in May 2018 I will be visiting Ireland for one week as part of a guided hiking-tour. We will be hiking in the northern part of the country. I’m planning to take only my 2m handheld with me … so I wonder if there are active chasers in the area to qualify these summits on 2m only:
The nearest large town to the area where you will be operating is Londonderry (Derry) in GI-land. Londonderry is about 30 km south-east, or east, of the first three summits you mentioned, so if you have a good take-off in the south-easterly direction it should be possible to work stations in the Londonderry area with a handheld.
The last one on your list (EI/IN-013) is the most remote from any large centre of population, but from there you will have a 40 km sea path to Sligo to the south of your QTH, so that is a possibility. However, nobody has ever made any SOTA QSOs on 2m from this one!
Try calling CQ on 145.500 MHz, then QSY to a clear channel up or down from there in 25 kHz steps. It would be a big help if you can self-spot when you are QRV … perhaps using SMS spotting if you can make it work from EI-land. Or phone a friend and ask them to put up a spot for you.
Hi Martin
we live 20 miles east of Londonderry and are very active chasers. There are also several others nearby who would be listening out for you as well!
Esther
GI0AZA
My QTH (IO72) is 650ft Asl & I look out across the Irish Sea with a clear take of to Ireland. I have worked all of Ireland over the years on 2mtrs so there may be a chance I will hear you if condx are right and you are able to get a ribbon slim Jim up. I will certainly listen out for you and monitor your operating Freq.
2m FM with a handheld should be no problem from Errigal IN-001, however Mackoght IN-018 will be shielded by its big neighbour towards EI but there is a path to GI.
Sleave League IN-013 is a stunning walk over a ridge! Try 145.500 also 145.450 for Co. Sligo and Co. Mayo stations.
Thanks Esther, Don and Phil for your comments, I am really looking forward to activating these summits in May! My equipment will be a Kenwood TH-D72 and a Diamond RH-770 Telescopic Antenna.
just a few days until my visit to Ireland, really looking forward to it! I have alerts for all the planned summits posted on SOTAwatch. I’m sure aboute the date … but not of the activation time. When I have more info about the ETA I will update the alerts if possible! Just successfully tried SMS spotting, hope it works fine from EI-Land also!
Looking forward to many contacts with a lot of chasers!
If I can get time I will head to my local high ground in SW GM-land and listen out for you. From there I think I can get 3 summits, IN-013 may be a bit harder with 2 peaks in the way.