The Cloud 2010 (2)

Activation reports and photos from the first four months of 2010 can be found here.

Thanks to Jimmy, Edward and myself working together on the task, we were leaving the Gun G/SP-013 at around 5.15pm BST, and thoughts turned to the hill opposite. "Have you ever been up The Cloud?" I asked Edward, but Jimmy immediately piped up "And I want to see what the fire has done". So that was it, we were off to the Cloud!

I was extremely tired, so it was no surprise that Jimmy and Edward (Jedward???) left me for dead at the foot of the stairs. The did wait for me at the National Trust boundary, which was kind of them. Now Jimmy could begin to survey the devastating extent of the fire damage to the hillside as we walked up to the summit. Edward admired the superb panorama of his home region, which he was seeing for the first time. Jimmy worked on 2m FM with his handheld, making 3 contacts, while I set up for 30m CW and worked 13 stations.

And then it really was time to go home. It had been different. It had been challenging. It had been cold. It had been windy. It had been rewarding. Low points? There weren't any, just situations that became challenges to be relished and overcome. High points? Plenty. Lots of contacts. Some DX. Lots of bands and modes. The other Macclesfield members putting themselves out to support and participate in the activity. The Pot Noodles. The laughs with Sean and Daniel (Daniel never stopped laughing for 24 hours!). The excellent companionship and expeditioning spirit of my son Liam. But the highlight? Swigging cheap Tesco blended Scotch whisky from the bottle in a Force 8 gale in the middle of the night on Gun! Priceless!

Thanks to the following stations worked on The Cloud at the end of International SOTA Weekend:

M3OUA	2m	SSB
M0ICK	2m	SSB
2E0PHJ	2m	SSB
GW3ATZ	2m	SSB
M0TXR/P	2m	SSB
G0WTM	2m	SSB
G2ANC	2m	SSB
G3NQX	2m	SSB
2E0UOG	2m	SSB
G6HFF	2m	SSB
M1NTO/P	2m	SSB
G8DTF	2m	SSB
M1ZRP	2m	SSB
GM4AFF	2m	SSB
2E0BMO	2m	SSB
M6PMF	2m	SSB
2E0ORC	2m	SSB
G3TTC/P	2m	SSB
G0JCQ	2m	SSB
G0WTD	2m	SSB
G1SWH	2m	SSB
G4APJ	2m	SSB
M0COP/P	2m	SSB
M1MHZ	2m	SSB
G0BSU/P	2m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	2m	SSB
G3WFV/P	2m	SSB
M0YJT/P	2m	SSB
G0XDI/P	2m	SSB
G4DEZ	2m	SSB
G0LGS/P	2m	SSB
M0PNN	2m	SSB
G6HFX/P	2m	SSB
GI4SNA	2m	SSB
G4HGI	2m	SSB
G0MRL	2m	SSB
G8ZRE	2m	SSB
G4FOH	2m	SSB
M0BRA	2m	SSB
GW8ASD	2m	SSB
G8ONK	2m	SSB
G0PBB/P	2m	SSB
GI6ATZ	2m	SSB
M3ZPJ	2m	SSB
MW3WZZ	2m	SSB
G6SPG	2m	SSB
2E0CNJ	2m	SSB
G3VCA	2m	SSB
M0DJW	2m	SSB
2E0MWB/P	2m	SSB
G7HOA/P	2m	SSB
G4CLA	2m	SSB
M5HFJ	2m	SSB
2E0NEY	2m	SSB
G8CUL	2m	SSB
M0GHZ/P	2m	SSB
G6GVI	2m	SSB
G2BQY/P	2m	SSB

Monday 10th May 2010, and another activation of The Cloud G/SP-015. And quite an interesting one it was too. The ascent had me agreeing with the comments just heard on BBC Radio 5 Live that it was really rather cold for May, even if it was before 7am. At the summit, I chose a side of the topograph to sit beside for shelter and erected the 30m dipole accordingly.

Just one QSO had been made on 30m CW - HA0HH - when the mast collapsed. And just as a nice little pile-up had formed as well! By the time I had reset everything four minutes later, 9H1BX was calling CQ on my QRG. No problem, nice one for the log I thought, and worked him.

I moved up to 10.119MHz hoping that any chasers might find me there. They didn't, but I still worked OM3TDD and OZ4B, so nice to get another couple of less common countries in the logbook. By this time, the 9H station had vacated 10.118MHz, so I called on there to find S51ZG waiting for me. He was followed by UT7WZA, and then by silence.

Bang on cue for pack away time at 7.30am. Many thanks to all who worked me. A small but interesting selection today.

HA0HH	30m	CW
9H1BX	30m	CW
OM3TDD	30m	CW
OZ4B	30m	CW
S51ZG	30m	CW
UT7WZA	30m	CW

Tuesday 11th May 2010, and the calendar clicked over to the RSGB 70cm activity contest. On summit in good time, it was pleasing to have everything set up and tested a good ten minutes before the contest start time at 8pm local. One of those tests, around 1953 local, had me sending some Vs and my callsign. This was replied to with some more Vs and "G3NYY/P WB-022". Great - a 70cm CW S2S with Seager Hill G/WB-022 to kick off the activation!

The contest also started with a S2S as Walt and I moved over to SSB for another QSO as soon as the clock ticked 8pm. It wasn't the only S2S either, as Ron GW4EVX/P was worked later on Foel Fenlli GW/NW-051, also in the 70cm contest.

The contest finished with 47 contacts into IO74, IO81, IO82, IO83, IO84, IO92, IO93, IO94, JO01 and JO03. Best DX was GI6ATZ in IO74. G, GW, GD and GI were worked. The activation finished with 48 contacts, of which 44 were 70cm SSB, 2 were 70cm FM and 2 were 70cm CW. The evening finished with a pint of Robinsons 4-4-2 in the Harrington Arms, Gawsworth.

All very nice, but a little slow after 9pm - over 30 of the QSOs were made in the first hour!

