Hi Glyn
Sorry to hear of your HF problems on the hills but glad that 2m (and 70cm!) came to the rescue. I did wonder how come you were always monitoring 2m when I called, after telling me you were setting up on HF, but I was very grateful.
Thank you for QSYing so promptly to 70cm when requested, I had no idea this was such a novelty for you. The first 70cm S2S (Mynydd Troed SW-009) to Fan Ghyrich (SW-006) was on the VX7 twig as I was in a hurry to catch you, with signal reports 57 and 55 so no problem. Things weren’t quite so simple as I staggered up Mynydd Llangorse (I’m not very fit at present and this was my first attempt at carrying a light rucksack since my accident in August) and found a ‘sheltered’ spot amongst the crags. I knew you were waiting so thought I’d try the twig again, although we were both on lower hills, but I did just assemble the dipole and left it lying on the ground. We got the 2m S2S (SW-015 to SW-007) with 54, 58 but things went rather quiet on 70cm and just a few crackles and the odd word came through. I swapped the coax, grabbed the dipole and propped it up. “That’s better” came the reply and the 51, 54 contact was made. Phew! My main ambition for the day had been to get 4 70cm contacts from Llangorse but I had dismissed this as impossible when I was struggling to get any replies, even on 2m, on Troed in freezing conditions. The airwaves seemed to be completely dead, apart from S2S (thanks also to Pete GW4ISJ/P) but I eventually qualified Troed on both bands.
Most unusually, I seemed to be getting a few more responses from Llangorse - perhaps the new operating position, suggested by M0JLA, which was giving me some take-off was working. I had now got 2 70cm S2S (can you see why Rodney and I operate from different summits when we can?) and only 2 more to go. A new contact, Nathan 2W0CVL/M near Blaenau, was 59 59 on both frequencies so I was on 3… Martin, from Churchdown, nr Gloucester G4ENZ, was defeated by too much 70cm local interference despite strenuous efforts but then Phil GW0IRT, who had driven specially to Llangynidr Moor with some 70cm kit, stormed in with 59 59 and I was home. My grateful thanks to all concerned and another tick in the 70cm log.
I took up SOTA operating on 70cm, as well as 2m, just under 2 years ago and have activated 226 summits (not all different) and amassed just over 800 points. I would like to thank all my chasers, some of whom have gone to great lengths (dusted off a radio and read the manual frantically, gone up in the attic with the aerial out the window, to the end of the garden with a mast, into the car and up a hill) to help me and also my fellow Sota operators, especially Allan GW4VPX who adds to the heavy load in his rucksack when he knows I am also up a hill. Some areas I have drawn a complete blank and in others have encountered a real pile-up (Titterstone Clee and Stiperstones come to mind). My usual response when asking the 2m contact if he can also work 70cm is “no-one uses that round here, I wish they did” but many of them are happy to have a go and are rather pleased when successful. Some times the contact is a lot clearer than it was on 2m. So, please, both activators and chasers, don’t forget 70cm and PLEASE repair the 70cm aerial that got blown down last winter/2 years ago and get ready for my 'Any chance of a 70cm contact, please?"
73 Viki M6BWA