The Cloud 2011

I was looking forward to the first 2m Tuesday night activity contest of 2011. With the sensible rule changes that favoured intra-UK contacts in the UK activity contest, and the new low power (10 watts maximum) section which protected QRP, SOTA and Foundation stations from having their normalised scores crushed by 100 watt stations, I had the opportunity to be competitive, rather than merely a participant. I did what every self-respecting individual does these days, and announced my enthusiasm in my Facebook status.

Less than 24 hours ahead of the contest, my wife advised that she was going out for a drink with friends on the Tuesday evening. I have to admit to having pulled a face like a smacked bottom. After gently spitting out whatever dummies I could find, I sheepishly returned to my shack to update my Facebook status. In times of adversity, feel sorry for yourself on Facebook, then loads of people you sort of know ("friends" - in inverted commas) can type how sorry they feel for you as well. It solves everything.

The following day, Marianne announced a complete reversal of her plans, and I was free to go out again. SOTAwatch Alert added. Facebook status updated. Somebody "liked" it. Have a shower. Eat tea. Prepare kit. I hadn't done a darkness activation recently, so I grabbed my CD of "I Believe In A Thing Called Love"... No, I mean I checked my headtorch and put a spare headtorch in my coat pocket. Flask of coffee prepared. No pre-heating. (Pre-heating is for wimps, or for inferior quality flasks).

Mast tied to topograph Another view of the improvised arrangement

I arrived at Cloudside at 7.15pm, with the evening temperature dropping to around 1 degree. I ascended the hill while repeatedly running my packed radio kit around in my mind. Had I remembered everything? Did I remember to transfer the guying kit and RG58 feeder from Jimmy's rucksack to mine? Upon arrival on summit at 7.25pm, I was able to confirm that everything was packed. Plus other things I didn't need. Like a 20m Magic Moggy antenna and a 30m dipole. I began to prepare the antenna by getting the lower part of the mast in an upright position before adding the SOTA Beam and extending to full height. Big problem. The ground was frozen hard and wouldn't take a peg. Usually, I find I can poke around and find a weaker spot under a tuft of grass, but nothing was happening. I glanced at my watch. 7.40pm. Time was on my side - if I could find a suitable contingency.

Filthy conditions SOTA Beam

I decided to site the pole near one corner of the topograph that I would be using for shelter anyway, and wrap two of the guys around it. I used gaps between the bricks to tuck the strings in, and found the length was perfect such that the loops at the end could be brought all the way round and then loop over the bottom part of the fishing pole. The third guy string was angle at 45 degrees away from the topograph, and was held in place by placing a large rock over it.

Time check: 1952z. I settled down in the sheltered side of the topograph, sitting on my foam mat on top of my bothy bag, which I always like to have to hand. The 817 was set up with fist mike, Palm Paddle (in the event not used), fresh SLAB and radio controlled clock, and we were ready to go. Time check: 1957z. I got my pencil and notepad ready and found a clear frequency. As my clock clicked round to 2000z, I began calling and immediately worked GW4ZAR in IO83KF. My activator point for G/SP-015 for the year was qualified by Jimmy M3EYP, who was my fourth contact. Thereafter followed one of my best contest outings with 76 QSOs in the two and a half hours. Everything was on SSB, there was never enough of a drop in activity to justify any calls on FM or CW.

Although the QSO count was pleasing, the multiplier count was arguably not so. Of course, the EI station worked wouldn't give me a new multiplier under the new rules, and I never heard the EI station that others were reporting in 52 square. I did hear the Channel Islands station in IN square, but he was too close to M0GVG operating from very nearby Biddulph Moor for me to have a chance. I almost completed with GM4BYF in IO85, but the word "almost" indicates the gotaway. So nothing from GM, and I never worked one from JO01 - a big miss.

As well as being bitterly cold on the summit, the ground was filthy - damp and muddy. My trousers, coat, trainers and rucksack were all in need of a serious clean by the end of the night. My hair badly needs cutting, and it was a sight from a horror B movie when I removed my fleecy hat. Undeterred, I still walked into the Harrington Arms at Gawsworth at 11pm. Thankfully, they hadn't introduced a dress code since my last visit, although one of the local farmers having a late drink in there was keen to tell me that I'd got the wrong night for the fancy dress.

A pint of Mr Scrooge ale, with a bag of Nando's Peri Peri Chicken crisps and a Spearings pork pie hardly touched the sides as I devoured my late evening supper. I was home for a quarter to midnight, and watched the test match on Sky Sports 1 for a while, before retiring to bad. A very pleasing first VHF contest evening of 2011. Many thanks to the significant number of known SOTA chasers that worked me. And probably the most QSOs I have ever made for a scoring one point activation!

GW4ZAR	2m	SSB
G4UXH	2m	SSB
GW4EVX	2m	SSB
M3EYP	2m	SSB
G0TRB	2m	SSB
G6HFF	2m	SSB
M0ICK	2m	SSB
2E0BZU	2m	SSB
M3RNX	2m	SSB
G3WFK	2m	SSB
M3ZPJ	2m	SSB
G4APJ	2m	SSB
M0DNA	2m	SSB
2E0UOG	2m	SSB
G0SLR	2m	SSB
G2ANC	2m	SSB
G0WTD	2m	SSB
M0TGT/P	2m	SSB
G8HCB	2m	SSB
GW8ASD	2m	SSB
G1SMI	2m	SSB
G4GSB	2m	SSB
G8ONK	2m	SSB
M0BXR	2m	SSB
G4CLA	2m	SSB
G1SWH	2m	SSB
M0GVG	2m	SSB
G8ZRE	2m	SSB
G8DTF	2m	SSB
G4HGI	2m	SSB
MI0SMK/P	2m	SSB
GI4SNA	2m	SSB
EI3GE	2m	SSB
G0JCQ	2m	SSB
M0TXR/P	2m	SSB
G4WDL	2m	SSB
M6DLT	2m	SSB
M0EMM	2m	SSB
G4VPD	2m	SSB
GD8EXI	2m	SSB
G3MEH	2m	SSB
G4JQN	2m	SSB
G3CWI	2m	SSB
2E0XTL	2m	SSB
M0JAV	2m	SSB
M0WAY	2m	SSB
2E0PHJ	2m	SSB
G3ORY	2m	SSB
2E0YYY	2m	SSB
2E0BMO	2m	SSB
M0LTT/P	2m	SSB
M0BRA	2m	SSB
G4LBH	2m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	2m	SSB
G8VHI	2m	SSB
M0DJW	2m	SSB
G0GRI	2m	SSB
M0COP/P	2m	SSB
M1MHZ	2m	SSB
M0GHZ/P	2m	SSB
G0BWC/P	2m	SSB
G2BOF	2m	SSB
G0VVE	2m	SSB
M1CNY	2m	SSB
G1AJI	2m	SSB
G3XNO	2m	SSB
2E0MAS	2m	SSB
2E0ORC	2m	SSB
G0CER	2m	SSB
G7HOA/P	2m	SSB
G0XDI	2m	SSB
G4IRC	2m	SSB
G4DEZ	2m	SSB
M5HFJ	2m	SSB
G4XPE	2m	SSB
G0ELJ	2m	SSB

Tuesday 11th January 2011 was the first 70cm UK activity contest of the year. I set off from Macclesfield with a flask of coffee at 7pm, and made good time in getting to Cloudside for 7.20pm. Climbing the stairs for only the second time of the year, I realised that I needed to get back into the groove of doing so at least three times per week. Walking up to the summit on a dark, cold but dry night is always a pleasure, especially when the views open up to the right. The illuminated towns of Macclesfield, Stockport, Wilmslow, Congleton and Alderley Edge were easily identified, as was the backdrop of the city of Manchester, and further beyond, the bright red stick that was really the main mast atop Winter Hill G/SP-010.

This time the ground temperature was a little higher, and I had no problems in pegging into the ground. With the SB6 assembled, connected and four metres above the ground, I settled down in the shelter of the topograph and put together the rest of the station. I wrote the date in the logbook, made a few checks and chose the frequency of 432.225MHz SSB, then checked the time - 1945z. Perfect, time to sit back, relax and enjoy a cup of coffee.

At 1957z I detected some splatter. I tuned down the band to find a regular contester in full swing, calling CQ. I chipped in to tell him he was early, but he replied "Oh, both my watch and my car clock must be wrong then". He carried on calling, but another station advised him he was two minutes early. Handy things for contests, these radio controlled clocks! The contest got off to a fine start with 30 stations worked in the first 27 minutes. As usual, then sets in an exponential decay in activity, with a slight rally near the end. Although the number of QSOs was pleasing, of concern was the number of multiplier squares worked. This stood at a meagre four for that first half hour. A few more did dribble into the log as the contest wore on, but the final tally of 9 was disappointing.

IO81 was missing from my log, and from many others as well it seemed. Bryn G4DEZ in JO03 was not on, and unusually, I worked nothing from JO01. Neither did I work anything from EI, GI or even GM. It could have been worse. Just one contact was made with each of IO74, IO84, IO93 and IO94, and two from IO91. So I only narrowly avoided a multiplier tally so pathetic that it would have destroyed my score. As it is, it looks like I might have got away with it, for I currently have the leading claimed score in the Low Power section of the contest.

