Great military activity in UK this afternoom

Railways on the air (ROTA) weekend usually takes place every year on the weekend closest to the 27th September. This date celebrates the anniversary of the first steam powered passenger railway which took place on 27th September 1825 - the first passenger train ran on a line in the North East of England from Darlington to Stockton. Bishop Auckland Amateur Radio Club coordinates this event.

Our 2026 event will run on the weekend of 26th and 27th September.

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Thanks to you, my English friends on channel 14 PMR — it's a pleasure hearing you, but unfortunately my English is too poor to hold a conversation with you. I'm going to relearn English so that in a few months I can exchange a few sentences with you. 73 51 to all, from 14UVR244 Philippe, Normandy, Calvados.

Hello one & all

Here is my report for the Southern Area & South Coast SSB Net held on Thursday 17th of September 2026.

The weather was cool, breezy, with a clear sky, allowing for a super sunset, later a moonset 🌒 and a view of the Milky Way.

The net started at 20:30 🕣 and finished just after 23:00 🕚 UK time, which gave me a rare chance to have an early night.

My QTH was Radio Corner, Ashdown 🌲 Forest in the county of East Sussex or Maidenhead Grid Location JO01BB

The net can be found on FCC channel 39 (27.395 MHz) using the mode of LSB.

My set up, or working conditions, was the old version 3 Anytone AT-6666 (set at a maximum of 40 watts) powered by a car battery 🔋 and a Solarcon A-99 antenna.

This is my list of check in's and who heard and or worked who. All stations are 26 division unless otherwise stated.

1. Star Gazer - Tony - Crawley - West Sussex 🥇
2. Drummer Boy aka AMC 674 - Kev - Dorking - Surrey
3. GCB 159 - Paul - Jarvis Brook - East Sussex
4. GE 167 - Murphy - Eastbourne - East Sussex
5. CW 443 - Kris - Upper Beeding - West Sussex
6. DO 27 - Andy - Horsham - West Sussex - Welcome to the Net 👍
7. DT 372 - John - Pinner - Northwest London
8. Speed Bird - Russell - Reigate Hill - Surrey
9. AL 1 aka DDB 50 - Allan - Redhill - Surrey
10. CT 4515 - John - Ditchling Beacon - East Sussex
11. XR 41 - Jerry - Hailsham - East Sussex
12. Camper Van Man - Nigel - Crowborough - East Sussex
13. TE 310 (spoken as "3 to the 1 to the 0") - Kev - Leigh on Sea - Essex
14. OP 525 - Dennis - Mereworth - Kent
15. CT 4013 - Tony - Brighton - East Sussex
16. Delta 31 - Adam - Hastings - East Sussex
and me
17. CI 2290 - Ray - Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex - In the Chair 💺

Thank you all who called on a quiet night where band conditions weren't the best with only faint skip heard.
Thank you to the listening stations who know who they are
Sorry if you tried calling and wasn't heard, please give it a try another night.

Now for the Numbers of the Night

1 New voice on the net
6 Counties worked
1 Time Out chocolate bar eaten
2 Coffee's drunk
17 In the Log
1 London borough worked

If you have got down this far, have you spotted any mistakes or worse been left off the log!
Let me know and I will correct it.

That wraps up my report for the net.

Best 73 till next time

Ray 2290 with the pen & paper 📝

Hello and welcome to he show

After a hectic anniversary net last week, time for something a bit more relaxed. . .

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

The net is held on PMR analogue channel 14, doesn't use any kind of tones or codes and is open to all. You don't need a callsign or handle to join in.

My location was a damp, dark, foggy Radio Corner, Ashdown 🌴 Forest in the county of East Sussex.

The net is scheduled to start at 20:30 🕣 and "officially" finishes at 23:00 🕚 UK time, but it can go on a bit longer if people are about.

My working conditions were the CRT SPACE U powered by a car battery 🔋, putting about 15ish watts out from the "Dean" made di-pole up on a fibreglass pole.

