Hello again Mark… my first activation wasn’t a success Didn't manage to activate G/NP-006 - advice needed but I have not had a “fail” since - and probably spotting made the biggest difference.
If you use CW then something called RBN Hole can do this for you - again making it easy…
If you put an alert up there is a better chance of people listening for you - even if the time is vague. I find it is a useful distraction when faced with an exciting work task…
On HF if you appear on some frequencies where activators usually work you are more likely to be heard 3.75MHz - although that requires quite a lot of wire to make an effective antenna, 7.1 MHz - but usually finding a gap on 7MHz (40m) can be a bit hard, and around 14.300MHz on 20m is a good starting point. Once someone hears you they can put a “spot” up for you and the masses will follow…
Finally SOTA is as easy (or hard) as you make it - it is your challenge and whatever kit or operating sytem you use will change over time - if nothing else so you don;t get bored. Even with something as simple as antennas on 2m you will find advice suggesting that either it should be done with a small rubber helical antenna, up to a station with 4, 5 element arrays all phased together… but what is right is what works for you!
Even more finally have a look at sotl.as SOTLAS loads of information about summits, and also what contacts other people have had from them which will give you an idea of what has been done!
Still hoping for a S2S at some point. Paul