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I love reading about VHF openings and operation in other parts of the world.I just found this fascinating post by OM Satheesh, VU2WSM regarding an opening from Oman to India on 145MHz.

I love reading about VHF openings and operation in other parts of the world.I just found this fascinating post by OM Satheesh, VU2WSM regarding an opening from Oman to India on 145MHz.

One of the greatest things about being in The 3 Steve’s ARC was going to ST Croix to visit our dear friends, Brian (KP2HC) and Ann (The Queen of DX) KP2YL and to use their station and actually be DX.  Not only were we busy working stations, but I got over my fear of flying..something Ann never let me forget

 

Many a time, while working HUGE pile-ups on 80M, I could throw my call out and she would spend a few minutes with me on the air, then right back to the pile-ups.

 

Ann and Brian are responsible for many new band countries for St Croix for so many

 

It is with that in mind that I pass along the sad news that Ann, passed away quietly, in the company of her friend and husband, on the island that they both loved, this morning

 

Brian has asked that you keep Ann and him in your thoughts and to give him some time before you email or call.

 

I speak for the all 3 Steve’s when I say that a small part of us passed this day as well

 

As it is said, may her memory be a blessing

One of the greatest things about being in The 3 Steve’s ARC was going to ST Croix to visit our dear friends, Brian (KP2HC) and Ann (The Queen of DX) KP2YL and to use their station and actually be DX.  Not only were we busy working stations, but I got over my fear of flying..something Ann never let me forget

 

Many a time, while working HUGE pile-ups on 80M, I could throw my call out and she would spend a few minutes with me on the air, then right back to the pile-ups.

 

Ann and Brian are responsible for many new band countries for St Croix for so many

 

It is with that in mind that I pass along the sad news that Ann, passed away quietly, in the company of her friend and husband, on the island that they both loved, this morning

 

Brian has asked that you keep Ann and him in your thoughts and to give him some time before you email or call.

 

I speak for the all 3 Steve’s when I say that a small part of us passed this day as well

 

As it is said, may her memory be a blessing

Earlier on in the year, I mentioned the T32C expedition to be mounted later on in the year by my old friends at the FSDXA.Perhaps you might like to consider supporting the expedition and having a chance of winning a prize? The way to do this is to enter the raffle for a Yaesu FT-950.You can read about the raffle here and the expedition in general here

Earlier on in the year, I mentioned the T32C expedition to be mounted later on in the year by my old friends at the FSDXA.Perhaps you might like to consider supporting the expedition and having a chance of winning a prize? The way to do this is to enter the raffle for a Yaesu FT-950.You can read about the raffle here and the expedition in general here

Last weekend was the first really warm sunny weather of the year. Sunday 10th was the day of the Northern Amateur Radio Societies Association rally held in Blackpool. As we did last year, Olga and I booked a night in a Blackpool hotel and had a weekend away. As we drove out of the Lake District on our way south, an endless procession of cars crawled north on their way in. We wondered where they would all manage to park once they got there.

Just as last year, I failed to find anything attractive about Blackpool itself. The rally itself was worth the trip, and I managed to find a few bits I needed or hoped would come in useful, though this year I didn’t manage to find a bargain to match the brand new Motorola GP300 radio body for £1 I got last year. The same trader this year had some new VHF transceiver bodies from a now defunct manufacturer I had never heard of, but the price was now £2. He claimed that programming software was available on the web, but battery packs were unobtainable. They would perhaps be useful for someone wanting a cheap transceiver for APRS or something like that, powered by an external supply wired to the battery contacts.

I took a few items for the bring and buy but sold none of them. When I collected them in the afternoon the chap who retrieved them for me said that it was very quiet this year, people were looking but not buying.

I met fellow blogger Paul, M0XPD, whose multimode QRSS beacon was on display on his radio club’s stand. Paul also thought attendance was down on previous years. I guess that economic circumstances and the cost of petrol made many people decide not to go to the rally this year.

Once again Cross Country Wireless run by Chris G4HYG had a great location facing the bar and the entrance. Chris was running an APRS digipeater using Lynn KJ4ERJ’s APRSISCE/32 software and displaying his latest products including the APRS TNCs, bandpass filters and end fed antennas. Chris told me that business is very good and he actually sells a lot of his products to the USA. It is great to see a British ham radio manufacturer having success in the US market.

Sunday was also a gloriously sunny day and we returned home the same way we had come via the scenic route. To avoid Ambleside which is usually a traffic snarl-up we came over Kirkstone Pass. It is years since I had driven that route and I have probably never done it on such a nice day. The scenery was spectacular, though unfortunately it would have been too hazardous to stop and take any pictures.