During the first hour, Simon M0TGT/P arrived on summit. He was doing things the EYP way with a big flask of Thai Green Chicken soup. It was both rare, and enjoyable to have some company during the contest. Simon made a few contacts on his 70cm HT from the far corner of the summit area while I continued on SSB. No QRM was caused to each other. Later on, Simon made the occasional contact on 70cm SSB using my kit.

In the last half hour I found myself to be feeling too cold. I was naughty, and soldiered on to the end at 2230z - necessary in order to collect JO02, IO91 and IO84. I struggled to my feet with my back in some discomfort. Most parts of my body had seized up completely, sitting for nearly three hours in freezing temperatures. The only way to warm up and get things moving was to pull hood over my hat, put gloves on, and get walking as fast as I could.

All was well we reached the cars a short time later, and we agreed to meet up at the Harrington Arms, where we enjoyed a pint of Robbies Mr Scrooge, and a Spearings pork pie with mustard. The final tally was 63 QSOs, which ain't bad for a SOTA activation on 70cm. Have I recorded my first ever UKAC victory? Watch this space! (Update - no I hadn't - I had, in fact recorded my second UKAC victory, having won the 2m contest the previous week!).

G6GVI	70cm	SSB
G7HOA/P	70cm	SSB
G0WTD	70cm	SSB
M3ZPJ	70cm	SSB
G0WTM	70cm	SSB
M3RNX	70cm	SSB
G6HFF	70cm	SSB
G2ANC	70cm	SSB
2E0LES	70cm	SSB
GW8ASD	70cm	SSB
G8ZRE	70cm	SSB
M0ICK	70cm	SSB
2E0UOG	70cm	SSB
M6EAE	70cm	SSB
2E0TXT/P	70cm	SSB
2E0LKC	70cm	SSB
2E0ORC	70cm	SSB
M0COP/P	70cm	SSB
GW0NWR/P	70cm	SSB
G4GSB	70cm	SSB
G3WFK	70cm	SSB
M0BXR	70cm	SSB
G4WDL	70cm	SSB
G4SCY	70cm	SSB
G4FZN/P	70cm	SSB
M6DLT	70cm	SSB
M5HFJ	70cm	SSB
G0SLR	70cm	SSB
GW4EVX	70cm	SSB
G4NTY	70cm	SSB
GD8EXI	70cm	SSB
G1SWH	70cm	SSB
G4HGI	70cm	SSB
G3VLG	70cm	SSB
M3EYP	70cm	SSB
G8DTF	70cm	SSB
G0BWC/P	70cm	SSB
2E0BMO	70cm	SSB
G0CDA	70cm	SSB
G8VHI	70cm	SSB
M1NTO/P	70cm	SSB
M0EMM	70cm	SSB
M0GVG/P	70cm	SSB
G4CLA	70cm	SSB
G3WGU	70cm	SSB
M0LTT/P	70cm	SSB
M6NYL	70cm	SSB
G4DHF	70cm	SSB
G8OHM	70cm	SSB
G1AEQ	70cm	SSB
G4JLG	70cm	SSB
G0OWP	70cm	SSB
M6XJP	70cm	SSB
G4FRK	70cm	SSB
2E0HRD/P	70cm	SSB
G1SMI	70cm	SSB
G4NPH	70cm	SSB
G0XDI	70cm	SSB
M0PNN	70cm	SSB
G4MVU	70cm	SSB
G4BRA/P	70cm	SSB
G8ONK	70cm	SSB

The motivation for an "early one" on Sunday 16th January 2011 was - 2011. The New Year, and a new start from zero for the number of DXCCs worked on each band for G3WGV's UK CW Table. Some progress had been made from home on 160m, while the first batches had been collected during SOTA activations on 40m and 30m. But after a barren weekend from home on the band, I needed a SOTA activation to kick the 80m total into life.

I set my alarm for 5am and awoke to the sounds of BBC Radio 5 Live on medium-wave. Things were a bit dopey and sluggish, but I was on the road by 6am and listening to old stalwarts Dave Ward (Curly Shirley) and Umberto on Real Radio Manchester (formerly Century Radio) 105.4MHz. I remember those two presenters well from listening to Piccadilly Radio as a teenager.

The ascent from Cloudside always seems to go faster in the dark. Maybe one's imagination and deeper, philosophical thoughts are more active in darkness, and so the time passes more quickly. In any case, I had gained the summit rapidly and was soon erecting the 80m dipole. This is slightly trickier in the dark, as you can't see the ends of the dipole legs when stood at the pole. It can take a few goes to get the legs up without them snagging on heather and needing to be freed.

80m is never a prolific hunting ground like 40m or 20m for me, so the overall going was slow. Over the course of an hour and 37 minutes, I made 18 contacts into 7 DXCCs - DL, EA, G, GM, HA, LA and OE. Gotaways included SM and 9A. 17 QSOs were on CW, with one on SSB, which was a summit-to-summit with Bill G4WSB/P on Wills Neck G/SC-002.

As daylight arrived halfway through proceedings, I was then able to monitor a band of heavy rain engulfing Macclesfield, and edging ever closer. I timed my escape to perfection, with the first drops landing as I loaded my rucksack back into the boot of my car on Cloudside. Many thanks to all callers.

OE7PHI	80m	CW
DH2URF	80m	CW
DL7BQ	80m	CW
DL7DO/P	80m	CW
HA1AG	80m	CW
DF8IF	80m	CW
G4SSH	80m	CW
DL1DVE	80m	CW
EA1DFP	80m	CW
G3VXJ	80m	CW
DJ5AV	80m	CW
DL1FU	80m	CW
LA8BCA	80m	CW
G4WSB/P on Will’s Neck SC-002	80m	SSB
G4OOE	80m	CW
MM0DHY	80m	CW
GM0AXY	80m	CW
G3RMD	80m	CW

Wednesday 19th January 2011, and high time I ended my "lazy streak". I hadn't walked up The Cloud on the way to work since July 2010. But neither had I rejoined the gym or done much swimming. I needed to try to resume some more regular exercise as the football, squash and weekend activating was proving insufficient.

My alarm was set for 0555z, but I was awake at 0545z. Goodness knows why. Although I thought I got things together fairly briskly, by the time I had driven to Cloudside, ascended and set up, it was 0715z, quarter of an hour after my Alert time. Visibility was very limited with the light from my headtorch illuminating little other than the blanket of thick fog in front of my face!

My activation on 40m CW was very unremarkable with just 7 QSOs into 6 DXCCs. That was followed by 0/0 on 2m FM and 1/1 on 70cm FM. The descent on a cold foggy morning, followed by stop for diesel and breakfast, and continuing journey to work in Stoke-on-Trent went easily enough. I managed to be changed into my shirt and tie, and in staff briefing right on 8.45am, and no slapped wrist.

S51ZG	40m	CW
OK1BB	40m	CW
UR5TKM	40m	CW
DL6UNF	40m	CW
OE7PHI	40m	CW
HA3FZ	40m	CW
OE6WIG	40m	CW
GW7AAV	70cm	FM

Thursday 20th January 2011, and my alarm did not go off. Instead, I was awoken by my wife's alarm at 0630z, 35 minutes behind schedule. I figured there was still time for the walk, if not a substantial activation.

My car radio was broken and in need of replacement. While tinkering with it myself, I managed to loosen the aerial connection, but couldn't fully get the plug back in. Hence I had been limited to the BBC national stations from Holme Moss, Sutton Coldfield and Llangollen transmitter sites while driving round in the car. However, driving over to Cloudside, I was picking up Cheshire FM (Winsford), Oldham Community Radio, Unity FM (Moss Side), ALL FM (Longsight) and Radio Na Gaeltachta (Ireland - Gaelic service). I realised there must be a lift on and considered scrapping my 40m activation in favour of a VHF one. Unfortunately, my lateness did not permit time to swap aerials, feeders and guys over in my kit, so I had to ignore the lift.

I walked to the summit, enjoying the views over an inversion layer which completely covered Cheshire and filled the wide valleys in Staffordshire. Just The Cloud, Sutton Common and Mow Cop stood above the clouds as three small islands.

I set up as fast as I could, but it was already 0745z by the time I was QRV. F5UKL (QRP) was the first to work me, followed by three more after another period of calling. With four contacts in the bag, I packed away and descended. The Man in the Yellow Jacket ran past me and remarked that he'd not seen me up there for a while. I declined to mention that I'd not seen him without his yellow jacket for a while.

F5UKL	40m	CW
SM7BUA	40m	CW
HB9AGH	40m	CW
HA7UL	40m	CW

Friday 21st January 2011, and my alarm did go off. I was quicker out of the blocks this time, but not yet up to full speed, so it was 7.15am by the time I was QRV on the summit. An improvement on the previous day, but still 15 minutes off racing pace.

16 contacts were made on 40m CW, followed by a single 70cm FM contact with Steve GW7AAV. Right at the end of that QSO, my VX-7R ran out of charge, so there was no QRZ, or QSY to 2m. I am so rubbish and lazy at keeping charge topped up in my batteries! Only two days ago I ran out with my 7Ah SLAB!

