What is believed to be the first 47GHz contact between the UK
and an overseas country took place on Friday, 25 June 1999, when G3PYB/P and G8ACE/P (the
UK 47GHz record holders) worked Hans, F/PA0EHG who was located across the English Channel
at Cap Blanc Nez, some 34km from the two G stations who were just a few hundred metres
from Dover Castle in Kent. Between the two locations a line off sight existed and with
binoculars the other location was vissible.
The contacts took place around lunchtime (G3PYB/P at 12.12GMT and G8ACE/P at
12.20GMT.
Signals wereexceedingly strong both ways,
and F/PA0EHG was able to copy G8ACE/P;s 150 microwatts SSB on just a feedhorn.
Hans transmitted CW though SSB would have been easily read.
Equipment at the UK end is
believed to be a 15mW tx/rx (G3PYB/P) and a barefoot DB6NT 47GHz mixer (G8ACE/P). No
details of the antennas are available as yet.
Equipment at the French end is a 12 mW TX and a DB6NT mark2 RX. Antenna was a 24 cm dish.
This contact is believed to be a G-F 47GHz
first and most likely a first overseas contact on the band from the UK.