Tag: gb0snb

Resonant antenna tests on WSPR 472 KHz

Comments

At the SNBCG operating site we have the opportunity to out up some large antenna, and for some time we had wanted to try 472 KHz using George M1GEO WSPR transmitter.

The plan was using the onsite 50m cellphone mast* to pull up some wire, and with some work hopefully, enough wire to have a 1/4 wave on 472 kHz. We calculated it would require around 150m of wire, and we had a pully on the mast at 42m, so we could pull up the first 50m as a vertical, and then have the next 100m sloping down from the last forming an “L” shape as best as we could into the next field.

The transmitter would be grounded to the mast earthing point, and we would run the 10w transmitter at the base of the mast overnight.

*for the avoidance of doubt we have permission to use the mast from the site owner.

The antenna slops down from 42m towards the ground.With a little bit of tinkering, we had a resonant antenna on 472 KHz

We left the transmitter running overnight from JO01DQ with the call GB0SNB, and was delighted to see a number of reports all around Europe.

Here you can see the tower and yellow wire making its was up from the base, and then into an adjacent field.

 

Timestamp Call SNR Pwr Reporter RGrid km az
 2018-05-06 01:12  GB0SNB -28 0.01  SM2DJK  KP03au 1774 33
 2018-05-06 01:12  GB0SNB -18 0.01  SM3LNM  JP82qg 1558 34
 2018-05-06 00:50  GB0SNB -28 0.01  EA1FAQ  IN71pn 1188 201
 2018-05-05 23:22  GB0SNB -22 0.01  LA8AV  JO59cs 1090 31
 2018-05-05 22:14  GB0SNB -26 0.01  EA2HB  IN93ah 946 191
 2018-05-05 23:34  GB0SNB -24 0.01  LA3EQ  JO28xj 828 24
 2018-05-06 00:10  GB0SNB -15 0.01  GM4OAS  IO76cx 708 329
 2018-05-05 22:08  GB0SNB -23 0.01  DL1KAI  JO42vj 654 79
 2018-05-06 02:56  GB0SNB -28 0.01  EI2KK  IO65ca 651 308
 2018-05-06 00:22  GB0SNB -28 0.01  DF5FH  JO42um 649 78
 2018-05-06 01:16  GB0SNB -21 0.01  DK7FC  JN49ik 645 110
 2018-05-05 23:22  GB0SNB -28 0.01  DL1GCD/1  JN48ar 642 118
 2018-05-05 22:08  GB0SNB -27 0.01  DK6UG  JN49cm 608 110
 2018-05-06 00:16  GB0SNB -25 0.01  DL0HT  JO43jb 597 72
 2018-05-05 23:34  GB0SNB -20 0.01  F6GEX  IN97na 526 190
 2018-05-05 21:38  GB0SNB -28 0.01  DF1VB/15  JO33pl 513 64
 2018-05-06 11:58  GB0SNB -25 0.01  DL/PA0EHG  JO32sq 506 74
 2018-05-05 23:34  GB0SNB -17 0.01  F59706  JN07th 496 168
 2018-05-06 00:10  GB0SNB -24 0.01  DL6II  JO30nx 481 97
 2018-05-05 23:22  GB0SNB -27 0.01  LX1DQ  JN39cq 472 116
 2018-05-05 23:22  GB0SNB -29 0.01  DC0DX/RF  JO31lk 462 91
 2018-05-05 22:14  GB0SNB -28 0.01  DC0DX/MW2  JO31lk 462 91
 2018-05-06 01:24  GB0SNB -24 0.01  DL2ZZ  JO31lo 460 89
 2018-05-06 04:38  GB0SNB -25 0.01  PI4THT  JO32kf 455 80
 2018-05-05 22:00  GB0SNB -29 0.01  PA0SLT/A  JO22xx 411 67
 2018-05-05 21:38  GB0SNB -22 0.01  G0LUJ  IO83ls 322 317
 2018-05-05 23:22  GB0SNB -23 0.01  G3WCB  IO80ei 311 243
 2018-05-05 21:56  GB0SNB -10 0.01  PA3ABK  JO21it 304 86
 2018-05-06 01:40  GB0SNB -28 0.01  PH2M  JO22hc 301 79
 2018-05-06 01:04  GB0SNB -15 0.01  PA0EHG  JO22hb 300 80
 2018-05-05 23:22  GB0SNB -13 0.01  G3KEV  IO94sh 296 351
 2018-05-06 11:58  GB0SNB -17 0.01  PI9ESA  JO22ff 292 76
 2018-05-05 21:38  GB0SNB -12 0.01  PA0RDT  JO11tm 231 93
 2018-05-06 11:52  GB0SNB -12 0.01  G6KSN  IO82xj 178 297
 2018-05-05 23:34  GB0SNB -13 0.01  G4ZFQ  IO90ir 153 227
 2018-05-06 01:16  GB0SNB -18 0.01  M0XDK  IO92ne 97 305
 2018-05-06 13:32  GB0SNB 11 0.01  G4GIR  IO92sd 72 315
 2018-05-06 00:10  GB0SNB -4 0.01  G4FKI  IO92sa 63 306
 2018-05-06 14:22  GB0SNB 1 0.01  G8EMO  IO92uc 61 319
 2018-05-06 04:16  GB0SNB -26 0.01  G3YMN  IO91tj 56 235
 2018-05-05 20:56  GB0SNB 4 0.01  G6AVK  JO01ho 25 112
 2018-05-05 22:14  GB0SNB 1 0.01  M0TAZ  JO01cn 15 203

Working Hellschreiber from a cold war bunker

Comments

Today I was able to operate the special event call sign GB0SNB from the Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker. Hellschreiber was my mode of choice, its fun and easy to identify on the air  and also quite rare. Operating was completed from the original home office radio room deep inside the bunker.

