Hi all
Mike 2E0YYYs signal from G/SP-015 was in the noise and just readable at 06:50 UTC. As the grey line formed Mikes signal continued to improve to peak around 5-7, 5-8 at 07:25 UTC. The optimal period to work VK1, VK2, VK3 long path is 60 minutes leading up to the east coast sunset which today was 08:10 UTC.
Looking forward to working UK/EU activators (S2S) and chasers tomorrow from Mt Ainslie VK1/AC-040.
73, Andrew VK1NAM
Thanks for the call this morning.
I didnāt get my first VK contact, Matt VK1MA into the log until around 0655z.
To make matters worse the A-99 was only on a ten foot pole. I pulled it down and got another pole, giving me 15 feet ground clearance. However, getting all 33 feet of antenna and poles into the air, using guy ropes, was a real pantomime 
Much easier with the little X-50 colinear.
73 Mike
2E0YYY
Hi all
Strong signals from Europe to VK1 on 14 MHz from 06:35 UTC onwards. First contact at 06:36 UTC and a S2S was Klaus DF2GN on DM/BW-074 very strong 5-9. 2nd contact was Martin OE5REO on OE/OO-316, my first SOTA S2S with Martin, thanks Martin. 
Next contact was Matt VK1MA, VK1 local then Mikel EA2CW and Marcial EA2BDS both on EA2/BI-055 good signals 5-7 each way. Immediately after Marcial, Mike 2E0YYY joined in for the 4th S2S again a strong signal from Mike. After Mike I worked OK1SDE, EA2CKX then YO2LIW. Next S2S was Allen GW4VPX on GW/SW-028 5-8 both ways. Following Allen, Barry M0IML called S2S from G/SE-013 and again strong signals from Barry 5-8 and the 6th S2S.
Ron VK3AFW called me long path from VK3 Melbourne around the world to VK1 Canberra, amazing Ronās signal was 5-7. EU chasers continued to call in, Viktor HA5LV, nice to hear you Viktor itās been a while. OE8SPW, VK6MB, PA7PG, DK4CR, VK6GOM and OE7PHI. At 07:10 UTC I changed to 40m for 10 regular VK chasers and 2 VKs scanning around on 40m.
Thanks Mike for encouraging the group to get out of bed. 
Thanks activators an excellent result for a Friday evening in VK1, lots of fun to be hand on Mt Ainslie VK1/AC-040. In summary 4 unique summits and 6 EU S2S a record for me, terrific.
73, Andrew VK1NAM
Gāday Andrew,
When I pitched up at G/SP-004, there was a nasty wind. After reading the WX forecast this morning, I should have made my way to the much lower G/SP-013 Gun.
I couldnāt get the antenna up to full height as the bungees and poles wouldnāt support it. I was QRV about 0620z and could hear three ZLās, two of them with big signals. I couldnāt be asked to sit in a pile-up so I put out a CQ. I saw your were spotted at 0643z and managed to work you at about 0648.
I heard Matt VK1MA working Allan GW4VPX and when they finished I asked Matt if he would QSY up 5Kcās. Matt obliged and with his big signal was an easy copy.
A couple of minutes later.Paul VK5PAS called s2s to give me another VK unique VK5/SE-004. He was a fine signal with his QRP 5 Watts.
Generaly the VK haul was down for the G activators, seems the promising conditions at the start of the activation, just failed to happen.
Seven s2s for me 2 of them VK.
10 VKās worked.
Big thanks to all the Chasers
No problem, Andrew. I simply dangle the carrot of VK chasers and VK s2s in front of them and it works like a charm 
Hopefully catch you next week.
73 Mike
2E0YYY
Hi Andrew
Thanks for the s2s today on a very misty and cold Mynydd y Betws GW/SW-028. Running out of uniques for you which are close by but still a few more on the list
Eighteen contacts made including s2s with Paul VK5PAS/p, Martin OE5REO/p, Mike 2E0YYY/p ending with Barry M0IML/p (60m). VK chasers that made the log were Matt VK1MA, Paul VK2KTT, Tony VK3CAT, Andrew VK2UH and Ron VK3AFW. Thanks to all the other chasers also.
