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

Shining Tor 2020

 

Sunday 5th January 2020 - Kinder Scout G/SP-001, Shining Tor G/SP-004, The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013

After Kinder Scout G/SP-001, I drove over to Shining Tor G/SP-004, for more FT8 SOTA.  I would, naturally, focus on 80m FT8 again, with the added bonus of giving chasers a multiplier in the 2020 Flavours Challenge!  But I also wanted to be able to swiftly QSY to 20m for a possible S2S FT8 QSO into the USA, so the SOTAbeams Bandhopper 4 linked dipole antenna was ideal.

Bandhopper 4 on Shining Tor    Trig point    Tom M1EYP

The FT8 activity never really got going on this activation, with just two on 80m and one on 20m.  But that one on 20m was S2S with Tom N2YTF/P on a W2 summit in the USA - so that was highly pleasing.  The weather conditions by this stage on Shining Tor were most unpleasant, but I was about to return to 80m to give the CW and SSB chasers a chance for their Challenge multiplier.  Unfortunately I was a bit too heavy handed (yes, I know, it’s happened before) when closing a link and I snapped the wire.  Game over.  The bad news was that I only had recorded 3 contacts on HF FT8 and hadn’t qualified the summit.  The good news was that I had my 2m handie, and this reaped 6 QSOs in just 3 minutes!

After returning to Macc and meeting Jimmy M0HGY and Liam at the pub for tea, I went out again for another couple of activations, starting with The Cloud G/SP-015.

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

S2S

14:50

G0RQL

3.5MHz

FT8

 

14:53

G4TJC

3.5MHz

FT8

 

15:27

N2YTF/P

14MHz

FT8

W2/NJ-009

16:00

G0MHF

144MHz

FM

 

16:00

2E0LKC

144MHz

FM

 

16:01

2W0JYN

144MHz

FM

 

16:01

2E0LMD

144MHz

FM

 

16:02

M0HGY

144MHz

FM

 

16:03

MW1MDH/M

144MHz

FM

 

 

Monday 10th February 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004, The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013

Wellington School in Altrincham, where I was doing a long term teaching assignment until April, was on half-term this week.  However, some schools' half-term break was a week later, and were therefore in session on this date.  I picked up a day's supply at New Mills School, where I had a really lovely and fulfilling day.  That was mainly because the students really engaged positively with my teaching, but part of my enjoyment was the Dark Peak towering above the school campus and visible from most places I was during the day!

Shining Tor summit        Tom M1EYP

On my way home I just had to go via Shining Tor for my daily walking and SOTA fix!  At the top, it was cold with a dusting of snow.  Seven QSOs were made on 2m FM before I went home for my tea - after which I went out again, firstly to The Cloud G/SP-004.

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

16:51

G0XBU/M

144MHz

FM

16:52

2E0TXE

144MHz

FM

16:52

M7ECT

144MHz

FM

16:53

M0VWT

144MHz

FM

16:53

M0NTI

144MHz

FM

16:54

2E0VWT/P

144MHz

FM

16:54

M6XCP

144MHz

FM

 

Saturday 21st March 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015, Gun G/SP-013 & Shining Tor G/SP-004

Uninspired and disinterested in the Saturday evening TV fayre, I excused myself and went out for an evening stroll up Shining Tor.  This was an enjoyable night walk in the cold crisp air, rewarded at the summit with great views over the lights of Manchester.

Shining Tor summit        Tom M1EYP

Twelve stations were worked on the handheld, all on 2m FM.  It was a pleasing end to an enjoyable three-activation day.

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

20:21

M0TKG

144MHz

FM

20:22

G0RXT

144MHz

FM

20:24

2E0CCD

144MHz

FM

20:25

M7ECT

144MHz

FM

20:25

2E0LMD

144MHz

FM

20:26

2E0LKC

144MHz

FM

20:27

2E0JPY

144MHz

FM

20:28

G0RXA

144MHz

FM

20:29

M0MTF

144MHz

FM

20:30

G1OXH

144MHz

FM

20:32

M1DCG

144MHz

FM

20:34

M0OAU

144MHz

FM

 

Monday 23rd March 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004, The Cloud G/SP-015, Gun G/SP-013

Social distancing seemed to be getting ramped up.  Driving out to a local hill for a local walk still seemed to be OK, whereas driving longer distance out of area to do so would probably be socially unacceptable.  But later in the day, even further instructions would be announced by the government that effectively ruled out SOTA.

Tom M1EYP  View from the shack!

I had a great walk up Shining Tor.  In order to be able to set up an antenna for HF, and be 100% certain to respect social distancing, I positioned myself a little away from the summit, in a pleasant sheltered spot below some rocks, overlooking the Macc-Buxton road, the Macclesfield Forest and the Cheshire Plain.

I left my tablet working automated-fashion on 15m FT8 via WSJT-Z.  Interspersed with activity on that mode, I called periodically on my handheld, making QSOs on 2m FM and 70cm FM.  It was a delightfully pleasant hour-and-a-half!  The activation concluded with nice S2S QSOs with Viki MW6BWA/P on Graig Syfyrddin GW/SW-020 - not a bad old distance with a handheld!  That afternoon I returned home, but with the full intention of conducting a couple more activations that evening - starting with The Cloud G/SP-015.

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

S2S

11:26

F6BHK

21MHz

FT8

 

11:30

G4KHG

21MHz

FT8

 

11:37

EB3JT

21MHz

FT8

 

11:57

GW4TQE/P

433MHz

FM

GW/MW-027

12:00

EA3FAJ

21MHz

FT8

 

12:01

2W0FOI

433MHz

FM

 

12:08

CT1ELP

21MHz

FT8

 

12:12

G6MMS

433MHz

FM

 

12:13

IK4CBO

21MHz

FT8

 

12:15

G4TJC

21MHz

FT8

 

12:22

M0VAZ

433MHz

FM

 

12:28

G4CFP/M

144MHz

FM

 

12:29

2E0LKC

144MHz

FM

 

12:30

G4ERQ

144MHz

FM

 

12:30

EA7GV

21MHz

FT8

 

12:32

G4GCZ

144MHz

FM

 

12:32

2E0BCJ

144MHz

FM

 

12:33

M5HFJ

144MHz

FM

 

12:34

G1VKT

144MHz

FM

 

12:36

2W0JYN

144MHz

FM

 

12:37

MW6SHJ

144MHz

FM

 

12:39

G0XBU

144MHz

FM

 

12:44

MW6BWA/P

144MHz

FM

GW/SW-020

12:47

MW6BWA/P

433MHz

FM

GW/SW-020

12:49

M0CSP

144MHz

FM

 

12:50

2E0TXE

144MHz

FM

 

12:52

MW0JLA/P

144MHz

FM

GW/SW-020

 

Saturday 16th May 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015, Gun G/SP-013 & Shining Tor G/SP-004

It was a super joint activation on Shining Tor G/SP-004 with Jimmy M0HGY. 

Cup cake from Cherry Blossom Bakery        Jimmy M0HGY

We set off after 7pm, choosing to utilise the evening time to avoid others and keep social distancing as easy as possible.

M0HGY:

51 QSOs

44 on 2m FM

7 on 30m FT4

M1EYP:

53 QSOs

13 on 2m FM

29 on 30m FT4

2 on 30m FT8

9 on 30m CW

Jimmy M0HGY        Tom M1EYP

Jimmy clearly supported my claim that 2m is alive and well with contacts coming thick and fast throughout the evening. By packdown time, I was thinking “If only I had my backpacking tent and sleeping bag with me, and be in a phase and life in which that was socially acceptable!” This was because I was by this stage getting called and worked by North American stations on 30m FT4. I would have liked to have gone on for hours!

Jimmy M0HGY        Waypost on Shining Tor

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

19:41

EA4HAI

10MHz

FT4

19:42

SQ9UPH

10MHz

FT4

19:44

SV8NAJ

10MHz

FT4

19:45

EA3HYF

10MHz

FT4

19:46

IK2LEY

10MHz

FT4

19:53

IZ3KUX

10MHz

FT4

20:00

G7ADF

10MHz

FT4

20:16

SQ1OD

10MHz

FT8

20:21

UX5UN

10MHz

FT8

20:32

S52XA

10MHz

CW

20:33

SA4BLM

10MHz

CW

20:34

SM7CBS

10MHz

CW

20:41

YO8AZQ

10MHz

CW

20:43

US5XD

10MHz

CW

20:45

UR5CI

10MHz

CW

20:47

UT3UGI

10MHz

CW

20:49

EA3CW

10MHz

CW

20:52

IZ4EKG

10MHz

CW

21:01

EA1GWM

10MHz

FT4

21:06

SM0EJR

10MHz

FT4

21:07

OK1XHC

10MHz

FT4

21:09

RN3AOE

10MHz

FT4

21:12

HB9CNU

10MHz

FT4

21:16

OK4DJ

10MHz

FT4

21:18

F5LKW

10MHz

FT4

21:26

MW6SHJ

144MHz

FM

21:26

G7OEM

144MHz

FM

21:29

G0HIZ

144MHz

FM

21:30

M0SQJ

144MHz

FM

21:31

M0DAV

144MHz

FM

21:32

G7LHK

144MHz

FM

21:33

G7UCP

144MHz

FM

21:33

M1EIB

144MHz

FM

21:34

M0INY

144MHz

FM

21:36

G0TEE

144MHz

FM

21:38

2W0JYN

144MHz

FM

21:41

M7MJK

144MHz

FM

21:42

G7ABR

144MHz

FM

21:48

DL6NAC

10MHz

FT4

21:49

R2EA

10MHz

FT4

21:51

CT2JQD

10MHz

FT4

21:58

DL3IG

10MHz

FT4

21:58

IU7MZC

10MHz

FT4

22:00

I6JEI

10MHz

FT4

22:04

R4FBG

10MHz

FT4

22:05

IK2EST

10MHz

FT4

22:05

EA8UK

10MHz

FT4

22:07

SP9RM

10MHz

FT4

22:08

VE9NC

10MHz

FT4

22:11

W2DJX

10MHz

FT4

22:13

WB9CNE

10MHz

FT4

22:19

IZ1MHY

10MHz

FT4

22:22

W0ALA

10MHz

FT4

 

Sunday 17th May 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004, Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015

The Peak District, like most National Parks, was suffering “bad press” (or those that flock to them were).  Of course, only bad news tends to “make the cut” on TV bulletins. There was plenty of walkers on Shining Tor G/SP-004.  Social distancing was being observed impeccably with everyone showing great respect for each other on the paths.  Care needed to be taken with gates and stiles of course - but I’d rather have been there than in a supermarket. (Less than 1% of Covid transmission occur outdoors according to a study published the previous week).

