SOTA NEWS - OCTOBER 2014 - PART ONE OF TWO
EDITORIAL – by Roy G4SSH
Welcome to the October 2014 edition of SOTA News. My thanks go to the following contributors:- Barry GM4TOE, Skip K6GDW, Allen VK3HRA, Dennis ZS4BS Mark G0VOF, Kevin G0NUP, Rob and Audrey G4RQJ,
To date it has been difficult to assess the size of the regular audience to SOTA News. The only feedback available has been when a handful of readers posted a comment on a particular item in the news (more if I made an error!) but, in general, most were content to read the news and go away satisfied. If asked, my own estimate of the size of the readership would have been around the 100-200 mark, based on the number of regular activators and chasers who appear on the reflector.
This all changed last month with the introduction of the new Reflector. Now we have access to statistics which show that the September SOTA News was viewed more than 1000 times - and many readers even took the time to award us with a “liked this post” badge! (Much appreciated)
The main accolade for this success must go to our loyal band of regular contributors listed above, who take the time to update readers of SOTA activity in their part of the world or their particular interest. It is not easy to submit a regular monthly input, but without contributors there would be no SOTA News. They do not now have to wonder if anyone reads their input anymore - they now know that their contribution is read by 1000 readers monthly, which should serve to both encourage and demonstrate to them that they really are appreciated.
I took over the position of SOTA News Editor in March 2008 and have held the post for the past six and a half years. During this time I have seen SOTA News increase from just a few pages to the position today when we have input from individuals and associations from all parts of the globe, with each edition running to many thousands of words and a consequential increase in editorial time.
I am therefore pleased to announce that Mark, G0VOF has volunteered to join the SOTA News editorial team as picture editor, so relieving me of the additional task of processing any incoming reports containing photo’s and inserting them into the SOTA News. Thank you Mark - your offer is particularly appreciated and most welcome at this time.
Roy G4SSH
SOTA News Editor
SOTA AWARDS FOR SEPTEMBER 2014 - By Barry GM4TOE - SOTA Awards Manager
What an amazing month for claims, I am not sure but I think this is a record. Yet another Chaser has exceeded the 100k mark, DL1FU being the most recent. That means that a target we never thought was achievable when SOTA started has now been exceeded by no less than four stations. This almost over shadows the amazing achievements of many others N4EX (50k), W0ERI (20k) and VK3PF (10k) to mention but three. Congratulations to new Mountain Goats DK3ES, K7ATN and G4OOE and Shack Sloths AE5KA, DL2YBG, M0ONI, EI9GLB, WB0USI and VK2GAZ.
The first claims for the 12m Challenge certificate have come in and hopefully others who performed so well in this challenge will come forward and claim theirs. The certificate is available for both Activators and Chasers and the list of qualifying stations was published in the news at the end of July.
Trophies
Mountain Goat
DK9ES Norbert Braun
K7ATN Etienne Scott
G4OOE Nick Langmead
Shack Sloth
M0ONI Gary Swift
EI9GLB Jim Hall
Certificates claimed
Activator
DL4MHA Wolfgang Renner 500 points
WB0USI Rick Loughrey 250 points
VK2BJP Russ Jacob 100 points
AE7AP Robert Kingery 100 points
AE7AP Robert Kingery 100 points
Activator Unique
VK3PF Peter Freeman 100 summits
DB7MM Dr. Michael Multerer 100 summits
Chaser
DL1FU Friedrich Winzer 100000 points
N4EX Rich Homolya 50000 points
W0ERI Martha Auchard 20000 points
VK3PF Peter Freeman 10000 points
M1CNL Peter Tew 5000 points
AC0A Bill Freeland 2500 points
AE5KA Chip Stratton 1000 points
DL2YBG Klaus-Peter Dreessen 1000 points
M0ONI Gary Swift 1000 points
EI9GLB Jim Hall 1000 points
WB0USI Rick Loughrey 1000 points
VK2GAZ Garry Cottle 1000 points
VK3PF Peter Freeman 500 points
SQ8JMZ Robert Szura 500 points
HB9JOE Andreas Thiemann 500 points
AA1VX Dave Glow 250 points
VK3IFM Ian Morris 250 points
VK2JDL Philip Clancy 100 points
