RotA 2018

Location

The Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust are based at the former Midsomer Norton South Railway Station. The postal address is Midsomer Norton Station, Silver Street, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2EY. However, there are some specific details that will be of interest to radio hams:

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

Event Details

Late September and we return, once again, to our good friends at the Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust in Midsomer Norton. Saturday is the big set-up day, as we have to put the antennas up as well as establish the stations within the operating carriage.

Mark M0SKV, Andy G7KNA and Julian M0JCE established antennas in the upper car park area. the choice of antennas followed the patterns of previous years and other Special Events with our, by now ubiquitous, 80m doublet fed with 450Ω ladder line. A deviation from previous years was the addition of a Hustler 4BTV 4 band vertical which was used by the data station on 20m.

In the carriage the SSB station comprised:

  • Yaesu FT-991 HF/VHF/UHF multi-mode transceiver;
  • Manson EP-925 25A linear power supply;
  • Barker and Williamson VS300A manual ATU; and
  • Dell laptop running CQR Log under XUbuntu 16.04LTS.

The data station comprised:

  • Yaesu FT-857D HF/VHF/UHF multi-mode transceiver;
  • Watson Power Mite NF-25 22A switch mode power supply;
  • Signalink USB Interface; and
  • Toshiba laptop running FLDigi under Ubuntu Mate 18.04LTS.

We noted some interaction between the two stations. Transmitting on the Datamodes station on 20m produced some noise on the 80m SSB station. Similarly the SWR on the 20m Datamodes station would deteriorate when the 80m SSB station was transmitting at the same time.

This was resolved by re-siting the vertical antenna and increasing the separation.

In Carriage ArrangementsAntennas

The setting up was more or less straightforward, the SSB station was on air first working 80m and with inter-G propagation behaving itself quickly ticked off a number of contacts before a QSO with the Bluebell Railway in Sussex got our count of participating RotA stations off the mark.

Working at a considerably less frenetic pace the datamodes station on 20m also started to make QSOs. The advent of FT8 has clearly drawn operators off of PSK and similar modes and into the realms of the 90 second strict form QSO. Data-mode QSOs have always, with a few exceptions, been very formulaic with a reliance on standard macros which are seen time and again word for word but at least PSK31 and similar modes have the ability to go off script when required to as was demonstrated by our QSO with IN3GNV. FT8, by contrast, does not possess this flexibility at the moment, and whilst many report fantastic numbers of contacts in a short space of time with exotic locations using FT8 it is unclear exactly how much they have gleaned about the other operator, their country or culture. It is perhaps to be expected in the day of “59 QRZ” style SSB contacts that FT8 would prove popular but is it really in the true spirit of amateur radio? Time will undoubtedly tell how enduring this method of communication is outside of the necessary reliable transfer of weak signals in poor conditions, although future alterations to the format to provide greater flexibility will undoubtedly improve the mode.

Despite this a number of PSK31 and PSK63 QSOs were achieved into Europe on 20m, particularly enjoyable were the QSOs with Kurt OE1KYA in Vienna who followed up with a number of truly lovely photos of Vienna sent by e-mail and another QSO with Giovanni IN3GNV who we have worked in previous years.

Restored LocomotiveKen (Foundation student) operating the SSB station and Andy (G7KNA) operating the data-modes station

Sunday saw a few changes to the operating crew. Ken, one of our Foundation students, joined us as did Vince who was visiting from Scotland. The format of the day continued in the same vein as Saturday, and by the end of the weekend we had made 131 contacts including 16 (38%) of the participating 43 (42 discounting ourselves) Railways on the Air operations. 15 (11%) out of the 131 QSOs were made using data-modes.