The previous evening, there were zero other people on the hill.  This morning with several - but plenty of space for everyone, and all lovely considerate fellow walkers.

2m FM handheld - 6 QSOs

I then drove over to Gun G/SP-013.

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

11:11

M6OXO

144MHz

FM

11:12

2E0SAE

144MHz

FM

11:18

MW0RKD

144MHz

FM

11:19

G3CWI/M

144MHz

FM

11:20

M0VTS

144MHz

FM

11:22

G0ELM/P

144MHz

FM

 

Wednesday 20th May 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004, Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015

More splendid social distancing on the hills.  The hills are definitely a nice place to do this social distancing thing, and all the other walkers seem really lovely about it.  My choice for Shining Tor G/SP-004 was 30m FT8 & CW.  That wasn’t really based on any study of likely propagation conditions, but more addiction-based I fear.  Anyway, it paid off, with the band providing lots of activity on both modes, though strangely, there was no FT4 to be had on 10.140MHz whatsoever.

52 QSOs:

30m FT8: 20 QSOs

30m CW: 26 QSOs (S2S - HB/BE-087, DM/BW-067, HB/SZ-016)

2m FM: 6 QSOs

Tom M0TKG & Tom M1EYP        Cracking view from Shining Tor

It was nice to meet Tom M0TKG up there, and he was having a great activation on 40m SSB.  In the heather, just near to where Tom was operating, I found my sunglasses that I’d lost up here back on 21st February 2019 (yes it was a very sunny day for February!) 453 days later - I found them again.  Fully intact, but unsurprisingly in need of a clean!   I stayed on the road and went to activate Gun G/SP-013, and then The Cloud G/SP-015.

Before descending, I worked a few on 2m FM, culminating with Simon G7WKX who advised me about the opening to EA on 6m.  I was going to go home to pick up the 10m GP before my next activation, but now I could switch thoughts to the “Magic Band”, and the SOTAbeams SB6 Moxon was already in the car!

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

S2S

09:08

DL2VED

10MHz

FT8

 

09:10

G7ADF

10MHz

FT8

 

09:13

ON5SWA

10MHz

FT8

 

09:16

EA3HP

10MHz

FT8

 

09:21

DB1BMN

10MHz

FT8

 

09:24

SM4CJM

10MHz

FT8

 

09:25

F5HTR

10MHz

FT8

 

09:26

F5JKK

10MHz

FT8

 

09:29

EA7GV

10MHz

FT8

 

09:30

DG1PO

10MHz

FT8

 

09:31

OE6GND

10MHz

FT8

 

09:33

ON7DE

10MHz

FT8

 

09:41

F5EOW

10MHz

FT8

 

09:42

IK2LEY

10MHz

FT8

 

09:43

EA2LU

10MHz

FT8

 

09:45

IU8JCQ

10MHz

FT8

 

09:49

PA7RA

10MHz

FT8

 

09:50

DK1REM

10MHz

FT8

 

10:01

SP1O

10MHz

FT8

 

10:03

DG1DBX

10MHz

FT8

 

10:12

OH3GZ

10MHz

CW

 

10:13

HB9AGH

10MHz

CW

 

10:13

DJ1MX

10MHz

CW

 

10:14

DL1CR

10MHz

CW

 

10:14

OE6GND

10MHz

CW

 

10:15

DL1FU

10MHz

CW

 

10:16

HB9CBR/P

10MHz

CW

HB/BE-087

10:18

OK1FMJ

10MHz

CW

 

10:19

DL6FBK/P

10MHz

CW

DM/BW-067

10:20

DL4MFM

10MHz

CW

 

10:21

HB9CEV/P

10MHz

CW

HB/SZ-016

10:23

EA2IF

10MHz

CW

 

10:24

PA7RA

10MHz

CW

 

10:25

DL4EPM

10MHz

CW

 

10:26

IK2ECC

10MHz

CW

 

10:26

ON4ON

10MHz

CW

 

10:28

DL8NDG

10MHz

CW

 

10:29

DL7UWR/P

10MHz

CW

 

10:31

SA4BLM

10MHz

CW

 

10:32

SM5LNE

10MHz

CW

 

10:33

IU3HMH

10MHz

CW

 

10:34

EA5K

10MHz

CW

 

10:35

SP5KD

10MHz

CW

 

10:35

HF0B

10MHz

CW

 

10:37

EA2GM

10MHz

CW

 

10:40

DL1SWB

10MHz

CW

 

10:50

2E0PXW

144MHz

FM

 

10:51

G8MIA

144MHz

FM

 

10:51

G3CWI/M

144MHz

FM

 

10:52

M0VTS

144MHz

FM

 

10:53

M7ECT

144MHz

FM

 

11:13

G7WKX

144MHz

FM

 

 

Friday 22nd May 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004

My 12m GP hadn’t been used in a while, so that’s what I took up to Shining Tor G/SP-004 with me for the joint activation with Alan M1FHM.  When I unpacked that, it was in a sorry state, and no wonder, as it was rather sloppily constructed compared to what I would do now.  It was therefore no surprise that it suffered several collapses in stiff breeze. Interestingly though, the VSWR indication on the 817 suggested it might be usable on 10m as well.

Tom M1EYP & Alan M1FHM        Alan M1FHM

And so it proved to be.

12m FT8: 5 QSOs

10m FT8: 13 QSOs

2m FM: 2 QSOs

I made a mental note to to remake the 12m GP, better and stronger, and maybe with the resonant frequency nudged up a little higher.

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

06:55

RW1C

24MHz

FT8

07:00

G8HXE

24MHz

FT8

07:16

RX4CD

24MHz

FT8

07:35

G0JEI

28MHz

FT8

07:35

M5JPG

28MHz

FT8

07:40

G4TJC

28MHz

FT8

07:48

SP4SHK

28MHz

FT8

07:49

OK2PDT

28MHz

FT8

07:55

M3JIE

28MHz

FT8

07:56

SP4UPH

28MHz

FT8

07:57

SM4CJM

28MHz

FT8

08:01

EA7GV

28MHz

FT8

08:10

EA5D

28MHz

FT8

08:12

ES3RM

28MHz

FT8

08:24

2E0EEY

28MHz

FT8

08:27

SQ5MR

28MHz

FT8

08:43

SP5XSD

24MHz

FT8

08:44

G4TJC

24MHz

FT8

09:02

2E0PXW

144MHz

FM

09:03

G0RXT

144MHz

FM

 

Saturday 4th July 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004, The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013

Cold, windy and wet.  Again.  Another day that would be horrid in winter - in midsummer.  Refreshingly good activity for the 70cm SOTA day despite that.  I got several 70cm FM S2S:

G1ZAR/P on Bardon Hill G/CE-004

M6BWA/P on Wapley Hill G/WB-016

M0JLA/P on Wapley Hill G/WB-016

G4AZS/P on Heath Mynd G/WB-007

M6BWA/P on Shobdon G/WB-017

M0JLA/P on Shobdon G/WB-017

Very necessary shelter for this activation!   Tom M1EYP in the tent

Having studied the highly depressing weather forecast, I took my backpacking tent along.  Even with that there was an unpleasantly damp and cold feel to the morning; it would have been unbearable without it.  The activation got off to the worst possible start when I snapped off a croc clip from my newly repaired feeder during set up.  So once again, the croc clip was repurposed to clip the coax core to the driven element of the 6-el beam.  This meant I was reluctant to muck about with changes of polarisation, and as such, reluctant to venture onto SSB or FT8.

Astonishingly, this fragile assembly survived the hostile conditions throughout the 6 hour activation!  Anyway, the results were as follows:

70cm FM: 36 QSOs

70cm CW: 1 QSO

2m FM: 5 QSOs

 

Much later in the day, I went out again, to activate The Cloud G/SP-015 and Gun G/SP-013.

 

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

S2S

06:01

G0BUB

433MHz

FM

 

06:28

G0IZR

144MHz

FM

 

06:31

G0IZR

433MHz

FM

 

06:33

M3PVB

433MHz

FM

 

06:41

GW0HUS

433MHz

FM

 

06:44

G0MHF

433MHz

FM

 

07:06

M6OXO

144MHz

FM

 

07:12

G6GVI

433MHz

FM

 

07:27

G1JPV

433MHz

FM

 

07:33

G0AKU

144MHz

FM

 

08:08

G0FRI

433MHz

FM

 

08:19

G1ZAR/P

433MHz

FM

G/CE-004

08:29

G6MMS

433MHz

FM

 

08:40

G3CWI

433MHz

FM

 

08:49

2E0RIL

144MHz

FM

 

08:53

G3CWI

433MHz

CW

 

08:56

G3ZHE

433MHz

FM

 

09:09

G4VSS

433MHz

FM

 

09:16

G0UXC

433MHz

FM

 

09:25

M6BWA/P

433MHz

FM

G/WB-016

09:33

G4UCT

433MHz

FM

 

09:43

M0JLA/P

433MHz

FM

G/WB-016

09:50

G0BJK

433MHz

FM

 

10:00

2E0NDD

433MHz

FM

 

10:28

M7CJK

433MHz

FM

 

10:33

GB0ELR

433MHz

FM

 

10:35

G6QA

433MHz

FM

 

10:37

GB0ELR

144MHz

FM

 

10:50

G0SLR

433MHz

FM

 

10:52

G7RYN

433MHz

FM

 

10:53

M0AJJ

433MHz

FM

 

10:54

M7ECT

433MHz

FM

 

10:55

G0UXI

433MHz

FM

 

10:55

G0KZH

433MHz

FM

 

10:58

M0HZX/M

433MHz

FM

 

11:18

G4UKV

433MHz

FM

 

11:33

G4AZS/P

433MHz

FM

G/WB-007

11:35

M6BWA/P

433MHz

FM

G/WB-017

11:37

M0JLA/P

433MHz

FM

G/WB-017

11:38

M6XBQ

144MHz

FM

 

12:10

G0DBE

433MHz

FM

 

12:12

M1FHM

433MHz

FM

 

 

Monday 6th July 2020 - The Wrekin G/WB-010, Shining Tor G/SP-004, The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013

After getting home from The Wrekin G/WB-010, Marianne and Liam were getting out of bed, and preparing to go walking in the Goyt Valley.  I interrogated Marianne about her proposed route, and upon discovering that it would pass over Shining Tor G/SP-004, I invited myself along!

