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#61
Amateur / Adding your callsign to the QR...
Last post by M9JVQ - Mar 24, 2026, 06:47 PM
Some new M7's get confused by the system, so let's try & simplify it! :)

Once registered on QRZ with your callsign & password go to https://www.qrz.com/dxregister

HOW TO ADD YOUR CALLSIGN TO THE QRZ DATABASE
- Your QRZ username must be the same as your callsign
- Your must provide your name and surname, town or city, nation, and DXCC entity
- A PDF or JPG of your amateur radio license showing both your name and callsign (do not use a QSL card, drivers license, national ID card, passport, or personal photo)

The DXCC entity for England is 223

I can't remember if anything else is needed as it was over 3 years since I completed it. Please reply if you need more info.

Congratulation to new licence holders, I hope you get as much fun as I do.

Tony


#62
Quote from: M9JVQ on Mar 23, 2026, 10:39 PMThe next meet at Jerry's Cafe is Wednesday 1st April @7pm local time. :)

Myself and rhp285 will be attending the next one

#63
Eyeballs/Meets/Online Events., etc. / Re: Radio Meet Hailsham
Last post by M9JVQ - Mar 23, 2026, 10:39 PM
The next meet at Jerry's Cafe is Wednesday 1st April @7pm local time. :)
#64
CB & PMR446 / Re: What PMR homebased antenna...
Last post by Razz229 - Mar 22, 2026, 09:29 AM
I forgot add these home made antenna's.

Ideal for being out and about, but, could be use as a stealth home base antenna



#65
Southern Area and South Coast SSB Net / Re: SSB Net
Last post by Razz229 - Mar 21, 2026, 01:06 PM
Good day to you reader

Here is my report for the Southern Area & South Coast SSB Net held on the evening of Thursday 19/03/2026

My working conditions for the net were a version 3 Anytone AT-6666 (no amp, no power mic) powered by a car battery 🔋, sending a maximum of 40 watts out from a Solarcon A-99 antenna about 3 metres in the air.

The net is held on 27.395 MHz Lower Sideband or channel 39 LSB on the mid-block. It is scheduled to start at 20:30 Hrs 🕣 and finish at 23:00 Hrs 🕙, but sometimes it can go on until midnight 🕛

My location for the net was a cool, clear Radio Corner, Ashdown 🌲 Forest in the county of East Sussex. There was almost no wind and few clouds to spoil the starry night.

Now for my list of who checked in, heard and or worked who.

009 - Tom - East London 🥇
DDB 50 - Allan - Redhill - Surrey
MR 121 - Matt - Copthorne - West Sussex
TC 614 - Tim - Butts Brow - East Sussex
CT 4515 - John - Firle Beacon - East Sussex - South Side Chair 💺
JS 7 - James - Rochester - Kent - East Side Chair 💺
RC 64 - Bob - Gravesend - Kent - Welcome to the net 👍
CT 5480 - Jonny 5 - Plumpton - East Sussex
CT 4952 - Julian - Brighton - East Sussex - Making use of the Burgess Hill SDR and his radio
GE 167 - Murphy - Eastbourne - East Sussex
TE 310 (3 to the 1 to the 0) - DJ Kevin - Leigh on Sea - Essex
XR 41 - Jerry - Hailsham - East Sussex
UK 175 - Wayne - Wadhurst - East Sussex
CT 4515 - Tony - Brighton - East Sussex
Speed Bird - Russell - M23 mobile 🚗 - West Sussex
CT 5464 - Matt in the Garage - Hailsham - East Sussex
NB 101 - Dave - Edenbridge - Kent
C V M - Nigel - Crowborough - East Sussex - Welcome to the net 👍
CT 5159 - Neil - Maidstone - Kent
and me
CI 2290 - Ray - Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex - West Side Chair 💺

Thank you all who called in and sorry if you tried and the conditions were against you. Give it a go another Thursday night or if you have a ham licence, maybe try on 1 of the 10m Test Nets.

Now for the Numbers of the Night

3 Chairs
20 in the log
1 London borough worked
5 Counties worked
1 mobile station worked

That about brings this report to and end. Thank you for taking time to read it, have you spotted any mistakes or worse have I left you off the list? Let me know and I will correct it.

The next 10m Test Net is pencilled in for Sunday afternoon of the 29th of March, frequency will be 28.350 MHz +/-, start time to be confirmed closer to the date.

Best 73

Ray 2290 with the pens and bits of paper 📝


#66
South Coast PMR net / Re: Monday PMR Net
Last post by Razz229 - Mar 18, 2026, 10:21 PM
Hello & welcome

Before we get into this episode of "Ray Reviews". . . . .

Next weeks net will be in remembrance of Darren CT 1552/Sleeping Giant/2E0UKI/The Chicken Goujons Station, who has sadly gone silent key after a short illness.

The Monday Night, Channel 14, South Coast PMR Net is held on analogue channel 14, with the radio set on narrow FM (NFM). The net doesn't use any kind of access or privacy codes, which makes it open to all users young and old, expert or newcomer.
If you have been listening to the net and are thinking of joining in, don't worry about having a callsign, just call in with your name and location.

