If there`s one thing I’ve learned after more than 200 SOTA activations… always, ALWAYS follow your instinct.
Todays activation did not get off to a good start. About 250m from the trig point, I suddenly realised not only had I left the mobile in the car, but the 2m dipole too. As I had decided to leave the colinear behind, it meant a joureny back to the car. I dumped the rucksack next to the last tee, muttered quite a few Anglo Saxon expletives and legged it back to the car.
Trust me, I was not a happy bunny. On arriving back at the car, I picked up the colinear and phone, then put the colinear back an picked up the dipole. This was not a smart move.
On arriving at the trig, I set up the dipole for 2m vertical. Then I attached it to the fishing pole, getting it about 5 metres clear of the ground and put out a cq. This summit is supposed to be a good VHF site, something which I`ve always had my reservations about. In fact, Y Golfa, is a very un-good VHF summit, something which I should know from previous activations working with the colinear. However, for some silly reason, I chose to ignore my own advice today and the 2m band proved to be diabolicaly hard work. A couple of bright spots were Mike G4BLH and Frank G3RMD.
2m SSB was little better, so it was off to HF. The pile-up on 20m kept me busy for some time. Then a QSY for a S2S with M0KCB/P Darius up on G/SP-005 Pendle Hill, on the 17m band, which must be something a rarity.
Also nice to work a S2S with Paul GM4MD/P up on GM/SS-273 on the 80m band.
Ah well, you can’t win `em all, although 9 Stateside chasers eased the 2m pain somewhat.
A mixed bag of 101 contacts for the day.
Thanks to all the chasers.
73 Mike
2E0YYY