Looking forward to the next time if Mike can supply more carrots
Thanks everybody.
73 de
Allan GW4VPX
Hello Andrew,
Got up early, equipment checked, hexbeam pointing LP 0545Z. Started checking out the display spikes then hit by huge radar pulses. Moved the beam around - strongest QRM was from Gatwick Airport direction. Game over, had a coffee and took the dog for a walk 8( Pleased to read that you and others got S2Sās 8)
Next time I hope!
Cheers
Mike
Jajaja! I love those carrots, Mike!
Andrew, very nice conditions on 14. Iāve been calling for a while on 18, but just 1 qso with VK2AFA with noisy sigs.
Time to change reality to demonstrate theoriesā¦
An incredible sota morning/aftnoon!
See you on next carrot!
73 de Mikel
Allan, no problem with running out of uniques, happy to chase any summit you would like to offer. I have two or three local summits that I think will be uniques for yourself and Barry M0IML. On Sunday parts of VK move to daylight savings which means greater flexibility for me to activate local summits after work.
I have family visiting from Melbourne next Friday 10 Oct 14 through to Monday. Subject to Wx, I can activate Mt Majura VK1/AC-034 during the week, say Wednesday 8 Oct 14, let me know if Wednesday suits. Wx forecast is mostly sunny and light winds (ideal) 
. Two other summits I think will be unique are Isaacs Ridge VK1/AC-041 and One Tree Hill VK1/AC-035. A little further away is a summit named Yellow Rabbit Hill VK1/AC-039 also a unique for you and Barry.
I will encourage the VK1 group to join me, perhaps in a couple of weeks time I can organise a VK mass activation for a Saturday morning UTC. (not on a day of SSB contests)
73, Andrew VK1NAM
Hi Andrew
Iāve just been looking at the weather forcast for the next three days and it looks like itās going to be a washout here in West Wales including most of the UK so no early morning SOTA activations in the forseeable future.
I like the idea of a VK mass activation and no doubt many of us will respond to that providing wx behaves this end. We can discuss via e-mail - weāll put Mike YYY in charge of that 
73
Allan GW4VPX
Conditions are terrible in VK6, a real struggle to work anyone even in VK at the moment.
Iām hoping to get out next Saturday and probably activate Mt.Randall VK6/SW-039 again. I had such a struggle to get there last time Iām determined to find the best route this time. Iāve not got a GPS with proposed route ready to go, should be a piece of cake. Famous last words that one. Probably from about 06:00 onwards.
John VK6NU
Very cold start this morning on this endā¦ 5C + light breeze made the windchill close to zeroC.
Wool hat, winter sport gloves and merino wool 2nd skin gloves for keying were mandatory as the sun did not come up to help eitherā¦
My respects to all who activate all year around and fish those Bonus points in the cold!
Many Thanks to Tony VK3CAT, Rhett VK3WE, Guru EA2IF S2S and all the Chasers.
I had a somehow troubled start this morning, as when I took the battery of the bag I noticed the jumper cable had fatigued around the fuse holder, managed to drop the coffee on my blanquet and my MTR v2 did not want to do DFE (direct frequency entry), I think due to having switch on RIT.
44ft doublet on the 10m pole - Tony and Rhett - the strongest signals today in the last 2-3 weeks
33 QSOs in the log.
73s de Angel
In reply to Allan GW4VPX and Mike EA2CW,
More EU/VK mass activation carrots should be on the way shortly
73 Mike
2E0YYY
Hi there!
My first attempt of an early activation to reach VK were succesfull this morning.
Details on this thread:
http://reflector.sota.org.uk/t/activation-report-ea2-nv-119-vk-eu-long-path/9506
Angel, a pity you didnāt get me this morningā¦ ;o(
Glad to have logged 5 VK. Thanks to all chasers.