M0WBG Neil Challis 100 points
IZ2DQB Frank Lucarno 100 points
AE7AP Robert Kingery 100 points
Chaser Unique
DL2YBG Klaus-Peter Dreessen 250 summits
G6TUH Michael Morrissey 3000 summits
W0ERI Martha Auchard 2000 summits
ON6ZQ Christophe David 2000 summits
K6EL Elliott M Pisor 1500 summits
SQ8JMZ Robert Szura 100 summits
WB0USI Rick Loughrey 100 summits
Summit to Summit
VK3PF Peter Freeman Silver
K7NIT Rachel Lindsay Silver
DB7MM Dr. Michael Multerer Silver
EA2BDS Marcial Vecilla Silver
WB0USI Rick Loughrey Red
SOTA Complete
VK3PF Peter Freeman 100 summits
Mountain Hunter
M0IML Barry Vile Platinum
DD5LP Ed Durrant Gold
ON6ZQ Christophe David Gold
GW4VPX Allan Jones Gold
VK3PF Peter Freeman Silver
GW4VPX Allan Jones Silver
SQ8JMZ Robert Szura Bronze
IZ2DQB Frank Lucarno Bronze
M0WBG Neil Challis Bronze
Mountain Explorer
VK6MB Mike Beall Bronze
HB9JOE Andreas Thiemann Bronze
HA3LV Borbely Balazs Bronze
12m Challenge
HB9BCB Heinz Baertschi
KG3W Scotty Covert
WA7JTM Pete Scola
NE4TN Walter Beaton
EA2BDS Marcial Vecilla
N4EX Rich Homolya
ON4FI Karel Naessens
Quite honestly there is not much else to say right now, the sheer volume of claims has kept me well occupied and there is a backlog of certificates waiting to go out. I still have not finalised the Microwave certificate but aim to have this available sometime before the Scottish Microwave Convention in early November.
There are still some people claiming awards who fail to check before pressing the “Order” button. This causes inevitable delays as I need to try and establish what was meant rather than what was ordered, conversing by email with the claimant and then amending my initial records; the least I can reasonably expect is for you to get your name and address correct and what you are ordering! (Yes, I have had claims with name spelled incorrectly, incorrect postal address and wrong email address!!). The rules for the awards are, in the main, quite clear but if you are uncertain an email to me (sota-awards “at” btconnect.com) will mean I can provide clarification before you order.
The Epson printer which had provided such sterling service printing award certificates over the years decided to die right in the middle of a batch run (Law according to Murphy). The replacement seems to function satisfactorily except for printing photographic quality images onto the card stock I use for Mountain Hunter/Explorer and one or two other awards. The resulting image is rather muddy and washed-out in the blacks so I have, short term, resorted to using photo quality paper for these. I hope to revert to semi-gloss card stock once I have mastered the settings!
Meanwhile the weather is just fine for an activation right now here in the Cairngorm National Park which is why I am at a computer keyboard doing this monthly report! If anybody is thinking of activating hills in this area please be aware that the usual route through the Lairig Ghru is possibly inaccessible due to a bridge being washed-out and that the very wet weather earlier in the summer has left some areas with unstable ground (a woman was killed recently by a falling boulder on a popular access route to the Cairngorm plateau) so take care especially once the first frosts have made matters worse.
Be safe on the hills
73
Barry GM4TOE
SOTA Awards Manager
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PHONE HOME - Roy G4SSH
The UK press are reporting that Mobile Phone companies in the UK may be forced to allow customers to swap between rival networks in a bid to end the blackspots which exist in over a fifth of Britain.
The Government are favouring a system of national roaming in an effort to eliminate poor signals and are to provide £150 million UKP to fund hundreds of new mobile phone masts.
SOTA NEWS FROM NORTH AMERICA by Skip K6DGV
STATISTICS [as of 30 Sep 2014 2030 UTC]:
September activity was just a bit lower than August in pretty much all categories. Over two-thirds of the QSO’s are on 20 meters and that will likely grow some as Cycle 24 winds down. However, 10 meters was really hot in the CQ WW RTTY this last weekend, so don’t overlook the higher frequencies. The CW/SSB ratio seems to be holding pretty constant. I really doubt there was one AM QSO. 
