GW SOTA 2026 Hog Roast - Final Information Package

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Hi all,

We’re now under a week away from the 5th annual GW SOTA S2S Party and Hog Roast in Mid‑Wales, and I wanted to share one final update so everything runs smoothly and everyone knows what to expect. It’s shaping up to be a fantastic day, despite what the weather decides to throw upon us.

Activators usually head to their chosen summits in time to be set up for around 10:00 BST, with a few early birds often calling from 09:30 BST. Expect plenty of activity across both HF and VHF, so chasers, whether you’re at home, in the car, or operating portable, please be ready for a lively morning / early afternoon of radio. The S2S and chasing fun typically continues until around 14:00, after which everyone makes their way back to Mid‑Wales.

We’ll be gathering from 15:00 onwards for an afternoon of chatting, catching up, and enjoying the atmosphere. The venue pin is below:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/qwEsjMVRm1C2dkDA7

What3Words: orbited.button.memo

This year we’re lucky to have a drinks van on site, serving hot and cold drinks, snacks, and cakes, so no need to bring your own or nip out for supplies. The van will be available from 14:30 to 18:30, and the price list is attached below, so you can plan ahead.

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The hog roast team will arrive at approximately 16:15, ready to serve delicious hog baps and new potatoes from 16:30.

Please note: There will be a toilet on site.

After everyone has eaten, we’ll move on to a few short speeches followed by the raffle draw. Please remember to bring plenty of cash, as the raffle helps support the running costs of SOTA. After that, the evening is yours, the event can continue for as long as people wish to stay.

I think that covers everything. I’m really looking forward to welcoming you all on Saturday. Have a safe journey and a safe ascent.

73, Ben
GW4BML

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You can still turn up on the day, it’s not too late :slight_smile:

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The weather looks good too except for the time set aside for speeches. It might rain then :slight_smile:

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Just alerted for NW-021 Ben. See you all on Saturday :slight_smile:

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Great news Jonathan - it will be good to meet you in person.

73, Ben
GW4BML

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I’m hoping to try something out on Saturday from G/WB-005

Since the idea is to be on summit for several hours, I intend to leave one of the handies sat on 144.575FM (or a free channel in that area) in the mixed mode section of 2m.

The idea was that no matter what band/mode I happened to be mainly working at the time, anyone could call in on that frequency and hopefully work me. Probably of more interest for summit to summit as it will almost certainly just be a handie with a small whip antenna but I certainly will respond to non summit callers too.

I will include it in the comments of any spots I post. I envision that I would respond to a call with an acknowleged (if in a qso on another band) and to wait 30 seconds while I wrap up or an immediate qso.

If it works, it maybe something that catches on for these type of max activation events.

In all probability, the handie will probably fall over and be lying horizontal in the grass and go unnoticed and I wont hear a thing, but you never know :slight_smile:

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All the best to everyone down and around GW-land for the Hog Roast. I hope the WX is OK for you as we had some spectacular thunder and lightening this morning around 3am.

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Oh noes!!! Replying to myself now… we have a doozy of thunderstorm happening just now. So dark I have to put the shack lights on.

Screenshot at 2026-06-26 08-31-04
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(c) Met Office UK.

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Thanks Andy - the wx is looking promising at present, but like Scotland, that can change in a heartbeat in Wales :slight_smile:

73, Ben
GW4BML

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In a similar vein, as things stand, I will start on 2m SSB around 144.290. When I move onto 2m fm I will still monitor the SSB frequency for any calls. 73 all.

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I plan to activate G/NP-029 Sharp Haw on 2m SSB & FM and I’m hoping for some S2S though I will put out CQ calls for the Chasers too.

Good luck all.

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If you fancy leaving your antenna up , I’ll be there next month :slight_smile:

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Since it was a nice day in N Yorkshire and there was a promise of lots of SOTA activity to the south west, I lugged the FT857, 2 batteries, an antenna and plenty of water up Cringle Moor (G/TW-002) looking for some S2S fun. Sorry I couldn’t be there, but other commitments took priority this year.

Anyway back to the S2S hunt. I had just set off up the hill, when I realised that I had left my phone at home :person_facepalming: . No self-spotting for me and no SOTAWatch for S&P! I searched the 20 & 40m bands but heard no activity from Wales. Maybe my timing was off, or the skip was wrong. Thanks to POTA I got my contacts, but missed out on joining your fun.

Hope you all had a great time.

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