G3NYY/P on Seager Hill WB-022	70cm	CW
G3NYY/P on Seager Hill WB-022	70cm	SSB
G0VOF	70cm	SSB
2E0TXT/P	70cm	SSB
G4IOQ	70cm	SSB
M5HFJ	70cm	SSB
2E0PHJ	70cm	SSB
G1AEQ	70cm	SSB
2E0UOG	70cm	SSB
G3XNO	70cm	SSB
2E0CBS	70cm	SSB
G4KUX	70cm	SSB
G8BNE	70cm	SSB
G3WFK/P	70cm	SSB
2E0BMO	70cm	SSB
G1HSG/P	70cm	SSB
2E0MWB/P	70cm	SSB
M0ICK	70cm	SSB
G6GVI	70cm	SSB
GW8ASD	70cm	SSB
G4HGI	70cm	SSB
G0CDA	70cm	SSB
G0WTD	70cm	SSB
GI6ATZ	70cm	SSB
M3EYP	70cm	SSB
G1SWH	70cm	SSB
G8XVJ/P	70cm	SSB
G0MRL	70cm	SSB
M0COP/P	70cm	SSB
G0HIK/P	70cm	SSB
M0AFJ	70cm	SSB
GW4EVX/P on Foel Fenlli NW-051	70cm	SSB
GD8EXI	70cm	SSB
M0GMG/P	70cm	SSB
2E0CNJ	70cm	SSB
M3ZPJ	70cm	SSB
M3OUA	70cm	FM
2E0XOJ	70cm	FM
G8OHM	70cm	SSB
G4NTY	70cm	SSB
G4CLA	70cm	SSB
G4HSS	70cm	SSB
G3SPJ	70cm	SSB
G3VCA	70cm	SSB
G4DEZ	70cm	SSB
G4MVU	70cm	SSB
G0LGS/P	70cm	SSB
G4JLG	70cm	SSB

Brought Liam to Congleton
On
Saturday 15th May 2010
Looked at weather and fancied a walk
Expectedly, G/SP-015 was the choice
You don't get a better view for a 10 minute walk.

CW was the mode as usual, 40m the band
Lots of QSOs, 28 in 35 minutes of
Operating, including 3 S2S and 13 DXCCs
Until 1043z the QRG was busy, but when 7.032MHz fell silent
Down I went

Q: What is the traditional local name for this hill?

DL6KVA	40m	CW
DL3JPN	40m	CW
DL6CMK	40m	CW
LA5FH	40m	CW
DL2EF	40m	CW
DL3KAM	40m	CW
DF5WA	40m	CW
F4CTJ	40m	CW
LA1KHA/P on Holtankollen TM-049	40m	CW
OK1CZ	40m	CW
G3WPF	40m	CW
DL2XL/P on Bärenstein SX-004	40m	CW
I2CZQ	40m	CW
OZ8SW	40m	CW
S51ZG	40m	CW
F6ACD	40m	CW
LA8WF	40m	CW
HB9BIN	40m	CW
LA1ENA/P on Lovisenbergkollen TM-042	40m	CW
DC7CCC	40m	CW
F5PLC	40m	CW
SM6CMU	40m	CW
9A7W	40m	CW
ON7CC	40m	CW
F5LWF	40m	CW
F5NEP	40m	CW
SM1CXE	40m	CW
F4FBY	40m	CW

Tuesday 18th May 2010 and I was
Hoping for an
Early start

Made it on the road by 6.15am
And motored down to Cloudside
Got myself on the summit and set up
In good time, and
Calling CQ by 0600z

Man in the yellow jacket wasn't wearing it today
Over the hill came two dog walkers enjoying the fine morning
Got 19 QSOs
Got 13 DXCCs
Yearning to stay, but had to go to work

Radio conditions good, but no DX
Unless you count IS0 - Sardinia
Legged it downhill
Eager to obtain breakfast en route to work
Sandwich of egg and bacon attained in Biddulph

Q: What antenna did I use?

S51ZG	20m	CW
SM5APS	20m	CW
UX4LL	20m	CW
OK2PBR	20m	CW
RZ1AWZ	20m	CW
SK5PZ	20m	CW
OH6MM	20m	CW
RK1AN	20m	CW
EA5DCL	20m	CW
YU1ED	20m	CW
S57AX	20m	CW
HA5HH	20m	CW
IS0LYN	20m	CW
RA3TO	20m	CW
SM3AF	20m	CW
UV5ERY	20m	CW
F5UKL	20m	CW
OK1GT	20m	CW
OM3LL	20m	CW

Sunny morning, 19th May
Awake by 4.30am
Up and about shortly after
Set off for The Cloud
Ascended in light drizzle
Got to summit and
Erected Magic Moggy

Amended alert time proved accurate
No DX despite chasing greyline
Deployed bothy bag to keep the kit dry

Enjoyable and relaxed activation
Got the summit to myself
Gone were the dog walkers from yesterday

By 7.40am, 28 QSOs in the log
Under what I had hoped for the early start
Tonight will be early to bed
Tomorrow, therefore, could be another early one
Yawning as I descended

Q: What did I have for breakfast after the activation?

OM3CQF	20m	CW
F8BBT	20m	CW
F5UKL	20m	CW
RX3MX	20m	CW
HB9BIN	20m	CW
HA7MO	20m	CW
HA5TI	20m	CW
UY5BC	20m	CW
HA7UL	20m	CW
I2ZZU	20m	CW
DJ5AV	20m	CW
RX3MM	20m	CW
HA4AA	20m	CW
UA3MAI	20m	CW
SP6LK	20m	CW
HA7UG	20m	CW
OE6WIG	20m	CW
SM0GII	20m	CW
YO6EZ	20m	CW
OK2KR	20m	CW
YO6KQQ	20m	CW
IT9ZTX	20m	CW
F6EWB	20m	CW
F5SQA	20m	CW
UR3IW	20m	CW
UR7GW	20m	CW
IK2IWU	20m	CW
S57AX	20m	CW

Strolling
Up The Cloud again, on a
Nice morning, May 20th
No coat required
Yet for some reason I wore it

Topped out, removed coat, erected 20m antenna
Hoping for many contacts and maybe DX
End result was
Neither

Maybe another time, as YI1RZ was heard up the band
In another QRG was a CQ from "YTV9E"
Suppose a sending error; he disappeared soon after
Total was just 7 QSOs in 6 DXCCs
Yomped back down to the car relatively early

Q: What (precisely) was the wx for my activation?