Thanks to everyone that called this morning. It was cold and foggy again on The Cloud, but again I enjoyed the walk, the sunrise, and the morning air.

HA7UL	40m	CW
HA7UG	40m	CW
HB9BIN	40m	CW
OE7PHI	40m	CW
DL5AMF	40m	CW
IZ5NFD	40m	CW
F5UKL	40m	CW
F5PLC	40m	CW
S51ZG	40m	CW
SP7HDA	40m	CW
9A2NP	40m	CW
SP6JOE	40m	CW
DL6UNF	40m	CW
ON5QRP	40m	CW
HA0HW	40m	CW
I3VAD	40m	CW
GW7AAV	70cm	FM

Monday 24th January 2011. The weather was a little warmer (ie slightly less cold) and the morning a little lighter (ie slightly less dark). But despite these advantages, I still couldn't haul myself out of the house before 0630z. Maybe this getting out early business is easier in summer when there is daylight from an hour before you wake up.

The delay was compound when the radials of my MM20 needed untangling on the summit of The Cloud. As such, it was 0730z by the time I was QRV - and then I found I didn't have my mobile with me for a self-spot. So stations would just have to hear my call or find me - and two did - UR5TKM, and Mark G0VOF.

So not a glorious debut for the MM20 in 2011, but it is staying in the pack for further dawn activations later this week.

UR5TKM	20m	CW
G0VOF	20m	CW

The evening of Tuesday 25th January 2011 began well with a Burns night meal at home, of savoury mince (Marianne and Liam don't like haggis, although Jimmy and I love it), neeps and tatties. My mood was lifted on the drive out to The Cloud, listening to Jamie Cullum on BBC Radio 2, presenting jazz music including a superb piece by Oscar Peterson, accompanied by a Nelson Riddle big band arrangement.

My mood was deflated when I arrived at the small parking area at Cloudside, to find the drizzle intensifying, in contrast to the earlier forecast which had assured me that any rain would have moved well away to the South East by 5pm. The fog was thick, and my visibility for the ascent was limited to the 8 cubic metres (2m x 2m x 2m) directly in front of me. This was as far as my excellent Petzl headlamp would penetrate the clag and darkness.

On summit, erection of the 6m delta loop antenna was slow and careful. The only way I could get a view of how the delta was shaping up was to stand right at the base of the pole and aim my torch directly upwards. Even a metre away from the pole, and all the torch would illuminate was thick fog where the delta loop should be. Still, once all set up, I was pleased to find the aerial in full working order. I'd had a few problems with it last year, and Richard kindly took it in for testing and repairs. Somewhat sloppily, I had not got around to taking it out for a test outing before the first 6m contest opportunity, so I was pleased to discover everything in order.

The bothy bag was deployed from the start of the contest at 8pm as the rain continued to fall through the fog, which was very damp in itself. This wasn't the greatest contest night for me, with 45 QSOs into 10 multiplier squares. Several "getaways" included G8NWU, G3PIA, G4JQN, G4ELJ, M0GHZ and the CW from G3TA. All were workable, but most were found to be on a QRG close to Chris G8APB with his 100 watts from very nearby Biddulph Moor, and so were blanked by his splatter. Best DX was GI4SNA in IO64XM, 297km. The last half hour was very slow with only three stations worked. Others were available, but they couldn't hear my 5 watts as well as i could hear their 100 watts! I started to consider the feasibility of a portable beam for use in the 6m contests.

After a quick pack-up, the descent was slow going. The visibility had reduced to 1.5m, and all I could see was my feet! I even found myself being unsure as to exactly how far along the path I was at times, which is highly unusual on this hill that I know extremely well. Back in the car, I was treated to more jazz on BBC Radio 2. The Guy Barker programme was just beginning, and a brilliant track opened proceedings. It was "Dear Johnny B" by Tubby Hayes, and had me swinging all the way to the Harrington Arms, along with "Inhale Exhale" by Benjamin Herman which followed it. From 3:46 in, via http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00m75s4 should you wish to share the joy!

All that jazz had me in the mood for supper, so it was a Spearings beef pie and a packet of Firecracker Lobster crisps that accompanied my pint of Mr Scrooge Ale in the pub. Back home just before midnight, and I couldn't resist entering my contest log to see how I did, so it was a late night for me!

G8APB	6m	SSB
G4APJ	6m	SSB
M0VAA	6m	SSB
GW3XRM	6m	SSB
M6NYL	6m	SSB
M0OBW	6m	SSB
M1BKL	6m	SSB
GW8ASD	6m	SSB
M0BXR	6m	SSB
M0GVG/P	6m	SSB
2E0UOG	6m	SSB
G3XNO	6m	SSB
2E0PHJ	6m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	6m	SSB
G0BWC/A	6m	SSB
G3WFK	6m	SSB
M0COP/P	6m	SSB
M0LTT/P	6m	SSB
G4HGI	6m	SSB
M0WLF	6m	SSB
G8ZRE	6m	SSB
G3ZVW	6m	SSB
G3ZOD	6m	CW
G6TGO	6m	SSB
GW4ZAR/P	6m	SSB
M0NUT/P	6m	SSB
G1SWH	6m	SSB
G4DEZ	6m	SSB
G8JIT	6m	SSB
G3VLG/P	6m	SSB
G0VOF	6m	SSB
G2ANC	6m	SSB
G0CER	6m	SSB
M3ZPJ	6m	SSB
G6HFF	6m	SSB
G4XUV	6m	SSB
M0XDJ/M	6m	SSB
M6DLT	6m	SSB
G3WPF	6m	SSB
G0WTD	6m	SSB
2E0BMO	6m	SSB
G7LWT/P	6m	SSB
GI4SNA	6m	SSB
G8CUL	6m	SSB
M0WBN	6m	SSB

The competition for the 2m UK activity contest series looks good this year, with several stations running each other close in the AL (10 watts) section in January. In order to try and get a bt of an edge, I have borrowed an SB5 to use instead of my normal SB3 for this coming Tuesday night. Many thanks to Richard G3CWI.

I figure it would be wise to practice the new set up in daylight, so that was the basis of my activation of SP-015 on Saturday 29th January 2011. The temperatue was about 1 degree when I ascended the hill, and down to -2 by the time of the descent, but there was hardly any breeze at all, so it was quite comfortable.

I had an activation of exactly one hour, with 21 QSOs - one on 2m CW, 10 on 2m SSB and 8 on 2m FM. There was one summit-to-summit with Geoff 2W0BTR/P on Tor y Foel GW/SW-013. Two stations on FM were overheard bemoaning the attitudes on 2m, with comments like "No wonder VHF is so quiet these days with people like that about", interspersed with strings of four-letter swearwords from one of them in particular. No wonder indeed! I made a note of the date, time, frequency and the callsigns involved.

The practice run for the SB5 went smoothly, and we will discover what difference it will make on Tuesday night. Thanks to all for the calls today.

G3WPF	2m	CW
2W0BTR/P on Tor y Foel SW-013	2m	SSB
G0RQL	2m	SSB
G8XEI	2m	SSB
G6ODU	2m	SSB
2E0FSR	2m	SSB
G4OWG	2m	SSB
G0TRB	2m	SSB
M3EYP	2m	SSB
G0VOF	2m	SSB
2E0XYL	2m	SSB
GW7AAV	2m	FM
G7OEM	2m	FM
M3XIE	2m	FM
M0ATV	2m	FM
GW7AAU/M	2m	FM
G1JHB/P	2m	FM
G0RXA	2m	FM
M6NWT	2m	FM
2E0NVJ	2m	FM
G1UKS	2m	FM

"The Cloud under new management" was a cheeky tagline to an alert that made me realise that Sean M0GIA was about to start a series of nightshifts. He had threatened that he might be having some after-work activations to coincide with my before-work activations, and on Monday 31st January 2011, this was it.

I arrived at the Cloudside parking spot to find Sean already there in his car, but looking pretty fatigued after his first overnight shift. Nonetheless, he still raced ahead of me on the ascent of The Cloud, as my own fatigue kicked after my big walk on Kinder Scout G/SP-001 the previous day.

We reached the summit by torchlight and began to set up. Set-up involved the mighty effort of pressing a button on a HT for Sean. Mine went pear-shaped when the groundplane radials of my 20m vertical broke away from the coax feeder. Fortunately, I was able to peel off some of the tape and cable coating and twist the radials back onto some braid. This was then secured to the fishing pole with plastic cable ties and held up for the activation, giving me a working antenna. It will need attention before the next outing though!

20m CW then proved to be loads of fun despite the delayed start. A really interesting selection of ten DXCCs - SV, E7, UN, LZ, 4K, HA, EU, YU, RA, UR - was worked in the run of 16 QSOs in 16 minutes. I was particularly pleased with Azerbaijan 4K, and then surprised when another one, with prefix 4J called me just three minutes later.

I am still working towards being QRV on 20m CW by 0700z in the morning. It hasn't happened for a while, what with sluggish get-ups, sluggish ascents and equipment "situations" - but it remains a serious aspiration for the summer. Now to get that aerial round to M0GIA's. I remain delighted at the lifetime service and repair guarantees he provides with all the free aerials he builds me.

