Hi Bob, glad you liked the photos etc.
We went there for the archaeology & we weren’t disappointed, seeing Skara Brae, Maeshowe, Ring of Brodgar, Stones of Stenness plus the Broch of Gurness & other features.
If we go again next year we hope to visit some of the other islands & their historic features.
I do hope you can get there some day, but a word of warning, it is essential to book Skara Brae & Maeshowe well in advance as cruise ship tourists sometimes book all available places on any given day.
73 John.
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I am pleased to announce I have now ticked off one of my 2024 goals.
- Qualify each summit on 10m.
After an unsuccessful attempt at 10m back in early January, yesterday I hiked the 4.8 km up to VK3/VC-028 Dingo Ridge.
With threatening rain on the horizon I started out at first light, 6:39 am, and was on the summit at 08:00 am. My first 10m QSO logged at 8:20 am and I finished the activation at 09:24 am with four 10m QSOs, four 40m QSOs and two QSOs on 20m. Among the QSOs were two S2S contacts.
I was back at my car at 11:05 am and driving home in the rain at 11:30 am.
Daybreak at the start of the track
Inverted L antenna among burnt trees to a 6m pole.
Untidy but functional station set up.
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well done Peter, a great read. 
Geoff vk3sq
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Where just over half way through, so where am I up to.
Not yet activated it but there’s an active plan to do that one ‘real soon now’
Again there’s a tentative plan involving me and 3 others and some uWave fun. Needs firming up.
Well 1 of them was done back in April and there’s just one left. Firm plan with Gerald G4OIG is now in place including booking overnight accommodation so we can be ready for a swift start.
Done this now. #500 was a nice drive up summit in France and I included some 10m DX (ZS6FY) in the activation. Now up to unique #506 and with luck, #507 tomorrow.
The 10m doldrums has not helped this. I have tried 10m on just about every summit but there’s been little F2 openings since Easter and I’ve missed any Es as well. I have worked the odd ground-wave-maybe QSO which has brought in multipliers and stations but it’s surpringly hard work now. 15m seems better for nice DX.
Was 70% planned and accommodation reservered but some health issues makes this extremely unlikely for 2024.
Well I made a 41ft “random” long wire which works surprisingly well. Some progress made on the QO-100 uplink construction and I acquired a 10GHz LNB with a TXCO @ 25MHz. But less than expected.
I’ve completed more than I expected to have done by this point. 
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Oceania done, Asia still missing
Achieved, I could finally explore the Beskid Niski area, let alone the fantastic trip to the Faroe Islands.
I would say this has been achieved, the simple shift from stiff cold sandwiches to some warm, proper liofilized food has been a real game changer.
I would say I have tried, there is still room for improvement though.
That was ABSOLUTELY achieved.
I would say it’s still early for the New Year wishes, but I can easily go with a “Merry Christmas all”!
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Progress with objectives
Activate some summits wanted by chasers to complete a region: -
2E0MIX - 5 GW/NW
• One GW/NW – (Two were done by someone else) 2 remaining GW/NW-074 and GW/NW-036 if someone could give Derek the heads up for 40m when activating these summits he would be pleased.
GM4COX - 8 Cowal + 7 Kintyre + 3 Loch Awe
4 Cowal done
- GM/SS-110
- GM/SS-204
- GM/SS-283
- GM/SS-180
1 Kintyre done
- GM/SS-213
- (I did some others but Jack had already chased them)
3 Loch Awe done
- GM/SS-159
- GM/SS-141
- GM/SS-258
Activate on QO-100 all Welsh grids (6) from SOTA summits
• Objective Achieved
- GW/MW-025 The Begwns IO82
- GW/SW-022 Trichrug IO81
- GW/MW-034 Mynydd Cynros IO71
- GW/MW-029 Hafod Ithel IO72
- GW/NW-071 Mynydd Bodafon IO73
- GW/NW-070 Great Orme IO83
Not SOTA
Activate on QO-100 my last English grid (Isles of Scilly)
• Objective Achieved IN69
A non SOTA altitude !
I didn’t achieve all the objectives this year so no bonus BUT I am still alive.
Thinking about 2025 objectives. Back to Cowal and Kintyre, Some more GM/SS and GM grids plus GI grids
73 de
Andrew G4VFL
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Here is my conclusion for 2024:
Well, it kind of worked. I went out more than I would have without SOTA, definitely. I’m a bit disappointed with my performance, though. Considering how much free time I have and my geographical proximity to the mountains, it’s a bit lame. But hey, it’s better than nothing at least.
I spent much more time working on electronics and DIY RF projects than actually playing with the radios, haha.
Almost done. I activated 3x3000m and 2x2900m.
I consider it done as well. I now know the code and can send at 15–20 WPM without any problem. Receiving is still a bit challenging; I can copy callsigns after 2–3 repetitions at 15–20 WPM. I still need to write letters down on paper as I hear them because my brain doesn’t want to retain them. I’ve had some successful CW chasing but no activations yet. It’s not too late for 2024, but I’m still a bit hesitant.
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I’m pretty pleased with progress this year, I’m only 73 points away from 2MG and I need one more activation to beat my total number of activations in a year.
I missed a lot of the big LD hills this year, it was disappointing not to qualify Helvellyn G/LD-003 but the weather was truly awful to the point of risk to life on the day we summited.
2MG should be easily earned with the points reset.
