11m winter challenge

dam weather and 11m arhhhhhhh cold snap for wales i hope gale force winds, snow ice rain, no masts up or even radio time lol... it worked last time Al hope it does now not heard a thing here for 4 days arhhhhhhhhh even got a little help from a new ariel but thats errrr not as good as i thought back to the shed....
10m quite here at the mo aswell but 80 & 40 a bit better
also all masts in wales have to be taken down due to the fact its not fair and users have to use dv 27 @4w untill further notice

Lol, can highly recommend retirement

It's all about having some fun with it Jimmy.
(Which I know you are. )


All I've had is Italy, Italy, Italy (so no new points) and then was chuffed to get Bulgaria so popped up to add my second point only to groan after seeing Al and Craig's usual high scores.

Then again I've had a lot of fun with it getting some 11m action in and although frustrating at times (USA stomping in Sunday but didn't bag a single one!) it's been very enjoyable. With my setup it's about the best I'm gonna do but just glad to be involved.

I couldn't win an egg-and-spoon race even with my wheelchair or disability scooter but giving it a go is better than sitting back otherwise doing nothing.

its all about enjoying it Victor, Im very lucky to have a mast up with a 5 ele yagi on but still hear people working stations I cant even hear, can only do yor best though.

Well Jimmy, mast down here, high winds forecast for next few days so that might it my lot till Christmas
All the very best guys

Sorry to hear that Al, but I'm putting the lottery on tonight now lol

I'm sure your scores are tentatively safe Al mate....I'm only 40 countries behind you!   


Here Jimmy, now's our chance!

Lol Victor, radio will never be off as of Thursday...... Even if it means I don't sleep or eat

Got another point today on the vertical:)

Hope to get started this coming weekend,.

Good to hear John
Can see Jimmy trying now, well done matey,
just got another point here, on the yagi which is dropped down, nice!

Good stuff, Al. Looking forward to getting stuck in. It is well windy at the moment, but my trusty old Sirio 4000 will be in action. 12 years old and still going strong.

Hello Chaps,

Finally got off the starting blocks. Band conditions were amazing with loads of 2 div cracking in. The highlight was Madeira Island which is a dxcc i have been chasing all these years.

I gave the Yeticom an outing along with an Icoms sm30 desk mic and the trusty Sirio on a magmount. You could I was almost running flatside with the strong winds. Struggled to open the car door with been 500+ metres up and the wind blowing a gale.

All in all, a very enjoyable couple of hours.

Good dx and 73s John.

Very well done John mate.  

Chuffed to bits for you with your Madeira contact there too.

Wind has eased up so finally time to put the mast back up, so you can imagine the language when I had to rotate yagi to miss a tree and rotator didn't work!

Thanks, Victor. I have been after that one for years. Heard them a few times down the years but never managed to work them.

73s John.

Sounds like a nightmare, Al. Have you been able to repair it?

Nope, think the gears have gone, will order a new one I think

Oh no poor you Al 
Quick lads get on the air when Al is doing repairzs

Can we pause the challenge?

Sorry to hear about your rotator there Al mate.

If it's heading into the bin I wouldn't mind it plopping into my one.

Hope you get sorted soon.

Just come at a bad time Victor, not that theres a good time for anything to break lol, just getting round to doing anything now mate

I know what you mean mate, especially at the expense of Xmas and with the winter weather to boot.

Send me the details of the rotator and I'll try to find you a manual and source of spares if you're up to that sort of thing. I'd offer to fix it for you if we were any closer but shipping back and forth from Wales could work out a tad expensive. Failing that a repair centre near you should be able to sort it but I've no idea what money grabbing buggers charge for their 'knowledge' these days.

I'd sit out the winter weather mate (you're more than far enough ahead on the challenge unless some other bugger 'beams' it all up) and leave it for the milder weather to come.

Gutted for you though.

It is a shame it cannot be repaired, Al. These things always have a habit of breaking at the most inconvenient time.

If I lived closer Al I'd come and fix it for you!!!