Tom Read - click to email meBDXC ISWL WAB SOTA RSGB IOTA - see my radio page for more detailsLiam & Jimmy

Christ Cross 2004

 

This summit was activated by myself, accompanied by Jimmy on Tuesday 27th July 2004.     Click to return to summit index

 

From our holiday location in Shaldon in Devon, we made an early start driving out through Teignmouth and towards Exeter.  We picked up the M5 from its start until the exit for Cullompton.  We picked up some breakfast in this village and continued via Bradninch and out on narrow windy minor lanes to Christ Cross.

Jimmy begins to set-up the SOTA Beam on Christ Cross     SOTA Beam on Christ Cross G/DC-005

A plaque displaying a symbol, and "Christ Cross" was on display at the junction at SS 966 051, and this spot is indeed well within the qualifying activation area.  We pulled the car onto some grass adjacent to the road and walked down the track to the transmitter mast which is located on the true summit, about 220m from the road, and approximately 2m higher.  The OS 1:25000 map indicates a trig marker, but try as we might, we couldn't find it.  If it does exist, it is entirely engulfed by thick undergrowth, nettles and gorse.  We set up on some grass on the other side of the track from the mast.

Tom M1EYP/P activating Christ Cross summit    The transmitter and buildings on Christ Cross

We soon found out how fortunate we are in the North-West for 2m activity, with only one station worked from calling CQ on S20.  The following two were invited to QSY from a repeater, with a fourth station having joined the frequency.  Little was I too know that things were going to get a lot worse than this, but I did at least add the 40m dipole to my rucksack for the following day's activation of Kit Hill G/DC-003!

Thanks to the following stations, all worked on 2m FM using 2.5 watts:

G4PCB Whitestone, near Exeter Alan
M3ELC/M Totnes Patrick
M3EYZ/M Paignton Chip
G0VTX Paignton David