Hello! I’ve been lurking for a little while and thought it was about time I introduced myself.
I’m a returning ham and have just reactivated my license after 36 years (a steep learning curve … quite a lot has changed in that time ). Home QTH is in Central Scotland (Dunblane).
I’m pleased to find that SOTA is now a ‘thing’. I remember lugging my FT290R and 3el 2M beam up Goat Fell on Arran as a teenager and working stations across Scotland back in the early 80s. Having recently retired I’ve got a bit more time to play with radios and climb mountains. In fact, one of my main hobbies over the last 20+ years has been hillwalking and backpacking and having compleated the Munros and Furths I’m now mid-way through the Corbetts and Wainwrights. So lots of scope to combine my hobbies.
I’m limited to 2M FM just now (FT5D plus Slim Jim) but have a QMX on order (and am mightily impressed in the micro radios available these days). I didn’t manage to activate 3 of the 4 Lake District summits last week (is it common to struggle on 2M FM?) although I was hearing stations down to mid-Wales and Northern Ireland repeaters.
I’ve been looking forward to being able to take off to the hills at short notice when there’s fine weather and am planning to climb some of the Galloway Corbetts (with summit camps) over the next few days. I’ll post up some alerts.
The SOTA Reflector is a fantastic resource and I’ve already learned so much from various threads, and I hope to work a few of you very soon.
Well its not uncommon, V/UHF is a pale shadow of what it was in the 1980’s, but it isn’t dead yet and SOTA has breathed some new life into it. I think the best strategy is to have several bands available to you. Alert well in advance and self-Spot on the summit and the enthusiasts will be waiting for you when you start calling.
Welcome to SOTA, Ewen. Like you I was inactive for many years and returned in 2017 when I discovered SOTA. One of my first strange encounters was with an M callsign! It had all been G when I had last been on the air.
In some parts of the country, yes, although the Lake District and nearby northern areas are usually quite good. But it can be a bit of a lottery if you are unlucky with your timing. The key is posting an alert in advance and a self spot with your frequency when you are on the air.
Welcome to the addiction, Ewan! I live on the Wirral & often chase the Lake District, South Pennines & some of the North Pennines on VHF. I hope to work you soon!
73 John G0MHF
Welcome aboard, Ewan, and congratulations for reactivated your old licence. I think SOTA is a great hobby to enjoy during retirement… just be careful, because it can become addictive.
Thanks for the warm welcome and advice on tactics for securing activations. Maybe I have just been unlucky with my timing … I was in the cloud/rain/gusty winds for 7 of my 9 Wainwright summits last week and wasn’t hanging around any longer than necessary! This week of course, the weather is somewhat different …
Hi Rob @GM3YTS - good to hear from you! I know, we’re almost neighbours and I regularly see your antennas when out walking the dog. I’ve recently joined the Stirling & District Radio Club and it would be good to catch up there if not in Dunblane.
I’m just back from a couple of days activating Shalloch on Minnoch and Corserine, two Galloway Corbetts. Although the weather turned very windy and drizzly I’m pleased to report much more success in reaching stations in Northern Ireland, Cumbria and right across the Central Belt. I know you get bonus points for winter activations but surely there should be a dreich weather bonus system too?!
Lovely hills and not ones to be sneezed at. I can see you travelling far and wide Ewan to climb new hills. I’m sure you will enjoy HF as well as 2m in due course. Hopefully catch you for an S2S when family commitments permit and I can I get back up to Scotland.
Welcome, in fairly new and also had a long time away from the mike. It was SOTA that tempted me back.
Ive just come back from a ‘practise activation ‘ as I like to call it. Just two contacts on 2m on Normanby Top in Lincolnshire. Great two way to Sheffield demonstrated it was about timing rather than kit. This is my third 2m only summit where I had less than four. All 2m only have been a struggleTBH.
In contrast with good notice and spotting I’ve always got plenty on 20m. A bigger catchment.
Sotabeams is worth a look if you need matt and antenna to go with the new mini rig. Hope to S2S one day.
Thanks Ian and it’s good to know there are others where mountains have tempted you to return to amateur radio. I think I’ll be doing ‘practice activations’ for some time … every day’s a school day, as they say!
Yes, I’m looking forward to getting out portable with my QMX in a few months’ time and that should increase the likelihood of being able to activate some of the remoter summits.
Hi Ewan, nice to catch you on Shalloch on Minnoch the other week, sadly I got stuck with work and couldn’t catch you for Corserine afterwards. I think I at least managed to give Doug @MM7DCD the heads up that you were out when I caught him on my lunch break. Hopefully I’ll catch you again soon, and maybe for a wee summit to summit once I’m back at the hills again!
). Home QTH is in Central Scotland (Dunblane).
