RotA 2017

Location

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

Introduction

The weekend of 23 – 24 September 2017 was fair weather wise, reminiscent of our first outing to this site all the way back in 2011. The plan was simple and based on our years of experience of operating Special Event and portable stations as well as our long association with this site.

SSB StationData Station

Equipment comprised:

  • Club Yaesu FT-991 multimode transceiver for SSB
  • Yaesu Ft-857D multimode transceiver for Digimodes (mainly PSK31)
  • Club Manson EP-925 25A linear power supply for SSB station
  • Watson Power Mite NF switch mode power supply for digimodes station
  • Club MFJ-934 Manual ATU for SSb station
  • LDG Z11 Auto ATU for digimodes station
  • Diamond SX-600 SWR/Power meter for digimodes station
  • Signalink USB data modem for digimodes station
  • Club Dell laptop running XUbuntu 16.04 LTS and CQRLog
  • Toshiba laptop running XUbuntu 16.04 LTS and FLDigi

We were once again billeted in the railway carriage adjacent to the buffet car allowing visitors to the site and buffet car users to observe and take part in activities

AntennasAntennas

Our antennas were simple dipoles and doublets suspended from a central pole about 10m above the ground in an inverted vee configuration. We had an 80m doublet fed with ladder line, hence the need for an external tuner to provide conversion from unbalanced coax to balanced feeder, which was used for the SSB station and could be operated on 80m, 40m or other bands that the ATU could match for us and a 20m half wave dipole used by the data station. The dipole was slightly off resonance in this particular configuration hence the requirement for an ATU.

On Saturday we had little or no feedpoint separation and whilst both stations could operate there were effects of having the two antennas in such close proximity despite the 90° directional differences. On Sunday an additional wooden pole was used to provide more separation reducing the problems. We also had some difficulties with RF getting into both laptops at various times which would render the trackpads useless. External USB mice solved that one.

View from the BunkerRestoration Work

Setup was reasonably straightforward, or at least it is assumed that setup was reasonably straightforward as Andy G7KNA managed to delay his arrival on site until after most of the hard work had been completed. His excuse was that he was coning to site from a short break in Devon and clearing up on the day of departure had taken longer than expected! A likely story. He did at least have the courtesy to speak to Mark M0SKV via GB3WR on his way north to the site once he was within range so his late arrival was not the subject of doubt about his attendance.

Mark M0SKV Operating GB0SDRView of the Site

So by the time that Andy G7KNA arrived all that he had to do was to connect his equipment to the antenna, configure FLDigi for the Special Event and get on air. His first contact was IN3GNV Giovanni, always an interesting QSO as Giovanni is more or less unique in not wanting to have a macro based exchange. Instead of the "rubber stamp" name, locator, QTH, 599 exchange he always wants to have a free form keyboard to keyboard exchange which took up a good 15 – 20 minutes.

Mark M0SKV Operating GB0SDRMark M0SKV Operating GB0SDR

SSB operations were a mix of 40m and 80m the latter being most successful in obtaining inter-G contacts and we worked the bulk of our 17 other Railways on the Air activations on 80m. We made multiple contacts with the Flight Refuelling ARS operating from the Shillingstone Railway Project as they were trying to put someone at their end in contact with one of the Somerset and Dorset Trust members. Sadly despite having a good contact each time we spoke we never managed to get the two people into the same place at the same time. Despite this we made 17 unique Railway to Railway contacts within our 121 contacts for the weekend.

If we worked you then thank you we will be uploading our log to eQSL and QRZ.com. If you didn’t get through to us and we were the target of a pile up at various times then our apologies but we have every intention of being back on the air in this event next year.

