In reply to MM0FMF:
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?
Trick photography:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfiiL9CzYGc&feature=player_embedded#!
With the amount of unhealthy grub you put away…
Breakfast on the morning of Thursday 17th June 2010 was a pack of chicken salad sandwiches, on the way to work after the activation. Sounds healthy enough doesn’t it? But it was a “50% extra free” pack with three rounds of butties in. And it was my second breakfast. I’d already had a Cadbury’s Brunch Bar and a bag of prawn crackers (from last night’s take-away) before leaving the house… Oh dear.
Anyway, another splendid morning meant that it was shirt sleeve order on the summit of The Cloud G/SP-015. I selected a nice grassy patch a couple of feet from the topograph and set up the SOTA Beam, horizontally polarised, mounted at 4m AGL on the SOTA Pole.
2m CW got off to a lonely and slow start. I stuck at it though, and eventually got a call from Phil G4OBK. Once I had pointed the beam directly at him, he was an amazing 599 signal. I was pleased to have got 579 back the other way from North Yorkshire.
Calls to the south did not elicit a response, so I assume that Marc G0AZS was not available, but a speculative CQ call on the 2m CW calling frequency - 144.050MHz - resulted in a QSO with 2W0IBM in North Wales, with 599 reports both ways. Shortly after that I worked Mike G4BLH, who I presume was on a vertical antenna, as only 519/539 reports were exchanged despite him being the closest of the three stations worked.
Alertness was in order on the descent to avoid two very large and menacing-looking midge clouds. Fortunately there had been none on the summit, despite the very still and hot morning.
Tom M1EYP
In reply to M1EYP:
Shortly after that I worked Mike G4BLH, who I presume was on a vertical antenna, as only 519/539 reports were exchanged despite him being the closest of the three stations worked.
Correct on the vertical Tom.
Regards, Mike G4BLH
And so to Friday 18th June 2010, and my first ever dabble with 5MHz. I had checked the NoV, and it was valid from the date it was posted, rather than from 1st July, so I could use it straight away.
I had been SWLing 5MHz SOTA activations for years, having not previously held a 5MHz NoV. I may be SWLing them for some time to come from home - until I get the shack rig modded anyway. Previously, I had ignored two opportunties to apply for a 5MHz NoV. At first, I wasn’t interested in HF. Then, I figured that learning CW was a better strategy to get myself heard on HF. However, now that I am interested in HF and have learned CW to a badic operating standard, an interest has developed in how the various HF bands perform in the greyline - so now, a 5MHz NoV was definitely of interest.
Richard G3CWI had kindly offered to lend me his 60m dipole, an offer that I had no hesitation in accepting, and less than 24 hours later it was in my rucksack as I ascended The Cloud G/SP-015 on a colder and damper morning.
The whole of this part of Cheshire was shrouded in low thick mist. It wasn’t raining, but my hair and trousers nonetheless got wet. With the 5MHz dipole aloft, it seemed that Marc G0AZS was going to be my first ever 60m contact, but sudden QRM on 5.291MHz CW wrecked the QSO before I got my report back to him.
A self-spotted QSY to 5.401MHz CW brought Aage LA1ENA who did become my first contact on 5MHz, shortly followed by Marc G0AZS, Marc G0VOF, Frank G3RMD and Ric G3CWI. Five minutes of CQing on 5.3985MHz SSB produced nothing at all. HF SSB has always been my nemesis, so I do hope that this jinx doesn’t follow me onto 5MHz!
Many thanks to all stations for listening for me and working me.
73, Tom M1EYP
In reply to M1EYP:
This mornings SOTA chasing all seemed a bit surreal at this end Tom. I managed to get up in time to avoid the Breakfast Circus and tuned up to listen for you on 5.291 albeit feeling a tad groggy.