US7IVW	20m	CW
S57AX	20m	CW
HB9BIN	20m	CW
RZ9FN	20m	CW
IT9ELD	20m	CW
SM5APS	20m	CW
UT2LF/P	20m	CW

The following activation report contains an embedded message which can be retrieved by selecting the letters corresponding to the nth terms of the successive geometric series with the nth prime number as their first terms and the (n+1)th triangular number as common ratio:

Friday 21st May 2010 - The Cloud G/SP-015, 343m ASL

Summer is here! It was my first coatless activation of the year - I didn't even put it in the rucksack "just in case". I did transfer three ground pegs and two pencils from coat pocket to fleece pocket before I forgot them though - I had already managed to leave my waterproof notepad at home.

Having driven from Macclesfield in thick mist, it was a crystal clear sky above me on Cloudside. I knew that this meant I was in for some fine views during the ascent and from the summit. Hence the walk went doubly quickly as I feasted my eyes on the panorama. There was nothing other than a sea of thick white mist to see beneath about 250m ASL, so from west around to north, that was it. To the east was Sutton Common, backed by Shining Tor G/SP-004 and Shutlingsloe, while another vast mist sea dominated to the south, punctuated only by the summits of Gun G/SP-013 and Mow Cop.

Today's activation was 40m CW, but it seemed somewhat less than lively compared to 20m CW used previously this week. Between 0556 and 0630 UTC I worked 14 stations in 7 DXCCs (S5-2, OE-3, F-1, DL-5, HA-1, I-1, PA-1), before enjoying a leisurely descent while still enjoying the views. Many thanks to all the stations that worked me.

S57AX	40m	CW
OE5WLL	40m	CW
F5UKL	40m	CW
OE7PHI	40m	CW
DJ5AV	40m	CW
HA7UL	40m	CW
DL1HSI	40m	CW
DL2EF	40m	CW
IK3GER	40m	CW
S51ZG	40m	CW
DL7VKD	40m	CW
OE6WIG	40m	CW
DJ0MDR	40m	CW
PA3JD	40m	CW

Monday 24th May 2010, and I decided to kick off the new week and the advent of Summer weather with some operating on 30m. This is probably the quickest and easiest of all my antennas to put up, as it is my smallest dipole. Again I left the coat in the car as I enjoyed the mild and sunny ascent in 12 degree temperatures.

The activation was really satisfying with continuous activity throughout my operating period. Starting at 0605z and finishing at 0636z, I worked 23 stations in 10 DXCCs: UT, SP, DL, HA, HB, OE, OK, S5, YO and SM. I heard a weak call from F5UKL and sent him RST 339, but I couldn't hear my report coming back, so that one got away! I was heard weakly in California, so that is very promising and exciting for future early morning 10MHz activations.

A really enjoyable morning - thank you to everyone for giving me such a busy frequency. Hope to do it again on Wednesday morning.

UX0UO	30m	CW
SP6LK	30m	CW
DF6NW	30m	CW
DL7BA	30m	CW
SP5FHF	30m	CW
HA7UG	30m	CW
DF3MC	30m	CW
DF8IF	30m	CW
DL7VKD	30m	CW
HB9CGA	30m	CW
DL5JAG	30m	CW
DL1DQY	30m	CW
SP5BLI	30m	CW
OE7PHI	30m	CW
DJ5AV	30m	CW
DH2FW	30m	CW
DL8MLD	30m	CW
OE8SPW	30m	CW
SP9NLQ	30m	CW
OK1MNI	30m	CW
S58MU	30m	CW
YO2CJX	30m	CW
SM6CNK	30m	CW

Tuesday 25th May 2010, and anticipation was high with sustained Sporadic E openings continuing on the higher frequency bands. Could the 6m opening remain through the contest, or would it close at 1955z as so often in the past?

I was late on parade due to internet failings at home. Work trying to restore the broadband connection in order to quell the panic attacks of XYL and offspring meant that I wasn't on the road until 7.20pm local. A quick drive and almost sprint-like ascent got me on summit before 8pm, but setting up meant that I was QRV 11 minutes late at 1911z - not too bad really.

And yes, the band was still wide open. This actually made life tricky, with virtually every SSB frequency from 50.100MHz to 50.200MHz being a mush of several stations with big pile-ups chasing them. By kicking off up above 50.200MHz SSB, I started with a batch of QSOs with regular IO83 contesters before chasing some DX. S58AL and S57LM were both worked on 6m SSB.

I soon tired of the QRM on SSB, and dropped below 50.100MHz for some CW. Here, I worked S57AC, G3ZOD, HA6NL, OK1FP and IZ8RSO (my best DX at over 1900km). Unfortunately, in this best segment of the night, my phone rang and the upshot was a lengthy but important telephone conversation. As I returned to the radio, and as the contest wore on, conditions edged back nearer to normality, and I was able to start collecting the UK squares.

A major problem now hit, in that my excellent halogen headtorch failed. I struggled in the dimming light for a while, but then had to reach for my back up LED headlamp. Disaster - this failed as well! All I could get it to do was the red night vision light, and I completed the contest up to 10.30pm with this. All in all, I knew that many stations, squares and DX had got away as a result of the interruption and the equipment failure, but it had still been a really good night. I ended at 2129z with my 45th QSO, which was Bryn G4DEZ in JO03.

The pack away and descent was difficult in only the fading red light. In the process, I managed to lose the mouthpiece of my bladder tube. I skipped the pub and went straight home, eager to enter my DX contacts and see what the distances were.

M1NTO/P	6m	SSB
G0VOF	6m	SSB
G8ZRE	6m	SSB
G3RLE	6m	SSB
G4HGI	6m	SSB
2E0PLA	6m	SSB
G0MRL	6m	SSB
S58AL	6m	SSB
GW4ZAR/P	6m	SSB
G3OCR	6m	SSB
S57LM	6m	SSB
G1SWH	6m	SSB
G8DTF	6m	SSB
S57AC	6m	CW
G3ZOD	6m	CW
HA6NL	6m	CW
OK1FP	6m	CW
M0ICK/P	6m	SSB
2E0XOJ	6m	SSB
G1HSG/P	6m	SSB
G-MLC	6m	SSB
G4APJ	6m	SSB
G4VSS	6m	SSB
2E0UOG	6m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	6m	SSB
G6HFF	6m	SSB
M1ZRP	6m	SSB
G0TRB	6m	SSB
G4BDO/P	6m	SSB
G6GVI	6m	SSB
G0WTD	6m	SSB
GW8ASD	6m	SSB
G0WTM	6m	SSB
G0CER	6m	SSB
M1DTJ/P	6m	SSB
MM0GPZ/P	6m	SSB
G0EJQ	6m	SSB
G3MOT	6m	SSB
IZ8RSO	6m	CW
M0DXR	6m	SSB
M0YJT/P	6m	SSB
G8CUL	6m	SSB
M3ZPJ	6m	SSB
G0LMV/P	6m	SSB
G4DEZ	6m	SSB

I was eager to bag another early one on Wednesday 26th May 2010, after the enjoyment with 30m on the Monday morning. However, on this occasion, the activity wasn't nearly so high, and the only chasers worked on the band were F5SQA and DF5WA. Searching around later, I added contacts with OZ3FD and OH0/PA3ALK which was a nice one.