SV2HTC	20m	CW
E77O	20m	CW
UN7IU	20m	CW
LZ2BR	20m	CW
4K4K	20m	CW
HA7UG	20m	CW
EW7EW	20m	CW
4J5A	20m	CW
YT1KS	20m	CW
RU4HD	20m	CW
RA6AS	20m	CW
UR5FEL	20m	CW
UW2ZF	20m	CW
LZ2CF	20m	CW
LZ1DQ	20m	CW
UR5FEO	20m	CW

I was on The Cloud on the evening of Tuesday 1st February 2011. The new manager of the summit was not. In fact he seems only to have activated it once since bestowing the honour upon himself. Never mind, the recently demoted assistant manager was there to continue the 2011 RSGB UK Activity Contest campaign as part of the regular Top 5 Macclesfield team. I was a little earlier in getting there this time, allowing a few extra minutes to put up the unfamiliar antenna. As a result, I was parking before the start of Jamie Cullem's Radio 2 programme, so no pre-activation jazz for me.

On summit I was set up and ready to go a good twenty minutes ahead of the 2000 start time, so a chance to sit back and relax over a cup of coffee from the flask. The first hour of the contest was relatively slow going with 28 QSOs, but this was compensated by a healthy number of multiplier squares in the log. The SB5 was certainly enabling me to get the DX stations like GM, GI, JO01 etc earlier in the contest.

After 2100z, I managed to get a better rhythm going with a run on 144.329MHz SSB, and this included incoming calls from IO86 and IO70, so pleasing. How Don G0RQL heard me while I was beaming to Scotland I'll never know, but a quick turn of the beam and we had strong clear signals in both directions.

As ever it was nice to be giving out SP-015 to known SOTA chasers, and being requested for it by others. The final tally was 5 DXCCs: G, GW, GI, GD, GM, 69 QSOs and 16 multipliers: IO64, IO70, IO74, IO75, IO80, IO81, IO82, IO83, IO86, IO91, IO92, IO93, IO94, JO01, JO02 and JO03. I did not hear IO84 or IO85, but did hear JO00, which was a 'miss'. It would be nice to tally twenty multipliers in one of these events, but 16 was a big improvement on the 11 in my winning January entry. Whether or not I will be as successful this time, I do not know. The band was jam packed with lots of splatter from strong local stations, so there is the chance of a broken contact, and I suspect there will prove to be a greater number of competitive entries in the AL (10 watt) section this month.

Despite putting freshly charged cells into my headtorch before leaving home, it had given me a couple of flash warnings and was dimming by pack-up time. Perhaps I am not supposed to be using rechargables with my Petzl headlight, or maybe my cells are getting tired! In any case, I simply donned the spare from my pocket (Jimmy's Petzl) in order to pack away and descend.

Guy Barker's late night jazz programme on BBC Radio 2 accompanied me from Cloudside to the Harrington Arms in Gawsworth, which was astonishingly full for 11.30pm on a Tuesday night! Already here were Greg 2E0RXX and Simon M0TGT who had been contesting up near Wildboarclough, and Simon's daughter Lucy who had been out with them. A Spearings beef pie with English mustard, a bag of hot chilli and lemon flavour Burts chips, a pint of Robinsons Dizzy Blonde and a natter with my fellow contesters rounded off another enjoyable evening.

I had told them I would be chasing the greyline with the 20m MM the next morning, but remembered when I got home that it was at Sean M0GIA's for a repair! So I entered my logs at home rather than going straight to bed. Many thanks to all the SOTA chasers that called in and worked me.

G4MVU	2m	SSB
M6DLT	2m	SSB
G0HRZ	2m	SSB
2E0LMD	2m	SSB
M6NYL	2m	SSB
G3CWI	2m	SSB
G0EJQ/P	2m	SSB
G8HCB	2m	SSB
M3OUA	2m	SSB
GM4PPT	2m	SSB
M1CNY/P	2m	SSB
M5HFJ	2m	SSB
G4OWG	2m	SSB
M3EYP	2m	SSB
2E0TDX	2m	SSB
2E0XYL	2m	SSB
G3ORY	2m	SSB
G4GSB	2m	SSB
M0BRA	2m	SSB
G4CLA	2m	SSB
M0RSD	2m	SSB
G4RRA	2m	SSB
G7HOA/P	2m	SSB
G4LBH	2m	SSB
G0WTD	2m	SSB
G4DEZ	2m	SSB
GI4SNA	2m	SSB
G0AFH	2m	SSB
M3ZPJ	2m	SSB
G4NTY	2m	SSB
M0ONE	2m	SSB
G4APJ	2m	SSB
2E0ORC	2m	SSB
2E0PHJ	2m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	2m	SSB
2E0BMO	2m	SSB
M0LTT/P	2m	SSB
G3ZII	2m	SSB
GW8ASD	2m	SSB
GM4AFF	2m	SSB
M3RNX	2m	SSB
G4JZF	2m	SSB
G0CER	2m	SSB
G0RQL	2m	SSB
2E0UOG	2m	SSB
M0TGT/P	2m	SSB
G6HFF	2m	SSB
G0MZZ	2m	SSB
G3PYE/P	2m	SSB
G3VLG/P	2m	SSB
G0GRI/P	2m	SSB
GD8EXI	2m	SSB
2E0LES	2m	SSB
G4PBP	2m	SSB
G4KUX	2m	SSB
M0NUT/P	2m	SSB
G0ELJ	2m	SSB
2E0VXX/P	2m	SSB
GM6JNJ	2m	SSB
G2ANC	2m	SSB
2E0XTL	2m	SSB
M6CNG	2m	SSB
G0TRB	2m	SSB
G3BNE	2m	SSB
G3SPJ	2m	SSB
G4DZL	2m	SSB
2E0COV	2m	SSB
G4JLG	2m	SSB
M0MCV	2m	SSB

The weather forecast for the evening of Tuesday 8th February 2011 indicated clear skies for the first half of the 70cm activity contest, but strong winds and heavy rain thereafter. It was accurate! I was a little later setting out on this occasion, so by the time I had ascended to the summit and set up, there was only four minutes left before the contest. Thankfully, the system was all working properly, so I could use that time to enjoy a coffee from my flask.

The first half-hour was excellent with 36 stations in the log. Another ten were added before 9pm, but then things really slowed down with just another 13 between 9pm and 10.30pm taking me to 59 QSOs on the activation. With 9 multipliers squares worked, I was probably one short of where I needed to be, so I rued the fact that I had missed IO81 and anything from GM.

As the night became unpleasant and stormy after 9.30pm, I was forced into the inside of my bothy bag. This was effective in keeping the cold and the wet out, but ineffective in keeping me comfortable and seriously limiting my ability to direct my beam to full advantage. After descent, I actually didn't fancy a beer or a meat pie, so drove straight home. Thanks to any chasers that worked me - I don't think there were that many.

2W0CCK	70cm	SSB
G4APJ	70cm	SSB
M6NYL	70cm	SSB
2E0UOG	70cm	SSB
M0TGT/P	70cm	SSB
G0VOF	70cm	SSB
M5HFJ	70cm	SSB
2E0LES	70cm	SSB
2E0BZU	70cm	SSB
M3ZPJ	70cm	SSB
M3EYP	70cm	SSB
M6GLT	70cm	SSB
2E0ORC	70cm	SSB
2E0LKC	70cm	SSB
M6XJP	70cm	SSB
G8ONK	70cm	SSB
G2ANC	70cm	SSB
G4NTY	70cm	SSB
G6HFF	70cm	SSB
M3OUA	70cm	SSB
GW8ASD	70cm	SSB
M6EAE	70cm	SSB
M3RNX	70cm	SSB
2E0TXT/P	70cm	SSB
G0OWP	70cm	SSB
G0WTD	70cm	SSB
GI6ATZ	70cm	SSB
G4TGQ	70cm	SSB
G3XAN	70cm	SSB
G1AEQ	70cm	SSB
G0CDA	70cm	SSB
G0BWC/P	70cm	SSB
M0COP/P	70cm	SSB
M3XQY	70cm	SSB
G4KUX	70cm	SSB
G7WFE	70cm	SSB
G3MWQ	70cm	SSB
G0CER	70cm	SSB
G7HOA/P	70cm	SSB
G8VHI	70cm	SSB
G8DTF	70cm	SSB
G8OHM	70cm	SSB
G4HGI	70cm	SSB
M0GVG/P	70cm	SSB
G4JLG	70cm	SSB
G3SPJ	70cm	SSB
G4CLA	70cm	SSB
G0XDI	70cm	SSB
M0CRY/P	70cm	SSB
2E0LMD	70cm	SSB
G3PYE/P	70cm	SSB
M1CNY/P	70cm	SSB
M3HBI/P	70cm	SSB
M1MHZ	70cm	SSB
2E0BMO	70cm	SSB
M0JAV	70cm	SSB
G8HAV	70cm	SSB
G4XUV	70cm	SSB
M0WBN	70cm	SSB

Where did my speed go? I used to be able to get up at 6am, and be QRV on The Cloud before 7am. This morning, Thursday 10th February 2011, I set the alarm for 5.30am, with the intention of investigating earlier propagation on 80m. But I still only made it to the summit and set up by 7am. Must do better.

