G5EPC portable amateur radio station QRZ
G5EPC portable amateur radio station QRZ
Many thanks for our QSO and finding my online page. G5EPC portable amateur radio. You did a good job and made the contact ! If you heard me great as I do not come on the ham bands as much these days. I have a portable set up ready to go at any time but appear just when I need a radio fix. In 2024 that will likely be the 15m or 10m band.
30kms altitude approx. atmospheric image, F2 layer is at approx 320kms for reference.(Weather balloon)
Every hour, day and week is a continuation of the radio story for each of us enthusiasts. Unfolding in the skies above. Mysterious voices from afar beaming from the low horizon completing their long and somewhat unpredictable journeys. Notable DX at bottom of page. (mainly new entities these days)
Thanks for the radio contact - amateur station G5EPC/P, UK Full licence call sign.
Email : HFDX73@mailfence.com - Do not hesitate to get in contact for any reason !
The portable station :
Station statement : Uncompromising DIY high efficiency omni mono band antenna systems to avoid looking back in regret on a DX day out. Helping to ensure S0/S1 contacts are made and held. (Notable DX at the page bottom, usually new entities.) I enjoy the more tricky DX on SSB phone with just 100W and a single vertical wire. 1/4 1/2 and 5/8 waves are my thing.
I don't use spotting/cluster software All my contacts are 100pct either found by ear or respondents to DX calls on a single element wire antenna.
I found what works best for myself and stick with those antennas. Unfortunately, the nearest salt water body is about 30 miles away.
100W SSB phone I mainly operate portable sitting outside my stationary vehicle in pleasant weather, exclusively on the HF bands. Mainly on 20m through to 10m and occasionally 40m. In the depths of winter I sit in my vehicle typically with a large size vertical antenna mounted away from the vehicle. Powered by a dedicated (not the vehicle) leisure battery. I only use SSB phone mode in the countryside in the south of England. I use various QTH.
Congratulations that your signal exited the low horizon and hit my antenna (and vice versa) WE DID IT !
I am always happy and amazed when I make contact with a station especially when those contacts are intercontinental. So thanks for making the time for your station to be operating and in the right place at the right time for our QSO.
Personally speaking, nothing beats calling "CQ DX" with a good omnidirectional antenna and having no idea who is going to reply from anywhere in the world. I view very low angle radiation omni directional antennas as path finders. I try and get as many of my 100 Watts penetrating as low into the horizon as possible 360 degrees (I estimate 95/100 Watts do). You do not always get through with a vertical, it leaves something to work for and the contacts are all the sweeter for it. That is the exciting part of radio for me.
The radios
I usually operate with 100 Watts RF power from my ICOM 7300 or a Yaesu FT-891. Power supplied by a 60Ah Lithium 12V battery charged at home at the end of the DX day out.
My approach to DXing :
I am always mobile stationary or portable (Antenna system rarely on vehicle. With exception to 1/4 wave in adverse winter weather.) My main interest is HF very long distance DXing, the 3,000 - 15,000 mile stuff. I spin the VFO and use my ears. I prefer to put my listening skill to use and seek the DX stations this way. Or of course call "CQ DX". I like to hear the voices through a 6 inch speaker for good audio presentation, a good bass tone, it makes the radio contact sound closer. Your comms speaker is your audio window into the radio sky scape.
I humbly feel this is how you become a better radio operator. 100 Watts is the ham radio portable sweet spot for me personally, same power as most 100W home base amateur transceivers. A lot less power than many, but not QRP. I do not have sufficient patience for being a QRP operator.
Antenna systems :
What is best? 1/4, 1/2, classic 5/8th wave ? You need to make them and test them. Each has its merits in different situations.
Home brew 5/8th wave loading coil image :
I mainly use DIY/home brew vertical antennas. 1/2 wave end fed with FT-240 - 49:1 un un MONOBAND cut for each band to preserve lowest possible radiation angle per band. 5mm thick CCA driven elements. On a fibreglass pole. I have 3 separate 49:1 builds with croc clip, clip on extensions to make a mono bander for each, 10m through 20m.
(10m/12m/15m/17m/20m) DIY ground mount 5/8 wave (17m/20m/15m) with 30 radials and occasionally 1/4 waves. 1/2 wave's always as high as I can get them on my fibreglass pole, dependent on WX. I also use a Sirio Gain Master on 10m (5/8 wave coaxial dipole).
When the wind is very low I have been extending my 18m pole with an extra length of fibre glass rod to a full 20m length. This works very nicely and gives a little more low angle gain and effectively raises MUF slightly on any open path through extra low angle energy. It helps make DX in even low SFI < 100 (I made a string of USA/African/S.American stations with SFI 98 recently)
I use the best coax money can buy, Messi & Paoloni. Typically a 20m run with compression fit PL-259's.
All antennas now give a 1:1 VSWR match on 7300 meter.
