The Cloud - 2010

Old Reflector
101

The following activation report contains an embedded message which can be retrieved by selecting the letters corresponding to the nth terms of the successive geometric series with the nth prime number as their first terms and the (n+1)th triangular number as common ratio:

Friday 21st May 2010 - The Cloud G/SP-015, 343m ASL

Summer is here! It was my first coatless activation of the year - I didn’t even put it in the rucksack “just in case”. I did transfer three ground pegs and two pencils from coat pocket to fleece pocket before I forgot them though - I had already managed to leave my waterproof notepad at home.

Having driven from Macclesfield in thick mist, it was a crystal clear sky above me on Cloudside. I knew that this meant I was in for some fine views during the ascent and from the summit. Hence the walk went doubly quickly as I feasted my eyes on the panorama. There was nothing other than a sea of thick white mist to see beneath about 250m ASL, so from west around to north, that was it. To the east was Sutton Common, backed by Shining Tor G/SP-004 and Shutlingsloe, while another vast mist sea dominated to the south, punctuated only by the summits of Gun G/SP-013 and Mow Cop.

Today’s activation was 40m CW, but it seemed somewhat less than lively compared to 20m CW used previously this week. Between 0556 and 0630 UTC I worked 14 stations in 7 DXCCs (S5-2, OE-3, F-1, DL-5, HA-1, I-1, PA-1), before enjoying a leisurely descent while still enjoying the views.

Many thanks to all the stations that worked me.

Tom M1EYP

102

In reply to M1EYP:

BJR Tom

Thanks for activation report : I am listening some chasers - since 05h56 ( F5UKL/qrp,OE7PHI…) to 06h30 QRM by EA … but not you …

OK for the embedded message : “WAIT AND SEE” like we say in french …HI

Best 73

Daniel / F5SQA

103

Good morning Daniel. I also heard the weak EA station that came up on frequency a few minutes after I QSYd to 7.032MHz but it didn’t cause me any problems and he obviously couldn’t hear me. So I thought it best to stay where I was. He disappeared soon after, but sorry if that stopped you from hearing me.

73, Tom M1EYP

104

Monday 24th May 2010, and I decided to kick off the new week and the advent of Summer weather with some operating on 30m. This is probably the quickest and easiest of all my antennas to put up, as it is my smallest dipole. Again I left the coat in the car as I enjoyed the mild and sunny ascent in 12 degree temperatures.

The activation was really satisfying with continuous activity throughout my operating period. Starting at 0605z and finishing at 0636z, I worked 23 stations in 10 DXCCs: UT, SP, DL, HA, HB, OE, OK, S5, YO and SM. I heard a weak call from F5UKL and sent him RST 339, but I couldn’t hear my report coming back, so that one got away! I was heard weakly in California, so that is very promising and exciting for future early morning 10MHz activations.

A really enjoyable morning - thank you to everyone for giving me such a busy frequency. Hope to do it again on Wednesday morning.

Tom M1EYP

105

Tuesday 25th May 2010, and anticipation was high with sustained Sporadic E openings continuing on the higher frequency bands. Could the 6m opening remain through the contest, or would it close at 1955z as so often in the past?

I was late on parade due to internet failings at home. Work trying to restore the broadband connection in order to quell the panic attacks of XYL and offspring meant that I wasn’t on the road until 7.20pm local. A quick drive and almost sprint-like ascent got me on summit before 8pm, but setting up meant that I was QRV 11 minutes late at 1911z - not too bad really.

And yes, the band was still wide open. This actually made life tricky, with virtually every SSB frequency from 50.100MHz to 50.200MHz being a mush of several stations with big pile-ups chasing them. By kicking off up above 50.200MHz SSB, I started with a batch of QSOs with regular IO83 contesters before chasing some DX. S58AL and S57LM were both worked on 6m SSB.

I soon tired of the QRM on SSB, and dropped below 50.100MHz for some CW. Here, I worked S57AC, G3ZOD, HA6NL, OK1FP and IZ8RSO (my best DX at over 1900km). Unfortunately, in this best segment of the night, my phone rang and the upshot was a lengthy but important telephone conversation. As I returned to the radio, and as the contest wore on, conditions edged back nearer to normality, and I was able to start collecting the UK squares.

A major problem now hit, in that my excellent halogen headtorch failed. I struggled in the dimming light for a while, but then had to reach for my back up LED headlamp. Disaster - this failed as well! All I could get it to do was the red night vision light, and I completed the contest up to 10.30pm with this. All in all, I knew that many stations, squares and DX had got away as a result of the interruption and the equipment failure, but it had still been a really good night. I ended at 2129z with my 45th QSO, which was Bryn G4DEZ in JO03.

