Thanks to chasers today for talking to us on GM/WS-336 Beinn Lora.
We had a great time.
S2S with MM0FMF, M0JLA & HB9IQL - many thanks!
We’re planning another summit tomorrow. I’m hoping for a 2-pointer, but the chef at The Glue Pot, Connel, could be to blame for a downgrade (some of the best batter I’ve had!).
128km S2S on 15m groundwave Simon…I was impressed.
It faded on cue the first 2 times I called. I’m glad it worked.
Struggling with groundwave … more comfortable with ionospheric back-scatter or similar … but I am no expert …
73 Dave
Today it was GM/WS-294 Ben Hiant. Because it got very windy I was on my own. Locals on 2m got it qualified for me (thanks Gordon et al.) and then I took a quick run on 40m ssb before descending. The wind was even worse on the way down!
Thanks to everybody who called in.
The next two days look pretty dodgy but I hope we’ll get a chance for one more.
Hi Simon
Great to get you both yesterday and you today. Today was not easy but we made it. Enjoy the rest of your trip👍
73 Allan
Indeed, another possibility.
When working contests and DX on 20/15m etc, I have often heard (and worked) other UK stations out to maybe 400+ km. Those who know about such things suggest this is due to ionospheric ‘backscatter’. Of course, these are typically circumstances where most stations are QRO.
As you will know well, ‘ground-wave’ is typically associated with the 1.8MHz band and lower frequencies. During the day, should you wish to work a station on 160m, say 30-40km away, this is much easier with a vertical than a dipole; vertical polarisation favouring the ground-wave. And this remains true even if the efficiency of the vertical is low ie, poor ground, loading coils etc.
At night, these low frequencies experience sky-wave propagation as well. Interestingly, I believe the DCF77 time service waits until the night-time to transmit synchronisation info out to the client radio clocks. This maximises the chances of good synchronisation for the most distant clients (1000km?).
As ever, there is always more to learn.
73 Dave
Wednesday 10th September – GM/WS-339, Druim na h-Earba. The WX turned out better than expected.
Helen & Simon on this one. Great views of the cloud blanketing Ben Nevis! We stayed dry, which was lucky as further down the loch the rain cloud was billowing about.
We had runs on 40m and 20m, a break for lunch and a go on 2m (no takers).
S2S with F/G4OSF/P on FL/VO-114 and DC6ST on DM/RP-450
We heard a substantial signal from Martyn, MM1MAJ/P on GM/SS-164 but were not equipped to transmit on 60m. When Caroline MM3ZCB/P came onto 40m we tried but the path was too weak, despite trying a repositioning of the antenna to face better to the south.
Thanks everyone.
Thanks for the summit both. It wasn’t until I looked at it’s Ref that I realised I’d activated it twice and I remembered that there’s a great view down Loch Linnhe….great photo 
. Looking forward to the next one.
73 Allan
I listened for Helen on 40m in between contacts on 60m, but only heard chasers. Pity it didn’t work out as WS-339 would have been a complete for us.
It’s good to know that 60m still has its merits; many activators seem to have given up on it. Just 5 contacts yesterday.
Martyn M1MAJ
I enjoyed doing that summit. Awesome views for not much effort.
73, Colin
The WX has put me off today. I’m staying near the kettle whilst Helen is sat outside the let running a WWFF activation.
