Thanks John,

I wonder how the soldering will change mine, I have had good SWR on this but not at the recomended location by the calculator. I haven't got a blow torch or any solder for copper pipe but I did do some test solders with a soldering iron and electrical solder, which has actually created a strong joint. I'll let you know if I see much of a change when I do it.

Building your own antennas is the best part hey. Using tape is just so much easier but dosen't feel like it's finished, I did think about using some heat shrink with the glue, but the Amalgamating tape looks like a good option.

Roger, over

Hi Jonny5

Great to see a home brew PMR antenna. As I have built three and soldered everyone the SWR is all over the place on all three. If I have to make another one I would use Amalgamating tape for the joints . Just thought buddy .
Well done Sir .

Cheers John CT4515 on his little hill LOL

As suggested by Toby, here are some images of the copper pipe Slim Jim that I built from 15mm copper pipe for use on PMR. I joined the Monday night PMR net and have been on there now for 4 to 5 weeks, and this is what I've been using for it. It's been mounted on the roof inside the fibreglass chimney, which I have access to through the loft, I figured as high as possible and the signal probably gets out better through the fibreglass rather than the roof tiles and bricks.

I used the calculator here https://m0ukd.com/calculators/slim-jim-and-j-pole-calculator/ with a frequency of 446. I also have one built for 2m, which is much bigger.

I've since replaced it with another slim Jim from Superyagi Antennas, which I have been using since last weekend, images below. The new antenna has a marginal improvement but it is built much better.

One day I'll get rid of the tape and solder it properly.

Images with my copper pipe slim jim and the new slim jim.

Anyway, thanks to all those out there for the contacts over the past month or so, the PMR net is most enjoyable!

Welcome welcome

Here is my report for the Southern Area & South Coast SSB Net held on Thursday 13th of November 2025

The weather for the net was a mixture or rain, no rain, wind, no wind, drizzle, no drizzle, gentle breeze, and stillness.

The net normally starts at 20:30 🕣, but on this night I was late setting up so it got going at 21:00 🕘. The finishing time 23:00 🕚 onwards and can do on passed midnight 🕛.

My set was the Solarcon A-99 up on a 3m pole, take about 40 watts on the whistle and the old Anytone AT-6666 (no amp no power mic) powered by a couple of wet acid car batteries 🔋🔋.

The net can be found on FCC channel 39 (27.395) LSB

The band conditions were flat (again!) which caused signals to be down but audio reports to be up??

My location for the net was Radio Corner, Ashdown 🌳 Forest in the county of East Sussex

Now for the my list of stations heard and or worked by the net

KP 441--Steve--Henfield--West Sussex 🥇
DT 372--John--Pinner--Northwest London
CW 443--Kris--Upper Beeding--West Sussex
CT 1829--Dean--Edenbridge--Kent
XR 41--Jerry--Hailsham--East Sussex
CT 5464--Matt in the Garage--Hailsham--East Sussex
DDB 22--Cally-- Rainham--Kent--Welcome to the net 👍. Cally is one half of the team that run the DDB (Delta Delta Bravo) FM Net on alternate Saturday nights.
CT 4013--Tony--Brighton--East Sussex
CT 3466--"Radar" Ray--Crowhurst--Surrey
CT 4515--John--Ditchling Beacon--East Sussex
CT 938--Ian--Iver--Buckinghamshire
CT 5380--Ronnie--New Addington--South London
CT 4952--Julian--Brighton--East Sussex--Making the most of his radio and the Fareham SDR
OP 525--Dennis--Mereworth--Kent
Delta 31--Adam--Hastings--East Sussex
and me
CI 2290--Ray--Ashdown 🌳 Forest--East Sussex--In the chair 💺

Thank you all who called in and to the listening stations. Sorry if you tried and wasn't heard or the flat condition or approaching storm Claudia blocked you.

Here are the stats for the night
16 in the log
5 counties worked
2 London boroughs worked
1 pen used

That about brings my report to an end, thank you for reading and if you see a mistake, let me know so I can correct it.