Total Activations: 507 [563]
Nr Unique Activators: 171 [178]
Total Chaser QSOs: 6112 [6850]
Nr Unique Chasers: 240 [251]
Total Summits Activated: 487 [604]
Unique Summits: 389 [421]
2m: 250 (4%) [382]
6m: 8 (0%) [7]
10m: 12 (0%) [3]
12m: 63 (1%) [11]
15m: 236 (3%) [174]
17m: 203 (3%) [240]
20m: 4244 (69%) [4681]
30m: 159 (2%) [242]
40m: 923 (15%) [1093]
60m: 0 (0%) [8]
80m: 0 (0%) [0]
160m: 0 (0%) [1]
Unk: 14
CW: 3800 (62%) [4539]
SSB: 2051 (33%) [1921]
FM: 251 (4%) [385]
AM: 1 (0%) [3]
Data: 1 (0%) [1]
Other: 3 (0%) [1]
Unk: 14
AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
John, W9FHA, reports: “My SOTA mentor, WA2USA reached another SOTA plateau. Not only is he a Platinum Mountain Hunter, he is now a Platinum Mountain Explorer. A significant achievement for someone living in the flatlands of the Midwest. Way to go Dennis!” Yes indeed!
Congratulations Dennis!
Guy, N7UN, noted that Jordan, KJ6NHF, has become North America’s 18th Mountain Goat, and that Scott, W7IMC, and Kevin, K4KPK, were right on the edge of Goatdom on 26 Sep. That will mean 20 Mountain Goats in the New World.
Lee, AA4GA, notes that Kevin will become the W4G Association’s first Goat, and Larry, K4PIC, is about to become W4G’s first Super Sloth [he had 9,690 chaser points on 28 Sep].
Dow, W4DOW, reports that he has become the first SOTA Super Sloth in the W4V Association, garnering 10,000 chaser points in 16 months.
NEWS:
Eric, KU6J, crunched some numbers from the SOTA Database and has coined a new “NA Summit Pioneers Honor Roll” acknowledging first activations of NA “Virgin Summits.” Not surprising, the #1 pioneer is Dan, NA6MG, and Eric’s top 10 Mountain Pioneers, ordered by # of summits are [ACTIVATOR, #SUMMITS POINTS]:
- NA6MG 154 751
- W7IMC 126 567
- W1DMH 107 416
- WA7JTM 96 651
- K7ATN 76 298
- KD5ZZK 73 429
- KE5AKL 65 568
- W4TZM 61 448
- N1EU 58 325
- N6ZA 56 485
Eric actually published the top 25 pioneers to the NA SOTA Yahoo Group, and also noted that he merged the statistics for those who had changed their call signs and excluded activations under the club calls NE1SJ, NS0TA, and WS0TA. We also have four Pioneers from outside NA: HG1DUL [16], DL6AP [12], G6WRW [2], and MM0FMF [1].
Pete, WA7JTM, posted a great spreadsheet to the Files section of the NA SOTA Yahoo Group,
[Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos Mountain Goat Statistics/]
which shows that Dennis, WA2USA, achieved MG by activating 3 summits in his home association [W9], and a whopping 122 in other associations!
We have several activators who make fairly long trips into other Associations for activations, and there has been some interest in gasoline statistics such as points per gallon [in some cases gallons per point might be more appropriate]. That will undoubtedly be showing up here soon.
REPORT OF THE MONTH:
This month, Kevin, K4KPK does the honors:
“The road to my final summit yesterday was narrow, and barely drivable in my Corolla. I didn’t want to block the gate, so I parked in the weeds – barely off the road and pretty deep in the weeds.”
“When I came down the mountain, I was beat because I’d been hustling down the trail to beat an impending thunderstorm.”
“I was peering through the trees, hoping to see my car, when I spotted a truck. “Uh oh. Maybe I didn’t get far enough off the road, and he can’t get past,” I thought.”
“Then I noticed it was Forest Service Green. My next thought was, ‘Uh oh. He doesn’t like where I parked, and I’m going to get a ticket’.”
“Whoops! Guy with a badge and a gun and a cigar poking around my car.
The Forest Service doesn’t usually carry a sidearm.”
"He was from the Tennessee Wildlife Commission, looking for people hunting outside of season. It turns out that someone also abandoned a car a piece up the road, so he was looking to see if mine was another junker. He commented, ‘We don’t get many passenger cars up this way’.
Since my only ‘weapon’ was an antenna mast, I wasn’t what he was looking for."
“We didn’t chat real long because I wanted to get my car off that road before thunderstorms softened the roadbed. I’m always a little concerned about what I’ll find when I return to my car after parking it it the wilderness. I gotta say that a guy with a gun and a badge and a cigar was a surprise.”
