Having recently acquired an Alinco DJ-G7, its time to try out an activation on 23cm.
Date:13/07/2025 Time: 14:00 BST (approx) - Will spot
Summit G/SP-017 Billinge Hill (IO83PM) with 1W and a log periodic horizontally mounted on plastic waste pipe (probably handheld)
Hopefully the Alinco will be immune to the other signals eminating from the summit, and the attenuator function on the Alinco wont be required, but we shall see.
As its a zero point activation for me, its ideal for such testing.
Ian
A few things as a long term DJ-G7 owner I know about my set, yours maybe different.
I’m not surprised, mine was sold as a Grade B customer return. However, I’ve had QSOs on 70cm and 23cm with mine so hopefully you’ll be OK for some QSOs.
I actually used it with the rubber duck a couple of weeks ago, drove upto a local high spot to see if i could hear anyone on the wednesday bolton wireless club net. It actually performed very well with good qsos in to wales (from 3/4 way up winter hill) as well as most if not all that were on the net that night.
It helped that it came with a speaker/mic so i could hold the handie horizontally with ease.
2m overload wont be an issue as if required ill have other equipment for the band.
I’ll advise on how Billinge proof it turns out to be.
Ian
Mine was a Grade B customer return which was why it was only £80 back in 2010 so it could have a damaged rubber duck. Most of the time it’s used with a WA5VJB 3 ele PCB Yagi.
I got my DJG7 brand-new in 2009 (and only use it on 23cm), but the only time I’ve had any problem with overloading was from near the trig point on Winter Hill (close to all those PMR installations) - then I needed to switch in one or two of its ATTEN steps.
Its Li-ion batteries are really impressive too - both my packs date from 2009 and have had more than 400 charge cyles between them and are still going strong.
I have used two of the Alinco rubber aerials (I got a replacement four years ago after my original one split) and both have worked well - yielding more than 600 23cm QSOs over the last six years, from the local moors. I often hold it sideways (when it becomes bi-directional) to work horizontally-polarised stations.
I recently measured my Alinco antenna as being about 4dB down on the peak gain of the 3-ele WA5VJB PCB (so that would be about 2-3dBi omni).
Successful activation with 6 in the log on 23cm and a bonus summit to summit with MW0PJE/P on GW/NW-043. Apparently I can now claim an award for that qso being over 50km - who knew.
Very hot on summit, and had to act as the obligatory PR officer for Peter (M1BZJ) who was on 2m.
Thankyou to all that managed to call in and I think I missed a couple due to lack of experience on the band and the importance of pointing accurately (even more so than using large beam on 2 or 70) - thats how it felt to me anyway.
Obligatory photo of operating setup below, and for those with eagle-eyes they are repurposed 3.5inch floppy discs.
Ian
G7ADF
Glad you survived the heat, sounded like you were suffering when I krept up on you!! hahaha sneaky 2M FTW!
Great work guys, good to work you again!
Alan
I had totally forgotten that I had the lora still switched on and a complete surprise when I heard my callsign coming from the 2m rig 
I knew I hadn’t spotted for 2m as I very rarely do.
It was worth the speculative call and I think Peter got about 10 in the log after I worked you.
The heat certainly had its effect at times, it got stifling with no escape and typically a good breeze started up as we were leaving. The FT-1500 used for 2m was extremely hot when we finished. Peter used some water cooling to good effect.
Ian
Goodness me, how professional! My 23cm exploits are with the Standard C710 in one hand and the quadruple quad in the other. Logging via brain memory and later recall, with the occasional request to QRX while I put it down on paper. 
Well done on the activation. I cannot say I’ve used 23cm in a while (except on the Hog Roast day under my other call) as there’s not much activity up in Scotland where I am currently activating.
73, Gerald
Give it a shot on Tuesday evening - UKAC 23 cm - or give me a “heads-up” and I will switch the 23 cm station on
Were that practical Barry, but at some point I aim to be back up in GM/ES and I’ll certainly add the 23cm kit to the pack and give you the heads up… I’ve even acquired an SG Labs 23cm transverter (yet to be tested), so SSB should be a possibility… and of course CW. 
73, Gerald
The biggest issue i had with the whole setup was that it was so light compared with what i normally take, i was convinced i had left something behind 
The horizontal antenna likely explains why I did not hear you Ian. I went out to a local high spot using a vertical antenna. The only station that I heard/worked was Mick M0PVA who is local to me. I will take the Tonna 23cm yagi next time.
Regards,
Mike G4BLH
Shame I missed you. From what I gather, the majority of 23cm activity in the area is horizontal hence the setup in the picture.
Made it easier to mount the log periodic too . I could operate vertical with the plastic pipe handheld, but it reduces it’s height and the antenna is prone to falling off the end
I’ll also be active soon on 70cm from Billinge in the 433 Alive activity day on the Sunday of the August Bank Hol Weekend (24th). Weather permitting of course. That will be vertical even if the wind allows the beam to be deployed.
I’ll be certain to post planned activations on here/sotawatch in advance. Would be good to make contact again. I think the last time we spoke I was on 2m on Tryfan with the handheld. I did try 70cm but I think a combination of fading battery power and just the rubber duck wasn’t ideal.
Ian
It shouldn’t be an issue on SSB, but if you’re calling on the 23cm FM frequency make sure your feeder isn’t acting as an antenna and transmitting on the 2m FM calling frequency 
(the SSB CoAs don’t align if you use the default IF in the transverter so it’s less of a problem)
I use an ft817 as IF with my SGLabs transverter. I have changed the IF to be 146 - 148, which is easy to do by just moving a link in the transverter.
I have opened up the 817 in order to use 60m, and this may be necessary to allow it to transmit above 146MHz…
The more i hear about 23cm activations the more I’m tempted to get the SG Labs transverter! Maybe next year?
I recall this being the IF of choice for 23cm from the outset for the contest groups that I used to operate with. It won’t be an issue if I am using my KX3 and my FT-817 is widebanded. I seem to recall the modified 817 will cover 1.8-56MHz, 137-164MHz and 420-470MHz.
I was helped along by a pretty active group in the North West who will make a point of listening out for 23cm activity and are very knowledgeable to boot.
It also helps that every Wednesday night there is a welcoming net which allows testing of equipment and antennas since you know there will be activity.
If you are where a quick search puts you at, you would be on the edge of that groups coverage, but I presume somewhere like The Cloud would make it easily.
Its worth it, especially if your interested in something just a little different
I’m kinda hooked already and half in the back of my mind thinking about the next one up (13cm)
Ian
The Cloud or Gun is in reasonable driving distance. Ive spoken to Ross @G6GVI on 2 Meters and 4 Meters a few times. He has convinced me to look into getting started on 23cms!
