Although the idea of running GB100TT originated in August 2006, the Ofcom validation for GB100TT was obtained only a few weeks before our departure on the 25th May. Perhaps a foretaste of our luck was that we arrived at Liverpool Pierhead at 09:00, about 1hr. 30mins before departure to be told "your ferry is cancelled, if you would like to drive to Heysham you could be on a ferry this afternoon". We arrived at Douglas at around 17:30, Castletown around 18:00 & started to unload. By the time we had unloaded & fed it was dark.
On the 26th we erected the aerials for 2,6 & the Cushcraft AP8A for HF. GD3YUM erected a dipole for 80M (thanks Martyn) on the 27th. A 20/40 dipole was also hoisted.
Band conditions were for the most part pretty awful with S9 noise on 80 & no propagation on 2.
The weather for the most of our stay was exactly on par with the band conditions until Monday the 4th around noon when the TT Motorcycle racing started, having been delayed by fog over the mountain, rain & high wind. The sun was then very strong & the shack temperature rose to nearly 30 degrees.
A few stations were worked on the 6th June but this was our departure day & all the kit had to be dis-assembled.
We were one of the very few cars on the Ferry back to Liverpool. The Motorcycles outnumbering cars by about 100 to 1.
Contacts Made By Band/Country
| Band | Contacts | Countries |
80 |
740 |
30 |
40 |
219 |
14 |
20 |
601 |
52 |
10 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
132 |
17 |
2 |
43 |
9 |
Given the simple Antennas in use the sum total of 1736 contacts in 59 Countries is reasonably pleasing & at least 1736 had the opportunity to work a unique callsign.
As of 30th June QSL cards are still at the design stage but will be despatched on receipt of incoming card.
73 to all.
Mike, GW6NLP
The GB100TT team would like to thank: Ronnie, Eileen, Darrell, Mike and Martin GD3YUM, Everyone who worked them, everyone who spotted them on the DX Cluster. Thanks also to Stuart Peters, and Manx Radio, Practical Wireless, Radio User, Monitoring Monthly, RSGB, ARRL, IRTS and the hundreds of other publications and sites around the world, there's far too many to mention, you all know who you are!...Thanks
The GB100TT Team were interviewed in the final days of GB100TT, on Manx Radio by Stuart Peters, during his breakfast show "Mandate"
Click this link for the Interview (4.3MB MP3)
I'd like to thank Stuart Peters, not only for interviewing some Amateurs who hadn't had a lot of sleep, but for giving us permission to put the interview on this website. Thanks once again Stuart!
