I totally agree with you, this was exactly my interpretation as well. But the wording of the rules leaves some space for interpretation at this time. Well, let’s await the decision.
73 Martin
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My old, trusty SOTA pole also had a similar crack some months ago, but the repair I made on it has been working a deal.
If you have an interest, I will be pleased to explain how I repaired such breakage.
73,
Guru
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I started early to participate in the SOTA activity day on DM/BW-105. Without breakfast I was looking forward to the sunrise. After setting up my station the first QSOs came in the log and breakfast followed.
Some time later a hiker stood next to me. First I thought what does he want. After I finished the QSO I realized that it was OM Jürg @HB9BIN. After a very short chat he was qrv a few meters further. Only at the end we talked a little longer. I was very happy to meet you there Jürgen. That was our second meeting on a summit.
TRX was a Yaesu FT-817, an End-Fed antenna, LiFePo battery. All in all more than 100 QSOs and over 40 S2S were logged. It was a lot of fun and there was a lot of action on the bands.
See you next time. Many thanks to all participants.
73 Marcel DM3FAM
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From the previous thread…
Speaking as Andy MM0FMF not as an MT member here… my view is these kind of events work when they don’t happen too regularly. If there is only 1 EU activity day per year, people will go to much greater effort to be QRV. But if they happen too often then there is no impetus to make a big effort to be QRV because if you miss EU SOTA day there will be another in a few months.
Myself, I was unable to take part and the WX was brilliant in GM and looks to have been very good over most of Europe and that certainly helped get more people out.
As I said, my personal view and not any kind of official view.
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Yes you are right … 2 x should be maximum…
I also enjoyed the activation day.
It was a good incentive to get out (weather was very nice too, here in Belgium). It had been some time that I didn’t do SOTA. The COVID crisis pushed me to take every opportunity to get out (safely). WWFF doesn’t require so much driving and this is how I got back to radio. But nothing can replace the kick of SOTA.
I wanted to activate belgian summits that I hadn’t discovered during my previous SOTA activities. They were “only” 2-point summits but interesting: nice scenery and walk. And driving through the Ardennes confirmed that this is a beautiful country.
The S2S were surprising for a rusted operator like me. At the first summit, the linked dipole up and ready to go, I was listening on the frequency before sending the validation QRL?. And there was OK1DU/P calling CQ SOTA from OK/LI-072. A great way to start this EU SOTA Activation day.
I activated ON/ON-021 (Plantis de Menil), ON/ON-019 (Bois de Javingue) and ON/ON-018 (À la Plate) with a KX3 (running 15W) on CW to a linked dipole.
This is the view from the Plantis de Menil.
Packed to move up to the Bois de Javingue
The view before entering the forest
And the operating position.
I had a great day! Thank you to all who participated and who had the idea to push us outside on the same day. A great way to get back to SOTA.
73 de ON4KJM
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It was great fun!
Prepared with enough food and liquid, I activated on DM/BW-002 during about 9 hours and put 114 QSOs in the log, of which 69 were S2S.
In the middle of the following picture, one can see in the background the slightly higher and highest summit of the Black Forrest DM/BW-001.
This time I brought a second mast with me, allowing to keep the end of my resonant 7-band EFHW antenna in inverted-L configuration higher than usual. The antenna wire is about 20m long with one coil that can be bypassed (will be described in a future document).
As usual, on HF I used 5W SSB from my FT-818, this time with an additional LiPo, which after about 6 hours was necessary, when my internal Windcamp 33Wh LiPo was used up. Conditions were “meh” and I didn’t even gave 17m a try.
On 2m FM, I used my Handheld with a Chinese RH-770 clone antenna with SMA connector and reached far into the Swiss Alps.
The summit got pretty busy after noon, but luckily there was a lot of space for everybody. Many hikers were interested in what I was doing and seemed to like the combination of outdoor sport and technology.
The WX started sunny and pretty warm for this altitude in September, but got covered up later on.
Thank you to all participants and organizers of this event!
73 Stephan
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Wonderful pictures! Thank you!
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Phil
I nearly decided to activate that ‘summit’ for myself - but ended up taking part in the annual York Canoe Race - I took my HB1-B with me but where we were pitched was a little too crowded for my dipole, so I never chased anyone.
The photograph of Tw-004 is the only ‘summit’ I’ve ever seen with bales of hay. Looks like a potentially sheltered spot. I like the idea of chair and table. The occasional treat does no harm eh? I could even take my base camp tent - or perhaps ask the farmer if I can put my camper nearer the activation zone… 250m is a long way when you’re carrying luxuries. 
I’ll activate it one day.
David
You can park in the activation zone.
Andy
So I gather - but I didn’t want to appear unnecessarily lazy 
- Unless operating from within the camper is beyond the pale. 
David
It’s not allowed.
Thoroughly enjoyed this. My first Successful activation. G/DC002 is the nearest summit to my home QTH. Made 11 Contacts over 2 1/2 hours. 2 on CW and the rest on FT8/FT4. Winds were very high on top of Bodmin Moor and my SOTA pole snapped after about 20 mins. Fortunately I had some Duck tape. Wind was from the ENE but there are places that you can shelter from the wind. I was using a FT817, Bandhopper 2 40/20m Dipole and a raspberry pi 4 for data modes. I would not have attempted this if it were not for this specific activity day so that was a great idea. I will be looking to activate another summit in the not too distant future. I have enjoyed reading everyone’s activity reports and it is great to see the innovative ideas that are around.
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Игорь, Вы классно отработали! Слышал Михаила негромко на 10 МГц, но дозваться не смог - СТТ перешел вскоре на другой диапазон. У нас с Маратом работать одновременно не получилось - не хватило разноса антенн. Погода была пакостная - ветер гнул антенны в дугу и периодически налетал дождь.
73!
Владимир
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Я пытался на 40 работать, чтобы взять тех кто поближе. Но получилось только 2 QSO с третьим районом. Активности не было несмотря на спот в кластере. У нас между антеннами было метров 15 но аппараты все с оч высокой динамикой. Абсолютно друг-другу не мешали в любой комбинации диапазонов.
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Hi Chris
Glad you managed your activation. Is that a Kent key in the photo?
The tip of my pole I cut off - its too delicate and glued the tip-ring into the next one.
Dave
Hi Dave, I attempted a activation from that summit about 18 Months ago using a 817 and a small loop antenna. Struggled to get 2 contacts. Thanks for your tip on the pole. My Pole actually snapped twice so it is totally unusable now. I will be getting another one so thanks for the tip about the top section. I may get a 10M pole and attach the antenna further down. I saw sotabeams do a compact 10m mast. The Morse Key is a llaves telegraficas artesanas one which I find is a good compromise on weight and performance.
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In some cases it is possible to repair the pole by gluing the broken section inside the section below it. Epoxy works well for this. It will be heavier and shorter, but potentially still useful.
HI David
The activation zone circumference at the 25m contour on G/TW-004 is approximately 12 miles in length. There are plenty of places to operate off the A166, where the rights of way are, perhaps, or on grass verges. See map, AZ indicated inside black border:
©Crown copyright 2014 Ordnance Survey Media
73 Phil
PS As MT member Andy has indicated, operating from inside a vehicle for SOTA or using the vehicle battery is not allowed, nor can the the vehicle be used to support an aerial mast.
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