SOTA NEWS - DECEMBER 2014 - PART TWO OF TWO
REPORT FROM AUSTRALIA - by Allen VK3HRA
Hi all,
November in VK land is Spring. Spring brings a change in weather. The last 6 weeks have been busy with many taking the opportunity to activate before summer.
First we welcome the third VK and VK2’s first Mountain Goat - Rod VK2TWR.
Rod lives in Nimmitabel on the great dividing range South of Cooma NSW right in the middle of the Snowy Mountains Region. Rod once introduced to SOTA by VK3PF Peter and VK3WAM Wayne, was bitten by the bug quite severely. He has taken just over a year to gain the 1000 points required. 07/Nov/2014 was the big day. VK2/SM-003 (Mt Twynam) was chosen as a favourite summit of Rods. Joined by Rob VK2QR (weary from activating the evening before) for what is described as a stunning day, apparently one of the best ever on the Main Range.
Rods goal is to activate all 98 summits in Snowy region and as so far claimed 68.
Exploiting the proximity and applying the level of effort and dedication required in the Alpine conditions to complete 120 activations is such a short time is to be commended.
Congratulations again to Rod VK2’s First Mountain Goat.
2014 has seen 26 new Shack Sloths, to bring the total of 60 Shack sloths out of over 200 chasers now participating. Latest Sloth Paul VK1ATP only took 6 months to chase enough contacts to claim this prize.
The majority of the road closures in VK3 have been lifted so with the roads open. This places summits in the more remote regions back on the tables for activations. Unique activations are becoming harder to secure so all opportunities considered.
These conditions were ideal for the VK Spring SOTA Party. Hosted on the same weekend as VK3 KRMNPA National parks weekend, made for a hive of portable activity. Many activators made it a long weekend with several travelling from interstate to participate. It was to be 4 days of pretty trying band conditions and weather conditions.
It was a busy weekend for all involved. Spring weather made for a wet weekend for most. Conditions forced several to change plans. There were 57 SOTA activations across the weekend. The new associations were well represented with Justin, VK7TW and Reu VK7FREU activating VK7/SC-001, VK6 VK6MAC Anthony VK6/SW-054 & VK6/SW-056,VK6NI Nigel taking VK6/SW-056 and VK6MMB Michael picking up VK6/SW-048 and VK6/SW-064.
SOTA and KRMNPA activities were combined with several SOTA activators selected peaks with National Parks including VK3BYD Warren, VK5PAS Paul, VK3CAT Tony, VK3WAM Wayne, VK2QR Rob, VK3PF Peter, VK3HRA Allen, VK3ANL Nick as well as VK3FQSO Amanda joining the ranks of activators.
Not all ventures result in summits. VK3HRA Allen and VK2TWR Rod spent all day chasing Mt Cobberas to be unable to find access. Could only find rock faces. This was not the first time either of us had cancelled due to access. Thoughts turned to using bikes for access on next attempt. No unexpected to consider alternative transport after 20Km of bush tracks.
The Cobberas will wait another day.
VK2 experience gates all year and remote roads in VK3 have gates to restrict access to cars. The roads whilst not maintained are still usable so the use of bikes is considered. Not all summits support the use of bikes; Peter VK3ZPF considers the merits during activation of Federation Range, VK3/VN-029. Whilst they may not be ideal for taking up hill, they are excellent for coming back.
http://vk3zpf.com/2014/11/sota-on-a-bike-good-or-bad-idea.html
Several are several parties VK3CAT Tony, VK3AFW Ron following the forest tracks. Local knowledge goes a long way to help adjust to changing conditions.
Glen VK3YY and Kevin, VK3KAB who were keen to test a new Triton activated Mt Duffy to Mt Terrible in a day. During the previous night the tracks received 40mm of rain, causing concerns about road access.
Read more -
VK2 has seen 728 activations of 228 summits in its first year. The extra
250 summits will make a welcome addition to the VK2 Summits list. This will fill in some gaps left by our initial survey in 2013, correct a few summit locations will also be made as well as summit name changes.
A reminder of the Yahoo Group SOTA Australia
(Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos).
There are many resources on the group site, plus much discussion about all things SOTA in VK, including advance notice of activation plans.
So as the available regions and experience increases combined with improving weather, expect more activity.
73’s for now,
VK3HRA Allen
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“I had just put the station up and was sitting down having a drink when I noticed a large snake cruise past just about 5 feet from where I was sitting. I still had to set up the linked dipole at this stage so I didn’t venture far into the bush to attach the ends of the linked dipole”.
-John VK6NU, in his report of activating Boonering Hill VK6/SW-037, in South West Australia, on the 1st November.
