Hello and welcome!
I had the same issues when I started Didn't manage to activate G/NP-006 - advice needed. Since then I don’t think I have have failed to activate providing I could get up the hill. The thing that makes the biggest difference ( IMHO) is being spotted - and the SMS gateway makes that a bit easier (UK SMS gateway number?) - but you have to watch the syntax carefully (and in my case put the glasses on!). I usually take two radios up the hill - a 2m HH and an HF radio - on the grounds that there is a better chance that whatever item I have failed to pack or fails it should still be possible to get the other radio working. Good Luck
73 Paul