As 0600z passed, I could just about hear some very weak un-copyable CW in the noise… real ESP stuff. I listened further and caught “CQ…EYP…OTA…K” coming up out of the noise and realised it was you calling. I came back with “DE G0AZS” and hoped you would have come up further by the time you replied. Unfortunately the signal had dipped again and I sent a report and asked for a repeat of mine… at which point another station (clearly not an Amateur so I assume it was military) started sending some rather “interesting” CW over the top of you and, although I might have coped you, the QRM was just too bad.
I tried to send a “PSE QSY 5289” to you but I wasn’t sure if you got it. I moved down to 5.289 and called a couple of times hoping you might be there but I got a “?” and then a response from Mark G0VOF who was a very good 599. We exchanged pleasantries and reports and then Mark must have been watching the spots as he said you were on 5.401 so we broke off and QSY’ed.
When I got to 5.401, I heard a weak station (Aage) that I initially assumed was you but then you replied to him with a cracking 579 signal in the clear. The QSO was easier than the first QRG! Thanks…
I have a feeling the skip was shortening rapidly as time passed because Mark G0VOF was strong and getting stronger, you were getting stronger but Frank G3RMD (who is closer to me) was still right down in the noise with me when you QSO’ed.
All very interesting… and thanks for The Cloud on 60m CW. Perhaps 5.289 might be better next time! 
73 Marc G0AZS
In reply to M1EYP:
Great to work you on 60m CW this morning Tom.
I was up just after 4 this morning so I had plenty of time to prepare myself for some early morning CW. HI!
I was not expecting a huge signal from the Cloud this morning, but on checking the Chilton Ionogram the F2 Critical frequency was about 4.5 MHz, with it’s FXi at 5.2 MHz, just below your alerted frequency. At only 70kms distance from SP-015, true good NVIS conditions would be needed to read you at 599, but as things stood at that time, in my experience I expected weak borderline NVIS conditions between us. As I have worked you on several bands from that summit, some of which must definitely be via groundwave, there was a good chance I could work you this morning even if 60m had been completely flat.
The “QRM” had been on 5291 on & off for quite some time & was quite strong here at times. Each “over” was quite long & I think you must have started up during one of its breaks, when it started up again it was very difficult to copy you as Marc G0AZS has said. I heard Marc struggling to work you with you both occasionally doubling as the QRM & QSB made things a bit interesting. I was going to try to work you after you completed with Marc on 5291, but as you never completed on that frequency I kept one eye on the spots & scanned though the other channels to see if you had QSY’d. It was during one of these scans that I heard the tail end of what turned out to be Marc calling you on 5289. I then noticed your self spot for 5401 & in case Marc had not seen it I called him to let him know.
Marc was genuinely 599 here in Blackburn & easy copy even for me with my very rusty CW. After a brief but pleasant QSO we both QSY’d to 5401 & I listened as you finished with Aage & then completed a QSO with Marc. You were up & down in the QSB but were up to a genuine 539 at times, which I would put down to the groundwave & skywave mixing together to sometimes enhance your signal & at other times cancel each other out. You dropped into one of these nulls as you gave me my report the first time round & all I got was a 5, two dashes & then you had vanished. I asked you to send again & fortunately you were readable again when you sent 579, which I am quite pleased with given the time of day & conditions.
I then left to continue getting ready for work & later heard Frank G3RMD calling you on 5398.5 ssb, but on that mode I could tell you were there at times, but not strong enough to work you. Frank was 57 on ssb here at that time.
As you will have gathered, NVIS conditions on 60m are currently quite poor at that time of the morning, but I have heard them much worse, & also much better. It does tend to change quicker than 40m or 80m, but when it is good, it’s very very good
There are times when the band can be wide open for NVIS but several CQ calls get no response, as I experienced on Hailstorm Hill last year. There are other times that a simple “Is this frequency in use?” brings a friendly “good afternoon” from known chasers at 59 +60db. As you have been a SWL on the band for some time you will no doubt be aware of this. SSB was not an ideal mode to use with 5 Watts this morning, but of course you do have the option of using CW. Although there are preferred frequencies for CW operation on 60m it is, as with the amateur bands permitted anywhere within each 3KHz channel. It makes very good sense to avoid the beacon frequencies & is quite logical to suggest CW QSO’s take place in the lower 300Hz of each channel to allow the voice portion of the channel (300Hz to 3KHz) to be used at the same time. However, as most people will be monitoring in USB mode, a CW CQ call would probably bring a quicker response in the SSB passband somewhere between 500Hz & 1500Hz from the lower edge of the channel.
