UK PMR DX East Midlands out on the 8@8

It’s been very quiet on 11m this last month or so so I dug out the Baofeng to see what was happening on the 8 at 8 446 net last Sunday. 

Surprised how active it was. 

I had half hour at a high point in the East Mids and got out 72 miles up to Beverley near Hull, also made contacts in Horncastle, Doncaster and north Chesterfield. 
Well worth checking out if you are in the East Mids/Lincs/South Yorks areas.

Hi Frank,


I saw your posting on the forum and moved it to a section of it's own. I hope you don't mind.

I've put it here in the PMR DX section as I'm pretty impressed with the distances you managed to cover with your Baofeng.  

Do you have any details to add as to what model, power and whether an external antenna was used?


There looks like there was a slight tropospheric propagation lift last Sunday which may have been helping your transmissions. Details for the propagation site is as follows :-

https://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo_eur.html

Always worth a look there to see if any favourable conditions are to be had.
(I usually listen out for the various radio beacons around the UK also to check 'real time' conditions.)


Again, impressive stuff. Feel free to post up anytime you achieve some great PMR contacts or even place a 'report' should you wish in the Nets & Skeds section.


All the best,
Victor

Hi Victor

No problem and thanks.

Yes, I was using a UV-5R which I believe is 4w? I also made a 3 element beam resonant for 446 from electrical insulator blocks, 2x1 timber and 4mm steel rods (all from Wickes), total cost £8.
I noticed 446 antennas are available to buy online now but enjoy experimenting with antenna builds. 
The design was based on a ‘Tape Measure Yagi’ build that is on YouTube. 

The beam was on top of my vehicle parked on some high ground facing NE.

Obviously any trying this will need a SMA female to PL259 female connector.

Nice one there Frank and a man after my own heart with a homebrew Yagi-Uda beam antenna. Spot on mate!

I'm with you there in that you can buy almost anything but there's something way more satisfying in building for yourself.

Still impressed that you achieved what you did with a standard little UV5r and DIY antenna. Well done.


Thanks for coming back on your posting and look forward to hearing more of your radio adventures.

All the best,
Victor

Thanks mate   

I’m going to try it towards the West Midlands this Sunday providing the weather is fit. I heard a station from Walsall and another from Brum but they weren’t clear enough to make a contact. Perhaps due to the direction of the Yagi.

I’ll report back if I make the trip, or further.