Cat & Fiddle                Turning off the A537 road

 

This route is a 9 mile circular starting and finishing at the Cat & Fiddle.  The walk goes down to Derbyshire Bridge then follows right down the beautiful Goyt Valley to Errwood Reservoir before rising up to Pym Chair.  At that point, the road is left and a mostly flagged path is taken right up to the SOTA summit, before the familar descent back to the Cat & Fiddle pub.

 

Marianne & Liam heading down to Derbyshire Bridge                River Goyt

 

7 QSOs were made, 5 on 70cm FM and 2 on 2m FM.  This was just on the handheld, as setting up and bedding down with portable radio doesn’t really work with walks with the XYL (I have discovered). 

 

Road down to Derbyshire Bridge    Derbyshire Bridge parking area    Liam heading into the Goyt Valley

 

Liam & Marianne walking down to Derbyshire Bridge                Liam, Goyt Valley

 

Goyt Valley    River Goyt    Water cascade

 

Top of the Goyt Valley                Derbyshire Bridge

 

River Goyt                Liam & Tom, Goyt Valley

 

Packhorse Bridge, Goyt Valley                Errwood Reservoir

 

Errwood Reservoir                Pym Chair

 

Walking down the Goyt Valley    Near Pym Chair    Approaching Shining Tor from Pym Chair

 

Flagged path to Shining Tor    Shining Tor summit    Shining Tor summit

 

Shining Tor summit                Footpath signpost near to Shining Tor summit

 

Shining Tor summit                Kissing gate on the descent from Shining Tor

 

Tom M1EYP                Back at the Cat & Fiddle

 

Immediately after getting back to Macclesfield, I skipped my evening meal in order to go straight back out again, this time to The Cloud G/SP-015.

 

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

16:52

G0MHF

433MHz

FM

16:54

G4YLJ

433MHz

FM

16:54

2E0IXM

433MHz

FM

16:57

M1DYU

144MHz

FM

16:58

M1DYU

433MHz

FM

17:08

M7ECT

433MHz

FM

17:10

M6AIF

433MHz

FM

 

Saturday 11th July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015, Gun G/SP-013 & Shining Tor G/SP-004

I’d not done a campover activation for a while, so I took an opportunity to do so last night.  Having already done a couple of activations during the day, and then added a long circular route with Marianne, Jimmy M0HGY and Liam, the good thing was that I wouldn’t have difficulty sleeping! 

My accommodation for the Saturday evening!        Tent porch

By the time I’d ascended Shining Tor G/SP-004 and pitched my backpacking tent, it was already gone midnight BST. I  called on 2m FM on the handheld and worked Jimmy M0HGY and Dave 2E0IXM.  I returned to the tent, set out my roll mat and sleeping bag, then assembled the main station and commenced the new UTC day activation at 0005z.

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

23:18

M0HGY

144MHz

FM

23:19

2E0IXM

144MHz

FM

 

Sunday 12th July 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004

I spent the rest of the UTC day setting up the main HF station, arranging things in my tent, getting the mat, sleeping bag and pillow etc in position.  By 1am local - midnight UTC, I was ready to get back on the air.  Several stations were worked on 20m CW and SSB in the IARU contest, including a good number of North Americans.  However, the band was somewhat tedious in the contest, and so I decided to get some sleep.

Tom M1EYP        Camp on Shining Tor

Three hours or so later, I was awake again.  I made use of the auto-sequencing mode on WSJT-Z and set the station off working on 20m FT4 and allowed myself to relax a little more. After a little sleep, I got going on SSB again, working 30 more stations.  Switching to CW, 42 QSOs were logged.  I attempted to run on a clear-ish frequency, but just one QSO resulted.  I managed a S2S with OK/SP9AMH/P on OK/MO-057, but then took down the HF station.  Before descent, I worked 9 stations on 2m FM including two more S2S - GW4TQE/P on GW/NW-060 and MW1HAX/P on GW/NW-012.  Total of 101 contacts for the activation.

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

S2S

00:05

K3TS

14MHz

CW

 

00:13

N5NU

14MHz

CW

 

00:16

NO9E

14MHz

CW

 

00:19

IB3N

14MHz

CW

 

00:21

EA2W

14MHz

CW

 

00:22

NN7CW

14MHz

CW

 

00:26

S53A

14MHz

CW

 

00:27

IR4B

14MHz

CW

 

00:34

N5KWN

14MHz

CW

 

00:39

IO5HQ

14MHz

CW

 

00:41

EF5HQ

14MHz

CW

 

00:44

9A0HQ

14MHz

CW

 

00:53

N0AX

14MHz

CW

 

00:59

EA3CI

14MHz

SSB

 

01:03

IK7YTT

14MHz

SSB

 

01:14

IO6HQ

14MHz

SSB

 

01:16

VE3DZ

14MHz

SSB

 

04:25

UA6JQ

14MHz

FT4

 

04:34

R6KF

14MHz

FT4

 

04:38

UA6ARR

14MHz

FT4

 

04:41

UR4MVD

14MHz

FT4

 

04:54

R6TJ

14MHz

FT4

 

05:05

UX1IB

14MHz

FT4

 

05:14

R3LAF

14MHz

FT4

 

05:14

R3IX

14MHz

FT4

 

05:18

SV1JMC

14MHz

FT4

 

05:20

RA6AVP

14MHz

FT4

 

05:26

OH3OJ

14MHz

FT4

 

05:28

R3LO

14MHz

FT4

 

05:38

US1GDQ

14MHz

FT4

 

05:39

RX9ATX

14MHz

FT4

 

05:40

M0OWS

14MHz

FT4

 

05:48

SV3BLX

14MHz

FT4

 

05:49

F6ECI

14MHz

FT4

 

06:00

R3WF

14MHz

FT4

 

06:03

RU7C

14MHz

FT4

 

06:08

R9JZ

14MHz

FT4

 

06:10

IW1AYD

14MHz

FT4

 

06:12

UW5EHR

14MHz

FT4

 

06:13

HA2G

14MHz

FT4

 

06:14

SQ7RN

14MHz

FT4

 

06:19

IZ7XNB

14MHz

FT4

 

07:02

OL0HQ

14MHz

SSB

 

07:05

EW7BA

14MHz

SSB

 

07:06

J42L

14MHz

SSB

 

07:08

IK8NSR

14MHz

SSB

 

07:11

UW2M

14MHz

SSB

 

07:12

OH6LI

14MHz

SSB

 

07:13

EA3CI

14MHz

SSB

 

07:14

E7HQ

14MHz

SSB

 

07:15

S52OT

14MHz

SSB

 

07:16

C4W

14MHz

SSB

 

07:17

IO9A

14MHz

SSB

 

07:18

IO6HQ

14MHz

SSB

 

07:21

LY0HQ

14MHz

SSB

 

07:23

SO7G

14MHz

SSB

 

07:23

SN0HQ

14MHz

SSB

 

07:24

HG6N

14MHz

SSB

 

07:25

TM0HQ

14MHz

SSB

 

07:27

EM5HQ

14MHz

SSB

 

07:30

YR0HQ

14MHz

SSB

 

07:33

SP8KP

14MHz

SSB

 

07:35

S50HQ

14MHz

SSB

 

07:37

EU1A

14MHz

SSB

 

07:38

ES7A

14MHz

SSB

 

07:39

9A0HQ

14MHz

SSB

 

07:41

US5D

14MHz

SSB

 

07:44

ER7HQ

14MHz

SSB

 

07:46

LZ0HQ

14MHz

SSB

 

07:50

R2AD

14MHz

SSB

 

07:50

CR6T

14MHz

SSB

 

07:52

HG0HQ

14MHz

SSB

 

07:54

EA8BQM

14MHz

CW

 

07:55

I5MXX

14MHz

CW

 

07:56

YU1ED

14MHz

CW

 

08:07

UA3ABJ

14MHz

CW

 

08:13

UX1UT

14MHz

CW

 

08:14

RA1QD

14MHz

CW

 

08:15

DL2RMC

14MHz

CW

 

08:16

EU1DX

14MHz

CW

 

08:17

DJ5MW

14MHz

CW

 

08:18

YL5W

14MHz

CW

 

08:18

EU8U

14MHz

CW

 

08:21

R4GM

14MHz

CW

 

08:22

OY1CT

14MHz

CW

 

08:23

EW8DX

14MHz

CW

 

08:26

RT9A

14MHz

CW

 

08:29

IR1G

14MHz

CW

 

08:30

OH2BAH

14MHz

CW

 

08:36

HA3DX

14MHz

CW

 

08:39

DL100BKW

14MHz

CW

 

08:40

HG7Q

14MHz

CW

 

08:41

S57DX

14MHz

CW

 

08:44

SD1A

14MHz

CW

 

08:46

SQ5JUP

14MHz

CW

 

08:47

OL8M

14MHz

CW

 

08:48

UT5C

14MHz

CW

 

08:52

S53MM

14MHz

CW

 

08:53

E74UK

14MHz

CW

 

08:55

YO8RXP

14MHz

CW

 

08:56

E7HQ

14MHz

CW

 

09:02

OH2HQ

14MHz

CW

 

09:05

9A0HQ

14MHz

CW

 

09:06

YR0HQ

14MHz

CW

 

09:09

LA8HGA

14MHz

CW

 

09:11

LY2F

14MHz

CW

 

09:18

HG6O

14MHz

CW

 

09:19

LZ0HQ

14MHz

CW

 

09:22

YT0HQ

14MHz

CW

 

09:25

YL0HQ

14MHz

CW

 

09:28

OL0HQ

14MHz

CW

 

09:34

ON3BH

14MHz

CW

 

09:36

UA4W

14MHz

CW

 

09:40

RW2F

14MHz

CW

 

09:46

2E0WDX/M

14MHz

SSB

 

10:01

OK/SP9AMH/P

14MHz

SSB

OK/MO-057

10:05

GW4TQE/P

144MHz

FM

GW/NW-060

10:27

MW1HAX/P

144MHz

FM

GW/NW-012

10:46

G1JPV

144MHz

FM

 

10:48

G6TMO

144MHz

FM

 

10:52

G0BFJ/P

144MHz

FM

 

10:55

2W0CSS

144MHz

FM

 

10:57

M0HGY

144MHz

FM

 

11:02

M7ECT

144MHz

FM

 

11:06

2W0JYN

144MHz

FM

 

 

Saturday 18th July 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015, Gun G/SP-013 & Shining Tor G/SP-004

So I headed out to Shining Tor around 10.20pm BST, and was on summit, with the 20m GP erected and the backpacking tent pitched about 90 minutes later.