With the Sporadic E openings of late, I thought I would check out 10m. A self-spot brought an immediate call from OK1HCG, but nothing else. Searching for CQ calls, I found, answered and worked G4FPA, DL8TG and I3BHE.

So my theory that I could operate 10m via my 30m dipole seemed to hold up, and I intend to test it again very shortly if the openings continue. Also, in the next few days, stand by for the official SOTA debut of the MM17 antenna! While packing away, I found my drinking tube bite valve dropped the previous night!

F5SQA	30m	CW
OK1HCG	10m	CW
G4FPA	10m	CW
DL8TG	10m	CW
DF5WA	30m	CW
OZ3FD	30m	CW
OH0/PA3ALK	30m	CW
I3BHE	10m	CW

Thursday 27th May 2010. Leaving the house and driving across the estate at 6.07am, and I cheerfully anticipated my early morning walk. The sky was completely clear and a rich deep blue. A bright yellow sun was already in a lofty position above the Staffordshire Moorlands on the eastern horizon.

No sooner had I parked the car abnd begun the walk up from Cloudside, and a little light rain started. Surprised, I glanced up at the sky to find it was now 100% grey. On summit, I donned waterproof overtrousers and coat, and set about erecting the 30m dipole. By 0555z, I was ready to go - and the rain had stopped. The rising sun and the deep blue sky was returning, and I was calling on 10.106MHz CW. 14 contacts were made, incorporating 9 DXCCs: F, DL, 9A, OM, LA, HA, S5, OK and I.

An earlier attempt had failed, but I now tried again on 10m CW as a few signals could be heard on that band. Again, all my own CQs were unanswered, but I did manager to answer a CQ call from EA6FB, so at least I got a new DXCC for 10m. Thanks again to all callers this morning.

F6CEL	30m	CW
DL4NBE	30m	CW
9A3KS	30m	CW
OM7OM	30m	CW
DL2EF	30m	CW
LA4BB	30m	CW
HA7UG	30m	CW
DK0WFC	30m	CW
S51ZG	30m	CW
OK1ATH	30m	CW
F5SQA	30m	CW
I2ZBX	30m	CW
DD0UKW	30m	CW
DC1NSK	30m	CW
EA6FB	10m	CW

Onto the activation report for Friday morning, 28th May 2010. I was up with my alarm at 5.50am BST, and almost ready to set off when XYL Marianne got up as well. Others with teenage kids will acknowledge the rarity of a husabnd-and-wife conversation without nosey parker offspring constantly butting in. I took the opportunity to put the kettle on and make us both a mug of coffee, and enjoyed an all-too-rare opportuntiy to sit and have a natter with the Mrs.

Hence it was a relatively late pull off the driveway at 6.27am (hey, my accuracy and memory for these things is getting disturbingly Gerald-like) and I was commencing the ascent from Cloudside at 6.50am. The weather was lovely with sun and blue sky, just like Gun G/SP-013 the previous evening. In fact there had been heavy rain in between, but it was certainly a glorious morning now.

On the final ascent to the summit, I noticed that there were now quite a few green shoots emerging all over the formerly heathery hillside, recently decimated by fire. Whether this is nature taking its course, or the result of remedial plantation, I do not know.

With the antenna quickly aloft, I was eager to compare a morning operation with last night's evening activation. Again, results were very good, with a snappy QSO rate and rarely a moment of respite without the next caller tail-ending the previous. In 26 minutes, I made 23 contacts into 11 DXCCs: OM, RA, HA, OZ, S5, SM, F, OE, DL, LA, UT. One station had the call "OU5T" which seemed very unusual, although it is a Danish prefix. Usual searches on QRZ and Google have drawn a blank.

So just two outings with my new MM17, and already 59 QSOs in the bag. It's a winner. Now to actively chase the DX with it I reckon.

OM6TC	17m	CW
UA3IAG	17m	CW
HA7UG	17m	CW
RX1AK	17m	CW
OU5T	17m	CW
S51ZG	17m	CW
SM5APS	17m	CW
F6DVH	17m	CW
HA5BWW	17m	CW
HA7PF	17m	CW
OE7PHI	17m	CW
UA1QE	17m	CW
DH3SW	17m	CW
LA7SI	17m	CW
RU3UQ	17m	CW
DJ5AV	17m	CW
DF5WA	17m	CW
DL4CW	17m	CW
OM6TC	17m	CW
DL1VRL	17m	CW
UT5MB	17m	CW
SM3X	17m	CW
DL6KVA	17m	CW

I was in Congleton on Friday 4th June 2010, between 1pm and 4pm, which were drop-off and pick-up times for Liam's activity. It was another stunner of a day, so I knew where I was going to be to kill the time in-between, especially with a new aerial and a new band to debut for SOTA. Richard G3CWI decided to join me for an activation of The Cloud G/SP-015.

Surprisingly on such a corking day, there was space aplenty at the Cloudside parking area. Walking up the hill we noted the rapidly re-emerging bracken on the large burnt off area, but no sign of any new heather yet. The summit was surprisingly quiet, and Richard moved along to his favourite perch for setting up his 2m MFD. I remained on a grassy area close to the trig point to erect the 12m Magic Moggy, which attracted a lot of attention from passing walkers - more so than other antennas I have used. Richard suggested it may be a result of the high feed point and long radial/guy combinations making the assembly appear larger.

Well my first SOTA activation on 12m CW turned out to be a good success, with 24 QSOs into 13 DXCCs: G, DL, HB, OK, GU, SP, HA, F, ON, OE, UA2, OM and I. Just before leaving I could hear a HB0 station working split, but I had to collect Liam at 4pm sharp. I reluctantly decided that I really didn't have time to start slugging it out in a pile-up. But so far, this is proving to be an exciting band to play on, and I'm glad I chose to get an aerial for it.