It was actually a rather horrid morning, but I fancied the walk regardless. So I walked up from Cloudside, with my headtorch illuminating every drop of fine drizzle before my eyes. Work has been done on the steps. They have been cleaned and cleared of mud and debris at the sides, making them effectively 50% wider. Also wooden posts and rails have been installed on the right hand side of the path as you ascend. I first noticed this on Tuesday night, but they were only halfway up then. Now they are nearly to the top of that section, where two more posts have been installed either side of the path, as though a gate is going in there.

Despite the constant drizzle and puddle hopping on the ascent, I rather enjoyed it, and was soon at the top to begin setting up. The 80m dipole is tricky to set up in the dark, even with a good torch, so it takes a few goes and iterations and improvements on each dipole leg before it is up properly. The problem is, you just can't see more than about 15 feet, so you are judging by the feel of the pole whether a wire has got snagged or not!

The activation was quite interesting with nine stations worked on 3.512MHz CW. Seven DXCCs were OE, G, EA, DL, S5, LA and GM, so that was a pleasing return for 80m. By 0720z, things were getting quiet on frequency, and the rain was getting heavier. I had plenty of time left in my before-work activating window, but I decided to reallocate that time to my breakfast!

Pittshill Oatcakes in Chell provided that bacon, mushroom and cheese double oatcake that completed another of my bizarrely enjoyable commutes to work. Thanks to all the stations that worked me, and Mark G0VOF for the spot.

OE7PHI	80m	CW
G4XRV	80m	CW
G0VOF	80m	CW
EC2DM	80m	CW
DL3HRL	80m	CW
S51ZG	80m	CW
LA8BCA	80m	CW
G4OWG	80m	CW
GM0AXY	80m	CW

Despite a late night, I was up at 0530 on Friday 18th February 2011. With a family dinner invitation at Chateaux de M0TGT that coming evening, after what was expected to be a typically intense game of staff 5-a-side, I was aware that I was most likely burning the candle at both ends. Only time would tell I could keep going!

Anyway, here was the opportunity to make a prompt start on The Cloud G/SP-015 for my pre-work dawn activation, and I was pulling into the parking spot by 0635. Sean M0GIA hadn't turned up, despite his positive noises the previous evening. Ah well, to be fair, he would be at the end of his working "day" (night) in contrast to myself. The new wooden posts and railings are now all the way up the stairs on the right hand side, and commencing their journey down on the left. I am a little perplexed by their actual worth or purpose, but I guess it's all part of some masterplan or other.

It was a cold morning with a touch of damp in the air, as revealed by my headtorch. Dawn was just starting to break as I arrived on summit. Drat - I wanted more 'dark' time to investigate than that! Some stupidly early mornings will now be in order if I am to properly play greyline with the MM20.

I set up the 40m dipole and hunkered down, as usual, using the topograph to shelter from the wind, which was, unusually, south-easterly this morning. I made 25 QSOs on CW using the 7.031 and 7.032MHz QRGs. Ten DXCCs worked were HA, DL, S5, HB, SM, I, OK, EA, OE and F. I then switched to 7.112MHz SSB and listened into the activation of F/ON8OO/P on F/VL-025. I tried a few calls and a few "Summit to summit"s, but WFF was also in play and the pile-up was monstrous. I elected to leave it as an SWL log, and get myself to work on time instead! Many thanks to all who called in to work me.

HA4FY	40m	CW
HA7UG	40m	CW
DJ5AV	40m	CW
S58MU	40m	CW
HB9DAX	40m	CW
DL7URH	40m	CW
SE6Y	40m	CW
IK1AAS	40m	CW
OK1JGP	40m	CW
HA3FZ	40m	CW
IK3DRO	40m	CW
EC2DM	40m	CW
OK2QA	40m	CW
I2CZQ	40m	CW
OE3KAB	40m	CW
HG4GHJ	40m	CW
F8GAK	40m	CW
F8FKK	40m	CW
OE7PHI	40m	CW
DK9PS	40m	CW
F6EWB	40m	CW
DL2JES	40m	CW
EA5FTE	40m	CW
I3VAD	40m	CW
DL7VKD	40m	CW

Disaster. Monday 28th February 2011, and Marianne said to me "You can't do your contest tomorrow night because I'm going out". She tried to look stern but I'm sure there was a glint in her eye. I took it on the chin and accepted my fate, although nonetheless probably had a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp. I really didn't want to lose my lead in the 2m UKAC AL section as early as March.

Time to invoke Plan B. My brother owed me a favour, so I enquired as to his babysitting availability. The excuses were so tenuous that I suspected he actually didn't want to. So, where does every man turn to in times of trouble? His mum. And mine didn't let me down. I felt so glad that I had taken her to the Weston Balti for a slap up birthday meal on Sunday, and that she had really enjoyed it!

I took great joy in sharing the excellent news with Marianne as I returned home from work on Tuesday 1st March 2011, and enjoyed observing her feigned pleasure that I could still do my contest. It was nonetheless a frenetic and coordinated last minute preparation to have all the pre-requisites in place. I bought coal and kindling from the shop, caffeine free cola and dark chocolate from another, and went to pick my mum up. I motored to the Cloudside parking spot flicking between BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Stoke and Frank Sidebottom's 5:9:88 album, recently on CD for the first time ever.

There is something about those new wooden posts and stair-rails that flank the concrete stairway up to the National Trust land that makes me climb faster. Don't ask me what it is, I cannot explain it. But I'm not complaining, especially when it was in my interests to have a spare couple of minutes to my set-up window.

And that's all it was. My radio controlled clock displayed 19:58 as I plugged the microphone, paddle, feeder and power cable (from 7Ah SLAB) into my FT-817, having just assembled the SB5 and raised it to 4m AGL. Things got off to a real flyer with me running on 144.315MHz SSB and reaching the end of one pade of my waterproof notepad (21 logs) by 2013z. By 2100z, I was up to serial number 048, which was probably my best ever first hour performance. Going into S&P mode, the multiplier locator squares began to build up, and eventually totalled a satisfactory 15, even though IO82 proved elusive until given to me by a SOTA chaser 2E0XTL at 2149z.

At 2129z I worked G4JED for my final contact and serial number 100 - my first venture ever into a three figure serial in a VHF contest. This was pleasing, and testament both to the extremely healthy activity levels in the UK activity contests, and the SB5 antenna, for which I thank Richard G3CWI for the loan. I didn't bother with a nightcap at the Harrington Arms; I had a mother to run home and she was expecting me at 11pm. In the event, I arrived home at 11.05pm and found that Marianne had already driven her home 15 minutes earlier.

A super night, cold and dry on the summit, and loads of radio - excellent! Thanks to all the SOTA chasers that appeared in my log as part of their own contest participation and/or SOTA chasing. Recognised chasers included 2E0MAS, G8HXE, M0LMP, GW4EVX, G0VOF, 2E0PHJ, M0TGT, 2E0TDX, 2E0XYL, G4XPE, G0LGS, M3WDS, 2E0XTL, GW7AAV, 2E0BMO, M0COP and G0TRB. Cheers all.

2E0BZU	2m	SSB
G4APJ	2m	SSB
G4KUX	2m	SSB
M0PAI/P	2m	SSB
G8ONK	2m	SSB
2E0MAS	2m	SSB
G8DTF	2m	SSB
G3CWI	2m	SSB
2E0LES	2m	SSB
G6HFF	2m	SSB
2E0LKC	2m	SSB
G7WFE	2m	SSB
G2ANC	2m	SSB
M0ICK	2m	SSB
G8HXE	2m	SSB
M6DLT	2m	SSB
M3RNX	2m	SSB
M0LMP	2m	SSB
G7OEM	2m	SSB
M5HFJ	2m	SSB
M0TJU	2m	SSB
G0BWC/P	2m	SSB
G4YXS	2m	SSB
M6XJP	2m	SSB
2E0UOG	2m	SSB
G7IGB	2m	SSB
G0LVH	2m	SSB
G4FZN/P	2m	SSB
G0WTD	2m	SSB
G4MVU	2m	SSB
GM6TVR	2m	SSB
GW4EVX	2m	SSB
G1SWH	2m	SSB
M1NTO/P	2m	SSB
GM4JR	2m	SSB
G1SMI	2m	SSB
G8ZRE	2m	SSB
G3ZII	2m	SSB
G0XDI	2m	SSB
G4IRC	2m	SSB
G0NFH	2m	SSB
G0BBL/P	2m	SSB
G3VLG/P	2m	SSB
G8VHI	2m	SSB
M0TAV	2m	SSB
G3MEH	2m	SSB
GD8EXI	2m	SSB
G0VOF	2m	SSB
G0HFX/P	2m	SSB
G2BQY/P	2m	SSB
G4HGI	2m	SSB
GI4SNA	2m	SSB
2E0NEY	2m	SSB
G0MJW/P	2m	SSB
2E0PHJ	2m	SSB
M3OUA	2m	SSB
G3IOE	2m	SSB
M3XQV	2m	SSB
G0JCQ	2m	SSB
2E0XOJ	2m	SSB
G0CDA	2m	SSB
G4JLG	2m	SSB
M6NYL	2m	SSB
M3ZPJ	2m	SSB
G8HAV	2m	SSB
M0TGT/P	2m	SSB
2E0ORC	2m	SSB
M0GVG/P	2m	SSB
G3SPJ	2m	SSB
G8CUL	2m	SSB
M0JAV	2m	SSB
G4CLA	2m	SSB
2E0TDX	2m	SSB
2E0RHM/P	2m	SSB
2E0XYL	2m	SSB
G8MCA	2m	SSB
G3TA	2m	SSB
G8CLY	2m	SSB
G4XPE	2m	SSB
G0LGS	2m	SSB
M3WDS	2m	SSB
G4PWD	2m	SSB
M3LNU	2m	SSB
2E0XTL	2m	SSB
G6LNU	2m	SSB
M3XTL	2m	SSB
GW7AAV	2m	SSB
G4ENZ	2m	SSB
2E0SBM	2m	SSB
G4BCA	2m	SSB
2E0BMO	2m	SSB
M1MHZ	2m	SSB
G4DEZ	2m	SSB
M0COP/P	2m	SSB
M0WYB	2m	SSB
M0BRA	2m	SSB
G0TRB	2m	SSB
M6CNG	2m	SSB
G0IUE	2m	SSB
G4JED	2m	SSB