Shining Tour G/SP-004 - 4 QSOs, all 2m FM

Even though this was technically the activation for 18th July (2310 to 2324 UTC), it was after midnight BST, and so my son Jimmy M0HGY, working me from home, was the first to wish me a happy birthday.

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

23:10

2W0JYN

144MHz

FM

23:14

M6MGO

144MHz

FM

23:22

M0HGY

144MHz

FM

23:24

2E0PXW

144MHz

FM

 

Sunday 19th July 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004, Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015

I got into the tent and started setting up the Yaesu FT-817 with Tracer LifePO4 16Ah battery, Windows 10 tablet, paddle, microphone etc.  I had with me my new Anderson PowerPole Y-Cable and PowerPole to cigar-lighter socket adaptor.  That’s when it dawned on me that I hadn’t thought to also bring charging leads for the tablet or iPhone - doh!  So that station improvement would have to wait alongside the new 17m antenna.  I'd opted for 20m for the overnighter on Shining Tor as I was hoping to attempt S2S with the FT8 activation alerted from BV-land.  However, by the time I was in the tent, that alert had been deleted, and so that activation was presumably cancelled.  Interestingly, even at 2am local, I could still see the lights and hear the footsteps of walkers passing by my tent on the summit!

I got going with some FT8 and FT4 operating before getting some sleep.  After waking up to a glorious sunny dawn - with amazing views - I operated on CW, eventually switching to SSB, lured by S2S opportunities.  There was also a little operation on 2m FM with the handheld.

Shining Tor G/SP-004 - 65 QSOs

20m CW: 24 QSOs - 1 S2S

20m SSB: 23 QSOs - 6 S2S

20m FT8: 12 QSOs

20m FT4: 1 QSO

2m FM: 5 QSOs - 1 S2S

S2S: EA6/MA-047, SV/ST-065, G/CE-002, GW/MW-030, I/TN-315, EA5/AT-045, 9A/DH-105, GW/NW-011

The weather was in total contrast to the previous day.  A text from my XYL wished me a happy birthday, and instructed me to enjoy my day on the hills and not rush back home.  I kept an eye on the time anyway, as we had dinner booked in a restaurant for 5pm.  Next up was Gun G/SP-013.

The view I awoke to on the morning of my 50th birthday!        Tom M1EYP

 

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

S2S

00:31

OZ2JOP

14MHz

FT8

 

00:33

SP6EIY

14MHz

FT8

 

00:39

RA3CA

14MHz

FT8

 

00:44

M7VCK

14MHz

FT8

 

01:01

IK4LZH

14MHz

FT8

 

01:18

EA3ENR

14MHz

FT4

 

01:42

DK7ZT

14MHz

FT8

 

02:28

TA2VB

14MHz

FT8

 

02:34

4Z4DX

14MHz

FT8

 

02:39

G1MHU

14MHz

FT8

 

03:08

RA4HL

14MHz

FT8

 

03:12

DL1VVQ

14MHz

FT8

 

03:26

EA5KN

14MHz

FT8

 

03:29

I8EJC

14MHz

FT8

 

06:21

OK1DPU

14MHz

CW

 

06:26

R2DXU/P

14MHz

CW

 

06:29

DL2WA

14MHz

CW

 

06:29

UA1BJ

14MHz

CW

 

06:31

LZ2OQ/1

14MHz

CW

 

06:33

S51AP

14MHz

CW

 

06:33

S52CU

14MHz

CW

 

06:37

OE6GC

14MHz

CW

 

06:39

OH1CM

14MHz

CW

 

06:40

SP5CCK

14MHz

CW

 

06:41

OM7OM

14MHz

CW

 

06:41

R2KW

14MHz

CW

 

06:42

R3LO

14MHz

CW

 

06:43

IV3IPS

14MHz

CW

 

06:45

OM3CND

14MHz

CW

 

06:45

HA7WI

14MHz

CW

 

06:47

UX0UO

14MHz

CW

 

06:49

LZ2AF/2

14MHz

CW

 

06:50

DM5BB

14MHz

CW

 

06:57

IK2XYI

14MHz

SSB

 

06:58

EA5JN

14MHz

SSB

 

06:59

EA2DT

14MHz

SSB

 

07:00

OK1WFT

14MHz

SSB

 

07:00

F4GMB

14MHz

SSB

 

07:01

YL2TQ

14MHz

SSB

 

07:02

EB5EWM

14MHz

SSB

 

07:02

EA3EVL

14MHz

SSB

 

07:03

SV3SFJ

14MHz

SSB

 

07:04

IZ1RDQ

14MHz

SSB

 

07:05

OK7WA

14MHz

SSB

 

07:17

SV2RUJ/P

14MHz

SSB

SV/ST-065

07:18

EA6KB

14MHz

SSB

EA6/MA-047

07:21

SP9KEK

14MHz

SSB

 

07:22

M3TMX/P

14MHz

SSB

G/CE-002

07:22

HB9MKV

14MHz

SSB

 

07:23

CT1MH

14MHz

SSB

 

07:24

F6JKK

14MHz

SSB

 

07:33

IK0PXD

14MHz

CW

 

07:34

DL2SWB

14MHz

CW

 

07:34

DL8DXL

14MHz

CW

 

07:36

SM5LNE

14MHz

CW

 

07:39

GW4TQE/P

14MHz

SSB

GW/MW-030

07:48

IZ3GOS/P

14MHz

SSB

I/TN-315

07:52

F6FTB

14MHz

SSB

 

07:53

IU1KGS

14MHz

SSB

 

07:56

EA5ITW

14MHz

SSB

EA5/AT-045

08:04

9A6CW

14MHz

CW

9A/DH-105

08:27

MW1HAX/P

144MHz

FM

GW/NW-011

08:51

2E0PXW

144MHz

FM

 

08:55

G1JPV

144MHz

FM

 

08:58

M1FHM

144MHz

FM

 

09:00

M7WTG

144MHz

FM

 

 

Tuesday 28th July 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004, The Cloud G/SP-015 & Gun G/SP-013

I decided to take on an ambitious circular walk from the Cat & Fiddle, taking in Shutlingsloe before then approaching Shining Tor from Lamaload.

Lockdown walk 13 - click for more details

©Crown copyright 2020 Ordnance Survey. Media 010/20

I started at the Cat & Fiddle pub on the main A537 Macclesfield to Buxton road.  There is parking available on the opposite side of the road to the pub, or 200m back down the road at the start of the path to Shining Tor.

 

Cat & Fiddle                Cat & Fiddle

 

Cross the road to take the bridleway over the moor directly away from the Cat & Fiddle.

 

Bridleway opposite the Cat & Fiddle                Bridleway between A537 and A54

 

At the signpost, turn right to follow the path down into Danethorn Hollow.

 

Right turning down towards Cumberland Brook                Path down Cumberland Brook

 

There are a few path options forking off around here, and most reunite again! 

 

Waterfall at the top of Cumberland Brooo    Waterfall further down Cumberland Brook    Shutlingsloe on the horizon

 

However, as a general rule, try to stick to the path that is directly beside the brook.

 

Footpath down Cumberland Brook                Cumberland Brook

 

At the junction of paths, bear right to follow the track through the gate, passing a waterfall on your left.

 

Cumberland Brook footpath                Waterfall on Cumberland Brook

 

There is a nice spot for a lunch break just before the footbridge over Cumberland Brook.

 

Approaching Wildboarclough                Footbridge over Cumberland Brook

 

Continue down Cumberland Brook, and the summit of Shutlingsloe begins to loom high on the horizon ahead.

 

Clough House Farm                Footbridge out of Clough House Farm

 

Cross the footbridge over the brook and continue down the path to Clough House.  Pass through the farmyard and across the field to cross the wooden footbridge to the lane.

 

Shutlingsloe footpath sign in Wildboarclough                Approaching Shutlingsloe

 

Pick up the public footpath directly over the lane and follow up to and beyond the house at Banktop.  Double back on yourself onto the access track to Shutlingsloe Farm.  As the track enters the farmyard, bear left to follow the public footpath up to Shutlingsloe.

 

Descending Cumberland Brook                Approaching Shutlingsloe

 

You can bear left or right for the final approach, but both end up at the summit.  Both are steep in places but the right option is probably more pleasant.

 

Kissing gate on the slopes of Shutlingsloe                Tom on the summit of Shutlingsloe

 

Stop for a rest or spot of lunch on the summit if required.  Continue over the summit to join the steep flagged stairway down towards Macclesfield Forest.

 

Summit of Shutlingsloe                Descending Shutlingsloe

 

Bear right after passing through the wall to follow a rough path over towards the forest.  There is some meshing to walk along but many of the sections are very boggy.

 

Path to Macclesfield Forest                Footpath sign in Macclesfield Forest

 

Enjoy the fine views over the forest and reservoirs on your left as you pass over a small rise then descend to join the main forest track.

