Running QRP... Faster if Polar Bears Show Up - Svalbard SOTA by SP9HGN

Activation Reports Pre-Planning
1

Dear SOTA friends,

The date of my trip to Svalbard is approaching. During my stay on the archipelago, I plan to activate several summits under the callsign JW/SP9HGN/P.

Most likely, on July 25–26, I will attempt to activate one or both of the following summits:

There’s also a possibility I might activate a summit closer to Longyearbyen, but I’m not counting on anything specific at this stage.

I’ll be using a modest QRP setup:

  • EFHW antenna for 40/20/15/10m
  • Xiegu X6100 transceiver

I intend to limit each activation to a maximum of 1 hour, as I have other mountain and trekking plans as well. I’m planning to operate SSB, and possibly FT8 if conditions are tough.

I’ll self-spot as best I can, most likely via SOTAmat.

I’d greatly appreciate your support!

73 de Jarek SP9HGN

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2

Good luck with those, Jarek! In those areas, the weather can do what it pleases!
All Best, Ken

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3

Very envious of you having access to these summit!

Enjoy your visit.

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4

Hi all,

Many thanks and congratulations to everyone who managed to work me during my recent trip to Svalbard. My plan was to activate three summits, but I ended up with two - and I was more than happy with that.

In total, I logged just about 85 QSOs, most of them with the DIY EFHW 40-10. The activations went very smoothly, and even with QRP power levels, I was able to make some excellent contacts. Highlights included solid DX into Japan and China during the JW/VS‑265 activation (FT8).

One highlight I’m especially happy to share: the activation of JW/VS‑265 (Pyramiden) on 27 July. According to preliminary checks on sotadata, this is the northernmost summit ever activated in the SOTA program so far (anyone else could confirm that?). Congratulations to all the chasers who made it into the log!

Gear:

  • TRX: Xiegu X6100 (alt. firmware by Georgy R2RFE & Oleg R1CBU)
  • Antennas:
    • EFHW 40–10m with DIY autotransformer (main SOTA antenna)
    • 1.2m telescopic whip tuned with the X6100 tuner (used in valleys & /MM)

Big thanks to my home club SP9PKS, the SOTA Polska group, Tom OH6VDA (ex‑JW6VDA), Fred JW5JUA, and all the activators worldwide who swung their beams north to pick up my CQ SOTA.

And finally — no polar bears got me. Sadly, I didn’t even see one at a safe distance!

73,
Jarek SP9HGN

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