G4YSS:G/TW-004, 70cm-UKAC, 2m-FM, 160m 12-05-26

[G4YSS]

G4YSS: G/TW-004 on 70cm SSB, 2m-FM & 160m CW/SSB, 12-05-26
Issue-1. Pse Rprt Errors

BISHOP WILTON WOLD on 70cm SSB UKAC QRP, 2m-FM & 160m CW/ SSB QRO
70 MHz UKAC Contest QSO’s are also valid for SOTA
Evening of 12th May 2026 with Finn (Lurcher dog)
All times: BST (UTC+1hr) UOS

EQUIPMENT:
FT817ND HF-VHF-UHF QRP Multi-mode Transceiver.
HF-50W Linear Amplifier for 80 thru 10 (capable of 160m ops)
Link Dipole for 80-60-40-(30)-20m
Loading coils with slug tuning for 160m, insertable at 40m break points
15 ele Yagi for 70cm (Moonraker purchase)
5-section 6m home-brew alloy/ CFC mast
11.1V nom, 5Ah HRB Li-Po Battery
Folding garden chair (for equipment)
Folding ‘SOTA’ chair (for seating)

INTRO:
This is the closest SOTA to my home QTH and a 50 mile round trip from Scarborough. The A166 road out of York runs east/ west right through the activation zone but there are quieter options in the form of minor roads north and south. The trig point is immediately to the north of the A166 but I usually drive a short distance SSE down the Roman road and park the car on the wide grass verge at SE 8240 5675 in IO94PA.

The main intention was to do the UKAC 70cm contest which runs from 20:00 to 22:30 BST and combine it with a SOTA activation on 2m-FM. My SOTA speciality, namely 160m was reserved for after the contest when it was nice and dark.. Since my IC706-2G, which can run 20W on 70cm, went faulty I have had to rely on an FT817ND and just 5W. This and a 15-ele wasn’t going to win any prizes but it’s the taking part that interests me most.

Short of arranging skeds, UKAC contests and the like are just about the only way to get contacts on VHF-SSB these days. Long gone are the Sunday afternoons when you could barely find a space on 2m SSB. The start of the rot was when they made the old ‘B’ licence obsolete.

EXECUTION:
I set off from Scarborough with Finn around 17:05, arriving at 18:45. This is a SOTA but it doesn’t feel real due to almost no walking being required not to mention the flatness of the surrounding land. It feels very strange indeed and the routine is entirely out of the ordinary. No map or GPS is needed, no rucksack and you can take anything you like with no consideration for its weight. You have to keep in mind that you’re on a SOTA and ensure that you comply with the rules; the main one being no reliance on the vehicle for anything whatsoever. Not for sitting in (apart from Finn), not for tying anything to, not for power and not even as a windbreak.

First the 6m mast and link dipole were erected on the grass verge parallel with the very prickly hedge, which is around 2m high making a good tie-off for the dipole end strings. The next job was to insert and tune the 160m loading coils which proved impossible until I realised that the end of the dipole was touching the wet hedge in an ongoing rain shower. With that fixed I got a good match on both the 160m CW and SSB freqs.

After laying the dipole on the grass for later, along with the top two sections of the mast it was now possible to set up for the 70cm contest whereby the Yagi was fixed to the lower three sections. This arrangement was guyed at 120 degrees to two pegs on the verge. The third guy was threaded into the hedge and returned to the mast. Some levelling up was required to get the boom horizontal. The setting up process, HF and VHF, took well over an hour.

G/TW-004; BISHOP WILTON WOLD, 246m, 1 pt. Activation from 19:14z to 22:20z. 8C dropping to 4C, wind 3mph dropping to almost nil. Overcast / dark around 9pm. A short rain shower while setting up then fine. WAB: SE85. Locator: IO-94-PA (Trig point TP-6078 was about 500m away, therefore not valid for this activation). EE phone coverage.

432.236 SSB (5W) – 1 UKAC QSO:
This was the alerted frequency and a SOTA spot preceded CQ’s. The rules have changed around self-spotting in UKAC contests and it is now allowed. The only station to come back to me was a friend in the next village - G4FLM in East Ayton IO94SG. Frank’s signal was strong off the back of the beam and at 19:14z we exchanged 59’s with serial numbers 1 and 3.