One last thing. On the 1st Thursday of December, we will be celebrating the 9th year of this net. You are all welcome to call in and get your name, handle, callsign in the log

Best 73

Ray 2290 with the paper & pen 📝

Quote from: Razz229 on Nov 12, 2025, 08:37 PM

Quote from: CT4013 on Nov 12, 2025, 07:08 PMCount me in Ray, I promise to use my M9 call and not CT. 

I will solemnly swear not to use a ROGER TUNE on the amateur bands

Da dah, Da Dah, Da Dah etc.

NOTICE !!!!
The SSTV IMAGES sospended by technical problems !
" ARISS Series 30 SSTV 09:05 UTC - Sergey Samburov RV3DR, responsible for amateur radio activities on the ISS: "...The crew is very busy right now. We will try to organize SSTV for New Year's."

Friday 8pm Cray Valley 70.425MHz
Thur 8pm SRCC (Croydon) 70.300MHz

CQ CQ CQ, is there anybody out there?

It's that time again for another episode of "Ray Reviews" the Channel 14 Monday Night Net, held on the 10th of November 2025

or did you know that on this date in history

"Gottlieb Daimler unveils the 1st gasoline powered motorcycle and the 1st long distance telephone call was made without operator assistance"

The Monday Night South Coast PMR Net is scheduled to start at 8.30 🕣 in the evening, but if you listen in earlier, you might find some on chatting away about all sorts of different topics. It is then scheduled to finish at 11.00 o'clock 🕚, it can also go on until 12.00 🕛 or beyond.

My location for the net was Radio Corner, Ashdown 🌲 Forest in the county of East Sussex. Which is mid-way between London and the Coast

The net is held on PMR analogue channel 14, with the radio's set to NFM and no CTCSS, DCS, MFI or privacy tones used. This makes the net open to all, what ever radio you.

My set up for the net was the CRT SPACE U powered by a car battery 🔋 and a 1829 Dean made Dipole up on a fibreglass pole.

The weather for the net cool, windy, some clouds in the sky and rain in the air. When the wind cleared the sky the Waning Gibbous Moon 🌖 could be seen.

Now here is my list of check in's and who heard and or worked who.

C V M -- Nigel -- Ashdown 🌲 Forest -- East Sussex 🥇
London Calling -- Mark -- East London
CT 4515 -- John -- Ditchling Beacon -- East Sussex
Tango 187 -- Toby -- Ashdown 🌲 Forest -- East Sussex -- Working a handy
RHP 285 aka Joker -- Steve -- Reigate Hill -- Surrey
CT 5480 aka Jonny 5 -- John -- Plumpton -- East Sussex -- Working a handy
CT 1829 -- Dean -- Edenbridge -- Kent
CT 3466 -- "Radar" Ray -- Ashdown 🌲 Forest -- East Sussex
CT 4362 -- Chris -- Reigate Town -- Surrey
CT 4013 -- Tony -- Brighton -- East Sussex
CT 5464 -- Matt in the Garage -- Hailsham -- East Sussex -- Working a handy
Speed Bird -- Russell -- Reigate Hill--Surrey
and me
CT 2290 -- Ray -- Ashdown 🌲 Forest -- East Sussex -- In the Chair 💺

Thank you all who called in and to the listening stations.
Sorry if you tried and wasn't heard, give it try another Monday night.

Here are some stats for the night.
13 in the log
1 London borough worked
3 counties worked
1 coffee drunk
3 stations using handie's
4 pieces of Flapjack eaten

That brings this review to an end, thank you for taking the time read it

Best 73

Ray 2290 with the paper & pen 📝

Quote from: CT4013 on Nov 12, 2025, 07:08 PMCount me in Ray, I promise to use my M9 call and not CT. 

I will solemnly swear not to use a ROGER TUNE on the amateur bands

Count me in Ray, I promise to use my M9 call and not CT.