Operating Mobile CB 22/09/2024
Operating Mobile CB 22/09/2024 avatar

On a Sunday, I take my son to his Taekwando lesson.  Parked up waiting for Samuel, so, mobile today doing some CB for a change, what with the storm and the strong Russian stations clearer than UK ones, it was very difficult when only running 4 watts. Unfortunately, I don’t speak Russian.

I can hear Rob 59ST02 in Greece clear as a bell on channel 40, from the island of Rhodes, but, other stations just stomp on my replies! So I never got an over with him.

With a Thunderpole whip on a mag mount, a slightly off SWR of 2:1, and all this heavy rain, I was really struggling.

For next time, I will see if I can get the SWR lower, I used to achieve an SWR of 1.2:1 when I used the same antenna on a roof rack mount.  Oddly, my SWR is higher with the mag mount.  I would have expected the other way around.

Until next time…

73 de Mark, 26TM998
“Spark Transmitter”

EDIT: The SWR is now down to 1.2:1.  It was found that there was some tarnish on the centre pin of the coax from the antenna.  Overhauling both ends brought the SWR down nicely.

Scouts JOTA 2024
Scouts JOTA 2024 avatar

This year, I am helping at my son’s Scout group, the 1st Ashley Air Scouts along with the local amateur radio club from Stafford and District Amateur Radio Society who will be taking the lead and providing the radios.

The global 2024 JOTA, this year, is being held between Friday 18th and Sunday 20th October 2024.  However, the event I will be helping will be on the Saturday 19th October 2024 between 10:00 and 16:00.

I have spoken to Scouts in years gone by, usually when I have been mobile, however, this will be the first time I have actually helped at an organised JOTA event with a Scout group.  Needless to say, both myself and my son are looking forwards to it.

EDIT: I understand a special event callsign has been applied for and granted for this event.  The callsign will be GB1SDS.  Listen out on the HF bands for this callsign on Saturday 19th October.