Detling Hill G/SE-013 21st March 2018
I caught the train from London Victoria to Bearsted, then cycled up Thurnham Lane, under the M20, through Thurnham and up on to Detling Hill, about 3km.
This got very steep. I got as far as the footpath to the castle ruin and had to get off and push. A Brompton is not geared for this kind of hill.
I arrived 30 minutes before my posted activation time, so quickly set up at a picnic table and tried the Yaesu FT-70D with an MFD dipole on C4FM, 144.6125, no takers. A move to S20 FM brought in G0UKP, Brian, in Southend on Sea and 2E0IQD, Tony in Sittingbourne, also followed from the calling frequency. So two quick contacts in the log. Time now for 40m CW.
I found 40m propagation disappointing, with no inter-G contacts to be found.
RBNHole spotted my CQ Sota call and I quickly bagged two German callsigns.
I say quickly, I am still struggling to copy CW but I got there in the end.
I looked around on 20m but struggled for a response. Then back on 40m and I found HB9CBR/P on a summit, HB/SG-047. So really pleased, a s2s.
Lastly I found F6CUK/P who was signing FFF-2471 after each CQ call. I had to look this up when I got home. A new one for me, Flora and Fauna.
A great day out, pleased with the contacts and a new summit. Shame there was no inter-G propagation. An observation on Fusion, I left the FT-70D on digital calling channel for the 2 hours on the summit, calling CQ Sota, at various times, but nothing heard. Thanks to the chasers for the point and South East trains for the ÂŁ12.60 super saver day return.