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.
23/09/2017 10:47 IN3GNV 14.0719 PSK31 599   599   Giovanni   JN62ks 1493  
23/09/2017 10:56 G6UUR 40m SSB 59   59   Sam South of Birmingham      
23/09/2017 11:00 G3KAG 40m SSB 57   58   Tony Royston Derbyshire      
23/09/2017 11:00 GB0CMR 40m SSB 55   59     Coventry     Coventry Amateur Radio Society – Coventry Model Railway Society
23/09/2017 11:11 SP9AJM 14.0716 PSK31 599   599   Alojzy Nowy Sacz KN09IO 1644  
23/09/2017 11:13 G4EHT 40m SSB 59   59   Bill Lichfield      
23/09/2017 11:18 G4ADR 40m SSB 59   59   Nigel Oxfordshire      
23/09/2017 11:22 GW4GNY 40m SSB 59   59   Martin Welshpool      
23/09/2017 11:24 G3OKA 40m SSB 59   59   John Wirral Liverpool      
23/09/2017 11:26 GB0SRP 40m SSB 57   59   Richard Shillingstone     Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society – Shillingstone Railway Project
23/09/2017 11:27 HA/OE3RAP 14.0716 PSK31     544   András Balatonmáriafürdö JN86QQ 1529  
23/09/2017 11:33 M0JZH 40m SSB 59   59   John Telford      
23/09/2017 11:34 M3ZKB 40m SSB 45   58   Ken Lincolnshire      
23/09/2017 11:39 G3VCG 40m SSB 59   59   Don Chelmsford Essex      
23/09/2017 11:42 GB0EVR 40m SSB 55   57   Martin Derby     Derby and District Amateur Radio Society – Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
23/09/2017 11:49 G3YZY 40m SSB 59   59   Howard Portsmouth      
23/09/2017 11:52 SM7HZK 14.0715 PSK31 599   599            
23/09/2017 11:53 G4MFK 40m SSB 59   59   Glyn Evesham      
23/09/2017 11:58 GB4HMR 80m SSB 57   59   Mike       Southgate Amateur Radio Club – Hoddesdon Model and Railway Club
23/09/2017 12:03 OK1AW 14.0715 PSK31     599   Pavel Nejdek JO60IH 1069  
23/09/2017 12:06 GB0CVR 80m SSB 59   59   Martin Castle Headingham     Braintree and District Amateur Radio Society – Colne Valley Railway
23/09/2017 12:13 DK6GY 14.0714 PSK31 599   599   Rolf Maulburg JN37VP 842  
23/09/2017 12:13 M0SWL 80m SSB 59   59   Brian Pewsey      
23/09/2017 12:21 2E0LMR 80m SSB 59   59   Gaz Northamptonshire     Woodford Halse Grate Central Railway
23/09/2017 12:28 G3TPQ 80m SSB 59   59   Jeff        
23/09/2017 12:36 M3JIV 80m SSB 59   59   Richard        
23/09/2017 12:41 M0AIA 80m SSB 57   59   Paul West Yorkshire      
23/09/2017 12:45 M3IGN 80m SSB 59   59   Ian Box      
23/09/2017 12:49 G0WGP 80m SSB 59   59   Ron Brighton      
23/09/2017 12:57 G8VEN 80m SSB 59   59   Harold        
23/09/2017 13:02 OM3DA 14.0715 PSK31     599   Ruda Poprad KN09DB 1632  
23/09/2017 13:04 M0JCE 80m SSB 59   59   Julian Weston-super-Mare      
23/09/2017 13:11 G3LUA 80m SSB 59   59   Alan        
23/09/2017 13:13 SP3BGP 14.0715 PSK31     599            
23/09/2017 13:17 GB0NVR 80m SSB 59   59   Merv Peterborough     Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society – Nene Valley Railway
23/09/2017 13:18 DM4ZPJ 14.0715 PSK31 599   599   Rolf Greiz JO60DR 1032  
23/09/2017 13:23 M0DFW 80m SSB 59   59   Dave Cambridge      
23/09/2017 13:27 GB4MHR 80m SSB 59   59   Chris Medstead Alton     Horndean and District Amateur Radio Club – Mid-Hants Railway (Watercress Line)
