April 2012
Issue 73
Welcome to the April edition of BP.
As I prepare this, The Titanic 100 th anniversary event has been completed. Results published in due course.
EYAW 2012 results have been published, A good week of activity was enjoyed by all.
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Lets look at some of the reports received for the month of April.
From Darren. G0OTT
Hello Rob,
Please find my enclosed ladder claim for April.
I was very pleased to get on for the 4 sessions this month, surprised as was supposed to be away for the 2nd session.
Conditions look good again on 40m for both inter G and throughout Europe( good for me with ony 40m and 20m ).
I was very pleased to meet new members this month along with the regular's
All new members reading this please join in, we don't bite, much :)
Its a great way to meet members and get some practice in at a speed you are comfortable with!
Some strong QSB and QRM about on the second session.
Many thanks to Graham for putting on the club call on the first session.
Must apologise to Pol's front end on last session, I couldn't help myself :) (I blame the Guinness ).
Hope to be on again all sessions next month, maybe /P somewhere?
Regards For now Darren G0OTT
PS. Well done Ian G4MLW on prefix 1&2 award.
Hello Darren. Good to hear from you, good luck on the /P operation during May.
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From Peter G0TLU
Hi Rob,
Please find attached Ladder entry for April. On the first Sunday afternoon I worked GB1OOC (special event station for the 'Carpathia', which rescued survivors from the Titanic). Unfortunately in my excitement I forgot to get the op's name & QTH, so missed out on a badly-needed point!
On the second Sunday I attended the Kempton Rally, so tried the evening session for the first time. I found this to be not so busy FISTS-wise - perhaps as the weather warms up and people are out and about more in the afternoon, the evening session will get busier? Personally, I'm planning to head for the hills to do a bit of /P operating this year.
Nice to see Mike Bowthorpe and his Czech keys at the rally. I find mine really pleasant to use.
73, Peter G0TLU.
Hello Peter. Nice to have picked up one of the Titanic SE stations! As a matter of interest, Some years ago when the commercial hype of the Titanic. i.e. famous film hit our TV screens; I did a little research on what had happened to the Carpathia in subsequent years. Many may know of course that she was built in Wallsend-on-Tyne; and was sunk by torpedo in 1918 off the coast of Eire.
With the 100 th Anniversary of the Titanic happening this year, it rekindled my interest, and when time was available to me; I did a little more digging around for more information and I came across this excellent website.
http://www.sorbie.net/carpathia.htm
Lots of history on Carpathia, crew, captain, etc.
I’ve also read the book by Dr. Robert Ballard of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
explaining the search for the wreck of Titanic. The technical problems overcome at the time, the infancy of deep ocean exploration etc. Fascinating! Do read if you can find the time!
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From Daryl G0ANV
Hi Rob,
Managed to get on both afternoon sessions this Month.
Was nice to meet up with a new member, Bernie GM4WZG .
Also nice to work Phil 2E0DPH whilst he was portable on the 8th. Looking at my rota for the rest of the year, seems i may not get on the Ladder many more times?, but hope to take part in some of the other activities.
73 for nw de Daryl. G0ANV #2270
Hi Daryl. Nice to hear that you’ve found time to get on air, allways a pleasure to hear your fist on air, as you may have read in the EYAW results page, Geoff, DDX has imortalised our QSO, whether we’ll be infamous or famous remains to be seen! Hi
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From Derek M0DRK
Hi Robert, Here is my log for April Ladder. Thanks to Graham, I'm still getting a slightly higher average score so far this year. Thanks to all other Fists Members who gave me points also. A surprise call was OG9R, aka OH7QR, Erkki. WX since our hose-pipe ban is now much wetter so at least I get some water for the garden and car wash in my water butts.
Take Care Robert, see you next month, Derek, M0DRK.
Hello Derek. Yes, I understand that many areas are now officially off the “Drought” register; owing to the deluge that has hit us over the past weeks. I also understand that a huge amount of water was pumped from the West Midlands to help you guys out during the water shortage in your area; can we have it back now? Hi! Or should we let you keep it and we’ll wait for a few more gallons to fall from the sky :-)
Erkki wearing his OG9R hat was a nice surprise for many. I’m not too sure on the origin of the call, I must ask him.
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From John 2E0JCY
Hello Rob,
Please find my log for the april ladder attached.
Sunday is always busy at my QTH, especially during holidays, but did manage to sneak off to the shack and make some contacts.
Thanks for your efforts and vy 73 John 2E0JCY #13253
Hello John, aha! How many times have I heard that expression! You must tell me your method of “sneaking off” I’ve not been able to perfect it yet! Good to hear from you again, pleased you managed to get on air.
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From Peter G4LHI
Hello Robert,
I attach my claim & report for April Activity Ladder 2012.
As far as I can recall we had quite good conditions on the bands for the Ladder this month, we had the Titanic Sprint & the EUCW QRS during the month, so quite a QRL April, we did have a little QRM from the Yuri Gagarin celebrations at one time, but all in a good cause, I do hope conditions continue to improve for the coming year; it’s so much more fun.
I only used the usual bands for the Ladder, 40M being my main activity, 80M out of the question in this location at the moment, just dear Erkki on 20m & Graham 2E0JYK, on 2m, (until he gets his HF aerials up again).
I was very pleased to work Gra with GX3ZQS/A on the second session, very many thanks Gra & a vy FB sigs from you. You certainly attracted a pile up mate!
What a treat for those of us that knew & worked dear Geo, G3ZQS, to see that video, many thanks for the guys that produced it for the Fists CW web page.
All my thanks, as ever, to all that continually support the Ladder,
For this month I had 23 QSO’s for 46 points, so hope conditions continue to improve during the Year & we can enjoy all our Fists Activities.
