SOTA.....this might make you want to try it

Did this yesterday (31st Aug '10)

http://gm7something.wordpress.com/2010/08/31/the-day-we-went-to-arran-o/

Have a look at the slideshow...

Sunny day, over 2,800ft asl. Stations worked into G, GM , GI and EI land....fantastic views.

What more can a mere mortal do to better this ?

(Note : never try anything like this when feeling under the weather LOL )

Bobby

Wow Bobby, The views are amazing... Well Done!

A really nice article, and as David said excellent photos. Just 1 question, what was the radio of choice on the summits?

simon007 wrote:
A really nice article, and as David said excellent photos. Just 1 question, what was the radio of choice on the summits?

Radio for 4m FM was the excellent Chinese Wuxoun 699E 66-88Mhz job, I use one of Chinese speaker mikes.
basic 4-5 watts into this JPole

http://www.summitsbase.org.uk/tiki-index.php?page=4m+J-pole

Whilst you are at the Summitbase site, I would recommend joining as their monthly news on activations etc is excellent.

2M FM, another Chinese handie, the Puxing PX888 plus again, the speaker mike which fits both
. Power much the same.
A 2m JPole also...

There is a photo on this blog showing the two antenna setups, My JPole is just taped onto the 7m fibreglass fishing pole, Roddy has a cracking 2m dipole which folds in half, so simple but so effective.

http://2m0iob.wordpress.com/

I'm the fat one

I do have a FT 817 that I also use but to be honest for 2M FM, the handie does fine, no signal meter but as I also have the UHF version of the Puxing, I have two batteries I can use.
I also have a 5ele 2m yagi which need the coax replaced and is deadly from the tops.
The time you spend on the summit depends on how long you want to operate, I work only VHF (4m and 2m), I do have a 8m Rybakov antenna which I have used portable whilst out chasing two SOTA stations on 60m, worked both no problem.
Photo here

http://gm7something.wordpress.com/2010/06/08/corlic-hill-hf-vertical/

Click on photo for larger picture...it tunes with an ATU from 80m through to 10m

You should really try this, unfortunately SOTA summits are a bit scarce in certain areas down south but its worth even trying portable on your nearest high spots, just look for the best take off.

The real photos are here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53551005@N07/sets/72157624733788177/

I must learn to use the URL thing....

skunkybob wrote: again, the speaker mike which fits both
I do have a 8m Rybakov antenna which I have used portable whilst out chasing two SOTA stations on 60m, worked both no problem.
Photo here

How do you get on with 5 MHz? I have thought about asking for a NOV for it & operating kite portable there.
As I understand it. It's SINPO or SINFO reports, how do you manage that on at best a few minutes of over? Or do you use the SWL fallback position of an all the 3's, 4's or 5's signal report?

daxi wrote:

skunkybob wrote: again, the speaker mike which fits both
I do have a 8m Rybakov antenna which I have used portable whilst out chasing two SOTA stations on 60m, worked both no problem.
Photo here

How do you get on with 5 MHz? I have thought about asking for a NOV for it & operating kite portable there.
As I understand it. It's SINPO or SINFO reports, how do you manage that on at best a few minutes of over? Or do you use the SWL fallback position of an all the 3's, 4's or 5's signal report?

I have not got round to uploading any log etc to the 5mhz Working Group(hopefully correct name) yet, the band was for an exception, settled that day but if you listen to activity (you can set check the sota alert / spot page to listen to how they do it). I suffer pretty badly from QRM at the home QTH on 60m so I never really 'listen' but the band can be very in /out at times but can prove ideal for daytime use in UK. I only have the FT 817 converted so that day using the SLAb I was using 4-5 watts only.
I just exchanged details as you would on any SOTA style contact, RS report, locator and whatever else. I prefer keeping it shortish if someone is on a summit and others are waiting to work them. A wee yap after their contacts have dried up, yes.
You obviously log as the full report.

Bobby

Worked a G0 SOTA activator on 60m today on a Lake District summit, exchanged radio and signal reports, location and general stuff. Have a listen over the weekend, no declarations on 5mhz yet for Sat / Sun though but check. I'll hopefully be trying to work any station who does.

Okay, I take it none of you have been out and about working /P ? Its getting chillier but still opportunities to get out. I field tested my 'rybakov' vertical the other week albeit it on 60m but other bands were rocking, I need a small qrp atu as antenna is okay on 60m.
Ive had a few SOTA activations since the first one I mentioned at top of this thread, my blog reports are at the same place...
from Dec onwards , a winter bonus applies to SOTA work (only 2pt hills and above, sadly).
Weather ?, pal was on An Caisteal (995m) yesterday in snow, am looking forward to his photies.
Get out....

SOTA VHF Fun Day

What a cracking but very very cold day...
Worked into G , GW, GI and of course, GM lands..
contact of the day ?
a 4m fm contact with a 2W station whilst he was ascending Moel Eilio, he was using the Garex flexiwhip , strange thing was I never caught him on 4m from the top although it was 58/ 59 on 2m, I hope they have more VHF days like that.
Click on link below

Blog article

I got a decent deep cycle battery for Christmas, so I hope to get out for some WAB activations & hopefully some special event operations using it later this year...
I also now have a nice 9:1 / 4:1 balun so ~I can run a Rybakov or random wire with a simple switch of connectors.
But living in Norfolk I'll not bedoing any SOTA activations.

I've got a SLAb 12v 7ah which is too much unless I want to operate the FT 817 for a week LOL.
I've been looking at WAB and have been noting each WAB ref off each summit contact and have started to add them onto my log. Rybakov works well . I just cannot help but want to use VHF from a high point, I cannot see the point of using HF ...I did find in my 11m DX days that operating next to the sea was the optimum place to be. A thought for the summer months perhaps.
I'm trying to persuade Mrs Bawb to spend a week in North Wales but she only wants sun,sun and sun. I may try the camping route..

Bobby