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.
22/09/2018 10:51 G0GWY 80m SSB 59   59   Geoff        
22/09/2018 10:55 2E0PTZ 80m SSB 57   59   Paul Andover      
22/09/2018 10:57 M5HFJ 80m SSB 599   599   John        
22/09/2018 10:59 G3XDS 80m SSB 59   59   Peter Mansfield      
22/09/2018 11:00 G6UWK 80m SSB 599   599   John        
22/09/2018 11:03 G4BHD 80m SSB 599   599   Trevor Cambourne Cornwall      
22/09/2018 11:06 2E0ERX 80m SSB 599   599   Mark Kent      
22/09/2018 11:09 OE4BHF 20m PSK31 599   579   Franz Rudersdorf      
22/09/2018 11:10 G2BKZ 80m SSB 59   59   Rob Hertfordshire      
22/09/2018 11:12 G0ERS 80m SSB 58   59   Rod        
22/09/2018 11:16 G1YPG 80m SSB 59   59   Steve Stafford      
22/09/2018 11:20 GB0BR 80m SSB 59   59   Gavin Bluebell Railway     Bluebell Railway operated by Downland Radio Group (M0XSE)
22/09/2018 11:23 GB0AVR 80m SSB 599   599   Dave Ammon Valley Railway     Avon Valley Railway operated by North Bristol ARC
22/09/2018 11:23 EA3DUI 20m PSK31 599   599   Marti Caldetas JN11gn 1144  
22/09/2018 11:36 GB4EKR 80m SSB 599   599   Peter Dover     East Kent Railway operated by Dover Amateur Radio Cllub
22/09/2018 11:40 GB0GCR 80m SSB 599   599   Stephan       Great Central Railway (Nottingham) operated by Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group
22/09/2018 11:42 M0KKM 80m SSB 599   599   Kevin Norfolk      
22/09/2018 11:46 M0DFW 80m SSB 599   599   Dave Cambridge      
22/09/2018 11:47 GB4MHR 80m SSB 57   57   Russ Medstead Alton     Mid-Hants Railway (The Watercress Line) operated by Horndean and District ARC
22/09/2018 11:53 GB1WVR 80m SSB 599   599   Derek       Keighley and Worth Valley Railway operated by Otley ARS
22/09/2018 11:54 GB1FLR 80m SSB 57   57   Ron Kent     Fenland Light Railway operated by PADARC
22/09/2018 11:57 M3FEH 80m SSB 56   58     Cornwall      
22/09/2018 12:01 G8GWK 80m SSB 59   59   Chris        
22/09/2018 12:05 GX0SOA 80m SSB 59   59   Harri Stratford on Avon      
22/09/2018 12:06 G0WWD 80m SSB 57   57            
22/09/2018 12:09 GW0JAI 80m SSB 59   59   Glynn        
22/09/2018 12:09 SP2HXY 20m PSK31 599   599   Stefan Rumia JO94en 1438  
22/09/2018 12:12 MW6IEU 80m SSB 59   59            
22/09/2018 12:17 GW4RLP 80m SSB 59   59   Terry Caernarvon      
22/09/2018 12:18 M0TMD 80m SSB 57   57   Helen Glossop      
22/09/2018 12:19 OE1KYA 20m PSK31 599   599   Kurt Vienna JN88fd 1399  
22/09/2018 12:22 GB4VBR 80m SSB 59   59   Owen Berkeley     Vale of Berkeley Railway operated by Thornbury and South Gloucestersshire ARC
22/09/2018 12:25 G3OKA 80m SSB 59   59   John Wirral Liverpool      
22/09/2018 12:25 G4SJX 80m SSB 57   59   Mike Leicester      
22/09/2018 12:30 M1DEN/M 80m SSB 59   56   Lee Hull     TS-690
22/09/2018 12:38 G0ALI 80m SSB 59   59   Alison Congresbury      
22/09/2018 12:38 G4EZV 80m SSB 59   57   Mike Torquay Devon      
22/09/2018 12:40 OM1AD 20m PSK31 599   599   Dusan Nitr JN98ai 1501  
22/09/2018 12:42 G4RAC 80m SSB 57   57   John Burton on Trent      
22/09/2018 12:46 G4ZTQ 80m SSB 59   59   John Chichester      
