Hi to all in sundry…
Well I’ve just had my first ISW and can say I’m truly hooked on what I was listening to. I’m a little limited on bands I can use as the only truly portable rig I’ve got is an FT60-e but I’m looking into a Yaesu FT817 for future activations but I’ve got a HF rig at home which I’m hopefully getting a antenna for in the near future so I can do a bit of chasing too!
I checked the Reflector posts on Sunday morning and was delighted to see that G0CQK/P was activating G/TW-002 Drake howe on Cringle moor so I thought I’d tune in and give him a call.
His signal came booming through with a solid 59 and my return was 59 likewise…something to do with the fact there is nothing between my QTH in Stockton and Cringle moor (I can see it from my front door!) and the fact I’m on the highest point of my estate. So we exchanged pleasantries and I bid good luck and 73’s but listened in…G0CQK/P was getting calls left right and centre from the area, think I heard one from Durham who was about 33 with an S3 on me but up there was 59 which didn’t come as a surprise to me!
So with chasing a SOTA, listening to what it was about and hopefully gonna do a bit more activating than chasing, I can safely say I’m hooked and can’t wait until I can get in the hills to activate my self and hopefully log a few SOTA addicts along the way.
73’s and thanks to the founder(s) of this program and thanks to G0CQK (Jim) for my first SOTA contact.
Denny (M3HSJ)