GB6MYG....a special evening activation

GW4VPX · 21 March 2026 19:43

I’ve had joint activations with Kevin MW0KXN and Ben GW4BML over the years but this one was to be the most surreal of all. They are by now well known for their ‘top band’ nocturnal activations and I was invited to join them and to share in some important milestones. This was also to be a first night time activation for little Lyra and I can tell you her excitement was infectious.

The route to Mynydd Y Grug GW/SW-042 has been well documented by Robert M0RWX after his first time activation of the summit so thank you Robert. Kevin has also reported on his activation with some very useful pointers. This is a new SOTA summit so we agreed on the special event callsign GB6MYG (MYG = Mynydd Y Grug) as there would also be a few special milestones being reached on summit.

Ben and Lyra picked me up from a nearby hotel and we made our way using the North approach to the summit. Kevin had been on summit for quite a while and had set up an amazing station for us so a big thank you for all the hard work Kev. His 160m dipole was impressive using a 10m Spiderbeam pole as the main support.

GW4VPX and Lyra arriving on summit…..just passing one end the 160m dipole…impressive.

Cosy under the Tarp - Allan GW4VPX, Lyra, Kevin MW0KXN, Ben GW4BML

First priority on arriving on summit was a cup of tea and Welsh cakes supplied by Kevin with Lyra and Ben tucking into some sausage rolls supplied by Val (Xyl of GW4VPX).

We kicked off the activation on 2m FM with the 3 of us sharing the first 4 contacts which included an s2s with our friends Matt GW4MAT and Edward MW0KEC on GW/SW-034 Mynydd y Garth. Thanks guys.

Matt GW4MAT and Edward MW0KEC at the Trig on Mynydd y Garth GW/SW-034

Matt GW4MAT in QSO on Mynydd y Garth GW/SW-034

Qualifying the summit meant that both Ben and I had completed the summit, completed Wales again and Ben gained his 3^rd Mountain Goat. I was then left in charge of the 2m-fm ‘pile up’ whilst Ben and Kevin made plans to activate 160m (Top Band).

Ben GW4BML in QSO on ‘Top Band’

As there were a few possible s2s on Top Band Kevin and Ben decided to start there. The run on the band was amazing. Quickly in the ‘Top Band’ log were s2s with our good friends Adrian G4AZS on G/WB-004 Titterstone Clee Hill and then Colin M1BUU G/LD-052 Hutton Roof Crags. Thank you both for getting out and joining in the fun and supporting us.

Kevin MW0KXN in QSO using the key on ‘Top Band’

It’s worth noting that a large proportion of our chasers had been working on antennas and modifications to get on Top Band with one of our most prolific chaser and friend Graham GW5GDP going mobile to Caerphilly Car Park with his 160m Ampro Ham Stick on the roof of his car to get us…thank you Graham.

‘Top Band’ Ampro Ham stick on Graham’s car

As 2m-fm and ‘Top Band’ had been such a success with 67 contacts and as it was getting late we apologise for not going on to 80m. It would have meant that by the time we packed away Ben and little Lyra would not arrive home until 5am in the morning after a long drive. The pack away was swift with 4 pairs of hands and Kevin telling us that it could be ‘untidy’ as he would ‘sort it out at home’. Thanks again Kev.

Packing up - With Lyra holding the torch this is a photo of Kevin winding in one end of the 160m dipole…he’ a long way away

A big THANK YOU to all our chasers and fellow activators for making it such a fun evening.

73 Allan GW4VPX

@M1BUU @G4AZS @M0RWX @GW5GDP

G4OIG · 21 March 2026 20:21

Absolutely brilliant. Well done all of you and congrats on 3 x MG Ben. I was aiming to be on, but was rather wiped out after a hectic week (and more), so I headed off to bed rather than the shack.

73 all, Gerald

G8ADD · 21 March 2026 20:43

You would have had trouble finding a clear frequency, and more trouble keeping it, the band was as busy as I have ever heard it and some of the users quite thuggish. By comparison Top Band was quite busy but much more gentlemanly!
The thing I noticed about your signals was the way you gradually increased in strength throughout the activation, reinforcing my opinion that the later the better for an activation. When you first came on you were barely S5 and fighting the noise here, you were S7 when you finished on phone, and by close down a genuine S9. Definitely a band for night owls!

GW4VPX · 21 March 2026 20:48

Hi Brian. Thanks for the contacts. Although you and I didn’t chat I was listening. Yes TB worked really well.

73 Allan

GI4ONL · 21 March 2026 20:58

Good to get all 3 on SSB and Ben on the key on 160 metres.

73 Victor GI4ONL

MW0KXN · 21 March 2026 21:10

Graham, @GW5GDP, you were our strongest station on Top Band. I am not quite sure how you did it but you certainly dispelled any doubts that you would be able to get a signal out. Thank you for spending your Friday evening in the car for us. We really appreciate the support.

73, Kevin

GM5ALX · 21 March 2026 21:19

What a fun night! Well done everyone.

I was listening on 160m and could just make out someone replying but no idea who or what they said. I couldn’t TX even if I did hear you though.

