11:37:27
What can I say????
Only thing that I can say is WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have now been using the G3TXQ Hexbeam for a number of weeks and the number of different DXCC's (Countries and Islands) worked this year has increased dramatically. I am working Japan, the Pacific, Asia, the Caribbean and USA on a daily basis - before I was struggling to get through to them - and I am getting calls from some real rare stuff. And the best thing is I am getting compliments on how strong my signal is and how clean my audio is!
Just as a example I thought that I would share a few contacts from my log with the different DXCC's worked;
08/02/10 A41NN SSB Oman
08/02/10 9M2MT RTTY Kuwait
08/02/10 HS0ZCW SSB Thailand
09/02/10 SU1HZ SSB Egypt
10/02/10 EP4MRG SSB Iran
13/02/10 KH7XS SSB Hawaii
13/02/10 KH6MB CW Hawaii
14/02/10 KH0/JA8VE SSB Marianas Islands
14/02/10 KL7LF SSB Alaska
14/02/10 TX4T CW French Polynesia
15/02/10 XX9TL SSB Macau
26/02/10 9U1KI SSB Burundi
26/02/10 VK9X/G6AY CW Christmas Island (Near Australia)
26/02/10 XE2K RTTY Mexico
Plus many others. All on the bands between 14.0 Mhz (20M) and 30Mhz (10M). And for the none radio folk who read my blog here is a key as to the abreviations above;
CW Morse Code or Carrier Wave
RTTY Radio Tele Type - Computer generated and small bits of DATA transmitted - My favourite mode
SSB Single Side Band - Voice or Phone. This is actually me talking using a microphone.
Only thing that I can say is WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have now been using the G3TXQ Hexbeam for a number of weeks and the number of different DXCC's (Countries and Islands) worked this year has increased dramatically. I am working Japan, the Pacific, Asia, the Caribbean and USA on a daily basis - before I was struggling to get through to them - and I am getting calls from some real rare stuff. And the best thing is I am getting compliments on how strong my signal is and how clean my audio is!
Just as a example I thought that I would share a few contacts from my log with the different DXCC's worked;
08/02/10 A41NN SSB Oman
08/02/10 9M2MT RTTY Kuwait
08/02/10 HS0ZCW SSB Thailand
09/02/10 SU1HZ SSB Egypt
10/02/10 EP4MRG SSB Iran
13/02/10 KH7XS SSB Hawaii
13/02/10 KH6MB CW Hawaii
14/02/10 KH0/JA8VE SSB Marianas Islands
14/02/10 KL7LF SSB Alaska
14/02/10 TX4T CW French Polynesia
15/02/10 XX9TL SSB Macau
26/02/10 9U1KI SSB Burundi
26/02/10 VK9X/G6AY CW Christmas Island (Near Australia)
26/02/10 XE2K RTTY Mexico
Plus many others. All on the bands between 14.0 Mhz (20M) and 30Mhz (10M). And for the none radio folk who read my blog here is a key as to the abreviations above;
CW Morse Code or Carrier Wave
RTTY Radio Tele Type - Computer generated and small bits of DATA transmitted - My favourite mode
SSB Single Side Band - Voice or Phone. This is actually me talking using a microphone.
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When I decided that I was going to build a Hexbeam I had made a comment in passing to Ant (MW0JZE) at one of the events the 
me the opportunity to try the antenna out for myself.
Having built the antenna towards the end of November and not being able to get a antenna party together until the last weekend of January 2010 the antenna was in my house waiting to go up in the air.
take no longer than 15 minutes.
weekend (6th and 7th February 2010) I had a play in the XE RTTY contest and I had a small pile up of Japanese stations on 20M, this could never have been achieved with the MA5B, and both antennas were mounted at the same height in the same spot at the bottom of my yard. All I need now is to get my amplifier working and I will be a big signal on the bands. I am so confident and happy with the antenna that I am going to enter this coming weekends CQWPX RTTY contest on 20M using the antenna to again put it through its paces.
When I arrived at Rob's he was the only person there, his wonderful partner Jane was at work and Ant and his family had not arrived. So a quick brew and a catch up with Rob before the fun and games. The weather was also being kind with glorious sunshine and but with a cold wind. Rob had just started his lambing season off and had 5 new arrivals up to new years eve.
delicious meal. 
of revellers all ready to celebrate the New Year. 
Rob let off some fireworks in the field and we then sat and chatted. The girls and Rob went off to bed leaving Ant and I chatting about the plans for Ramsey Island in the summer, and maybe CQWW from the farm in October. The next thing we knew Rob was getting up for a cup of tea at 4am - his farmers clock where he wakes early - and we were still sat there chatting. Ant went to bed and soon after I followed to my room.
His musicians were brilliant, Steve Craddock from Ocean Colour Scene on accoustic guitar! with a special appearnace of one of the bands young lad Lewis (see the bottom left of the pic to the left). A top night and thouroghly enjoyable company.
The day flew by and by mid afternoon we were putting the antenna together to test it and to make sure it was tuned. We connected the antenna analyser and with it only 10 feet off the ground it was virtually spot on across each band. A antenna I can use on SSB, CW and RTTY without worrying too much about not being tuned. We then stopped for a quick meal and stripped down the antenna to allow me to drive back to the Midlands.
down here in the Midlands. Back in the summer at a charity event held at Nuneaton Borough's football ground I had the fortune of meeting Andy, the bass player, with the band, and after he pestered me all afternoon I eventuallty succumbed and had my photo taken with him.
just didn't have that get up and go that the other band did. The crowd reacted differently and to be honest were a little more enertaining. Not a recomendation but may be one day.
doors were opened. In we went and got a position right at the front, fantastic.
We set off up the A5 and decided to jump on the M6 Toll to beat the traffic, not one of us thinking about the Toll charge - it does not take 5p pieces in the cash tray - so we held a queue of traffic behind us as we fumbled for change at the toll booth. A staedy drive up the M6, onto the M55 and arrived at the digs on Albert Road, Blackpool at 20:15 - not bad for Friday evening and rush hour traffic. After a quick freshen up we headed in to town to get our wrist bands and a few beers.
with the ones who travelled up on Satuday - including Cliff (Arnie), Simon, Brian (Wealsle) Les and their partners and too many more to mention. 
as a bucket of frogs. Not only did he have us in fits of laughter with his jokes, but he frightened 2 poor Next assistants to death when he ran up to them doing a pirate impression - they were collecting for Children in Need dressed as Pirates at the door of the shop - one of them had kittens literally. Donations duly went in the buckets to appease them, but they did see the funny side of it. A coffe in a cafe and it was time for more drinks in the Soul Suite, one of Blackpools many bars around the town.
mere mortals whilst some of the countries top dancers compete for the World Northern Soul Dancing trophy. Weasle entered and did really well getting through almost to the final 4, I think it was a close decision as there was almost 5 in the final and Weasle was the last one out. Well done old boy.... 
Had a great weekend but was so tired yesterday with only having 3 hours over Saturday night - and this was on a table in a cold hall. I think it is going to take a few days to get back in the swing.
visit old friends at Mexborough and District Amateur Radio Societies field day contest station.
It was also good to see that the club has a small contingent of youngsters who are all wanting to learn and get going in the hobby. Michael, G7??? (pictured above with Darryl) the tutor at the club held a couple of training sessions for the kids and newcomers to get them on their way to the foundation licence.