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It seems to be a while since I stopped and wrote something here.

The simple satellite operation on VO-52 and FO-29, using the FT847, diplexer and the V2000 vertical continues. On VO-52 in particular, I have been surprised how well it works and have made a fair few QSOs, mostly on CW. Some passes are better than others, depending on the direction of the satellite and the vertical nulls of the antenna. I was interested to get decent signals through VO-52 the other day as it was over Greenland and the footprint of the satellite covered VE1 and W1 – so perhaps I may manage a QSO into North America when the time is right.

FO-29 tends to be a bit harder – just in terms of finding my downlink signal – again it depends where the satellite is, but I’ve managed a few contacts now, which is very pleasing indeed.

Nice to work GS3PYE/P – the Camb-Hams expedition to Lewis (IO68) on SO-50 this evening. I ventured out into the garden with the UV-5R and the Elk.

I’ve missed them both, but there have been at least a couple of Es openings on 50MHz. Earlier in the week, Ron ZB2B emailled to say that he had worked some stations in G, GW and EI in an Es opening and it looks like the band was nicely open yesterday morning (we were out, cleaning the local village church!).

Finally, apparently, this is my 1000th post to this blog. I enjoy writing it – and sometimes, enjoy looking back a few years to see what I was playing with then. It’s interesting to see how things change. Thank you to YOU, though, for reading it!

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