22/09/2018 12:51 IK2IAQ 20m PSK31     599   Angelo Castellucchio JN55hd 1182  
22/09/2018 12:55 M0ALD 80m SSB 59   58   John Leeds      
22/09/2018 13:05 G4CUS 80m SSB 59   59   Antony Hastings      
22/09/2018 13:07 G3YCH 80m SSB 59   59   John Paignton      
22/09/2018 13:24 G0RYL 80m SSB 59   59   Rob Portland      
22/09/2018 13:30 2E1RBH 80m SSB 59   59   Carol        
22/09/2018 13:30 G4ICC 80m SSB 59   58   Mike Northampton      
22/09/2018 13:38 IN3GNV 20m PSK31 599   599   Giovanni Bozano JN56pl 1135  
22/09/2018 13:40 G0IJM 80m SSB 59   59   Jen Leicester      
22/09/2018 13:42 GB2BNM 80m SSB 59   52           Former Bishops Nympton and Molland Station on the Devon and Somerset Railway operated by Exmoor Radio Club
22/09/2018 13:50 GB2CPM 80m SSB 59   59   Ed Amberley     Amberley Narrow Gauge Railway operated by Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre
22/09/2018 13:53 M0HFY 80m SSB 59   57   Barry Gloucester      
22/09/2018 13:59 GB4HMR 80m SSB 59   59   David Hoddeston     Hoddesdon Model and Railway Club operated by Southgate ARC
22/09/2018 14:00 G8BPY 80m SSB 59   59   Peter Kingston Surrey      
22/09/2018 14:04 G4EHT 80m SSB 59   57   Bill Litchfield     IC-7300 Butternut Vertical
22/09/2018 14:11 G4TXF 80m SSB 59   59   Colin Pershore      
22/09/2018 14:14 G4RUJ 80m SSB 59   59   Paul Clacton on Sea      
22/09/2018 14:15 G6BDV 80m SSB 57   59   Rob Bedfordshire      
22/09/2018 14:19 GW6VEI 80m SSB 59   59   Doug NE Wales      
22/09/2018 14:23 M0PER 80m SSB 59   59   Alan Chester      
22/09/2018 14:24 M6LWO 80m SSB 59   59   Tony Bedford      
22/09/2018 14:31 2E0DUE 80m SSB 59   57   Ian Margate      
22/09/2018 14:37 2E0TGF 80m SSB 59   59   Alastair Cambridgeshire      
22/09/2018 14:38 M6XXD 80m SSB 59   57   Paul Shrewsbury      
22/09/2018 14:40 G0OFD 80m SSB 59   58   John Brancaster Norfolk     Yaesu 200w Amp IC-746
22/09/2018 14:40 UT0IM 20m PSK31 599   599   Vasily Makeevka KN98bc 2903  
22/09/2018 14:46 MW6URI 80m SSB 59   55   Mel Fishguard      
22/09/2018 14:49 G0VXM 80m SSB 59   59   Greg Pontefract      
22/09/2018 14:53 G3XMB 80m SSB 59   59   Bob Chelmsford Essex      
22/09/2018 14:56 M3LDS 80m SSB 59   59   Reg Paulton      
22/09/2018 14:57 G0BFJ 80m SSB 59   59   Brian Huddersfield      
22/09/2018 15:02 G6LXK 80m SSB 59   59   Howard North Essex     Windmill
22/09/2018 15:07 GB0CVR 80m SSB 59   59   Melvin Castle Headingham     Colne Valley Railway operated by Braintree and District ARS
22/09/2018 15:10 G3YZY 80m SSB 59   59   Howard Portsmouth     400w
22/09/2018 15:13 M1FFP 80m SSB 59   59   Brian Castle Cary      
22/09/2018 15:16 M3OZP 80m SSB 57   58   Chris Folkstone      
22/09/2018 15:19 GW4GNY 80m SSB 59   59   Martin Welshpool      
22/09/2018 15:20 G7LEU 80m SSB 59   58   Mark        
23/09/2018 09:12 EI3GO 80m SSB 59   59            
23/09/2018 09:14 GB0SD 80m SSB 54   44            
23/09/2018 09:17 G0WBG 80m SSB 59   59   Andrew Dover      
23/09/2018 09:34 EI7CC 80m SSB 59   59   Pete Dublin      
23/09/2018 09:37 SQ9LFQ 20m PSK31 599   599   Jozef Mordarka      
23/09/2018 09:38 G4BQ 80m SSB 59   59            
