You won’t believe how broken my tracker is.
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uh oh! time for a new one?
Alan
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it may have been the SOTA system picking him up then at the summit, I know the spots can somehow end up on there!
Alan
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Hi Fraser - from your screenshot it looks like you’re on EU frequencies rather than UK. If you didn’t change it then that would explain the lack of reception. This caught me out when I first tried using mine.
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I got mine pre-installed with tbe EU frequencies and had to subsequently change the tracker and i-gate to the UK ones. So, I know they were right.
However.
Since I’ve had the tracker I’ve had the following issues:
- I broke the SMA antenna connector off.
- The “On” button broke away from the PCB.
So last night I soldered on a new SMA connector and re-soldered the button. I connected the naked board to my PC and sent over a modified config file containing MWOEFI-2. Button still didn’t work but I know that plugging in an USB power source turns the tracker on.
I then put the case back on and went to charge it, only to find that none of the micro USB connectors I had would fit through the case. I took my soldering iron and scalpel to the hole and enlarged it nicely and while using the scalpel to clear away some swarf from the inside of the case, I slashed through the ribbon cable for the display. 
The tracker was still working at 0440 this morning, as verified by Richard @G3CWI when be checked aprs.fi, so I packed it and took it up the hill, mainly because I’d announced it on here.
Anything could have happened between leaving home and getting to the top of the hill, however I have no way of knowing. Apologies to everyone who was looking for packets. I really am an amateur.
I ordered a new board from ali express while on the train back to Birmingham this evening.
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SOTA alerts appear on aprs.fi as a picnic bench icon alongside the callsign. I think that may be what you saw.
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Activation report: Moel Siabod GW/NW-010
You will all know, after my last visit to GM, Fraser ‘got Ben on the Ben’ in style - I must admit, I was still buzzing weeks later!
I received a message from Fraser not too long ago, saying he had a work conference in Birmingham on Wednesday 26th June. The good news was, he was arriving a day early on the Tuesday 25th, so he had time to play! A scurry of messages were sent between us, and I managed to get a half day off work for some SOTA fun 
Fraser arrived in Birmingham, caught the early train to Welshpool, and I picked him up at 11:00z heading for the high mountains in Snowdonia. The sun was shining, it was very warm, conditions looked good!
Fraser and myself never have a quiet moment when we are together - many different conversations were had, Landrovers… Radio… Rallying… I could go on it didn’t take long until we were parked up at the youth centre ready to tackle Moel Siabod GW/NW-010.
Why did I choose this mountain to do… well, it wasn’t too far to drive to, it was 8-points to bag, the views from on top are a 360 degree view of Snowdonia, and it was a good work out, up hill all the way. I needed to tire Fraser out, that’s what he does to me!!
We packed our bags, crossed the bridge and began our hike.
This was the route taken:
You can tell we’ve had quite a lot of mixed wx in Wales recently, sun and rain. The scenery was very green - everything is growing fast. This resulted in a lot of bugs flying around!
This didn’t stop us, we were on a mission, Fraser had a train to catch at 20:00z! Unfortunately it didn’t look like we were going to have a view on top, the mist was surrounding the peak of the Siabod. Nevertheless, we still had smiles on our faces while entering it.
We were doing very well for timing, the alert was on for 14:30z, and this is the exact time we arrived! Before setting up, a summit selfie had to be done - I have at last managed to get Fraser on a Welsh hill happy days!
Fraser set up just beside the trig and worked 2m FM. He managed 21 QSO’s with many familiar voices that regularly call into him on HF SSB when he is activating back at home. He said it was great to speak with so many stations on 2m FM. As we know, Scotland can be quite quiet on 2m FM at times, so I think he thoroughly enjoyed the band being busy.
I set up on the rocks just below Fraser and worked 40m CW & SSB managing a total of 24 stations, two of which were S2S contacts, thanks @MW0KXN Kevin & @G4ZAO David - it was great to work you!
A few highlights of our first joint activation in GW were, it was great to be accompanied by Fraser on a home summit, especially given Fraser a new Country prefix MW0EFI/p it was also great to work Ros @MW7LTD and Mark @MW7TEW on there first attempt at CW as a chaser - you did extremely well! And finally, Fraser managed to have a quick view from the top when the mist quickly disappeared for 5 seconds 
it was like being back in GM, hi!
We both packed up, made our way down out of the mist, and drove home to a lovely tea prepared for us by Marth and Lyra 
I’d like to say a big thank you to all chasers who called into us both on this activation, the support from the SOTA community was fantastic as per normal!
I can now rest assured knowing I have successfully got a Scotsman on a mountain in Wales, Moel Siabod:
P.S - KEEP CHECKING THIS THREAD FOR A VIDEO - FRASER DID ARRIVE WITH HIS VIDEO CAMERA, SO YOU MAY BE IN FOR A YOUTUBE TREAT OF HIS PRESENCE IN GW 
STAY TUNED!
73 all,
Ben & Fraser
GW4BML/p & MW0EFI/p
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I have been up Moel Siabod so often in the last sixty years that I have lost count but oddly I have never used that route, always going up from the east side, partly because we used to have a club hut on that side but also because of the choice of the Tyn y Coed or Cobdens Arms after the descent! The last part of the ascent by your route looks quite attractive - I think I’ve missed out!
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I have done this route several times, but unless one has legitimate access to the PyB parking there is not a lot of room.
All the other routes I have tried have been more interesting (and/or difficult or time consuming).
I was listening out for 40m ssb but never detected anything 
Well done both.
73,
Rod
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Thanks for a brilliant day out Ben! I knew the conference would be a bit tiring and tedious, so taking a day off and flying down early meant that I had a bit of balance. Well it was more than balance, it was a great and memorable mini-adventure.
Thanks to the 2m Chasers. Great to work Derek @2E0MIX up on the Cumbria coast over a good sea path, and also @M5RJC Rick, down in Hereford. Both about 150km away, with the path to Rick an improbable one.
That was my 9th association. Same as you @GW4BML 
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It does seem improbable - I heard Rick (very strongly as he is only 1km distant) working you. I listened very carefully with the squelch on about zero and could hear absolutely nothing of your signal. I must try to find out how he hears so much more than I do.
EDIT - now I know - see below.
Although I have only activated Siabod three times I enjoy it very much as a walk - usually with members of our walking group, so no radio as I value the friendship more than the points .
Glad you had a good day out and made the long journey worth while.
73,
Rod
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I was trying out my new homebrew 6-el Yagi, not from home but from a local (non-SOTA) hilltop of Backbury, just East of Hereford at about 220m asl. I reckon the antenna’s worth about 12dB
No way I could have got you from home down in the river valley !
Cheers
Rick
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That explains it all.
73,
Rod
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I do seem to do better from home than you though Rod, don’t know why
I’m usually on the Kenwood TM-281 with 50W and a white stick on the roof
Rick
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By the way it’s now reduced a 4-el as it was too unwieldy for SOTA use !
Rick
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Here’s the video. You’d better sit down with tea/coffee/gin/wine/beer or a dram. Almost as long as an episode of Friends.
Actually is is an episode of Friends.
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Great to get you both in my chaser log…thank you. Wonderful photos and video as usual👍
73 Allan
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Great report & video, gents! Thanks for the qso Fraser & sorry I missed you Ben! 73 John.
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Thanks John. You were one of about five Johns I worked that day!
Much appreciated Alan. It has been a wee while.
I mis-counted in the video. I actually had 21 QSO’s on 2m, which is a great result.
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Please do Fraser … your episodes are always a lot of fun to watch!
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