Selsey Lifeboat Station - News

GB4SLB Amateur Radio Station for Selsey Lifeboat Week 2014

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As we have done for the last few years Myself 2E0FVL and Pete G4LKW arrived at about 1630hrs on the Friday to set up our amateur radio station for the weekend. Again we were in the compound next to the inshore boathouse, where we set up our tent and gazebo our operating centre and home for the weekend.

This year we had the benefit of a pneumatic mast to support the antenna at a height of 40 feet, with thanks to another member who was away on holiday.

This was very helpful as we were a bit short on space owing to the 'Time Team' events going on within the compound, prior to the start of rebuilding work for the new station. Everything set up by about 1900hrs so time for the field kitchen to come into play for our evening meal.

That over and done time for radio had a good run of contacts with a pause to watch the fireworks then back to the radio and they were still calling us when we had to admit that at 2345hrs it was maybe better if we got some sleep, after all we still had two more full days ahead of us!!

Saturday morning we were up at 0600hrs sorted breakfast (ah the smell of bacon first thing in the morning) and ready for radio at just after 0700hrs.

Conditions were not in our favour, but being close to the sea helps the signal, so we were soon making contacts we managed to stay on the same frequency for about 11 hours. Saturday evening was a bit slow we were working hard to make contacts but it got the better of us so about 2200hrs we gave up for the day.

Sunday up at 0600hrs to see a lovely day dawning well weather wise anyway radio conditions that we would have liked turned out not to be so good, ah well at least it gave us the chance to have a proper look at what else was happing on the day for the first since we started the event four years ago, and very good it was too!

We decided to start packing away at 1600 hrs and I was home car unloaded and in doors by 1845 tired but happy!

Over the course of the weekend we made a total of 356 contacts covering UK and Europe.

On Sunday I was interviewed by Spirit FM and hopefully gave people an idea of what we were doing.

Thanks to Selsey Lifeboats for allowing us to play in your back yard again, and to those of you that popped in to see us, and other stations that called on the radio.

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