wythall radio club

No, it wasn’t the Flowerpot Men wot done it!

But my Flowerpot antenna – a ‘single’ band vertical dipole for 12 meters.  Those ‘inverted commas’ are significant – read on!

This is an antenna that’s cheap and easy to build (you just need to be able to strip some coax and solder on a PL259 or similar), and it’s hardly noticeable.  It can be hung from a pole, tree, window, etc.  It doesn’t have radials or a counterpoise.

I like experimenting with homemade antennas, and I wanted to take advantage of this sunspot maximum to work as much DX as possible on 24MHz.  My doublet works quite well, but perhaps a vertical would help by giving me greater low angle radiation?

The Flowerpot antenna is a centre fed vertical half-wave dipole made from coax. 

It comprises a quarterwave radiator made from the centre of a length of coax, below which is a quarterwave of complete coax that is then wound into an rf choke.  The tail of the coax beyond the choke forms the feeder.

The antenna radiates from the top quarterwave section of coax core, and from the outer braid of the bottom quarterwave section.  The choke prevents the outer braid from radiating further along the feeder.

There’s lots of material on-line about how to make one.  

It didn’t take long to measure up some RG58 and expose the inner core at one end.  I then marked a further quarterwave for the position of the choke, which I wound around some 40mm plastic pipe.

I used a dipole length calculator for my measurements.  As I usually do with my antennas, I cut it a bit longer than the calculated figure so I had room for adjustment.

I tied the top to my 8 meter Sotabeams telescopic mast, and pushed the mast up between the branches at the bottom of my garden.  The radiating section cleared the fence on one side and the shed on the other.

The antenna analyser showed there was a dip at about 24.9MHz and an swr of 1.7:1, easily resolved by my rig’s ATU.  To my suprise, there was a bigger dip on 28.5MHz and an swr of 1.1:1 that covered the CW and SSB sections of that band.

So it looked like the antenna wasn’t too long, but too short!  Perhaps this was caused by the close proximity of tree branches?

Two bands for the price of one!

My K3 has dual antenna sockets, so switching between the Flowerpot and doublet on receive, I immediately noticed signals were affected by up to +/- 2-3 s-points on both bands.  Presumably signals ariving by different paths.  There was not much difference in the noise floor.

Now I can alternate between antennas when I put out a CQ call, and also choose the antenna with the strongest receive signal when I call someone.

Each January it’s Wythall Radio Club’s ‘How low can you go?’ month devoted to QRP operating.

And what great results!  41 countries worked on CW and 66 on digital modes.  Several also on SSB.

Power was restricted to 5 watts CW and 10 watts SSB and digital – although several members thought this was too generous and used even less power!

Wire antennas were used – no beams to boost the dbs!

Kev G4XLO – our own DX member down there in Devon – worked 55 unique DXCC entities using digital modes, closely followed by Martin 2E0XFI (now M0XFI) with 48.  Lee G0MTN worked 59 countries using multiple modes. 

John M6KET topped the CW table with 38 countries.  Meanwhile Neil worked 10 countries using SSB with a mix of HF and satellite.

To add some fun, we ran a ‘miles per watt’ challenge. 

The top scorers were John 2E0XET with a stupendous 3543 miles/watt for his 1-watt CW QSO with Virginia USA and Lee G0MTN’s 713 miles/watt from his 10-watt digital contact with Argentina.

John used his trusty K2 (or was it his KX3?) and dog-leg doublet antenna. Great result!

Down in devon, Kev started off using 10 watts of FT8 but then dropped down to 5 watts for the last 2 weeks to see what could be achieved. 

Here’s his report….. 

“January was a really interesting month for me on the QRP challenge.  I was on 10 watts digital the first couple of weeks and my main bands were 30m and 40m. 

These gave me the normal European regulars as well as the USA one morning. 

The fourth week it all came alive.  I swapped between 5 watts and 10 watts maximum. 

Tuesday, I had a totally awesome day, working China, Japan, Brazil as well as Puerto Rico and Ceuta & Melilla in one day, and yesterday bagged Turkey as well.

Was good to work Belize yesterday – that was my best DX for the week at over 5000 miles away – ones that got away included Venezuela, Indonesia and Brazil although they were quite audible for me in the shack.

