Location

  1. Lat/Long: 51.281077°,-2.482759°
  2. IARU: IO81sg
  3. IOTA: EU005 (UK Mainland)
  4. WAB: ST65 – England

Introduction

On Saturday morning members of the South Bristol Amateur Radio Club were stirring and preparing for a weekend of operation from the Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust in Midsomer Norton. Naturally some stirred earlier than others, Mark M0SKV for example lives only about 4 miles from the Trust and therefore had less travelling than say Martin M0JEA or Andy G7KNA who was hindered by the fact that his normal route had been closed for roadworks and the signposted diversion took him through the wilds of deepest darkest Somerset. Convinced he could hear banjos twanging he steadfastly pushed on until rejoining civilisation at Midsomer Norton.

Mark M0SKV, Martin M0JEA and Andy G7KNA were joined by Paul 2E0GHT who had travelled the 6 miles from his home QTH to offer support to this endeavour.

The setup followed the pattern of recent previous years. We were allowed to occupy the carriage next to the buffet car which provides a dry, warm, lit and powered position with tables and chairs to set up both the SSB station and the data station. These stations comprised:

Equipment SSB Station Data Station
Transceiver Icom IC-7000 Yaesu FT-857D
Power Supply Manson EP-925 Watson Power Mite NF-25
ATU BW VS300A LDG Z11 Pro Mk1 (when not operating a resonant antenna)
SWR Meter Built into ATU Diamond SX600
Data Interface N/A Signalink USB

SSB StationData Station

Antennas can often be a challenge at Special Event stations where often there can be limited space, height restrictions or a lack of anchor points. The Somerset and Dorset Heritage Trust site is blessed in this respect, they have ample open space that is not immediately in the way of the public and plenty of opportunities to anchor the legs of horizontal antennas to.

We have found horizontal antennas, when they are possible and practical, offer good general performance with low noise floors, this year we erected 2 antennas, one for each station. The SSB station was connected by twin feeder to an 80m doublet in an inverted vee configuration with the centre supported on a telescopic mast. The data station was fed by coax via a balun to a 20m half wave dipole which was suspended from the same mast as the doublet, all be it slightly lower for practical rigging reasons, and rotated 90 degrees to the doublet. This meant that the doublet was orientated east-west giving best radiation north-south whilst the half wave dipole was orientated north-south giving best radiation east-west. Given that we were looking for inter-G on 40m/80m for the SSB station whilst knowing that the data station would be operating 20m into Europe mainly this seemed a good arrangement.

AntennasAntennas

This year we put both stations on air for both days, in previous years the data station had been something of an experimental setup, although the data station was periodically unmanned as duties such as photography, videography, conversations with the visiting public and of course the obligatory buffet car runs took precedence over operating!

Mark M0SKV operating PSK31Logging using HRD 5

The weekend went very well, there was interest in what we were doing and although Sundays weather included some periods of intense rain there was good turn out and activity both locally and on the bands.

Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evilHear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil

It is difficult to pick out the QSO of the weekend given that we worked so many, on PSK without a doubt this award should go to Giovanni IN3GNV who we have worked before both from GB0SDR and from Lundy Island as GB2BLE. His insistence on operating in English via the keyboard without a single macro has to be unique amongst PSK operators and is most refreshing. Working Dave M0DFW was socially important; Dave is a member of the Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust although having moved from the area he is no longer able to attend. Despite this he was instrumental in introducing us to the Trust in 2011 and we have operated from here each year since then. Catching up with Mike F5VIG who is a former member of the South Bristol Amateur Radio Club now living in France was nice and of course the Battle of Jutland centenary station isn't something you can work every year.

PSK Reporter for GB0SDR

We hope to be back in this event next year and look forward to meeting you in person or on air.