Spitfire ale was then served at Richard's QTH along with homemade scones (with jam and clotted cream) and spare ribs. A fine way to spend a hot sunny Friday afternoon. Many thanks to the following stations:

G3WPF	12m	CW
DL4CW	12m	CW
HB9AGH	12m	CW
DM3CW	12m	CW
OK2BBR	12m	CW
DL1ABJ	12m	CW
DL2AWA	12m	CW
OK2VZK	12m	CW
MU0FAL	12m	CW
SP6BCC	12m	CW
HA7UG	12m	CW
F5AKL	12m	CW
F5SQA	12m	CW
ON4UP	12m	CW
OE6WIG	12m	CW
OK1UKV	12m	CW
SP9RQJ	12m	CW
HA5KQ	12m	CW
DL7UJM	12m	CW
RA2FT	12m	CW
SP6EQZ	12m	CW
OM6RF	12m	CW
OK1FAJ	12m	CW
I0GOJ	12m	CW

Sunday 6th June 2010 was very much an amateur radio day. It began at midnight (2300z) with an hour in the operating chair at the G5O NFD contest station. After an hour's break, snacks, coffee and mild spotting duties, I did another sting between 2am and 3am. After a drive down the road to home, and a short sleep, I was back up there for a morning of mainly spotting, and then an hour as operator from 11am to noon.

Had I had enough by then? No chance. Liam had another club meet in Congleton, so Jimmy and I diverted straight up The Cloud G/SP-015 after dropping him off. I set the MM12 up on summit and got straight down to some CW work. Curiosity got the better of me, and I discovered a workable VSWR on 10m. Results were:

12m CW: 13 QSOs, 6 DXCCs - OM, HB, DL, YO, G, OK
10m CW: 6 QSOs, 4 DXCCs - DL, I, 9A, HA

Jimmy meanwhile assumed the G3CWI 2m perch and worked 16 stations on 2m FM with a handheld and SOTA Beam. Thanks to all for the QSOs.

OM4RF	12m	CW	T
HB9BIN	12m	CW	T
DL6KVA	12m	CW	T
DJ5AV	12m	CW	T
DD7MR/P	10m	CW	T
G4BLH	2m	FM	J
GW7AAV	2m	FM	J
G0VWP/P on Top o' Selside LD-048	2m	FM	J
G6HXL	2m	FM	J
GW0WTT	2m	FM	J
G0SJS	2m	FM	J
G4TUP/P	2m	FM	J
IK0XBX	10m	CW	T
M3WLP	2m	FM	J
9A3B	10m	CW	T
G1NVY	2m	FM	J
DK0V/P	10m	CW	T
HA5CW	10m	CW	T
DJ5AV	10m	CW	T
YO2CJX	12m	CW	T
2E0BMO	2m	FM	J
DL2DSD	12m	CW	T
G3WPF	12m	CW	T
DJ2WF	12m	CW	T
OK1CAM	12m	CW	T
OM3MB	12m	CW	T
2E0XOJ/M	2m	FM	J
OK1FRG	12m	CW	T
G4JNN	2m	FM	J
M6VXI	2m	FM	J
OK2EI	12m	CW	T
G0JNE/P	2m	FM	J
GW7AAU	2m	FM	J
G4ELG	12m	CW	T
G4YLJ	2m	FM	J

The half term break was over and I had enjoyed doing some activations over the holiday. But come Monday 7th June 2010, it was back to work, and doing some more activations! I ascended from Cloudside at 0555z and was QRV by about 0615z on 24.897MHz CW. It was a quiet morning, with just four QSOs on 12m - OE, HA, SP and SV. Over on 10m CW (28.022MHz), it was two contacts - DL and HA. Many thanks to Laci HA7UG for the spots.

A very flat SLAB I acquired, that was proving difficult to commence charging, has now been nursed through the process and worked well for me. Not so the SOTA pole which has been soldiering on in a sorry state since sustaining multiple injuries on ISW - the wildest of wild camps! It collapsed soon after putting up the MM12, and while I managed to get it locked in an extended upright position again, it desperately needed another couple of sections.

OE6WIG	12m	CW
HA7UG	12m	CW
SP9IGY	12m	CW
SV2DGJ	12m	CW
HA7UG	10m	CW
DJ4EY	10m	CW

I ascended in good time on Tuesday 8th June 2010, and was able to enjoy a relaxed set-up without racing against the clock to be QRV by 8pm. Nasty looking clouds over Sutton Common thankfully remained there all evening, despite the wind at ground level blowing from that direction.

As ever, the 70cm contest began like a train, and I raced to serial number 022 in the first 22 minutes. Things then slowed gradually, and a failed to reach my interim target of 040 in the first hour by some margin. It got so slow that I resorted to 70cm FM just after 9pm, which was worthwhile as it brought me five extra QSOs.

Back on SSB, I worked G4PBP, but then endured a near half-hour gap before my next contact - not good contest form! Thankfully, the last 40 minutes of the activity contest was more productive with the more distant stations finally turning their beams away from the continent and back into the UK. I heard two GM stations, but in both cases they were tucked up in the splatter of loud local stations on very close frequencies. I also just missed Simon M1AVV in IO84. All-in-all, 053 was a respectable enough finishing serial number, but the multiplier total was a disappointing 9. Gotaways were IO64, IO75, IO84, IO85 and JO02.

The light from my new Petzl headlamp was impressive, enabling me to operate and log as though it was still daylight, and enabled me to pack away and descend in record time. No pub stop on the way home - I just wanted to go to bed.

