wythall radio club

“Let’s do this again” some idiot said as we tidied away  in 2023 in the balmy conditions of a mid- June Saturday at The Wythall Transport Museum Activation.. it seemed a good idea at the time (and still does ) but we hadn’t reckoned on the jet stream and  some rather unseasonable weather..

            WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT

A sense of what’s to come .. storm clouds over the local cricket ground?

THE FRIDAY BEFORE

We had been well prepared as always with a briefing from Chairman the previous Tuesday involving a few paper clips and a piece of cardboard so the antennas went up effortlessly .. (the misnamed ‘Easy-Ups less so on the next day). Many thanks to Richard who turned up to help and of course we relied heavily on Dave with his catapult and fishing reel – always a good watch.

The Tuesday briefing before the mast rehearsal.. the team poised like a spring for action.

Roger’s cavernous Range Rover  proved invaluable as ever .. it’s like a Tardis- much bigger in the inside and we kept shoving stuff in there at Wythall House: luckily Ian M0LQY had a clipboard so were all right there and no doubting who was in charge.

THE SATURDAY:

A grim damp morning with thunder to follow but the visitors to the Transport Museum duly arrived as did our crack team of: Dave G3YXM, John M6KET, Phil 2E0WTH, Ian M0LQY, Neil G1TZC, Clive M0KNP and  Roger M0GWM

Dog showing no interest in digital.. Derek G1INC and Gary G5RGS with Ian M0LQY: Clive M0KNP looks impressed.

Neil’s impressive satellite log: to include OH5 and PY2 (CW) and ZD7 and 3B8 (SSB)

The day seemed to pass in a blur (!).. with red buses .. the problems  of digital and CW/SSB stations side by side.. (aerials or equipment?).. a VHF QSO with Simon G4VTR speaking in half sentences..Neil’s impressive satellite QSO’s with many stations including ZD7  St. Helena.. Phils antenna problems resolved by a good team effort.. the welcome visitors.. M6KET’s radio- friendly neighbour John, G4JSV , Gary G5RGS and Derek G1INC with a very obedient dog …M0LQY’s 36 digi contacts..the rare glimpse of M6KET on SSB … the longest wait for two bacon rolls .. chocolate bars and coffee throughout the day… and then the striking of camp.. the Easy-Ups no more compliant in Easy–Down mode and the organised  retreat to base and  much cursing of the spiral staircase in Wythall House as we returned the equipment to the basement..  ultimately everything packed away neatly(?) by 5.00 pm.

Would we do it again? Of course we would: a  great team club event , many good contacts made in CW/SSB/Digital and Satellite.

Many thanks to the team.. the unfailing good humour in  the face of some climate challenges, and of course to our Hosts Wythall Transport Museum

THE NEXT EVENT. TUESDAY 25TH JUNE ; FOXHUNT IN WYTHALL PARK WITH SELF- MADE ANTENNAS;

MEET 7.00 PM

ALL WELCOME- MEMBERS AND VISITORS ALIKE