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(The data-base says there are 43 SOTA summits with the word “Snake” in the title - none of these in Europe, thank goodness - Ed)
SOTA REPORT FROM SOUTH AFRICA By Dennis ZS4BS
ZS SOTA News for November
The Eastern Cape (ZS/EC) has been busy during the month of November. On Sunday 9 November, the team of Mandy, ZS2AV, Andrew, ZS2G, and Dave, ZS2DH (also a member of Scouts South Africa) were successful in activating Kompasberg (Compass Mountain) ZS/EC-002. A previous attempt was foiled by high winds and weather conditions.
Kompasberg is not far from the village of Nieu-Bethesda, home of the Owl Lady, the eccentric Helen Martins. The Owl House - Wikipedia
On Saturday 22 November, Dave, ZS2DH, and Hendrick, ZS2HC, activated Tor Doone, ZS/EC-012 in the Hogsback area not far from Fort Beaufort.
On Sunday 30 November, Andrew, ZS2G, and Mandy, ZS2AV, activated Ben Macdhui, EC/ZS-001, just north of the village of Rhodes. The border between the Eastern Cape and Lesotho (7P8) meet on Ben Macdhui.
Then moving to the North West province, Sid, ZS5AYC/6 and his wife Adele, ZS6APT/6 activated one summit (while visiting their children). On 4 November, they activated Kleinlosberg (Small Loose Standing Mountain) ZS/NW-002.
They then moved to Mpumalanga and on 11 November, they activated Die Berg (The Mountain) ZS/MP-001. Sid and Adele are on pension and enjoy travelling around the country.
73
Dennis ZS4BS
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CW REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 2014 by Roy G4SSH
The deteriorating weather and the anticipation of the start of winter bonus resulted in the expected reduction in European SOTA activity during the month of November. There were many days when chasers struggled to collect double-figure points. The effect of the weather also resulted in lower summits being attempted.
One result of this anticipated dip in activity levels is that during the month of November the ratio of chasers to activators is suddenly increased. Although there are fewer activators, the number of chasers remains the same, hence the bigger pile-ups and an expected flurry of complaints that SOTA standards are dropping.
Stephan DM1LE continued his expeditions at the start of the month, using his own call and S5/DM1LE.
Four op’s; Paul HB9DST, Tom HB9BSH, Uli HB9CGA and Peter HB9TVK were active on different bands simultaneously on the 2nd, from HB/NW-017 and HB/NW-018
Another four Ops; Phil G4OBK, Nick G4OOE, Dave G3TQQ and Geoff 2E0NON were active on a mini-expedition around G/SB and GM/SS regions early in the month, operating on 2m FM, 40m CW and 40M SSB.
Congratulations to Jan OK2PDT who was active on most days during November, operating both with his own call and SP/OK2PDT. Jan is the leading activator in OK-land and has just passed the “1000 summits activated” milestone using his home made 1 watt QRP rig, all on CW. Due to the increasing level of background noise on 40m at my QTH, I rarely even hear Jan (or any other QRP OK station) on that band. However, the good news is that Jan has now started using 30m in addition to 40m, which gives a very readable signal and is much appreciated. Many thanks Jan. It is often not realised just how much stronger a QRP station can become by just using a higher band.
It was a pleasure listening to Gerald F6HBI. who was active from one or two French summits during the month. Gerald employs the most efficient operating procedure by starting on the highest HF band (28 MHz) and dropping down through the bands in sequence, 24,21, 18, 14 10 and finally 7 MHz. This ensures that he starts by working the DX stations, then methodically bringing in the distant EU stations in ever decreasing circles so that by the time he reaches 7 MHz there are relatively few stations left calling, so avoiding the familiar feeding frenzy on that band by activators who start there and face the added problem created by distant stations who struggle to hear the activator on that band.
It was a good month for chasers requiring the Canary Islands for the continent of Africa, with Eva EA8/M0HJV & Angel EA8/M0HDF active from Tenerife Island, Al, EA8/DJ5AA and Bernd EA8/DX2DXA active from Gran Canaria Island, Victor EA8/GI4ONL from Lanzarote Island and Joe DF8KY from Gomera Island. The further good news is that Christophe ON6ZQ, Joe DF8KY and James M0CJQ intend operating from EA8 during January.
Towards the end of the month Kurt HB9AFI frequently heard active, as was Heinz, using callsign DL/HB9BCB, in the BW region of Germany.
Fritz DL4FDM and Tom DL1ASA mounted an expedition to DM/RP-317 where they were active simultaneously on most HF bands on the 22nd of the month.
Jurg HB9BIN commenced an expedition into Germany on the 25th and was very active as DL/HB9BIN from the AL region before returning to his home region.
