A Nice 6 Continent Activation.

2E0YYY · 2 July 2021 13:49

Another trip up to Gun G/SP-031 Thursday Evening 01/07. Once again, I got my timing wrong for this activation, I ran into a big North American contest with huge pile-ups and dreadful QRM on the 20m band. This had the knock on effect of many of the usual North American chasers not chasing EU DX.

I was QRV on 20m ssb at 20:15utc and was immediately pounced on by about a million black flies. As luck would have it, I was carrying some very powerful repellent, which for the most part, held them at bay until it got dark.

As is customary, Ed DD5LP was first in my log, we had a quick natter about band conditions and then he went off to put some spots up for me. My very good friend Martin K2TRD who runs a big station, picked up Ed’s spot and called in for a chat, he was a rock crushing signal.
Martin was followed by Ayman HZ1LR/M and then Steve N3** in PA. At this point the DX contacts dried up. There was a run of EU contacts including EA8 in the Canary Islands, great to get Victor GI4ONL in the log for the first time in ages.

At around 22:10utc, the band livened up again, with a run of calls from Canada, including the provinces of VE2, 3, 6, 7 and 9, Argentina, Australia, USA, El Salvador, Belize and another Saudi Arabia station. I actually grabbed some video of the El Salvador QSO, which I’ll stick up on my Facebook group later.

There were 61 contacts for the activation all 20m ssb with 6 continents logged. Just 30 contacts into North America, 25 of which were USA the best of them Oregon and 5 contacts into Canada.

Once again, many thanks to Ernie VK3DET for interrupting his travel plans to work me, after seeing my spot on the DX cluster. This guy is a credit to ham radio. We made our first contact about 22:30utc. Many thanks also, to Steve VK2STG for trying. When I first heard your call, I thought you were a very weak North American station, as I was only picking up the Kilo in your callsign. Then the penny dropped. Better luck next time.

2E0YYY

G4OIG · 2 July 2021 13:57

You never fail to amaze me Mike. All that and on SSB as well. I guess the YYY call may be worth a few “interest points” for those that call you, but you need to heard to be worked. More power to your elbow as they say… or PTT button in this case!

73, Gerald

HB9CYX · 2 July 2021 15:58

All I can say here: WOW
73, Fritz HB9CYX

K6YK · 2 July 2021 16:49

Congrats, Mike! That’s great. I haven’t heard ANY DX SOTA
for months from here. Lots of Americans and Canadians, though.
About 300 of them this month.
73
John, K6YK

MM0EFI · 2 July 2021 17:07

Amazing!!

73, Fraser

M0WIV · 2 July 2021 17:41

An extraordinary session. HF Propagation for 20m has been rated “Good” for the last couple of days I think. I hope it remains like this into tomorrow.

M0NOM · 2 July 2021 17:49

Awesome as always Mike!

M1EYP · 2 July 2021 18:14

Nice one Mike.

Tried to call you a couple of times, as your groundwave was getting into Macclesfield. No worries, thanks for the SWL point as ever.

2E0YYY · 2 July 2021 18:32

Thanks for the flowers, Gerald. I’ve always maintained ssb to be a great mode. In terms of DX and DXCC’s, there’s been some amazing SOTA results with ssb mode.

73 Mike

NQ7R · 2 July 2021 22:01

I was happy to hear you Mike, you were not strong, but strong enough. Always amazed at what QRP or low power can do across the pond. Hope to work you again.
73 Tom NQ7R, AZ

2E0YYY · 2 July 2021 22:23

My p[quote=“NQ7R, post:10, topic:26253, full:true”]
I was happy to hear you Mike, you were not strong, but strong enough. Always amazed at what QRP or low power can do across the pond. Hope to work you again.
73 Tom NQ7R, AZ
[/quote]

My pleasure, Tom.

73 Mike

G4OOE · 3 July 2021 10:22

Hi Mike

Fantastic once again. I reckon that your antenna has some magical powers! Anyway it is good to see that you are still pulling in the dx from every which way!

73
Nick

GI4ONL · 3 July 2021 11:13

Yes, it’s been a while Mike. I just chanced upon your spot on the phone when I was playing with SOTA Spotter and was pleasantly surprised to hear you when I switched on the radio.
Another great haul there, well done

73 Victor GI4ONL

2E0YYY · 3 July 2021 11:27

Hi Nick,

Many thanks,

Been a while since we last met up. IIRC, it was, G/SP-004 Shining Tor a few years ago.
Remember the amazing day you had up there!
The antenna is a home brew 20/40m linked dipole and I was using a 12m fishimg pole. Spent a lot of time getting it spot on. Whether it’s as good as the mighty Antron-99, well, the jury’s still out. One thing I do know, it’s a lot easier to carry than the Antron

73 Mike

M6BLV · 3 July 2021 12:25

Nice report Mike, glad to see your still knocking it out of the ballpark, all the best mate.
73 John

M0WIV · 3 July 2021 12:33

That 12m pole must make a difference. I’m only using a 6m pole. May I ask what make it is and how far from the top you fix the dipole?

M1EYP · 3 July 2021 12:53

It’s not so much the mast height, the antenna, power or mode. The key is studying the current propagation and selecting the band accordingly. Mike is particularly adept at this!

2E0YYY · 3 July 2021 13:51

Hi John,

I’m using a 12m windsock/flag pole. This is stiffer than a fishing pole and it weighs 2.2kg…

I don’t use the top section of the flag pole. The dipole centre rests down a couple of centimeters onto the top of the second section.

If you can find a trig point with the centre missing and which hasn’t been filled up with pebbles, a 12m pole drops in nicely, with no guying required.

Be careful though, a 12m pole is a big handful in windy conditions. The easiest thing to do if it’s too windy, drop the bottom two or three sections, job done.

You’ll get a lot of advice offered about antenna’s, however, my advice (if you wish to take it) is to experiment. You’ll find what works for one person don’t always work for someone else.

Have fun…

G4OOE · 3 July 2021 13:58

Hi Mike

Remember it? With 165 contacts I have been bragging about for years - hi hi!

73
Nick

2E0YYY · 3 July 2021 14:03