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Another local summit I hadn't yet activated in 2017 was Gun G/SP-013. I had a couple of hours free on the afternoon of Thursday 16th March 2017, plus I had picked up a Samsung S3 Neo mobile the other day, so there was a possibility of getting SOTA datamode operation going again. I decided to use the 20m band, but the usual operating position - sat at the base of the SOTA Pole within the radials of the groundplane - caused issues with RF getting into the Wolphilink interface in the past. So I opted for the new 10m Travel Mast to get the feedpoint around 3m higher, and a coax extension cable that would enable me to sit well outside the "footprint" of the radials. As ever, it was fiddly to get everything up and running after a long period of not doing datamodes with my portable set-up. I was racking my brains to try to remember how to set the various volumes within the phone's settings, and how to pair the Bluetooth keyboard with the phone. Once I thought I finally had everything set correctly, it still wouldn't work. Then I spotted that the mode on my FT-817 was still set to "CW" and not "DIG". I corrected this - and hey presto - my system was receiving AND transmitting.
I found a gap in the waterfall, self spotted and did some considerable periods of calling CQ SOTA. There were no takers though, and I feared the worst - or at least that I still hadn't managed to get my PSK SOTA system working again. I found a very strong CQ call from IK6CVI and went back to him. Well I tried to. This was when I noticed that my "de" reply macros were not responding. I checked in the code, and to my surprise found there was no <START> in there. I corrected this and now the buttons were functioning as anticipated. I tried again - and this time a PSK31 QSO with IK6CVI ensued. Right, good, my system was up and running again. Now the temperature dropped sharply, the wind picked up and it started raining. My initial instinct was to quit now with the data stuff (I had got it functioning, which was the main aim) and go to CW. I then gave my head a small wobble and started packing everything up! Just before walking back to the car, the point was collected courtesy of three QSOs on 2m FM with the VX7R. By the time I got to the car, it had started to go dark, and even colder and wetter. The heater was cranked up to max as I set off home.
In response to recent moans about VHF/UHF activity, I decided to focus on that on Sunday 7th May 2017. But not with a good system or on 2m, oh no. No, I was determined not to have my results dismissed, so I challenged myself further. The band to be used was 70cm, the mode FM, and the equipment just a handheld with rubber duck. So how did I do with all these limitations?
70 cm FM handheld and rubber duck: G/SP-004: 17 QSOs G/SP-013: 6 QSOs G/SP-015: 16 QSOs
Jimmy was using a proper 2m system with an 817 running 2.5 watts into a SOTAbeams MFD @ 7m on a SOTA Pole. Between the two of us, we made 122 activator QSOs on the day, all VHF/UHF, all FM, all QRP, and most of mine on 70cm with HT & RD! Great day out in the sunshine!
On the morning of Thursday 8th June 2017, I decided to nip up Gun G/SP-013 myself. I didn't know if there would be any conditions on 6 or 10, but thought I'd just throw that antenna up anyway. I arrived at the Gun parking area, only to be greeted with it almost full up with Skoda cars, something that looked like a butty caravan, flags and a barbecue. There was a bit of space at the end of the parking between the caravan and the road, so I slotted my motor in there.
As I was kitting up, a chap walked over and sternly told me "You'll have to move your car from there, that's where the judge's car is going". Note, not "Would you mind possibly...", but "You'll have to...". I had just come straight from the dentist and the part of my face that wasn't still frozen was in rather a lot of pain, so I didn't appreciate being spoken to like that! It's not normally my way to be challenging over such matters, but I'll cite the dental pain as my mitigating circumstance. "This is a public parking area" I said, "Have you got authorisation to take it all over for your exclusive use?" I presumed they had as it all looked a proper official event. And it was, I later discovered it was the finish line for the "Skoda Queen of the Mountains" jersey in the Ovo Energy Women's Tour (cycling).
But the bloke I had just asked the question to, turned his back, walked away and answered a call on his mobile. I waited - and waited for him to finish, but after ten minutes couldn't be bothered waiting any more so grabbed my stuff and set off on the walk. What I did do was leave the rucksack and main gear in the car and just take the handheld for a quick 2m FM activation. So, after making two contacts on 2m FM, I returned to my car and drove off. The judge's car had still not arrived, although there was plenty more space on the area to put more cars if necessary. A few yards down the road, I passed another lay-by on the left that I could have moved to! It had never come to my notice before - and I felt a twinge of guilt for not shifting my car down to there. Then again, there was a complete absence of manners and decorum from the event staff member that approached me at the main parking area, and so the guilt quickly evaporated!
I added a couple (literally) on 2m FM, and then there was a surprise meeting with top bass player Chris Cliffe by the trig point. Chris mentioned that the last time he'd seen me was at this very spot too! Chris is an amazing bassist and works with bands like FM and Heavy Weather, and had just returned from a 28 day stint in Israel. My schedule went out of the window here as Chris and I spent a good half hour chatting before I commenced my descent. Next it was over to The Cloud G/SP-015.
As I reached the parking spot it was raining heavily. So I continued on down to Meerbrook and popped into the Lazy Trout for lunch. The combo of roast ham sandwich, double cooked chips and carrot & coriander soup appealed, as did the Wincle ale. The rain had now been replaced by fog and so now I went for my walk. The temperature was milder than a few days ago, but this meant the path was wet and boggy. Not a memorable activation. Very few takers on 20m CW (9), less on PSK31 (1), none on SSB or JT65 (though I did try). One S2S on 2m FM with Jordan MW3TMX/P on Corndon Hill GW/MW-013, the last of his "Shropshire Five" round today (even though the last one is a few yards outside Shropshire!). 11 QSOs, 5 of which were into North America. The cabaret was provided mid activation by a dog whose party trick was jumping onto the top of the trig point!
At the trig point, I called again and was answered by Steve MW0ISC, followed by David 2E0IXM/M again. Just two QSOs then for this activation, timed at 1410 and 1411 UTC. The QRG was 145.475MHz FM. The gig in Rawtenstall later was good fun, and Liam got up to belt out a Christmas classic with the band!
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