It’s been encouraging too to see other members efforts thru the month.”

As well as everyones’ great QSOs, our QRP signals have also been spotted in a variety of locations, including Australia and New Zealand.

Several members have 10 watt maximum rigs, but others have decided to turn down the wick to see what they can work with QRP during the rest of the year.

Just for comparison, here’s our report from last year’s QRP challenge!!

12 DAYS IN GUYANA  8R7X AS TOLD BY  JAMIE M0SDV AT WYTHALL RADIO CLUB LAST TUESDAY.

73,500 QSO’s ..  poisonous snakes  and machetes.. 30 degrees of sweltering heat and high humidity…. welcome to Jamie’s world (M0SDV) last February 2024 as he and three other like-minded  young operators visited this rarely activated country on the northern  tip of South America for an operation that proved to be enormously popular.

Include , whilst there, successful forays into the ARRL 160m SSB competition and the ARRL CW contest then it is surprising that there was any time for sleep but there was time for a great day at the Mashramani Festivities (known locally as ‘Mash’) where they experienced  the true hospitality and friendliness of the Guyanese.

In a highly entertaining talk on the activation Jamie took us through the logistical challenges of such an expedition (but emphasised the independence of the four young operators involved in choosing their own antennas  etc.), the radios used (Icom 7610’s and K3S) , the challenges  to get the necessary visas and permits, and even handed out some valuable tips on where to call amongst those mighty pile-ups . (V73WW coming up!)

It was great to welcome Jamie back to the Club where it all started for him some 11 years ago and a well attended gathering in person and on Zoom thoroughly enjoyed hearing the talk.

 We welcomed  Philip DK6SP to our  Zoom call on the night. Philip was one of the other operators on the Expedition which included Tomi HA8RT, SvenDJ4MX.

The team on Guyana..Jamie 2nd from the left?

Many questions afterwards and more in the bar.

Postscript: On Saturday 8^th February Jamie is off again to the Marshall Islands( look it up!) for another DXpedition V73WW.

 WE WISH JAMIE ALL THE BEST IN THIS NEW VENTURE AND HE LEAVES US WITH A MUCH CLEARER IDEA OF THE CHALLENGES: WHO WILL BE THE FIRST TO WORK HIM AS V73WW??

COMING SOON.. 

FRIDAY 21ST FEBRUARY ; 9.45-11.45  a.m. OPEN PRACTICAL SESSION IN THE DARTS ROOM 

TUESDAY 4TH MARCH  ‘ASK THE EXPERTS’  8.15 PM. GET YOUR QUESTIONS READY NOW – TECHNICAL OR OPERATIONAL

Ask the experts-Last year’s team in full flow.

 PROGRAMME FOR WYTHALL RADIO CLUB  JANUARY 1^ST– JUNE 30^TH 2025

  Other Events to be added and announced

Tuesday January 14th ^8.30 Open Committee meeting .

 Tuesday January 21^st. 8.30 Xmas Contest Results.

Friday January 24^th 9.45-11.45   Practical/Operating/problem solving : the Darts Room

Tuesday February 4^{th 8.00} M0SDV on the DXpedition to Guyana 8R7X

Friday February 21^st 9.45-11.45 Practical/Operating/Problem Solving in the Darts Room.

Tuesday March 4^th 8.30 Ask the Experts- Round the Table Q & A Session

Friday 21^st March 9.45-11.45 Practical/Operating/Problem Solving in the Darts’ Room

Tuesday April 1^st. 8.30 Open Committee Meeting

Thursday April 17^th-Monday 21^st April The Famous Wythall Radio Club Easter Contest

Friday 18^th April 9.45-11.45 Practical /Operating /Problem Solving in the Darts’ Room

( rearranged to accommodate Good Friday)

May –SOTA sessions to be announced

Tuesday May 6^th 8.30 Easter Contest Results.

Saturday May 10th : Open shack day: Neil G1TCZ

Friday May 23^rd 9.45-11.45 Practical/operating /Problem Solving Session in the Darts’ Room.

Tuesday June 3^rd 7.30 onwards: Foxhunt in the Park and DIY activities.

Tuesday 10^th June 7.30 pre G0BUS meeting in Bar.