The 29th of the month was a fine day for operations from Finland. Marko OH9XX and Saku OH2NOS were active almost every hour from the OH/JS region.
Sake PA0SKP CW) joined up with colleague Hans PA3FY(SSB) for a two day expedition on the 21st and 22nd into the RP region of Germany. Sake reports that the RP intended summits were too far to do in one day. (4 hours drive from their QTH) so they made plans for an 2day-trip.
In the words of Sake:-
"We activated 9 summits. The first station I worked from the first summit was G4SSH!! hihi (21/11/2014 at1036 14Mhz from DM/RP-455).
On 21/11 we activated 4 summits and on 22/11, 5 summits.
I mostly worked on 14 MHz (but also 10 MHz and 24MHz). Conditions to VK were not good.
We worked: EU, USA, Canada, Total in CW 154 QSO’s.
21/11 DM/RP-455/193/430/179 22/11 DM/RP-418/160/187/158/178.
Thanks to all the chasers for their patience.
See you!
73 SAKE PA0SKP".
SOTA CW ACTIVATORS SUBMITTING ENTRIES TO THE DATA BASE ABOVE 7 MHZ DURING NOVEMBER 2014 - from Kevin G0NUP
This file produced from 27/Nov/2Ø14 data
Mode: SOTA CW on 1ØMHz: activity for November 2014,
9H4RH/P, DF3MC/P, DK7MG/P, DL/HA6QR/P, DL/HB9BCB/P, DL/HB9BIN/P, DL/OE5EEP/P, DL4FDM/P, DL4KCA/P, DL6AP/P, DL6DH/P, DL8DXL/P, DM1LE/P, EA2BDS/P, EA2CW/P, EA2IF/P, F/HB9BCB/P, F5UKL/P, F6HBI/P, G3RDQ/P, G3VQO/P, G4RQJ/P, G4TJC/P, HA2PP/P, HA2VR/P, HA5LV/P, HA5MA/P, HA7UL/P, HB9AFI/P, HB9AGO/P, HB9BAB/P, HB9BCB/P, HB9BHW/P, HB9BIN/P, HB9BSH/P, HB9CBR/P, HB9CGA/P, HB9CLT/P, HB9DGV/P, HB9DST/P, HB9EWO/P, HB9JOE/P, HB9SVT/P, HB9TVK/P, HL2OLP/P, KØJQZ, K7SO, KE5AKL, KXØR, M1BUU/P, NØEVH, NØPCL, N6JZT, NA6MG, OE5EEP/P, OK/DL8DXL/P, OK1DVM/P, OK1MLP/P, OK2BDF/P, OK2BTK/P, OK2PDT/P, OK2PYA/P, OM/OK2PDT/P, OM4XA/P, S51RU/P, S52CU/P, S53X/P, S53XX/P, S57X/P, SP/OK2PDT/P, VK2IB/3, VK3BYD/P, VK3CAT/P, W2CKL, W4/PA3BHF, WA2USA/P, WA6ARA, WA9STI, WB5USB, YO2BP/P
Mode: SOTA CW on 14MHz: activity for November 2014
AD4IE, AD5A, AK6Q, AK6Y, DF3MC/P, DG5WU/P, DK7MG/P, DL/HB9BCB/P, DL/HB9BIN/P, DL/PAØSKP/P, DL2XL/P, DL4KCA/P, DL4MFM/P, DL6AP/P, EA2BDS/P, EA2CW/P, EA5FV/P, EA8/GI4ONL/P, EA8/MØHDF/P, EA8/MØHJV/P, F/HB9AFI/P, F/HB9BCB/P, F/HB9IIO/P, F5HTR/P, F5PLR/QRP/P, F5UKL/P, F6HBI/P, F8FEO/P, GM3YTS/P, HA2VR/P, HA5LV/P, HA5MA/P, HA7UL/P, HB9AFI/P, HB9AGO/P, HB9BAB/P, HB9BCB/P, HB9BIN/P, HB9BQU/P, HB9BRJ/P, HB9BSH/P, HB9CBR/P, HB9CGA/P, HB9DGV/P, HB9EWO/P, HB9JOE/P, KØJQZ, K1JD, K2JB, K6HPX/P, K7NEW, K7SO, KD7WPJ, KE5AKL, KF7PXT, KXØR, MØIML/P, M1BUU/P, M1EYP/P, MMØFMF/P, NØEVH, NØPCL, NØTA, N2GDS, N6JZT, N6ZA, N7RR, NA6MG, ND7PA, NE1SJ, NM5S, OE5AUL/P, OE5EEP/P, OE5EIN/P, OK1DVM/P, OK1MLP/P, OK2PDT/P, OK2PYA/P, OM/SQ9SHR/P, OM4XA/P, PAØSKP/P, S5/DM1LE/P, S51RU/P, S52CU/P, S53X/P, S53XX/P, S57TX/P, VA2VL, VA2VL/W2, VE2DDZ, VK1DA, VK2IO/4, VK2IO/P, VK2YW/P, VK3BYD/P, VK3WAM/P, WØCP, W2CKL, W4/PA3BHF, W4EON, W6AH, W7JET, W7USA, WA2USA/P, WA6ARA, WA7JTM, WA7NCL, WA9STI, WBØUSI, WB5USB, WGØAT, WH6LE, WO7A, WSØTA
