Radio Preppers

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: RadioRay on August 19, 2016, 08:59:32 AM

Title: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: RadioRay on August 19, 2016, 08:59:32 AM
Gil showed-up in the reverse beacon network, on an Austrian monitor station
14060/17 wpm CW , 19AUG16, 09:48 & 13:30 GMT !
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: cockpitbob on August 19, 2016, 02:07:44 PM
Interesting that he was only heard by 1 station and only once 5hrs apart.  Seems like a quick rig test rather than operating.
No recent spots for Gil on dxsummit.fi.

Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: Rescue9 on August 19, 2016, 04:18:36 PM
What is Gil's callsign?
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: RadioRay on August 19, 2016, 05:09:55 PM
Much more now on RBN on the forty meter QRP freq.  Nice spots all over on 7030 / F4WBY .

I was listening on a European internet receiver and I am hearing a LOT of idiotic contest type contacts "5NN TU".  Gil is a communicator, so it would be nice if he connected with others who also enjoy communication, rather than this rubbish.

>RadioRay ..._ ._
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: cockpitbob on August 19, 2016, 07:42:11 PM
Being on the east coast I figure I've got the best shot at him, but looking at RBN he's only traveling a few hundred miles.  Right now the hrdlog.net QSO map shows massive activity between eastern U.S. and Europe on 20m.  Of course it's past midnight for Gil  :o

BTW Ray, I love the name of this thread.
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: cockpitbob on August 20, 2016, 12:55:49 PM
I've decided what we are seeing on RBN isn't Gil.  He's on the south border of France in the Pyrenees Mountains but the few spots for his call aren't centered anywhere near there.  It's also just odd that there would be only one or 2 spots, and not far apart, each time he activates.  I'm guessing the RBN is picking up someone's bad fist or noise or something.
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: RadioRay on August 20, 2016, 03:17:24 PM
Ah!  I ran into that personally.  RBN doesn't have location data other than what is registered on QRZ.com. RBN showed plots flowing from my old home in Virginia, until I updated my FCC data which is how QRZ updates location.  Same for when my Wife and I are away from home and I fire-up a QRP rig: shows me at home in UTah.

de RadioRay ..._  ._ 
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: cockpitbob on August 20, 2016, 04:46:33 PM
Quote from: RadioRay on August 20, 2016, 03:17:24 PM
Ah!  I ran into that personally.  RBN doesn't have location data other than what is registered on QRZ.com. RBN showed plots flowing from my old home in Virginia, until I updated my FCC data which is how QRZ updates location.  Same for when my Wife and I are away from home and I fire-up a QRP rig: shows me at home in UTah.

de RadioRay ..._  ._
Quite true.  What's throwing me off is that the "center of mass" of the skimmers receiving his call sign is centered around Munich.  I would expect the spots to be centered around the Pyrenees 600 miles away.  It's also weird that he's not getting out very far.  If he is in Munich drinking beer and operating form a hotel balcony he's only getting out 300 miles.  It all seems strange.  If things don't change by Monday we should consider sending out the search dogs. ;D :o
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: RadioRay on August 20, 2016, 08:57:47 PM
If you "rescue" him from drinking and chatting-up redheaded women (who know Morse code) , he's likely to hurt you - - - badly.   ha ha
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: cockpitbob on August 22, 2016, 11:22:00 AM
The Gil Watch isn't going well ??? .  His last post sounded like he was going to Paris then Lourdes, France in the Pyrenees where the trek would start.  Only reverse beacon spots are centered around Munich and that was 2 days ago.  He's been gone 5 days and no radio spots near the Pyrenees. 

I bet the trip isn't going according to plan and he's having a great time.  The best trips I've ever had, had a very vague itinerary, not much went according to plan and the winds of fortune blew me into some wonderful experiences.



Meanwhile...
(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o170/cockpitbob/Emoticons/YagiRotating_zps947e43df.gif)
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: NWARadio on August 22, 2016, 06:42:58 PM
I've been away for a while. Where's Gil? He's on a trip somewhere?
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: cockpitbob on August 22, 2016, 10:57:23 PM
Wednesday (8/17) he took off for 1-3 weeks on a "radio trek in the Pyrenees".  Here's the thread.

http://radiopreppers.com/index.php/topic,1145.0.html

He brought his MTR so we know he's only doing CW and the reverse beacon network should be spying on him.  The only spots for his call are nowhere near the Pyrenees and the last one was Saturday.    I'm starting to think he met a redhead on the train and is in Munich.
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: cockpitbob on August 24, 2016, 09:19:50 AM
He's alive!

