Operating from NP-017 Fountains Fell using my Yaesu FT-817ND, 2.5W on 2M SSB into my Diamond A144S 5 element yagi. Here is just a sample from my log that day:-
13:16 F2YT Paul - JO01gi
13:23 DJ5NU Fred - JO31gh
13:25 DK1PZ Heinz - JO41th
13:32 DL1ERD Ekki - JO31in
13:36 F6DVY Peirre - JO10bv
13:40 F5APQ Jack - JO00xu
13:42 F6FLB Pierre
13:44 F4EMG Oliver - JO00wu
13:46 DL8EBW Guy - JO31nf
13:47 ON4ZN Walter - JO21fb
13:50 F0DMU Phillipo - JO10lp
13:52 DH2DAM Ralf - JO31ph
13:57 DL8YE Chris - JO31mh
The ‘G’ stations barely got a look in that day because stations from France, Germany and Belgium were much stronger. I was above the clouds that day witnessing a superb inversion. I was told that I was by far the stongest station coming from the UK that day. No doubt a case of being in the right place at the right time. Earlier that same day I activated Horse Head Moor and there was nothing on 2M SSB.
So, anyone else have a day worth remembering out on the hills playing radio?
So, anyone else have a day worth remembering out on the hills playing radio?
Although one or two days are worth forgeting most of my SOTA outings have been worth remembering. The problem is the memory is not what it was, so that is one reason for writting activation reports on my website, so I can read them and remember the good times.
Certainly looks like you had a good one that day. It seems like forever since there was a good opening on 2m. I can remember one night telling my XYL Helen to go to bed and I would follow her when the DX had stopped coming through. I got to bed at 4am and was back up working EU stations at 7am, tired but happy. I have yet to be in such a position on a summit. I came close one day but I had already been at it for four hours when an opening started and I had all but used all my battery power.
So, anyone else have a day worth remembering out on the hills playing radio?
1st time I called CQ on 7.032 with my awful CW skills and worked 5 contacts from the top of the world (Ben Hope NS-020). Success on the key plus views that have few equals.
Second best time when the dude was winched down from a Navy Rescue helicopter to see me on the summit of Stob Binnein SS-002. We had a chat about radio, mountains, rescues and hill races finishing off with him saying they’d go and practice on another mountain so their rotorwash and noise didn’t bother me!
I’m hoping the next VHF Fun Day will be another day to remember Chris.
In reply to G1INK:
Hi Steve
Impressive list!
Do you have any info on the DH3KZ log periodic? Is it commercial or homebrew?
Looking for something small and light for 70cm.
Cheers
Tim
G4YTD
Hi Tim, I mistyped the c/s - it was DH3ZK Wolfgang who used to be a fairly prolific activator. Wolf had a stall at Friedrichshafen selling various things & thats where I got my antenna. I bought a new one this year - a double quad for 70cms & a length of ecoflex 10 with plugs. Once I get round to assembling the feedline Ill be heard on 70cms again. There is a good design for a quadruple quad that folds up by GW0VMW on the yahoo group - I`ll find a link & post on here.
In reply to M1EYP:
Cheers Tom
I have had a couple of attempts at home brew 70cm, not too happy with the performance. 2m, 6m and 23cm all ok, its just 70cm!
Tim
G4YTD
In reply to G1INK:
Hi Steve
That is my kind of antenna!
Thanks for the link.
Still at work on a call-if-you-need-me basis, confined to barracks while its sunny outside
Cheers
Tim
24/12/06 on G/SP-007 Fair Snape Fell before Steve G1INK had set up his little 70cms log periodic, I worked DD4TC on 433MHz FM with 2.5w from my FT817 just on it’s rubber duck. Absolutely amazing.
Nothing spectacular, but I worked some DL’s when I activated Detling Hill SE-013 on 70cms SSB running 20W to a 6 element and then had to smile when a VHF NFD station less than a kilometre from me struggled to make contact with the same stations.
Perhaps the most impressive single SOTA contact was working Don G0RQL in Devon from Craig y Castell GW/NW-074 on 2m SSB - achieved by beaming east! I was running 120 watts out and it must have been by some form of scatter. That’s about the only way of getting around Cadair Idiris! Just take a look at the map and you’ll see what I mean.
Nice one Gerald - in a similar vein I worked M0FGH in Gillingham & the Birmingham mafia on 2m ssb beaming NE towards Penrith from G/LD-043 Hallin Fell which is surrounded on all sides except NE by higher hills.
I will never forget taking my brand-new FT857D to activate Carnmenellis in Cornwall on a stinkin’ hot day. I set up for two metres SSB and tuned around a dead band, and suddenly there was an EA calling CQ at 5 and 9++. I called him successfully and was just finishing with him when the battery fell over on the uneven ground and the crocodile clips came off. I grabbed it in a hurry and put them back, but as the sweat was running into my eyes I did not realise that they were the wrong way around. The 857 did. It died on the spot. R.I.P. That is how I learned that there is no reverse voltage protection on the 857.
Definately a day worth remembering, but not for the right reasons!
!