I called ‘CQ Contest, CQ SOTA’ on there until 19:22z with nothing to show for it. Unsurprisingly calling on a fixed freq with ‘mouse power’ was not attracting anybody else, so I resorted to scanning along the band.

432 MHz SSB (5W) – 6 UKAC QSO’s:
It was disappointing to hear only one station across the whole SSB section. I worked G0EAK/P 59-2/ 59-18 in IO93NI on 432.254 then later found G4AWP on

423.329 59-3/ 57-4 in IO94LA.
More than ten minutes went by until I found another station to work but the exchange with ‘The Boss’ G4CLA Pete on .290 initially failed when I got 59-068 and IO92JL from him but he couldn’t hear me well enough because of quick and deep QSB. I heard him work another station after which I tried again this time with success. He kept to the original serial number of 68 too so there was no confusion. G4CLA is a very quick op with a massive set-up and he usually wins the contest.

At 19:49 I called G7LRQ on .165 with 59-5/ 57-70, LOC JO03BC; G0CNN/P Ian 59-6/ 59-27 portable in IO94AI and like myself, finding it hard work! The next log entry took a further 20 minutes and was the result of a self spot on 432.237 and a CQ. G4HZG heard my plea and I swapped 57-7 for 54-12 and IO93HE. Further CQ’s didn’t add anything so I had a break from the contest.

145.400 FM – 2 QSO’s:
I set up the 2m-FM J-Pole on a spare short mast, coupled it to my FT1500 and selected 50W. Little or nothing was expected from this QSY. Mid evening is not the best time for contacts on 2-FM so I was quite encouraged when someone came back to a CQ at 20:32z. Who should that person be but G7SXR Mark in Drighlington - 59 both ways and collecting one SOTA point. I was in no rush to get back to the contest so we had a chat for 5-minutes. I work Mark quite a lot and not just from SOTA’s but also from my local hill in Scarborough which happens to be a HEMA.

As so often happens someone found the activity. This was M7PRG Peter in Sheffield and he seemed pleased to get a contact with TW4. The particulars which I jotted down in the log tell me that Peter was using an IC9700 and 25W to a ‘white stick.’ He only has a small garden 12m x 6m but has managed to get in an antenna for 40m thru 10m. Reports were 57 both ways – better than I thought possible for Sheffield, so I asked what was his ASL? At 640ft, he was nearly as high as my 807ft so I had a good path from a north-facing hill on the southern outskirts of the city.

432 MHz SSB (5W) – 3 UKAC QSO’s:
Back to the contest. Maybe a few will have pointed their beams north by now? It was 10pm BST and the final half hour of the contest. Far from improving in my absence, it took another 15 minutes to log three more. G4AFF 55-8/ 51-54 in JO02LO; G1HLT 57-9/ 57-37 QTH IO93JD and G0XDI 55-10/ 52-74 in IO91RP, ‘Thanks for the new square’ and G0XDI turned out to be my best distance of 265km. It was slow going – everybody said so after the event, so I gave up. I could better use the time gained to put away the contest and 2FM kit then prepare for Top Band.

1.832 CW - 3 QSO’s:
Now to the evening’s highlight but had anybody seen my same-day alerts of only 8 hours previous? The antenna was tuned and the alerted time of 10:40pm BST had arrived. A self spot went out. Fingers crossed but it took quite a few CQ’s to get an answer. Someone was paying attention however and it was Esther GI0AZA. Excitement at last but too much of it, making 579 a bit optimistic and the keying a bit shaky. I got 339 from Londonderry – good QSO! The 160m log had an entry in it so the night had been worthwhile.

But wait! Where there’s Esther, there’s very often Ian. Sure enough another GI was calling. It was Ian GI0AZB but in QSB. I got 229 from Ian at 21:52z. My 50W to a compromise antenna was barely breaching Ian’s local noise level which can be quite spectacular at a home QTH; one reason I almost never operate from home.

The session was rounded off with a QSO from a third GI. Hopefully my assessment is right and if so, ‘Thank you Ian.’ This was GI5ALP which comes up on QRZ.com as ’ Benbradagh Mountain Club’ and though it is run by Esther but I got the same 229 as from Ian. There’s the clue. Further CQ’s went unanswered.

