Activation : GM/WS-336 : Beinn Lora

GM7STP · 11 December 2025 15:10

Summary of Activation :

SOTA Summit: GM/WS-336 : Beinn Lora : 308m : 1 pt (no wb as <500m)
Activation Date: Sat 06-Dec-2025
Callsign used: GM7STP/P
ALERT : 13:30 UTC : 145.500 fm & maybe ssb too … wx dependent.
SPOT : at 12:59 on 145.400 : QRV on 145.400 / 145.500
Equipment : for 145-fm :
- Rig: Icom ID-52 handheld / 5W
- Antenna : ID-52 Antenna plus a counterpoise. (Slim-G not used)
Equipment : for 7-ssb & 14-ssb :
- Rig : Icom IC-705 & AH-705 / 10W
- Mast : Sotabeams Carbon 6
- Antenna : Sotabeams Bandspringer Midi 10m-60m
Successful QSOs :
- On 145-fm : 145.500 MHz, etc : QSOs = 1
- On 40m ssb : 7.090 MHz : QSOs = 4
- On 20m ssb : 14.327 MHz : QSOs = 1

Setting Up :

The summit of Beinn Lora has a cylindrical concrete pillar trig point on rock on a mostly grassy, heather hill top. I set up the mast and wire antenna ready for ssb operation, but as planned tried 2m fm first.

Operation on 145-fm :

By about 13:00 UTC/GMT I was QRV and calling CQ SOTA, initially on the calling channel, then QSY 145.400.

With an immediate response to my first CQ SOTA, my 1st QSO from Robin @GM7PKT ~20 miles away to the NE, south of Fort William; 145.500 QSY 145.400. R55, S59. My audio was dropping out on occasions; but thanks to Robin’s patience and perseverance we completed a fine QSO. Was better when I stood by the trig point. Great to get a QSO with Robin from Beinn Lora, as he was the first Activator back in Aug-2005.
With no further callers on 2m I then SPOTted for 7-ssb.

Operation on 7-ssb & 14-ssb :

Once self-SPOTted at 13:24 for QSY 7-ssb to 7.090, I first of put a call out for Andy @MM7MOX hoping that a successful QSO would give him his complete for Beinn Lora; alas it wasn’t to be. Andy heard me, with a 33 signal, but I couldn’t hear him to complete the QSO. Refers to Beinn Lora QSO attempt.

With a few CQ SOTAs my 2nd QSO followed shortly on 7.090 with Ken @G0FEX in Leicester; R56 noting some QRM, S59.

My 3rd QSO followed shortly after with Karl @2E0FEH in Cornwall giving me R33 with pre-amp on, S59.

My 4th QSO followed less than 10 minutes later with Allen @2E0AGB in West Yorkshire; R55, S58. Great to get the 4th QSO !

Staying on 40m I tried for one more call and a few minutes later my 5th QSO was with Don @GW0PLP down in Cardigan on the west coast of Wales; R32, S59.

I was then keen to still try 20m, so self-SPOTted at 13:52 for QSY to 14.327. Within a few minutes my 6th QSO was with Roberto @IN3NJB in northern Italy; R53, S54. My congratulations to Roberto for becoming a MG earlier this year, Apr-2025.

After QRT at 14:04, a very happy GM7STP then packed up and headed back down to the car.

Overall, another very successful activation. Thanks to all my Chasers. Very enjoyable QSOs.

Background stuff : Route & Photos :

Route Start : Beinn Lora Car Park at Benderloch.

Route : Summit : Beinn Lora : Refer to SotaMaps GM/WS-336 at 308m.

Distance to Summit : 3.5km over elevation of 308 - 12 = 296m approx. (ignoring ups & downs)

Wx : A little drizzle, cloudy, cold and breezy day.

Route:

Starting from the Forestry Commission Beinn Lora Car Park at Benderloch, the route to the top of Beinn Lora follows easy and well marked paths and tracks. Once up at the gate the path does get a little muddy and a bit further on a bit boggy too for a short distance; but still quite easy going, with a rocky path leading up to the summit.

Return route taken from the summit was the same in reverse … back to the car park.