G4APJ	70cm	SSB
M3EYP	70cm	SSB
2E0UOG	70cm	SSB
G8AXW	70cm	SSB
G6LLX/P	70cm	SSB
2E0BMO	70cm	SSB
GW8ASD	70cm	SSB
2E0TXT/P	70cm	SSB
G0WTD	70cm	SSB
G6GVI	70cm	SSB
G4ZAJ	70cm	SSB
2E0MWB/P	70cm	SSB
M1ZRP	70cm	SSB
G6HFF	70cm	SSB
G2ANC	70cm	SSB
2E0PHJ	70cm	SSB
G1EVR	70cm	SSB
M0COP/P	70cm	SSB
G0MRL	70cm	SSB
G1HSG/P	70cm	SSB
G4HGI	70cm	SSB
2E0XOJ	70cm	SSB
M0ICK/P	70cm	SSB
G8XVJ/P	70cm	SSB
G1SWH	70cm	SSB
2E0CBS	70cm	SSB
G1AEQ	70cm	SSB
G8OHM	70cm	SSB
G8ALB	70cm	SSB
G8ZRE	70cm	SSB
GI6ATZ	70cm	SSB
M3RNX	70cm	SSB
G3WKZ	70cm	SSB
G4DEZ	70cm	SSB
M3OUA	70cm	FM
G4MVU/M	70cm	FM
G4TGQ	70cm	FM
2E0TDX	70cm	FM
2E0XYL	70cm	FM
G4PBP	70cm	SSB
M0LTT/P	70cm	SSB
M0GMG/P	70cm	SSB
M3ZPJ	70cm	SSB
G0LMV/P	70cm	SSB
G8DTF	70cm	SSB
G4JSR	70cm	SSB
G3SPJ	70cm	SSB
2E0MAS	70cm	SSB
M0TUB	70cm	SSB
GD8EXI	70cm	SSB
M6MRD	70cm	SSB
G0CER	70cm	SSB
G0VJG/P	70cm	SSB

Thursday 10th June 2010

I had alerted for a pre-work early morning activation of The Cloud G/SP-015, on 18MHz CW. When the XYL said "leaving it late aren't you?" and I opened one bleary eye to reveal 7.35am on the alarm clock, the prospect of an activation had gone!

Instead, I edited my alert to late afternoon on the way home from work, to see what 17m would be like then. It wasn't great, with just seven stations worked. One pleasing aspect was the first OH on 17m CW in the log for 2010. Another was the penultimate contact with Sean M0GIA, who is sounding ever more confident on the key, and now has no trouble in reading the details in a basic exchange.

The final call was from G3CWI, but he didn't go into the log. I had descended by then and was in my car - and the call was on the 'phone anyway! This did result in liquid refreshment par excellence though.

HA7UG	17m	CW
OH7BL	17m	CW
SM0GNS	17m	CW
G3OIC/P	17m	CW
G3WPF	17m	CW
M0GIA	17m	CW
HB9BIN	17m	CW

Friday 11th June 2010

This time I did manage to get out of bed at 6am, and was on the road by 6.15am. Upon arrival at Cloudside, the young pretenders of the MM17 and MM12 were forcibly ejected from my rucksack, while reinstated was the "Daddy" - the MM20, the original "Magic Moggy".

It was a wise choice. I enjoyed my largest number of QSOs ever on a morning pre-work activation, all on 14.010MHz CW. 19 DXCCs worked were G, SP, DL, 9A, F, Z3, RA, I, SM, HB, OE, LY, EA, HA, UR, OH, YU, S5 and YO. I had to make a dash for it in a rare quiet moment at 0650z, before another pile-up formulated!

The total number of QSOs was 45, not bad in (coincidentally) 45 minutes of operating before 8am. The vast majority were with 599 reports both ways. Many thanks to all callers.

G0VOF	20m	CW
SP9CTW	20m	CW
DL2EF	20m	CW
9A8W	20m	CW
F5VV	20m	CW
Z35F	20m	CW
DJ1WJ	20m	CW
UA4PNT	20m	CW
DL9LM	20m	CW
IZ7GMN	20m	CW
IK0CNA	20m	CW
SM1TDE	20m	CW
RD3DT	20m	CW
HB9CMI	20m	CW
F5SQA	20m	CW
F8BXS	20m	CW
DL6KVA	20m	CW
DL2HUM	20m	CW
OE6WIG	20m	CW
LY2PCN	20m	CW
EA1JD	20m	CW
DL1ABJ	20m	CW
HA0HH	20m	CW
DL3FF	20m	CW
EA5YI	20m	CW
UT4WA	20m	CW
SP9DOW	20m	CW
UV5ERY	20m	CW
9A3KS	20m	CW
UA1ODM	20m	CW
F5LML	20m	CW
OH6MM	20m	CW
SP9IGY	20m	CW
HA7UL	20m	CW
DH3SW	20m	CW
YU7RL	20m	CW
DJ0AH	20m	CW
IZ1EL	20m	CW
S51ZG	20m	CW
DJ9IE	20m	CW
RZ3AFK	20m	CW
F5UOW	20m	CW
YO3BAP	20m	CW
UT3IO	20m	CW
OE7PHI	20m	CW

Wednesday 16th June 2010, and I surprised myself by being up out of bed just after 5am local. I drove out to Cloudside after getting stuff ready for work, and sorted my rucksack for the short ascent. It was a very warm and sunny morning, so the coat went into the pack rather than on me, and I packed the MM20 again, hoping for a repeat of last Friday's spiffing activation.

Alas, it was not to be. Despite everything being set up and working and ready to go, there was hardly any interest at all in my calls on 14.013MHz CW. In 30 minutes of constant CQing, I attracted only three responses, but decent reports were received from UR, HA and Z3. The fantastic views from the summit on a wonderful sunny morning made up for the lack of interest on the radio.

At 0615z however, I was bored, and decided to go QRT and put the spare time to good use. I drove into Tunstall where I work, but with half-an-hour of slack time available, I first went to Asda for a cooked breakfast!

UT3UY	20m	CW
HA7UL	20m	CW
Z35F	20m	CW

Breakfast on the morning of Thursday 17th June 2010 was a pack of chicken salad sandwiches, on the way to work after the activation. Sounds healthy enough doesn't it? But it was a "50% extra free" pack with three rounds of butties in. And it was my second breakfast. I'd already had a Cadbury's Brunch Bar and a bag of prawn crackers (from last night's take-away) before leaving the house... Oh dear.

Anyway, another splendid morning meant that it was shirt sleeve order on the summit of The Cloud G/SP-015. I selected a nice grassy patch a couple of feet from the topograph and set up the SOTA Beam, horizontally polarised, mounted at 4m AGL on the SOTA Pole. 2m CW got off to a lonely and slow start. I stuck at it though, and eventually got a call from Phil G4OBK. Once I had pointed the beam directly at him, he was an amazing 599 signal. I was pleased to have got 579 back the other way from North Yorkshire.

