Well, the alarm clock went off at 0430 local time. A very nice morning and clear drive to G/SP-017 Billinge Hill, which was covered in a shade under one hour, despite the road works that have been on the M6 motorway, for about the last 25 years.
After deciding to add 4 metres to my repertoire, the load I had to carry was even heavier than usual. Still, Billinge Hill is only a short 15 minute walk and I was set-up, self spotted on 20m and QRV at 0545z. Trade from EU was steady with Ed DD5LP first to make my log, quickly followed by another 38 contacts, despite the QSB trying to spoil the party. Amongest them a very nice contact with Simon G4TJC.
For sure, there was going to be no repeat of my VK7CW contact of last week. However, true to form, the Antron-99, pulled yet another rabbit out of the hat. Not VK7, but the rare Canadian Province of VE7, British Columbia, in the shape of Mike VE7MHC for a very nice 7300Km contact and a new SOTA VE province for me. I logged a few more contacts on 20m before giving 17m a try, where just three contacts were logged.
Next up, was a visit to 4m FM, however, I don’t think the rig is in particularly good shape. It seems to be putting out half the 25 watts it should do and to make matters worse there was some sort of problem with the antenna. Still, nice to get 5 contacts in the log, before returning to the 20m band for one last shout.
An interesting activation, which produced just the one DX contact and one s2s with Terja LA8BCA/P, activating LA/HM-135.
71 Contacts for the activation.
63 contacts on 20m
3 contacts on 17m
5 contacts on 4m FM.
Thanks to the VK guys for trying to work me, it just wasn’t to be this morning
73 Mike
2E0YYY