Friday 13^th June 9.00 a.m. meet WRC  to collect gear and  Transport Museum set –up

Saturday 14th 9.00 Wythall transport Museum Activation G0BUS

Friday 20^th June 9.45-11.45 Practical/Operating /problem solving: The Darts Room.

THE CLUB MEET SOCIALLY EVERY TUESDAY EVENING AT WYTHALL HOUSE  AT  7.30 P.M.

 OR…. ‘ CONFESSIONS OF A JUNKEY’!!

             Chris in his workshop

My name is Chris G0EYO and I am an addict!

My problem is fairly recent,  but I have to say I never saw it coming.

It started with a desire, after holding an amateur licence for 40 years, to try and master CW, having enjoyed SSB and FT8. My inspiration was fellow club member and Chairman, John M6KET. His dedication to amateur radio using only CW and QRP powers, kept reminding me of the true origins of this great hobby of ours.

I had learnt to receive morse some 60 years ago having been a trainee GCHQ Intercept Operator at Bletchley Park, but was never required to send it. With John’s help and encouragement, I slowly picked up my sending speed, first with an ordinary Hi-Mound straight key and then with an old Kenpro Electronic paddle.

I bought a vintage Japanese Ameko K-4 telegraph key from a club member’s SK sale and I sold the Hi Mound to John M6KET.

Then in February 2024 I saw a collection of morse keys for sale in a Midlands auction and bid on and won those. Amongst them was a couple of lovely Kent Heavy brass straight keys and a rather battered Vibroplex Champion, which I restored. But, even then, I wasn’t satisfied.

I saw another lot morse keys in a recent auction in Newcastle which included a rather nice Marconi NATO morse key and several other interesting keys. I bid on those and won them. Amongst the lot was a rather plain, GPO  type, telegraph key made by W.G. Pye of Cambridge.

The EK106 before Chris got to work (and pictured below left))

 It was very tarnished and in need of some TLC. I did a bit of research and discovered that these keys could be quite rare, but of good quality, being solid brass on a Bakelite base. It has a serial number of EK106. Others with similar serial numbers are known; viz, EK107 (in the Brundit collection) and EK105 ( in the G0RDO collection).

The Telegraphkeys.com website identifies this key as probably being manufactured between 1913 and 1929. W.G. Pye & Co was originally a scientific instruments manufacturer.  Out of that company was spun the famous Pye Radio Company, now part of Phillips  Group.

 Whenever I do a key restoration, I take lots of pictures of how the key is put together, I then mark up a couple of prints and number the main parts, especially the fixings. I then mark up small plastic bags to put the  relevant parts in as I disassemble it. There are many ways to clean brass. My preference is to use Brasso metal polish with a very fine wire wool. Once the oxidation tarnish is removed, I buff the item with a Dremel buffer tool. Bakelite can also be cleaned up with Brasso but instead of wire wool I use a soft cotton wool pad. I give all parts a final clean over with a microfibre cloth.

This particular key presented few difficulties when it came to taking it apart. The retaining hexagonal nuts on the underside were tight in on the recess preventing a box spanner being used.

The nuts had a slot in them and fortunately I had a screwdriver bit known as a “snake bit” in my tool box which did the job.

Having stripped the key down, I cleaned up the base and key knob, which were both made of bakelite. Each of the various brass parts were cleaned and buffed. The tension spring looked rather rusty so I decided to find a replacement. Amazon came up trumps but I don’t think it has the same tension characteristic as the original although the same size. If I do sell this key I will include the original spring with the replacement so that the purchaser can fit it if they so wish.

THE FINISHED AND BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED PYE EK106 STRAIGHT KEY

AN EYE FOR DETAIL IN THE PYE EK106

THE RESTORED KEY LOOKS RATHER NICE . I HAVEN’T USED IT IN ANGER YET BUT HOPE TO DO SO BEFORE SELLING IT ON.

CHEERS AND 73’S

CHRIS G0EY0

All roads led to the operating room at  Wythall House recently as The Friday Morning Club met again after a long absence.

With the 240’ doublet in action David G7IBO was able to see if his recently assembled QRP lab QMX mini transceiver would come to life and  with John M6KET  on hand (and using David’s home-made paddle) worked Nigel G4BSW  on 40m with 5 watts..  (THE QMX ? -an excellent little radio with crystal clear audio).