23/09/2018 09:40 G4ZJO 80m SSB 59   59   Doc Morecambe      
23/09/2018 09:43 UA3AJZ 20m PSK31 599   599   Mike Moscow      
23/09/2018 09:45 M0TLX 80m SSB 59   59   David Sunderland      
23/09/2018 09:50 G0NOV 80m SSB 59   59   Mike Weymouth      
23/09/2018 09:52 DL6UMF 20m PSK31 599   599   Olaf Werben JO71ct 1152  
23/09/2018 09:55 G0GCJ 80m SSB 55   59   Ron Manchester      
23/09/2018 10:01 G3TGB 80m SSB 59   59   Brian Braintree      
23/09/2018 10:03 G0GWY 80m SSB 59   59   Geoff Scunthorp      
23/09/2018 10:08 G4LTM 80m SSB 59   59   Greham        
23/09/2018 10:19 OK1AYM 20m PSK31 599   559   Vlada Varnsdorf JO70hv 1191  
23/09/2018 10:35 G3SZO 80m SSB 59   59   John        
23/09/2018 10:45 G3ZPS 80m SSB 59   59   Steve        
23/09/2018 10:59 G3XVX 80m SSB 59   59   Howard        
23/09/2018 11:03 G0WWD 80m SSB 59   59   Dave Newton Abbot      
23/09/2018 11:06 G8GWK 80m SSB 59   58   Chris        
23/09/2018 11:07 G3LUA 80m SSB 59   59   Alan Solihull      
23/09/2018 11:16 M0JZH 80m SSB 57   58   John Telford      
23/09/2018 11:23 GJ3WMR 80m SSB 59   59   Frank St Brelade      
23/09/2018 11:25 G0UOO 80m SSB 59   58   Rob Folkestone      
23/09/2018 11:31 G0AWV 80m SSB 59   59     Thatcham      
23/09/2018 11:31 M0SKV/M 80m SSB 59   59   Mark Midsomer Norton      
23/09/2018 11:35 M0KKM 80m SSB 58   59   Kevin Kings Lynn      
23/09/2018 11:37 GB2MOP 80m SSB 59   59   Mike Museum of Power      
23/09/2018 11:40 F5VIG 80m SSB 59   59   Mike Brittany      
23/09/2018 12:30 2E0VKM 80m SSB 57   59   Stefan Nottingham      
23/09/2018 12:33 G0ERS 80m SSB 57   54   Rod Portsmouth      
23/09/2018 12:34 DL1MBV 20m PSK31     599   Michael        
23/09/2018 12:35 G0FEX 80m SSB 59   59   Ken Leicester      
23/09/2018 12:38 G0PPQ 80m SSB 59   59   Peter Pontefract      
23/09/2018 12:42 G3RZF 80m SSB 59   59   David Slough      
23/09/2018 12:44 G8MIA 80m SSB 59   59   Andy        
23/09/2018 12:46 G3WFK 80m SSB 59   59   John Manchester      
23/09/2018 12:50 2E0MNG 80m SSB 59   59   Neal        
23/09/2018 12:54 GB9TMB 80m SSB 59   59   Pete       Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway operated by Bromsgrove and District ARC
23/09/2018 12:57 M0NAS 80m SSB 59   59   Neil Colchester Essex      
23/09/2018 13:01 2E0UAC 80m SSB 59   59   Martin Coventry      
23/09/2018 13:07 UR4MLS 20m PSK31 599   599   Sergey Krasnodon      
23/09/2018 13:15 GW1DTA 80m SSB 59   59   Mark Swansea      
23/09/2018 13:17 G0KSS 80m SSB 55   57   Keith        
23/09/2018 13:25 G0OGS 80m SSB 59   59   Steve        
23/09/2018 13:32 G8RZA 80m SSB 57   59   Andy Illford      
23/09/2018 13:34 2E0DQL 80m SSB 59   59   David London      
23/09/2018 13:37 M0ZGB 80m SSB 59   59   Johnathon        
23/09/2018 13:53 GB2RDR 80m SSB 57   59   Eddie Banchory     Royal Deeside Railway operated by Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society
23/09/2018 14:18 GB0MVR 80m SSB 59   59   Graham        
23/09/2018 14:29 GB0SCR 80m SSB 59   59   Colin Blunsdon Station     Swindon Cricklade Railway operated by Colin
23/09/2018 14:36 SV2FPI 20m PSK63 599   599   Sakis   KN10ku 2254