In any case, it was very nice to work you on 60m CW this morning, & also to work Marc G0AZS, using a mode that I rarely use, & generally only when SSB isn’t an option.
SSB would not have worked this morning
Enjoy 60 Metres!
73,
Mark G0VOF
Thursday 1st July 2010. This was an increasingly-rare “on the way home from work” activation, but I desperately needed some exercise. It was a nice sunny afternoon (which soon becomes a ‘horrible sunny afternoon’ with my hayfever) and I elected to give 20m a try.
As it was, just six stations were worked on CW in and amongst my twenty minute sneezing fit, DXCCs I, UR, OH, DL, OK and HA. So, time to go home and watch some footy and tennis.
Tom M1EYP
I had not intended, nor alerted, to activate on Wednesday 7th July 2010. But to my surprise, and despite the previous late night due to the 2m activity contest, I was wide awake at 5.55am BST. I went into my shack to test which bands were ‘alive’ and posted an alert for 20m CW.
It seemed somewhat excessive to be on the steps up to The Cloud G/SP-015 barely eight hours after my previous rendezvous with them, but so it was. Surprisingly, the summit was relatively busy even at 6.45am with walkers and dog-trainers passing over regularly.
20m CW with the FT-817 and MM20 brought me twenty QSOs into eleven DXCCs, which were LZ, UR, Z3, DL, S5, OE, SP, RA, LA, HA and PA. So it was off to work with a spring in my stride! Thanks to the regular SOTA chasers that responded to my self-spots.
Tom M1EYP
With some spare time on Saturday 7th August 2010, I thought I would take a wander up The Cloud G/SP-015 and see how many contacts I could make. I set up the MM20 and FT-817, and was QRV with 5 watts just before 11am local, making 28 contacts on 20m CW, the highlight undoubtedly being Nelly HB0/HB9FBQ/P. It was also good to catch Aage LA1ENA/P and Kjell LA1KHA/P S2S on Vindfjell LA/VF-002.
Things then dried up rather, but I found that I could work on 17m acceptably using the MM20. It wasn’t as good as the MM17 of course, but it worked, and with the help of a self-spot, I added 9 CW QSOs to the logbook. A return to 20m CW brought another 7 QSOs, before I unleashed the VX-7R handheld for 6 contacts on 2m FM.
I then rechecked the 20m system, with one more contact ahead of the 1200z start time for the CQ Europe contest. I had done my research on this one, and learned that the exchange was RST + 2-digit number for the first year of being licensed! For me, that was going to be 599 01 - or “5NNTA” as I got away with sending in most of the QSOs!
Playing S+P in the contest produced 48 QSOs, all on 20m CW and all Europe - apart from a JA station who was calling CQ - so I worked him! Just after 4pm local, the SLAB expired, so it was back to the handy and a further 11 on 2m FM there. A few CQ calls on 70cm FM were not answered. Guess Steve and Helen must have been busy!
So a total of 110 QSOs for the activation - and a lot of logging to do…
20m CW - 84
17m CW - 9
2m FM - 17
Total: = 110
Tom M1EYP
In reply to M1EYP:
Tom when you are using the MM20 on 17m do you leave it as it is or do you fold back some of the vertical element? Sean M0GIA
Just left it. SWR was not as good obviously, but well within usable limits.
Tom M1EYP
In reply to M1EYP:
Dear Tom,
Congratulations on making 110 QSOs in a single SOTA activation.
Vlado, Z35MIn reply to M1EYP:
A few CQ calls on 70cm FM were not answered. Guess Steve and Helen must have >been busy!
