This is only the seconnd time I’ve activated this summit, the last time was with G4XEE/P, he worked VHF and I worked HF. On arriving, I set up the X-300 collinear with guys and attached a piece of wire to the top of it for HF later. This is an extremely busy summit, so I placed the antenna about 12m from the trig point.
I decided to attach the Wouxun H/H to the antenna as there was absolutly no pager noise. As soon as I turned on the rig, I could hear a French station on the calling channel and also someone in Newcastle-upon-Tyne! First in was Stewart G0LGS, who very kindly spotted me (no mobile signal on this summit) and a steady steam of chasers followed. The first thing that struck was the dissapointing VHF take-off, there are certainly a few blank spots from here.
Don G0RQL from sunny Devon popped in with a big signal followed by Phil G4OBK in Pickering. Phil was 5/7 to me but he was really struggling when I went back to him. I pesisted but but with less than 5 Watts from the H/H, he just couldn’t make out the signal report. I could tell, he really wanted this contact. So, being the nice sort of chap I am, I went QRX and connected up the FT-857, stuck 35 watts up the collinear and it was job done This was quite a hop from Long Mynd, on FM so I guess Phil was really pleased to log this contact. Thanks Phil, made my day too!
Went onto HF to try for a replay of yesterday on 20m, but it wasn’t quite so busy with about 38 stations worked. Nice signal from VE1WT and a much harder contact than normal with Rich N4EX, however, reports were exchanged and his customary spot followed.
Suppose I should have QSY’d to 40m but ended up back on VHF.
Plenty of S2S today, 12 worked 11 SOTA plus a HuMP.
Total of 152 contacts, 39 HF 113 VHF.
Thanks to all the Chasers for a great weekend and to Stewart G0LGS, Pete M1CNL, John G1STQ, Rich N4EX, Jimmy M3EYP and anyone else who took the trouble to spot me.
73s all
Mike 2E0YYY