My first proper contact (Corfu) with 14PAT411 France

Hello ... Other times signal passed for just few moments in England, Germany, France, Laconia Greece (simplex transmitter at ch4) but was lost immediately ... this time the weather conditions allowed & I made my first proper contact with France 14PAT411 on ch 32 fm eu40 band today at 11:00 utc with pni 6500 & pni ml 160 (exact same as sirio ml145) ...

It's a nice feeling to hear back your call sign so Thanks to the forum for providing one (for sure it helps) and also feels good have a long-distance conversation via radio waves :headset  ... but i was a little shocked the first time (inexperience) so please 14PAT411 & listeners forgive any contact errors i did ... by the end seems some one else also heard me but did not understand  at time



Thank you

Good video, thanks for sharing.

nice contact Babis hope you get many more 73's Mark

many thanks CT boys !

Today at EU40 band ch31 an other day was busy ... my best day with a small pni6500 & a car pni ml160 antenna at roof of the house, propagation morning to afternoon, send signal to 3 places ... 1) UK (did not managed to make contact but i heard some one called me) & 2) very short contact with 14PAT911 (France)

3) How ever in this video (again today) ch 18 (EU40) i can hear back my voice, for sure a repeater possibly via internet, unknown location my guess in Germany or Italy


i have also heard a repeater at ch31 the other day was heard few Germans repeating their voice as well

Well done babis  yes, sounds like a parrot repeater. When I heard one for the first time it took me by surprise, I thought someone was just being silly and recording me. Recording in THIS thread, plus Tom Chickenfoot@1987 lists a few other repeaters to listen for.

Well, you know you can transmit to another country, probably Germany, and probably further to wherever the repeated signal is repeated. Have fun!

Hi thanks for reply & the infos, checked your video, will keep an eye at 12 ... today did not had time for cb & now night time not cb activity at my area, rare times at night) ...
As mentioned there is one at 31 (but not heard my voice) and some one at youtube mentioned heard one at 27.290  mhz (i add comment is possible at Polish band) ...
Well not sure if is always a parrot repeater ... few weeks ago i managed to hear my self at ch4 fm mode EU band & later some Greek voices at that channel ... at Greek forum some one believes was from pasixeracb placed at mountain Pelion (jugging Pelion is because on some good days can hear fm radios from there) but is using internet & that is why the delay

Note just for info, if some one come across, pasixeracb (Greece) has installed about 15 of them EU40 band fm mode at ch 2, 3, 4
https://pasixeracb.com/gateways/

ΕDIT ... thinking about it if at ch18 is indeed parrot (must be in this case) then Italy must heard me as well because i heard Grecia this is Italia ... but that was after time so was not aware regarding parrots & thought was talking to some one else

Regarding repeater at ch12 EU40 band i did not managed go trough but was heard an other UK person Thomas Birmingham chatting with an other Greek
https://youtu.be/Sdb2BkAXGdg?t=85
weird while he was talking the second time, the repeater seems fast forward his words ( i did not edited the video at this point)

here at ch3 eu40 band again repeater (perhaps is at Kefalonia Greece) with 26CT4029
https://youtu.be/leOR-XRVWO8?t=600

Here i add 3 shorts catches of my mine, i did manage to do with small power of the pni6500 (same as crt millennium) & a car cb antenna pni ml160 (same as sirio ml145) at roof

today (was raining all day long) & while was trying to get in touch with Serres city 18RC104 appeared 14PAT991 (different then my first contact 14PAT911) & few minutes later 16ED314 Belgium some very short cacthes i think due to bad weather at my area did not let me go better (still about 1500 km far)



in the begin first 1 & half minute with Enterprise Belgium but seems he was also listening to some one else & by time propagation is gone & then an other appeared
At 2:55 same video person very upset with bad audio, not sure if was talking to me



Here my first AM mode catch i called some French but not English speaking...the first 2 minutes ... at ch35 Thomas Birmingham chatting with Greeks