Exactly seven hours and fifty minutes after descending those stairs, I was climbing them again. The last thing I expected to be doing on Wednesday 2nd March 2011 was waking up, fresh and alert, at 0615z. Especially not after going to bed at 0130z the night before, after entering all my contest logs! Still, waste not want not, and I decided to use the opportunity to take another wee stroll. The mornings are getting lighter very quickly, and the headtorch was not even considered as I arrived at Cloudside at 0650z. Still feeling limbered up from the night before, I cruised up the stairs and onto the hill, for a really enjoyable, if short brisk walk.

I opted for the same south-western facing side of the topograph as I had used the night before, and conducted the very fast set-up of the 40m dipole. 25 minutes operating brought 19 QSOs into 8 DXCCs - DL, E7, HA, I, LA, OK, S5 and Z3. Many thanks to all chasers.

Then I descended and drove to work, a little apprehensive that my late night and early morning exertions might not have been ideal preparation for a lesson observation by my line manager scheduled for the morning. But then, perhaps it was, as it went well. Maybe I should make a habit of doing an activation before an important day at work.

DH0DK	40m	CW
IK3DRO	40m	CW
S51ZG	40m	CW
HA7UL	40m	CW
IK3GER	40m	CW
LA8BCA	40m	CW
DL4CW	40m	CW
HA0IT	40m	CW
DL1FU	40m	CW
DL3BRA	40m	CW
DF7US	40m	CW
HA5TI	40m	CW
Z35F	40m	CW
DL7VKD	40m	CW
OK2TBC	40m	CW
DL6CMK	40m	CW
DL2JES	40m	CW
DL4OCE	40m	CW
E77O	40m	CW

Thursday 3rd March 2011, and I was up early again. It was a beautiful bright and sunny morning, if a little cold at -4 degrees Celcius. The walk up flew by although I could feel the fatigue from a game of squash late the previous evening. I had the summit to myself, with no early morning dog walkers or exercise regimists passing over the hill. A reasonable run on 40m CW amounted to 13 contacts into seven DXCCs - DL, F, HA, LA, OE, S5 and YL, which I think is a new one for me on 40m for this year.

I packed away and descended in good time, and was able to drop into Pittshill Oatcakes on the way to work, for a bacon, sausage, mushroom and cheese oatcake for breakfast. I reasoned that with all the walking and squash I had been doing this week, that it was a luxury I could afford.

HA7UL	40m	CW
HA3FZ	40m	CW
LA8BCA	40m	CW
OE7PHI	40m	CW
DJ5AV	40m	CW
S55DX	40m	CW
S58MU	40m	CW
F8DZY	40m	CW
DJ5JH	40m	CW
YL2CA	40m	CW
DJ4XD	40m	CW
S51ZG	40m	CW
DL6UNF	40m	CW

Only one Cloud visit in the week - Tuesday 8th March 2011, and the RSGB 70cm UK Activity Contest. Cutting things fine as ever, I was set up and sat in position by 1950z, with just ten minutes of slack time. Opening up on 432.220MHz SSB, I enjoyed a reasonable run of contacts before reverting to mainly S&P style operating.

The SB6 (6 element 70cm beam assembly from the SB270 product) was fed with Aircell 7 cable from my Yaesu FT-817 running 5 watts. In February, I came a very close second to my friend Simon M0TGT. On that occasion, I had 9 multipliers in the log, whereas Simon had 10. But with me having a much higher QSO rate than him, the margin of defeat was only 86 points (out of about 37,000) - hence I figured that ekeing out the elusive tenth multiplier would be crucial, and I tracked them carefully during the event.

With IO94, IO81 and IO74 in the log relatively early, I had a decent start. The usual ones of IO83, IO93, IO92, IO91 and JO01 came in without difficulty. IO82 eventually arrived, somewhat later than usual, so that matched the previous month's nine. But where was that all-important number ten going to come from? I heard fleeting weak QSB-affected signals from two stations in JO02, heard GM4JR/P working other stations but not running, and suspected David GI4SNA in IO64 would be about somewhere, but never found him. Ultimately, after a few failed attempts to work G0AJJ/P in JO02, I did manage to contact G3PYE/P in the same square.

The final reckoning was 64 contacts into ten multiplier squares, and as I write this, currently leading the AL section of the contest. Furthermore, it seems my biggest rival, Mr TGT, did not enter this one, giving me a free shot at the 1000 points for winning the section! Nightcap at the Harrington Arms, Gawsworth, was the Robinsons "Hannibal's Nectar" ale.

M0PAI/P	70cm	SSB
G2ANC	70cm	SSB
2E0DHT	70cm	SSB
G4APJ	70cm	SSB
2E0TXT/P	70cm	SSB
G0WTD	70cm	SSB
G6HFF	70cm	SSB
G8ZRE	70cm	SSB
G6ORS/M	70cm	SSB
M5HFJ	70cm	SSB
2E0LES	70cm	SSB
2E0LMD	70cm	SSB
G1ORC/P	70cm	SSB
2E0UOG	70cm	SSB
GW8ASD	70cm	SSB
2E0PHJ	70cm	SSB
M1ZRP	70cm	SSB
G6SPG	70cm	SSB
G7HOA/P	70cm	SSB
2E0ORC	70cm	SSB
G1SMI	70cm	SSB
M3EYP	70cm	SSB
M3XQV	70cm	SSB
2E0XOJ	70cm	SSB
G0CDA	70cm	SSB
M3RNX	70cm	SSB
M0ICK	70cm	SSB
GW4EVX	70cm	SSB
G4FZN/P	70cm	SSB
MW0TTK	70cm	SSB
G8OHM	70cm	SSB
G0ODQ	70cm	SSB
G0TRB	70cm	SSB
G3XAN	70cm	SSB
G8DTF	70cm	SSB
2E0REG	70cm	SSB
G4CPE	70cm	SSB
G3SPJ	70cm	SSB
G4HGI	70cm	SSB
G4EPA	70cm	SSB
M3HBI	70cm	SSB
G8VHI	70cm	SSB
M0GHZ	70cm	SSB
M0GVG/P	70cm	SSB
M0COP/P	70cm	SSB
G3MEH	70cm	SSB
GD8EXI	70cm	SSB
M6XJP	70cm	SSB
M3ZPJ	70cm	SSB
G4JLG	70cm	SSB
G4NTY	70cm	SSB
G4CLA	70cm	SSB
G0CER	70cm	SSB
2E0XYL	70cm	SSB
2E0TDX	70cm	SSB
G4DHF	70cm	SSB
G8HCB/P	70cm	SSB
M0XDJ	70cm	SSB
G4LBH	70cm	SSB
G4MVU	70cm	SSB
M0JAV	70cm	SSB
G1EHF	70cm	SSB
M1MHZ	70cm	SSB
G3PYE/P	70cm	SSB

On Cloud 9. Let me explain.

Jimmy M3EYP got his latest two Maths and Further Maths A-Level modular results through this week - and they were an A in Mechanics 3 and an A* in Core 3. As a reward, he requested an activation on the Saturday, coupled with a pub meal and a couple of pints. Seemed reasonable! Captained the work staff football team to a surprise away victory in Crewe, versus one of the strongest school staff teams on the circuit on Friday evening.

Back to Saturday 12th March 2011, and The Cloud was the target, as Jimmy was yet to collect his 2011 activator point from there. M3EYP/P made 22 QSOs on 2m FM, while M1EYP/P made two on 2m FM and nine on 20m CW. However, it was the Commonwealth Contest, and those nine were 4 Canadians, 2 from Cyprus and 1 from British Military Bases, Cyprus (ZC4), plus 9M6 East Malaysia and VK - Australia! Both of these were brand new DXCCs for me, and quite thrilling to work them on a SOTA activation, running 5 watts into a simple aerial made of four lengths of wire!