Winston looks on as David inspects Phil’s operating table

David shows his delight at the first QSO made with the QRP Lab QMX transceiver

In a quiet corner Chris G3YHF was anxious to try the Club’s 6m beam  and rotator and enjoy the recent excellent conditions on this band: alas the conditions did not cooperate on Friday morning but contact was made with fellow member Martin G8VXX/M on his canal boat at the Black Boy Pub in Knowle, Warwickshire, via GB3WL and 2m FM. And half a QSO with an EI on 2m ft8.!

6m not responding but Chris able to contact Martin G8VXX on 2m

  On another table Phil 2E0WTH assembled his carefully thought out rig- in- a box and magnetic loop and Martin 2E0XFI brought in his very neat Icom 705 and lap top to try the magnetic loop on ft8.

Neil and Debra popped in to say hello. (Perhaps some satellite operation next time ??!)

Witnessing this hive of activity was Winston 2E0EGP  and Neil G1TCZ and Debra.

Neil’s account of his help in tracking the escaped  Gyrfalcon can be seen in the recent edition of Radcom.

With the success and support for  this opening of the Club on a Friday morning it is hoped to make this a regular event , meeting on the third Friday of each month.

Our next meeting of THE FRIDAY MORNING CLUB therefore would be on Friday December 20th

Watch this space for confirmation of date and times.

COMING SOON TO WYTHALL RADIO CLUB

 Tuesday December 3rd Wythall Radio Club on Air 

Tuesday December 10th Xmas Social in the bar

December 26th-21st: the famous Wythall Radio Club Xmas Contest

What’s happening at the low frequency end of the amateur spectrum?

Dave Pick, G3YXM, RadCom’s LF correspondent, will be revealing all on 5th November at 8.30pm, Darts Room, Wythall House.

All welcome. 

Have some refreshment at Wythall House bar before and after the event.

This is just one of the features in Wythall Radio Club’s new 12 month programme now available here – and on right hand side of our home page.

We’ll post updates as events are added and finalised.  

Photo of Droitwich aerial system courtesy of an anonymous rigger in late 1960s – source and more info here

Chris , retiring chairman,  with Lee at a sunnier Plug and Play event.

 THE CLUB HAS HAD ANOTHER BUSY YEAR

After last year’s AGM we published a programme of activities for the year ahead.  This was added to and adapted during the year.  It helped us make sure there was something of interest for members each month, usually on the first Tuesday – and sometimes we had several activities in a month!

 THE PROGRAMME FOR THE YEAR AHEAD IS ALREADY UP ON THE WEBSITE

I think the biggest development this year was our ‘August Tuesday evenings on the lawn’ – trying out antennas, learning to use a nanoVNA, operating radios, nattering and generally having fun.  This even encouraged some members we hadn’t seen for some time to come along.

Like all good ideas, this emerged from our members – a couple of members wanted try out some antennas, and after the first night we just carried on for the next couple of weeks taking advantage of the fine weather!  It provided an ideal opportunity to try out the vertical antenna kindly donated by Chris G0EYO.

Ian M0LQY adjusts one of the guys our ‘new’ Cushcraft vertical (Thanks to Chris EYO)

Sadly, the weather wasn’t so kind to our big public events – Museum on the Air weekend at Transport Museum Wythall, Plug and Play (which had to be postponed due to a downpour) and the Stoke Prior Steam Fair.  We also struggled to find enough members and transport to renew our involvement with the Steam Fair. 

The Steam Rally team damp but determined and cheerful

However good team-work and commitment meant that we were able to provide a high-quality demonstration of amateur radio in the two events that did run.  Having two HF stations and the satellite station plus occasional VHF operational during these events provides a lot of interest but also means individual members don’t have to be on duty all the time.

Other new developments during the year include John 2E0XET and Clive M0KNP’s club SOTA expedition to a very misty Titterstone Clee Hill, and Neil G1TZC and Debora’s work in putting together 70cm beam kits for the foxhunt in the park.  The Q and A round table was also positively received by members.