Had some economic issues with a family health & just managed to order an swr & power meter to see how many watts is the PNI, will be here around mid week coming ... my guess is around 3W at normal mode & no more than 6W at high mode...will update

also i am planning to get a sirio GPS 27 L/2 ... 1/2 wave with 0 dBd, 2.15 dBi ... yes there is a same sirio with radials 5/8 wave or some others similar antennas mentioned at an other topic in this forum ... but here in Greece CB there is no license as long the antenna in use is 0 dBd, 2.15 dBi ... if any anything & they will come to check will be in trouble

Cheers

coming back  ... i like this video...is at eu40 band ch39, i did catch some block from UK helping tune an antenna... my pni6500 does not have detailed meters but note the sound quality of the person in the begin of video & later...was surprised bad tune can cause even no sound ? ...
When i was released what is going on i stop calling (was an other calling by the end of the video)  Thanks

Hello babis3g,Sorry I didn’t return your call as I did not hear you due to noise on that frequency today and once a few stations start calling together it gets confusing and hard work picking out a clear signal.I ‘m not sure exactly where that repeater is on 26.965 (ch3) mids fm,But I have spoken to so many 18 divisions on it I’m thinking it’s somewhere definitely in Greece.
I’ve spoken too Thomas in Birmingham a few times and also 18CT813 Chris and I’ll also be listening for 18CT006 too,hopefully radio propagation will improve as your working conditions work the repeater very well.
Before I had the Sirio yagi beam I use now I used a Sirio gpa 5/8 wave and they are both fantastic antenna’s and I worked all around the world on mine,You will be surprised just how good they are.
Thanks Babis3g the video was fantastic and hope to QSO on the bands very soon. 73’s
26CT4029.  Tom in London

Oh was not waiting some from here will see the video added because was a CT name

-Today i was not on air for long, no more than 45 min, had something to do & then a cheap SWR meter arrived & done some tests (time passed fast) but is hard to reach UK with 4-10W need very good propagation

-If you speak to Thomas tell him i hear him often down here one of the best signals 3-4 out of 6 bars with a car antenna, i have not seen no one getting more than 4 bars ... and also i heard him talking about taxi drivers with a Russian i think. Most are from Croatia, perhaps & Slovenia so tell him not worry.
At EU40 band they are on at each single channel, i know EU40 is free for everyone but they must using high power because i do not hear every single day local amateurs from there, just them all day long even propagation is not so good ... i m also hearing them at UK band, DE band over ch40 & lower the Italian band 2 below 27 mhz ... they are everywhere at 11m

-Regarding antenna is in the plan to get a proper one, that one was just to get started & can not complain they did heard me till Belgium

-Regarding the parrot repeaters i think they are from Greece (i can be wrong & be Germans they also have few around) but for sure pasixeracb added some with help from locals SW/CB licensed amateurs & are at ch 2,3,4...only at 4 can hear my self sometimes with propagation
https://pasixeracb.com/gateways/
& if more locals amateurs will co-operate will add some more locations this year

Thanks 73!

Hello babis3g,It’s all good.Hope your tests went well and you now know the radio wattage output and your antenna SWR.Maybe you should get a linear amplifier to your radio and those 4 watts would be 40w or more if needed.You will have no problem being heard then.
Thanks 73’s

Hi Thanks ... is been a while because not time for cb last week, the one free time day before, was for dab+ dx catches because down here can get dab+ from Malta, Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, Tunisia, Greece depending the day if weather allow these digital transmissions ...

My SWR is over 3 no matter what tuned i did tried does not go lower, the only managed to do is as example from 3.6 to get it down to 3.4 ... at UK band testing also few lengths, i 've seen readings (with out proper grounding) 2.8 - 3.1 ... seems is better up there this car antenna
This PNI ML160 (same as Sirio ML145) want Very good grounding & also needs to be Totally vertical (no angle 5/10% etc for better results) with ground angle 90 degree, as seems made for cars which if installed in car, the metal is 90 degree from the antenna...