Calls to the south did not elicit a response, so I assume that Marc G0AZS was not available, but a speculative CQ call on the 2m CW calling frequency - 144.050MHz - resulted in a QSO with 2W0IBM in North Wales, with 599 reports both ways. Shortly after that I worked Mike G4BLH, who I presume was on a vertical antenna, as only 519/539 reports were exchanged despite him being the closest of the three stations worked.

Alertness was in order on the descent to avoid two very large and menacing-looking midge clouds. Fortunately there had been none on the summit, despite the very still and hot morning. Thanks to all the following stations:

G4OBK	2m	CW
2W0IBM	2m	CW
G4BLH	2m	CW

And so to Friday 18th June 2010, and my first ever dabble with 5MHz. I had checked the NoV, and it was valid from the date it was posted, rather than from 1st July, so I could use it straight away.

I had been SWLing 5MHz SOTA activations for years, having not previously held a 5MHz NoV. I may be SWLing them for some time to come from home - until I get the shack rig modded anyway. Previously, I had ignored two opportunties to apply for a 5MHz NoV. At first, I wasn't interested in HF. Then, I figured that learning CW was a better strategy to get myself heard on HF. However, now that I am interested in HF and have learned CW to a basic operating standard, an interest has developed in how the various HF bands perform in the greyline - so now, a 5MHz NoV was definitely of interest.

Richard G3CWI had kindly offered to lend me his 60m dipole, an offer that I had no hesitation in accepting, and less than 24 hours later it was in my rucksack as I ascended The Cloud G/SP-015 on a colder and damper morning. The whole of this part of Cheshire was shrouded in low thick mist. It wasn't raining, but my hair and trousers nonetheless got wet. With the 5MHz dipole aloft, it seemed that Marc G0AZS was going to be my first ever 60m contact, but sudden QRM on 5.291MHz CW wrecked the QSO before I got my report back to him.

A self-spotted QSY to 5.401MHz CW brought Aage LA1ENA who did become my first contact on 5MHz, shortly followed by Marc G0AZS, Marc G0VOF, Frank G3RMD and Ric G3CWI. Five minutes of CQing on 5.3985MHz SSB produced nothing at all. HF SSB has always been my nemesis, so I do hope that this jinx doesn't follow me onto 5MHz! Many thanks to all stations for listening for me and working me.

LA1ENA	60m	CW
G0AZS	60m	CW
G0VOF	60m	CW
G3RMD	60m	CW
G3CWI	60m	CW

It was a good night on The Cloud G/SP-015 on Tuesday 22nd June 2010 - or was it? In glorious weather, I drove down from Macclesfield, having taken the decision to forego Argentina vs Greece in the World Cup, in favour of the RSGB 6m contest. The ascent and set-up was in shirt sleeves on a busy summit. Lots and lots of passers by wanted to ask me lots of questions about my activity.

Switching the radio on after connecting to the Delta loop, I could hear Latvia calling. This was at about 7.40pm local time; sadly I didn't hear that station again in the contest window.

The contest was good in that I got loads more DX contacts than ever before, and no doubt a bigger score than ever before. A greater portion of my contest contacts were on CW compared to usual. DXCCs worked were G, GW, GM, OH, DL, GI, SM, SP, YU, OK and OE. But the downside was that with all the QRM and pile-ups across the bands, I only made 42 QSOs! Good fun nonetheless.

G8GHO	6m	SSB
G7CJW	6m	SSB
G1HSG/P	6m	SSB
M1DTJ/P	6m	SSB
G4HGI	6m	SSB
GW8ASD	6m	SSB
GM4ZUK/P	6m	SSB
G0BSU/P	6m	SSB
2E0XOJ	6m	SSB
MW0ZZK/P	6m	SSB
SK6HD	6m	SSB
M3EYP	6m	SSB
G0CER	6m	SSB
M0TLY	6m	SSB
GW4ZAR/P	6m	SSB
M0YJT/P	6m	SSB
G3WFK/P	6m	SSB
G3MOT	6m	SSB
DH8WE	6m	SSB
GI4SNA	6m	SSB
SA5K	6m	SSB
M0WBN	6m	SSB
G0MRL	6m	SSB
M0COP/P	6m	SSB
G0EHV/P	6m	SSB
OH1XT	6m	SSB
G0FWU	6m	SSB
SQ9IAU	6m	SSB
G4DEZ	6m	SSB
G8ZRE	6m	SSB
YT1AU	6m	CW
G3ZOD	6m	CW
OK1FML	6m	CW
G3WPF	6m	CW
OK1IM	6m	CW
G3KAF	6m	CW
OK2EW	6m	SSB
OK1DO	6m	SSB
OE2UKL	6m	SSB
M1NTO	6m	SSB
M0LTT/P	6m	SSB
G2ANC	6m	SSB

Thursday 1st July 2010. This was an increasingly-rare "on the way home from work" activation, but I desperately needed some exercise. It was a nice sunny afternoon (which soon becomes a 'horrible sunny afternoon' with my hayfever) and I elected to give 20m a try.

As it was, just six stations were worked on CW in and amongst my twenty minute sneezing fit, DXCCs I, UR, OH, DL, OK and HA. So, time to go home and watch some footy and tennis.

IK1NPG	20m	CW
UR4UC	20m	CW
OH3HTR	20m	CW
DJ5AV	20m	CW
OK1JOC	20m	CW
HA7UG	20m	CW

Tuesday 6th July 2010: Evening meal of gammon and pineapple, followed by Liam's scrummy homemade "American style" soft chocolate cookies, and I was asking Jimmy what his plans for the evening were. Would it be the 2m contest or the World Cup semi-final between Holland and Uruguay that won his attention? "Bit of both" was his reply. I left the house just before 7pm, almost forgetting my headtorch, and Marianne calling out "Pick some eggs up while you are out". Hmmm. The parking area on Red Lane at Cloudside was busy, but there was room for me at one end. I kitted up and set off on the familiar walk.

The summit was busy with walkers and runners, and many of them wanted to chat about my activity. A couple even stayed until just after 8pm so that they could see the station in action. One of the young ladies with the running club asked me what kind of programme I was presenting and what music I would be playing! The inevitable polite explanations and trying to appear keen and flattered by their interest meant that although I should have had time to spare, I was only fully set up by one minute before the contest start time of 8pm.

