THE WESSEX REPEATER GROUP PRESENTS
What a day at Neston Fete on the 13th July 2002! Contacts from all over and the sun shined as well!
THE REPORT BY KEVIN G4SKN
SETTING UP BEFORE THE EVENT.... As I live only a short distance away from the operating site, setting up was made a little easier as I had the opportunity to start antenna erecting a few days before the event. Tests had already been made with VHF/UHF antennas on the flat roof, but it was decided to put a vertical high on the rear wall of the building. The first job undertaken was to fix brackets on the wall to take a tri-band vertical for 6, 2 and 70cm. This was carried out with the help of Jon, G0IUE and Ron, G1LJT. While I was up the ladder Ron told me that I could speed up the drilling process by using my drill in hammer action mode. Thanks Ron, I didn't even know my old drill could do that! Glad you were there! A few days elapsed before I could get down the Village Hall to actually fix up the antenna. This was duly done and I tied off the feeder out of harms way, up at a suitable height. Two pulleys were fixed to the short mast to take the rope which would be supporting the HF antennas. The next day I managed to test the vertical on my mobile setup with John, G0OID. I found that WA and WX were good signals and John gave me a good report from Lyneham. All seemed to be well.
KEVIN 2E1VKD WITH INTERESTED PARTY / JOHN G0OID ON 40M / photos by STEVE M3ERV
SETTING UP ON THE DAY BEFORE....I arrived on site in the morning and set up a 6m Ringo Ranger on a guyed wooden mast which was cable tied to a suitable down pipe. Next I arranged the nylon rope for the pulley system on the apex ready to take the HF antennas. By this time John, G0OID, Jon, G0IUE Ron, G1LJT and Kevin, 2E1VKD had arrived so we could then proceed with HF antenna rigging. What happened next was quite amazing and to all you fishermen out there can I suggest another use for your fishing rods!? You see John, G0OID had his with him and he now proceeded to cast a weight over the high trees which enabled line and then nylon cord to be drawn over the top of these trees to give us the other two supports for the HF antennas. Good casting John and well done! Soon we had a full size G5RV and a 20m dipole up in the heavens. The plan was to use the 5RV on 40m and above. The 20m antenna was to be used for PSK31. Satisfied with our hard work we took a well earned rest and chatted about the event coming up the next day. I now decided to stay at the site and sleep there overnight to keep an eye on our antenna farm and equipment. Most of the gear was coming early the next day but as I was going to stay at the hall I decided to set up my FT-847, FT-8100 and a computer, so I could operate GB5NF as soon as the time arrived!
photos by STEVE M3ERV / JON G0IUE ON VHF / KEVIN G4SKN and RON G1LJT
THE EARLY HOURS....I spent the evening setting up the gear that was to be used on PSK31 on 20m. I also connected the dual band FT-8100 to the vertical on the apex of the hall. Everything checked out and I had a couple of local VHF contacts as G4SKN/P. By this time I was feeling quite tired but I was determined to put GB5NF on air as soon as I could. Among the first stations worked were LU4FTT and N1LKJ both on PSK31 running about 20w into the dipole with 579 reports. Another interesting contact was with SV1CAX/MM on the 'FALCON' just off the coast of Brazil. At this point I hit the sleeping bag ready for an early start a bit later on.
THE BIG DAY....I was up again at about 6.30 local to find quite good band conditions on 20m. I put out a few calls on PSK31 and the best DX worked at this time was VK5FOX near Adelaide, so feeling quite satisfied with the first few in the log, the station was closed down for a while. Soon John, Ron, Kevin and Jon had arrived and the rest of the station was quickly set up and soon the G5RV was put into service with plenty of 40m phone contacts. This band provided many qso's throughout the whole day. Dave, G3ZXX then arrived and soon the shack was busy with contacts being made on HF, VHF and UHF.
Brian, G3MBN was also around at this time setting up his excellent display of homebrew gear which aroused a great deal of interest throughout the day. We also had information sheets on display about all aspects of Amateur Radio including the the new foundation license and Kevin, 2E1VKD was kept busy for most of the afternoon explaining relevant points and dishing out leaflets to interested folk as they passed through the shack. Brian, G3MBN was also extremely active explaining about radio topics, while others busied themselves operating the station rigs. Although things were quite quiet in the operating room to begin with, it soon became very busy as time went on and at one point you could hardly move in the shack with so many people showing an interest in what was happening.
I did manage to have a quick look round the fete and everyone seemed to be having a great time and enjoying the lovely sunny weather. In the shack the contacts were still coming in thick and fast on various bands, including 18mhz. A qso was also made on 6m ssb into Norway, so in all we had a real mixed bag of contacts using various bands and modes. The 20m PSK31 activity continued steadily throughout the afternoon but as expected the VK5 was the best DX worked in that mode. It was nice to make contact with repeater group members who could not attend, via WA and WX and it was great to see any members who had travelled a good distance just to come and support us. All too soon it was time to finish and we were all feeling a little tired by the end of the afternoon, but felt very pleased at how successful the day had been. Antennas were then taken down and the equipment was dismantled........goodbye GB5NF who knows, we might do it all again sometime!
THE END....And so it all came to an end...well nearly anyway! John, G0OID had collected all the log sheets and duly presented them to me as a smart GB5NF logbook. I then spent a few evenings writing out the QSL cards which have now all been sent off. The antenna bracket is still on the wall at the back of the hall which was kindly donated by Jon, G0IUE. Who knows we may need it again! I will certainly be up for it if we are asked to put up a station in the future. Over the last few weeks I have had some great feedback from members of the public who passed through our shack on the day, all very positive may I add. I think that the Wessex Repeater Group can be proud of a job well done and may I add my own personal thank you to all those who were involved.......73 de Kevin, G4SKN
Nearly 200 contacts were made on the day using the various bands and modes available. The number of stations worked was very pleasing, although I think that most of the amateurs involved would agree that the most rewarding part of the afternoon was the interest shown by the many people visiting GB5NF as part of their day out at Neston Fete.
Photos by KEVIN G4SKN
JOHN G0OID, JON G0IUE and RON G1LJT busy operating 40 and 6m
DAVE G3ZXX finishing on UHF and thinking about the lovely lunch he had!
BRIAN G3MBN, with his outstanding display of homebrew gear
KEVIN G4SKN, JON G0IUE and RON G1LJT putting off taking down the antennas! Look at that blue sky!
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Venue........................NESTON VILLAGE HALL
Date...............13th JULY 2002, start time 12pm
Operated on.................HF, VHF, UHF all modes
How it all came about......a brief note (waffle) by G4SKN
When my XYL Karen came home from a village hall committee meeting and told me that she was going to help run the village fete this year, I had a few mixed feelings! She had done this sort of thing in the past and I knew how much hard work was involved. The fete is quite an important event for the village as it provides some much needed income for the up keep of Neston Memorial Hall. Karen asked me if I had any ideas concerning attractions and I suggested a possible amateur radio station. I contacted Jon, G0IUE and talked it over with him. After a look around the proposed operating site we agreed that in principle a special event station seemed on the cards.
73.....de Kevin G4SKN
LINKS
G4SKN's WEBSITE G0IUE's WEBSITE WESSEX REPEATER GROUP