Clifton Country Club Net summary for Sunday 19^th November 2006.

 Blue skies and the thermometer edging just above 5C, with the woodlands turning from burnished gold through to rich brown hues as autumn was slipping into winter. This was wayward of my weather forecast of gales and heavy rain given in the ‘e-mail’ reminder sent days earlier. The severe WX   would eventually arrive later that evening.

As normal I monitor the net QRG of 3.690 Mhz for 15 minutes before the ‘sked’ time. DL stations were on 3.688 Mhz.

At 14.25 Hrs I sent a series of V’s and call sign in CW on 3.692 Mhz. Immediately Jakey (G3JKY) responded in his favourite mode we then changed to SSB to commence the CC net at 14.27Hrs.

Jakey was 58 here using an inverted ‘L’ at only 15 feet agl. Jakey had deployed this antenna with an 80 Mtr trap in order to work a recent top-band contest.

At 1430 Peter (G3PJB) called shortly followed by Keith (G4TJE/P) both stations were romping into Norfolk with 59+10 signals, likewise David (G0WQQ), in fact it was the strongest that I had heard David. The conditions on the band together with the ‘earlier’ start time had limited the ‘chatter’ from the continentals resulting in an ‘armchair copy’ for all.

David said he had been busy assembling an album of old photos to present to his brother on his brother’s forthcoming 80^th Birthday.

Jakey said that he had made 47 contacts during the 160 Mtr CW contest with his “NVIS” Inverted ‘L’ but the near vertical incidence of propagation from such a low antenna probably prevented making contact with an Algerian station who Jakey could hear but just could not work. He went on to say that this time next month Joyce his xyl will be in ZL, the opportunity might just arise for more radio. One of the projects was to construct a low pass filter that was shown in a 1954 radio handbook. Jakey also recalled that this time last year he was ‘runner up’ overseas entrant in the RAFAS contest as ZL2JKY.

Peter said that he was letting radio take a lower profile, but he still found time to ‘give away’ a few points in the Royal Signals contest. He attended last Sunday’s rally at Kempton Park Peter said that he had travelled there by train, he said he could not understand the need for cars! While at the rally he had met Paul (M0HAL). Meanwhile he had been enjoying tracking aircraft in real time on his SBS1 ‘virtual radar’ kit. Peter said last month he had logged several new aircraft and a few ‘repaints’ that are aircraft in a new livery but had been previously logged whilst sporting other company colours.

Peter that explains why when Suzanne and I flew with Excel last year I noticed the aircraft had a South African registration number ZS…  and under the shining white Excel paintwork the South African Airways tail logo was clearly visible.

Keith (G4TJE/P) again this month was operating from his paddock in Kent whilst Ayesha (G7LMP) was tending the horses. At this location there is little or no electrical noise and more than adequate space to erect a full size G5RV. During the past month Keith and I have been having regular nets on 5Mhz. At home Keith is restricted to a half sized G5RV strung round his loft. On 60 Mtrs this loft antenna produces a very respectable signal.

 On Saturday Keith and Ayesha had attended wedding celebrations in rural Kent, spending the night in the local vicarage and had breakfast with the local reverend gentleman. This brings to mind the catch phrase “ More tea vicar?” Err! Sorry about that Keith!

Keith went on to inform the group that he had updated the Clifton ARS web site with the latest schedule of events etc. Please do take a look at www.cliftonars.org.uk

At 15.17 Hrs John (G3FNZ) called in to offer his apologies for being “late on parade”.

John had a jolly good reason; it was Beryl’s birthday. Happy many returns Beryl from the assembled group! John said like Peter he had been to the Kempton Park Rally. And is encouraging to see all radio kit and very few computers if any. John said that he had fun during the CQWW SSB contest working 44 countries. As the sailing season had finished the boat was now out of the water, and he was busy carrying out routine maintenance before next year.

David (G0WQQ) stated that he was I little disappointed with his new DAB radio as it ‘drops out ‘ He had also heard that these new receivers consume up to twenty times the energy than the equivalent analogue receiver. So all in all David wondered whether this was progress.

Jakey told the group that he had worked 150 Multipliers out 154 contacts in the CQWW SSB contest  (Talking wireless Jakey! Whatever next?). The only reason for the ‘duplicate’ multipliers was that he had not recognised some of the ‘new calls’ issued for these major contests.

I asked Jakey, when using a ‘T Match’ ATU if you had two distinct settings on the inductor where there was apparent match. Did the most efficient transfer of energy occur when the inductor was at the lowest value?

As expected there followed a concise and clear explanation from Jakey on the interaction between the components together with theoretical expectations when adjusting the ATU through different values.

At 15.17 hrs David signed from the group but said he would be interested in how much the Clifton had raised at Kempton Park from the equipment sale? 

Peter said that he had experienced ‘flashover’ problems with his ATU when used on 5 Mhz.

As Jakey had explained earlier as Peter’s ATU has a single 80/40 Mtr position on the inductor so it relies heavily on the capacitor values to produce ‘correct’ load, without the level of capacitance for the efficient energy transfer. I had a similar problem with a Kenwood AT230 ATU, which had a switched inductor dedicated to the amateur bands. I now use a ‘Mighty Fine Junk’ T match which has 12 inductor settings that appear to evenly spread across the HF bands and gives a greater degree of flexibility.

Peter went on to say that during the month he spent a very pleasant day at Tilbury Fort; it was even more enjoyable as there were very nice licensed premises near by.

During the past week whilst I was examining a 3A switched mode PSU that I use with my FT817 QRP/portable station. I found that the PSU was a generating a ‘hair dryer’ type rushing noise that was 2 Khz wide that slowly roamed up and down the HF spectrum between 2 and 14 Mhz. On removing the mains supply the noise disappeared like ‘strangled duck’. . What is more annoying the tech. spec of the ‘Mascot’ unit claims a very high standard of EMC to quote to ‘medical standards’?

Interestingly I can hear similar noises ‘patrolling’ the HF spectrum when using by doublet antenna. So one must conclude there are more of these dastardly devices out there.

As the time approached 15.40 hrs the level of the QRM from near Europe increased and it was time to close the net.

Before the net I had received apologies from Brian (G3OYU) who was waylaid with bronchitis, may we wish you a speedy recovery Brian! And from Clive (GW0PPO) who was back at his London QTH where he is unfortunately ‘sans antennas’.

As I closed the CC Net I was called by Mike (PA3MB), Mike had been listening to most of the CC net, he said that he had found very informative and enjoyable listening and that most of the signals were very strong in PA-land. He looked forward to hearing us all next month. Mike had spent some time in the South of England and also in Australia where he had the call VK1MB. He had only recently returned to the hobby after several years.

As Mike signed with me at 15.55 hrs Peter (G3RQZ) called to say that he was sorry to miss the net, but he had been taking advantage of the WX and had been carrying some autumnal activities in the garden. Peter asked if Clive (GW0PPO) had been on? I said no, but Keith (G4TJE) and I had worked Clive on 5 MHz earlier in the week, before his return from the principality.  Peter went on to say that Harry (G3SBV) passes on all his best wishes to his Clifton pals. Harry is now in a hospice and looks forward to reading the Country Club Summary that Peter takes him.

Peter hoped to be available for the Pre Christmas Clifton Country Club Net on Sunday 10^th December at 14.30 GMT on 3.690 Mhz.

If you can spare the time we hope to hear you on the next CC Net