The following is an AI-generated report of tonight’s Monday Night Net. Why? Because we can.
Chair: Aubrey M7SDA
Repeater: GB3DA (Danbury)
Theme (emergent): Chestnuts, bikes, infotainment, and the usual radio mishaps
AI-generated Limeric Summary:
There once was a net on GB3DA,
Where Aubrey kept calling, “All OK?”
Pete checked in mid-dinner,
Dorothy’s flatbreads—winner—
As chestnuts were roasting away.
Check-ins
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M7SDA (Aubrey) — Chair. 12-mile walk, mic testing (Yaesu MD-100 on borrowed lead). Fox visitors story. Loves dark chocolate and chunky KitKats.
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M0PSX (Pete) — Dropped in while having dinner/overtime. Noted: his XYL Sarah is on the cover of the training manual and Dorothy appears inside/course. Flagged SEARS night likely Thu 19:30. Mentioned Lucy, now M1UCY.
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M0LMR (Dorothy) — Gardening still blooming; started (early!) Christmas hamper shopping. Chestnut cooking ideas (score, soak/steam, butter) and ISS SSTV attempts. Shared a brilliant flatbread recipe (see below). Chauffeur: Richard. CARS club night AGM at Danbury (tomorrow).
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M7TRU (Mick) — Petrol shelf-life worry for mowers (carbs); various simplex/memory-mode mishaps; foot-switch vs plunger PTT; dislikes candy floss/popcorn; conker carnage on the road; classic-car YouTube musings.
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M0NMT (Neil) — Pennine Way sections done (~50 miles); chestnut bounty year; motorbike training nearing full licence; winter bike fuel/battery tips; stop-start car battery still healthy.
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M1HPR (Ian, Buntingford, Herts) — New 2m antenna; strong into DA; will tidy shack and return to nets. Uses bike/walking more these days.
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M0NFJ (Rory) — Popped in mid-net; cycle-lane design rant; campfire marshmallow disaster (white spirit!); infotainment (Ford Sync) update success; then dashed to finish epoxy/fibreglass repair.
Notable topics & tips
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YL activity: Mentions of Lily, Dorothy, Lucy M1UCY, and a newly licensed Jenny (M7, in Kent) who used the online course; invited to future nets.
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Chestnuts (consensus yum):
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Score the skin (scissors/knife), soak briefly, then roast; or steam in a lidded pan, finish in oven/frying pan; air-fryer works too. Easier to peel when pre-soaked.
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Common radio goofs: Wrong mic, mic lock left on, memory vs VFO on simplex, accidental long key-downs. (We’ve all done it!)
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Fuel & batteries:
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Petrol shelf life ~6 months is the working rule of thumb; carburetted garden kit prefers fresh fuel.
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Bike wintering: keep on a trickle charger, consider E5 over E10 (especially carbs); run it up periodically.
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Car stop-start systems can be fussy about battery health; low voltage throws fault codes.
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Cars/infotainment: Ford Sync 3→4 updates, overlay behaviour quirks; love/hate of modern driver aids; classic cars praised (Jag XK150 jaw-dropping prices; Triumph Roadster “brutal” but charming).
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Wildlife: Urban fox chorus; coexistence with cats; watch for night-time screams (mating calls).
Announcements / dates
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CARS (Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society) AGM — Tomorrow night at Danbury.
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SEARS club night — Thursday ~19:30 (per Pete).
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Regulars on GB3DA: Elms Net (Wed) and Tea Party Net (Thu 16:00).
Dorothy’s 2-ingredient flatbread (keeper!)
Equal parts Greek yoghurt + plain flour, pinch of salt, splash of olive oil. Knead, rest 10–15 min, divide, roll thin, dry hot pan until puffed/spotty. Optional butter brush. (Perfect with leftover lamb, salad, etc.)
Topic Montage
Radio Equipment & Technical Notes
Transceivers and Mics
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Aubrey (M7SDA):
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Used a Yaesu MD-100 microphone.
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Connected via a Yaesu 857 lead due to missing OEM cable; Ethernet cable was previously tried unsuccessfully.
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Reported excellent performance after cable change.
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Dorothy (M0LMR):
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Used a different microphone (possibly a Y2MG100).
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Requested audio reports and received positive feedback (“clear and fine”).
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General Issues Discussed:
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Mic lock-ups, wrong microphone selection, and accidentally transmitting for long durations (e.g., key lock incidents and “desk locked on DA”).
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Common simplex mishaps (memory mode vs VFO confusion).
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Signal Reports
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M1HPR (Ian) checked in from Buntingford, Hertfordshire — good signal both ways into GB3DA despite distance.
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M7SDA noted that even without an antenna connected, the repeater’s signal was S3–S4 at his QTH (Rayleigh).
Repeater Performance
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GB3DA described as strong and consistent across Essex and parts of Kent.
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Mention of mobile and portable QSOs with Kent stations (Jenny, M7, mobile/portable).
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