Mode: SOTA CW on 18MHz: activity for November 2014
AD5A, DL/OE5EEP/P, DL6AP/P, EA2BDS/P, F5UKL/P, F6HBI/P, G3RDQ/P, HA5LV/P, HB9BCB/P, HB9CBR/P, HB9CGA/P, HB9JOE/P, K1JD, K2JB, K6HPX/P, K6TW, K7ATN, K7SO, KXØR, MMØFMF/P, NØEVH, NØPCL, NA6MG, NM5S, OK1DVM/P, OK1MLP/P, S52CU/P, S53X/P, S57X/P,
Mode: SOTA CW on 21MHz: activity for November 2014
AD4IE, AD5A, DL/OE5EEP/P, DL6AP/P, F/HB9BCB/P, F5HTR/P, F6HBI/P, HB9BQU/P, HB9BRJ/P, HB9CBR/P, HB9CGA/P, HB9JOE/P, K2JB, K7SO, KXØR, M1EYP/P, NØPCL, NE1SJ, NM5S, OE5AUL/P, OE5EEP/P, OK1DVM/P, OK1MLP/P, S52CU/P, S57X/P, VA2VL, W4/PA3BHF, W4EON, W4PH, WA7NCL, WH6LE,
Mode: SOTA CW on 24MHz: activity for November 2014
DL/HB9BCB/P, DL/OE5EEP/P, DL/PAØSKP/P, DL6AP/P, EA2CW/P, EA2IF/P, EA8/DL2DXA/P, F/HB9BCB/P, F5HTR/P, F5UKL/P, F6HBI/P, HB9AFI/P, HB9BSH/P, HB9CBR/P, HB9TVK/P, K1JD, K2JB, K7ATN, KD7WPJ, MMØFMF/P, NØPCL, NA6MG, OE5AUL/P, OE5EEP/P, OK/SQ9SHR/P, OK2BDF/P, OM/SQ9SHR/P, S52CU/P, VA2VL, WØCP, W6AH, WA7JTM
Mode: SOTA CW on 28MHz: activity for November 2014
EA2BDS/P, EA8/DL2DXA/P, F5HTR/P, F5UKL/P, F6HBI/P, HB9BCB/P, HB9BRJ/P, HB9CBR/P, K1JD, K7ATN, KD7WPJ, MØHDF/P, M1EYP/P, NØPCL, NA6MG, OE5AUL/P, OE5EEP/P, PAØSKP/P, S52CU/P, S57X/P, VA2VL, W4/PA3BHF, WB5USB, WH6LE
73
Kevin G0NUP
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SOTA News is normally published on the last day of each month, but there will be occasions when the Editor is not available at this time, in which case it will be published as soon as possible afterwards. It can only be as interesting as the items submitted, so if you think your particular field of interest is not being covered then please submit an article by the 25th of the month. Have you a favourite SOTA? favourite mode? favourite rig, antenna, or favourite band? How did you find your first day / month / year as an activator or chaser? Your comments and experiences will be read by SOTA enthusiasts all across Europe, the USA, Australia and beyond, in a total of 24 different countries. Your input will be most welcome.
I receive many e-mails during the month containing details of activations, milestones reached and general SOTA news. Unless advised otherwise I will use this information in the next edition of SOTA News. It is important therefore that you advise me if any information is not intended for publication.
The next Issue of SOTA News will be the last one for the year and we welcome any “Reviews of the Year” from association managers, newcomers during 2014 or old hands who have managed to reach a personal SOTA milestone. Deadline by the 29th December please.
The SOTA News team wish all activators, chasers, SWL’s and their families a very Happy Christmas.
73
Roy G4SSH
SOTA News Editor
g4ssh@tiscali.co.uk
U.S. and Canadian reports to:-
Fred K6DGW [aka “Skip” on the radio]
Canada/US SOTA Reporter Dude
Auburn CA
k6dgw@foothill.net
Australian input to:-
Allen VK3HRA
VK Reporter
arharvie@gmail.com