 

View over the Macclesfield Forest and Ridgegate Reservoir                Between Shutlingsloe and Standing Stone

 

At Standing Stone, enter the car park and join the permissive path leading out from its back corner.

 

Looking back to Shutlingsloe                Standing Stone

 

This is a lovely section of winding gravel path through the forest.

 

Signpost at Standing Stone                Exiting Standing Stone car park onto one of the forest trails

 

This is a very bendy path and you may often feel as though you're going in the wrong direction - have faith!

 

Pleasant path through Macc Forest                Macclesfield Forest

 

At the junction, follow the signpost for the path to Forest Chapel.

 

Another footpath signpost                Leaving the Macclesfield Forest

 

At Forest Chapel, turn left before the church onto a rough byway.  This is Charity Lane, the other end of which is a proper tarmac road at Walker Barn.

 

Forest Chapel                Charity Lane

 

After only a short distance up the byway, take the public footpath to the right and follow up to the farm at Whitehills.

 

Public footpath from Charity Lane to Buxton Road                I said "There's a whisky names after you".  He replied "What - Eric?"

 

The PROW is not well signed through the yards at Whitehills, but emerges from a gate at the back of the property and heads down to a wooden footbridge.

 

Chick chick chick chick chicken...                Between Whitehills and Greenways Farm               

 

The footpath on the other side of the footbridge is not at all distinct.  Simply contour around the small hill and work your way towards the next farm at Greenways.

 

Approaching Greenways Farm   Greenways Farm   Crossing the main A537 road

 

The public footpath enters the yard at Greenways via a wall stile then down the access track to the road.  Cross over the road and straight onto another public footpath.  Do this again when you reach the main A537 Macclesfield to Buxton road very shortly after.

 

Approaching Lamaload Reservoir                Start of the long climb to Shining Tor

 

The path now joins the road down to Lamaload reservoir, which you walk down all the way until the reservoir is to your left.  Look out for a public footpath leading off to your right by the Hooleyhey road sign.  I was intercepted here by Richard G3CWI who brought me a very nice piece of Pandan Chiffon cake!

 

Richard G3CWI                Starting the climb to Shining Tor from Lamaload

 

Take that path up beside the wood and take the right fork as you leave the wood behind.

 

Old gateway on a section of ridge                Shining Tor summit

 

After a stiff climb, there is a pleasant kilometre or so of ridge walking to be enjoyed before the final climb to Shining Tor summit.  Eight QSOs were made on 2m FM with the handheld

 

Tom M1EYP                Looking across to Shutlingsloe, a summit visited earlier in this walk

 

From Shining Tor, take the main path back down to the Cat & Fiddle.  The route is complete.

 

Cat & Fiddle ahead                The end of the route

 

Yearning even more exercise, I went out again later and did The Cloud G/SP-015 and Gun G/SP-013!

 

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

14:48

2E0PXW/M

144MHz

FM

14:49

M7JRB/M

144MHz

FM

14:50

G6TMO

144MHz

FM

14:51

G7WKX

144MHz

FM

14:53

M7OMT/P

144MHz

FM

14:55

G0MHF

144MHz

FM

15:01

G3CWI

144MHz

FM

15:03

G0UXC

144MHz

FM

 

Tuesday 11th August 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015, Gun G/SP-013 & Shining Tor G/SP-004

I arrived on summit on beautiful sunny, warm and still Tuesday late afternoon.  I'd checked the weather forecast carefully as there was a significant possibility of a storm that night.  Thankfully it looked like it was going to give me a wide berth.  Wrong!  This was very much the calm before the storm!

70cm beam & backpacking tent Tom M1EYP Shining Tor summit area

Almost as soon as I'd set up the tent and got myself inside, it was descended upon by a huge swarm of midges.  It actually sounded like a heavy hail shower hitting the tent canvas!  Unfortunately, it was necessary for me to leave the tent to adjust something on the beam antenna, and I got absolutely attacked!  It was horrible - but not as horrible as what would occur later!

Trying for MS contacts before having to abandon due to the storm.  Very useful to be able to calm my nerves with this!  Tom M1EYP Very bad storm!

The 70cm FM contest and then the UK activity contest both went well, and 104 QSOs were recorded for the activation.  Towards the end, PE1EWR in the Netherlands was worked, which was a pleasing contact on 70cm.  Stations in Scotland and the Isle of Man also contributed to what would be a reasonably competitive pair of entries.

After the contest concluded, I turned my attentions to working on MSK144 for the possibility of some DX meteor scatter contacts.  The night was the peak of the Perseids meteor shower - but rumbles of thunder had been getting louder, and sheet lightning flashes more frequent.  Ultimately, I took the defensive decision to disconnect my radio from the antenna, and lie the antenna and mast down on the ground.

Lightningmaps was my essential “peak” time viewing from around midnight through to 3am local.  I would see (unmissable) the lightning flash from inside my tent, then within a second, it’s exact location would appear on the website map on my phone screen.  I watched as the intense concentration of lightning strikes slowly edged East and North from Shropshire and Stoke-on-Trent.  I figured I had time to abandon the MS S2S attempt, disconnect the antenna and lie it on the ground, disconnect the rig from the feeder cable (using some dry fabric between my fingers and connectors!) and arrange the inside of my tent so that I was insulated from the ground by as many dry, non-conducting layers as possible (FWIW - every little helps…!).

I didn’t have time to break camp and get off the hill.  I cracked open a can of Brewdog Dead Pony Club ale for a little calming refreshment!  The eye of the storm appeared to home in on the summit of Shining Tor - where I was - according to lightningmaps.  Then it appeared to stay put, rather than continue to edge slowly eastwards.  At this point, there were frequent blinding flashes, seemingly at ground level, and seemingly not far outside my tent!  This was in addition to the >1 per second lightning flashes continuing overhead.  Earlier, there had been little or no noise from thunder (many reports of the “silent lightning” circulated), but by this point there were frequent huge explosion-sounding bangs.  It was as though I was in the middle of a bombing raid or warzone.

With the Brewdog ale all consumed at the height of the storm around 0130 BST, I now had no option but to resort to phoning my XYL.  Marianne would normally be furious to have been disturbed at this late hour, but I knew she had been up unusually late stormwatching anyway.  Anyway, she chatted calmly with me for about half-an-hour, which I really appreciated, except for all the times she burst out laughing hearing my terrified reaction to the latest flash or bang.  At this point, I must place on record that I had monitored the forecast for Shining Tor on the Met Office website frequently throughout the preceding day.  I am confident that I have become good at interpreting the Met Office forecasts over the years, and it did look very much like a summit campover was going to be safe.  But there you go.

After the call with Marianne, the rain started to come down, more and more heavily.  Unlike storms I’ve experienced throughout my life though, this did not coincide with a decrease in the frequency of thunder and lightning - well not for over half-an-hour anyway.  Eventually, after 2am, the frequency of the flashes and bangs did start to slowly decrease, and at last, the lightningmaps started to look a little less congested between Macclesfield and Buxton!  I kept watch on this until about 3am, by which it was just heavy rain, and no more sound and light show!  All the activity on lightningmaps was now clear of the Peak District and over in South and East Yorkshire.  I felt able to drift off to sleep, and I got a decent three hours in.