That’s the news from the New World for this issue. Have fun, stay safe.
73,
Skip K6DGW
North American SOTA Reporter Dude
SOTA NEWS FROM SOUTH AFRICA by Dennis ZS4BS
On 5 September, I became a grandfather for the third time, a little girl.
Carina and I have just returned from the IARU Region 1 General Conference in Albena, Bulgaria. Left home on 17 September and arrived home on 30 September. We really enjoyed the visit to Bulgaria. We also had dinner with Aziz, TA1E, in Istanbul on our way home.
While I was away the following happened – written by Andries, ZS6VL.
On 20 September, a group of radio amateurs activated two summits in the Moolmanshoek area near Rosendal in the Eastern Free State. The group members were Eddie, ZS6BNE, Andries, ZS6VL, Cliriska, ZU6BV, (15 years) and Angelo, ZU6M (16 years).
Despite a very strong wind, the group started their ascent en-route to the First Pyramid (ZS/FS-033) early on Saturday morning. The summit was reached without any problems and contacts were made on HF and VHF. The group then packed up the kit and headed for the next summit, Second Pyramid (ZS/FS-026). By this time, the wind was no longer as strong and some more contacts could be added to the logs! HF radio with a magnificent view - what more could one ask for?
SOTA registration for the Summits has been requested (early September), but had not yet been confirmed at the time of the activation and writing of this item.
Mountain radio is an amazing activity filled with adventure and friendship - do consider giving it a try. Even if you are a Shack Sloth and not a Mountain Goat, the amateurs who carry the heavy packs up mountains would really appreciate your support.
With Summer on its way here in the southern hemisphere, hopefully the summits will be alive with CQ SOTA! Down in the Eastern Cape, there is planning for activation of a number of summits in the summer months. Further, the ZS-SOTA team is busy working through the list of ZS Summits and preparing updated lists for submission to SOTA HQ.
Greetings
Dennis, ZS4BS
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SOTA NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA by Allen VK3HRA
VK1 Update:
VK1 is as active as ever with 30 activations for the month. Andrew, VK1NAM S2S score passed 2500 points qualifying for the S2S Gold Award.
VK2 Update:
VK2 Activators Award from Andrew, VK1DA/VK2UH.
At the Wyong Field Day in February I announced an award to be made to the VK2 activators achieving 100 points or more in the period from 1st march to 31 August 2014 and to the chasers who achieved 1000 points or more in the same period.
Here are the results, based on logs entered as at 20/9 in the SOTADATA database.
Activators:
The activators who made at least 100 points during the 6 months are:
New activators
VK2JDL - Phil is a new activator during this period and scored 169 points.
We gained 11 other new activators during the 6 months.
Old hands
Rob VK2QR who notched up 443 points
Rod VK2TWR scored 265 new points
Bernard VK2IB 212
Justin VK2CU 171
Sam VK2AFA 117
In addition to those, honourable mention must be made of Russ VK2BJP who made 96, VK2SWD who made 88, and old hands Ed VK2JI (now DD5LP) making
93 points in the period (despite moving to Germany) and Josh VK2JOS on 91.
Chasers:
Kev VK2KEV led the field for new chasers with 647 chaser points, followed by VK2ODD, VK2JDL and VK2BJP. There were an additional 14 new chasers gained during the period.
For old hands (existing chasers) the leader was Gerard VK2IO who added
4257 points to his score in the 6 months. Then followed Matt VK2DAG on 2191, Rod VK2TWR on 1561, Adam VK2YK on 1306, Cliff VK2CCJ 1226 and Paul VK2KTT on 1090. Within sight of the 1000 mark were John Vk2YW 913 and Rod VK2LAX 815.
A very impressive result from the established chasers.
Conclusion
The number of new activators and chasers and the enthusiasm shown has been encouraging and I can only see it continuing to increase. Thanks to all participants in SOTA. You are all making the hobby more interesting, not only for yourselves but for others too, in the true spirit of amateur radio.
73
Andrew
VK1DA/VK2UH
SOTA VK2 association manager
VK3 Update:
EMDRC club held a morning SOTA activation and club bbq at Mt Donna Bunag
VK3/VC-002 introducing several operators to SOTA.
Given the improved weather conditions and a desire to compare the current batch of small SOTA radios, paddles, batteries and lightweight antenna an ‘Show & Tell’ day was proposed and held. Warren VK3KS, David VK3IL, Andrew VK3JBL and Allen VK3HRA were on site Sunday with Warren and Allen camping overnight after activating summits in the area on Saturday.
