nacton 437/51MHz transverter + 7w MITSUBISHI brick+LDMOS amp (150W; the bigger amp is locked down in wales)+ minituner

G8VPG/P 120km on 4m showing intended loc.

G4CPE 156km on 4m

G8GTZ/P 141km on 4m

G4MJW 127km on 4m


The results  were subsequently published and came as a bit of a surprise with a win and a trophy!

IARU TV Contest 2020

For this years IARU ATV contest I decided to get a bit more active than last years 2 QSOS and go portable at three locations :-

Saturday.

Left home at 0800 and drove the 84 miles from home to Walbury hill IO91GI (thanks to Noel for the opportunity to use the site while he went elsewhere) Having never been there before it was a bit tricky to find, but the photos from google maps Noel supplied helped. 

Having 7 TV bands plus 2m FM talkback setting up the equipment took a long time, At the start of the contest worked G8GKQ/P on all bands 432 to 24GHz at 54km.

Worked G8LES at 40km on 23 and 13cm and he received my signal on 9cm (he has no transmit on that band) 

Worked G8GTZ/P at 51km 432 to 24GHz except 13cm (equipment trouble his end).

Transmitted my signals successfully to G4LDR at 30km on 24GHz to 9cm during some huge rain storms which forced a couple of hasty retreats into the car. Could lock to his carrier on all bands but got no further than Carrier and FS lock.  Did have a two way on 13cm with him

Drove back home arriving at 2240

Sunday

Left house at 0700. Arrived at cleeve common car park IO81XW at 0800 

As a new location the rules said I needed new contest numbers in the Portsdown 2020. No problem I thought, I have previously saved a suitable new set to USB drive. Imported them but subsequently not even the Portsdown touchscreen would respond. After much searching found ethernet cable and did a factory reset via SSH. Manually set all parameters. Lost 2 hours so no time for expedition to trig point for LOS 24GHz path.  Worked G8GTZ/P at walbury at 76km on 13cm to (surprisingly) 10GHz,   Just not enough signal for 24GHz.  Location getting overrun with visitors so left at 1200

Drove the 29 miles to Notgrove, IO91BV, a site that should have a good path to Walbury (and would not be crowded!!) 

The Membury TV mast can be seen through the gap

Decided to change the contests numbers manually and avoid risk. Worked Noel at 67km 23cm to 24GHz. Signals were not too loud on DATV but huge on 24GHZ NBFM.  

Worked G0MJW with big signals both ways on 70cm and 23cms. 

Saw signals from G4CPE on 70cm but couldn’t attract his attention with my 5W Tried getting signals on 70cm to G3VKV but path too blocked locally. Good signals on microwave bands from GB3ZME 3 and 5 GHz but too late to work the M0YDH/P in that area. Did hear the GB3LPC beacon on 3.4GHz narrowband for the first time.

RSGB National Hamfest 2017

This years visit was made on Friday as usual. There was heavy rain as the outside area opened, so much so that the inside hall was opened early. A used Tonna 50MHz five element  yagi for £20 was purchased from the flea market with the intent of converting it to a lightweight 4m Yagi. Indoors a four section 20' swaged mast was finally bought (I thought about getting one last year!) from Moonraker

The usual big traders were in attendance, although some on a smaller scale than last year, for example Waters and Stanton. It was impossible to get near the QRPLABS stand as G0UPL had to queue of people placing orders. I have still to finally meet him after having previously had many transactions with him from Texas

The highlight of the trip was non transactional! A few months ago I assembled the BATC minituone receiver, but it failed to receive the DATV signal generated by the RPI, even though it passed self test so I put it aside. The BATC would be at Newark and I guessed would have real DATV signals, so I took the receiver along. Noel G8GTZ was only too pleased to try it out and it passed testing with flying colours. Now I can move onto assembling my Portsdown Transmitter modules