MORE RAMBLINGS
from G3IAF
There in much discussion regarding how poor conditions on HF are. Not long ago during the WW CW brawl, the bottom parts of all bands, even 28, were full of signals.
A week later there is little about - conditions or activity? I favour the latter and although openings at present may be short, DX does appear almost predictably, assuming Boris in Vladivostok switches on his rig rather than just peering at the cluster. Thankfully our Russian friends remain to prove my aerial has not fallen down. Could their continuing activity be connected with no code licensing creeping around the world?
Today the gas man called. Not for the first time. In fact the saga of the new boiler installed two years ago has dragged on and on. Firstly when installed it didn't work and a procession of B.Gas engineers took up virtual residence until finally a Baxi engineer came from Manchester changed most items within the case and departed promising, as had all the other engineers, that they would report back my complaint that I could not hear much on the short waves whenever the boiler was running.
Peaks of noise 30db above receiver threshold spaced around 25khz and, at best, a 15db racket between them. Radiated, not mains borne.
I also discovered the fan motor runs at around 320 volts DC.no doubt derived from a nastly little switch mode unit. This summer with repeated complaints and complete lack of response I adopted a more threatening attitude.
I also spoke to Baxi, who said they had a filter (?) and if BG couldn't fit it they would. Two weeks ago B.Gas departed muttering that the filter he had brought had the wrong terminals and anyway there was a filter in the boiler already.
Today, our boiler received a new control board, PSU and wiring loom. Every indication is that I am now able to resume normal activities. I strongly suggest anyone considering a new boiler obtains assurance, in writing, that the contraption will not produce hash between say 1.5 & 30mhz.
The Southern Ocean has never attracted me greatly, it's one thing to motor around the South Coast in my son's boat, quite another when I look at pictures of the recent DXpeditions to those regions. Apparently the feeling appears mutual -Kermadec, Peter Is and even Bouvet remain on my wanted list.
Mike Marlow, G3IAF
Second man in pub: “Damn it, and I’ve just joined Round Table!”
(Thanks Terry)
2006
| Dec 15th | Club Xmas Jolly, all invited |
2006
| Jan 5th | Jon Weller G0GNA talks on John Logie Baird and early television |
| Jan 15th | Bob Bagwell G4HZV, antenna clinic, your problems tackled |
| Feb 2nd | Dave Jeffries G6GPR presents Slow Wave Structures and Yagis |
| Feb 16th | Alan Casperd G8ZDF talks on our electromagnetic environment |
| Mar 2nd | Olof Lundberg G0CKV demos software defined radio |
| Mar 16th | Equipment recycling sale and special event station planning |
| Apr 6th | Club night and Construction Contest |
| Apr 14/15 | GB95MGY Titanic Wireless Commemorative Station |
| Apr 20th | Titanic Commemorative Station, review and report |
| May 4th | Derek Stanners G3HEJ, Laptop Radio Wizardry for beginners |
| May 18th | Club construction project — info to follow, watch this space |
| June 1st | Annual General Meeting at WVARG clubhouse |
| June 15th | Club Night, final phase and trial of construction project |
| July 6th | Bar-B-Q at WVARG clubhouse |
George G2DBH, Meetings & Events
... and last, but not least