My set up for the night was the battery 🔋 powered CRT SPACE U and the "Dean" made Di-pole up on a fibreglass pole. A combination that works well in all weathers.

The net is scheduled to start at 20:30 Hrs 🕣 and finish at 23:00 Hrs 🕙 UK local time. But sometimes, like on this occasion, it went on until Tuesday morning.

My location was Radio Corner, Ashdown 🌴 Forest in the county of East Sussex, which is rumoured to be the highest point of the forest.
The weather was a mixed bag of all sorts. It was cool & breezy, cloudy then clear and sometimes foggy.

Now on with the list of who heard and or worked who.

CT 5514 - Steve - Jack n Jill - West Sussex 🥇
CT 940 - Richard - Reigate Hill - Surrey
Dragon Slayer #1 - Prue - Reigate Hill - Surrey - Keeping unwanted Dragons from the hill
DDB 50 - Allan - Redhill - Surrey
CT 4515 - John - Ditchling Beacon - East Sussex
Lima 93 - Luke - Horsham - West Sussex - Showing off his new callsign
RHP 285 aka Joker - Steve - Reigate Hill - Surrey
CT 5480 - Jonny 5 - Plumpton - East Sussex
Delta 31 - Adam - Hastings - East Sussex
CT 5159 - Neil - Hastingleigh Beacon - Kent
CT 4013 - Tony - Brighton - East Sussex
Tango 187 - Toby - Ashdown 🌴 Forest - East Sussex
GE 07 - Rob - Rye - East Sussex - Worked by Neil CT 5159 and welcome to the net 👍
CT 5502 - Paul - Reigate Hill - Surrey
Cam - Reigate Hill - Surrey - Working & testing a handy
TC 156 - Steve - Gatwick - West Sussex
FB 228 - Martin H - Hellingly - East Sussex
GE 167 - Murphy - Eastbourne - East Sussex
AM 069 - Dean - Lenham - Kent - Worked by Neil CT 5159 and welcome to the net 👍
GM 593 - Graeme - Rochester - Kent
CT 4610 - Andy - Horley - Surrey
C V M - Nigel - Crowborough - East Sussex
and
CT 2290 - Ray - Ashdown 🌴 Forest - East Sussex - In the Chair 💺

Thank you all who called in and kept the net going until it entered Tuesday morning.
If you tried to call in and wasn't heard, give it a go another Monday and maybe try at a different time. The first 45 minutes can be busy.

Now for the Score on the Doors

4 Counties worked
2 Coffees drunk
23 In the log
2 New stations worked by Neil CT 5159
4 or more biscuits eaten
and
2 New amateur operators congratulated.
Yes, congratulations to Steve CT 4627 & Steve CT 5514 on becoming Foundation holders.

One last thing, there is some gossip going round that there will be another 10m Test Net at the end of this month. Apparently it will be the afternoon of the 29th of March on or near by 28.350 MHz USB.

That brings this episode of "Ray Reviews" to an end

Cheers & best 73

Ray 2290 with the Quill, ink pot and paper 📝


#67
Southern Area and South Coast SSB Net / Re: SSB Net
Last post by Razz229 - Mar 14, 2026, 06:59 PM
Hello all and welcome

Here is my report of the Southern Area & South Coast SSB Net, held on Thursday evening 12/03/2026

The is held on channel 39 on the FCC/CEPT band or 27.395 MHz on LSB and is scheduled to start at 20:30 Hrs 🕣 and finish from 23:00 Hrs 🕙 onwards local UK time.

My set up for the net was the old version 3 Anytone AT-6666 (no amp no power mic), powered by a car battery 🔋 and a Solarcon A-99 antenna up on a 3 metre pole.

Location for the net was Radio Corner, Ashdown 🌴 Forest East Sussex in the county of East Sussex. The weather was breezy, windy, blustery no it was blowing a gale, some would say a hoolie! The vehicle rocked, the mast moved and the antenna bent over at funny angles.

Thanks to John CT 4515 who diverted to Radio Corner and helped take down the antenna.

Here is the list of check in's and who heard and or worked who.

FB 228 - Martin H - Hellingly - East Sussex 🥇
DDB 50 - Allan - Redhill - Surrey
009 - Tom - East London
RC 002 - Tom - Blackheath - Southeast London
DT 372 - John - Pinner - Northwest London
CT 4952 - Julian - Brighton - East Sussex - Using both the Burgess Hill SDR and his radio
CT 5480 - Jonny 5 - Plumpton - East Sussex
JS 7 - James - Rochester - Kent
TC 156 - Steve - Gatwick - West Sussex
MR 121 - Matt - Copthorne - West Sussex
CT 4013 - Tony - Brighton - East Sussex
NB 101 - Dave - Edenbridge - Kent
FB 1226 - Simon - Hassocks - East Sussex
CT 4515 - John - Area 53 Ashdown 🌴 Forest - East Sussex
TE 310 aka 3 to the 1 to the 0,  MC Kevin - Leigh on Sea - Essex
LT 94 - Matt - Heathrow Airport
C V M - Nigel - Crowborough - East Sussex
LT 01 - Jake - Highgate - North London
LT 727 - Dave - Elstree - Hertfordshire
CT 1829 - Dean - Edenbridge - Kent
ET 01 - Jeff - Orpington - Southeast London
XR 41 - Jerry - Hailsham - East Sussex
CT 3466 - "Radar" Ray - Crowhurst - Surrey
and me
CI 2290 - Ray - Ashdown 🌴 Forest - East Sussex - In the Chair 💺

Thank you all who called in, with the gale force winds blowing across the Southeast, I didn't expect so many. Sorry if you tried and wasn't heard, give it another go on another Thursday night.

