This should be good, will be listening out on 2M FM, from the QTH in Oldham!
Cheers - Alan
This should be good, will be listening out on 2M FM, from the QTH in Oldham!
Cheers - Alan
Thanks Alan - hope to make the contact.
Last chance to donate to a great charity - thank you very much to all those who have already sponsored - really appreciate it
Good luck tomorrow Ben!
Hope the weather cooperates.
Hope the weather will be kind for you Ben, will be listening out for you.
73
Roger MW0IDX
Thanks Robert - fingers crossed!
Thanks Roger - I’ll be spotting on every frequency I call out on. Will start on 2m FM though so I make sure I qualify summit and work all stations in range.
Gan Canny Ben, the MWIS forecast looks horrendus for Snowdon tomorrow with windspeed well exceeding my self-imposed 25mph wind speed maximum for activations.
Remember there is always another day, it is just a hobby.
Stay safe and good luck
David
G0EVV
Thanks David - I’ve been keeping a close eye on the wx forecast for the past two weeks. It seems to have improved, but you are right about the wind level.
I will be taking the Llanberis route and there is shelter on top, so fingers crossed. If it is too bad, I can always turn around using that route. If I can just operate on 2m FM that would be something, we will see.
Might catch you tomorrow evening.
73, GW4BML. Ben
I’ve yet to find my limit, although I found 60 mph to be rather unpleasant! It was a calculated maneuver on a known (but still 850 m) summit.
Do we know if Ben has completed his activation on 2m only this evening? I can see a spot for 20:02 earlier? I can setup HF here in Austria, but I’ll have to get dressed again
Hi Mark, he’s finished 2m, got him 20.10 or so, but the band went v noisy. Going on to hf soon, hopefully if wx not too bad. 73 John
Thanks John for the info.
Was an interesting experience setting up in the dark in snow here in Austria - good practice for potential SOTA later in the week. I also need to check the band plans as there was a question over 60m. Our accomodation is up a mountain road on the way to a lift station - makes for wonderful views and uncertainty about getting back to the valley again!
Looks like Ben may have called it a day after 80m, 40m wasn’t working great to the UK anyway, although I did hear a 1KW JA station.
Regards, Mark.
Well done Ben! What an achievement. I am pleased that you made it and managed to operate on both 2m and 80m. Unfortunately the local noise level on 80m made it impossible to work you, but I could tell you were there and occasionally hear others on the frequency. It was too far for 2m FM of course, especially as my QTH is sat on the SE side of the local high ground.
73, Gerald
Well done Ben and Martha! A great effort and all for a deserving charity.
I couldn’t hear Ben either, however just 10 KHz up another special event callsign, GB100BBC was banging in like he was in the next room! Broadcast quality. The Op. had newsreader English too. Very impressive.
That would most likely be Steve G4HPE. I was tempted to call him, but decided to concentrate on listening for Ben in case the conditions changed… which they unfortunately didn’t.
Activation report: ‘GB2WFC’ on air from the SOTA summit of Snowdon GW/NW-001, Wales and England’s highest peak:
The roads were quiet when Mrs BML & myself left the home QTH in Mid-Wales yesterday evening. It took approximately 2 hours to arrive at Llanberis car park where we gathered our stuff together, rucksacks chucked over our backs and walking poles at the ready:
The stars were shining bright in the sky as we entered the gates to begin our hike to Wales number one peak. It was a nice gentle stroll on a well used stoney path - I chose the Llanberis route because I believe it’s the safest route to the summit of Snowdon. The wind was roaring and pretty cold, but we were all equipped for this having the correct clothing on.
A few images were taken on the way up which included the half-way cafe, a view of Llanberis village lights in the distance with the lights brightly shining, the last railway bridge to walk under and the Bwlch stone before the steps began to the trig:
It took us smack on 2 hours to summit, then we had a ‘Home alone’ moment trying to climb the final steps to touch the trig! They were iced over and we were slipping everywhere, so crawled is what we had to do a quick summit selfie with my NSPCC t-shirt and hat on, with a mug of coffee and baileys in my hand!
We couldn’t stay on top of the summit to activate, the wind was far to strong being over 30mph and my thermometer on the rucksack showed -14, that was the wind chill! So I set up my 2m FM station a couple of foot below the trig just sheltering from the wind. I can’t believe I had Snowdon summit all to myself to activate I used my slim-g on the 6m tactical mini pole at 6m in the air, holding it between my legs. It felt like there was a 25lb salmon on the end!!! this was connected to my FT-65e hand held which worked extremely well with the complimentary reports I received!
Before I put a call out, there was stations already calling me on the frequency I had spotted on - this was fantastic the support given was amazing! I worked 28 stations on 2m FM with one being a S2S - thanks for the contact and going up a summit to get me Steve MW7RMZ/p who was on Moel Famau GW/NW-044. After putting a final call out on S20, with freezing fingers…. I packed my stuff away and Martha and I went to shelter by the train station and have a flask of soup to warm up - hey Tom, that’s your summit food isn’t it??
Yes I know - the flag is the wrong way around!! One of the only times I take it with me, this happens I couldn’t see, that’s my excuse!
Time to set up for HF…… I had an antenna especially made for me by Steve @MW0SAW for this event and future summits. It was a 80m - 10m EFHW and by god it was long. I managed to set it up in some shape and form between the trig and train station, on the steps using rocks to hold the mast down. It wasn’t fully erected but worked extremely well - thanks Steve! I managed to work 22 stations itl with a new companion of mine who joined Martha and myself for a small summit party unbelievable, he sat by me for over half the activation!
It was a great successful event and I got to speak with many friends on the radio - brilliant times!
So far I have raised £921 for the NSPCC children’s charity, I am over the moon with this amount - thank you all so very much for supporting me and donating to a fantastic charity!
Again, thank you very much to everyone who donated - my donating page is still live for a few more days if anyone would like to add to the amount, link below:
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
73, GB2WFC (GW4BML) Ben & Martha
Good to see you have the Disco fixed and good to get you ITL Ben.
Cheers
John M0VAZ