Members of the Thames ARG, plus other Essex hams were out in force on Two Tree Island today
This marks the first field event for the South Essex club, and although the temperature struggled to get much over 3 degrees, it was a very well attended event, and a great opportunity for local operators to get together, share a cup of tea, and have fun with radio.
The day had something of an experimental feel about it, with a number of amateurs bringing along their own antennas to try out, including antennas erected by Mike M0MMB, Tom 2E0TNC, Paul M0XLD, Lucy M6ECG, Peter G1FOA and Rob M6KDP. In this long-shot, you can see the various bits of wire up in the air.
As well as experimenting with various impressive-looking antennas, today was the first time that the Thames Amateur Radio Callsign (GX0TRG) had been used for both CW and Data. Pete M0PSX used his Icom IC-718 in various data modes including PSK31, WSPR, JT65 and RTTY. Data conditions were not not ideal, partly due to a limited choice of bands (with so many locals working voice and CW), and partly as a result of many of the standard data frequencies being hijacked as a result of 6this weekend’s CQ WPX RTTY contest.
As with previous field events at Two Tree Island, tea, coffee, bacon rolls, crisps and cakes were in abundance, and full credit goes to Tom 2E0TNC for keeping the cold local hams fed and watered.
Members of TARG were onsite from 0430 this morning. An early start and putting up antennas in the dark is not much fun, we hear. The team packed up just before 4pm and the light closing in.
It was great to see so many Essex Hams turn up to today’s field event and to have a go on the radios. A number of impressive contacts were made, including contacts stations in the US, Kuwait and the very rare West African country of Togo.
Photos from TARG Two Tree Field Day
A small selection of photos from today’s Two Tree Island Field Day:
Well done to the TARG team for getting out and about during the usually quiet winter period.
Hi Essex Ham,
Good to see TARG were at Two Tree Island today despite the cold weather, sorry I couldn’t make it, I was looking forward to trying out the InnovAntennas LFAQ Yagi’s I picked up on Friday from Justin. I will be there for the next field day though, just need to shake the flu off (and find a suitable power source for the rig that doesn’t run at 350v!)
Best wishes to all,
Mark M0IEO.