Oban Radio was located at North Connel, Argyll.
Some historical information on this station can be found by clicking
here.
GNE had closed some years prior to this special
event and the site of the operations building, although originally
sold as non-building landing, is now occupied by several luxury
houses. So permission was obtained for GB0GNE to be located in
the field which used to house the stations transmit antenna farm
- with the extensive ground plane system still in place!!
Working with facilites provided by the local radio club (Lorn
Radio Amateurs), local Raynet groups and local Amateurs, the
station was housed in a caravan with two generators available
to provide power. With a power amp and a number of antennas available,
the station delivered a hefty signal resulting in substantial
"pile-ups".
Although a good number of the local amateurs took part in the
station in various ways, and their efforts were greatly appreciated,
it was surprising how shy people can be when offered the chance
to operate in such conditions! A substantial part of the "on-air"
operations therefore fell to Graham Henderson/GM3RTJ, to whom
must go a huge "thank you" for organising the station,
and to Bob Dixon/GM3ZDH.
Primarily using SSB during the day, the station switch to CW
through the night when Bob Dixon/GM3ZDH and John Mackay/MM0BMV,
both of whom are past Station Managers at the real GNE, held the
fort.
It was enjoyable to meet up once again with Elsie Kennedy, wife
of the late Sam Kennedy who had been one of the original Radio
Officers at GNE. Elsie had heard that "something" was
happening at the old radio station site and came over specially
to say hello.
As is inevitable, on Sunday the rain came on. By the time we packed
up the ground was somewhat squelchy and very interesting when
we hitched the mast and the caravan to the back of their respective
vehicles. It's not a good idea to be pushing such a vehicle when
the wheels begin to spin - to say a bath was needed is an understatement!!!
But an amateur radio weekend just wouldn't seem right without
such endings!!!
A very successful and tremendously enjoyable weekend - a wonderful
tribute to the smallest, but arguably the friendliest, of the
UK Coast Radio Stations.
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