I did get some electric wire to add 3 radials like ground plane (for testing 90 & 45 degree...no time yet to install/solder them, which hopefully will let to tune better) but a new proper antenna is ready to order end of week

As for watts i am checking now what need to do for getting type of license for the 28-30 mhz (not fully amateur license for all bands)
----------------------------------------

Today heard few from UK at EU40 band & UK band...i also managed reaching at UK Band just about two users which they hardly heard me ... 26CT4186 & 26TE11 (if i understood well the 2nd) ... can not blame always the antenna because also pni 6500 at UK band does not give more than 6-7 watts at high mode & also they disappear shortly ... here was raining all day, full heavy clouds around me for long distances ... if had 40W as mentioned maybe with a wire can reach over there

off topic a friendship request, sorry don't know how to accept, if some one can help, thanks ... EDIT shorted, sorry & again thanks

from here i did plot my radiation (thanks to member pointing the tool)
https://charlietangodxgroup.forumotion.com/t5355-antenna-advice



According to this, it showing not affect locally to signal from the higher 200-900 m mountains close & near by of me at 27 mhz with 4 watts, it does still cover almost all the island ...  for the far distance behind mountains it did showing reduce of signal ...
For vhf 145 mhz with 4 watts mountains has immediate effect, i suppose only manage to go Not even half of the island (never transmitted vhf in real)

Not much time for CB last week but the day before (31/3) at EU & UK bands was a lot of UK activity
Propagation managed me to reach UK the half hour i had free time
UK Band catch of Yankee Foxtrots block
26YF10, 26YF24, 26YF33, 26JS07
pni6500 & pni ml145 not proper grounded yet

Back again asking for opinion, some time will update the car antenna ... according to my radiation plot (pic just above) the sides of the way higher mountains signal gets weaker ... it is not in the picture but also at east side to mainland Greece are also mountains down from Agrinio city up to Durres Albania all the way ... so, will a 1/4 quarter antenna will help send radiation better over them ? once the 45 degree radials push the signal upwards ... or stick with the trusted 1/2 or 5/8 thanks (quality of them is an other story) ... Many Thanks

A very well done to you Babis with your radio skills, patience and very good grasp of the English language.  

I enjoyed seeing your DX activity on the YouTube video, you were exemplary but it was just unfortunate that the UK stations weren't as skilled as they could have been.

With regards to your radio signal plotting you simply have to remember that your signals go upwards as well as across and such groundwave propagation tools provide limited information. With VHF signals you have the effects of "tropospheric" propagation which happen more commonly around the Mediterranean regions than here in the UK and can carry such signals much, much further than envisaged. With HF frequencies such as CB obviously ionospheric conditions can massively change your radio signal range.

For an FM contact you did incredibly well (some 2400km!) and I would be proud of your achievements with a limited setup.

I wish you well with your radio activities and look forward to hearing more about them.


All the very best to you,
Victor

Many Thanks for your good words...i am trying
Regarding the block i think they are ok have experience, just believe because i brake their locally conversation, some times if they/we have some interesting chatting or have fun may not bother to follow correct steps for dxing...or perhaps some not so bother with dx...i am pleased they have answered while breaking their fun...

For the FM only receiving now, when was young i had 20W FM station with a tube 6146B General Electric & a dipole, it was perfect locally for Corfu Town living there my very young stage

Regarding the plotting yes sure is limited to real conditions but approximately showing that signal travel upwards as well so it does pass the mountain ... just was wondering theoretical if with 1/4 wave (sirio signal keeper in mind due to space) instead of 1/2 or 5/8 may be better, pass over mountains almost around me more easy upwards in my case.
In practice i guess will have to try and see

Today so far CB EU band is almost dead till now 09.30 GMT. Just about heard at 11 & 19 Spanish with AM mode & few weak SSB's, seems now starting activity down here