23/09/2017 13:31 G0HVN 80m SSB 59   59   David Birmingham      
23/09/2017 13:34 SQ7RAD 14.0715 PSK31 599   599   Radek        
23/09/2017 13:36 GW0AGZ 80m SSB 59   59   John Oswestry      
23/09/2017 13:41 G0JMZ 80m SSB 59   59   Peter        
23/09/2017 13:46 M3CHE 80m SSB 59   59   Che Exeter      
23/09/2017 13:52 DL1TKI 14.0715 PSK31     599   Thomas Jueterbog near Berlin JO62NA 1076  
23/09/2017 13:54 G4UHJ 80m SSB 59   59   Dave Forest of Dean      
23/09/2017 13:58 G7HEU 80m SSB 59   59   Steve Swindon      
23/09/2017 13:59 RK4PR 14.0715 PSK31 599   599   Vladimir Leninogorsk LO64FO 3604  
23/09/2017 14:00 GW2HFR/P 80m SSB 59   59   Jonathon        
23/09/2017 14:04 G4AAH 80m SSB 59   59   Keith Mansfield      
23/09/2017 14:06 HA7FP 14.0714 PSK31 599   599   Peter Szigetszentmiklos near Budapest JN97MI 1611  
23/09/2017 14:09 MW0WYN 80m SSB 58   59   Dulyn        
23/09/2017 14:11 G0GWY 80m SSB 59   59   Geoff Scunthorp      
23/09/2017 14:15 M0CGL 80m SSB 59   59   Graham Lincolnshire      
23/09/2017 14:19 G0UOO 80m SSB 59   59   Rob Kent      
23/09/2017 14:22 HF27PLI 14.0713 PSK31 599   599           SPECIAL CALL 27th Anniversary of the Activation of the First Internet Link in Poland. ALL INFO ON :QRZ
23/09/2017 14:22 M0CIW/QRP 80m SSB 57   59   Howard Abingdon      
23/09/2017 14:23 GB4SRM 80m SSB 57   59   Tom York     Wearside Electronics Amateur Radio Society – National Railway Museum
23/09/2017 14:27 ES0OU 14.0714 PSK31 599   599   Veljo Saaremaa Isl KO18IJ 1781  
23/09/2017 14:33 G4UAQ 80m SSB 59   59   Ian Kent      
23/09/2017 14:34 G8MNY 80m SSB 59   59   John        
23/09/2017 14:37 GB2HSC 80m SSB 59   59   David Liphook Hampshire     Tooth Radio Group – Hollycombe Steam Collection
23/09/2017 14:44 G3TGB 80m SSB 59   59   Brian Braintree      
23/09/2017 14:49 G0NBI 80m SSB 57   59   Graham Bromsgrove      
23/09/2017 14:53 M0FAQ 80m SSB 58   59   Martin Braintree      
23/09/2017 15:00 G3MSL 80m SSB 59   59   Bob Fleet Hampshire      
23/09/2017 15:06 G0JNT 80m SSB 59   59   Les Grimsby      
24/09/2017 09:16 GB0SCR 80m SSB 59   59   Collin Blunsdon Station     Operated by Colin G4GBP – Swindon Cricklade Railway
24/09/2017 09:24 CT4VB 14.0711 PSK31 599   599   Jose Carnaxide near Lisbon Portugal IM58jr 1490  
24/09/2017 09:57 G4TXF 80m SSB 59   59   Colin Pershore      
24/09/2017 10:04 2E0AXZ 80m SSB 59   59   Chris Ipswich      
24/09/2017 10:20 G4RAC 80m SSB 57   58   John Burton on Trent      
24/09/2017 10:34 GB0FLR 80m SSB 59   59   Mike Stoke on Trent     Moorlands and District Amateur Radio Society – Foxfield Light Railway
24/09/2017 10:49 EG5RCB 14.0712 PSK31 599               Carthagineses and Romanos 2017
24/09/2017 10:52 G4XPE 80m SSB 57   59            
24/09/2017 10:57 SQ8AQO 14.0717 PSK31 599   599   Jacek Skrzyszow KO00SC 1688  
24/09/2017 10:57 MW0LGE 80m SSB 59   59   Rich        
24/09/2017 10:58 M0TWB 80m SSB 59   58   Tony Lancashire      
24/09/2017 11:05 M0LJT 80m SSB 59   59   Eddie Bristol      
24/09/2017 11:07 II0ENG 14.0716 PSK31 599   599           Enigma Reloaded Award
24/09/2017 11:12 IZ8DGR 14.0714 PSK31 599   599   Mario Napoli JN70CT 1726  
