Continuing the discussion from Banned from Stiperstones (Part 1) - #100 by G4IPB.
Previous discussions:
Hi Paul,
I haven’t activated it since - and certainly at this time of year there are likely to be wardens because of ground nesting birds. We were planning Y Golfa - but I have a dodgy knee so probably won’t be on it so if you haven’t got another hill you can have that one, I will chase from home and Philip probably from Clee Hill… we shall see you at the Hog Roast
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Thank you - Corndon Hill looks like a good alternative and it does not appear to have any access issues (Cue the responses to this post appearing now….) . I had already decided that the 2m Yagi wouldn’t work for anything vaguely low profile like Stiperstones on a Saturday morning. I have deliberately been vague on alerts as what I take depends a lot on the weather, I’m not faffing around with a beam if it is stupidly hot. The other factor was parking, I have a 6.4m long camper so finding somewhere with reasonable parking adds another dimension - the measure tool on Google Maps is quite useful…. ….As for the dogs they are always on leads ( That didn’t stop them finding some quite large Grouse chicks next to the path on Tuesday but everyone survived…) and until I utter the words “CQ” they are usually quiet. Perhaps Woody thinks he acts as cover for an incognito activation by causing a distraction. 73. Paul
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Corndon is a great VHF site, plenty of room in the AZ and there are no access issues that I’m aware of (its one of my favourite local summits)
The usual parking place is along the side of the farm track leading to the hill, but it is quite narrow. If you find it a bit tight, there is more parking space just to the north for the nearby Mitchell’s Fold stone circle. It would just add a few minutes to the walk.
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A bit OT…… keeping out of the sun and looking through old photos, this is my old Rover 80 parked near the rocks on Stiperstones and running the 4m station during VHF NFD in 1975. We had permission from the landowner, it wasn’t a nature reserve then!
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Having recently moved to Ludlow, Stiperstones is a local hill for me, so I decided to clarify things. The attached photo is of the bylaws as posted at the bottom of one of the paths up, which I obtained last weekend on a non-Sota family walk.
Clause 16 obviously applies to ham radio operations.
I then emailed the Reserve warden to ask about restrictions. She clarified that using a hand-held transmitter was permitted as long as it was operating quietly in a way that did not interfere with or disturb other site users and wildlife. A permit was however required, which could be applied for and received by email and would need to be carried on the hill either as a paper copy or on a phone.The warden further advised that I could apply for a permit to cover, for example, 6 visits between now and the end of December, which would leave it up to me when those visits were. An email should be sent a day or so in advance of a visit to let them know I was going to be on site, and if the weather turned unfeasible, I could email to postpone.
She further clarified that the use of portable masts was not permitted.
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Roller skating up Stiperstones would certainly be a sight.
G5JFJ
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Her bylaws do not apply to the public right of way. Operate from there.
Low key would be operating a 2m flowerpot on a small fibreglass pole, handheld not guyed. 20-30mins max and you’re gone. Some of your multi antenna setups are not going to be happening on Stiperstones.
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You could argue that Clause 16 also applies to mobile phones, so I’m guessing the byelaw has not been updated since 1994?
I agree with Andy and comments before, operating on 2m with slimjim/telescopic whip seems to be the move going forward.
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Or a KX-2 (or similar) with an attached whip, held in the hand. That still allows HF operations from the public footpath.
73, Simon
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Hi Andy, the slight faff of getting a permit doesn’t bother me and I will just be using my Quansheng and RH770 whenever I get up there again.
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Royal Parks have the very same bylaw. It’s clearly aimed at ghetto blasters (80’s) and now Bluetooth speakers and phones playing music.
That’s why I did ft-8 when activating Hyde Park for POTA. Silence all round.
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