Scroll down if you wanna skip to the good bit

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

1. Craig - Devils Dyke - West Sussex 🥇
2. CT 1829 - Dean - Ashdown 🌴 Forest - East Sussex - Testing his new Di-pole on a pole
3. RHP 285 - Steve aka Joker - Reigate Hill - Surrey
4. Charlie - Area 27 near Lewes - East Sussex
5. CT 4515 - John - Ditchling Beacon - East Sussex
6. Jay - Chailey - East Sussex - Working a handy
7. CT 4610 - Andy - Ashdown 🌴 Forest - East Sussex
8. Lima 93 - Luke - Reigate Hill - Surrey - With Puppy 🐕
9. TG 25 - Keith - Canvey Island - Essex
10. Tango 187 - Toby - Ashdown 🌴 Forest - East Sussex - With M1KA 🐶, K9 Security 🚨 for Radio Corner
11. London calling - Mark - East London
12. Someone calling in from St Ives - Cambridgeshire - We did hear you and call back
13. Ratty 248 - Chris - Kithurst Hill - West Sussex
14. Witchy Women - Vicky - Kithurst Hill - West Sussex - Shotgun with Chris
15. CT 5147 - Paul - Gravetye Manor - East Sussex - Walking the dog 🐕 and working a Handy
16. 14 VRS 3874 - Francois - Barneville - Normandy - France 🟦⬜🟥
17. 14 FRS 4057 - Pierrick - Valsemé - Normandy - France 🟦⬜🟥
18. XR 41 - Jerry - Hailsham - East Sussex
19. CT 3466 - "Radar" Ray - Ashdown 🌴 Forest - East Sussex
20. CT 5502 - Paul - Reigate Hill - Surrey - Working a handy
21. CT 5480 - Jonny 5 - Plumpton - East Sussex
22. 14 UVR 244 - Philippe - La Vacquerie Normandy - France  🟦⬜🟥
23. CT 5464 - Matt in the Garage - Hailsham - East Sussex
24. C V M - Nigel - Crowborough - East Sussex
25. TC 614 - Tim - Hailsham - East Sussex
26. CT 4013 - Brighton - East Sussex
and me
27. CT 2290 - Ray - Ashdown 🌴 Forest - East Sussex - In the Chair 💺

Thank you to the listening station and all who called/checked in. Sorry if you tried and wasn't heard

Now for the Scores on the Doors

2 Countries worked (14 & 26 Division)
4 Counties worked
1 London borough worked
26 In the Log
3 Stations having a go with hand held's
2 Coffees drunk
3 stations worked from France

The good bit (so I've been told) is what happened on this date in history.

1682 saw the founding of one of the oldest schools in Wales
1905 see's the the 1st run of the RAC Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man
1940 the Blitz continues on London and other major town's and cities
1973 see's the release of The Who's Quadrophenia (we are the mods, we are the mods, we are we are, we are the mods)

That brings this episode of "Ray reviews" to and end

Best 72
-... . ... - / --... ...--

Ray 2290 with the pen & bits paper 📝

Oh I do hope so conditions not been good for weeks but I'll keep trying and yes used to get loads of London on the pmr nets from woldingham ridge got I picture of me standing on the roof of my car in a handheld chatting to u lol great memories (mountain Mike) 178ct009

Quote from: Andyrhp342 on Sep 10, 2026, 08:46 PMWell done ray keep up the good work

Cheers Andy 👍, without you, and everybody else being out there, there wouldn't be a net

Quote from: Michael on Sep 10, 2026, 08:17 AMCongratulations everyone and happy birthday net I remember the early days going up to woldingham ridge every Monday I salute everyone one of you that called into the net. Shame I couldn't even listen in from here and shame I missed a bit of cake 😅 all the best and 73s
(mountain Mike) 178ct009

Hi Mike

Thank you for the congratulations.

You have jogged my memory about, you being on Woldingham Ridge and, If I remember, didn't you also get a lot of interference form the London PMR stations as well?

We are only 12 or so weeks away from the SSB 10th anniversary net. Lets hope the skip is rolling. . . .🤞🙏

Quote from: 14FRS119 Jacky on Sep 14, 2026, 10:48 PMRay, you spoke with him 👍💪
Hé is vey happy

It was great to get Philippe 14UVR244 in the log and logged on Cluster446

Well done to him for sticking with it and making the contact 👍

I was very happy too! 😀

Quote from: 14FRS119 Jacky on Sep 14, 2026, 10:37 PMSome UK stations are speaking in direct with my friend Philippe 14UVR244 in Normandy but he don't speak English 🤣🤣🤣

Philippe is usually very strong to me, yesterday his signal was very low.