Quote from: Jonny5's on Dec 30, 2025, 11:14 PMHappy new year to you Ray.

Looking forward to chatting again in the new year, it's been a while since I got to say hi to you. Hope the boiler is back up and running as it's getting cold again.

73's

Happy New Year 🥳 to you Jonny 5

Be good to chat again when the nets get back from there holiday 🙂

The boiler is working and I don't see any other problems on the horizon 🤞

Happy new year to you Ray.

Looking forward to chatting again in the new year, it's been a while since I got to say hi to you. Hope the boiler is back up and running as it's getting cold again.

73's

Hello all

Here is my "Ray Reviews" of the socialising event held on Monday 29/12/2025 in Radio Corner, Ashdown Forest in the county of East Sussex.

With the South Coast PMR Net being on hiatus, I thought it would be good to still attend Radio Corner and take the time to chat and socialise with whoever turned up.
This time I had the pleasure of spending the night with Richard (CT 940), Pru (Dragon Slayer 1), Chris (Ratty 248), Vicky (Witchy Women), Toby (Tango 187), "Radar" Ray (CT 3466) and Nigel (Camper Van Man).
While chatting I did have 1 ear on the radio and heard the following.

Mark - London Calling
Martin H - FB 228
Matt in the Garage - CT 5464
Jonny 5 - CT 5480
Steve - RHP 285 aka Joker

Who chatted to those in Radio Corner and between themselves.

Thank you all who took the time and effort to make some noise on channel 14.
Sorry if I have left you off the log. I didn't take any notes and am working from memory.

As this is the last "Ray Reviews" of 2025, Happy New Year and catch you on air in 2026

Best 72 & 73

Ray 2290

Well hello there

with both the Monday Night PMR Net and the Thursday SSB taking a hiatus due to a unhappy grumpy operator, it was decided to run another 10m Test Net.

So picture this.

A cold, wet, drizzly night on the 18th of December 2025. 2 radio operators are in Radio Corner, Ashdown Forest in the county of East Sussex, and are setting up a Solarcon A-99 antenna and tuning it for 28.250 MHz ready in preparation for the 3rd 10M Test Net.

With the coax fed into the mobile radio shack and attached to a Yaesu FT 891, we were ready for when the clock hands come round and pointed to 20:30 UK & UTC time, the time the net will, should, maybe start.

Toby M0KXU checked if the frequency was in use and when there was no reply, the call went out to see who was about.
The first station to call in was Dave G0OMK, then Dean M7DRI/m followed by John M7RLP/m and Tony M9JVQ. Toby passed the 4 stations round and this gave Dave a chance to swap and test out different radios and power levels.
Once this was done the key was handed over to me (under supervision) and the pass rounds were done again with Jerry M7XRI and Ray M7HTZ both "breaking" in and joining in.
The last station to call in was Paul G4SPP who said how good it was to hear me on a amateur band.

The net finished about 23:00 when stations said goodnight and wished each other a Merry Christmas.

Thank you all who called in and enjoyed the net, sorry if I (under supervision) got your callsign wrong and mixed up the letters.

Keep an eye on things as I think there will be another 10M Test Net sometime in January 2026

Best 72 & 73

Ray 2290

PS What do you think? Should the odd emoji be used in these reports?

Hello again.

After the interest shown in the first 10M Test Net.
It was decide to give it another go, so on the 27/11/2025 a 2nd net was held on 28.350 MHz

The location of the chair was Radio Corner, Ashdown Forest in the county of East Sussex and equipment used was the Anytone AT-6666 and a Solarcon A-99 antenna.

Here is the list of operators who called in.

M7RLP - John
M7ROE - Mike
M9JVQ - Tony
M7ECL - Boris
M0KXU - Ray - Under supervision
M0KXU - Tony

Best 73

Ray 2290

As some of you will know, if you read the Southern Area & South Coast SSB Net reports, that back on the 23rd of October 2025 something strange happened.

I was heard on 10m using a callsign under supervision and taking part in the 1st ever 10m test net.

The net was a success with the following in the log

G0OMK - Dave
M9JVQ - Tony
2E0ITW - Danny
M7RLP - John
VK6ARH - Dave - Club callsign
M7SCK - Steve
M0KXU - Toby
M0KXU - Ray - Under supervision


The net was just to be a 1 and done thing, but it has sown a seed and there are now plans for a second 10m test net sometime near the end of November.

So if you are interested in being part of it or interested in how it develops in the future, leave a comment, and watch this space for more news.

You never know, you could be unlucky and hear me under supervision.

73 Ray 2290

Hello and welcome

Here is my report for the PMR session held on the 22/12/2015 in remembrance of Tony CID who sadly has gone silent key.

Stations in attendance, who passed on their condolence's and were heard on PMR channel 14

Ghost Rider - Jay - Reigate Hill - Surrey 🥇
C V M - Nigel - Ashdown Forest - East Sussex
CT 940 - Richard - Reigate Hill - Surrey
Dragon Slayer #1 - Pru - Reigate Hill -Surrey - Shotgun with Richards
Tango 187 - Toby - Ashdown Forest - East Sussex
RHP 285 aka Joker - Steve - Reigate Hill - Surrey
CT 4515 - John - Ashdown Forest - East Sussex
London Calling - Mark - East London
CT 3466 - "Radar" Ray - Ashdown Forest - East Sussex
TK 8 - George - Tonbridge - Kent
TC 156 - Steve - Gatwick - West Sussex
CT 4362 - Chris - Reigate Town - Surrey
XR 41 - Jerry - Hailsham - East Sussex
Speed Bird - Russel - Reigate Hill - Surrey
CT 1829 - Dean - Pembury - Kent - Working a handy
CT 5464 - Matt in the Garage - Hailsham - East Sussex
CT 2072 - Steve T - A21 mobile - Kent
Ratty 248 - Chris - Reigate Hill - Surrey 2nd location of the night
Witchy Women - Vicky - Reigate hill - Shotgun with Ratty 248
and me
CT 2290 - Ray - Ashdown Forest - East Sussex - Making notes of the night

Thank you all who came out to pay their respects, and made the odd comment about hearing my voice on the radio, again.

Best 73

Ray 2290

Hello Everyone
Season Greetings   

I came across a web site that you might find interesting. Its a easier version of MMANA-GAL antenna building.

https://portable-antennas.com/index.php

A few inputs off materials used etc. Away you go with plots and possible SWR readings.

Any enjoy and Best 73's

Regards John CT4515  On his little hill     

Rod posted in the SOUTH OF ENGLAND & SOUTH COAST 11 METRE, AMATEUR & PMR GROUP:


For FB users here is thelink: https://www.facebook.com/groups/240149863411250