Had 30 mins or so going spare at lunch today. Tested my new HF go-kit in advance of a SOTA this weekend I’m hoping to do. Basically a Pelican 1040, a KH1…and a hat. The Pelican 1040 fits the KH1 like a glove. No need to piddle about with removing the antenna and laying it on top, burning a hole in the plastic and so on. It fits as snug as a bug in a rug!
Couldn’t bear the thought of the extra back-crippling weight of a random wire to carry as well. I realise the earbuds and winder are a disgraceful extravagance as well so I might ditch those and suffer the crap KH1 internal speaker. The hat adds unecessary weight as well. Maybe I’ll just turn up in the nip to save additional weight with unecessary clothes and shoes.
I got 4 contacts - France, Poland and 2 x Austria - in the 20 minutes or so that I was there and my battery died. My fault for not checking. It’s charging away now and I’ll head back up there this evening for 7 more* to polish it off, I hope!
Micropota is the new Classic Coca Cola!
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(Asterisk Side note) I like to get at least 1 more QSO than the rules require for POTA, SOTA, LLOTA etc - particularly for CW. Just in case I made a mistake or someone disputes a QSO or just any particular issue. Nice to have that safety net and know you did get the activation over the line.
For the minus 37 people interested in how it went. It sort of unwent.
The bands today seemed a bit odd. Plus it’s a bit much to be doing POTA on a Wednesday afternoon, but still.
The KH1 struggled a bit and time was running out before I had to be elsewhere. I put the KH1 in the bin and went over to the car to fetch Ray Winstone out of the boot (aka the KX2 and RHM-12 Superqrp Combo).
Much better but still a slog compared to the weekend. Lest ye activation failure, I slogged it out. Job done, including some contacts on the band that hates my guts! As far as Slovakia and Spain on it as well. Maybe 40m and I can be friends in future?
I took the Pelican carabiner off prior to travel. No need to be carrying an anvil with me. You lot would go mad at the wasteful extravagance of it! All set for the weekend now to give it a real Microsota test.
There is an Allegro Type R being built at the minute. Hopefully Jonny Smith will finish it this year.
Bog standard dysentery Allegro (and square steering wheel!) but with a Civic Type R engine dropped in it. Personally I’d have dropped a Sierra Cosworth engine in it but still, the Allegro is a beast, even a standard one!
There was a bloke I saw last Summer parked up nearby in one of my dream motors. No, not the rare as hens teeth Allegro Equipe Sport, but this:
Also the Alfa Romeo and Seat equivalents circa 1974 to 1977. You usually see them in Italian crime films of the era. Great car. The local 124 I saw was a mint restoration. Lovely looking thing.