1.846 SSB - 1 QSO:
Stalwart 160m SSB enthusiast of yore, Brian G8ADD – QTH Birmingham, was waiting on the SSB freq. We exchanged 57/ 54 and Brian came back before QRT to wish me a good night.

I tried alternating between both modes until 11pm local but there were no further takers. It was time to pack up and take Finn for a short walk. He’d been patiently dozing in the back seat of my car while I got gradually more chilled outside. Bless him, we’re kind of ‘stuck together’ but if he knows I’m not far away or can hear me he’s generally happy. We were home by 00:22.

QSO’s: 16 comprising
10 on 70cm SSB UKAC
2 on 2m FM
3 on 160m CW
1 on 160m SSB
One SOTA Point

Ascent and distance: Let’s be honest. Zero on both counts.

Observations:
The contest on 70cm was slow going, especially with 5W and I was relieved on reaching double figures. If you read the comments on the entries, it would seem that most people found it the same. I don’t think I scanned along the band and heard more that 2 or 3 stations maximum at any point. Usually the most lucrative time, 30 minutes before the close when beams are usually turned North, didn’t seem to deliver so I called it a day in favour of Top Band.

The last time I did 160m from TW4, I got 28 QSO’s with best distance Italy but my favourite SOTA band has been lacking my attention in the last few years and unless you stoke it to keep the pot on the boil the fire goes out. This time I was largely saved by Northern Ireland with help from Brian G8ADD. Grateful thanks to Esther, Ian & Brian.

TW4 just doesn’t feel like a real SOTA. I have done quite a few contests from there with my son Phil using his car as the shack. Other times I’ve sat outside down the road to do SOTA independently. I also had the pleasure of two lengthy HF SOTA activations with Roy G4SSH though I can’t remember if I actually operated.

Hazards can be the thorn hedge tangling wires or not being cut down enough to get a VHF beam well above it. Also getting a vehicle off the verge in Winter has been a challenge for my son Phil with his wife Bev pushing. It is a quiet road though. I think maybe three vehicles passed in the hours I was there.

Sorry to say that Finn, my companion for a month including on three SOTA activations, has gone back home. He seemed to enjoy his holiday and all being well, I hope to see him back up here in August.

Next is a short break in G/NP. See you there.

THANKS to all stations worked and for the spotting service. Special thanks to those who showed up on 160m so close to bed time.

73, John G4YSS

Photos: Alerts;-2003a-2013-2100-2232/1a-2232/3a-2232/4-UKAC 70cm map

Above: 15-ele Yagi for the UKAC 70cm Contest

Above: Contest station - FT817ND barefoot, ready to go

Above: 70cm-SSB UKAC in progress

Above: Top Band. Ready to call CQ in CW. 6m mast & 80m dipole with loading coils for 160m inserted and tuned. Note the prickly hedge which I hope will be cut this Autumn

Above: Finn’s long-awaited late-night exercise and the op warming up after 3-hours sitting out

Above: The UKAC 70cm entry contest map - hard won. Rather modest with just 5W

[G8ADD]

I was surprised to hear that I was your only SSB contact, John. Your signal was not weak and followed the usual pattern of gradually strengthening, I listened to you calling when you went back to CW and you were even stronger - also I could hear a good number of continental stations, so the band was not in bad condition. I guess there must have been something good on the Telly that night!

[G4YSS]

Yes there must have been Brian but I’m grateful for your QSO and of course for the GI CW ones too. It would have been good if we’d been joined by the old team. I should advertise better but then I get nerves about the commitment. I didn’t get chance to have a swing round on the band so thanks for that info ref occupancy. Our main 160m chaser Phil G4OBK is in the middle of moving house just now so no antennas. Nice to hear that my signal was not all getting gobbled up by the earth. I hope there’ll be more opportunities for LF in the future but I have to take a bit more care these days.
Thanks for posting the reply,
Thanks for the likes everyone.
73, John

[IW2OBX]

Hi John, it’s always a pleasure to read your nighttime SOTA reports, especially your activations on the low bands. I’m very interested in this type of activation.

