Pleased to report the aerial has been changed. We've removed the old folded dipole (used when we had twin aerial working) and employed a smaller aerial to reduce the wind loading. We've also dropped the height by about four feet. The gain of the new aerial is around a dB or so down on the original. Since the Raynet repeater is no longer co-sited, we've also removed a diplexer that sat in front of the filter set. There were signs of damage to the old aerial, but whether this work has cured the problems we've been seeing, only time will tell.

Many thanks to Graham G7EVY and Martyn G6IVC for all their help.

Mark, G4EID.

A few pictures of the "event".

The ascent, G4EID emerges (shakily) at the top.....
	G7EVY takes it all in his stride. G4EID meanwhile is on all fours...
Nearly down....
	Needs no description, other than to say have you seen G4EID standing yet? Er, no.
G7EVY, casually descends...
	To join G4EID (who's still not stood up yet). The swap out commences...
G4EID instructed to get back up to the aerial for a final check...
	But politely declines and heads back down...
All done, ready for use...

For anyone using the internet linking, whether it be IRLP or Echolink, can they please take some time to read the user notes on getting the best from the system? The main point to remember is to always leave pauses before you key up, then to wait a second or two before talking, without this, the other end will miss the first few seconds of what you are saying. In addition, after you've established a link, please also wait a few seconds before you consider transmitting, without this, you run the risk of treading over an existing QSO that's taking place on the node / repeater you've just connected to. A page that describes the best way to use the system is available here.