GB0SDR Log

Date of Contact Time Station Worked Band or Freq (MHz) Mode TX RX Operator’s Name QTH IARU Locator Distance (km) Notes
RST No. RST No.
24/09/2016 10:53 GB4OST 40m SSB 59   59   Rich       RotA – Old Station Tintern (Newport ARS) WAB – SO50
24/09/2016 10:58 G0UEN/P 40m SSB 59   59   Karl        
24/09/2016 11:02 G2XV 40m SSB 59   59     Cambridge      
24/09/2016 11:05 M3OIG 40m SSB 59   59            
24/09/2016 11:09 M0SWL 40m SSB 59   59   Brian Pewsey      
24/09/2016 11:12 G8PJQ 40m SSB 59   59   Chris Yatley North Hampshire      
24/09/2016 11:16 G3MSL 40m SSB 59   59   Bob Fleet Hampshire      
24/09/2016 11:26 GB0CVR 40m SSB 59   59   Jeff Castle Headingham     RotA – Colne Valley Railway (Braintree and District ARS)
24/09/2016 11:30 G4AQA 40m SSB 59   59   Peter Hull      
24/09/2016 11:35 G8ISI 40m SSB 59   59   Francis Liphook North East Hampshire      
24/09/2016 11:42 2E0MTR 40m SSB 59   59   Mike Folkstone      
24/09/2016 11:42 2E0VTT 40m SSB 59   59   John Bristol      
24/09/2016 11:45 G3LSX 40m SSB 59   59   Mike East Barnet      
24/09/2016 11:50 GW6STK 40m SSB 59   59   Robert Colwyn Bay      
24/09/2016 11:54 G6OAY 40m SSB 59   59   Steve Merseyside      
24/09/2016 12:00 G2DJ 40m SSB 59   59   Clive       RotA – Midlands Railway (Derby and District ARS)
24/09/2016 12:05 M6JFS 40m SSB 59   59   Rich        
24/09/2016 12:08 G0MNN 40m SSB 59   59   Ben Bridlington      
24/09/2016 12:11 GB0BR 40m SSB 59   59   Chris       RotA – Bluebell Railway (Downland Radio Group)
24/09/2016 12:15 GB0FLR 40m SSB 59   59   Ian       RotA – Foxfield Light Railway (Moorlands and District ARS)
24/09/2016 12:16 OH0KCE 14.068 PSK31 599   599   Leif Aland-Islands      
24/09/2016 12:23 G4GTX 40m SSB 59   59   Stuart Sunderland      
24/09/2016 12:24 G2BUP 40m SSB 59   59            
24/09/2016 12:27 GB2EVR 40m SSB 59   59   Ian Cumbria     RotA – Eden Valley Railway (Bishop Aukland Radio Amateurs Club)
24/09/2016 12:30 EA7SZ 14.069 PSK31 599   599   Jose Sevilla      
24/09/2016 12:31 G8YPL 40m SSB 59   59   Pete Liverpool     Use eQSL or QSL card
24/09/2016 12:37 HA1BF 14.069 PSK31 599   599   Feri Bocfolde JN86ks 1490  
24/09/2016 12:38 GB4OZG 40m SSB 59   59            
24/09/2016 12:41 G4LMR 40m SSB 59   59            
24/09/2016 12:46 GB0EOR 40m SSB 59   59   Sid       RotA – Epping and Ongar Railway (G6UT)
24/09/2016 12:51 G1DFN 40m SSB 59   59   Fred Darlington      
24/09/2016 12:55 GB4HMR 40m SSB 59   58           RotA – Hoddesdon Model and Railway Club (Southgate ARC)
24/09/2016 12:59 OK2WMC 14.068 PSK31 599   599   Michal Ostrava JN99cs 1465  
24/09/2016 12:59 GB2OCG 40m SSB 59   54   Tony       RotA – Eastbourne Miniture Steam Railway (Old Codgers Group)
24/09/2016 13:04 EW3DU 14.068 PSK31 599   599   Victor Kobrin      
24/09/2016 13:04 2E0FVL 40m SSB 59   59   Peter        
24/09/2016 13:06 GB4MHR 40m SSB 59   59   Chris       RotA – MidHants (Watercress Line)
24/09/2016 13:11 G4FYF 40m SSB 57   56   Martin        
24/09/2016 13:13 G4BZV 40m SSB 59   59   Norman        
24/09/2016 13:18 GM4EIW 40m SSB 59   59   John Glasgow      
24/09/2016 13:20 G3PRI 40m SSB 59   55   John Bishop Stortford      
