Comments for MØMCX

Comment on Narrowboat Antenna by callum

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:31:43 +0000

Pile up eh? Gee whizz, can’t wait!

Also replied privately.

Thanks.

Callum.

Comment on Narrowboat Antenna by Martin G7NTY

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:29:18 +0000

Callum,
Yes I can tune the H,Sierra to 80m (tunes across all bands). We are on the boat from Saturday through the comming week. Unfortunatly its going to be the last week as the boat is now up for sale.
We have spent a fortune getting it ready as our retirement home (compete refit) hence the fit-out for radio. Wind genny, solar panels etc but thats another story.
Yes we can try and arrange a sched one night next week say Sunday or Monday. I will ring (your number as above).
As for the technical aspects I have experience of working from a small island as VP8CEO and the sea water gave a good boost to the signal (even out performed the military equipment with a cut to length wire) so I thought here I have a sheet metal platform sitting in water and electrically connected to the water by a big zinc anode at the four corners - could it work like a ground plane?
The first time I fired it up last year it was like the other phase of the sunspot cycle, wow! VK’s ZL, VE, States, and europeans stations so I tune around and hey ho a pile up! called my last two a couple of times and was in! moved on and tried a state side call confused him completly trying to explain what a narrow boat is. And all this not far from the bottom of the devises flight.

It works but dont tell everyone they will all want a piece of the action :)

Till Sunday or Monday
Martin

Comment on Narrowboat Antenna by callum

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:34:38 +0000

Hello Martin and Thanks for your encouragement. I must say that from the 6 or so quick test QSOs I’ve had, I believe you may be correct in your efficiency assumptions. I have a feeling that canal water is a better ground plane than most people think. My (military) Signals friend agrees with us - however the ham community are still dubious.

Of interest, I’m firing my AL-811 amp up on Friday night with James (M3YOM) for a 40m test. Be assured, I will compare 400w on my 811 to my puny 100w as and when we capture some DX. I’m used to VK and ZL when I work long shifts on my vertical antennas on 40m so I hope the DX gods are with us. So far though, the experience on using radio on canal water has been most pleasurable.

I wonder if there is genuinely better efficiency between your High Sierra and my 8.5 meter vertical. I bloody hope so with the extra costs I’ve gone through! :)

Can you dial in 80m? I fancy an 80m “narrowboat” net in the Summer - we’ll be on the boat for most of August. Gawd knows what time of day would be best though and a vertical would be the worst antenna to use! I did an experiment in making my vertical a sort of inverted Delta loop / inverted L (pulling a wire back to the tiller from the top of the vertical) which made it slightly better for NVIS work. Proof of the pudding is in the working though. Sometimes on 80m, you just need some horsepower. Hence the 500w linear requirement.

Shame 40m is so awful these days, I used to have lots of laughs on 40m - on low power too.

Cheers-n-beers,

Callum
M0MCX
(07976 631881)

Comment on Narrowboat Antenna by Martin G7NTY

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:16:47 +0000

Callum, I have an IC706 paired with a High Sierra side kick (the same as W&S sell)I brought second hand in the USA complete with the optional 2m whip. It’s fitted to the centre of the boat roof (50′ narrow boat) and the performance is brilliant. I can work the DX through the pile ups.
Off the boat its a good set-up but on the boat its superb!
Do you really need an amplifier?

Martin

Comment on Floating Shack Update by callum

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:54:50 +0000

Hello Lin,

You guys have a boat? You should drop me an email. Where are you moored?

Cheers, Callum.

Comment on Floating Shack Update by Lin

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:59:47 +0000

Hi Callum,

We should talk! Ian (G8PWE) and I are keen canal enthusiasts, how about a ‘run out’ and test the radios mobile?

73’s

Lin - G6HZI

Comment on VHF NFD Report 2008 - Double X-Ray Firm by callum

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:33:23 +0000

Hello Chris. Yup, IO91bx! Silly me. Sounds like most people put their brave faces on and had a ball regardless. Cheers-n-beers. Callum.

Comment on VHF NFD Report 2008 - Double X-Ray Firm by Chris G0EYO

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:57:29 +0000

Callum

Good report as always. Conditions were rubbish both prop and weather, but we had a lot of fun. Re the locator surely you mean IO91BX, unless you were in Alton Towers HI.

73s

Chris G0EYO

Comment on VHF NFD Report 2008 - Double X-Ray Firm by james

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:19:08 +0000

I enjoyed reading your report on VHF NFD 2008. The lowestoft District and Pye ARC havent participated in a vhf nfd for years so glad to put it on this year and thoughly enjoyed it even with a few minor problems with the equipment.

The 70cms beam you were using is a jaybeam multibeam as we were using the same type you can also add more sections to them to increase the gain.

best wishes

James M1TES

Comment on What happened to GB3DX by callum

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:30:49 +0000

Really? I didn’t think lack of use closed a repeater. I did think that being an arsehole was a reasonable excuse though :) However, under that regime, I would have been closed down many years ago - ha ha!!

Comment on What happened to GB3DX by Jonathan 2E0FKA

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:28:17 +0000

ofcom has closed it down -lack of use I think

Comment on Narrowboat Antenna by callum

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:13:33 +0000

Hello Brian, thanks for dropping by. The WiFi antenna would work well inside - but since it’s mounted outside, then I’ll take that! I have a feeling that the signal strength will be so high, that we’ll get a cracking signal either way.

Rudder judder: Jonathon Wilson is coming down at the end of July. Louis and Joshua are pulling the boat out and Jon will make adjustments where necessary. It certainly feels like a prop issue, but you never know.

Cheers,

Callum.

Comment on 17 Element Tonna Test for 2008 VHF NFD by callum

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:10:40 +0000

Hello Joe, thanks for dropping by. Keep your ears peeled at the weekend, maybe we can get a call over to you. Regarding the neighbours, they’re finally used to me and just giggle when they see what I’ve put up during the day when they arrive home at night after work!

73,

Callum.

Comment on 17 Element Tonna Test for 2008 VHF NFD by Joe sills

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:50:18 +0000

Callum
I must say I enjoy your site and wish you all the best with the VHF NFD also you must have great neighbours ,Keep up the good work 73 DE Joe 2I0VFO

Comment on Narrowboat Antenna by Brian

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:55:28 +0000

You say you plan to put the WiFi areal on the roof, would it not work better mounted inside the boat?
I am also in the Napton area.
Any news on the rudder-judder yet, I put my money on an out of balance prop.

Comment on Shakespeare Marine HF SSB 5300 Fails Again! by callum

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:56:15 +0000

[Later] May I say that the brand new version is amazing. I am very pleased. See photo sequence here: http://www.m0mcx.co.uk/gallery/index.php?/category/72

Comment on Shakespeare Marine 5300 HF SSB Antenna update by callum

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:06:46 +0000

Hi Jim, well it’s better than that. They shipped me their version 2, which is a really, really shiny antenna (like their smaller ones) with a fantastic feed arrangement in shiny stainless. I’m very happy with this (third) one!

Cheers, Callum.

Comment on Shakespeare Marine 5300 HF SSB Antenna update by Jim Toe

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:23:11 +0000

Its good they gave you another one. Its certainly rare that it would break like that

Comment on Shakespeare Marine HF SSB 5300 Fails Again! by callum

Wed, 28 May 2008 20:35:01 +0000

I see, so that’s why the factory replaced it twice, I wondered why!

Comment on Shakespeare Marine HF SSB 5300 Fails Again! by eric

Mon, 05 May 2008 17:16:19 +0000

My antenna is working perfectly after 4 years, looks like you have abused it for 2 to fail.