antron a99 fail

so had my antron a99 installed a few days now and im not getting really far with it, i do live in a bit of a dip so probably the area. so going take it down and just go mobile with my mag mount for the time been, really disappointed as ive spent a canny few quid to get a base staion set up

A whole few days?

Sorry Steve, don't mean to sound facetious but that's hardly a test of an antenna or prevailing radio conditions. With the radio interest it's usually about the long haul.

We had a dead spot in the radio spectrum for a couple of days over the end of last week/weekend due to a solar event but it bounced back lively as anything and there's even a bit of action going on the free-band frequencies right now. (Surrounding 27.555MHz as of 29/03/23 17:20 hrs) Great stuff for the DX interest.

(Check out the countries people got on the Charlie Tango 11m Challenge :- https://charlietangodxgroup.forumotion.com/t4727-11m-winter-challenge. Inspirational stuff right there.)


If you mean local 'chat' either on the UK band or even CEPT Euro frequencies then that might be a bit more lacklustre depending on activity in your area. In some areas CB is thriving but in others too many shout out for a few days reinvigorated by the likes of 'Fred-In-The-Shed' and then give it up as quick as they took it up unfortunately.

As for being in a 'dip' you're not actually much different from my own location in Bedfordshire and I pick up radio chatter no problem even with my 'lawnmower lead' antenna in my loft.

Durham topographic map :-

https://en-gb.topographic-map.com/map-mr2f3/City-of-Durham/?center=54.47961%2C-1.40625&zoom=8


The summer is when the skip really comes rolling in and we're ramping up a solar cycle so it should be pretty good if last summer was anything to go by. Might be worth waiting for those events before giving it up totally. Also worth shouting out regularly on a set of frequencies (Channel 19, UK & Euro as well as free-band frequencies) as quite often people listen for radio chatter but if everyone is 'listening' it seems like no one is there!

I wish you well with your mobile aspirations because at least you can get to high ground and maybe even closer to where there is some CB action.


Most things nowadays tend to be 'on-demand' with an instant gratification sense of satisfaction but radio doesn't really work out that way. Even on Ham frequencies you're at the virtue of propagation conditions or Mother Nature and she can be a fickle bitch at times. FT8/FT4 digital modes tend to fill in that void. (Seems you can make a contact with those modes at any time...something I enjoy myself.)

As for spending a few quid it's the same for any hobby interest really.


Don't feel too despondent, (easier said than done I know), and see how you go. Your mobile radio ventures may bear fruit and you'll soon feel reinvigorated again.


It's not 19-clickety-click anymore where you could pick up a mic and shout "19 for a Roger" at almost any time and be guaranteed an answer unfortunately. We also don't have too many of the "Bedroom DJ's" or the "bucket-mouth" brigade that used to hang out on CB either thank God!

If all the operators who we've handed out call signs to over the years were on air right now I'm sure the airwaves would be bristling with activity.


All the best,
Victor

quite right there Victor perseverance is the word and just like you say all hobbies cost money and i wouldn't really like to know how much i have spent on bikes over the years it would probably bring me out in a cold sweat 

steve1uk wrote:

so had my antron a99 installed a few days now and im not getting really far with it, i do live in a bit of a dip so probably the area. so going take it down and just go mobile with my mag mount for the time been, really disappointed as ive spent a canny few quid to get a base staion set up

Why take it down?

You've invested money in it, leave it up, give it time, have a shout out as well as a listen.
Some people come on at different times. If everyone switched on, heard nothing, switched off and packed up there'd be no one on.

I came back on last year and was lucky to get a contact early on.
Just shouting 1-9 a Rodger.


I was away at my coastal retreat lol, and after one contact,  a week or so later it snowballed from there. 
Not a lot on but a few to get a decent chat now and then.
I've even met a few decent blokes I'd never have done otherwise.

Funny enough there are more people on air around my qth but I haven't been on air here much mainly because I haven't yet set up a homebase antenna.
But I remember last year breaking into a conversation just to say hello and exchange signal reports whilst mobile. After saying 73's and before I flicked channels I heard one person comment "nice one, another new breaker on air".




Have you had contacts mobile ?
If you have, ask them when they are usually on and that you want to try to contact them from your homebase.
Ask or search for any local nets times.etc.

Don't give up yet Steve! Sporadic E season will soon be upon us and that opens European contacts sometimes as strong as if they were living next door to you, plus also sometimes some very short skip enabling you to talk all over the UK. Even if, after some time, you find there is no one very local to you to talk to, the ionosphere will be your friend and you will get some QSOs. Stick it out!

I always say, I will never give up, I will not be beaten.
I even failed my parachute jump Twice

yeah i understand what you are all saying, but im hardly getting local contacts under 5 mile and know there on there cb