24/09/2016 13:23 OK1ZCF 14.068 PSK31 599   599   Eugene Techonin JO80hb 1348  
24/09/2016 13:25 G4ING 40m SSB 59   59   John Hyde      
24/09/2016 13:29 GB2MGN 40m SSB 57   57   Adam       RotA – Whitwell and Reepham Station (Bittern DX Group)
24/09/2016 13:32 M3OPW 40m SSB 59   59   Harold        
24/09/2016 13:33 G3MKU 40m SSB 59   59   Bert        
24/09/2016 13:36 F4VPL 40m SSB 59   59   Dave Brittany      
24/09/2016 13:37 OE4OJB 14.069 PSK31 599   599   Otto Bad Sauerbrunn JN87ds 1404  
24/09/2016 13:39 EI7CC 40m SSB 57   53   Pete Dublin      
24/09/2016 13:41 G8MIA 40m SSB 59   58   Andy        
24/09/2016 13:44 G4AQB 40m SSB 59   59   Steve Boulton      
24/09/2016 13:45 YU7HC 14.069 PSK31 599   599   Jan Etrovec JN95ti 1752  
24/09/2016 13:46 M0WRI 40m SSB 57   59   Peter        
24/09/2016 13:49 G0EJQ 40m SSB 57   57   Jim        
24/09/2016 13:52 F6FHPP/M 40m SSB 59   59   Laurent        
24/09/2016 13:54 M3INO 40m SSB 59   55   Gareth Berwick Upon Tweed      
24/09/2016 13:56 2E0GBK 40m SSB 59   51   Keith Leatherhead      
24/09/2016 13:58 DD2VO 40m SSB 59   59   Renay        
24/09/2016 14:01 2E0NHR 40m SSB 59   59   Steven        
24/09/2016 14:04 UT8NT 14.068 PSK31 599   599   Slava Vinnitsa KN49ff 2193  
24/09/2016 14:05 GM4MTI 40m SSB 59   59   Stuart Oban     QRM
24/09/2016 14:07 SQ7MRR 14.069 PSK31 599   599   Vieslav Zgierz JO91qu 1505  
24/09/2016 14:09 G0EVV 40m SSB 59   59   David 30 Miles North Of Newcastle Upon Tyne      
24/09/2016 14:13 DL8ARJ 40m SSB 51   51            
24/09/2016 14:16 M0PER 40m SSB 59   59   Alan Chester      
24/09/2016 14:19 IZ6CLN 14.07 PSK31 599   599   Peppino Corropoli JN62wt 1548  
24/09/2016 14:21 PA1MV 40m SSB 57   59   Jaap Delt      
24/09/2016 14:23 OH6XB 14.069 PSK31 599   599     Jyvaskyla KP21uw 2066  
24/09/2016 14:37 MK0ZGY 40m SSB 59   59   Gerry Saltash      
24/09/2016 14:51 GB4BOJ 80m SSB 59   59   Dennis Cornwall     Centenary of the Battle of Jutland 1916 – 2016
24/09/2016 14:58 SP6LUP 14.069 PSK31 599   599   Henryk Krapkowice JO80xl 1430  
24/09/2016 15:13 IZ6CLN 14.07 PSK31 599   599   Peppino Corropoli JN62wt 1548  
25/09/2016 09:41 SP3QYJ 14.07 PSK31 599   599   Maciej Rawicz JO81kp 1336  
25/09/2016 09:47 G4CKH 40m SSB 59   58   Graham Lowestoft      
25/09/2016 10:02 MS0TGH/P 40m SSB 59   59   Ian       RotA – Keith and Dufftown Railway (Grampian Hilltoppers)
25/09/2016 10:16 IW0EXP 14.071 PSK31 599       Roberto Rieti JN62kj 1522 JN62kj
25/09/2016 10:16 GB2RDR 40m SSB 59   59   Eddie Banchory     RotA – Royal Deeside Railway (Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society)
25/09/2016 10:21 GB5RSR 40m SSB 59   59   Bob Preston Lancashire     RotA – Ribble Steam Railway (Central Lancs ARC)
25/09/2016 10:22 IZ8OYV 14.073 PSK31 599   599   Daniele Tito JN70un 1832  
25/09/2016 10:29 4O/LB9N 14.072 PSK31 599   599   Oskar Igalo JN92gl 1861  
25/09/2016 10:34 UA9XH 14.072 PSK31 599   599   Oleg Syktyvkar LP51jq 3357  
25/09/2016 10:42 G1MZD 40m SSB 59   59   Dave        
25/09/2016 10:45 SO8FH 14.071 PSK31 599   599   Frits Lezajsk KO10fg 1747  
25/09/2016 10:49 G6RQA 40m SSB 59   59   David Norfolk      
25/09/2016 10:52 G0AYZ 40m SSB 59   59   Andy Gosport Hampshire     QRP
