A day of "Firsts"

Old Reflector
1

With it being almost the anniversary of my first activation, I was keen to get out on the hills again before the dreaded “work” starts again on Wednesday.

Last night I’d finally got around to modifying my MTR (KD1JV)to run on 60 Metres.
I was keen to give it an airing to see how it worked, so decided on a quick local activation.
As I got closer to my local summit, G/CE-001, I realised that there had been a fair bit of snow overnight!
So the First of the day was setting up in snow!
If I said my hands were cold that would be an under statement! The biggest problem was that I’d brought a couple of connectors with me to extend my 40M EFHW with another 25’ of wire for 60M. My fingers would not play ball with the connectors so I ended up forgetting about lengthening the antenna and just trying it as was. I couldn’t find a match at all on 5Mhz, and my FG01 antenna analyser was sitting on my bench at home!
Never the less I decided to give 60M a go anyway.
A quick CQ pulled in GW0MYY, G3TLH and G3ICO.
So another first, my first 60M SOTA activation.
Not being regular SOTA chasers, it was at this time that I realised that a spot would speed things along (RBN has very little coverage on 60).
Pulling out my mobile phone, I discovered the battery was dead!

Never mind, I changed rigs to my ATS4 and soon had a pile up going on 40M.
A call from Victor, GI4ONL/p brought my First S2S QSO under the new award, and 5 points to Roll of Honour!

As it started to snow I noticed how well my new waterproof log book was working on it’s First outing…

Snow and cold calls for shelter, so I crawled into my new Bothy Bag for the First time. The difference was amazing. The thermometer was showing 0.8C outside, but within the bag we were quickly up to 6.5C and without the wind chill it was easy to operate without gloves.
After a spell on 30 and 20 metres and no chasers on 17, I packed up.

For the First time my SOTA pole refused to collapse, I think the joints were frozen and I couldn’t shift it with gloves on. I had to manhandle it with bare hands, which was a chilling experience.

All in all a good day and a chance to try the new rig, new logbook and new Bothy bag. I might try 60M again tomorrow if I get a chance.

73 Pete

some pics - http://tinyurl.com/bov83pl

PS - The Zippo handwarmer was a life saver today!

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In reply to G4ISJ:

Great report Pete! Glad that you are enjoying the new equipment. Bothy Bags have to be experienced to appreciate just how much difference they make.

73

Richard
G3CWI

3

Excellent report Pete. Well done on all the Firsts!

I had the same problem with my pole on my two activations yesterday (see the reports in “What if the footprints are wrong?” thread). On the first one, I also had success with the “bare hand wrestling” technique, as you did. On the second activation, this was insufficient, so an alternative technique was required (which works extremely effectively, albeit a last resort).

Although the air temperature was extremely cold yesterday, I never found it that uncomfortable in my sheltered activating spots.

Tom M1EYP

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I wonder if part of the problem is due to not drying the poles properly between activations? It’s a good idea store poles in a warm dry place with the bung removed. 73 Richard G3CWI.

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Yeah, probably. I keep meaning to do that…

6

In reply to G3CWI:

I wonder if part of the problem is due to not drying the poles
properly between activations?

Quite possible. My pole languishes in the boot of the car between activations, and last time it was out was on a very wet Shropshire Clee Hills expedition.

I brought it into the house before today’s activation and gave it a bit of a rub down with a tea towel. It was pretty damp! Only reason I brought it in was to check the fit of one of those new fangled guy line connectors. I can report that it fitted and the pole stayed upright on May Hill…

Pete

PS my 60M rig produced 7 QSOs today so I think it’s a winner.

7

In reply to G4ISJ:
Hi Pete
Great Pictures.
I wondering how you did the Map with the contact points/lines for your contacts?
Is there an application for it, or do you have to do some Google Map programming?
Thanks
73 Mark
VK3UA