Activating Guernsey (GU/GU-002) on VHF (2m SSB)

Activation Reports Pre-Planning
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I travel to Guernsey for work from time to time. I have already activated GU/GU-002 twice on HF, but I’d like to activate it on VHF. On my last trip I took a 3 element Sotabeam and a 6m pole, and gave it a try. I spotted myself on SOTAWatch for 2m SSB, but got no replies, despite being able to hear GB3VHF quite clearly. It was early evening, so not an ideal activation time, probably, but that’s the time I have available when I’m not working!

I’m heading to Guernsey again this week, and thought I’d give it one more try. I plan to activate it around 6pm/7pm on Wednesday evening.

Any interest in chasing GU association on VHF, anyone?

Bob G0KYS

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Might be worth a email to the Jersey Amateur Radio club? jerseygj3dvc@gmail.com

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I live in South Devon near Plymouth and can give it a go. You will need to point your beam NW from Guernsey. It might be worth emailing Don @G0RQL, his email address is on QRZ. He is a keen chaser on 2m SSB but may not see your spot given the time of day.

I’ve put a reminder in the diary. Best of luck.

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Hi Bob,

Unfortunately there aren’t many chasers in the south-east of England, so while you can hear the Kent beacon, there probably won’t be anyone looking for you from that direction. You are better beaming more north and around to Devon / Cornwall.

I would love to have a go at working you as 2m SSB is my favourite band / mode combination, but I’m not equipped with 2m this week… I’m also much further north than I usually am! Hopefully you will be able to make a reasonable number of contacts.

73, Gerald

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Good luck Bob, I hope you are successful. What are the chances on 2m fm?? We want to visit some time and I will be trying to find contacts on my usual 2m and 70cm fm. I see there are 9 2m contacts recorded for this summit - are they all ssb? Is it worth you giving fm a try if ssb isn’t a great success - but I do feel that operating on an evening makes the task yet more difficult?
73 Viki M6BWA

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Looking at the database it appears they were all FM.

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7

Thanks for the info.

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Thanks, John. I’ll give it a try! I’ll put an alert on Sotawatch, and edit the time if things change. I’ll also drop Don an email.

Bob

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Thanks, Gerald. I’m only using a 3 element beam, so it’s not too directional anyway. But I will tweak it north-west-ish to try and pick up M0WIV in Plymouth.

Bob

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Hi Viki,

I did try FM last time as well, but no luck. I’ll try it again this time in addition to SSB. You never know!

Bob

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Bob, just so we don’t miss something obvious I assume you will be using your Yagi horizontally?

John

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Yes, I will be using it horizontally. However I’ll switch it to vertical before giving a call on FM afterwards, though, as it’s easy to do.

Bob

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I made quite a few 2m FM contacts from summits down that way, but they weren’t dedicated chasers just folks who happened to reply to a few CQ calls.

Breaking into a local net, or asking on a repeater if people can work you simplex works sometimes!

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I’ve just looked over the logs from mine and @M0HGY 's activations in GU and GJ. Several G stations worked on 2m FM - but I think condx were up. Also a few more 2m FM QSOs made to other stations in the Channel Islands.

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Don’t forget to beam the other way as well - there are chasers in F

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Another thought - I think it’s this Wednesday evening that you’re going to try it - in which case the 70cm FT8 Activity Contest is on from 7pm. I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but lack of activity will not be an issue - not at UHF anyway!

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No 70cms antenna, and no FT8 capability, so not much help on that one I’m afraid!

Yes - Wednesday night is the plan, ferries permitting. One was cancelled today due to weather, but tomorrow’s is supposed to run, so fingers crossed!

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Condor have now produced and ‘amended’ ferry timetable due to the weather, and I now won’t be arriving on Guernsey until after midnight on Wednesday. So Wednesday’s activation is off, but I now plan to do the activation on Thursday evening.

Bob

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Thursday evening is the 6m activity evening across Europe, including the 6m UK activity contest. 50MHz is where all the VHF action will be.

Where will your operating site be out of interest?

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No problem. :slight_smile: I can’t imagine arriving after midnight is going to be fun. Hope you have a taxi booked if you need one.