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Thread re-invigorated by @MM0FMF for 2024 - nice one Andy…
NEXT YEARS PLANS, LOOKING FORWARD NOT BACK…
de G4OBK:
-
Carry on chasing on HF/VHF in 2025, but to slacken off a bit as the addiction chasing activators is a distraction to working DX and taking part in the occasional RSGB contest which I also enjoy
-
In May, activate in Croatia (9A) from summits north of Dubrovnik along the Adriatic Coast and on Korcula Island. Unfortunately this holiday, now booked, means that I will not be in the UK for the Welsh Hog Roast weekend.
-
Do a few activations in Germany near to Friedrichshafen on a 4 day trip to the Ham Radio Event in June as I am flying this year via Ryanair Stansted to Memmingen. It’s only a 4 day trip so not many summits will be activated. I am staying in Tettnang again, sharing an apartment with 2E0XYZ Simon from York. We will be dining in the excellent Chinese Restaurant again as I did last year on the Thursday night.
-
Do some activations in France when I am there in July in the FL/NO and if we travel further south, in the FL/MC regions.
-
Hopefully motivate myself to do a few repeat activations in the UK.
-
What I would also like to do but probably won’t - unique to me activations in Northern Ireland - if we could afford to take a holiday there and the same in Malta / Gozo, but this might have to wait until 2026.
73 Phil G4OBK
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- achieved: in 2023 year 331 activations, in 2024 for the moment 230 activations
- achieved, especially on OE5 SOTA day just before the flood in September
- achieved
In coming year I will slow down again because nobody in SP wish to overtake me 
73, Jarek
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I would say achieved. Don’t think I did any JT65 or PSK31 TBH, but didn’t really have the time to devote to such slow modes
Did one of them and got several new uniques activated. The other had to be cancelled when my brother took a turn for the worse.
This happened - and it was excellent.
Managed this on most but not all matches. Good fun - especially mentioning football on the SOTA Reflector, and amateur radio on a football Facebook group
Again, mostly achieved - but a handful of gigs lately I’ve not been able to squeeze the SOTA into.
Epic fail. New Year’s resolution?
Not achieved - but a substantial start has been made and work is ongoing.
Plans for 2025?
First priorities are the last two above, which are unstarted and unfinished respectively.
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For 2025:
- Achieve MG. RL might get in the way however, as it did this year.
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I assume that means real life. It’s such a nuisance at times!
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Main achievement for 2024 was getting access permission to 7 extra summits.
80 activating points required in 2025 to MG x 2.
About 22 summits at my averages.
Getting a start New Years Morning before roll over.
Seasons greeting to all.
Ian vk5cz …
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I have largely managed that this year too
There were at least 7 new summits… so 11 are still missing - that should be possible in 2025
That was a great vacation! Unfortunately, the sun decided to do something stupid during that time and turn off the radio connection… Blackout - and far fewer QSOs than hoped.
I would have liked to do more - but the weather didn’t play along
Despite everything, it was a very successful SOTA year for me. There were some previously unplanned SOTA trips… lots of new completes!
The 10m challenge shaped the activations! … and it was fun to do some first activations in Tuscany. … and the year is not over yet!
I can probably set myself another plan for 2025… and things will turn out differently… and will be good again.
SOTA doesn’t get boring
73 Armin
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It has proved quite a bit harder than expected to get out beyond the local summits, but I have managed some successes
+100 Uniques
+G/NP Complete
+Ben Lawres
and … Nearly 800 points so hopefully I might manage MG next year and 94 completes so nearly 100 completes but not quite…
On my Seatallen and Pillar walk I discovered that although my mind was up for a multi summit walk, the rest of me was somewhat less capable - so I need to be a bit more realistic when planning…
The bits that didn’t happen, Moel Siabod, The Ben and a 160m activation, so back on next years list…
I’m sure the 2025 targets thread will appear soon so I’ll start planning, and hopefully I’ll get a bit more SOTA in amongst the various retirement jobs I have been delegated, but with my youngest daughter turning 17 no doubt I will once again be enjoying the roundabouts of Darlington rather than a hill… 73. Paul
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2024 was another indifferent year in terms of SOTA, but better than some. A small amount of progress was made towards Double Goat and 600 Uniques, but it could have been more. At least I’ve managed to get over the 1800 point hurdle which seemed to be in the way for far too long.
I actually achieved 5 outings, 4 of which were cut short. One due to a health issue, one when I was too trashed to do a second day (after Mullwharchar), one due to family intervention and one due to a storm. I aim to forget the one in August that didn’t even start due to a puncture an hour up the road from base.
As for 2025, I’m planning nothing and saying nothing. That way I can’t possibly be disappointed with my progress. 
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Chasing:
I’ll be happy if I can match or exceed 2022 chaser count. 253 chases in 2022.
I need another 9 chases to be equal.
Activating:
I would be happy to reach 200 points by the end of next year
For those that have achieved MG in 1 year - very well done.
Cheers
John
M0VAZ
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My plans aren’t as lofty as those that I’ve seen on this post. M plans are to begin giving back to SOTA by becoming a summit activator of those summits that have a drive up feature. I have everything ready, my ICOM 7300, a CHA TDL (Tactical Delta Loop) antenna, a good Bioenno battery, a card table with folding chair. My activation’s will be CW only (sorry gang, but I love that mode). My 84 year body with a bum knee won’t allow me to hike as I did “back in the day”.
Hope to get many in my log. de W6LEN / Jess
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