M1CRO :: May 2005 432MHz - 248GHz Contest
The weekend started well with all the crew on-site by 14:15Z.
Then it began to go wrong.
In unpacking the trailer carrying the (rented) Generator
some water-staining became evident. Investigation revealed insufficient
water in the radiator due to a leak. Some telephonic 'banging on the counter' with the
hire company resulted in a promise of a new one - delivered to site later in the afternoon. Result: 1-1
The replacement generator contained plenty of water, including several pints in the diesel tank!
It had run happily for a few minutes after it was delivered but having
been allowed to stand overnight the inevitable separation had occurred.
About 10 minutes after calling for power on Saturday there came an almighty
bang! The genny was enveloped in clouds of white smoke and the lights went out.
...more
May UHF 2005 - continued
Needless to say that was resolved (G0IBZ) and 23cms and Up were on the air on time.
It was something of a different story for the 70cms rig. The 8x21 array took considerably
longer to set up than expected and got on the air LATE, just before 15:00.
This contest also provided another outing for M0SPS's 9cm kit and featured new equipment,
built by G8APZ, for 6 & 3 cms.
This setup also hadits teething problems but these did not become evident until later that evening.
The weather, as you might remember, was somewhat wild, wet and windy.
Apart from preventing the 70cms array from getting above "at-rest" height
it got behind the dual feed 6 'n 3 dish and rotated the stub mast, below the rotator,
in its socket. A pointing error in excess of 30 degrees was the outcome.
Not fully realised until G3LQR appeared to be parked in a wet square in a stormy
North Sea!
Those issues apart the gear performed as expected, the 168 element 70cms array was
outstanding and we are looking forward to October to give it all another bash.
CCG 10 May 2005
