Isle of Wight portable

Just about to land on the Isle of Wight. It’s overcast and occasionally drizzly, but not cold. On the air from the hills about 12.30. Will be trying to coax my T2LT down to 26285 as well as on the T5 etc as there is a sensible attempt to re-establish it as an alternative to an overcrowded (and El Commandante-ridden) T5.

Off again for another bash from Luccombe Down. On the air about 11.15 for the Pegasus group net on 27405 and then Sid’s net on 34 FM this afternoon. Shouting on 26285 as well through the day on my new T2LT tuned specially for Low band.

Hi. Stu. Thxs for short Qso on 26.365 @ 4/1 then on PG net @
2-3/1 then on Sid's u started @ 5/5 dropping to 2/1 Poor prop.
Next time ? 73's Mike. 2201/FB855/164.

Hi Stu & Mike. When there is some decent prop to UK I will listen on 285 as I would really like to get rid of the Alicante madman! We could always go back to a T5 freq or stay around 285. Makes no difference to me.
73s Ian

stormy wrote:

Hi Stu & Mike. When there is some decent prop to UK I will listen on 285 as I would really like to get rid of the Alicante madman! We could always go back to a T5 freq or stay around 285. Makes no difference to me.
73s Ian

I can just about cover from 285 up to above the T5 on my new 5/8 so that makes things a bit less of a faff than having to retune or switch between 2 T2LTs. Coming up soon will be a bi-square to go on the 10m pole which should also be good bandwidth-wise but that will need pretty calm weather because of the drag of the wire and guys. Fortunately Bank Holiday Monday looks pretty good for testing.

The T5 has been a zoo lately with 30PJ05, Commandante, and the "Italy Oscar" nutter but I do see more reports of people calling and making contacts on the Low band. I am surprised more UK groundwave nets don't relocate down there from the Mids or the T5 region because when the band is open they don't have a hope in hell of getting anywhere.

Hi. Stu./ Ian.

Listening now on .285/.430 & 40m. The 40/80m seem to be the
atm. Was listening to Tim's net on Mon. Yes I think it would be a
Good idea to move from .285 nxt yr. I'm in favour of 26.430 the
Old CO ( Canadian Outlaws ) freq. I very rare use T5 now. Always
on S/lows or 40/80. 73's for now Mike. Ps Stu R U on I.O.W. Sun?

Vendee85 wrote:

Hi. Stu./ Ian.

Listening now on .285/.430 & 40m. The 40/80m seem to be the
atm. Was listening to Tim's net on Mon. Yes I think it would be a
Good idea to move from .285 nxt yr. I'm in favour of 26.430 the
Old CO ( Canadian Outlaws ) freq. I very rare use T5 now. Always
on S/lows or 40/80. 73's for now Mike. Ps Stu R U on I.O.W. Sun?

The radar on 285 was very strong most of yesterday (I couldn't get over the Island on Sunday). Excellent day of short skip with contacts in Scotland, Ireland and as far south as Sheffield. Some of the shortest skip distances I've ever come across and a welcome thing too - I always seem to be on at the wrong times lately for catching it.

The bi-square needs a bit more work to find a good match, and it needs to be made lighter. I was only using quite heavy insulated wire and some dodgy home-made 450-ish Ohm open wire, but I think I've proved the concept to myself and I'll make up a properly-working version.

Hi. Stu.
Yes the Radar was strong on .285. T5 was alive 1hr both sides of
Noon then faded @ my Qth. 40 was good all pm till 1700 faded. 80
was poor all eve. couldn't hear Tim's 80 net. Went Qrt @ 2100. There
We're a few stations on 26.395/.430 but I had Qrn. @ S5-7. Conditions still poor. Will keep trying can only get better. 73's Mike.

Hi. Stu.
I will be uponthill 2moro Sun 8th Sept. from 1130ish on PG/DR nets will shout on 26.285/.365/430 between 1300/1430 then on
Sid's till 1600 on H/ground nr. Bath. 73's Mike 2201/FB855/164.

On the ferry just pulling up at Ryde. On the air shortly after 10 on the T5 and 26285. Gorgeous weather on the south coast!

...and it was all very worthwhile. No skip but some excellent ground wave in the morning with 26CI001 David down near Land's End at nearly 200 miles, 169LR002 Rich in Guernsey and then 167VG001 Vinny in Jersey. Both these reckon they are just about the only regular operators in the Channel Isles which is a pity. Also ITL 26PD111 Scott 1200' up at Ringinglow near Sheffield and 26LR352 nearby but only 600' high - there wasn't much between their signals. Lots of activity on the Pegasus net with these guys so a very worthwhile session. As I expected, the ground wave conditions worsened as the cold front moved down the country so it paid to get over there early and make the most of it.

Haven’t been out with the gear for 6 weeks, so another bash is long overdue. Clusters are showing reports of propagation, reasonably good air pressure chart, and it’s going to be mild and calm weather (after yesterday’s ordeals in southern England!).

On the T5, 26285, etc after 11am.

Good conditions last night so hopefully you will have a good day

Pacman wrote:

Good conditions last night so hopefully you will have a good day

Thanks, the skip was pretty good, lots of Spain and Portugal. Ground wave less so, but I made it up to Mark TM575 170 or so miles away in Matlock. The highlight just before I packed up was 3IR001/HB25, Carlos in southern Brazil - first time to South America since I came back on last year, so the journey was well worth it.

Hi. Stu.

Nice contact into 31. I had a contact with a TM @ 1215 on .285
not strong enough for Qso. He said he was portable? I was only
static mob. @ Qth. There was a good lift on 40 pm from 1400/
1530 but all contest's. Try again nxt wk. 73's Mike.

Vendee85 wrote:

Hi. Stu.

Nice contact into 31. I had a contact with a TM @ 1215 on .285
not strong enough for Qso. He said he was portable? I was only
static mob. @ Qth. There was a good lift on 40 pm from 1400/
1530 but all contest's. Try again nxt wk. 73's Mike.

Hi Mike, I will try to get out next Sunday again but depends how much I have to drink after the World Cup Final on Saturday lol. Your TM portable might have been Tony up on the Quantocks but I can't remember his unit number. I had a listen on 285 but the radar was too strong 50kHz either side - I know I keep saying maybe 385 would make a better calling frequency but that radar isn't going anywhere!

Having been out a couple of times in January and forgetting to mention it on here, I will be back over the IoW again tomorrow now the weather has improved a bit. I will give a few calls on 26285 as well as the T5 and having a look at the usual nets. On the air shortly after 1100.