We ended up with three MTR’s, an ATS and a HB1B. The different CW options devices included Palm Pico, Mini and single paddles as well as two American Morse keys. The End Fed antenna dominated with matching units including SOTA Kits ‘SOTA Tuner’ and ‘L’ match supporting 80-10m.
David VK3IL produced a trapped end fed requiring no tuner. However, it was David’s HF loop that attracted great interest. Given Peter VK3YE’s success with these devices on the beach we were keen to see how it would perform in the bush.
Other items deployed on a SOTA activation including lightweight chairs and a table as well as options for brewing coffee and chai were also discussed, then it was time to activate summits. Sunday was a big SOTA day in its own right.
Warren (VK3KS) went to Mt Procter (VK3/VN-019), Andrew (VK3JBL) tackled the walk up to Mt Torbreck (VK3/VN-001) whist David (VK3IL) and Allen
(VK3HRA) went to Bill’s Head (VK3/VN-004) then to Pyramid Hill (VK3/VN-005). Pyramid Hill (VK3/VN-005) was the last summit activated on Sunday using only 40m SSB and the HF loop. The loop proved its abilities with solid signals reports as the day was closing.
Several stations were out taking advantage of the weather meaning that there S2S contacts were plentiful on Sunday. Andrew, VK1NAM reported 18 S2S contacts for his efforts.
Overall, picking grand final weekend and school holidays meant a lot were not able to come but those who did all report a great day.
VK4 Update:
The final 10 regions for VK4 are now included in the SOTA database and went active as of 01 Sep 14.This gives us a total of 1389 qualify summits over 14 regions for the VK4 association.
Activity with David, VK4MDX on VK4/NH-136,VK4/NH-027, VK4/NH-154 and
VK4/NH-157
Andrew, VK1MBE picked up VK4/SE-011 and VK4/SE-102.
VK5 Update:
Active and planning for to celebrate their 2 year anniversary over the long weekend holiday 4th to the 6th of October.
VK6 update:
Western Australia SOTA went live September 1st with 261 summits initially listed. Congratulations to Mike VK6MB on first VK6 activation.
Mike picked up summit to Summit (S2S) with Andrew VK1DA.
John VK6NU, Ian VK6PXF, Andrew VK6LAB, Anthony VK6MAC and Tony VK6FMTG were quick to follow with two summits VK6/SW-036 and VK6/SW-031 being hammered. VK6 will be a ‘DX’ activity for Southern based VK chasers due to the distances involved. We expect this to lead the push for 20m activations.
VK7 Update:
Tasmania SOTA went live October 1st with 695 summits initially listed.
The inaugural VK7 activation was by Paul VK1ATP/7 on VK7/EC-045 Cape Lodi. Paul ended up with 23 contacts including a summit-to-summit contact with Ian, VK1DI.
Expect more activation in the future, as VK7 will be a popular association from locals and mainlanders alike as already a popular trekking destination.
VK8
Quiet, however VK8GM/P getting out and activating picking up VK8/AL-134.
73’s
Allen VK3HRA
News from the UK
THE VIEW FROM THE NORTH - 70 by Rob and Audrey G4RQJ
Away from our local haunts again this month with a trip to Shropshire for some Welsh Border summit action and the Telford Rally. This rally is always a pleasure to visit, much smaller nowadays with no large dealers but a return to the friendly atmosphere that rallies used to have. Quite a large SOTA contingent to see Tom and Jimmy’s presentation and to chat about SOTA. Great to meet up with old friends, particularly M1EYO Alan, the very first Mountain Goat back in 2004. Alan has not been active in SOTA recently due to ill health and we know that everyone in SOTA will wish him a swift recovery.
After the rally a quick trip up the Wrekin was in order. The summit was busy with people enjoying the warm sunshine but we set up in a quiet spot on the southern
face for a VHF only activation which managed to run on until almost 7 o’clock and then off back to base near Craven Arms.
Monday and a foggy morning caused a delayed start to Long Mynd Stipperstones and Corndon. Briefly, the track up Long Mynd has been refurbished to motorway standard and could well be mistaken for the road in mist, the walk along the summit of Stipperstones is still as uncomfortable under foot and an old fool with a heavy rucksack can stagger up the forbidding steep grass slope of Corndon in 25 minutes.