The pack away and descent was difficult in only the fading red light. In the process, I managed to lose the mouthpiece of my bladder tube. I skipped the pub and went straight home, eager to enter my DX contacts and see what the distances were.

Tom M1EYP

106

I was eager to bag another early one on Wednesday 26th May 2010, after the enjoyment with 30m on the Monday morning. However, on this occasion, the activity wasn’t nearly so high, and the only chasers worked on the band were F5SQA and DF5WA. Searching around later, I added contacts with OZ3FD and OH0/PA3ALK which was a nice one.

With the Sporadic E openings of late, I thought I would check out 10m. A self-spot brought an immediate call from OK1HCG, but nothing else. Searching for CQ calls, I found, answered and worked G4FPA, DL8TG and I3BHE.

So my theory that I could operate 10m via my 30m dipole seemed to hold up, and I intend to test it again very shortly if the openings continue. Also, in the next few days, stand by for the official SOTA debut of the MM17 antenna!

While packing away, I found my drinking tube bite valve dropped the previous night!

Tom M1EYP

107

In reply to M1EYP:

and OH0/PA3AL which was a nice one.

I think you’ll find it was OH0/PA3ALK. (Don’t you just love those callsigns that end with a ‘K’ on cw!)

Thanks for permitting me to keep your patch on The Cloud warm on Tuesday afternoon! A nice hill, apart from the rather threatening-looking men with fierce dogs running loose.

:slight_smile:

73,
Walt (G3NYY)

108

Indeed it was!

Glad to hear that my staff are functioning as instructed while I’m at work. Maybe I’ll give them a raise.

Tom M1EYP

109

Thursday 27th May 2010. Leaving the house and driving across the estate at 6.07am, and I cheerfully anticipated my early morning walk. The sky was completely clear and a rich deep blue. A bright yellow sun was already in a lofty position above the Staffordshire Moorlands on the eastern horizon.

No sooner had I parked the car abnd begun the walk up from Cloudside, and a little light rain started. Surprised, I glanced up at the sky to find it was now 100% grey. On summit, I donned waterproof overtrousers and coat, and set about erecting the 30m dipole.

By 0555z, I was ready to go - and the rain had stopped. The rising sun and the deep blue sky was returning, and I was calling on 10.106MHz CW. 14 contacts were made, incorporating 9 DXCCs: F, DL, 9A, OM, LA, HA, S5, OK and I.

An earlier attempt had failed, but I now tried again on 10m CW as a few signals could be heard on that band. Again, all my own CQs were unanswered, but I did manager to answer a CQ call from EA6FB, so at least I got a new DXCC for 10m.

Thanks again to all callers this morning.

Tom M1EYP

110

I ascended in good time on Tuesday 8th June 2010, and was able to enjoy a relaxed set-up without racing against the clock to be QRV by 8pm. Nasty looking clouds over Sutton Common thankfully remained there all evening, despite the wind at ground level blowing from that direction.

As ever, the 70cm contest began like a train, and I raced to serial number 022 in the first 22 minutes. Things then slowed gradually, and a failed to reach my interim target of 040 in the first hour by some margin. It got so slow that I resorted to 70cm FM just after 9pm, which was worthwhile as it brought me five extra QSOs.

Back on SSB, I worked G4PBP, but then endured a near half-hour gap before my next contact - not good contest form! Thankfully, the last 40 minutes of the activity contest was more productive with the more distant stations finally turning their beams away from the continent and back into the UK.

I heard two GM stations, but in both cases they were tucked up in the splatter of loud local stations on very close frequencies. I also just missed Simon M1AVV in IO84. All-in-all, 053 was a respectable enough finishing serial number, but the multiplier total was a disappointing 9. Gotaways were IO64, IO75, IO84, IO85 and JO02.

The light from my new Petzl headlamp was impressive, enabling me to operate and log as though it was still daylight, and enabled me to pack away and descend in record time. No pub stop on the way home - I just wanted to go to bed.

Tom M1EYP

111

In reply to M1EYP:

I heard you briefly at good strength, Tom, when you worked M0ICK/P at about 1925z, but never heard you again, so no QSO this time.

Most of the activity seemed to be concentrated around IO83 and IO93 squares. It was noticeable that stations in that part of the country had by far the highest numbers of QSOs.

I was on Hegdon Hill, G/WB-023.

