Tag Archives: 2018

VHF NFD

VHF NFD is a great time to experiment with new equipment. At GB0SNB over the years we have had great success experimenting with EME and Meteor scatter on VHF, and on this occasion, we wanted to try out Richard 500w 144 MHz Linear Amplifier.

We used the 9e LFA, masthead preamp and LMR 400 coax, mounted on the 10m pump up mast. The Icom 7100 provided the all mode VHF radio.

We could only operate for around 4 hrs, but that was enough to work 70 stations in 10 countries.

Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, Isle of Man, France, Germany, Belgium and Netherlands.

Our best DX was GM4PPT at 522 KM.

Altogether a very enjoyable afternoon in the sun

50 MHz Trophy Cup.

The RSGB 50 MHz trophy cup fan over the weekend of 16/17th June, taking advantage of what should be some interesting conditions on 50 MHz. SNBCG have taken part in the contest for a number of years now and typically use the following equipment.

10m pump up mast, 6e Yagi and a solid state amplifier delivering 400w.

The level of activity is dictated by the band conditions, add a little sporadic E and the QSO rates soar to near HF contesting levels. If conditions remain flat, then this is reflected in the number of QSO and the best DX achieved over the weekend.

Sadly on this weekend conditions did not live up to their best, and the sporadic E was a little too sporadic to make it interesting. We did manage to work some nice stations, and over the course of the weekend completed 130 QSO in 18 DXCC.

We closed down overnight, as the activity is particularly low so operating time was limited.