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

17:45

M6AIF

144MHz

FM

17:47

M7ECT

144MHz

FM

17:48

G2ALN

144MHz

FM

17:53

M0OAU

144MHz

FM

18:00

2E0FPW

433MHz

FM

18:01

2W0JYN

433MHz

FM

18:02

GW8ASD

433MHz

FM

18:08

M1DDD/P

433MHz

FM

18:09

G4DPZ

433MHz

FM

18:09

G3TDH

433MHz

FM

18:10

G8REQ

433MHz

FM

18:11

G3SQQ

433MHz

FM

18:13

M7LOZ/P

433MHz

FM

18:16

GW4ZAR

433MHz

FM

18:18

G4IGF/P

433MHz

FM

18:20

GW0TQM

433MHz

FM

18:20

G8ZRE

433MHz

FM

18:24

GW3ATZ/P

433MHz

FM

18:34

G4DVN

433MHz

FM

18:42

M5MAT/P

433MHz

FM

18:46

M0KPW/P

433MHz

FM

18:47

M1BNH

433MHz

FM

18:52

G4BXD

433MHz

FM

18:53

G8EVR

433MHz

FM

18:54

M0WTR/P

433MHz

FM

18:54

M5RMF

433MHz

FM

19:00

GW4ZAR

433MHz

SSB

19:03

G3VCA

433MHz

SSB

19:04

G1YBB/P

433MHz

SSB

19:05

G3TBK/P

433MHz

SSB

19:06

M7UOK/P

433MHz

SSB

19:08

M0KPW/P

433MHz

SSB

19:09

M1DDD/P

433MHz

SSB

19:09

G4CLA

433MHz

SSB

19:13

G8DMU/P

433MHz

SSB

19:14

GW4SHF

433MHz

SSB

19:15

G0FVI/P

433MHz

SSB

19:16

G4RQI

433MHz

SSB

19:17

G8DIR

433MHz

SSB

19:18

M1MLM

433MHz

SSB

19:19

GW8ASD

433MHz

SSB

19:19

M0XGS

433MHz

SSB

19:20

G1YFG

433MHz

SSB

19:20

M0TXE

433MHz

SSB

19:21

G3TDH

433MHz

SSB

19:21

G3PHO

433MHz

SSB

19:22

G0XBU

433MHz

SSB

19:23

G8BNE

433MHz

SSB

19:24

M0SLO

433MHz

SSB

19:25

G4KQH

433MHz

SSB

19:25

G8EKG

433MHz

SSB

19:26

G4DPZ

433MHz

SSB

19:27

M0XAC

433MHz

SSB

19:28

G1PPA/P

433MHz

SSB

19:29

G4KZV

433MHz

SSB

19:30

G8REQ

433MHz

SSB

19:30

G6CZD

433MHz

SSB

19:31

G8BFF

433MHz

SSB

19:32

M5MAT/P

433MHz

SSB

19:39

G8XVJ/P

433MHz

SSB

19:43

2W0JYN

433MHz

SSB

19:47

M7DON/P

433MHz

SSB

19:48

GD1MIP

433MHz

SSB

19:51

GI4SNA

433MHz

SSB

20:01

PA5Y

433MHz

SSB

20:10

M0NVS/P

433MHz

SSB

20:12

GI6ATZ

433MHz

SSB

20:13

GD8EXI

433MHz

SSB

20:17

G1HLT

433MHz

SSB

20:21

G4NBS

433MHz

SSB

20:22

GD0AMD/P

433MHz

SSB

20:23

M0ICK/P

433MHz

SSB

20:25

G8LYB

433MHz

SSB

20:29

G3SQQ

433MHz

SSB

20:32

G4LPP

433MHz

SSB

20:33

G3LRS/P

433MHz

SSB

20:36

GM3SEK

433MHz

SSB

20:41

G4AQB

433MHz

SSB

20:42

G4JLG

433MHz

SSB

20:42

G3UVR

433MHz

SSB

20:43

G4ERO

433MHz

SSB

20:43

2E0BMA

433MHz

SSB

20:44

G4GNC

433MHz

SSB

20:45

G8NRY

433MHz

SSB

20:46

2E1SKY

433MHz

SSB

20:46

G7TNZ/P

433MHz

SSB

20:47

G4EII

433MHz

SSB

20:48

G8AQA

433MHz

SSB

20:49

G4CZB/P

433MHz

SSB

20:50

G1MZD/P

433MHz

SSB

20:52

G1VDP

433MHz

SSB

20:53

G4FRK

433MHz

SSB

20:54

G4DZL

433MHz

SSB

20:55

G4GFI

433MHz

SSB

20:57

G6SWZ

433MHz

SSB

21:06

MM0CEZ

433MHz

CW

21:11

PE1EWR

433MHz

SSB

21:16

G4ASR

433MHz

SSB

21:17

M1MHZ

433MHz

SSB

21:19

GM4JTJ

433MHz

SSB

21:23

M0LLW/P

433MHz

SSB

21:26

G0GEP

433MHz

SSB

21:26

G8BUN

433MHz

SSB

21:29

G7LRQ

433MHz

SSB

 

Wednesday 12th August 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004, Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015

I woke up in the tent around 6.15am and went outside to reconnect and stand up the 2m beam antenna.  However, I had no joy in making MS contacts.  A couple of G stations were worked on the MSK144 mode, but neither contact involved signals that actually bounced off meteors!  Instead, I went onto FM, making another 35 QSOs on there.

Lunch at the Cat & Fiddle         Tom M1EYP

 

By the time I'd packed up and descended, it was mid afternoon.  I called in at the Cat & Fiddle for a pie and a beer for my late lunch, and then drove across to Gun G/SP-013.

 

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

S2S

05:37

G0SYP

144MHz

MSK144

 

07:07

G8SEI

144MHz

MSK144

 

08:08

G0HRT

144MHz

FM

 

08:11

M7ECT

144MHz

FM

 

08:12

G6UYG

144MHz

FM

 

08:13

G4HZW

144MHz

FM

 

08:13

G4KRN

144MHz

FM

 

08:14

M0OAU/M

144MHz

FM

 

08:15

G0AKU

144MHz

FM

 

08:17

M5ERN

144MHz

FM

 

08:19

M7MER

144MHz

FM

 

08:23

G4URM

144MHz

FM

 

08:25

G7GJA

144MHz

FM

 

08:30

G3CWI/P

144MHz

FM

 

08:39

G0LGS

144MHz

FM

 

08:41

G0LWU

144MHz

FM

 

08:43

M1HLL

144MHz

FM

 

08:48

G8DLX

144MHz

FM

 

08:51

M6CRL

144MHz

FM

 

08:52

M1EER/M

144MHz

FM

 

08:55

GW1CJJ/P

144MHz

FM

 

08:59

G4VXW

144MHz

FM

 

09:08

G0RGU

144MHz

FM

 

09:13

G7LCC

144MHz

FM

 

09:37

M0PLA/M

144MHz

FM

 

09:40

M7TGF/M

144MHz

FM

 

09:41

G0MHF

144MHz

FM

 

09:44

GW3XRM

144MHz

FM

 

09:46

GW8NZN

144MHz

FM

 

11:07

G4VSJ

144MHz

FM

 

11:16

GW4HQB/P

144MHz

FM

GW/NW-044

11:20

MW0UPH/M

144MHz

FM

 

11:29

2W0JYN

144MHz

FM

 

11:31

G0NAJ

144MHz

FM

 

11:33

2E0TDX

144MHz

FM

 

11:35

2E0XYL

144MHz

FM

 

11:42

MW6SHJ

144MHz

FM

 

 

Tuesday 1st September 2020 - The Cloud G/SP-015, Gun G/SP-013 & Shining Tor G/SP-004

I was somewhat last minute getting up to the summit after a packed day with two other summit activations, and a long circular walk with Marianne and Liam.  As a result, I did not have time to get the tent pitched before the start of the two VHF contests that evening.  These kept me very busy for 3.5 hours through to 10.30pm BST, and then I pitched my accommodation for the evening!

I also then set up my 40m dipole ready for some FT8 operating.  Just five QSOs were made before the band died out, but these included Venezuela and Canada, so some satisfaction there.  I was very tired after an early start and a lot of miles of walking during the day, so was able to drift off to sleep fairly quickly.

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

18:02

2E0TDX

144MHz

FM

18:03

MW0UPH/P

144MHz

FM

18:04

2E0LKC

144MHz

FM

18:04

G0XBU

144MHz

FM

18:05

M0XGS

144MHz

FM

18:05

G4MYU

144MHz

FM

18:06

G0DJA

144MHz

FM

18:06

G3TDH

144MHz

FM

18:07

G2ALN

144MHz

FM

18:07

M0MHW

144MHz

FM

18:08

G0LBK

144MHz

FM

18:09

GW8ASD

144MHz

FM

18:10

G0RKT

144MHz

FM

18:11

G3CWI

144MHz

FM

18:13

2E0PXW

144MHz

FM

18:14

GW4OKT

144MHz

FM

18:15

G0UXC

144MHz

FM

18:17

G8AQA

144MHz

FM

18:18

M7KBO

144MHz

FM

18:19

M0HGY

144MHz

FM

18:20

M6OXO

144MHz

FM

18:21

2E0PKS

144MHz

FM

18:23

2W0JYN

144MHz

FM

18:25

G4BEE/P

144MHz

FM

18:26

GW3ATZ/P

144MHz

FM

18:27

G4LDL/P

144MHz

FM

18:29

G4ILI/P

144MHz

FM

18:30

GW4ZAR

144MHz

FM

18:32

M1DDD/P

144MHz

FM

18:33

2E1FMS

144MHz

FM

18:35

2E0CPX/P

144MHz

FM

18:36

MW7LCX

144MHz

FM

18:43

G0ACK

144MHz

FM

18:44

G8ZRE

144MHz

FM

18:46

MW0ODY/P

144MHz

FM

18:47

G0LGS/P

144MHz

FM

18:48

G8LNR

144MHz

FM

18:48

G0JCC

144MHz

FM

18:49

G0JLF/P

144MHz

FM

18:51

2E0XJP

144MHz

FM

18:52

G4LZD

144MHz

FM

18:53

M0BAO/P

144MHz

FM

18:54

G4KLT

144MHz

FM

19:00

GW8ASD

144MHz

SSB

19:01

G8ZRE

144MHz

SSB

19:02

2E0BMA

144MHz

SSB

19:03

G0JLF/P

144MHz

SSB

19:04

GW4ZAR

144MHz

SSB

19:05

MW0UPH/P

144MHz

SSB

19:06

M6OXO

144MHz

SSB

19:08

G8PNN/P

144MHz

SSB

19:09

M1MHZ

144MHz

SSB

19:14

MM0CEZ

144MHz

SSB

19:18

G4FZN/P

144MHz

SSB

19:19

GD1MIP

144MHz

SSB

19:20

G4ASR

144MHz

SSB

19:21

G3LRS/P

144MHz

SSB

19:22

G4LDL/P

144MHz

SSB

19:24

GI4SNA

144MHz

SSB

19:26

M5AFG

144MHz

SSB

19:26

G4OAR

144MHz

SSB

19:27

M5DR

144MHz

SSB

19:28

G4EII

144MHz

SSB

19:30

G0CER

144MHz

SSB

19:31

G0XBU

144MHz

SSB

19:35

G3SQQ

144MHz

SSB

19:39

GD8EXI

144MHz

SSB

19:42

GW8OVZ/P

144MHz

SSB

19:44

G0CDA

144MHz

SSB

19:45

G3TBK/P

144MHz

SSB

19:46

GW8REQ/P

144MHz

SSB

19:47

G4ILI/P

144MHz

SSB

19:48

M0XGS

144MHz

SSB

19:49

G8YMW

144MHz

SSB

19:51

M6KMB

144MHz

SSB

19:55

G8EKG

144MHz

SSB

19:57

G0JRY

144MHz

SSB

19:57

M0IEP

144MHz

SSB

19:58

G0WUS

144MHz

SSB

19:59

G4GUG

144MHz

SSB

20:00

G4DZL

144MHz

SSB

20:03

G3WJG

144MHz

SSB

20:06

G0DJA

144MHz

SSB

20:10

GM4BYF

144MHz

SSB

20:13

GM4JTJ

144MHz

SSB

20:16

2E0LKC

144MHz

SSB

20:19

GW4OKT

144MHz

SSB

20:20

M0RPK

144MHz

SSB

20:21

M0HWO

144MHz

SSB

20:22

G1YBB/P

144MHz

SSB

20:24

G4BEE/P

144MHz

SSB

20:25

G8DMU/P

144MHz

SSB

20:26

M0ICK/P

144MHz

SSB

20:27

M0GAV/P

144MHz

SSB

20:28

GM3SEK

144MHz

SSB

20:29

M0VXX/P

144MHz

SSB

20:30

G8CUL

144MHz

SSB

20:31

M0WGF

144MHz

SSB

20:32

M0UGA/P

144MHz

SSB

20:36

G7RHF/P

144MHz

SSB

20:37

G4CZP/P

144MHz

SSB

20:38

G0ODQ

144MHz

SSB

20:39

2E0YYB/P

144MHz

SSB

20:40

G4JLG

144MHz

SSB

20:44

M1DDD/P

144MHz

SSB

20:45

GM6JNJ

144MHz

SSB

20:46

GM0OQV

144MHz

SSB

20:49

G4CLA

144MHz

SSB

20:50

G4FRE/P

144MHz

SSB

20:56

G3NPI

144MHz

SSB

21:00

M0FXX

144MHz

SSB

21:01

G4WEY

144MHz

SSB

21:05

G8GYX

144MHz

SSB

21:06

G0BFJ/P

144MHz

SSB

21:08

G3YYD

144MHz

SSB

21:09

G0LTG

144MHz

SSB

21:14

G8DVK

144MHz

SSB

21:15

G8LYB

144MHz

SSB

21:19

GM4PPT

144MHz

SSB

21:26

GW0GEI

144MHz

SSB

21:27

G4LPP

144MHz

SSB

21:29

PA5Y

144MHz

SSB

22:33

M7SDN

7MHz

FT8

22:43

YO9AFT

7MHz

FT8

22:48

IZ8DBJ

7MHz

FT8

22:55

YV5DRN

7MHz

FT8

22:59

VE1JS

7MHz

FT8

 

