Hi Don
I have 23cm capability, can reach most G/WB summits from home. Have 10 watts and various beams that can be put up pretty quickly.
Equally have the Alinco DJG7, good radio when used in conjunction with a decent antenna.I have two antennas that I use with it, they are a G4OIG inspired Quadruple Quad and an 11 ele beam made by Sandpiper. The Sandpiper people no longer publish the beam on their website, however for a quick call they agreed to make a spare for me. I even at one point added some 2m elements so I had dual band operation on one boom.
The PCB, I have the Big wheel and the Yagi, they seem OK, but I always thought that my clumsy ways would damage them, so left them at home!
Gerald G4OIG is a good point of reference to ask, as is Karen 2E0XYL - They’ve done most of the UK activating on the band. If you want to see my Quadruple Quad I am only in Ludlow, so can happily show you (email me if you wish) it’s rather basic but works well. I copied the design here http://mw0idx.co.uk/quadruplequad.html and scaled it down for 23cm working on the basis of 433 x 3 = 1299 (somewhere near)!
In terms of chasers in the area, the best bet is to try and aim some RF at Cheltenham on a weekend. You have Stewart G0LGS, Matt 2E0MDJ, Grham G4FUJ and Graham G3VKV all active on the band. Equally in our area Don, there is Alan G7RHF, You and I. Head over to the Black Country then you have G3XEV in Sedgley and G4TCU in Dudley. Then to the North, if you’re on Wrekin the TDARS lot have quite a few active 23cmers.
It might be prudent to program GB3SE into the radio. This is the Stoke 23cm Repeater, I have used this to ask people if they will try a simplex QSO and that has worked. However the output is 1297.075, when I am up Clee Hill, I seem to get some weird interference or Sproggy from the 24cm gear that is up there, so just be mindful of that. Andy FMF is your best source of knowledge on what is up there now as he has previously stated what is up there ISTR.
Finally if you’re in the Flintshire area (Technically not G/WB) then you have MW1FGQ as well as the Bolton area to beam at.
Hope that Helps
It makes me think I should change the 2/70cm colinear at home and put up a 2/70/23cm colinear!
73
Matt G8XYJ