73
Ignacio EA2BD
My trip up Monte Bullacio (I/AA-303) on the 4th. of October in the hope of VK Long Path contacts unfortunately suffered from probably being a day to late. The conditions on 20m were to Europe only. I was also perhaps a little late at 0800 UTC but thatās the earliest it was possible to get onto the mountain. It was cloudy, damp and about 2 degrees on the summit - the predicted sunshine didnāt come until I was back down in the valley in the afternoon. A āfrozen fingersā activation! I had gloves but had to keep removing them to operate.
I managed to work around Europe, from Russia in the East, Norway in the North, Ireland to the West and Spain, the Azores and Greece to the south. All reporting acceptable signals even with just the 5w from the FT817.
43 contacts in one hour including 2 S2S contacts. But unfortunately no VK this time.
I wonder if / how, the clock change in parts of VK will affect availability of Ops on VK summits for Long Path contacts? Hopefully it makes it possible for them to stay a (local) hour longer into the long path window.
73 Ed DD5LP.
Hi Allan,
It was a real pleasure to be able to work you āsummit to summitā. You were a good 5/4 to the top of Brownhill Range, VK5/ SE-004, which is amongst a windfarm in the Mid North of South Australia. I was running just 5 watts QRP from my Yaesu FT-817nd and a simple linked dipole.
You can read about the activation and view a quick video on my Wordpress siteā¦
I hope to work you again soon S2S.
Best 73,
Paul,
VK5PAS
Hi Mike,
Great to be able to work you S2S. As you mentioned I was running just 5 watts QRP from the little Yaesu FT-817ND. The noise floor on the summit was negligable, so I could hear you extremely well.
You can read about the activation and view a quick video on my Wordpress siteā¦
I hope to work you again soon S2S.
Best 73,
Paul,
VK5PAS
Hi Paul,
great to work you S2S with your 5 watts. I used an IC-703 with 10 watts and a linked dipole for 7/14/21/28. Hope to catch up with you soon again for another S2S.
73 Martin, OE5REO
www.oe5reo.at
Hi Paul
It certainly was great to get that s2s with you and I am very grateful to the chasers who stood by while we made the contact. Well done on working me with 5 watts from your FT817 which is what I usually use, however, for my early morning VK chasing I have been using the FT857 with my usual 60/40/20 linked dipole and 7M fishing pole.
Thanks also for the very comprehensive report. My recent VK exploits are recorded here:- http://mw0bbu.blogspot.co.uk
Looking forward to our next s2s.
73 de
Allan GW4VPX
After working Barry I found a clear frequency on 14.295 and put out a CQ call. Much to my surprise, the first taker was Mikel EA2CW, who was portable on SOTA peak, Ganguren, EA2/ BI-055. Mikel was coming through at signal strength 5/5. Following Mikel, I received a call from Marcial, EA2BDS who was also on Ganguren, EA2/ BI-055.
Hi Paul,
Amazing signal with only 5 watts!
Here at Bilbao we were using a linked dipole on a 9m fishing pole and FT-857 @ 25-50 watts depending on mode (less on CW). Your signal was pretty clear and easy to understand, as it was Andrew VK1NAMās.
I hope that the conditions, and of course our efforts will continue on such nice QRP/DX/S2S QSOs on near future, in the meanwhile, weāll be waiting for Mike YYYās carrots to come!
73 de Mikel
Hi Paul,
Very nice s2s haul for you. Congrats.
Thinking back to the first time we worked, when I was activating GW/NW-044 Moel Famau, back in December 2011. At that time there were no VK Associations. Getting through your pile-up for my first SOTA/VK contact was such a buzz.
The WX has been rubbish over here this week, so no SOTA for me, although Friday and Saturday looks a bit more promising.
Maybe I can squeeze an activation in this weekend.
73 Mike
2E0YYY
Carrot Coordinator