CARA Fun - Working high and low - M0YNG.uk

Created 2017-09-01

Modified 2019-09-21

Tagged

Amateur Radio

CARA

CARA Fun Challenge

Portable

Recently CARA[1] launched a Fun Activity Challenge, with the intent of getting members old and new on the air.

1: https://g5bk.uk

Now, I have to confess, I've not been on the air much, and the idea of ticking off some fun places and challenges appeals. So, I got me an ICOM IC-706 from a SK auction, and started trying to do some ticking.

Activate a Castle

Technically this required me to be "within 100m of a standing wall", but as I was at Portchester Castle, I took the opportunity to do it properly, from the top of the keep!

/images/2017/09/2017-08-07-16.23.29.jpg

The view from the top of Portchester Castle Keep, looking down to the grassy grounds. [IMG]

I suspected that setting up a HF station with 40m dipole wouldn't be popular or practical from the keep, so I used a handheld to call CQ on 2m. Sadly this wasn't answered, so I hopped onto GB3IW the repeater in the Isle of Wight. This worked brilliantly, with a very clear signal, however, still no reply to my call. Helpfully M6SGK came to my rescue and we had a QSO from castle grounds to castle keep, via the Isle of Wight.

But it counts, so that was one point!

Activate a beach

This was another fun idea, and I managed to escape to a nearby beach one evening and succeeded in digging a deep enough hole and big enough pile in the pebbles to stop the pole falling over.

A radio balanced on a box, with fishing rod supporting the aerial and the sea stretching off into the distance [IMG]

[2]

Glowing radio in the foreground and moon low in the sky [IMG]

[3]

2: /images/2017/09/2017-08-07-20.26.59.jpg

3: /images/2017/09/2017-08-07-21.11.29.jpg

Although a great spot to sit and fiddle, I didn't manage many contacts on HF (after all the effort and the pole falling down three times.) The most interesting was to France, and ended quite swiftly due to the approaching thunderstorms ruining the bands, and necessitating aerial disconnection for my French contact.

I also spoke for some time via GB3IW to a station on the Isle of Wight, which was fun, as was watching the day fade and the moon come up. It's incredible how many ships can be seen by their lights on the English Channel at night, compared to the day.

Packing up was a bit more fun than usual as it was properly dark by this point, but I don't think I left anything behind.

So, two point, and a promising start to my new /p kit.

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