25/09/2016 10:56 M6OOL 40m SSB 59   53   Stefan Nottinghamshire      
25/09/2016 10:58 G3VCG 40m SSB 59   59   Don Chelmsford Essex      
25/09/2016 11:01 G8XTJ 40m SSB 59   59   John High Wycombe      
25/09/2016 11:04 IS0YHV 14.072 PSK31 599   599   Antonio Uta JM49lg 1601 pSE YOUR AWARD VIA MY MAIL ANTONIODESOGUS@TISCALI.IT
25/09/2016 11:04 PA3MA 40m SSB 59   59   Mario        
25/09/2016 11:05 G1DFN 40m SSB 59   59   Fred Darlington      
25/09/2016 11:11 GB0GPF 40m SSB 59   59   Thomas Grey Point Fort Helens Bay Crawfordsburn     WW1 and 2 Coastal Defence Fort – QSL Direct Only via MI0MOD
25/09/2016 11:15 MI0WWB 40m SSB 59   59   William        
25/09/2016 11:20 F5VIG 40m SSB 59   59   Mike Brittany     Former SBARC Member
25/09/2016 11:24 SQ9EJ 14.072 PSK31 599   599   Jozef Zywiec JN99or 1536  
25/09/2016 11:31 LY1CZ 14.072 PSK31 599   599   Valdas   KO14wv 1793  
25/09/2016 11:36 G4CCC 40m SSB 59   59   Chris Reading      
25/09/2016 11:37 SQ9KPB 14.072 PSK31 599   599   Anirzej Czestochowa JO90nu 1503  
25/09/2016 11:38 M6IBH 40m SSB 55   59   Cliff        
25/09/2016 11:39 M6KVK 40m SSB 59   59   Gary        
25/09/2016 11:42 G4DXW 40m SSB 59   59   Ron        
25/09/2016 11:44 HA6ZX 14.072 PSK31 599   599   Istvan Hatvan JN97tp 1639  
25/09/2016 11:52 G7BYN 40m SSB 56   59   Dave        
25/09/2016 11:55 GW7VJK 40m SSB 59   59   Nigel        
25/09/2016 12:02 GB0SBS 40m SSB 55   59   Geoff        
25/09/2016 12:06 SQ7NHR 14.071 PSK31     599   Grzegorz Lodz JO91ss 1517  
25/09/2016 12:07 G4NAQ 40m SSB 55   55   Clive        
25/09/2016 12:11 RN4HEP 14.071 PSK31 599   599   Gennady Samara LO43kc 3430  
25/09/2016 12:11 2E0VRX 40m SSB 59   59   Craig Skipton      
25/09/2016 12:16 G3UBB 40m SSB 59   59   David        
25/09/2016 12:21 G7HSA 40m SSB 57   59   Adrian        
25/09/2016 12:23 MC0WIW 40m SSB 57   57   Ceri        
25/09/2016 12:24 SQ6NDL 14.071 PSK31 599   599   Grzegorz Strzelce JO90dm 1453  
25/09/2016 12:29 M6GOU 40m SSB 59   59   Richard Burton On Trent      
25/09/2016 12:32 GW1FKY 40m SSB 59   59   Ken Bridgend      
25/09/2016 12:34 G8HBS 40m SSB 59   59   Peter Great Yarmouth      
25/09/2016 12:36 MK3FEH/QRP 40m SSB 59   59   Karl        
25/09/2016 12:40 M6KVV 40m SSB 59   59   Graham        
25/09/2016 12:44 EI2WSVR 40m SSB 59   59   David       RotA – Waterford and Suir Valley Railway (South Eastern ARG)
25/09/2016 12:45 G6SSN 40m SSB 59   59   Kevin        
25/09/2016 12:51 2E1AFC 40m SSB 59   59   Geoff Bodmin      
25/09/2016 12:54 G7AKJ 40m SSB 59   59   Bill Otterton Devon      
25/09/2016 12:55 G0JNJ 40m SSB 59   59   Alan        
25/09/2016 12:56 G3TPP 40m SSB 59   59   Barry        
25/09/2016 12:58 HB9BQR 40m SSB 55   55   Roland        
25/09/2016 12:59 ON4DNW 40m SSB 59   59   Willy        
25/09/2016 13:01 OZ3FS 40m SSB 59   59   Frank        
25/09/2016 13:03 M0XXJ 40m SSB 59   59   Jonathon        
25/09/2016 13:05 G0FVH 40m SSB 59   59   David Poole      
25/09/2016 13:09 G0HEU 40m SSB 57   57   Paul        
25/09/2016 13:11 M6DTT 40m SSB 59   59   Derrick Yate      
25/09/2016 13:13 G3NKS 40m SSB 59   59   Derrek        
25/09/2016 13:15 G1BBY 40m SSB 59   59   Walter        
