An extra meeting in Newport presented an opportunity to try and bag a couple more of the GW/SW set, and having consulted the archives (and Gerald’s notes) I decided that G/SW-019 before the meeting, and GW/SW-024 (and hopefully GW/SW-030 afterwards) would be a suitable target.
However, having failed on several prior occasions to qualify two summits on one day, the step to three was a bit ambitious, so I only alerted for the first two, but with the possibility held out.
Having set off from Farnborough at 0500bst I arrived at GW/SW-019 and called CQ on 145.500/FM at 0800gmt exactly as per my alert… and I was met by Frank G3RMD/M (my first contact with this SOTA regular) quickly followed by Jonathon M6HBS in Swindon and Tom G3XMM in Gloucester.
After a further 15 minutes of fruitless calling, I used a tidbit I’d previously noted, and called into the Cheltenham Net on 145.400 to ensure the summit was qualified (thanks all). A return to 145.500 used another ten minutes of battery life… I then switched to SSB where immediately Gavin MW0VKD in Llanelli and Mike G6OES in Coventry went into the log. A further 15 minutes of calling proved fruitless, although I note that Gerald G4OIG did spot me, but I didn’t hear him. At 0900bst I went QRT and headed to the car, arriving back at 0930bst and set off for my 1000bst meeting.
What should have been a two hour meeting turned into a four hour meeting, but having over-estimated traval and walking time, I arrived at GW/SW-024 only an hour after the alerted time… But I decided not to try to squeeze GW/SW-030 in afterwards, as timescales were tight anyway.
As it turned out, this was a good decision. I started out wasting 20 minutes on 2m/SSB with nothing to show for it, before moving over to FM. Local contacts Rob GW0WLO and Phil GW0IRT quickly showed up, but it was a further 10 minutes before Barry 2E0ZBR/M sat in his car at G/SC-008 Win Green (ie not SOTAing) made it three, and another ten minutes before Neil 2E0HOQ in Weston Super Mare made it four.
I did contemplate trying for GW/SW-030 at this point but once again decided against, so hung around for a bit longer. Tony G8CKK in Bristol made it five, before Rob GW0WLQ popped back to suggest a 70cm. Sadly I couldn’t make him out, but Tony G8CKK popped over two, to become my first ever 70cm non-repeater contact
Returning to 2m, Dave M0VMC/P popped up from G/DC-002 for a Summit-To-Summit to finish off with.
GW/SW-030 will have to wait til I’m back this way…
One really disappointing aspect is the lack of APRS coverage… it was OK up to arriving at GW/SW-019 as Jonathon M6HBS noted on his contact, but thereafter, only three packets made it to the net
Thanks to all chasers, and hope to work you all again soon
Andrew
M(W)6ADB