M1BUU · 21 March 2026 21:38

I don’t have enough space to chase from home on 160m and I thought that chasing from the local sports field might not work as there’s a big factory nearby (RF noise?), plus we’re in a valley.

Hutton Roof Crags is a summit that I know well and is probably my easiest local summit, although about 25 minutes away from home to the parking area. My idea was to chase GB6MYG, not to do an activation.

M7GTU tagged along and we set off from home at around 7.10pm, so it was already dark as we started walking, with the tiniest sliver of moon showing in the clear sky. It was very dark!

I used my FT-817 and SOTAbeams Trigger’s Broom edition BHiv dipole. I was waiting to pounce on 80m but I spent some time listening to Adrian G4AZS/P on G/WB-004 on 160m SSB.

Time was getting on and spots for GB6MYG were not forthcoming. Then I heard GB6MYG work Adrian on 160m CW. Aha! I loaded up the 80m dipole with coils at the halfway point of each leg and configured for 160m. I worked G4AZS/p and then waited some more.

I wondered if I could tempt GB6MYG into a QSO by calling CQ on 160m CW, so I put out some calls. My plan worked! As soon as I’d run out of callers I pulled the plug. We were back at the car for around 2210 and back home around 2245.

It’s definitely a different experience activating in the dark and lots of moths wanted to be my friend!

Congratulations to Ben GW4BML on 3MG!

73, Colin

G8ADD · 21 March 2026 21:46

Oh, I knew you were there, Allan, I’d heard your voice earlier! Just out of interest, what was the best DX you guys worked?

GW4MAT · 21 March 2026 21:47

Great write up Allan, was great to get you guys for the S2S on top band and VHF, very enjoyable evening playing radios on the hills in the dark. Well done to you and Ben on your complete again, and again well done to Ben on x3MG.

GW4VPX · 21 March 2026 21:57

I think Kevin worked Portugal cw…I’ll check?

Update .. OK seems to be best DX

M0JSB · 21 March 2026 22:47

Thanks for a great report Alan! A really enjoyable read. Congratulations to all who took part in this, whether as activator or chaser. Fantastic stuff.
Special congratulations to Ben for his MG x 3.

Matthew M0JSB

MW0WML · 22 March 2026 00:41

That young lady is an absolute star!!!

Wow! What a photo!!!

Love it!!!

Envious!!!

Yey!!! Congrats both, especially Ben on the 3MG

What a great effort Graham!!!

G0MHF · 22 March 2026 08:24

Great stuff, one and all. Fab report & pics.
I loaded up my EFHW, I could just about hear speech but not clear enough for a qso.
Congrats again to Ben for his 3x MG!
73 John

GW4VPX · 22 March 2026 08:30

@M1BUU

Thank you Colin for the wonderful report, photos, video and for joining in … brought back memories of our joint activation on that summit. Although I didn’t talk with you I was listening to the CW. I do hope we can meet up again this year. Take care.

73 Allan GW4VPX

MW0KXN · 22 March 2026 10:03

There is a lot to think about with these late night activitions and we are still learning. There is a sense of responsibility to fellow activators who may be alone on a dark summit that’s not a part of a normal activation.

I’m glad that you succeeded in a top band QSO to Mynydd Y Grug Colin. I tried to tail end your QSO with Ben, putting out several calls with my own callsign, but you must have switched off.

73, Kevin

G4AZS · 22 March 2026 10:23

Thank you to Ben, Kevin, Allan and Lyra for setting this up, and congratulations to Ben on third Goat! Epic!

It encouraged me to get out and tick off another local summit on top band. I was surprised by the noise level, a constant harsh white noise, presumably linked to the nearby radar installation in some way.

Thanks for the recording Colin (and the S2S), it confirms that my noise level was local - I did just manage a QSO with Brian G8ADD later as signal levels improved.

The weather was perfect, dry and no wind. I made 11 contacts on CW, and 6 on SSB. Best DX was OK.

My photographic efforts were somewhat underwhelming, but this one shows the noise level…

MW0KXN · 22 March 2026 10:35

Hi Brian,
I can’t speak for Allan or Ben, but my best DX was: Lasse @SM5GLC,
Filipe @CT1ILT. Every top band QSO is a delight near or far. We’re very grateful for the support from you and others, it shows what the SOTA infrastructure and community can do.

73, Kevin

MW0KXN · 22 March 2026 10:47

It was great to work you again on Top band Adrian. We were in the middle of working a pile up on 2m when Ben saw your spot. Things were rather busy in our shelter at the time and I found it quite challenging working CW in the midst of others working a pile up on 2m. Apologies for calling you Adrain, I totally forgot how to spell your name once I had started, just one of the challenges of CW for a dyslexic.

73, Kevin

G5JFJ · 22 March 2026 13:19

Well done, glad you all enjoyed such a special activation and looks like you had the weather even if a little chilly.

I’m going to build an 80/40m dipole in the future, so hopefully I can join you from another summit to at least try to work you on 80m.

G5JFJ