Wednesday 2nd September 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004, Gun G/SP-013 & The Cloud G/SP-015

I slept in to an uncharacteristically late hour than is typical when wild camping.  It was 8.25am by the time I was on-air on 40m FT8.  A good number of QSOs were made for the 2020 Challenge, with a few added on CW too.  After the lengthy process of unpitching the tent and packing up the antennas, I made a call on 2m FM on the handheld before commencing my descent.  This added five further QSOs, taking the total to 173 made during my overnight stay on the hill.

I reversed the order of the previous day's summit activations, so next it was back across to Gun G/SP-013 in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

S2S

07:25

ON5CDG

7MHz

FT8

 

07:32

IK4YWL

7MHz

FT8

 

07:34

F5MYH

7MHz

FT8

 

07:37

S57S

7MHz

FT8

 

07:41

I4WQH

7MHz

FT8

 

07:44

IZ2EVD

7MHz

FT8

 

07:45

ON7DE

7MHz

FT8

 

07:56

MX1SWL/A

7MHz

FT8

 

08:00

F6HSJ

7MHz

FT8

 

08:02

HB9DDZ

7MHz

FT8

 

08:06

DL7DJ

7MHz

FT8

 

08:14

PA0LDE

7MHz

FT8

 

08:20

IN3HIZ

7MHz

FT8

 

08:24

G0JKY

7MHz

FT8

 

08:34

F5URG

7MHz

FT8

 

08:40

LA7TN

7MHz

FT8

 

08:43

F6BHK

7MHz

FT8

 

08:45

M5GUM

7MHz

FT8

 

08:48

2W0KGO

7MHz

FT8

 

08:51

G3ZIY

7MHz

FT8

 

08:53

G4OBK

7MHz

FT8

 

08:54

DJ9BX

7MHz

FT8

 

08:57

G4TJC

7MHz

FT8

 

09:00

M0VKC

7MHz

FT8

 

09:02

DG1NPM

7MHz

FT8

 

09:03

GM0AXY

7MHz

FT8

 

09:04

M0GQC

7MHz

FT8

 

09:10

DL2BMH

7MHz

FT8

 

09:12

PD4WIM

7MHz

FT8

 

09:17

MW6IUT

7MHz

FT8

 

09:23

DC7MA

7MHz

FT8

 

09:33

PA0WPD

7MHz

FT8

 

09:45

EA4DOS/P

7MHz

CW

EA1/OU-003

09:49

HB9CBR/P

7MHz

CW

HB/BE-114

09:53

OR7M

7MHz

CW

 

09:53

EA2DT

7MHz

CW

 

09:54

G4AFI

7MHz

CW

 

09:55

PA9CW

7MHz

CW

 

09:56

F5MGS

7MHz

CW

 

09:57

S52AU

7MHz

CW

 

10:00

DL6WT

7MHz

CW

 

10:42

2W0JYN

144MHz

FM

 

10:43

MW6SHJ

144MHz

FM

 

10:44

G3CWI

144MHz

FM

 

10:45

G0MHF

144MHz

FM

 

10:46

2E0BCJ

144MHz

FM

 

 

Friday 18th September 2020

I was originally intending to do a full 24 hour activation in a bid for a Swiss knife.  After all, I’ve nowt better to do.  Mr Corona had cancelled all my gigs and now Mr Receiver had decreed that Macclesfield Town Football Club is an “ex parrot”.  SOTA no longer had any competing demands on my time on Saturdays…

 

The forecast was dry and sunny - but extremely windy.  So much so that fibreglass wouldn’t stand a chance.  I ascended Shining Tor G/SP-004 on Friday evening in order to have everything in place - backpacking tent, radio kit, plus four individual resonant antennas - 40m dipole, groundplanes for 30m and 20m, plus an MFD for 2m - to be housed on the same mast as used for the 40m dipole.  With four bags of aerials, two fibreglass SOTA Poles and one 10m Travelmast - plus backpacking tent, sleeping bad, mat, pillow and blood pressure tablets, my rucksack weighed a ton! (So to speak).

 

50mph gusts greeted me at the summit.  I didn’t want to camp in that, nor subject my masts and antennas to it - they would not survive.  The wind direction was ENE, and perhaps fortunately, the only steep side of the hill backs into that direction.  I descended below the cliffs that look out towards Macclesfield Forest and hunted for a flat, even and grassy section of land.  There wasn’t one.  This was all quite horrible ground.  I made do with one patch but it would mean sleeping on a slant which is a pain, and putting up with some bumpy lumpy bits underneath.  Which is also a pain - literally.

 

As I was pitching, headlamps appeared.  Another guy out backpacking had come to the same conclusion as me!  He was amazed that I pitched my tent and erected four antennas in the time it took him to pitch his tent - with help from his mate - who wasn’t stopping, but who was a licensed amateur!  I made some QSOs on 2m FM so that an activation could be logged for the Friday date.

 

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

23:54

M0HGY

144MHz

FM

23:56

G7RYN

144MHz

FM

 

Saturday 19th September 2020 - European SOTA Day

I made some more QSOs after midnight to get the Activity Day log underway.  I then got 2 hours and 32 minutes of sleep according to my Fitbit tracker.  After spending most of Saturday in this cramped and uncomfortable spot, I realised around teatime that I really didn’t fancy the idea of persisting with the radio (which was now very slow-going) through to midnight UTC and enduring another night on the worst part of Shining Tor.  My own bed - and a bottle of Red Rock ale that I knew was in the house - had much more appeal!  Conditions were not great and it was trying at most time to get heard by fellow activators.  Normally it seems much easier.

 

As such, I recorded a lot of SWL logs as well as S2S contacts.  Loads I heard but just could not get through to.  This was another factor the informed the “early” finish; I didn’t see any realistic prospect of making S2S contacts with the North American activations.  There was some DX - but all concentrated into the early part of the activation (0055 to 0134z) when I did have QSOs with USA, Puerto Rico, Cuba and Ecuador.  After that, there seemed little prospect of DX success on any band I had at my disposal.

 

Hence I began the lengthy and tedious process of unpitching everything and packing up.  This took a really long time as I had to move gingerly and slowly around the steep horrible ground to wind antennas in, collect pegs etc.  It was dark by the time I was finished and the headtorch was required for the descent.

 

Anyway, here’s the numbers:

 

2m FM: 38

30m FT8: 12

40m FT8: 1

40m CW: 17

40m SSB: 11

30m CW: 42

20m CW: 11

20m SSB: 8

 

Total QSOs: 140

 

S2S: 37

 

SWL: 35

 

That’s an agonising reflection of the conditions - would have been 72 S2S if I’d have got through to them all!  And still then there would have been scores more that I missed competely!  I fell some way short of my original target of 24 hours activating: 1st QSO: 0001z Last QSO: 1917z Length of activation: 19 hours 16 minutes.

 

My wild camp and antenna farm on Shining Tor Gary M0XGS Another view of my camp and antennas on the south-western slopes of Shining Tor

 

I didn’t take any photos on this activation (no selfies - three hearty cheers!) but some have been received via email and messaging. The first and third from Tim who was the chap also wild camping below the cliffs, and who wanted to take photos of my set up!  The middle one is from SOTA chaser Gary M0XGS who wanted to share with me a shot of him working me from his motorbike!

 

I ended up winning a prize for the longest duration of activation from a summit on this European SOTA Day!  Many thanks to the HB SOTA Group for my prize of this excellent Swiss army knife.

