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Captains slog 2009

CAPTAIN SLOG

SUMMER OFFENSIVE 2009

Here we are again folks, after excessive pressure was put upon myself by our (some say) esteemed editor, some say other things about him!!)

Another tale in the life of Captain Slog.

Summer is here at last, the sap has risen! time to put the wellies away (mind you, I never did like Dave’s pink wellies !!) and so is the urge to go stroke P yet again. T’was a fine morning when the intrepid trio set off for that well known location, (Glacial Boulder) with thermos duly primed, and bacon sandwiches on order, this time we had the dubious company of Alan NJR and Tony RSW. Never fear, we can cope with them, after all, there are three of us, and only two of them! Alan NJR set a deadly trap with Tony’s W3 EDP aerial, but the deer took one look at it, laughed, and then crossed the road lower down, bad luck Alan, you will have to get something else for your supper !! Tony, RSW, was very good, during the morning, he even handed out some sweets, not many mind you, but as they say. It’s the thought that counts!!! Graham, 2E0 VTP, was a little bit put out. no Russians were heard during the morning.!! After a few contacts were made, it was all too soon to pack the gear away until next time. Before we left Glacial Boulder, plans were made for the following weekend to go stroke P again, YES!! You guessed it, Glacial Boulder!!

This time we would start early and get set up, and then get the bacon and sausage on the go, to all those of you who missed out on the breakfast, tough!! We enjoyed it. Who was it that said Alan couldn’t hear anything when he is wearing his ‘cans’? Believe you me, when his sarnie was ready, so was he!!! He was very pleased with the contacts he made that morning; he even got as far as Cheslyn Hay!!! How many miles, feet, was that one Alan?????

Tony missed out yet again on the breakfast, he was otherwise engaged, (How is the taxi business Tony??) Also Graham VTP was missing, (some say he was in the West Park with the ducks, but we wont ask him why!!) I didn’t think you could radiate a duck!! (All answers to the editor please!!) Never mind chaps, you can pay us later for your sarnies!!! They were very nice!!

We did have a few club members come to see us during the morning; Thanks go to Gordon M3GCS, Bernie M0DOX and Andrew G6OTZ.

Always remember folks, you are more than welcome to come and join us some time, just bring some goodies with you, and you will be made very welcome.

Warning! The welcome you get does depend on the type of ‘goodies’ you bring with you!!

One of Dave’s plans was to clone some of our 857/897 radios whilst he was there, sad part was, some were successful, others were not, all I can say is this, thank goodness he was ‘cloning’ radio’s and not himself !!!

Once again, time flies when you are having a good time, we had to collect all the gear up, and pack it away ‘till the next time, Dave DJF, really missed Elvaston Castle Rally this year, some of you may know that its his wedding anniversary on that date, no rally this year, so he forgot his wedding anniversary!!!

NEW FEATURE

For sale, exercise battery, 3500 amp per hour, used only once, need pack horse to transport it though.

D.E.D’S We have a large selection of these new dark emitting diodes, save energy, fit these in place of your usual items! No power consumption at all!!

GLOVES Also in stock at the moment are electrically heated gloves, these are the three phase variety (440 volt), ideal for S.O.T.A. ops.

Before I close this edition of the Slog, I have to report that I will be getting some new books for the club library, I will not be ordering the Dandy/Beano annuals, I know some of you will be upset, but never mind !!! Also the catalogue from Ann Summers is still missing, will the culprit please return it? I have not finished looking at it yet!!!!!!

M1 NTP Norman

MØ DJF Dave

2EØ VPT Graham

CAPTAIN SLOG

AUTUMN OFFENSIVE 2009

The day dawned well on the morning of the 10th of September, The three must have a beers loaded up their vehicles with the requisite amount of Talisker, Bacardi and Bank’s. We even found some space to pack the radio equipment!! We then set off for our first stop just outside Bridgenorth for our usual breakfast, heart attacks on a plate!! Bostin !!! We just hoped that ye gods of propagation would smile graciously upon us for the next few days.