23932652063_f56e770bfb_k

 

Here you can see the door to the “Home Office Radio Room” and a picture of the mast when it was full of microwave links connecting the site to a number of other locations around the country. The radio room is located 3 levels below ground.

 

The radio room is located directly below the radio mast, and a tunnel connects you to the surface. Feeder cables run towards the surface and connect to the doublet antenna. Here you can see the radio room and both modern equipment (used for GB0SNB activations) and period equipment.

24477018811_77743f5505_k

 

The laptop is running Ham Radio Deluxe and using the digital mode HELL. The Icom 7100 was running 50w RF into the clubs doublet antenna located 26m on the mast. The doublet antenna is 40m per leg. A cup of tea is required to keep the operator warm, its not often above 12c in the shack.

I managed to work several station from Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, England and Sweden on 7 MHz and on 5.3665 MHz I used Olivia MFSK. The bunker is also a museum so often busy with members of the public most days of the week.

The mast is also home for GB7KH the Kelvedon Hatch Dstar repeater.

24478869151_d624c77fe8_k

SNBCG Christmas Dinner

Comments

Members of the newly formed Secret Nuclear Bunker Contest Group met for its inaugural Christmas dinner this weekend. The event was well attended by 10 members, enjoying a traditional Christmas dinner, crackers and unavoidable cracker jokes.

Pre meal drinks, from left to right Chris G8OCV, Dave G7UVW, Bill G0BOF and George M1GEO.

Left Kevin M0TBX and Dave M0YOW enjoying a beer.

23707160995_ed9abe7ca3_k

23624691541_ce14d99e96_k

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Peter G0IAP for organising the event and to everyone that attended. The SNBCG is now affiliated to the RSGB and holds the club call M0SNB and permanent special event call GB0SNB so look out for us in contests in 2016.

2015-12-13

Left (front to back) Bill G0BOF, Chris G8OCV, Dave M0TAZ, Fred G3SVK, Diane

Right (front to back) Dave M0YOL, George M1GEO, Dave G7UVW, Kevin M0TBX, Peter G0IPA

23411519480_5849d13970_k

23079066414_57f1b77e88_k

23079066564_99ec418902_k

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From left to right Dave G7UVW, Chris G8OCV, Fred G3SVK and Diane

Operating GB0SNB special event call from the Kelvedon Hatch SNB

Comments

On Saturday I operated from the Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker near Ongar. The bunker is a large 3 level underground site, with a 50 meter mast on the roof. The bunker was active until 1994.

The bunker has a permanent special call sign GB0SNB and is open to the public as a museum.

Working with George M1GEO we completed some QSO on 5 MHz, 14 MHz and some VHF contact on 145 MHz.

You can read more about the bunker online, and if you’re local why not plan a visit. The current owner Mike Parish gives you a virtual video tour below.

The Icom 7100 provided HF and VHF. To the left is the TYT MD380 and right Icom E92

23346645456_c8caf50df4_k

 

Operating is completed from the original home office radio room, although this equipment is on the back wall its only for show.

23347909036_5879043832_k

Here you can see George M1GEO tinkering with the IP and the co-located GB7KH DSTAR repeater.

23372779335_e459e84fab_k

GB0SNB – Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker.

Comments

Spent some time this weekend operating from the Secret Nuclear Bunker at Kelvedon with George M1GEO. The bunker has a permanent special call GB0SNB and we put this on the air both VHF and HF today. It was nice to see 7 MHz in good shape, full with the JOTA and WAG contest.

Here are a few pictures from the day.

More information on the bunker is available at the GB0SNB website.

Here is George M1GEO maintaining the GB7KH repeater.

21653236073_90c053adc7_k

Ever wondered what the inside of a DSTAR repeater looks like  (TXM)

22275184525_a3491afa7a_k

Inside a DSTAR repeater.

And the Icom 7100 with retro microphone

22277443185_aaccd7a06c_k

 

73 Dave M0TAZ

New antenna testing at GB0SNB

Comments

Exposed on the side of a 50 meter mast the antenna often requires maintenance. George M1GEO and Chris G8OCV have over the years perfected the best way to mount the antenna, and on this occasion is had lasted close on 2 years. Antenna maintenance in the afternoon sun is much preferable to winter rain, so we too advantage of the weather to pull up the new doublet antenna.

 

The doublet is 40m per leg, into 300 Ohm ladder line and then a 4:1 Balun.

21920695191_a05cb9a512_k

The centre of the antenna is made from a plastic chopping board from one of the discount value stores, ideal for insulators. The wire is multi strand 13A flex, ideal for antennas and hopefully robust enough to survive the winter weather.

The centre of the antenna is pulled up onto the mast, elevated to 20m and the ends are on one side into a tree and the other a warning siren.

Dave M0TAZ (Left) and Chris G8OCV working 80m SSB

 

 

Its quite difficult to locate suitable points for the antenna ends, and elevation without snagging in the local trees is always a challenge. Once setup we managed a couple of QSO on 80m.

73 Dave M0TAZ