Just before the start of the contest Just after the end of the contest

Not that it mattered. The first four minutes or so had me calling fruitlessly without response, somewhat embarrassing with the lady and gentleman sat by the trig point and waiting expectantly for something to happen! Thankfully, Tony 2E0LAE put them - and me - out of our collective misery and was 001 in the contest. I later noted that Tony had spotted me with the comment "Slow start"! He wasn't wrong with just three stations then worked in the first ten minutes!

I decided to abandon 'running' on a QRG and switch to S+P operation. I normally manage to run for the first 30 to 45 minutes of a UKAC before going S+P, but tonight I had to be decisive. The benefit of this was that I now got most of my multiplier squares in the log in the first hour, whereas usually several of the significant ones don't appear until after 9.30pm.

Jimmy made his appearance in my log at 1933z, and was indeed switching between the contest and the World Cup. After completing the exchange, he reported that Holland were winning 1-0. Many of the stations worked had some pretty big serial numbers, even in that first hour, and several were heard with 100+ by the end. DXCCs worked by me were G, GW, GI, GD, GM and EI, while locator multipliers claimed were IO63, IO64, IO74, IO80, IO81, IO82, IO83, IO84, IO85, IO90, IO91, IO92, IO93, JO01, JO02 and JO03. Heard, but 'gotaways' were IO70, IO75, JO00, JO11 (ON) and IN89 (GJ). The last one was agonizing, as he responded in the affirmative to my request to QSY "up 3", but then I never heard him again!

Dismantling the antenna at 10.35pm local

A pleasing feature of this contest was the large number of stations I had not spoken to for ages, that were worked in the contest. This included many 'old friends' from the early days of SOTA. Another significantly large cohort of the stations worked mentioned that they were looking forward to the SOTA talk at Bolton Wireless Club on Monday 12th July 2010. If they all turn up it should be a big crowd!

It had tried to rain a couple of times, but it stayed dry and the wind across the summit steadily died down as the evening went on. So it was all very pleasant, and I celebrated with a pint of Robinsons 4-4-2 and a delicious Spearings meat pie with a blob of Colmans English mustard in the Harrington Arms, Gawsworth, afterwards. My evening was not yet complete however. Next stop was the 24 hour Tesco in Macclesfield for half a dozen eggs as instructed by Marianne! Many thanks to everyone that worked me.

2E0LAE	2m	SSB
G1HSG/P	2m	SSB
M0DSR	2m	SSB
GM4JR	2m	SSB
G0VJG/P	2m	SSB
GD8EXI/P	2m	SSB
M0YJT/P	2m	SSB
M0COP/P	2m	SSB
G4HGI	2m	SSB
G0LTT/P	2m	SSB
2E0JZK/P	2m	SSB
G0BSU/P	2m	SSB
M1ZRP	2m	SSB
GW8ZRE/P	2m	SSB
G1SWH	2m	SSB
M0VTS/P	2m	SSB
GW7AAV	2m	SSB
2E0RDU/P	2m	SSB
M3EYP	2m	SSB
G4MVU	2m	SSB
G3TTC/P	2m	SSB
G4CLA	2m	SSB
G8APB	2m	SSB
G0LMV/P	2m	SSB
G6BRA	2m	SSB
G8MCA	2m	SSB
M1MHZ	2m	SSB
2E0PHJ	2m	SSB
M0EMM	2m	SSB
G0CER	2m	SSB
M3ZPJ	2m	SSB
2E0UOG	2m	SSB
G0LVH	2m	SSB
2E0CBS/P	2m	SSB
G4IRC	2m	SSB
G0XDI/P	2m	SSB
G1LAT/P	2m	SSB
G0JCQ	2m	SSB
2E0XTL	2m	SSB
G4DEZ	2m	SSB
G0MRL	2m	SSB
GI4SNA	2m	SSB
G0TRB	2m	SSB
G0WTD	2m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	2m	SSB
M0KSJ/P	2m	SSB
M5HFJ	2m	SSB
G4JZF	2m	SSB
G0RFM	2m	SSB
GW8ASD	2m	SSB
2E0BMO	2m	SSB
MW0RKB	2m	SSB
EI3GE	2m	SSB
G6HFF	2m	SSB
M0MJK	2m	SSB
G3ZII	2m	SSB
M0KDB	2m	SSB
G7LFC	2m	SSB
G3YYD	2m	SSB
2E0MWB	2m	SSB
G4FOH	2m	SSB
G7HOA/P	2m	SSB
G3NYY/P	2m	SSB
G0GRI/P	2m	SSB
G7HEJ	2m	SSB
2E0NEY	2m	SSB
G4JQN	2m	SSB
M0RSD	2m	SSB
G8CUL	2m	SSB
G2BQY/P	2m	SSB
M0GHZ/P	2m	SSB
G8MKC/P	2m	SSB
G0PKT	2m	SSB
M0NUT/P	2m	SSB
G6GVI	2m	SSB
G0LGS/P	2m	SSB
G4BRK	2m	SSB
G4HSS	2m	SSB

I had not intended, nor alerted, to activate on Wednesday 7th July 2010. But to my surprise, and despite the previous late night due to the 2m activity contest, I was wide awake at 5.55am BST. I went into my shack to test which bands were 'alive' and posted an alert for 20m CW.

It seemed somewhat excessive to be on the steps up to The Cloud G/SP-015 barely eight hours after my previous rendezvous with them, but so it was. Surprisingly, the summit was relatively busy even at 6.45am with walkers and dog-trainers passing over regularly.

20m CW with the FT-817 and MM20 brought me twenty QSOs into eleven DXCCs, which were LZ, UR, Z3, DL, S5, OE, SP, RA, LA, HA and PA. So it was off to work with a spring in my stride! Thanks to the regular SOTA chasers that responded to my self-spots.

LZ1XX	20m	CW
US1MM	20m	CW
Z35F	20m	CW
UY0MM	20m	CW
DJ5AV	20m	CW
DK4HH/M	20m	CW
DL1VJL	20m	CW
DF7OA	20m	CW
S51ZG	20m	CW
OE6WIG	20m	CW
SQ8LEI	20m	CW
DL2EF	20m	CW
RA3TO	20m	CW
UA1AJ	20m	CW
UX1UX	20m	CW
LA6BB	20m	CW
DJ3OB	20m	CW
HA2EOJ	20m	CW
HA0LG	20m	CW
PA0WLB	20m	CW