On account of various family issues, my trip to Scotland to activate summits on both days of the event turned into a single day on the summit of Brown Willy G/DC-002 at the opposite end of the country. Given the poor weather conditions generally across Europe, perhaps this was a good thing as far as I was concerned.
It took me just over an hour to reach the summit from the car park to the north-west. A walk of around 3.4km with some 248m of ascent. I was quite pleased with my progress as I had not been out on a summit for some time and I was carrying 15kg with the extra batteries and the Slidewinder vertical, which in itself is quite heavy.
Ponies en route to Brown Willy, the summit in the background.
Just as I arrived at the summit, the first of the rain showers arrived. I sought shelter behind one of the granite outcrops and attempted to work out the best position to operate from. Unfortunately to get both some shelter and have a reasonable take off to the north-west left me with having to set up on the north-east side of the summit; not ideal, but workable across the sloping ground.
Brown Willy summit just before the first rain shower.
I was going to try 2m SSB first, but found that I had left a necessary link cable back at home. After having lunch while it rained, I set up the antenna and spread my large tarp across a gap between two rock outcrops to provide me with some shelter. I decided to try 40m SSB first and had a real struggle to make contacts. I later discovered the linear amplifier was not switching in and I was running just 2.5 watts. Anyway, I managed to qualify the summit on the band.
Moving to the event proper, I noted the main activity was on 10m CW. I was soon in contact with Roy WN3F. I moved off to call CQ, which netted me a contact with Eric VA2EO, a couple of US chasers and a couple of locals via ground wave. After a frequency move to work Matt W4GO and one more US chase back on my previous frequency, I bagged another S2S with Tom AA3TZ. I then spent a few minutes calling Dale N3HXZ, but he couldn’t hear me. Thankfully he then moved to 15m CW where we managed a contact.
Pole mounted vertical with my rough tarp shelter behind (between showers).
During my transmit periods, I noted that the issue with the switching line on the amplifier was persisting. This was very erratic and needed constant monitoring. Twisting the cable effected a temporary cure which would last for a short time.
As I was now on 15m, I decided to call CQ, but was called by just two EU chasers. Looking at the spots again, I saw Charlie NJ7V spotted on 10m, so I went back there, but try as I may, he couldn’t hear me. Just after 16:00z, I decided to move back to 15m and worked a nice run of contacts including S2S with Chris N1CLC and Mike WB2FUV, plus several US chasers. It was now starting to get dark and I was getting cold, so before packing up, I decided to concentrate on trying to work Pete WA7JTM, but he couldn’t get my call and in the end we had to give up. His signals were peaking s5 with me, but Pete sent that he had QRM at his end.
The take off to the north west over Rough Tor.
The view out to the east from near to my operating position.
… and the view south-east.
Overall I made just 25 QSOs despite making many more CQ calls this time.
7 Trans-Atlantic S2S – WN3F, VA2EO, W4GO, AA3TZ, N3HXZ, N1CLC, WB2FUV
8 Trans-Atlantic non-summit chases – KF9D, AC6ZQ, N4DH, K4QS, W2WC, VA3OPA, WB2PHL, AC7P
It rained on and off during my activation until around 16:00z and it was clear as I packed up. I descended in the moonlight and could see my way quite well, or so I thought. Approaching the car park I did manage to take a wrong turn on the grassy track which all looked much the same and I stepped into a drainage channel which was covered by vegetation. Two wet boots and two wet legs. Not my finest hour!
I am really pleased to read the reports in so far and to see that despite the weather, many activators really enjoyed the event. Reading that some made their first Trans-Atlantic S2S contact during the event was especially pleasing, as it was for that purpose that I suggested these events back in 2016. Many say I organise these events, but they really organise themselves and I do little more than set the dates in April and November and review the outcome to see whether any changes are needed. Long may it continue, even when I am no longer QRV. Many thanks to everyone that participated, both out on the summits and at home.
73, Gerald G4OIG (operated as G8CXK/P).
EDIT: A few people have asked me about my set up which on this occasion was my FT-817 set at 2.5W driving a MX-P50M amp to around 25 to 30W output to the Slidewinder coil based vertical with 5m counterpoises. To offset the non-optimum position on the hill, I ran three counterpoises vaguely WNW, NW and NNW with fourth set at SE. Did this affect my results to EU?… perhaps, though I did work S57S and S57AU with very strong signals on 15m. I still remain of the opinion that antenna positioning on the summit and orientation is really important.
.
