The SOTA DB thinks that M0HGY, 2E0EYP and M3EYP are distinct stations. Furthermore it also classes MW0HGY/M as another distinct one.
The SOTA DB does not think that M1EYP, M1EYP/M, M1EYP/P, M1EYP/A and M1EYP/MM are distinct stations.
To get the points you need four calls that the database thinks are distinct. To get personal satisfaction and the respect of your peers, you want about 25 that belong to different human beings in different addressesâŚ.
An anomaly: I can remember raising the question of logging Gxxx/M and GMxxx/M (ie the same station in the same car) being logged in England and then later in Scotland on the same day from the same summit but only one would count towards scoring for qualification. Many SOTA operators may not be aware that within the UK our callsign changes depending on which country within the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man we are transmitting from. For example G4OOE becomes GM4OOE when I am in Scotland.
I am all VHF so I pray for 4 or at least 1 at some of the remote spots I travel too.
I called from 2- 4,000â+ mountains in WV last month 2/6m until my batteries died. I had â0â QSOs in @ 6 hours of calling.
Now HF is another story! I had 14 CW QSOs in a little over an hour (and I missed a bunch) conducting a POTA yesterday. My rig was 5w and a wire from FLAT Ohio!
Given you appear to be interested in VHF over HF, have you considered using local repeaters to announce youâre listening on 146.52 FM (US calling frequency) and looking for simplex calls?
2m SSB is clearly another story but with that in mind would FT8 2m be a viable mode for you?
No I am 75% of the way to MG all VHF. To close to quit now.
BUT
I will be a HF SOTA operator soon. Transitioning to HF will open up many summits close to me that sent me home with no points but I did have lovely hikes!!
I believe Gerald @G4OIG became an MG using VHF and possibly all SSB and I think there is a female op in the UK that became an MG only on 440 FM (might be wrong on that but its a good story!!).
Paul yes I have used repeaters to summon hams to simplex. In Central PA and WV that technique is about 20% success rate. Not a lot of 2m activity at all. I quite often hear hams say wow your the first simplex Iâve heard in a long while or even ever. Look at the topography and youâll see why.
I started SOTA last summer living on the Colorado Front Range where VHF is a blast. Lots of chasers and crazy takeoff angles! When I moved back East I didnât realize what I was in for as far as committing to all VHF. I wouldnât change a thing though. I have met so many great hams on my adventures!
About 2/6m FT8, Yes I have a IC705 that I will be using for my first âVHF dead-spotâ SOTA attempt with FT8 hopefully later this week.
I have both but only any real experience with the Mirage which I have liked especially when coupled with a KX3 but if starting from scratch (i.e. not owning a rig) the 857D is good balance of function and weight (despite being heavy) for VHF.
Indeed, all 144 / 432 MHz because I used 70cm on several hills while Paul G4MD operated 2m. I recall Tryfan GW/NW-006 and Snowdon GW/NW-001 being such summits. Overall the contacts were not 100% SSB, but certainly it was used to qualify the majority of the summits. As you know, I specialise in Unique summits, another factor in achieving MG.