24/09/2017 11:22 OE6GND 14.0714 PSK31 599   599   Gerhard Gamlitz JN76SR 1402  
24/09/2017 11:25 G4GEW 80m SSB 56   59   Peter Croydon      
24/09/2017 11:26 G6RQA 80m SSB 57   57   David Norfolk      
24/09/2017 11:33 GB0SRP 80m SSB 59   59   Richard Shillingstone     Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society – Shillingstone Railway Project
24/09/2017 11:34 MX0OMC 80m SSB 57   59   Jim Okehampton     Holsworthy Amateur Radio Club
24/09/2017 11:41 G3NKS 80m SSB 59   59   Derrek Cheltenham      
24/09/2017 11:48 M6MQM 80m SSB 59   59   Mike        
24/09/2017 11:52 M0SHM 80m SSB 45   59   Steve Preston      
24/09/2017 11:54 G8HBS 80m SSB 55   53   Peter Great Yarmouth      
24/09/2017 11:57 SQ9JJX 14.0715 PSK31     599   Jozek Wieckowice JO90VD 1566  
24/09/2017 11:59 GB0ROA 80m SSB 55   59   Dave Bitton     North Bristol Amateur Radio Club – Avon Valley Railway
24/09/2017 12:18 GW3UEP 80m SSB 59   59   Rog        
24/09/2017 12:21 G3CRH 80m SSB 59   59   Hugh        
24/09/2017 12:24 2E0LMR 80m SSB 59   59   Gaz Northamptonshire     Woodford Halse Grate Central Railway – Woodford Halse Grate Central Railway
24/09/2017 12:33 G3FVO 80m SSB 44   59            
24/09/2017 12:42 G3XYD 80m SSB 59   59   Tony Swindon      
24/09/2017 12:44 G4XIB 80m SSB 59   59   Dave Swindon      
24/09/2017 12:54 G4OJD 80m SSB 59   59   Buddy        
24/09/2017 12:56 M0CCW 80m SSB 44   59   Martin Lincolnshire      
24/09/2017 13:08 M0BGS 80m SSB 59   59   Geoff Leeds      
24/09/2017 13:10 GX6ZME/P 80m SSB 59   59   John Bog Shropshire     Telford Amateur Radio Club
24/09/2017 13:21 G0SDD 80m SSB 59   59   Chris        
24/09/2017 13:25 M0EAU/P 80m SSB 58   59   Darryl       Kite 200ft
24/09/2017 13:30 M1FCV 80m SSB 58   59   Clive Stroud      
24/09/2017 13:36 G0AHM 80m SSB 58   59   Paul Cornwall      
24/09/2017 13:45 G7LMF 80m SSB 58   59   Graham        
24/09/2017 13:53 M0ZAE/P 80m SSB 57   59   Henry Norwich      
24/09/2017 13:58 RA9SUQ 14.0715 PSK31 599   599   Vlad Novotroitsk LO91DE 4105  
24/09/2017 13:58 GW0AZB/P 80m SSB 57   59   Ian Horseshoe Pass North Wales      
24/09/2017 13:59 GW0AZA/P 80m SSB 59   59     Horseshoe Pass North Wales      
24/09/2017 14:10 G0SYF 80m SSB 59   59   Bob Wotton under Edge      
24/09/2017 14:16 GB0EOR 80m SSB 59   59   Colin North Weald     Harlow and District Amateur Radio Club – Epping and Ongar Railway
24/09/2017 14:19 M6IXJ 80m SSB 59   58   Rob Okehampton     Dartmoor Railway
24/09/2017 14:25 G7UHT 80m SSB 59   59   Carl Ryde      
24/09/2017 14:31 G0XTA 80m SSB 59   59   Ray Wisbech      
24/09/2017 14:31 GB0SRP 80m SSB 59   59   Richard Shillingstone     Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society – Shillingstone Railway Project
24/09/2017 14:38 GB2EVR 80m SSB 55   59   Ian Warcop Cumbria     Bishop Aukland Amateur Radio Club – Eden Valley Railway
24/09/2017 14:40 G4HMC 80m SSB 59   59   David Whiteleaf Buckinghamshire      
24/09/2017 14:44 G7CHB 80m SSB 58   59   Roy        
24/09/2017 14:49 M0MCL 80m SSB 58   59   Kevin West Sussex      
24/09/2017 14:51 G0UYN 80m SSB 59   59   Malcolm Isle of Wight