Hi all
I can activate a local VK1 summit, subject to WX, on Saturday 23 Nov at 07:30 UTC to 09:00 UTC. Based on the propsed UTC timing it will be late Saturday evening in Canberra and early Saturday in the EU or UK.
Are there SOTA activators from the EU or UK that are willing to try for a S2S on 20m SSB next Saturday with VK1?
I had success with 2 SOTA chasers last Friday Franz OE5FSM and Milan OM7OM.
73
Andrew, VK1NAM
SOTA blog http://vk1nam.wordpress.com
In reply to VK1NAM:
I hope it goes well for you Andrew.
I had good copy into EU on Saturday afternoon with 5 Watts and a linked dipole set as an inverted vee on a squid pole.
73
Peter VK3ZPF
http://www.vk3zpf.com
In reply to VK1NAM:
Weather permitting & conservative wine consumption on Friday night, I`ll try to be on G/SP-004 for 0730 GMT. Will look on 20m but would also be fun to try 12m / 10m. I remember last cycle sitting for hours on end listening to the VK6 beacon pounding away on 6m but no active hams within a thousand miles 
Steve.
I agree with Steve. Recent observations indicate that 12m would be a good band to try if you also have it with you. Any chance of CW, or SSB only? SSB would be good as well though as I don’t think I have ever worked VK on SSB. I will try to be QRV at that time if I can.
Good luck.
Tom M1EYP
In reply to M1EYP:
Any chance of CW, or SSB only? SSB would be good as well though as I don’t think I have ever worked VK on SSB.<<
I will be operating 20m SSB and perhaps 10m if I insert a link in the dipole.
Perhaps this post might encourage other VK activators to try out a late afternoon/evening/sunset/lastlight activation and bag a few EU or UK chasers or even a S2S?
Sometimes you can lead the horse but you can’t make it drink. Lets see if others want to try?
Andrew, VK1NAM
SOTA blog http://vk1nam.wordpress.com
In reply to G1INK:
“Weather permitting & conservative wine consumption on Friday night, I`ll try to be on G/SP-004 for 0730 GMT”
1st snowfall of the year, 5cm in the town, 250m below the summit. Heavy rain tomorrow should shift it so it`s looking good for the weekend.
In reply to G1INK:
Can I suggest 10m boys? Or 12m even?
I’ll buy Steve and any VK (*) he works S2S a beer if they do it on 12m.
Andy
MM0FMF
In reply to MM0FMF:
It’s quite a laugh how in recent times the posts between the Aussies and the Poms end up with challenges or bets involving beer.
Does it take a slab of beer to get the Poms out of the shack for a S2S?
73
Andrew, VK1NAM ex Pom from Birch Vale, Stockport.
In reply to VK1NAM:
"Andrew, VK1NAM ex Pom from Birch Vale, Stockport. "
Steve G1INK present Pom from Buxton.
In reply to VK1NAM:
Does it take a slab of beer to get the Poms out of the shack for a
S2S?
No, but the lure of a real ale pub nearby can affect the choice of hill for quite a few of us!
73
Brian G8ADD
In reply to VK1NAM:
Does it take a slab of beer to get the Poms out of the shack for a S2S?
Looking at the figures from the Oracle@Delphi the answer would appear to be no!
Position,Callsign,S2SContacts: ALL G
1,2E0YYY,486
2,MW0IML,450
3,MW6GWR,355
4,GM4COX,189
5,GM7PKT,144
Position,Callsign,S2SContacts: ALL VK
1,VK1NAM,213
2,VK3HRA,159
3,VK1DI,153
4,VK1RX,133
5,VK3PF,117
ex Pom from Birch Vale, Stockport
That’s a fine reason to move to the other side of the world!
Seriously, it’s the maximum of a poor solar maximum. The sun’s mag field is flipping meaning we at the top/starting the downside. We wont get another maximum for at least 11 years. Now’s the time to push for those QRP<>QRP contacts. Hell it’s worth lugging loads of batteries, a PA and a small Yagi up a summit for VK<>Eu S2S contacts. SP or LP or both.
Yesterday on 10m we (GM100RSGB) worked a large number of simultaeneous LP and SP contacts. By 1700Z the band was hard open to W6 and we worked mobiles on the LA freeways who running 25-100W to a small whip and they were 59+ with us. It suggests SSB contacts should be possible with small antennas an 10W especially with the low noise levels on the summits. CW should be a doddle.
