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Wythall Radio Club on the Road (or on the Buses) GB0BUS

June 20, 2023 By: john daws Category: Club

Chris and Lee on the TS590 HF station operating CW and SSB

Last weekend was the occasion of the International Museums on the Air  Weekend and WRC rose to the challenge magnificently activating  The Wythall Transport Museum and operating  three stations   as London Routemaster buses , Vintage Morris Vans and curious visitors  wandered past our site.

The special callsign of GB0BUS had been assigned to us for the occasion

Under the protection of 3 gazebos (assembled the day before in Chris G3YHF  logistical masterplan) the Club operated an HF station (the Club’s TS590 on HF- voice and CW- 40/20 and 15 metres on the OFCD) and  a K3  providing  digital  contacts on a 17 metre flat top dipole. Les 2E0LRV provided the VHF coverage from his well-equipped Landrover

Phil takes questions on how the ‘Easy -Up’ Gazebo got its name

The dipole and OFCD were positioned the day before with the aid of Dave’s  (G3YXM) magical catapult and open faced fishing reel (a real art of casting this!) and although short of room in our operating corner the two  HF antennas eventually performed well despite some initial inter- antenna reaction!! 

In all some 49 stations were worked including: Cyprus, Isle of Man, Canada, USA (Texas), Kazahkstan, Iceland and many similarly minded Museums on the Air stations listed below:

In all some 20 separate DXCC  countries were worked and the following Special Event stations

YQ0RN Radionostalgia – Brusturi- GB2ST Standedge Tunnel -GB2KDR Keith and Dufftown Heritage Railway Museum- GB1MHM Moseley Heritage Museum  (not our Moseley) GB2SPY wasn’t in the official list but is a museum special event- GX3EFX The Forties Experience- GB2CPM Amberley Museum- GB0MFM Moira Furnace Museum-MX0WGS Wings Museum-GB0WFX (not Museum, but 110th anniversary of Northampton Club)- GB2RRM Ramsey Rural Museum- GB2ST Standedge Tunnel- GB0MMH (not Museum but Men’s Mental Health special event.)

50 QSOs  were made on SSB / CW/FT8 (49 different stations – one station called us a second time after an earlier QSO.)

Les’ trademark Land Rover and self contained VHF station

 The Assembly and operating team for the event were Chris G3YHF, Ian M0LQY (digital and console operator!), Roger M0GWM (main and invaluable logistic haulier), John M6KET, Phil 2E0WTH, Les 2E0LRV, Lee G0MTN and Dave G3YXM for his invaluable help in getting the antennas hoisted.
 
Visitors to the site during the day  included Mike G4PVD, and a number of lapsed licence holders who were hopefully inspired to revisit the hobby.
 
Would we do it again? .. yes it was an excellent opportunity to showcase amateur radio, show our enthusiasm for the hobby,  and get out and about in the community:  a really good Club  and team event .

Just look at the reach of Ian’s FT8 signal

Ian M0LQY and  visitor Richard view the world through F T8 on 17 metres

  

 
 
 
OUR THANKS GO TO DENNIS AND ALL THE VOLUNTEER STAFF AT THE EXCELLENT TRANSPORT MUSEUM FOR MAKING US FEEL SO WELCOME DURING OUR VISIT.
 

 

COMING SOON.. DID AN ILL- TIMED SAUSAGE ROLL COME BETWEEN LEE AND  NFD GLORY IN THE RECENT NATIONAL FIELD DAY  QRP  CW CONTEST??   WATCH THIS SPACE


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