 

HB9SOTA Swiss army knife       HB9SOTA Swiss army knife

 

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

S2S

00:01

M0HGY

144MHz

FM

 

00:48

R7AG

10MHz

FT8

 

00:55

K4VTE

10MHz

FT8

 

01:00

LZ1NDV

10MHz

FT8

 

01:03

IY8MD

10MHz

FT8

 

01:06

G0OMF

10MHz

FT8

 

01:09

NP4G

10MHz

FT8

 

01:12

CO8LY

10MHz

FT8

 

01:16

LZ5WW

10MHz

FT8

 

01:34

HC5EG

10MHz

FT8

 

05:54

F5LOW

7MHz

FT8

 

06:09

EA2IF/P

7MHz

CW

EA2/NV-119

06:26

S58R/P

10MHz

CW

S5/BI-053

06:29

9A1AA

10MHz

CW

 

06:30

EA4MZ

10MHz

CW

 

06:31

EA3AVV

10MHz

CW

 

06:38

DM3FAM/P

7MHz

CW

DM/BW-105

06:40

S57S

7MHz

CW

 

06:41

EA2DT

7MHz

CW

 

06:42

EA3AVV

7MHz

CW

 

06:42

DL1HBT

7MHz

CW

 

06:44

9A6CW

7MHz

CW

9A/DH-058

06:46

YL3CW

7MHz

CW

 

06:46

9A1AA

7MHz

CW

 

06:47

HB9CZR

7MHz

CW

 

06:47

OH1MM

7MHz

CW

 

06:49

SP8LEP

7MHz

CW

 

06:53

DL1FU

7MHz

CW

 

06:54

DF7IS

7MHz

CW

 

06:56

IK3HMB

7MHz

CW

 

07:11

RM2D

14MHz

CW

 

07:17

YP10SOTA

14MHz

SSB

YO/EC-367

07:44

F6FTB

7MHz

CW

 

07:47

EA1DFP

7MHz

CW

 

07:52

M3TMX/P

7MHz

SSB

G/WB-010

07:54

G6WRW/P

7MHz

SSB

G/WB-004

08:04

EA2CKX

7MHz

SSB

 

08:05

2E0AGB

7MHz

SSB

 

08:28

EA2WX/P

7MHz

CW

EA1/BU-113

08:40

HB9DST/P

10MHz

CW

HB/GR-134

08:42

HB9BAB/P

10MHz

CW

HB/ZH-015

08:43

SP9MA/P

10MHz

CW

SP/BZ-008

08:46

DL8DXL

10MHz

CW

 

08:50

F8NUH

10MHz

CW

 

08:51

HB9CZR

10MHz

CW

 

08:52

SP5IR

10MHz

CW

 

08:53

IK2CFD

10MHz

CW

 

08:54

I1GZG

10MHz

CW

 

09:13

EA5K

14MHz

CW

 

09:14

CT7/K9PM

14MHz

CW

 

09:20

LZ2OQ/1

14MHz

CW

 

09:30

EI3ISB

14MHz

SSB

EI/IE-018

09:33

M3TMX/P

144MHz

FM

G/WB-010

09:36

M1BUU/P

144MHz

FM

G/LD-011

09:37

M0XGS/P

144MHz

FM

 

09:39

G0HRT

144MHz

FM

 

09:41

G3ZII

144MHz

FM

 

09:54

M0NDM/P

144MHz

FM

G/LD-019

09:56

M0PWC/P

144MHz

FM

 

09:59

M0HLX/M

144MHz

FM

 

10:00

2E0XYL

144MHz

FM

 

10:01

MW0IDX/P

144MHz

FM

GW/NW-013

10:09

ON4UP/P

7MHz

SSB

ON/ON-010

10:21

GW4TQE/P

7MHz

SSB

GW/MW-026

11:25

M3TMX/P

14MHz

SSB

G/WB-010

11:34

9A8RA/P

14MHz

CW

9A/DH-060

11:46

GI0AZB/P

144MHz

FM

GI/MM-003

11:48

2E0LIU

144MHz

FM

 

11:49

GM7GAX/P

144MHz

FM

GM/SS-129

11:49

2E0BCJ

144MHz

FM

 

11:50

2E0NRL

144MHz

FM

 

11:50

M0ZXT

144MHz

FM

 

11:51

M0VWT/M

144MHz

FM

 

11:51

G1PHN

144MHz

FM

 

11:52

M7OMT

144MHz

FM

 

11:54

G7WKX/P

144MHz

FM

 

11:57

M7EDZ/P

144MHz

FM

 

12:12

YO8AZQ

14MHz

SSB

YO/EC-262

12:16

LZ1GJ/P

14MHz

CW

LZ/RO-144

12:17

E70AA/P

14MHz

CW

E7/BO-018

12:21

G3WGQ/M

14MHz

SSB

 

12:24

9A1AA

14MHz

SSB

 

12:46

DG1NPM

7MHz

SSB

 

12:48

EA4GU

7MHz

SSB

 

12:50

DL8DBW/P

7MHz

SSB

DM/NW-231

12:51

EB2AFU

7MHz

SSB

 

13:00

ON4FI/P

7MHz

SSB

ON/ON-026

13:34

DJ2MX/P

10MHz

CW

DL/CG-094

13:36

M1BUU/P

10MHz

CW

G/LD-018

13:41

F6FTB

10MHz

CW

 

13:42

SA4BLM

10MHz

CW

 

13:43

HB9JNH

10MHz

CW

 

13:46

EA1AER

10MHz

CW

 

13:46

OE6GND

10MHz

CW

 

13:49

SQ8JMZ/P

10MHz

CW

SP/BZ-058

13:51

DL/HB9BIN/P

10MHz

CW

DM/BW-105

13:53

OE5WLL

10MHz

CW

 

14:00

DF0H/P

10MHz

CW

DL/EW-049

14:03

SM5RX

10MHz

CW

 

14:06

2E0NQA

10MHz

CW

 

14:07

SM5LNE

10MHz

CW

 

14:10

F5MDY

10MHz

CW

 

14:13

HB9CDH/P

10MHz

CW

HB/LU-029

14:15

DL2DUS

10MHz

CW

 

14:16

UW2ZO

10MHz

CW

 

14:19

SP6BLV

10MHz

CW

 

14:27

OG7A

14MHz

CW

 

14:29

OH5TS

14MHz

CW

 

14:32

CR7ARW/P

14MHz

SSB

CT/ES-008

14:33

SV2RUJ/P

14MHz

SSB

SV/MC-016

14:43

M0JCQ/P

144MHz

FM

G/LD-022

14:47

M7CID

144MHz

FM

 

14:50

2E0KGA/M

144MHz

FM

 

14:51

G6SXD

144MHz

FM

 

14:52

G0ROW

144MHz

FM

 

14:53

M6BDB

144MHz

FM

 

14:53

M0YYC/M

144MHz

FM

 

14:54

M0PER

144MHz

FM

 

14:55

M7TGF

144MHz

FM

 

14:57

G4VFL/P

144MHz

FM

 

15:01

2E0FWA

144MHz

FM

 

15:02

2E0HTT/P

144MHz

FM

 

15:03

M3COY

144MHz

FM

 

15:22

WD8KDB

14MHz

CW

 

15:35

M0LEP

14MHz

CW

 

16:14

HA8LLH/P

10MHz

CW

HA/EM-011

16:46

EA5K

10MHz

CW

 

16:47

OE2ASL

10MHz

CW

 

16:48

SP9AVR

10MHz

CW

 

16:49

SP50ENV

10MHz

CW

 

16:50

IK1YRA

10MHz

CW

 

16:52

HA7WA

10MHz

CW

 

17:01

YL2TQ

10MHz

CW

 

17:03

F8DGF

10MHz

CW

 

17:42

EA2KR

10MHz

FT8

 

17:44

IK1VHR

10MHz

FT8

 

17:45

HA3JB

10MHz

FT8

 

19:13

2E0HTT

144MHz

FM

 

19:15

2E0KGA

144MHz

FM

 

19:17

M7AQX

144MHz

FM

 

 

Tuesday 29th December 2020 - Shining Tor G/SP-004 & The Cloud G/SP-015

 

Activation #533 took place on Shining Tor G/SP-004 during the morning.  It hadn’t snowed overnight and the roads were clear up to the Cat & Fiddle.  A few patches along the ascent were a little slippery, but otherwise a pleasant if cold early walk.  A little light snow fell throughout the ascent.  Setting up the 12m/10m GP was tricky as the ground was frozen hard. Fortunately there was very little wind so I could get away with relatively weak pegging points.  The temperature boost experienced by getting inside the bothy bag was most welcome. This comes with a “health warning” though - but more of that later!

 

Summit of Shining Tor        Tom M1EYP

 

I received a weak CQ from a G station in IO91 on 12m FT8, but that station vanished before I had chance to call.  Both 10m and 12m were otherwise completely dead - as anticipated at this very early hour - so I went onto 2m FM for the time being.  Six stations were worked on 2m, following which I tried again on 12m FT8.  This time two stations were worked.  The band was again empty, but there now appeared to be activity on 10m.  As I listened though, I heard that most unwelcome but recognisable sound - the swell of static noise - snow static in this case!  I could hear the light snow continuing to patter against the bothy bag, but I didn’t lift the bag to actually take a look.

 

It was nearly time for a low angle pass of the ISS so I switched to MMSSTV to try and RX another image.  I started to hear the signal from the ISS, and my tablet began to decode in PD120 mode.  But then occurred a very weird noise and lots of flickering and blacking out on the tablet screen.  The noise was identified as the G4ZLP MiniProSC interface rapidly switching itself on and off.  I tried to switch it off and disconnect without making contact, but I accidentally did and got a shock from it.  I insulated my hands with my dry fleece as I tried to disconnect the FT817, but got shocks through the fabric anyway.  Only one thing for it - lay the aerial on the ground, carefully dismantle the gear, and abandon the activation.

 

Trig point        Christmas tree!

 

When I emerged from the bothy bag, I found to my shock (a different kind of shock) that the “patter of light snow” was, in fact, heavy snow that had dumped about 8 inches on the ground in the last hour!  And that is the health warning with bothy bags - they can give you the warmth, dry and comfort, but with it a false sense of security and a potentially dangerous lack of awareness of the outside conditions.  It was hard to pack all the gear up without it getting wet in now very heavy snow. Even harder - to the point of impossibility - was collapsing the SOTA Pole, which was frozen solid. I had to attach it to my rucksack at full 7m length to carry it down to the car.

 

Cat & Fiddle road - passable with care        Back at the parking spot

 

Once I was back at the parking spot, the A537 had vanished under the snow.  I wondered if I was going to be able to safely drive down to Macclesfield.  The bottom few sections of the pole would now collapse, but the upper sections were still frozen. I could now - just - get the pole into my car, between the boot door and the front windscreen!  The drive down to Macc was mainly in second gear at 20mph.  The road was fully whited out until the canal bridge, well into the town.  A lorry and several cars got into trouble between the top of town and Walker Barn blocking the road for eastbound traffic.

 

After my ordeal camping out on Shining Tor on the night of that huge storm in August, I think we can now officially describe G/SP-004 as a shocking summit!

 

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

07:49

G0TFD

144MHz

FM

07:50

G7WKX

144MHz

FM

07:54

2E0LKC

144MHz

FM

07:56

2E0GRW

144MHz

FM

07:58

2E0TXE

144MHz

FM

08:04

G0MHF

144MHz

FM

08:08

OH9XX

24MHz

FT8

08:15

G3VDB

24MHz

FT8