Andy
MM0FMF
In reply to MM0FMF:
Once upon a time G0PEB and myself had a s2s - back in 2012. So it can be done. That contact was CW.
I don’t get much action on the end-fed, but if I use a vertical, it gives me some hope of UK and EU action.
73 de Wayne VK3WAM
Indeed Wayne, I think using a vertical (elevated GP) and CW gives the best chance of a EU - OC S2S. That in mind, any chance of a sked while the 12m Challenge is in full swing and the band is rocking? It seems the local mornings 0600 to 1000 are the best time for this - any imminent activation plans that may suit?
Tom M1EYP
In reply to M1EYP:
I may have more of a chance over the Christmas/New Year break. I’m headed back to PNG next week for a few weeks. I was happy to get the goat in before heading off.
73 de Wayne VK3WAM
In reply to VK3WAM:
I’m headed back to PNG
Are topo/relief maps available easily or online for PNG?
Is it easy to get a vistor/reciprocal amateur license for PNG?
Can you guess what the next question may be?
Andy
MM0FMF
Yes, that should work for me as well Wayne. Please keep me posted.
This morning I was up early, so went to scoop some more 12m contacts from The Cloud G/SP-015. Mindful of the possibility of a DX S2S, I also packed the 20m GP antenna.
As forecast, the weather has suddenly turned much colder. There were small patches of snow and ice on the summit, and some hard ground that was difficult to peg in to.
While the weather was very cold and uncomfortable to feel, it was marvellous to look at. Bright sunshine, crystal clear blue sky and sweeping white cloud in the valleys below combined to provide a stunning backdrop to the activation. The 12m band, sadly, did not match the visual spectacle, nor the scientific predications of excellent conditions. The was probably a bit of Sporadic E kicking around, but little of note, and a slow QSO rate ensued.
Just under an hour and a half’s operating brought 29 QSOs on 12m, distributed as one on PSK31, eleven on SSB and seventeen on CW. Despite having the 20m GP antenna’s radials pegged out ready for a quick switchover from the 12m antenna, no 20m spot from the anticipated VK activation appeared. I decided at 9.30am that I was too cold, and needed to pack up and descend.
By the time I had packed the rucksack, my hands were in pain from the cold, and the padded gloves were very welcome indeed, even for a short descent such as this.
Many thanks for all the calls.
Tom M1EYP
In reply to MM0FMF:
Andy,
I plan to be operating from Mt Ginini Vk1/ac-008 if the road is open still (some doubt and confusing messages from the local govt authority). I should be able to be on 10m and 12m on SSB and CW as well as other bands. I will use whatever works and gives contacts.
I will be there mainly for a VHF contest so my main station will be generator powered, but if SOTAgoat bleats I will go to the SOTA station, 5w or 10w and battery powered, to try to make some contacts.
I may try a different antenna this time - the squid pole seems to greatly detune the vertical taped onto it. Has anyone done any research on the “RF loss” for the fibreglass in these poles, eg the microwave oven test? Connecting a full size quarter wave vertical to the radio should make it jump about but instead it is like connecting to a damp dummy load. There are signals and I have made contacts but performance is poor, imho.
Andrew
vk1da
In reply to MM0FMF:
I’ve been there now four times, and yes I can guess what the next question would be and yes I have thought about it.
Unfortunately, I think things need to change before an answer to that question can be made. P2 would be great SOTA country but the local situation is too unsafe in order to allow it - even having local guides accompany activators up to summits would still have too many issues at the moment - consider the 2 guides killed on the “Black Cat” trail a few months ago. That was all about inter-tribal conflict over the revenue received from hikers doing the trail. Many are content to take the view that if I can’t have it, no one can.
73 de Wayne VK3WAM
In reply to VK3WAM:
Yes, shame about the situation there. It’s not somewhere that gets much news coverage here and when it does it’s not normally for good reasons.
Andy
MM0FMF
In reply to VK1DA:
Has anyone done any research on the “RF loss” for the fibreglass in these poles, eg the
microwave oven test? Connecting a full size quarter wave vertical to the radio should
make it jump about but instead it is like connecting to a damp dummy load.
Interesting. I’ve struggled to make contacts on my recent activations, and had been wondering what might have been behind the trouble, but hadn’t considered whether the pole itself might be involved. The antenna seemed to have a reasonable VSWR, but then, of course, so does a dummy load…
73, Rick M0LEP (helping run an Intermediate course all day Saturday, so no chance of getting to a summit…)