From Gravesend….
At 0730 today I noted radio conditions on the frequency bands we use would be poor – by checking the quick reference guide posted at http://www.reasignals.net/Local%20and%20DX%20Conditions.html
I flagged this up to the regular net participants that I would be listening on 80m as well as 60M, by email.
I heard Tom G4CMG call at that time with a test. I then tested my set up on 60M see results below.
Technical Set Up Here
For this net I was going to be using a Web Based Software Defined Radio Located in Nantwich in Cheshire. http://hackgreensdr.org to receive signals via a PC on the internet and I would be transmitting using a PRC320 running 200Watts on 60M.
I decided on this set up because local radio noise on HF is a feature here, which kills my receiver. I have a continuous noise level around Strength 7 (S7) and usually anything over S8 I can hear with difficulty. (I thought I was going deaf for a while 🙂
Most times signals are below the noise level. I sussed out that people can hear me quite well as I can raise about 200 Watts now.
This noise problem is something I have not yet got round to resolving – busy day job.
Receiver in Cheshire, Transmitting from Gravesend – Full duplex.
I have to say it worked very well – the Hack Green set up is located in a former nuclear bunker and these locations were pretty much designed for low noise operation by virtue of their location – away from noise sources and their shielding. If you have never visited one – Go – it is a remarkable study into the cold war and the engineering that went into the design is an eye opener.
80 Meters – 3.722Mhz
I used my TS570D with about 60Watts with a Clansman noise cancelling microphone I was able to listen to the net at reasonable strength all round without headphones using the Web SDR to recieve. I confirmed the noise conditions by alternating between the local receiver and the remote one. Greta result see (or hear) the attached.
60 Meters – 5.371.5 Mhz
As predicted – not usable for Near Vertical Incidence Skywave up to 200 Miles at the time of day we normally operate. At this link is a recording of the net which lasts for approx ten minutes. Very interesting….
Other Business
This email was sent to all branch members who have registered an interest or are a registered amateur radio operator with the branch. If you do not want to receive it then please let me know.
Your feedback will be useful. I am interested in whether you think it should be extend to all of the branch members as I have limited the distribution to radio amateurs only and used blind carbon copy to conceal our email addresses. If you would like your email address to be made know to fellow branch members or not it would be useful to know – it kind of defeats the object of the branch if we hide our identities from each other.
Mac 2E0ATZ is proposing a special event to mark VE Day at the RE Museum in Chatham in June – if you are interested in doing a radio stag J please let me know.
