It was a rainy Sunday afternoon for the 3rd UKuG 5.7GHz/10GHz contest, so I quickly set-up the gear on the patio beside the house. The objective was to try and work some locals. The exact location was a very compromised side gate next to the garage, sheltered by a tall hedge and trees. However this also sheltered the signals!
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| 6cm SSB Testing on the Patio! |
With the Pluto SDR, Yellow FPV Amp and the 60cm Grid Dish at 4m above the patio (57m ASL), I quickly found and worked Dave G1EHF/P who was out on Walbury Hill (IO91GI, 43km). Due to the low height and wet trees, I failed with the other locals who were less than 100km (G4BRK, G8GTZ, G4LDR and M0GHZ).
I did for a short period put the 3cm gear on the tripod, again as a quick lash-up, and heard G4SJH/P who was co-sited with Dave at Walbury. Despite hearing Barry just readable above the noise, band conditions were really poor with no RS and we did not complete a QSO. Some more time testing the GHz kit, and peased to support the local portable stations who had braved the wet weather!