100 activations in 2019 for HB9DIZ

[HB9DIZ]

Dear all

This here had to be completed by the end of the year:

I had discussed once with Bruno, HB9CBR, to do an activation in common on a simple hill, to see and compare the antennas. Our transceivers are both KX2, so nothing to compare here. We had agreed to meet on Gurten, the home hill of the Swiss capital, Berne: HB/BE-111, 858 m.a.s.l., 1 SOTA point.

Gurten is located nearby Wabern, just south of Berne. Tramway #9 takes you there in only 9 minutes from the main railway station. Change to the funicular, and you are there. There is some useful infrastructure there: a hotel-restaurant and a large activation zone nearby.

One thing was missed today: the sun. We saw a white disk on the sky only.

Bruno took his place between a tree to fix his antenna and the radials while I stayed on the top of the hill on a bench with my EFHW, suspended like an Inverted Vee. We did a first series with our familiar wires and changed then.

I took over Bruno’s antenna and the first actions were to switch from CW to SSB and from 5 W to 10 W, hi. Bruno operates always with 5 watts. Bruno is the tougher guy, operating mostly from the ground meanwhile I prefer something comfortable like a bench. We were both successful on the alternative antennas, but I have to admit that I enjoy the simplicity of an EFHW compared to these radials – they are everywhere, hi. I pay that probably with less antenna efficiency, but I am happy with the result and have never experienced a failure of an activation because of the antenna so far.

Taking over Bruno’s place: What is wrong here? Yes, there is a microphone on the pad – mine. I don’t know if Bruno owns one, hi.

We had finally cold feet after two hours, but it’s difficult to stop Bruno, hi. But it was interesting to see him operate. He is an excellent CW operator and really enjoying this. To see and feel such a dedication is simply great.

We disappeared in the restaurant after 3 hours outdoors and discussed tons of things.

Thanks, Bruno, my #100 was a great day for me!

Vy 73 de Markus, HB9DIZ

PS: What are my 100 activations compared to the 140 activations of Bruno or the higher number of many others? This lives from making an experience and enthusiasm out it. And I had it. Thanks to SOTA, letting room to that many personal enhancements.

[EA2IF]

My sincere congratulations, Markus, on your 100 activations in 2019. That’s not only a nice round number , but it’s also a big dedication to SOTA activating and a good amount of healthy work.
Having 52 weeks in a year, you have carried out 1.92 activations/week.
I’ve never done such high rate in all my years around SOTA, being my best 2016 with 70 activations (according to the info I can see on Sotl.as).
2019 has been far less productive for me in terms of activations with just 37, but given my current circumstances, I feel really grateful and happy for having been able to do that many.
Setting 100 activations as a personal goal for a year sounds like an attractive challenge to me and I think I’m going to try to work for it. We’ll see how close I can get to it. May be I won’t make it this year, but, at least, it’s a nice target to work towards.
Congrats, again and thank you for all SOTA QSOs you gave me.
73 & very happy New Year.

Guru

[HB9NBG]

Hoi Markus, ganz herzliche Gratulation zu den 100 Summits in einem Jahr Carine und ich wissen, wie aktiv man dafür sein muss - congrats Vielen Dank auch für die QSO’s übers Jahresende und alles Gute mit vielen weiteren, eindrücklichen SOTA-Aktivierungen im 2020

Wir freuen uns bereits jetzt auf unser nächstes S2S

vy 73 de René, HB9NBG + 73/88 de Carine, HB9FZC

[HB3XTZ]

Hi Markus

Congrats, a very nice number!
Looking forward to our next S2S.
73 Sabrina HB3XTZ

[DM3FAM]

Wenn done Markus

73 de Marcel DM3FAM

[HB9DIZ]

Hi Guru

Thanks for your message. I enjoy numbers in general, so I had seen these 100 activations approaching. I am grateful that SOTA offers that many possibilities to tie activities around it. Reflecting 2019, I had visited regions offering many well accessible summits. And I was allowed to spend about all holidays for SOTA since my partner and I enjoy that type of outdoor activity both. So 2019 was extraordinary. My secret is that I don’t set any personal goals about numbers or summit types. And I have to admit that SOTA offers much here around my regions and interests in general.

Being aware of what limits you at present, I enjoy our contacts in particular. Wishing you extraordinary perseverance and many happy moments in between for 2020.

Vy 73 de Markus, HB9DIZ

PS: René and Carine had these 100 activations last year, but under tougher Swiss alpine conditions. So 100 is not 100!