Welcome and good day to you

This is my report for the Southern Area & South Coast SSB Net held on Thursday evening of the 02/04/2026

The net is scheduled to start at 8.30 🕣 in the evening and finishes any time after 11:00 🕙 local UK time.

My location for the net was Radio Corner, Ashdown 🌴 Forest in the county of East Sussex, which is near the town of Crowborough, once the home of Sir Arthur Conon Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes.
Weather on the night was chilly with a gentle breeze with a full moon 🌕 in a clear sky. At the end of the net, the temperature had fallen to just above 8 degrees C.

My set up was an old version 3 Anytone AT-6666 (no amp, no power mic) powered by a car battery 🔋, pushing a maximum of 40 watts out of a Solarcon A-99 antenna about 3 meters above the ground.

The net is held almost every week throughout the year and can be found on FCC channel 39 or 27.395 MHz LSB

Here is my list of check in's and who contact and or heard who.

CT 4013 - Tony - Brighton - East Sussex 🥇
CT 940 - Richard - Reigate Town - Surrey
XR 41 - Jerry - Ashdown 🌴 Forest - East Sussex - 1st location of the night
CCA - Charlie in the Workshop - Hassocks - East Sussex
CT 4610 - Andy - Reigate Hill - Surrey - Fighting off radio gremlins
TC 614 - Tim - Butts Brow - East Sussex
CT 4952 - Julian - Brighton - East Sussex
Joker aka RHP 285 - Steve - Reigate Hill - Surrey
GE 167 - Murphy - Eastbourne - East Sussex
163/26 RU 08 - Rod - Brecon Beacon - Wales
TE 411 - Matt - Stanford Le Hope - Essex - Welcome to the net 👍
TC 37 - Richard - Birmingham Airport - Midlands
2 RT 127 - John -  Near Columbia - South Carolina - USA
CT 3969 - Dave - Isle of Wight - Hampshire
Tango 187 - Toby - Ditchling Beacon - East Sussex
FB 228 - Martin H - Hellingly - East Sussex
UK 175 - Martin - Wadhurst - East Sussex
NB 101 - Dave - Edenbridge - Kent
Delta 31 - Adam - Hastings - East Sussex
Speed Bird - Russell - Reigate Hill - Surrey
CT 4515 - John - Brighton - East Sussex
XR 41 - Jerry - Hailsham - East Sussex - 2nd location of the night
TE 310 - Kevin - Leigh on Sea - Essex
and me
CI 2290 - Ray - Ashdown 🌴 Forest - East Sussex - In the Chair 💺

Here are the Numbers for the Night

23 in the log
1 Coffee drunk
3 Countries worked (2, 26 & 163 division)
1 Chocolate Muffin eaten
7 Counties worked
1 New operator welcomed to the net


Thank you all who called in and stuck with it through all the noise, tones, beeps and constant faint voices.
Sorry if you tried to call in and wasn't heard, it was a noisy night on the band.

That brings my report to an end

Best 73

Ray 2290 with the pens and paper 📝

Back on the 28th of March in the year 2026.

I was invited to join in on a trip to Martin Lynch & Sons, one of many shines to the hobby of amateur radio.
After being picked up from Crawley we travelled along the M23 to the M25 and then some A roads until we arrived at M L & S.
We walked in a I was drawn to the bargain corner, well who doesn't like a bargain? The shelves of cheap equipment, microphones, cables, mouse mats, and radio's with knobs missing, for parts or repair.

Looking through the boxes, totes and shelves, I found a set of brackets for a Diamond, Watson, Sharman style 2m/70cm antenna, which conveniently fits the mounting pole of my PMR/70cm beam, a £1 replacement speaker mic for my elderly UV5R and a Midland 3001 (with manual) from their "Precision Series" missing a power lead and mic.

Below is said radio



The following day, I had a rummage through my radio box of bits, and found a power lead. So out came a PWR/SWR meter and a dummy load and on with testing the radio.

Does it turn on? Yes
Does the meter light up? Yes
Are the channel change digits Green? Yes
Does it transmit? Yes, about 3 1/2 watts
Does it receive? Don't know yet

So for £20 I seem to have a nice little radio, BUT, what mic to pair with it?
I have a choice of 1 of the 4 shown to choose from.