Keep bashing the brass & good hunting to you all, & a very Happy & Healthy 2012, looking forward to May Ladder & other of the many Fists Club Activities on the calendar!
73 de Peter G4LHI # 2219
Hello Peter. Good to hear from you; yes many activities on air besides our own. I do like to be able to keep the membership busy with on air events. As mentioned time and time by myself, the things that are planned throughout the year are an agreeable place for new and not so new members to come on and make new friendships on air.
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From Phil 2E0DPH
Hello Rob,
Hope you are well, here is my log for the April Ladder Activity.
The first Sunday of the month, Easter weekend, found us /P in Holt, Norfolk; caravanning for the weekend. The site owner understanding my need to be in the best spot for radio kindly put us on a pitch at the top of the hill (140ft ASL), but almost all in vain when it came to the Ladder. I had superb QSO’s all weekend into Europe and further, but unfortunately QSO’s across the UK just didn’t seem to come along, but thanks to those few who I did manage to work on Easter Sunday.
Back at home for the second Ladder weekend was a different matter, nothing better than your home rig set up. Good to hear great activity again and working both M3 & M6 stations.
So from a very, very soggy Ely (at the time of writing) and yes we are in part of the country affected by drought condx Hi! see you all again next month.
73 Phil 2E0DPH Fists 14543
Hello Phil. I’ve not visited Holt for many years, a lovely peaceful place as I remember. I recollect your observation some time ago that M3 and M6 prefixes were noticeable by their absence on the air, I have noticed a trend of late that more are becoming active; long may it continue.
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From Erkki OH7QR who was wearing his OG9R hat.
Hello Robert,
Attached is my Ladder log for April. On the 1st Sunday I used my other call OG9R. I participated only in the evening session. On 22nd I worked again as OH7QR. I’ll use the OG9R call occasionally during the year, maybe it’ll attract some Prefix hunters.
73 Erkki OH7QR/OG9R fists 8318.
Hello Erkki. Yes, the OG9R hat has created some interest amongst members, perhaps you’ll tell me more about it? Good to hear from you. Take care of yourself, and keep well!
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From Gra G3ZOD
I had a very respectable number of contacts during the April Ladder particularly on the 22nd April, including meeting up with Ray G3XLG, #15503, for the first time. 40m is definitely now the band of choice, with intra-UK contacts possible even in the evening sessions.
Outside the Ladder, I've had a few contacts into Europe on 6m - the sporadic E season is making a shaky start (at least at my latitude).
73 de Graham G3ZOD
Hi Gra. 40m does seem to be attracting attention from the membership with many commenting that they’re pleased to have hooked up with you during the month. Your operation with the club call(s) are being met with enthusiasm from the membership, many thanks for taking time to blow the cobwebs off them.
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Many thanks to Dennis K6DF, FISTS Award Manager, for the following information.
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April 2012 FISTS Awards
Congratulations to the following members:
Steve NU7T #4676
Nightmare Alpha Numeric
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Tom KF0K #8513
USA Worked All States
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John VE1BA #13160
1 X QRP
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Darren G0OTT #14062
Millionaire
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Well done to all concerned..
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Time for the latest ladder results table.
| CALL | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUNE | JULY | AUG | SEPT | OCT | NOV | DEC | TOTALS |
| G4LHI | 36 | 36 | 44 | 46 | 162 | ||||||||
| 2E0DPH | 29 | 30 | 44 | 27 | 130 | ||||||||
| G0OTT | 24 | 31 | 32 | 37 | 124 | ||||||||
| OH7QR/OG9R | 31 | 25 | 30 | 23 | 109 | ||||||||
| M0DRK | 23 | 20 | 29 | 26 | 98 | ||||||||
| G0DDX | 20 | 25 | 29 | 0 | 74 | ||||||||
| M5ABN | 27 | 31 | 11 | 0 | 69 | ||||||||
| G3ZOD | 8 | 19 | 10 | 18 | 55 | ||||||||
| 2E0JCY | 0 | 0 | 18 | 14 | 32 | ||||||||
| G0DUB | 12 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 29 | ||||||||
| G0ANV | 8 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 28 | ||||||||
| DL4FDM | 0 | 17 | 8 | 0 | 25 | ||||||||
| G0TLU | 0 | 0 | 15 | 10 | 25 | ||||||||
| CN2JV | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||
| SQ5RIX | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||
| SA0AAZ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| MX5IPX © | 3 | 11 | 3 | 12 | 29 | ||||||||
| GX3ZQS © | 0 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 22 | ||||||||
| GX0IPX © | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
Owing to problems with email over the past month or more, If any of you do not see your April entry published; I’m happy to relax the date received by rule on this occasion, So if your entry is not shown, let me have it with your May entry, send as two separate attachments if possible please.
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I’m trying to overcome the problem with my mailbox.
So, can you please note a new email AD for FISTS related items.
m0bpt.fists(at)yahoo.co.uk
Please can you place somewhere in the subject field, the word “fists” (without exclamation marks) this hopefully will ensure that mails will be delivered to my inbox and not eaten by some overzealous spam software.
m0bpt(at)yahoo.co.uk is still active, apply the same fists rule in the subject field.
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MUG ORDERS!!
I’m hoping to be collecting the latest batch of orders from the supplier this week, orders are/were running behind, they are hoping to have catched up with the backlog. If things go to plan I shall be packaging and mailing them as soon as they’re in my possesion, with delivery to interested parties by the end of the week/early next week; week commencing the 28th of May.
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That’s all from the stable of M0BPT for another month.
Until next time.
Keep well.
Keep pounding brass.
73
VA
