6-8 May 2016 – Microwave Trophy – Gatehouse of Fleet

The intrepid GM3HAM/P team of three LRS operators for the RSGB Microwave Trophy 2016 near Gatehouse of Fleet in Dumfries & Galloway: Mike GM4IGS, Pete GM4BYF & Alan GM3PSP. 

CLAIMED SCORES:  
 
May UHF (24 hours)
Band: 432 MHz
Section: Open
Callsign used: GM3HAM/P
Locator sent: IO74WV
Location sent (QTH / Zone / Postcode) :
Number of QSOs made: 20
Claimed points: 5419
Best DX station callsign: G8P
Distance: 556
Locator: JO01QD
 
Band: 1,3 GHz
Section: Open
Callsign used: GM3HAM/P
Locator sent: IO74WV
Location sent (QTH / Zone / Postcode) :
Number of QSOs made: 22
Claimed points: 5948
Best DX station callsign: M1CRO/P
Distance: 494
Locator: JO01PU
 
432 MHZ Trophy (Saturday only)
Band: 432 MHz
Section: Open
Callsign used: GM3HAM/P
Locator sent: IO74WV
Location sent (QTH / Zone / Postcode) :
Number of QSOs made: 15
Claimed points: 4390
Best DX station callsign: G8P
Distance: 556
Locator: JO01QD
 
Microwave Contest Committee Low Band Contest (Sunday Only)
Band: 1,3 GHz
Section: All
Callsign used: GM3HAM/P
Locator sent: IO74WV
Location sent (QTH / Zone / Postcode) : n/a
Number of QSOs made: 13
Claimed points: 4114
Multiplier:
Overall score:
Best DX station callsign: M0HNA/P
Distance: 473
Locator: IO91RF

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

 

After erecting the tents upon arrival on the Friday afternoon we adjourned to the Masonic Arms in Gatehouse for our traditional opening night banquet washed down with diet lemonade. Apparently Johnnie Laurie (on screen at rear) did not approve!

 

 Then back to the events tent for a wee dram before retiring to bed.

 

I’ll drink to that too – psp.

 

 

 In the morning we found that a strong wind had blown up and was distorting the events tent. The wind was to remain an annoyance all day Saturday but fortunately had gone by the Sunday which proved to be a beautiful clear sunny day. One piece of good news was that there had been “nay coos” in the field for some time, only sheep.

 

Preparing the antennas for erection: long yagis for 2m, 70cm and 23cm and dishes for the higher frequency bands.

 

One up and two to go.

 

Raising the higher mast for 70cm and 23cm was quite a struggle in the high wind and we were a little late for the official 3pm start of the contest.

 

Pete checking his laptop for KST which is now permitted for spots of other microwave stations and of ourselves (GM3HAM/P), and sked-setting. This proved to be very useful during the event.

 

Mike busy on 70cm.

70cm Station details:

                                        432 MHz
                                        TX: FT-847 to solid state linear
                                        Power output: 100W
                                        RX: FT-847
                                        Antenna: 27 element
                                        QTH ASL (m): 192
                                        Antenna height agl (m): 10

 

Pete operating 23cm and Mike on 70cm.

23cm station details:

                         TX: Ic706 > sg-lab transverter + solid state linear                                                 Power output: 150W                                                                                               RX: sg-lab > IC706                                                                                                 Antenna: 57 element                                                                                                QTH ASL (m): 192 

 Later Alan took over from Mike on 70cm.

 

Once the “DC” microwave bands were up and running, Pete set about erecting the microwave dishes.

 

13cm dish with Pete’s nice home-made feed-horn, using offset-feed.

 

 

Unfortunately problems with the 13cm receive side prevented us getting on the band.

 

 23cm worked well, with a high power linear amplifier.

 

Late-afternoon on the Saturday, with all heard stations worked on 70cm and 23cm. The generator, formerly owned by the Edgware & District Radio Society, ran continuously without any problems. Then – off to the Masonic Arms again (no photos).

 

On the Sunday morning we were delighted to find that the wind had dropped almost to zero and we enjoyed a nice sunny day with blue skies most of the day.

 

Mike back on the job on 70cm. (Camera-phone photo).

 

And Pete on 23cm. (Also camera-phone photo).

 

Apart from a short shower during the night, the wx remained dry all day Sunday. One conclusion that was drawn was that 3 operators are really too few for an event like this.

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