But even that was not the end of the joy. While descending, I listened to BBC Radio 5 Live on my VX-7 and found that not only had Macclesfield Town won away at Northampton, but Port Vale had lost at home. Could it get better? Yes. We entered the Harrington Arms in Gawsworth and asked if they were serving grub. "Yes, I'll get you some menus" came the reply. But we had already spotted "Haggis Pie" on the specials board. "They won't be necessary" I responded, "Two of them!". Jimmy and I celebrated the football results, exam results and DX results with pints of Hannibal's Nectar ale. Does it get any better than this?

G8HXE	2m	FM	J
G6LKB	2m	FM	J
2E0XYL	2m	FM	J
2E0RCS	2m	FM	J
G6ODU	2m	FM	J
G4YLB	2m	FM	J
M3YYK	2m	FM	J
M3XIE	2m	FM	J
G4ZRP	2m	FM	J
M3WLP	2m	FM	J
M0MOL	2m	FM	J
G0SJS	2m	FM	J
M6MGB	2m	FM	J
9M6/VO1AU	20m	CW	T
MW3UDA	2m	FM	J
2E0TAJ	2m	FM	J
G4HZG/M	2m	FM	J
G3ZQC	2m	FM	J
2E0CDG/M	2m	FM	J
VY2SS	20m	CW	T
M3HGH	2m	FM	J
G0HRT	2m	FM	J
VK2BJ	20m	CW	T
M6RWN	2m	FM	J
2E0DHT	2m	FM	J
VE1RGB	20m	CW	T
VE3OI	20m	CW	T
P3J	20m	CW	T
XL3A	20m	CW	T
M3EYP/M	2m	FM	T
MW3ZCB/P on Pegwn Mawr MW-006	2m	FM	T
C4Z	20m	CW	T
ZC4LI	20m	CW	T

All our lottery lines matched two numbers I am informed. So looks like the winning streak ended sometime on Saturday evening. I was certainly thinking that - and questioning my own sanity - as I got up at 4.30am on Sunday 13th March 2011, and drove to Cloudside in heavy rain. And it was freezing cold as well. Bonkers. The ridiculously early start did mean a return of one of my favourite things - a headtorch-lit ascent in darkness. Even by early March, the need for torches is no more for a more typical 7am activation.

It was pretty horrid on the summit, cold blustery wind, squally sleet and rain and the whole surface of the place utterly filthy with mud churning up everywhere. Nonetheless, I was there to enjoy myself, so up went the MM20 and down I went by a side of the topograph, although no one face of it actually afforded much shelter. There was not any Commonwealth Contest activity to be found before daybreak, so I got into a run of my own on 14.015MHz CW. A few known chasers worked me as well as the usual interest from Ukraine, Russia and Bulgaria.

As the sun rose, I scanned around again, and fairly quickly found 5N7M, Nigeria. I tried, but couldn't get my signal through. I had plenty of time though and consoled myself with probably having another opportunity later. As it turned out, I didn't, and 5N was a getaway. But then I found ZA/I2GPT, working split down near the bottom of the band. This was a bigger treasure. For I have worked Nigeria before; it was on 24MHz CW from South Park in Macclesfield while Sean M0GIA and myself were testing the newly built MM12. Albania, however, had never been worked by me. The closest I ever got was a few Radio Tirana English Service QSL cards in my collection!

I fiddled through the 817 'F' menu to get the A/B split operation going, waited for the next invite to call, and keyed in my callsign. Worked him first time - result! My mood lifted, and no signs of any other Commnwealth stuff yet, I went to 14.022MHz to do some running for the SOTA chasers.

Despite being headed up by Phil who 'clustered' me, this run did not last long. It would have done if The Cloud had a WFF reference - but it does not, and it seems that particular programme has a lot of sorting out to do before it resumes issuing new area reference numbers. I didn't fully check the rules of the Commonwealth Contest in advance, but listening around to the activity, I deduced that (a) stations at both ends of the QSO must be in Commonwealth entities, and (b) contacts within the same Commonwealth entity are not valid. I did try to cheekily call the occasional GI or GM station when things got very quiet for them - and I needed them for the 2011 G3WGV UK CW Table - but was tactfully ignored. The exception was MD0CCE who kindly gave me a quick 599/599 exchange without serials.

Now more contest activity could be seen, although maybe not as much as the previous day, and of course many of the stations on had already been worked by me on the Saturday. I heard a VK station (VK6DXI) and worked him first call. This was followed by Gibraltar courtesy of ZB2EO, a very big signal. After another run for the chasers on 14.022MHz CW, I worked my second VK of the morning - and third of all-time with a surprisingly easy contact with VK2IM.

Then things got really exciting, but frustrating as well at the same time. I heard good signals from VP8ANO, ZL2BR, VK4EMM and ZL2AZ. I spent the last 45 minutes of the contest (0915 to 1000z) trying to call these stations, but couldn't get any of them to hear me. Oh well, I suppose I've had worse days!

It was a nasty old morning on Cloud summit, and I felt damp and cold and uncomfortable despite two fleeces, coat, hat, overtrousers and 100% indoor operation - bothy bag. Maybe being there for over four hours had something to do with it. On the way down, I met two guys walking the Gritstone Trail, having set out that morning from the Rushton Inn. We compared notes and compared accommodations used as I recounted my own Gritstone Trail walk of 2007. There was now a blue sky and sunshine, which was very nice, but five hours late in showing up!

Many thanks for all the calls today. Because I was hunting the DX again, the QSO rate was pitiful considering the amount of time up there. All the same, those 34 QSOs did include a ZA, a ZB and 2 VKs. Yes, I've definitely had worse days.

LZ1HBA	20m	CW
Z35F	20m	CW
UY2IW	20m	CW
G3WPF	20m	CW
UT5EOX	20m	CW
SV2DGJ	20m	CW
Z35G	20m	CW
UR5QA	20m	CW
UA4UAR	20m	CW
UA1OLM	20m	CW
LZ2RS	20m	CW
UT7IX	20m	CW
YO6MZ	20m	CW
US5VX	20m	CW
US5HE	20m	CW
UT2UB	20m	CW
ZA/I2GPT	20m	CW
G4OBK	20m	CW
RA1OW	20m	CW
UA9CGL	20m	CW
RW3CW	20m	CW
RX9WN	20m	CW
MD0CCE	20m	CW
VK6DXI	20m	CW
ZB2EO	20m	CW
HA5BPS/P	20m	CW
HA7UG	20m	CW
OE6GND	20m	CW
DJ5AV	20m	CW
S55DX	20m	CW
RU4HD	20m	CW
OE8SPW	20m	CW
S51RU	20m	CW
VK2IM	20m	CW

Wednesday 16th March 2011. I hadn't planned to do a before-work activation, but accidentally woke up at 5.30am. So I decided to go up The Cloud G/SP-015 and get a bit of fresh air before work. I used the MM20 again, and had a remarkably enjoyable activation. Operating from 0700 to 0753 UTC, I made 70 contacts on 20m CW. DXCCs were E7, EA, EA6, ES, EW, G, HA, I, LY, LZ, OE, OH, OK, OM, OZ, RA, S5, SP, UA2, UA9, UR, YO, Z3 - a pleasing 23 DXCCs including (I think) some new ones on 20m CW for 2011. I hope I keep waking up early - that was fun!

S51MF	20m	CW
HA2EQD	20m	CW
EA6UN	20m	CW
Z35F	20m	CW
RZ4FB	20m	CW
E74CN	20m	CW
UA1APR	20m	CW
RA1TU	20m	CW
RX6CB	20m	CW
UR0MZ	20m	CW
OM3LL	20m	CW
OH8US	20m	CW
HA0HW	20m	CW
SP8AWL	20m	CW
RX6FJ	20m	CW
G3WPF	20m	CW
OE4AAC	20m	CW
SP2EPV	20m	CW
S51ZG	20m	CW
UA0ZC	20m	CW
OH6NPV	20m	CW
HA7UG	20m	CW
R3DN	20m	CW
EA1SB	20m	CW
UT2GW	20m	CW
RA9MR	20m	CW
S58MU	20m	CW
RN3DAO	20m	CW
IK3DRO	20m	CW
UT8IU	20m	CW
RU4HD	20m	CW
OM3CFF	20m	CW
UX7ID	20m	CW
UA1AAU	20m	CW
RW9UCA	20m	CW
ES4RR	20m	CW
UA4PNV	20m	CW
RU2FZ	20m	CW
LY5G	20m	CW
RN3QVN	20m	CW
EW7EW	20m	CW
HA6ZQ	20m	CW
OK1PR	20m	CW
LZ2CF	20m	CW
S53AT	20m	CW
OK1MKI	20m	CW
RK2FWN	20m	CW
HA5KQ	20m	CW
RX3DLH	20m	CW
RV1OO	20m	CW
UA4PNV	20m	CW
IZ8OCU	20m	CW
UR5TKM	20m	CW
UT4LX	20m	CW
I2ZBX	20m	CW
EA4RU	20m	CW
UA4PNT	20m	CW
OM3LL	20m	CW
RN2DA	20m	CW
HA2AL	20m	CW
OE6WIG	20m	CW
RD3DM	20m	CW
E77O	20m	CW
UR3UI	20m	CW
OZ4RT	20m	CW
UT3IV	20m	CW
UR5FEL	20m	CW
OM8SL	20m	CW
UA9CBR	20m	CW
YO3BAP	20m	CW

The evening of Tuesday 22nd March 2011 saw my next SOTA trip up The Cloud G/SP-015. This was for the RSGB 6m UK Activity Contest, and was important for me - because I was not actually winning that one! However, being in 2nd place by only 35 points meant that a solid if not spectacular performance on the night should see me pull away in the lead again. (My 2011 6m campaign stuttered in the February session when I was away in IO94 and unable to properly research a suitable site. The multipliers came to my rescue that night and kept me 'in the mix' even though I lost my lead).