What 1 would you pick?
From left to right, a K-PO NM-532 power mic, Turner JM+2/U power mic, Telex mic or an old Pye mic



73

Ray 2290

Welcome Welcome

Here is another episode of "Ray Reviews" the The Channel 14, Monday Night, South Coast PMR, held on Monday 30th of March 2026

The net is scheduled to start at 20:30 Hrs 🕣 (19:30 UTC 🕢) and finishes anytime after 23:00 Hrs 🕙 (22:00 UTC 🕙).

My location for the net was Radio Corner, Ashdown 🌴 Forest in the county of East Sussex. Which is near the town of Crowborough.
The weather was cold & breezy with a haze on the horizon and a Waxing Gibbous Moon 🌔 in the sky.

The net can be found on PMR analogue channel 14, with the radio set on NFM and no codes or access tones needed. This makes the net open to all and you DON'T even need a callsign or any thing like that. Just use your name.

My set for the night, was the CRT Space U, powered by a car battery 🔋, and the "Dean" made di-pole up on a fibreglass pole.

With the when, where and what time covered, on with the list of check in's and who heard and or worked who.

CT 5480 - Jonny 5 - Plumpton - East Sussex 🥇
Ratty 248 - Chris - Ashdown 🌴 Forest - East Sussex
Witchy Women - Vicky - Ashdown 🌴 Forest - East Sussex - Shotgun with Chris
CT 5514 - Steve - Burgess Hill - West Sussex
Lima 93 - Luke - Horsham - West Sussex
Dragon Slayer #1 - Prue - Reigate Hill - Surrey
CT 940 - Richard - Reigate Hill - Surrey - Shotgun with Prue
CT 1829 - Dean - Ashdown 🌴 Forest - East Sussex
CT 4515 - John - Firle Beacon - East Sussex
RHP 285 - Steve - Reigate Hill - Surrey
CT 5159 - Neil - Hastingleigh - Kent
CT 3466 - "Radar" Ray - Ashdown 🌴 Forest - East Sussex
KP 441 - Steve - Henfield - West Sussex - Working a Handy
Delta 31 - Adam - Hastings - East Sussex
TC 614 - Tim - Hailsham - East Sussex
C V M - Nigel - Ashdown 🌴 Forest - East Sussex
CT 5502 - Paul - Reigate Hill - Surrey
Cam - Reigate Hill - Surrey - Shotgun with Paul and working a Handy
XR 41 - Jerry - St Leonards - East Sussex - 1st location of the night and mobile 🚗
Tango 187 - Toby - Ashdown 🌴 Forest - East Sussex
CT 5365 - Des - Pembury - Kent
Lino - Reigate Hill - Surrey
CT 5464 - Matt in the Garage - Hailsham - East Sussex
XR 41 - Jerry - Hailsham - East Sussex - 2nd location of the night
and me
CT 2290 - Ray - Ashdown 🌴 Forest - East Sussex - in the Chair 💺

Now for the unimportant Score on the Doors

6 Operators on Reigate Hill
24 in the log
4 Counties
2 Lady operators
1 Donut eaten
Another new licence operator, congratulations to CT 5464 Matt in the Garage
7 Operators in Radio Corner

Thank you to all who checked or called in and to the listening stations. Sorry if tried to call in and wasn't heard.
If you spot a error or worse, I have missed you off the log, let me know so I can correct the mistake.

That brings this "Rays Review" to an end

Best 73

Ray 2290 with many pens, a pencil and paper. 📝

Quote from: Razz229 on Apr 03, 2026, 10:26 AM

Quote from: CT4013 on Apr 02, 2026, 08:59 PMThere were 3 stations tuned to 27.395LSB showing on Station Master logging software.



 

Bet that looked good amongst all the other operators working the licenced bands, and, I wonder what kind of reception Toby was getting on USB? 😄

The 27 MHz certainly stood out a bit, as for Toby's mode well spotted Ray I missed that.

Quote from: CT4013 on Apr 02, 2026, 08:59 PMThere were 3 stations tuned to 27.395LSB showing on Station Master logging software.



