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www.southgatearc.org
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An Echolink Holiday in GuernseyMartyn M0VAM took his 2 metre handheld with him on holiday to Guernsey and put it to good use on Echolink. Val and I flew from Stanstead to Guernsey Airport on July 7th and returned on 14th. We have been to Guernsey many times before, it is such a lovely Island with so much to do and see. It is split into ten parishes and we stay in the Parish of Forest, in Le Chene, a very pleasant small hotel, which is only a short distance from the Airport and a short drive into St Peters Port. The town is often described as having three parts. Firstly, the old part, clustered around the town church and waterfront. Secondly, new town’ inland from the old centre and on higher ground over looking the harbour, and not so much `new’s Georgian rather than mediaeval. Finally, there are relatively new housing estates that circle the perimeter. Guernsey is roughly lozenge shaped and has an area of approximately 25 square miles with a population is 55,000 of whom 16,000 live in St. Peters Port. As some of you may know, I am hooked on Echolink, although I still operate on HF and VHF. Each month, I send in a report to the Practical Wireless HF Highlights columnist Carl Mason GW0VSW of the stations I’ve worked on HF with my Foundation callsign M3VAM using just 10 watts of RF. On the 5th August 2006 I had put out a random call on Echolink using the MB7IDA-L node 265297 in Chelmsford. I was answered by Koos GU0GUX in Guernsey, he was my first GU station worked by this mode. We had a lovely QSO and since that date we have had regular QSOs via Echolink each week. Later that year Koos, his wife Judy and their son Andrew came to the mainland for a holiday, and on their way back they called in to see us. The girls went out shopping and us boys visited Waters and Stanton, where Koos bought a Buddipole aerial, as I had told him what a great aerial it was. This year when Val and myself arrived at Guernsey Airport, who was there to meet us but Judy and Koos. We had a lovely chat and arranged to meet that evening at our Hotel for drinks. Later on in the week Koos and Judy took us out for dinner and, on our way, Koos said we would visit the Guernsey Amateur Radio Society building, in Albecq in Castel.
I had heard a lot about the club from Koos, but when we arrived it was such a surprise. Koos drove us to what was only a field. I said where was the club building and he said it was to the right. All I could see was a large slab of concrete as we got out of the car and walked over to this piece of concrete. Koos said this was an underground German Bunker. We walked down some steps and Koos unlocked the door. It was like a small hall. It was fantastic. Koos, explained that they rented the building from the farmer, but had to renovate it themselves. It was very impressive.
The only problem is they have been unsuccessful with the Local Authorities in getting Planning Permission for a permanent aerial, however they are still trying, so they only use temporary aerials at the present time. During the holiday The contacts were made using my Yaesu VX 5R Hand Held and 5 Watts. The only problem I had was the metal case does become very hot after a lot of use. Martyn Medcalf M0VAM
Related URL’s Guernsey Amateur Radio Society Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Le Chene Hotel, Forest, Guernsey My Experience with EchoLink by Martyn M0VAM/G1EFL/M3VAM My Experience with EchoLink Part 2 Echolink Introduction available on the web Echolink MB7IDA-L Chelmsford |
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