Tuesday and we started with Titterstone Clee. This hill manages to maintain a certain dignity in spite of the ignominies heaped upon it by successive generations of industry. From the Iron Age on, the hill has been mined, quarried and generally mistreated, at one time 2000 people worked here. Modern times brought radio masts and a radar station but recently there has been a reduction in the size of it and in the activity levels which has resulted in much less QRM for the activator. As we set up on the summit we were entertained by an air show by a couple of RAF Tucanos, their final pass was excitingly close. Once we were set up and started the activation we came under threat from another winged force, flying black insects, millions of them intent on some late summer mating ritual. We left most of the heavier kit for later and completed the activity walking round, hand holding the 4el beam, battery and 817. On our return to the heavy kit we found it covered with the insects, great fun and we soon retreated.
A natural partner for Titterstone Clee is View Edge just a few miles away; unfortunately it is smaller and harder to get a VHF signal out of. Grass has started to grow through the tarmac of the approach road, never a good sign and there is only one possible parking spot in the unused gateway to the SSSI.A difficult activation but luckily Rod and Vicky,M0JLA and M6BWA were on hand to make the numbers up.
After a day off visiting Ludlow and its great country market its Brown Clee this morning and Callow Hill later but our start is once again delayed by low cloud. The lanes on the approach to the start point are a navigation nightmare. The villages on the map do not exist as what we call villages in the north and have no name signs; the only way you know you’ve arrived is when they disappear off the road signs. Best option is to aim for the red phone box at SO585868 which is no longer in use but has been turned into a lending library (no kidding). Our sat nav has had a fatal brain storm but Audrey’s navigation is faultless as usual. The track follows a bridle way and is straightforward and today the weather is beautiful, the heather is in full bloom and the summit is superb, first time we’ve ever seen it without cloud, rain and mist. There is a fair bit of breakthrough on vhf close to the masts so we set up on one of the adjacent grassy mounds for a very enjoyable activation.
We arrived at Callow Hill in the early evening to find things much more overgrown, than on previous visits. The direct path seems to have vanished into undergrowth no problem for us as it was far too steep for sensible people. As we climbed the long ramp like track through the woods we were discussing last years visit during which we disturbed a swarm of flying ants that drove us off the hill when suddenly we were surrounded by a hoard of butterflies. They were Woodland Browns and so many of them that it was difficult to avoid standing on any as they accompanied us for some distance up the track. The path along the ridge back toward the tower is becoming overgrown and looks not to have been touched this summer. We soon set up on top but there was not a great deal of activity on 2m fm and having some battery left for the 817 we decided on a quick shout on ssb and were pleasantly surprised to be called by F6CIU. We had a pleasant 15m chat with Maurice before setting of down in the gathering darkness.
Friday, last day and Burrow with its hill fort for a target in lovely sunshine. The climb always seems a bit of a flog but maybe it’s just the result of a weeks activations.
There was not a great deal about on 2m and it was too nice to set off down so we had a quick run on 5Mhz and 7Mhz to finish off. On the descent we noticed loads of blackberries beside the track so we emptied all the radio kit out of its plastic travelling box into a dry bag and filled the box with over six pounds of blackberries. Most have been baked into crumbles or made into jam but some have been preserved and we shall eat them at Christmas and think on summer.
Sunday 14th Sep and back on home ground and a trip up Pike O’Blisco. We started from The Three Shires Stone at the summit of Wrynose Pass, room for a few cars beside the road but please avoid the passing places. The path from Red Tarn to the summit has been extensively paved and stepped in recent years and at least now stays out of the beck. On the summit there was a chill wind from the east, If this is the case head towards the south summit and from the main path take a narrow rocky path that curves round the south summit about ten feet below the summit edge. About fifteen yards along is a small cleft with a sheltered stone shelf which makes a pleasant sheltered sunny seat for two away from the masses that often occupy this summit. The bands were in a strange mood, 10Mhz being the centre of our activity, even 2m fm was strangely quiet which was just as well as we were quite cold by the end of three hours.
Well that’s about all for this month, changing the car has caused some disruption of our activities but all should be OK next month, meanwhile,
Take care out there
73
Rob and Audrey
G4RQJ
…Approaching 32,000 maximum character level…
…SOTA NEWS OCTOBER 2014 CONTINUES IN PART 2…
Top Band Report
Bouncing Batteries
CW Report
CW Statistics for September
SOTA News Contacts
