GB3BN net summary 9th April 2020

Wonderful to hear so many people on BN again. Here are a few of the salient points:

Great discussion about birds and wildlife. Some thoughts there may be changes in red kite behaviour in that they may take small prey. Robin G4IWS reports on turf wars over his nesting box; nuthatches involved. Graham G3XYX reports it’s great to hear the song thrushes in full voice.

Lots of projects on the go, too many to mention – Tom M0LTE using ammo cases as enclosures/housings; Loz G2DD looking to calibrate his power meter. Simon fixed an IC260 2m rig – dead ‘OR’ gate CD4071 IC I think it was and is now being driven mad, like me, by a microwave modules transverter.

Big shout out to Gareth M7GRB for supporting our carers by 3D printing face shields.

On that front, remember there’s the RSGB ‘Hope’ QSO party (can’t remember who mentioned that): https://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2020/rhqp.shtml

Min G0JMS has had a shack tidy, or so he claims 🙂

A possible talk we could look into is Dud Charman G6CJ’s Aerial Circus – or recreation thereof.

Dave’s WIRES-X/Yeasu fusion gateway MB6IOX is there for all to use (https://www.ukrepeater.net/my_repeater.php?id=3214). Min and Gary G4FLY also have gateways.

A source of RF noise found and summarily shot: a talk talk router and possibly a USB charger.

John bemoans the lack of the old GB3RAL beacons (28.215, 40.050, 50.050, 60.050, 70.050)MHz and GB3BAA on 50.016MHz and 70.016MHz and wonders if RADARC might be able to support at least getting something back on air in the lowband VHF region.

Here is the full cast list, with signal strength in dBm on the BN input at Bill G4WJS’s location in Stokenchurch (where recorded):

Tom M0LTE (-125)

Graham G3XYX (-109)

Chris G4CCC (-103)

Mike G4CDF (-118)

Chris M1CYE (-128, then -120)

Michael M0MPM (-122)

Bill G4WJS

Jim G0LHZ (-125)

Simon M0ZSU (-121)

Andy M7ANR (Fleet) (-124)

Loz G2DD (-128)

G4ZRZ (sorry – didn’t get a name, could have been via echolink)

Robin G4IWS (-119)

Min G0JMS (-99)

Dave G0TKV (-102)

Gareth M7GRB

Vin G4JTR (-100)

Gary G4ELD

Thanks to Bill for the signal reports on the input.

Next net: Thursday, 23rd April 2020, 8:10pm GB3BN

73

John

G4RDC