Hi All,
Just a brief note on my activation of SB008 today.
This was my first attempt at using HF on a SOTA activation, so something of an experiment for me. Chosen band was 5MHz, simply because I had a spare length of flexiweave, 15m long!!
Set up was my ‘landing net pole’, of about 10ft, with the wire sloping to the ground, tuned by an MFJ-902. Using my FT817, with external 12v battery pack… so I suspect I was putting out about 4 watts.
Conditions were strange to say the least, and although the antenna was far from ideal, I suspect the conditions were causing the deep QSB…and signal ‘drop outs’. Next time I intend to use a dipole (inverted V)…any advice on 5MHz antennas gratefully accepted…
Contacts were (on 5MHz)
G4RZP, GW7AAV (thanks for the spot Steve), G0TDM, GW0DSP, G0TRB.
After that things were even more quiet…so I switched to VHF
2m SSB:- G0EOY, Stewart, ‘local’ at Throckley, then I called for half an hour and that was it.
2m FM brought ‘locals’:- G2ARY and M0BQD George and Lesa (‘Stateside’, as in New York, North Shields!), then G0CQK/M Jim, and G1ZJQ Derek, both regular SOTAists.
Overall pretty quiet, and not the pile up I expected on 5MHz
The Weather was interesting…it appeared to be ‘chucking it down’, south of us Tyne Valley, and South Northumberland, and the same to the North - Cheviot looking very damp, dark and evil. However we had a very pleasant 3 hours on the summit, cloudy, but no rain, and quite hot when the sun came out. We must have had the only decent band of weather in the area.
Many thanks to all who contacted me, and especially thanks for their patience with 5MHz!!
All in all a very nice afternoon out
73s
Rob (G1TPO)