Arran Corbetts!

Activation Reports Pre-Planning
1

I will be taking another CalMac, this time to Arran from Thursday through Sunday (20th to the 23rd).

The aim is clearing up the Corbetts on the island including Goatfell GM/SI-006, Cìr Mhòr GM/SI-011, Caisteal Abhail GM/SI-007 and Beinn Tarsuinn GM/SI-008.

HF is in the bag but I will also be taking a newly built 100g Yagi and also 2 m SSB to try when the weather is right (and I can be bothered to carry the 857). Would be great to work anyone who fancies 2m SSB! Summit info will be in alerts.

Will it live up to expectations and be as good as the last trip out to the Scottish isles - Shadow has high expectations as soon at the campervan was being packed !

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Shadow in Torridon

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Shadow on Rúm

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I will need to plot how to catch you there…

I have a pass to go to the island a couple of weeks later, so a complete or 2 would be good great!

Perhaps I need to visit Culter Fell or Tinto again…

Alan

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Maybe not! I easily worked chasers right across the central belt and as far as Edinburgh from Goatfell, so any old hill should do. :blush:

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Alan, Goatfell is true LOS to Scald Law, Allermuir Hill, Cairnpapple Hill which would give you a genuine S2S with Tim. If 2m SSB is in use with a small Yagi at each end then it’s probably going to be workable from anywhere “up a bit” in Edinburgh. Braid Hills would be a likely spot as well.

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Thanks for that info.

Obviously since the dogs missed out on a long walk today, they’ll be needing a good long walk in the Pentlands tomorrow ahem…
:rofl:

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is it truely homebrew or is there maybe some instructions you can share ?
thanks and good look with the activation!

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It’s this one.

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Thank you!

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@GM5ALX has provided the link.

MM0EFI recommended this, and he has some videos with it in use.

The only thing I changed was to design and 3D print the centre of the radiator to work with “chocolate block” electrical connector’s and this works very well.

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Tomorrow is the first time I will try this on a SOTA summit and I will probably write a report for the reflector so you can see how it goes !

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The asymmetric arrangement is very neat. Though I can’t help thinking of the Blohm & Voss BV141 when I see pictures of the antenna :wink:

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I’ve had to change plans @MM0VPM Goatfell today, rest will follow. My apologies if that changes anything

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You’ll have to put those on printables when you’re back from your trip. Much neater than my shambles of a drilling through pipe fittings.

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All good at this end🙂

Today was a bonus day. I made a couple of completes through Archie @GM4KNU and hope to catch some of the Arran ones too when I get there.

You were good copy to GM/SS-125 Well done getting there, starting at sea level makes them a tiring ascent :clap:

Alan
MM0VPM

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14

Tell me about it. Today I started at 14m ASL and had to get to 703m ASL with 95m of descent on the way :frowning: My knees are complaining bitterly now. I missed Tim and Archie mainly due to being in my own little world when activating.

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I saw your HF spot ! And kept an ear out on 2m. The central belt was in fine form today when I was on the summit - 31 in the log on 2m ! .

So the Yagi works :grinning:

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I was suffering from legs downing tools after the climb. I’d thought maybe Cruarch an t-Sidhean, the Fairy Hill or Doune Hill in addition to Beinn Eich but that’s just beyond my fitness levels. Massively beyond them :frowning:

And then Bill VK1MCW called me out of the blue on 15m. It was EU, EU, EU, EU Canberra Australia… what! Unexpected indeed and my mind wasn’t concentrating on who was where after that. 17000kms give or take on 10W CW into a damp bit of twine :slight_smile:

Probably would have worked OK but Beinn Chaorach was just across the valley and blocked you a lot. 13cms would have been a doddle, just bounce the signal off Beinn a;Mhanaich and it’s a sea path down the Firth of Clyde and onto Arran.

I have kitchen fitting jobs at my son’s new house tomorrow so limited SOTA chasing options.

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