Hello again to wonderful & helpful forum ...
After about just over 1 year updated the pni ml-160 car antenna (no ground planes radials or any metal underneath installed) with a Sirio Boomernag 27A
That ml-160 as was installed, will give some DX at Belgium, Holland, UK, Germany, France but only 1-4 times a week & only mornings to afternoon for short time where propagation seems was the strongest at least for my area
The sticker at the base of the Boomerang was stating 27-30 mhz & not 27-28
I isolated the small arm keeping the L-dipole from the mast (metal pole) using some plastic tape
However rain started so i put up the Boomerang up as it is with out adjusting the SWR, So antenna, tools, me & a friend got wet

  The juice Went down to check the new Boomerang as it is at UK Band surprisingly was activity, signals was stronger by 1-2db & ch 38 heard a nice lady chatting & through why not try here
Pressed the TX button with 6Whiskies, SWR was begin of red, raining, got big mountain towards UK & for FIRST TIME so late time reached about 2000km .... THANKS to the persons for the report




Note this is about 18:15 Greek time where coming night time CB activity is very low & disappearing so this is the First Time i managed to talk so far this time of the day ... 

I got to finish some more details such pl-259 up there did not had time to add plastic tape to cover it, make stronger the mast & adjust SWR, move away or lower the other mast is just half meter away from the Boomerang it almost touch it ... but hopefully till Sunday will be done ... now is raining really bad out here ... Thanks

Sorry about my language, 10 years away from UK i lost the spellings

EDIT that noise reported worries me... 

and by the way adding the pic as i stated at video & note if matters as reading this Boomerang maybe be directional because the lower radial is up, is facing about France

this Boomerang about total length (no matter how will end up adjusting the SWR) is about 3.70 meters not bad from a ctr or silverod 1/2 about 4.35 m long ... yes one meter more is matter but for my case boomerang seems not bad

seems related to this article
https://www.qsl.net/kk4obi/Center-fed%20L-dipoles%20Vertical.html

i am adding one more detail because i was looking for it over the net but could not find info, even the shop i did get it could not tell ... at the pni ml-160 car antenna the female pl-259 was short-circuit (main feed & ground) using Ωμ at multi meter ... with this Boomerang it is not, is actual L dipole, no short-circuit exists at female pl-259

Oh well done Babis. Very pleased for you to make a contact using that equipment. A Boomerang would not be the first choice of antennas for many people, but you have shown you can make it work.

I wish you many more contacts using it.

Thanks for the feedback  ... i was reading for some did not work atoll for them but at least for me yes seems is ok, it looks like the secret if far from electric & need to isolate the bracket from the metal pole
Sure not the first choice but for some one do not have space is one option for something smaller...the pole i have at the moment don't think can get something heavier when winds start ... how ever will update to crt or silverod 1/2 ... Last night was really heavy rain all night long, SWR still at begin of red so seems water did not get in ... 

here a new DX Boomerang video at EU band ch31 just a little while ago to Holland, he is using the same Boomerang antenna, probably he is in a block of flats, so is not the best antenna but it works ok because currently is light rain heavy cloud & never reached any where under these conditions, even with good weather could not reach dx daily




before that i also reached a repeater at ch11 EU band heard my self & an other Greek

Boomerang to Boomerang DX contact. I'm impressed!

Thanks Boomerang to Boomerang i did changed the title & added yours

OK today's last 3 videos for now (had little more time), only because this is the 3rd day i got the antenna & the 3 days in a raw still allows me to reach far destinations with low whiskies, so is not the best antenna ( now i can image how will be a proper one   ) but so far i am pleased for its size, so here they are:

Belgium  EU Band


UK Band


UK Band ch 19 was very busy, here could Not reach well but ok is 2000km, in the begin i add Joan heard her the other day at ch 38 (upper  video)


Thank you All for allowed me to you

by the way i forgot to mention at EU 40 band ch 20 there is a Swedish repeater if send dtmf tone 51-56 (did send from my phone via mic as pni6500 don't have this option) will activate & will play jingles, music etc located at QtH JP82IC ... i am not saying is by me but jugging i had good day DXing, may be a case activated by me because started immediately