 

Bet that looked good amongst all the other operators working the licenced bands, and, I wonder what kind of reception Toby was getting on USB? 😄

There were 3 stations tuned to 27.395LSB showing on Station Master logging software.



 

It seems as if Juan Carlos n Spain EB5DZC is in summer mode!  

Hello all and welcome

Here is my report for the 10m Test Net, held on the afternoon of Sunday the 29th of March 2026.

My location was Radio Corner, Ashdown Forest in the county of East Sussex.

Working conditions were the Alinco DX-70H, Solarcon A-99 antenna and the "POTA Performer" antenna tuned for 10m.
Having 2 different antenna's allowed us to test the difference between both on both TX & RX.

Band conditions were "testing" with the CQ WPX contest on the same weekend.

Once set up and the radio gremlin exorcized, we found 27.350 taken by stations ready for the net. Toby M0KXU called in and the net, rag-chew, testing began.

Here is the list of stations that called in and the odd listing station

M7HCV - Phil
M7TYM - Tim
M6VOY - Martin H
M7XRI - Jerry - Mobile
M6TOY - Tony
M7DRI - Dean
G0OMK - Dave
M9JVQ - Tony
M7SQB - Steve - 1st use of his new callsign
M7SOX - Dick
M9RQO - Richard
M0KXU - Toby
M0KXU - Ray - Under supervision
and not forgetting the listening station
CT 5480 - Jonny 5 - Spurred on to get his licence

Surprisingly the net did manage to hold the frequency for a number of hours until a contest station moved on and started calling without checking if the frequency was in use.

Amongst the various topics of conversations a 2m net was suggested, run along the same lines as the 10m net, call in, check out antennas, audio setting, and have a rag-chew, my over use of "under supervision" which is becoming a bit of a catch phrase and, how welcoming everybody is because mistakes are welcome.

The next net is faintly pencilled in for the end of April, so watch this space for more info

Best 73

Ray 2290

Well hello there.

Here is my report for the Southern Area & South Coast SSB Net, held on Thursday 26th of March 2026

The net takes place on FCC/CEPT channel 39 or 27.396 MHz and the mode is LSB. It is scheduled to start at 20:30 Hrs 🕣 and goes to 23:00 Hrs 🕙 or beyond depending on band conditions and operators on.

The net started a bit later than normal due to a radio Gremlin playing havoc with my SWR. This was traced back to a failing patch lead.

My location was Radio Corner, Ashdown 🌳 Forest in the county of East Sussex and the closest town would be Crowborough. The weather was cool and still with a 1st Quarter Moon 🌓 in the night sky.

My working conditions were the old Anytone AT-6666 powered by a car battery 🔋 and the Solarcon A-99 antenna.

Now on with the list of Check in's and who heard and or worked who.

JS 7 - James - Rochester - Kent 🥇
XR 41 - Jerry - Dallington - East Sussex - Mobile 🚗 & 1st location of the night
CT 1829 - Dean - Ashdown 🌳 Forest - East Sussex
JR 6969 - Jim - Sutton - South London
CT 4013 - Tony - Brighton - East Sussex
LT 223 - Rob - Sutton - South London
CT 4515 - John - Ditchling Beacon - East Sussex - Chair 💺 2 when needed
Joker aka RHP 285 - Steve - Reigate Hill - Surrey
GE 167 - Murphy - Eastbourne - East Sussex
CT 4610 - Andy - Ashdown 🌳 Forest - East Sussex
CT 5480 - Jonny 5 - Plumpton - East Sussex
CT 4952 - Julian - Brighton - East Sussex - Using the Burgess Hill SDR and his radio
TC 614 - Tim - Hailsham - East Sussex
ST 009 - Tom - East London
CT 4362 - Chris - Reigate Town - Surrey
XR 41 - Jerry - Hailsham - East Sussex - 2nd location of the night
Delta 31 - Adam - Hastings - East Sussex
FB 228 - Martin H - Hellingly - East Sussex
Speed Bird - Russell - Reigate Hill - Surrey
LT 01 - Jake - Highgate - North London
LT 727 - Dave - Elstree - Hertfordshire
LT 777 - Adam - Hendon - Northwest London
DT 372 - John - Pinner - Northwest London
Speedy - Canning Town - East London
Dave - Bromley - Southeast London or Kent depending on your age
and me
CI 2290 - Ray - Ashdown 🌳 Forest - East Sussex - In the Chair 💺

Heard calling was DDB 50 Allan, who, when called back didn't answer so may have had radio gremlins (like mine earlier in the net)

Thank you all who called in and sorry if you tried and wasn't heard or was missed by the chair.