Now for the Numbers of the Night

2 Stations on Ashdown Forest (Area 53 & Radio Corner)
6 Counties worked
1 Coffee drunk
24 In the log
7 London boroughs worked
2 Biscuits eaten

That brings this report to an end

All the best & 73

Ray 2290 with the paper & pen 📝
#68
South Coast PMR net / Re: Monday PMR Net
Last post by Razz229 - Mar 11, 2026, 09:57 PM
Hello and good day to you, my favourite reader

Here is another episode of "Ray Reviews" the Monday Night South Coast PMR, held on the night of Monday 9th of March 2026.

Did you know that on this day in history, 1891 Britain was hit by a 3 day blizzard that killed 200 people and over 5000 animals die, and in 1974, the last Japanese solider surrenders, 29 years after World War 2 ends.

After that historical soundbite, now for more about the net.

My location for the net was Radio Corner, Ashdown 🌳 Forest in the county of East Sussex, which is about midway between London and the South coast.
The weather was mild most of the night with a gentle breeze, which did bring in the fog  that reduced visibility to metres. At one point, I could not see the antenna on top of the pole.

The net can be found on PMR analogue channel 14 with the radio's set on NFM. No CTCSS, CDS, ABC, XYZ codes or tones are used. This makes the net open to all, regardless of what radio you have.
If you have been a listening station and are thinking, "do I need a callsign?", the answer is no, your name or CB handle is fine.

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

Start time for the night is about 20:30 Hrs 🕣 and the finish time can be anytime from 23:00 Hrs 🕙 UK local time.

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

Delta 31 - Adam - Hastings - East Sussex 🥇
Tango 187 - Toby - Firle Beacon - East Sussex
C V M - Nigel - Crowborough - East Sussex
CT 5159 - Neil - Detling Hill - Kent
Star Gazer - Tony - Turners Hill - West Sussex
Ryan - Ashdown 🌳 Forest - East Sussex
Luke - Reigate Hill - Surrey
Caz - Reigate Hill - Surrey - Shotgun with Luke
CT 4515 - John - Ditchling Beacon - East Sussex
TC 614 - Tim - Hailsham - East Sussex
CT 940 - Richard - Reigate Hill - Surrey
Dragon Slayer #1 - Prue - Reigate Hill - Surrey - Keeping a watchful eye on Richard
CT 3466 - "Radar" Ray - Ashdown 🌳 Forest - East Sussex
London Calling - Mark - East London
CT 5514 - Steve - Reigate Hill - Surrey
DDB 50 - Allan - Redhill - Surrey
GM 593 - Graeme - Rochester - Kent
Joker aka RHP 285 - Steve - Reigate Hill - Surrey
CT 5480 - Jonny 5 - Plumpton - East Sussex
XR 41 - Jerry - Hailsham - East Sussex
Bart Man aka RHP 342 - Andy - Reigate Hill - Surrey
CT 4013 - Tony - Brighton - East Sussex
CT 5464 - Matt in the Garage - Hailsham - East Sussex
CT 5502 - Paul - Reigate Hill - Surrey
Cam - Reigate Hill - Surrey - Shotgun with Paul
CT 5365 - Des - Pembury - Kent
Matt in the Bakery 🍞 - Forest Row - East Sussex
Speed Bird - Russell - Reigate Town - Surrey
and me
CT 2290 - Ray - Ashdown 🌳 Forest - East Sussex 💺

Thank you to the listening stations and to all who called or checked in. Without you, there would be no net.
Sorry if you tried and wasn't heard by the group. Give it a another try another night and maybe at a different time, it can be busy for the first hour.

Now for the Scores on the Doors

1 coffee drunk
1 London borough worked
4 counties worked
9 Operators on Reigate Hill
12 Mobile/Portable stations
29 In the log

That brings this "Ray Review" to an end

Best 73

Ray 2290 with the paper John Bull print set 📝
#69
Amateur / This is the week for YL's
Last post by M9JVQ - Mar 09, 2026, 03:53 PM
For one week starting today is the YL WWA event, OMG there's lots on HF today all with major pileups.

Bees around honeypots comes to mind! :o  8)
#70
Amateur / Re: DXpeditions
Last post by M9JVQ - Mar 09, 2026, 11:34 AM
Interesting is a good description John! :) It had my grey matter working overtime, but for you youngsters it should be a doddle. :P  ;D

I have requested a eQSL via LOTW & a paper one via Club Log OQRS, the eQSL should be a few days but the paper will be 2-3 months. :o 

EDIT A great video from Callum I wish I had found before: