Well done! I started with VHF only in N Wales. Still often use 2m FM on activations.
Enjoy a new aspect of your hobby.
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Well, after over 10 7ears of SOTA I still havenât grown out of VHF - just added UHF to make it a bit more of a challenge (correction - LOT more of a challenge from some summits!). Certainly one contact is enough to activate (put a tick on?) a summit. We are about to depart tot he Channel Isles (GU/GJ land) where there are 3 summits (after some MT magicâŚ) with the highest less than 150m and the lowest 105m . This will be a challenge on VHF/UHF on 5w so I will be a VERY happpy bunny 
if I get one contact from anyone!
Keep up with the good work Ian and the more contacts you make on VHF the more the locals will realise that someone IS actually using the band and it is worth listening out. We (with M0JLA on Hf mostly) have activated all the summits in GI-land and I built up a keen band of chasers in the more populated ragions but things got more difficult in the West - the Sperrins and round Loch Erne so I can well imagine your struggles. Donât forget that for VHF you need good take-off (and good clothing/shelter - a bothy bag?) so will be at the most exposed spot. The further you go down the hill âto get out of the windâ the less chance that your message will travel so far. It will help if you do a little advertising (as well as SOTA Alerts and Spots) on Facebook, club websites etc etc.beforehand. Make sure people know you are around. I look forward to reading about more activations.
73 Viki
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Thatâs great to see you trying on VHF/UHF! Oddly enough, I think I was there the day before you activating on 20m (also a bit ironically, given my callsign is K5UHFâŚ).
I did a write up here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/digitalmodes/comments/1fc2gi8/ireland_potasota_activation_on_20m_ft8/
Unfortunately, I canât upload my logs because of some Incorrect summit format error, although Iâm using the same format that previously worked.
73,
Jeff
K5UHF
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Haha! Small world eh!? I was supposed to be there at the weekend for 145 ALive but had to cancel due to an orange weather warning. Safety first. The weather, it would turn out on Sunday, was absolutely brutal, so glad I cancelled.
It wonât stop me enjoying 2m and 70cm though!
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