Snowdonia in fine form

Another weekend back from Cambridge to North Wales brought about more SOTA activity - Its addictive. I could not resist sharing these images, It was worth bringing the SLR. Thank you to the s2s activity from Allan, Barry, Carolyn and the two Scottish s2s’s. That was a really good fun working so many summit stations from one hill.

Also thanks go to Simon and Mike for coordinating the .114 to .118 transition !

Tops of the Rhinogs. 1/4 λ Vertical up at the time

As Tom, Simon and a few others have already revealed, we had some pretty special weather conditions last weekend. A rise in temperature had occurred and a slight increase in day light with low wind speeds which had developed some ideal activation weather. Most of the snow had melted at the base of the valley, driving through Llanberis had reveled that 022 still had snow on the top as did Snowdon.

A new SOTABeams pole had also arrived, the winter conditions recently had taken a brand new 9 meter pole to a near useless state in the course of 12 or so activation’s. It was time to try a new alternative. So far very impressed.

Snowdon

After completing the Activation on 15m, I made a dart for Moel-ddu GW/NW-045. If I had known what I was in for maybe I wouldn’t have been so keen. I made the top just in time for sunset, a quick five contacts with the HT qualified the hill. Still Moel Ellio more then made up for Wales loosing in the Rugby !

Cheers,

Jonathan

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Excellent pics Jonathan. My day on SUnday started like that but the cloud rose up over my summit along with some real wind. Never mind.

That Swan 500 you were using on Sunday sounds good, hard to say why, perhaps it just has a vintage sound, must be valves (tubes)!

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Hi Jonathan

Awesome pics. Careful with that new pole. It might not last much longer than your last one if this is how you are deploying it!

Thanks Tom,

It is much more flexible then the traditional fishing pole, It was the first time I had put it up. A lighter balun box and an additional guying ring should be better next time round. The 9m pole just wore out, It didnt really fail because of over stress.

Oddly enough, although it does look alarming in that photo it was reasonably happy. I wasn’t though ! I tried moving the dipole arms around several times to try and bring it into true, wasn’t possible unfortunately !

Jonathan.

WOW cracking picys love it

karl