Ah, Four Metres. An oasis of calm... er, have I used those words before? Anyway, I was beginning to get withdrawal symptoms after removing my 4m vertical a couple of years ago to make way for my topband receiving loop, so I decided to do something about it.
Portable operation was the answer! Nestling in the cupboard was an old FT690 Mk1 which I bought for a song many moons ago, and I decided to convert it to four.  So that those of a nervous disposition aren't upset by the details, I've put the full horror story of the conversion over on the 'current projects' page. Only read it if you think you have the stomach for tales of serial incompetence and radio rage!

Over the next few days I'll be putting up a few photos of my 4m portable adventures. And here are some of them....

24 May 2007: Here's the little converted 690 with its own telescopic antenna. With just 200mW from the transmitter, I made contact with MW1FGQ over in North Wales. John reported my signal as 'rather noisy'. His 20 watts were romping in. I also had a call from Malcolm G4PLV in Oldham, with good solid signals in both directions.

The Buxton beacon on 70.000 was audible at around S2.

25 May 2007: This is more like it! My old Deecom half-wave vertical on the G1HBE multi-purpose tripod. This time, MW1FGQ reported a virtually noise-free signal from me, and of course he was bending my S-meter. I was later called by Mike G8ZLU in Reddish. He was using an Ascom PMR set, and I must say it sounded a treat. Buxton was much stronger on this antenna and I could even hear Angus on 70.020.

As the rig is multimode, the next job is to make a yagi.

I was out (Harrop Edge again) on Sunday 3rd June, hoping to make a few contest QSO's, but there was little activity. After talking to John MW1FGQ on FM, I spoke to Steve G0VQK in Warrington, also FM. Then it was over to SSB and a chat with Tony GW8ASD in N. Wales. I'd been a bit concerned at the slightly 'compressed' audio, but Tony said it sounded really nice. So the SSB works as well!

There'll be a piccy of the yagi soon - I forgot the camera on Sunday.

10 June 2007: Here it is, for what it's worth - it was very difficult to get a decent photo of the yagi.

Anyway, today I spoke to John MW1FGQ and Ian G6TGO, both on FM. No-one about on SSB. The converted 690 continues to work well!