I had the pleasure of a AAV contact in the morning on SS-176 and an AAU contact in SS-216 in the afternoon. Helen told me Steve was out running a “dad’s taxi service” hence she got to work me instead of him!
Andy
MM0FMF
I work for them as well. Dreadful company.
Tuesday 10th August 2010 was 70cm activity contest. I was running a bit late, and my first QSO was at 8.09pm BST. This was soon compensated for by having serial number 038 in the logbook by 9pm. Then what a contrast. It was hard work to get more in after that, and I limped to finish with 050 by 10.30pm.
Strangely there wasn’t any activity on 70cm FM to fill in the slow phases on SSB. The 50 QSOs were 49 on SSB, and one on CW.
Tom M1EYP
In reply to M1EYP:
I work for them as well. Dreadful company.
I’ve retired from them, all my customers left home 
Tuesday 10th August 2010 was 70cm activity contest. I was running a
bit late, and my first QSO was at 8.09pm BST. This was soon
compensated for by having serial number 038 in the logbook by 9pm.
Then what a contrast.
Yes, it was a bit odd. Things went in bursts. We (G3PYE/P) managed to work quite a few Europeans but it was hard work and we didn’t manage any GMs until Gav got on the mic with his “north of the border accent”. On the whole though it appears we did quite well. Youtube video showing the inside of Flossie and the logging with realtime map at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shQW7vfnkPg
Colin G8TMV
In reply to G8TMV:
I’ve retired from them, all my customers left home
Luxury! I’ve got one out earning a crust during a gap year which is a start.
Though we didn’t have gap years when I were a nipper. It was A-levels, then 3 years hard partying at university before discovering that there was no glamour at all in my chosen career.
The number of contacts suggests a lot more activity on activity nights than there was on some contests that I can remember from when I lived in the NW Tom.
Andy
MM0FMF
In reply to MM0FMF:
The number of contacts suggests a lot more activity on activity nights
than there was on some contests that I can remember from when I lived
in the NW Tom.
Surprisingly, although I was on for the first 80 minutes of the contest from IO92 square, I didn’t hear Tom at all. I worked several stations in IO83 square, but no M1EYP/P!
Pete, M0COP/P, was doing well from the Long Mynd and Stewart, G0LGS/P, had his best-ever score from Cleeve Hill.
73,
Walt (G3NYY)
In reply to G3NYY:
Pete, M0COP/P, was doing well from the Long Mynd and Stewart, G0LGS/P,
had his best-ever score from Cleeve Hill.
Perhaps not my best ever, but certainly in the top few of my entries over the last 4 years or so that I have been active on 70cm.
I managed 3 GM’s in the last 32 minutes (these are quite rare for me on 70cm) including GM4GUF/P (I presume on Tinto GM/SS-064), GI, GW, GD, and PA but no other stations outside G.
Stewart G0LGS.
In reply to G0LGS:
I managed 3 GM’s in the last 32 minutes
There is the root of my downfall! I packed up at 9:30 BST, missing the last hour of the contest, because I don’t like operating out of doors in the dark!
including GM4GUF/P (I presume on Tinto GM/SS-064), GI, GW,
GD, and PA but no other stations outside G.
LOL! What did you expect, Stewart? HA? LZ?
I heard several stations working Germany, but I couldn’t hear the German stations.
Well done on your score! I hope next month to have a little more than 5 watts
available. Higher power is needed to attract attention when people are not beaming directly at you!
73,
Walt (G3NYY)
Walt,
Well 60W or so (from IC-910) and a 23 Ele beam (hopefully soon to be replaced as its not in good condition) does help.
HA/LZ - I don’t see why not !
My best DX operating as G0LGS/P in my usual spot is OE5VRL/5 in JN78DK at 1222Km closely followed by OE5XBL in JN68PC at 1171Km some 20 minutes later (27/12/2006).
I think I could do with a pre-amp too.
Stewart G0LGS