This Sunday starting around 02:00 UTC (Saturday evening in SoCal), KD7DTS and I will be doing some 160m operating from a SOTA. We will be camping on the summit, and if there is desire from anyone across the Pacific, I’d also be happy to get up before dawn to try to make some longer distance QSOs.
We’ll be capable of 100w and Phone and CW modes. Will post spots as well.
Adam
K6ARK
Hi Adam,
I will be listening for you guys on 160 CW. Good luck with your adventure.
de W6LEN / Jess
I tried Top Band a couple of weeks ago, but got rained out right on dusk.
I’ll be back out this Sunday between 1000 and 1400 UTC working 80m and 160m from VK3/VC-002 Mt Donna Buang.
I’ll be concentrating on SSB and FT8 and, even though my CW is poor, I will take my paddle along just in case.
Hoping for west coast USA S2S but happy to work anyone.
VK3ZPF
Peter
Thanks for my first 160 meter SOTA summit. It was great to get you and K6STR in the log for 160 meters.
73 de W6LEN / Jess
Thanks Jess! The noise up here was horrendous but we were able to make some contacts regardless. Thanks for the fun last night.
Adam
K6ARK
Great to see you were able to get some contacts logged on 160m.
I got 10 x 160m QSOs in the log, unfortunately you and Mark were not among them.
Prior to changing the antenna to be a 160m top loaded vertical, I logged 55 QSOs on 40m, 13 QSOs on 20m and 26 QSOs on 80m.
Awesome! Looks like a beautiful spot.
KD7DTS captured this image of me at sunset.
Our crew on the summit.
I managed 12 in the log on 160 m despite the high noise levels:
03:19 W9SSN 1.8MHz CW s599 r529
03:19 K6KM 1.8MHz CW s599 r559
03:29 W6LEN 1.8MHz CW s479 r559
03:35 KI6NAZ 1.8MHz CW s599 r599
03:36 AI6XG 1.8MHz CW s449 r559
03:37 WB6EDK 1.8MHz CW s559 r599
03:40 NT6E 1.8MHz CW s449 r339
03:46 K6CPR 1.8MHz CW s449 r449
03:50 W6LOR 1.8MHz CW s599 r599 S2S!
03:51 K6STR 1.8MHz CW s599 r559 S2S!
03:57 KK6MT 1.8MHz CW s559 r339
04:28 N6WT 1.8MHz CW s599 r579
Will definitely do it again some time!
Adam
K6ARK
This post is right up my alley, I’ve been discussing top band with AJ2I various setups and we keep coming back to shunt loading an abandoned fire lookout tower, the taller ones being 90 feet high and a significant number of sota summits have them. I just bought a light weight MFJ tuner for this purpose. I have zero experience loading up unusual objects as antennas so this will be a shot in the dark, thankfully there is YouTube university.
K2CZH
We’ve probably seen the same video of the guy going around with a G90 and using the auto tuner to see what he can use as an antenna and make a QSO.
While it can be done, if you have access to the top is probably is easier to use the tower to support a wire, like an inverted L.
Adam, will we be hearing any more top band summit activity some time soon ?
de W6LEN / Jess
A bunch of friends, ham radio and a beautiful (californian?) sunset… it can’t be better than that.
I’m not sure, but I could set up for some 160 m POTA this weekend if you’re interested. I’ll be at the Ham Radio Crash Course Camp Out in Arrowhead. Whaddya think?
I can’t speak for others, but I will be listening for you
de W6LEN / Jess
Any top band this weekend ?
