Dear Andrew,
Thanks for your honest attitude.
As you already know, I didn’t log my chase to the database either.
I understand perfectly the situation. No doubt that I could have helped you explain and make the EA1 team understand that all they needed to do to provide a valid setup for your SOTA activation was making the whole station fully out and independent from the car, but you were tired, there was a threat of rain and with all those nice guys trying to make their best to give you an unforgettable experience of your day in those beautiful mountains of León, they did it that way for your comfort and you didn’t realise that a simple message through whatsapp asking for language support would have easily sorted out that situation.
I’m sorry for this mistake and the EA1 hams I spoke to about this are very sorry too. I’m sure they have now understood this and they won’t make such mistake again.
The Spanish trig points (DVGE) award has been widely running across Spain for quite a long time, a longer time than the SOTA programme at such extent, and working in the vehicle is something totally OK and usually made during the DVGE activations.
I fear now that some EA hams haven’t fully understood the SOTA programme rules and some seem to wrongly believe that a SOTA activation modus operandi is pretty much the same of that in the DVGE award but simply giving a different reference, the SOTA reference. This is obviously not correct.
I’m going to write a note in my next SOTA news bulletin in Spanish language making a special point about this substantial difference trying to make clear that the ham radio station used in a SOTA activation must be fully disconnected and be fully independent of any vehicle in case there are any up in the AZ. Any vehicle in the AZ must be able to drive away and leave the area without affecting in any form to the SOTA activation station, including the operator, of course, in the whole idea of SOTA activation station.
I hope this get well understood to everybody.
73 and keep enjoying the Camino de Santiago http://www.caminodesanti ago.me.uk/,
Guru