25/09/2016 13:19 M0KVF 40m SSB 59   59   Kay        
25/09/2016 13:22 G4RAC 40m SSB 59   59   John Burton On Trent      
25/09/2016 13:24 G0RTH 40m SSB 59   59   Alan Essex      
25/09/2016 13:27 2E0MKH 40m SSB 59   59   Mike Blackpool      
25/09/2016 13:29 2E0ZAP 40m SSB 59   59   Rob Tamworth      
25/09/2016 13:35 SM4/DK2HX 14.071 PSK31 599   599   Heinz Motala JO78lr 1379 eQSL Only
25/09/2016 13:35 M6HVM 40m SSB 59   59   Paul        
25/09/2016 13:46 MW3GWZ 40m SSB 59   59   Phillip Newport      
25/09/2016 13:47 CT2FPY 14.071 PSK31     599   Leonel Vessada IN50qn 1281  
25/09/2016 13:50 G8JBP 40m SSB 59   59   George Stourbridge      
25/09/2016 13:55 IZ0UIJ 14.071 PSK31 599   599   Roberto Antrodoco JN62mk 1528  
25/09/2016 13:56 M0DFW 40m SSB 59   59   Dave        
25/09/2016 14:01 SP3AM 14.071 PSK31 599   599   Andrzej Wezyska JO72la 1202  
25/09/2016 14:03 M0RBM 40m SSB 59   59   Rodney Bude      
25/09/2016 14:05 EI3CTB 40m SSB 59   59   Justin Dublin      
25/09/2016 14:08 G0VHT 40m SSB 59   59   Paul        
25/09/2016 14:11 M0JZH 40m SSB 59   59   John Telford      
25/09/2016 14:14 RX4CD 14.071 PSK31 599   579   Sergey Petrovsk LO22qh 3231  
25/09/2016 14:16 EI7FYB 40m SSB 59   59   David        
25/09/2016 14:17 MI0HWG 40m SSB 59   59   Peter Belfast      
25/09/2016 14:20 IN3GNV 14.071 PSK31 599   459   Giovanni Bolzano JN56pl 1135  
25/09/2016 14:21 G3KAG 40m SSB 59   59   Tony Royston Derbyshire      
25/09/2016 14:25 G4VFG 40m SSB 59   59   Peter        
25/09/2016 14:27 GK7KFQ 40m SSB 59   59   Nick        
25/09/2016 14:31 MI0GDO 40m SSB 59   59   Robert        
25/09/2016 14:33 MW0LGE 40m SSB 59   59   Rich        
25/09/2016 14:35 G7IIO 40m SSB 59   59   Brian        
25/09/2016 14:39 IV3VOU 14.072 PSK31 599   599   Renato Verzegnis JN66lj 1248  
25/09/2016 14:39 G0MJY 40m SSB 59   59   Dave Kidderminster      
25/09/2016 14:41 G3ZCC 40m SSB 59   59   Mike Watford      
25/09/2016 14:43 M0CRY 40m SSB 59   59   Rob Kent      
25/09/2016 14:45 F4VPL 40m SSB 59   59   Dave Brittany      
25/09/2016 14:46 G7CSM 40m SSB 59   59   Rob Gloucestershire      
25/09/2016 14:48 G3THM 40m SSB 59   59   Les Kent      
25/09/2016 14:49 UA3ASJ 14.072 PSK31 599   599   Evgeny Moscow KO85so 2654  
25/09/2016 14:51 MK6EJV 40m SSB 59   59   Mike Bude      
25/09/2016 14:55 SQ6MIZ 14.072 PSK31 599   599   Zbigniew Wroclaw JO81mc 1355  
25/09/2016 14:55 OP7M 40m SSB 59   59   Marnix        
25/09/2016 14:57 MW1EGX/P 40m SSB 59   59   Maynard Conwy      
25/09/2016 15:01 G1HZI 40m SSB 59   59   Ian Hexham      
25/09/2016 15:02 US5QGL 14.072 PSK31 599   579   Igor Berdyansk KN86js 2870  
25/09/2016 15:05 G8AGR 40m SSB 59   59   Steve Durham      
25/09/2016 15:08 MW0OZI 40m SSB 59   59   Colin        
25/09/2016 15:09 MW0BYT 40m SSB 59   59   Ross Bangor      
25/09/2016 15:11 G4WOD 40m SSB 59   59   John Bristol      
25/09/2016 15:12 M0WYZ 40m SSB 59   59     Dudley      
25/09/2016 15:13 M0KEB 40m SSB 59   59   Kevin        
25/09/2016 15:15 2E0NER 40m SSB 59   59   Mike Wakefield      
25/09/2016 15:17 M0HCT 40m SSB 59   59   Martin Nailsea      
25/09/2016 15:19 G4FLY 40m SSB 59   59   Gary Reading