Over the next few weeks I’m going to take advantage of the lighter nights and working in the Bristol area to do a few after-work early evening activations of SC’s, SW’s and WB’s, just hoping there’ll be a few of you around to give me the contacts!
Unfortunately only 2m at present, but am aiming to be back on 5Megs as well in the next week or so.
These will also be taking place from The Cloud G/SP-015 between now and 19th July, and will probably be on Mondays or Tuesdays, around 5pm on 2m FM. Will Spotlite on arrival & alert a couple of hours ahead.
I will listen when you are posted but only have a horizontal beam available so horizontal FM would be appreciated, even turning a handy on its side makes a huge difference!
I’m considering the slightly crazy idea of activating a summit in the 2m activity contest on the first Tuesday of the month - next one is next week, but may just do this June and July. Finishing at 10.00 p.m., I’ll be walking off in the dark, but this should be okay. Strong possibilities are Black Down SE-003 and Long Knoll SC-007. Unfortunately there’s no chance of activating Win Green SC-008 as that is taken each time… from the car park with 200w out.
I will keep a look out for you early evening as I sometimes drive at zero mph past my local high(er) spot on the way home!
Sounds like a bit of fun on a fine evening. I may wander up Leith Hill with the 817 to give you an extra QSO. However, not really being a VHF man, I’ll probably forget!! Fingers crossed …
When I activated Lobg knoll there was an art installation called “field of Light” at the foot of it (in fact the footpath runs right through it). This looked quite spectacular in the daylight when turned off, so a night time trip would be well worth it.
Thanks for the responses, it looks like there is an appetite out there for evening activations!
Last night’s trip to SC-003 Beacon Batch was successful, if somewhat damp - fortunately I got down just before the heavens opened properly. Only made five contacts, (including G4ERP/M on the way home - thanks Richard!) but they came quite easily and without spotting so I am fairly confident that future evening activations will be successful and hopefully the better summer weather will be conducive to longer and more satisfying activations.
Looking forward to many more, when I’m able to get out I’ll post an alert as early in the day as possible given the uncertainties arising from my work commitments.
Hi Gerald, not at all crazy! Last year I did a few from the roof of the seven storey building I was constructing in London, and had great fun. I’ll try to do it from proper hills this year!
Planning another evening activation tonight, SC-010 Dundry Down, aiming to be there around 1830 - 1900 BST. Will start on 2m fm, but will go to 2m ssb after if needed to qualify or by request if time permits. Hope to work some of you then!
In reply to G4MD:
I have only activated SC-010 once & will probably never do it again. Very scruffy area & you can¬t help feeling as if you shouldn`t be there. I did however manage 20 contacts on 2m with hardly any breakthrough on the ft817.
Steve G1INK.
Certainly is a quaint place, and the church tower is quite bizarre - looks like the top has been transplanted from another building of a different style, and it doesn’t quite fit…
Made 5 contacts altogether, first few were quite easy, but the breakthrough/desensing quite suddenly increased for the last two, and by the end of the activation 2m was unusable - very sorry if anyone I couldn’t hear was calling me. Tried ssb and horizontal fm as well, but no further contacts on either. There must be something transmitting intermittently up there, that certainly got into my '817. Guess you were lucky Steve!
Thanks to all who did make it, looking forward to catching you again soon.
Am going to try getting away early tonight and activating Ruardean on my way back North, may be any time between 1600 and 1800 BST, I’ll try and post an alert giving a more accurate time when I’m ready to leave.
In reply to G3CWI:
Ok there are photos on Geograph. Don’t know what happened but when I looked the 1st time there weren’t any and that’s the story I’m sticking too!