With bellies full and hopes high, we set off for Much Wenlock to stock up on some last minute goodies. Graham VPT, did dig very deep into his pocket (he has only got the one (t’other one is sewn up!) And proceeded to pay for his usual packet of Galaxy Minstrels, both Dave DJF and I were a little embarrassed to say the least, for he paid in one pence coins from a very tatty plastic coin bag!! We were just hoping that he would open them some time during our offensive!!

We duly arrived at our qth for the next few days, to be greeted very warmly by our hosts Margaret and Chris, what fantastic hosts they are. Nothing is too much trouble for them, even our happy trio!!

The vehicles were then duly unloaded, rations stowed away and Dave DJF and Graham VPT proceeded to erect masts and some of the aerials. This was accompanied by the obligatory ‘TINNY’All this was accomplished in glorious sunshine. Feeders were then connected to various bits of the equipment, some problems were then experienced with some of the connections, this turned out to be the gold type PL259’s after much blaspheming, these were then replaced and all was well. A problem was also experienced with our 20 metre vertical aerial, this was soon sorted out.

The evening repast was then consumed with great enjoyment and hilarity, and of course, the obligatory bottle of wine.
We then proceeded to assault the airwaves both on PSK and voice. After receiving several derogatory remarks from both DJF and VPT, I made the first voice contact into Norway. Our modified G5 aerial worked quite well on top band, and even tuned up a treat on 5 Megs. There was quite a lot of QRM, and QSB on the bands at times, although we worked a few stations, there was nothing to write home about. It was getting so bad, that even DJF was getting fed up, we know this for a fact, as we nearly caught Dave talking to a French operator! After a few beers, we decided as the bands were going quiet, we would go quiet too.

Friday morning was a little misty, but the sun was rising along with our hopes for a good day’s DX ing. Radios were turned on, even before I had had me first brew!! Serious stuff these Offensives!!! Graham was complaining that his waterfall was going a very nice shade of yellow, Dave and I told him that the computer had a dose of jaundice, ‘its not jaundice’ Graham replied, ‘she hasn’t got up yet!! Mind you, he did say some other things, totally unprintable!!

Breakfast was next on the agenda, as usual we had our Black Country feast, and I did ask DJF and VPT if they wanted red or white wine with their breakfast. Sorry folks, once again their comments are really, really unprintable!! Mind you Dave did settle for a can of Bank’s.

We then carried out some further experiments with our wire aerials, 20metres were full of Low power Italians they were only using around 500 watts!! Mind you, the French were getting in the game as well, I did manage to get a contact into Norway on the quarter wave vertical 5/9 both ways and a very nice audio report from him.

As the propagation was up and down, DJF and I wanted to offer up a sacrifice to the god’s of propagation it’s really amazing just how fast Graham VPT can run when you are after him!!!!

Friday afternoon, success!! Both of our new aerials were working a treat, just how well they work was yet to be proven, but hopes were high that they would be ok. Tonight will tell one way or another!!

Soon it was time to sit down to our evening meal, much merriment ensued at the table, and the food was consumed, as well as the wine and beer. After clearing away the debris, we then gave the airwaves some serious stick!! First contact was into Southern Ireland, followed by numberous other contacts on PSK and voice
During this time , Graham VPT said he was feeling rather shattered after spending most of the day erecting aerials, he said, and I quote, ‘ I am fed up bending down playing with things’ and you can guess what Dave DJF and I said !!!!!

During the evening, we had a discussion about several things, one of them being the RSGB QSL Bureau. Once again, I have had to heavily censor the comments that were made by all of us!!!!!!!! As a result of this, we have decided to E QSL only, unless a card is specifically requested.