I do not like multiband antennas for outdoor radio due to the low performance patterns on some of the bands. Some contacts are made on the very lowest of angles so I want max RF energy at those angles.
Holding contacts on S0/S1 is where real fun is.
I prefer to change the antenna and have maximum DX performance on each band. That probably goes against the grain but that is just my preference for performance over convenience.
Also radio has a quite visually inspired element for myself. I always have in mind compass points, angles on the horizon and the globe itself. So having roughly the same predictable and omnidirectional pattern per band helps me understand propagation a little better. It is a very complex and deep subject and I am always considering why certain things happen on the bands. It is a fascinating thing to consider even when not on the radio.
DX mainly comes in between 1 and 12 degrees, here is a chart based on a single path. As a general rule the higher the frequency the greater the incidence of lower angle contacts. All the more reason to elevate for the 10m band ! Raising the antenna also effectively increases the MUF. This is because the F2 layer is likely to be able to reflect a lower incident angle of higher frequency. So when I hear these very low level signals S0 R3/5 - I always bear in mind they maybe super low angle contacts. (1-3 degrees) especially in lower SFI's of 100-140.
Put very simply it means the highest performance (vertical wire) DX antenna systems, have greater gain patterns (or just less loss, ground loss and constructive phase correlation) at those low angles. For context, I use 2 antenna systems that model with +1.6dBi and +3.6dBi at 5 degrees TOA. This is significant, especially in the years just gone, before the recent increased sun spots and higher SFI.
Gain through elevation AGL +1.6dBi @ 5 degrees for this EFHW 15m band monoband fed at 13.3m - Fibreglass pole total length 20m. (that is +7.5dBi over a ground mounted 1/4 wave at 5 degrees)
20m tall fibre glass pole with my 1/2 wave on it. (18m plus DIY 2m extension - only for very low wind days)
Antennas are not in isolation they are a system of gain or loss. I have a make it, use it, prove it approach.
I have made many DX S0/S1 contacts, the small details (as in - dB's) can make a difference on both TX and RX. It is worth remembering you may not even hear the DX you just missed. Some DX is very difficult on a wire, don't lose it. 5 by 9 is fine... 3 by 0 harder DX is more challenging and fun. Then I know if I had not put my effort into the antenna and QTH that contact would not have been made.
Sunset at one of my QTH :
Everyone is free to make their own radio operational choices. That is the beauty of the hobby and whilst there are differences it is what bonds us as well as keeps it interesting through different approaches.
My home brew "un un" transformer for a monoband EFHW with 0.05 Lambda counterpoise. I use 5mm CCA wire - light and efficient for RF "my golden rope":
Further info
I have no interest in traditional contesting and generally avoid the bands when they are in progress. I find them irritating and QRM'y. I never use digital modes, phone SSB (voice) only. I enjoy the human to human contact, my ears and a spin of the VFO to make it engaging. For myself the challenges are to be a better radio listener through the noise and QRM. Being outdoors is a big part of my radio pursuits. A huge part of radio for me is being close to nature and see the horizon and sky, getting some fresh air, exercise (antenna swapping !) and light.
A DIY 20m band 5/8 wave vertical out in the sticks, a superb antenna ! 12.7m tall 30 mixed length (1/8 - 1/4 wave) radials - DIY loading coil from enamelled wire. This is a vertical antenna that does the business.
Direct to the low horizon at one of my QTH:
Ground radials x 30 - 20m band DIY 5/8 wave
I like performance without compromise. This way you don't miss out even on the poor conditions days. I have a lot of respect for beam users as you can hear my weak, inverse square law, radiated power. With an omni, everyone hears you and you hear everyone. We do not know from where DX comes.. N,E,S or W ? No time lost spinning a beam. A good vertical antenna system is less of a compromise than many think. It can open very low angle paths and effectively raise MUF as a consequence of elevation AGL. It is a great hobby to be involved with and often the most difficult/weak contacts are the most rewarding.
Remember, 5 by 0's turn into "negative contact" really easily.
Control what you can, the rest is chance.
One of the joys of operating with efficient vertical antennas with very low noise QTH is working many QRP stations, also often portable. I have been fortunate enough to work about 30 over the last year (21/22) 10 Watts and less stations are regularly coming in at no signal reading at all. Many contacts have been held and worked at S0 R3/4.These are by far the most challenging contacts and very enjoyable. I will always have my ears pinned back for your QRP station, so do call in even if you hear I am asking for DX. Special thanks goes out to the QRP stations calling in. Low noise RX and a good a RX antenna is vital for the QRP guys.
I try to get out and DX for 4 hours at a time, and I keep a paper and pen log book. I choose what band I think will be best. I am happy to change antenna to get onto another band. It takes 5-10 mins. I do not use a mobile phone or laptop to "spot" stations on a cluster and locate DX myself with my ears alone, or of course call DX. I focus on the radio audio output not a band scope, tablet or phone.
The greater the skill involved the more exciting radio is and the more satisfying.
