Back to Gun G/SP-013, Quick Report,

Old Reflector
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My last alerted activation for Gun, just over four weeks ago, failed to materialise. My car was rear ended and the car finished up a write off. Between work and sorting out a new ride, I was unable to participate in any SOTA.

So, Tuesdays activation of G/SP-013 Gun, with the usual Tuesday crowd was something I was really looking forward to. With no skool run to contend with, the drive to the parking spot at Meerbrook took no time. The worst part of the journey was the predictable mud plug to the summit. For a change, the WX was dry and the temperature was about 5°c…Luxuary!

Within 15 minutes, I placed the Antron into the Hawthorn tree and as I retrieved my hand, caught it on one of the thorns, gouging a nasty 3 inch cut in the back of my hand :frowning:

A look at the spots showed Andrew VK1NAM on VK/AC-048 and Ian VK1DI on VK/AC-040 working the 20m band. Both were in the log within 5 minutes, for a great start to the activation by way of 2 VK s2s. The 12m band sounded dead, so I made my way to the 20m band. Great to get Paul VK5PAS in the log once again. From then on it was a mixture of S&P, chasing s2s and working 20m and above. The 12m band was hard work with a lot of QSB, nevertheless, the band eventually opened to North America but with little sign of the West Coast all day and only 20 North American chasers finishing in the log.

Special thanks to Barry N1EU for taking the time to call me at 1013z.

The highlight of the day must be working OD5/HB9JOE/P on the 15m band, activating OD/BE-003 for a mega rare s2s with Lebanon, as well as young Saskia M6POE on 2m.

There were plenty of s2s to be worked and I finished up with 14 in the log.

137 chasers logged for the activation.

63 contacts on 12m ssb
19 contacts on 17m ssb
46 contacts on 20m ssb
3 contacts on 40m ssb
2 contacts on 15m ssb
4 contacts on 2m fm.

A fine days radio for a mid-week activation. Many thanks to all the chasers who took the time to call in.

73 Mike
2E0YYY

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In reply to 2E0YYY:
What a nice write-up of a fantastic day! Sounds like weeks of activating compressed into a single session. Thanks, and hope the hand is mending.
KB1RJC and KB1RJD

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In reply to 2E0YYY:

I see you managed to qualify the summit then Mike. :wink:

73, Gerald G4OIG

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In reply to G4OIG:

In reply to 2E0YYY:

I see you managed to qualify the summit then Mike. :wink:

One does ones best, Gerald :wink:

In all seriousness, conditions were not good yesterday and perhaps my Gun activation flattered to deceive. The acid test will be tomorrow because the HF propagation looks dreadful.

I’m almost tempted to give Gun another try tomorrow, however, the WX forecast ain’t too clever. Friday the WX looks more promising, so I may just stretch my legs and try to shed some of the of fat I’ve accumulated during my SOTA hiatus :frowning:

73 Mike
2E0YYY

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In reply to KB1RJC:

Hi Herm and Merle,

What a strange hobby Amateur Radio is. The 12m band was in poor shape yesterday and yet your audio sounded so good!

As for the cut on my hand, well as you know, for SOTA warriors, it’s all in a days work :wink:

Many thanks for the call yesterday and I look forward to working you both real soon.

73 Mike
2E0YYY