73,
Walt (G3NYY)

112

Shame I missed you Walt. I didn’t get much in that direction last night, and a S2S is always welcome of course.

Tom M1EYP

113

A couple of reports to catch up with, so here goes…

Thursday 10th June 2010

I had alerted for a pre-work early morning activation of The Cloud G/SP-015, on 18MHz CW. When the XYL said “leaving it late aren’t you?” and I opened one bleary eye to reveal 7.35am on the alarm clock, the prospect of an activation had gone!

Instead, I edited my alert to late afternoon on the way home from work, to see what 17m would be like then. It wasn’t great, with just seven stations worked. One pleasing aspect was the first OH on 17m CW in the log for 2010. Another was the penultimate contact with Sean M0GIA, who is sounding ever more confident on the key, and now has no trouble in reading the details in a basic exchange.

The final call was from G3CWI, but he didn’t go into the log. I had descended by then and was in my car - and the call was on the 'phone anyway! This did result in liquid refreshment par excellence though.

Tom M1EYP

114

Friday 11th June 2010

This time I did manage to get out of bed at 6am, and was on the road by 6.15am. Upon arrival at Cloudside, the young pretenders of the MM17 and MM12 were forcibly ejected from my rucksack, while reinstated was the “Daddy” - the MM20, the original “Magic Moggy”.

It was a wise choice. I enjoyed my largest number of QSOs ever on a morning pre-work activation, all on 14.010MHz CW. 19 DXCCs worked were G, SP, DL, 9A, F, Z3, RA, I, SM, HB, OE, LY, EA, HA, UR, OH, YU, S5 and YO. I had to make a dash for it in a rare quiet moment at 0650z, before another pile-up formulated!

The total number of QSOs was 45, not bad in (coincidentally) 45 minutes of operating before 8am. The vast majority were with 599 reports both ways. Many thanks to all callers.

Tom M1EYP

115

In reply to M1EYP:

Excellent stuff Tom, particularly your achievement in respect of getting out of bed :wink:
Better not do too well otherwise you’ll be enlisted by the Macc Club for HF CW contests!

73, Gerald

116

In reply to G4OIG:
A quick activation of The Cloud this evening with my 2m FM handheld allowed me to see the damage the fire had done, It was nice to see nature has started her work.
Imgur

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                                                       Sean M0GIA
117

Wednesday 16th June 2010, and I surprised myself by being up out of bed just after 5am local. I drove out to Cloudside after getting stuff ready for work, and sorted my rucksack for the short ascent. It was a very warm and sunny morning, so the coat went into the pack rather than on me, and I packed the MM20 again, hoping for a repeat of last Friday’s spiffing activation.

Alas, it was not to be. Despite everything being set up and working and ready to go, there was hardly any interest at all in my calls on 14.013MHz CW. In 30 minutes of constant CQing, I attracted only three responses, but decent reports were received from UR, HA and Z3. The fantastic views from the summit on a wonderful sunny morning made up for the lack of interest on the radio.

At 0615z however, I was bored, and decided to go QRT and put the spare time to good use. I drove into Tunstall where I work, but with half-an-hour of slack time available, I first went to Asda for a cooked breakfast!

Looks like it’s time to change band/antenna again for the early morning shift. I note that Sean M0GIA is discovering the black art that is 2m CW. Does anyone fancy having a crack at 2m CW tomorrow morning? If we could arrange a few skeds, then I will know where to point the beam. IIRC, I have worked Roy G4SSH (Scarborough), Marc G0AZS (Aylesbury) and Mark G0VOF (Blackburn) on 2m CW around 0600z from SP-015. I did once work Andre ON4CAP from there as well.

Tom M1EYP

118

In reply to M1EYP:

but with half-an-hour of slack time available, I first went to Asda for a
cooked breakfast!

With the amount of unhealthy grub you put away you should look like suet-faced salad dodger. But you don’t. What’s the secret?

Andy (aka McLardy of Livingston)
MM0FMF

119

In reply to M1EYP:

In Cornwall for a week Tom and I do not think even 2m CW would make the trip from SP-015

73
Roy G4SSH/A

120

But you don’t.

Some say I do.

In all honesty, I should make a better effort to gradually reduce my intake of cooked breakfasts, curries and beer. But I get away with it because I have a lifestyle which means equilibrium of calories.

In a typical week I will do 3 or 4 ascents of The Cloud, maybe a longer walk at the weekend, play squash and play football. This means that I have to eat and drink quite an amount to maintain my usual weight.

40 this year though, so high time to allow the exercise to overtake the calorie intake and start losing some weight really.

Tom M1EYP