And he was up and operating early this morning.  But once again, he doesn't appear to be anywhere near the Pyrenees :o

(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o170/cockpitbob/Untitled_zps9ji9mqby.jpg)
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: cockpitbob on August 24, 2016, 01:36:20 PM
He's really cranking out the Qs today.  I'm starting to think he's somewhere in the Bavaria reigon instead of  Pyrenees.

(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o170/cockpitbob/Untitled1_zpstgr9vp4c.jpg)
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: RadioRay on August 27, 2016, 10:14:28 PM
Clic to enlarge the map, but Gil has been on 30 meters a lot today, which makes sense, due to stupid contests on weekends, preventing actual communication.

Looking forward to the after vacation report.

>RadioRay  ..._  ._

Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: cockpitbob on August 27, 2016, 10:22:49 PM
Curious.  I wonder why they have him the middle of France instead of way up in the corner near Belgum where his home address is.  I kind of doubt he's actually in the middle of France, unless he brought a multi-band beam antenna in that backpack and is always beaming NE.  Of course none of this hints that he might actually be in the Pyrenees.
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: gil on September 01, 2016, 10:40:40 AM
Hi guys! I came down the mountains! You can see my trek on svdagny.com, click on "map." I did not operate every day, only when convenient or even just possible.. I will be posting videos soon. Best day was indeed on 30m, too much contesting going on. Unfortunately I had no cell service up there so could not post frequencies. I used the Hybrid Micro UNUN with whip or 60' wire. Guess which worked best? Good contacts on 30m using 3W. I am now in Cauterets, heading soon for Bordeaux then Lille. I might operate one last time if I must wait Monday for the train. I have all kinds of stuff I want to do with radio upon returning.. Some crazy ideas about getting back to the sea as well. Lots of time to think alone in the mountains!

Gil
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: cockpitbob on September 01, 2016, 10:56:09 AM
Welcome back down!  Hope the weather treated you well.

I'm baffled by the reverse beacon network.  It looked strange how your spots were centered around Munich.  You were definitely getting out with your rig.  Maybe there are no skimmers in large parts of Europe. 

How did you like using a tuner?
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: gil on September 01, 2016, 11:22:25 AM
Thanks Bob. I did not mind using the ZM-2 too much since it works well. It is a big box however compared to the MTR. I think I would have preferred the Elecraft T1. Easier to just press a button. It was at times not easy to get a match with the ZM-2, the tuning being quite sharp sometimes. I prefer an end fed tuner on a wire, no coax losses..

Gil
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: gil on September 03, 2016, 08:31:54 AM
I will be on the air today from the Bordeaux region, look for me on the RBN!

Gil
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: cockpitbob on September 03, 2016, 11:06:06 AM
He's operating on 14,060 right now according to RBN.  I heard a few beeps fade in and out but they're too weak to pick out any characters.  But my QTH has S-8 noise on 20m so he may be readable, just not to me.
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: gil on September 03, 2016, 06:06:43 PM
I was! But propagation was dismal again. Also tried on 30m and 40m, all with the Hybrid Micro and whip. No contacts this afternoon but 40m was busy after dinner. I made four contacts, two in Germany, one using about 2W, Italy and Norway, all four with the 10'8" whip! I will try again tomorrow...

Gil
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: cockpitbob on September 03, 2016, 10:16:51 PM
Quote from: gil on September 03, 2016, 06:06:43 PM
I was! But propagation was dismal again. Also tried on 30m and 40m, all with the Hybrid Micro and whip. No contacts this afternoon but 40m was busy after dinner. I made four contacts, two in Germany, one using about 2W, Italy and Norway, all four with the 10'8" whip! I will try again tomorrow...

Gil
I think this solar minimum we are coasting downhill into is really going to suck.  I got my license in 2010 so this is my first time on the back side of a solar cycle.  I'm not liking it so far and I guess it's only going to get worse.
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: RadioRay on September 03, 2016, 11:04:16 PM
I was out in the park with a dipole: wretched conditions.  We've had solar wind playing havoc on the bands.  I made one contact on forty in CW on one in voice on a regional net to test 2.5 Watts into the linked dipole run up a 'squid pole' mast.  I was checked in, but just barely.

Looking forward to seeing your videos of the trip and I absolutely understand how a bit of quiet time in the mountains will make you yearn for the sea again!

>RadioRay ..._  ._
Title: Re: Gil Watch - Radio Spots
Post by: gil on September 04, 2016, 02:25:54 AM
Yep, I have not made a single intercontinental contact since getting back on the air, April.

The trip also told me I have not dealt with the loss of my boat and dream yet.. Still angry, all bottled up inside..

Gil