Now fore the Number of the Night

25 In the log
4 Counties worked
3 Coffee's drunk
5 London boroughs worked

That brings this report to an end. Thank you for taking time to read it and if you have spotted a mistake, or worse, I have left you off the log. Let me know and I will correct it.

Best 73

Ray 2290 with many pens and paper. 📝

Hello and welcome

This episode of "Ray Reviews" is dedicated to Darren, CT 1552, 2E0UKI aka Sleeping Giant.

Darren was 1 of the stations that was at the start of both the Monday Night PMR Net and the Thursday Night FM Net that was on channel 39 UKFM.
He also supported the Southern Area and South Coast SSB Net at the beginning.
Darren was also called the Chicken Goujons station, a name given to him due to his habit of cooking and eating them mid-way through the nets.

My set up for the night was the CRT Space U, powered by a car battery 🔋, and the "Dean" made Di-pole up on a fibreglass pole.

The net started at 20:30 🕣 and finished just after 23:00 🕙, but, sometimes the net can go on to mid-night or beyond.

My location for the net was Radio Corner, Ashdown 🌲 Forest in the county of East Sussex.
There was a gentle breeze moving the clouds slowly across the sky which allowed a hazy crescent Moon 🌒 to try and shine through.

The net is held on PMR analogue channel 14, doesn't use any kind of codes or tones and is open to all.
You don't need any callsigns or handles to be part of net, just use you name and location.

Now on with the list of check in's and who heard & or worked who.

CT 5363 aka Shaggy - Shaun - Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex 🥇
Wilma - Shelly - Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex - Shotgun with Shaun 🥇
London Calling - Mark - East London
Delta 31 - Adam - Hastings - East Sussex
CT 4515 - John - Ditchling Beacon - East Sussex
Dusty Bin - Dan - Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex
Dragon Slayer #1 - Prue - Reigate Hill - Surrey
CT 940 - Richard - Reigate Hill - Surrey - Shotgun with Prue
Matt in the Bakery 🍞 - Forest Row - East Sussex
Ratty 248 - Chris - Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex
Witchy Women - Vicky - Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex
XR 41 - Jerry - Hailsham - East Sussex
CT 1829 - Dean - Edenbridge - Kent
C V M - Nigel - Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex
RHP 342 aka CT 4610 - Andy - Reigate Hill - Surrey - Congratulations 🎉 on becoming a M7 licence holder
GE 167 - Murphy - Eastbourne - East Sussex
CT 4013 - Tony - Brighton - East Sussex
Tango 187 - Toby - Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex
CT 5480 - Jonny 5 - Plumpton - East Sussex
RHP 285 aka Joker - Steve - Reigate Hill - Surrey
CT 9484 - Mark - Hazelmere - Surrey
CT 1074 - Mike - Brighton - East Sussex - Welcome back to the net 👍, using a handy and worked by Tony CT 4013
CT 3466 - "Radar" Ray - Edenbridge - Kent
Lima 93 - Luke - Reigate Hill - Surrey
Caz 95 - Caz - Reigate Hill - Surrey - Shotgun with Luke and showing off her new shiny callsign 👍
CT 5464 - Matt in the Garage - Hailsham - East Sussex
Speed Bird - Russell - Reigate Hill - Surrey
and me
CT 2290 - Ray - Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex - In the Chair 💺

Now for the Score on the Doors

3 lady operators checked in
1 new licence operator, congratulations to Andy CT 4610
28 in the log
3 counties worked
1 London borough worked

Thank you all who called/checked in.
Sorry if you tried and wasn't heard, give it a go another Monday night.

That brings this episode or "Ray Reviews" to an end. Thank you for taking time to read it, and, if you have spotted a mistake, let me know so it can be put right.

Best 73

Ray 2290 with the paper and pens.📝