I use very lightweight wires, about 1.0 or 1.5 g/m, sometimes up to 80 meters long, together with a transformer and an ATU, plus a few lightweight 5-meter poles. This makes switching between 80 and 160 meters much quicker. It takes me a bit of time to set everything up, but since I already know where to run the wire and how to avoid hedges and trees, I can prevent annoying situations caused by knots in the conductor. After that, I stay seated for the whole activation, although sometimes I need to change the type of transformer to optimize the tuning.

Why didn’t you make a call on 80 meters?

It could be interesting to arrange one evening during the year for a nighttime SOTA event on the low bands — I hope something comes of it.

A pet for Finn, who, like Zac, has so much patience with us.

73

[G4YSS]

Hello Roberto and thank you.
Seems you are a fellow LF enthusiast. There are just a few of us in SOTA but there’s real love for the 160m band. Darkness has been my friend countless times for over 20 years. I had four choices. Get to a summit before daylight, leave a summit after dark, stay overnight or try 160m in daylight, expecting just line of sight like VHF. Most of this in the depths of winter. All four were successful but the daylight option could fail altogether. The first 160m SOTA QSO was an S2S England to Scotland in 2004.

I chose 160m to make SOTA more difficult. It had become too easy. More difficult is more fulfilling. I came up with the adjustable loading coils and they go into the 80m band dipole. They can’t be efficient for sure but a few ops have made themselves a pair.

Now I’m older and looking for easier options once again! Dark SOTA is very demanding, has increased risk and more weight to carry if overnighting or if using 100W. G/TW-004 has none of these problems. It’s a drive-on! Very easy but equally strange.

The wire I use was chosen for a weight versus strength compromise. I use RS Components 24AWG pink PTFE hookup wire but I don’t know the weight per metre. It comes in 25m reels but they don’t sell it anymore. It has a 7-conductor silver plated copper core. It’s expensive but I have enough. I couple that to RG178 coax which is light and only 1.8mm diameter.

All antennas I use are resonant except for one 160m activation with an ATU and counterpoise. That was to save getting out of my tent to swap from 80 to 160. A lazy night but ideal for bad weather!

It didn’t occur to me to do 80m this time but it would have been worth a try to get further east, maybe as far as you Roberto? However I am aware that you go to bed earlier than I, as you’re in a different time zone.

I do like 80 and my SOTA logs have hundreds of 80m QSO’s. It’s best for getting around the UK in daylight but only in sunspot low.

I’m really missing Finn already. I’m hoping he will come back to stay with me in August and all being well, accompany me on another activation.
73, thanks again,
John

[G8ADD]

@IW2OBX

It could be interesting to arrange one evening during the year for a nighttime SOTA event on the low bands — I hope something comes of it.

@G4YSS

Seems you are a fellow LF enthusiast. There are just a few of us in SOTA but there’s real love for the 160m band.

I am another one who likes 160 and 80m, plus 60m. If I see an alert for those bands I’m prepared to drop whatever I might be doing and wade into my high local noise in the hope of a successful chase. Any organised night activation on those bands will have me eagerly listening for CQ SOTA on phone. I might even purchase a key…

[IW2OBX]

I fully share the reasons that motivate you to work the low bands in SOTA. Regarding the wire used for antennas, I also use RS wire, slightly thinner than the one you use: a single AWG 26 conductor with PTFE insulation, supplied on 100-meter spools. It has to be handled carefully, both when unwinding and rewinding it.

In Italy, very few of us operate on 160 meters, and also on 80 meters. I’m trying to encourage some activators I know; once a decent antenna system has been optimized, that’s one less difficulty, and it could make all the difference.

From my QTH, the noise level on 160 and 80 meters does not allow me to hear weak signals, so I’m forced to operate /M or /P.

There is a 2-hour time difference at the moment. Here, twilight begins around 19:30 UTC, and full darkness comes around 20:00 UTC.

[IW2OBX]

Hi Brian, I don’t think it’s impossible to get you in the log. I have two SOTA references near my QTH that are well suited for the low bands; in the future we could give it a try.

[GI0AZA]

Enjoyed the top band contacts John! Our full length 160m wire is currently out of action so when I discovered the Superloop 80 would tune on top band it saves the day albeit somewhat compromised.

Also enjoy hearing about Finn. Our 2 always curled up for a snooze on the summits - I had a dog sleeping bag which was the smallest size but both fitted into it. We miss them greatly on the summits.