Neil with his immaculately presented Fox Hunt table .. thanks too to Debra

The web-site has been very busy under John 2E0XET’s editorship and with contributions from seven members.  I counted an impressive 42 posts over the last 12 months – all good publicity for the Club.  It’s great to have the occasional post from our DX member Kev G4XLO in Devon, and also his regular contribution to our weekly DX table round-up.

It’s very important for the future of the Club to be able to attract new members, and we welcomed 6 new members 12 months ago plus Garry ZD7GWM as an overseas member.  They’ve immediately become part of the life of the Club.  They bring skills and expertise that help us to ‘have fun with RF’, as our motto says. 

I’d particularly like to thank Garry for being willing to pop up on the satellite when we run events to amaze our visitors with the clear signal from St. Helena, leaving them puzzled as to why we can do this but the wifi in their own house is so poor!

Balmy summer evening activity on the ‘lawn’ out side Wythall House

One of the strengths of our Club is that members are fully involved in planning our activities.  I must admit when I first joined the Committee back in about 2014 I couldn’t understand why it didn’t meet on it’s own to plan events as usually happens, but I can see now that our Open Committee meetings set the tone for all members to be able to shape what the Club does and keep it active and developing.

I’m standing down this at this AGM after three years as chairperson.  It’s been an honour to hold this position and to work with members to help the Club move forward from the challenges of the Covid  lockdowns, reduced membership and a tighter financial base. 

I’d like to thank members for their suggestions and participation, and especially the Committee – John, Clive, Pete, Ian Reeve, and Ian Gilmore.  We’ve had to address such issues as the cellar rooms, the perpetually rotating beams, the Hamfest, the 30 years-worth of accumulated gear, and relations with the House.

COMING SOON: TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5TH THE DARTS ROOM. 8.30 PM

  THE LF BANDS WITH DAVE PICK G3YXM. 

Dave G3YXM operating at the Wythall Transport Museum Activation

What’s happening at the low frequency end of the amateur spectrum?

Dave Pick, G3YXM, RadCom’s LF correspondent, will be revealing all on 5th November at 8.30pm, Darts Room, Wythall House.

All welcome. 

Have some refreshment at Wythall House bar before and after the event.

This is just one of the features in Wythall Radio Club’s new 12 month programme now available here – and on right hand side of our home page.

We’ll post updates as events are added and finalised.  

Photo of Droitwich aerial system courtesy of an anonymous rigger in late 1960s – source and more info here

Is 10 open today?

That’s the question many of us are asking as we wait for the summer doldrums to disappear and sunspot maximum conditions to reappear.

One way is to put out a call and see if anyone answers. 

When I first got my licence I was told it’s always worth calling on a band that seems dead – it may just be that everyone assumes the lack of activity means it’s dead, when in fact it’s open!

Another way for voice mode and CW operators is to see if they can hear any FT8 burbling on 28.074USB.  If there is, decoding signals may indicate what paths are open.

Then there is the VERY extensive beacon network.  There are beacons on all amateur bands, but 10 meters is very well served.  

Most 10 meter beacons are found between 28.200 and 28.300, with some below and above these frequencies.

Beacons transmit their callsigns in Morse code, and may also give their locator square, power and antenna details.  Listening to them can be good practice for copying Morse code!

There is a recently updated list of beacons here.

Remember to enable CW on your receiver to get the correct frequency!

Early this morning I could only hear the German beacon DL0IGI, transmitting on 28.205. 

At lunchtime, I couldn’t receive this beacon – but instead the Faroe Islands beacon OY6BEC was very strong on 28.235. 

This is part of a comprehensive set of beacons in a radome to protect from the weather – shwon in photo left!

There is a special worldwide set of 18 beacons on 28.200 – the International Beacon Project. 

Each beacon transmits for 12 seconds once every 3 minutes at 100 watts.  There are then 4 x 1 second dashes sent at 100, 10, 1 and 0.1 watts. 

This lunchtime I could only hear 4X6TU in Israel, and I copied the 100 and 10 watt dashes, I could just hear the 1 watt dash, but not the 0.1 watt dash. 

Beacons may transmit a continuous tone between sending the callsign – so if you hear a tone, listen for a bit and see if a callsign appears.

At least it’s something to do if the band doesn’t have any QSOs on it!