Admittedly I sort of gave up a little last year on this blog, for no specific reason other than I was too busy doing many different things; field days out with friends, rides with friends, kids and grandkids etc. But in 2023 I want ...more
Llandegfedd Reservoir (Lake) in the Spring
Today – Tuesday 26th April 2022 – I decided on a last minute ride to Llandegfedd Lake, which this year appears on all the web based literature to have been renamed by Welsh Water from Llandegfedd Reservoir to Llandegfedd Lake. Didn’t know that happened, ...more
Great Views (and some VHF) from the East side of the Blorenge
Didn’t plan on going far today (19th April, 2022) due to the cooler temperatures, but as I headed off on the motorcycle – cameras, radio and antennas all packed up, I was enjoying the ride more than I thought and made a spur of ...more
Slimjim or Dipole for 2M portable? Let’s take a look…
Using state-of-the-art electronics and highly sophisticated instrumentation to perform detailed scientific tests, analytically comparing the relative performances of 2M Slimjim and 2M Dipole antennas, I once again headed out on my trusty motorcycle to meet my buddy Richie, MW0LGE on Twmbarlwm mountainside 1,100 feet ...more
56 miles on 2M at a cold ‘Mountain Air’ viewpoint
All I’m thinking when out on my bike currently is… when will the warmer days start to arrive, eh? The weather looked pretty decent as I glanced out of my study window this morning, giving me the kick I needed to once again get ...more
Nice day for a SOTA activation with the new 2m dipole
As the weather appeared to be holding up – which for me meant it wasn’t below 5˚C and also wasn’t raining… I thought I should try out my recently acquired 2M dipole. So I headed out on the bike to a local SOTA summit, ...more
Motorcycle Power to the Radios
When planning to head out with either the Yaesu FT-70D or maybe, if I get so inclined, with the IC-7300 – one always needs power. Now, should I decide to take the IC-7300 out for some /p or /m on HF I will of ...more
Very Moving Visit to Aberfan Memorial Garden
AT 09:15 on the 21st October 1966, over 140,000 m³ of slurry waste tipped onto a mountainside by the National Coal Board started to move down the hillside. Its path was to flow directly into Pantglas Junior School where the children had just walked ...more
Sandpiper Aeriels – new clip on 2m/70cm dipole purchase
Planned to meet a friend on the edge of the Brecons Beacons today so after that I also headed to see Mark, the owner of Sandpiper Aeriels at his work unit in Aberdare. it has to be said, Mark is one of the most ...more
Messing with Photoshop twirl filter
I’ve seen a few images on social media recently where the user has created a rather aesthetically pleasing image that could perhaps be used as a type of screensaver background or similar, and thought I’d have a go at this myself. I subscribe to ...more