Brian operated GM4DIJ/P from Ardwell near Stranraer. 34 QSOs; best DX G0VHF/P in JO01PU (Essex) at 527km.
Brian reports: I had a go at this one from a layby near Ardwell, 10miles south of Stranraer on Luce Bay. at about 20m asl. My usual much-higher site is noisy on 4m. Antenna was only about 5m agl, but I had some decent contacts including LRS member Malcom GM3TAL near Dunfermline who was a good steady signal. There was no SpE. Best DX was G0VHF/P in JO01PU at 527km in Essex.
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GM4DIJ/P TX Equipment : IC7300+TE Systems amplifier
TX Power (W) : 100
RX Equipment : IC7300+preamp
Antenna : 6 element yagi
Antenna Height agl; height asl : 5m; 20m
Number of valid QSOs : 34
Claimed number of QSO points : 9312
Claimed number of Post Codes : 27
Claimed number of DXCCs : 4
Claimed total score : 288672
Best DX – Callsign; Loc; Distance : G0VHF/P JO01PU 527km (Essex).
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Map of QSOs. Best DX G0VHF/P in Essex.
In the first photo you can see a white van in the distance. That was where I’d intended to operate, but someone was camping there. I moved back about 100m, so there is about 100m of flat ground before the steep drop to the sea. The result is an increase in take-off angle and reduced gain from the sea reflection. A small change in position makes a difference!
In the graph, the red line is the antenna gain and take-off angle for my original site choice. The bearing is 140deg, where most of the contacts lie. The aim is to get around 3deg take-off. The blue line is for where I had to operate, with a considerable gain reduction and a steeper take-off angle.
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