Dave DJF and myself agreed to do an all nighter to see what the furthest DX distance we could get. Around 10-30pm Graham VPT
Said goodnight and went to his bed,

Saturday morning, Graham VPT awoke to find one empty bottle of Talisker ten year old, and 15 empty cans!! I awoke several hours later to find a very cold cup of tea I did say ‘thanks for the tea, but could I have a hot one next time, Comments, unprintable, again!!!!
Unfortunately Dave and I somehow never got around to turning the radios on!!! Mind you, it was turned 5am when we went to bed!! He was also not happy that we didn’t offer him a drink, actually, we did offer, pity he was asleep at the time!!!

I have to say that Dave and I bravely soldiered on until 10-30am, and then we took two headaches back to bed and left VPT to it. That just left him to hold the fort ‘till later !! Apparently (according to him!) this selfless act was born out of frustration and desperation striving for the ultimate contact on his own. He kept saying he manned his post whilst others fell by the wayside!!
Saturday afternoon was turning out to be rather disappointing, we could only find Churches on the Air, sadly, due to the language that had passed between us, we could not morally join the chase, Time for a beer, or two!!

VPT finally found something that cheered him up no end, yes!!! He found a Russkie to talk to!!!Good on you Tovarich!!! He said from now on he will listen more closely before committing his self!! Yes!! We all know the answer to that one!!! (Captain Slog is everywhere)!!
Saturday afternoon saw us sitting outside in glorious sunshine, just a slight breeze blowing, as is our want, the talk soon got around to one of our favourite topics, aerials. VPT kept asking ‘What time are we going out tonight?’ Obviously, he must be thirsty again!!

Around about 3pm, the bands started to come alive again, sadly, the QRM/QSB. Returned as well. Dave and myself kept passing certain comments to Graham with reference to how dry things were getting, hooray!!!!He finally got the message and made a brew at last!! Dave told him to try and remember how to do it for next time!! Later in the afternoon Dave noticed a cobweb hanging from the VPT station, I said it just goes to show how much effort he has put in today!!

Saturday evening saw us ready to go into Much Wenlock to our usual watering hole, sadly for us, the place was fully booked. So we collected a few vital supplies from the local shop (yes! You can guess what we bought!!) And a damn good night was had by all three of us.

Sunday morning dawned very misty, but the sun was starting to break through and the mist was clearing fast.VPT appeared in the doorway, proceeded to make a brew, then started to work several stations on PSK. I was talking to DJF but some very unsavoury comments were coming from VPT, I said to Dave, ‘There seems to be a hell of a lot of internal QRM in here this morning!! Once again, Captain Slog has censored the replies from Graham!
We started to work two metre side band; I haven’t worked that mode for some time. Our thanks go to Chris DBR, and to Greame NVH for taking the time to hold Chris’s hand and show him what to do!! Thanks Greame from all three of us !!!

We then took down two of our aerials to make life easier for us on Monday morning. The bands still remained quiet at times, but we did manage to work a few stations on HF and PSK. After our evening meal, with stomachs full to bursting, we sat down to play radio once more. There was a contest on 20 metres, bugger!!!
Graham VPT was getting most uptight; somebody had eaten nearly all his Galaxy Minstrels, Yes! You guessed it!! Expletives from him yet again!! I then put out a CQ call to him asking for one of his liquorice and blackcurrant sweets, Lo and behold, I got one!! Due to all the contests going on, this was turning into a chat-in-the-shack night. Around 8-30pm PSK was starting to come alive, Argentina and Brazil were quite strong. We did try to keep a sked on top band around 9pm, but sadly, no contacts were forthcoming. Dave then tried PSK on top band, he had one contact, a first for him on this frequency.

We then tried two metre sideband again, very, very quiet. We did manage a couple of simplex QSO’s other than that, a relatively quiet night radio wise.

The three of us have had an excellent ‘Offensive’ yet again, these trips out just get better and better. Our thanks go to Greame NVH, Chris DBR, for the rag chew on Sunday afternoon, and all The S.A.D.A.R.S. members who have helped us along the way.

M1 NTP Norman

MØ DJF Dave

2EØ VPT Graham