A hobby that we each do in our own way. I try to dot the i's to ensure the weakest path contacts are made possible. I have lost count of the S0 QSO's I have made. That's what I enjoy the most... soft voices in the noise.
In conclusion
I often look at the horizon and the sky and wonder where my signal may end up on our planet, by luck it landed where you are so thanks for being there listening. Maybe you were on hop 1, hop 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6…… I am always amazed by this hobby that we found, or did it find us ? Being there when the "radio sky window" opens up and voices from afar come beaming out of the horizon. I hope this has inspired you to make the very most of your own station.
I hope the sky and sun allow us to communicate again soon, best wishes and 73 to you and your close ones and keep enjoying global friendship through the radio. G5EPC/P - Let's speak again soon.....you can also email me. Do not hesitate...... HFDX73@mailfence.com
73
Notable intercontinental DX countries so far since Jan 2021 (after passing Intermediate licence). Now full licence holder using 100W. I especially love new DX entities, VK and ZL always a pleasure and the Western USA harder to work states. I tend to treat the individual states as entities unto themselves. I love a surprise contact ! I am at about 110 entities worked as of July 2022. I am not particularly precious about it. I know what I have done and that is all that counts. As much as new entities I love to work a new USA state and some of those are very difficult indeed.
N6NI San Diego, California (10m), HL4SF S. Korea (10M), KF5VDX South Texas (Omni to Omni 100w each way), PJ4SON Bonaire, KC5OMC Oklahoma, DC60AE Comoros Island, A92GE Bahrain, KL7HRN Ed, Alaska, S01WS Selki, Western Sahara, IU1DUB/MM "Near Somalia" Gulf of Aden (M.V Jolly Palladio - RADAR image at bottom of this page), K7DXX, Idaho, W.USA, KW6J Arizona W.USA, 8P6CH Barbados, KP2AD U.S. Virgins Islands 5Z4MA Kenya (Joseph) 15m, K7PTC, Oregon, VP8CLE/VP8ADR Alan and Bob Falkland Islands 10m (S0 incoming, the edge of what is possible), WA6PBJ California, W.USA 15m, VP2MNI Montserrat 15m, CE7TS Chiloe Is. Chile, PZ1EL Suriname 10m, V51MA Namibia 10m, 9J2REK Zambia S0 incoming 5min QSO held Brent 10M, D2XX Angola S0 incoming 10M, W6YL San Jose, California (Red) 15m, XQ6AZ Osorno, Chile (Eduardo) 15m, KK7DJB Montana W.USA 15m, W0GNZ Nebraska 15m, PZ5JT, Suriname, VE6KDX Edmonton (Alberta), XE1CQ Mexico (worked at S0/R4 incoming, 15m), KW6J/7 Arizona, W.USA, KR0E Colorado, CO2RQ Cuba 15m, ST0HQ Sudan (Magdi), YB1EME Budi (first Indonesian station to come back to my DX call 5/7 each way SFI 96), Costa Rica TI5VMJ 15m (3/1 my RX, antenna 3m higher to punch through his noise), PJ2T/4JC Curacao 15m, VU2DSI Mumbai, India 15m, HS0ZOA Karl, Thailand, TO60CNES French Guiana, A41CK/AM (Aircraft mobile 737 over Romanian air space) 4I3EBD Philippines, 9Z4FE Trinidad, 6Y5NS Jamaica, Antigua V21YA, Martinique FM5DN, Reunion Island FR8TG, KB7OUU Utah, USA, Puerto Rico NP3XF, 8P6NW Barbados, VK2AUS (a 5 by 8 with my 5/8 ! SFI 80 - 5/7 to VK8MS both 161121) India (VU3NPI SFI 88), difficult DX entity for me, possibly high RX noise floor in India. New Zealand (ZL2SDX SFI 84 03/09/21), Australia VK5PAS 120921, (VK2CR and VK2CIA Peter and Jan 26/08/21 SFI 82), VK4KA Cory 17/9/21 (SFI 73) VK2AUS Cape Verde, British Virgin Islands, Saint Maarten, Indonesia, Egypt, The Seychelles (S79VU/S79KW), Afghanistan (T6AA), Iraq, Falkland Islands, Argentina, Chile, St. Helena, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, Japan, China, Bonaire, Brazil, Botswana, South Africa, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Canada, Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Siberia - Russia, Israel, Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Chechnya, Svalbard (Arctic Norway), Asiatic Russia, Tokyo Olympics 2020 8N2OLP. Notable European entities : Iceland and Kosovo. All of Europe. The only thing that matters is that I and the counterpart station know we made the contact, however here is a screenshot of ZL2SDX QRZ log :
If you wish to get in contact with me for any reason you can do so here, please do not hesitate, I like to chat radio. HFDX73@mailfence.co.uk - There may be a short delay in my response but I will reply.
I investigated a contact from IU1DUB/MM and the vessel was indeed near Somalia in the Gulf of Aden. A very interesting contact ! Radar image below of same day as QSO :
