The Yorkshire Mesh Radio Club braved the elements this past weekend to participate in the annual 145 Alive event. Three of our dedicated members set up a temporary station at the historic Castle Hill in Huddersfield, aiming to push the limits of the 2-meter band.

Weathering the Storm
While Castle Hill offers some of the best elevations in the region, it is notoriously unforgiving when the weather turns. Our team faced challenging conditions, with winds and intermittent rain testing both our gear and our resolve.

Despite the grey skies, the spirits remained high as the airwaves began to crackle with activity from across the country.

The Results
The 2-meter band (145 MHz) came alive indeed! Our team focused on both FM for local accessibility and SSB for those harder-to-reach distances. Here is a snapshot of our successful contacts:

FM Log: 40+ successful QSOs

SSB Log: 7+ contacts (reaching significantly further afield)

These numbers are a testament to the effectiveness of VHF even when the “WX” isn’t on our side. It was great to hear so many familiar callsigns and meet new operators joining the event for the first time.

Why 145 Alive?
The 145 Alive event is designed to promote activity on the VHF bands, encouraging operators to get portable and experiment with different modes. For the Yorkshire Mesh Radio Club, it’s a perfect opportunity to practice our rapid-deployment skills and enjoy the camaraderie that comes with field operations.

A big thank you to everyone who turned their beams toward Huddersfield and stuck it out through the static to log a contact with us!

Join Us! Interested in radio experimentation or digital mesh networking? We are always looking for new members. Check out our Join Us Page or drop by our next meeting.