Message-ID: <005101c0faa4$ecff2aa0$c5407ad5@default>
From: "Fred Rattray" <fred.rattray@btinternet.com>
To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
References: Conversation <01bd55b2$e0097de0$0100007f@localhost> with last message <01bd55b2$e0097de0$0100007f@localhost> <MAPI.Id.0016.0065746572204d613634414530303033@MAPI.to.RFC822> <3B3189F5.53FC11C7@alg.demon.co.uk>
Subject: LF: Re: G4SPR/G6RO QSO
Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2001 21:05:32 -0000
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Hi All

Gear this end is a G3TDZ phasing receiver normally used for my caving
experiments, but retuned to 136Khz.
Picture of receiver (actually a ssb transceiver) can be seen in 73 Khz LF
SSTV article in the June 1997 RadCom.
(picture of me with gear but unfortunetly incorrect callsign and name
against it. It reads G0TFS, who is my brother Jimmy.)
Receiving aerial is a 26 turn series tuned 90cm square loop

Transmitter is quite basic.
Xtal controlled 4060 to a 4011 where the keying is applied also. Output of
this goes through an RC filter to make the square wave a little more
sinusoidal looking. Next stage is a BC548 with toko coil tuning in the
collector which then drives a TIP31 running at 38 volts and that feeds a
pair of 2SJ119 FETS in parallel  with a -38 volts supply.

Transmit aerial is a loading coil wound on a plastic 10 gallon drum to an
ex-army telescopic mast (with insulating base) which has a 80metre centre
loaded mobile aerial fitted to the top to make it longer.(approx overall
height 10 metres).

During my QSO with Ron the feed point started to arc to the grass which had
grown up around it, and then the loading coil started to breakdown. A quick
spread of the turns affected, and a bit of sticky tape and I was back on the
air. It was all panic but good fun.

Need to brush up on my CW as not so good at receiving.

Regards all
Fred G4SPR


----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Rawlings" <steve@alg.demon.co.uk>
To: <rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org>
Sent: 21 June 2001 05:45
Subject: LF: G4SPR/G6RO QSO


>
> A long time ago (March 1998), Peter G3PLX wrote:
> > . . .   Worked my neighbour G4SPR at Kirkby Stephen, about 40km
> > away, 559 both ways. Fred is better known for his caving VLF
> > activities.
> Well, I was pleased to learn that Fred G4SPR (Cumbria) is active
> again on 136 kHz!
>
> Ron G6RO had a QSO with Fred on Tuesday evening, exchanging RST
> 339/599 reports.  I heard Ron's side of the QSO on my loop
> antenna, but the deep antenna null to the north of me meant that
> I had little chance of detecting Fred's signal.
>
> So - what gear are you using, Fred?  (I wonder, were you loading
> the antenna with that big Proton Magnetometer coil?!)
>
> Regards to all,
> Steve GW4ALG
>