I ascended the hill at dusk, switching on my headlamp about halfway up as a precaution against twisting my ankle on uneven ground. At the top I realised I hadn't packed a guying ring for the pole, but I did have the back-guy from the 80m dipole, so I set up the 6m delta loop with that instead to keep things upright. In fact, I found that this was a much easier and quicker way to set up this antenna, and that I could get the shape of the loop right first time without any trial and error. It was a little more tricky to change the direction of the antenna - but not majorly difficult, so I think this will be the way to go from now on.

Conditions seemed to be very good down into IO91 square, from where there was plenty of activity as well. Squares worked were IO64, IO71, IO80, IO81, IO82, IO83, IO84, IO91, IO92, IO93, JO01 and JO03. IO85, IO94 and JO02 were heard briefly around the band, but not found to work myself. As usual there were a few SOTA chasers worked - they were participating in the contest as well, but did want the SOTA reference.

It was a very nice March evening. A clear night sky saw Orion watching my every move as it leant over me, the temperature was mild and hardly a breath of wind. The downside to this was that the midges were bothering. One doesn't expect that particular inconvenience at 10.30pm on a March night on The Cloud!

The final reckoning of 57 QSOs into 12 multiplier squares saw me comfortably leading the AL section after entering the data - although only three AL entrants had submitted their logs by then! I managed to pack away and descend very quickly for once, and was in the Harrington Arms just after 11pm. A delicious pint of Ginger Tom Ale, a Spearings beef pie and mustard, and a pack of Hearty Beef Winter Warmer Burts crisps was the enjoyable conclusion to the evening.

G4APJ	6m	SSB
M6DLT	6m	SSB
G4UKP	6m	SSB
G3XNO	6m	SSB
2E0XOJ	6m	SSB
GW4EVX	6m	SSB
G4GIQ	6m	SSB
G2ANC	6m	SSB
G4TSW	6m	SSB
G1LDC	6m	SSB
G7HOA	6m	SSB
M3ZPJ	6m	SSB
M3EYP	6m	SSB
G3ZOD	6m	CW
G8APB	6m	SSB
G4DEZ	6m	SSB
G4ELJ	6m	SSB
G6TGO	6m	SSB
GW4ZAR/P	6m	SSB
M0WLF	6m	SSB
G0TRB	6m	SSB
G1PUV	6m	SSB
G0CER	6m	SSB
G4ENZ	6m	SSB
G3ZKN	6m	SSB
2E0YYY	6m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	6m	SSB
G0WTD	6m	SSB
G8CUL	6m	SSB
M0NUT/P	6m	SSB
G4HGI	6m	SSB
M0GVG/P	6m	SSB
G0VOF	6m	SSB
G3SMT	6m	SSB
GW6TEO	6m	SSB
GW8ASD	6m	SSB
G8ZRE	6m	SSB
G6HFF	6m	SSB
G0EHV/P	6m	SSB
M6OXO	6m	SSB
M3OUA	6m	SSB
M0COP/P	6m	SSB
G1SWH	6m	SSB
G4JED	6m	SSB
G3WZK	6m	SSB
G7IVF/P	6m	SSB
2E0BMO	6m	SSB
2E0REG	6m	SSB
M0XDJ/P	6m	SSB
G4ASR	6m	SSB
MW6UPH	6m	SSB
G3MEH	6m	SSB
G6UBM	6m	SSB
G8ONK	6m	SSB
M6XJP	6m	SSB
GI4SNA	6m	SSB
G3VCA	6m	SSB

Eek - a whole fortnight without walking up The Cloud G/SP-015. Still, the 2m UK Activity Contest on Tuesday 5th April 2011 was sure to bring the radio silence to an end. It was refreshing to complete the entire ascent, set-up and initial activity in daylight. The thick grey cloud was worrying though. Even though the weather forecast had promised it would remain dry, I could feel a certain dampness in the air. Other contesters having pre-1900z natters on 2m SSB concurred that they expected it to rain. The forecasters got it right though.

Activity was good in the contest, but QRM and QSB was a problem throughout the night. I reached my target of 14 multipliers relatively early on the night, but was unable to add to it, missing the action from IO70, IO73, IO75 and IO84. A fifteenth square was worked - my best DX of the night, F8BRK, 460km into IN99, but alas not a multiplier!

I missed the S2S with MW6OXO/P on Esgeiriau Gwynion GW/NW-031, but I saw that the spot had later disappeared, so maybe he didn't operate for the contest from the summit. It would have been a long and tricky descent in darkness and damp fog on not the easiest of terrain, so no surprise if he did cancel the SOTA element to his contest evening.

The wind across the summit was stiff enough at 8pm, but it steadily increased through the night. By 9.15pm, I noticed that the load of the 5 element beam in the wind was stressing the pole somewhat, so I lowered it to just 2m AGL for the remainder of the contest. I still managed to work my remaining target squares after that, which were IO64 and JO03. Final tally was 67 QSOs, significantly down on the 100 made in March, but cushioned by the 14 multipliers. At the time of writing, I am leading the AL section, but with reduced confidence that I will end up making it four out of four in the 2m series.

I was pleased to discover that the Harrington Arms still ad the Robinsons Ginger Tom ale on, as it really is an excellent pint. Spearings meat pie, English mustard, blah blah blah, you know the rest.

M3EYP	2m	SSB
M0SJS	2m	SSB
G4APJ	2m	SSB
M3ZPJ	2m	SSB
M3OUA	2m	SSB
2E0DHT/A	2m	SSB
MX0SRA/P	2m	SSB
M3RNX	2m	SSB
2E0ORC	2m	SSB
G1SWH	2m	SSB
GM4JR	2m	SSB
G4FZN/P	2m	SSB
G4CLA	2m	SSB
M0GHZ/P	2m	SSB
G0WTD	2m	SSB
G4NTY	2m	SSB
G4HGI	2m	SSB
G3MEH	2m	SSB
G0GRI/P	2m	SSB
F8BRK	2m	SSB
G0HFX/P	2m	SSB
M0MST/P	2m	SSB
G1TST	2m	SSB
M0MCV	2m	SSB
GD8EXI	2m	SSB
G0AFH	2m	SSB
M0COP/P	2m	SSB
MI0SMK/P	2m	SSB
G4RRA	2m	SSB
G0XDI	2m	SSB
G7LFC	2m	SSB
2E0LMD	2m	SSB
G0VOF	2m	SSB
G3PYE/P	2m	SSB
G3HRH	2m	SSB
GW8ASD	2m	SSB
M0TAV	2m	SSB
G8DTF	2m	SSB
G0LGS/P	2m	SSB
G4PBP	2m	SSB
M0GTR/P	2m	SSB
G7HOA/P	2m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	2m	SSB
GI4SNA	2m	SSB
M0GVG/P	2m	SSB
G4DEZ	2m	SSB
G2ANC	2m	SSB
M0WYB	2m	SSB
M6ASL	2m	SSB
G4IRC	2m	SSB
2E0YYY	2m	SSB
M6OUT	2m	SSB
G8ZRE	2m	SSB
G3VCA	2m	SSB
G8VYK	2m	SSB
M0NUT/P	2m	SSB
G4JLG	2m	SSB
G3TTC/P	2m	SSB
G6MML	2m	SSB
G0OPH	2m	SSB
MW6UPH	2m	SSB
G0TRB	2m	SSB
G0CER	2m	SSB
M0ICK	2m	SSB
G6ZGB	2m	SSB
2E0LES	2m	SSB
M1MHZ	2m	SSB

So, to Tuesday 12th April 2011, the RSGB 70cm UK Activity Contest, and my 401st activation of The Cloud. Driving down my road, I felt sure I had forgotten something. Fortunately, I was barely 200 yards from my front door when it dawned on me that my headtorch was still in the shack!

Arriving on Cloudside, and there was Mickey 2E0YYY. We had arranged to meet so he could give me some RG58 for use at the school and for a couple of other jobs, and I could pass him three of the new SOTA car stickers. Never one to miss a 'pointless' SOTA opportunity, Mickey joined me for the ascent on which we had a good natter.

I set up the SB6 70cm SOTA Beam by the topograph, while Mickey strapped a pole, with a SOTA Beams MFD slotted on top of it, to the trig point. He got cracking with a 2m FM activation, assuring me he would go QRT at 8pm if it caused me any QRM ten feet away. It did not, and we operated simultaneous for over an hour before Mike packed away and descended.

I finished with 63 QSOs and 11 multipliers - which would have won me the session in January, February or March - but now G4HGI has dropped into the AL (10 watts) section and providing stiff competition. He thrashed me in the 2m the previous week, and sounded like he was going better than me in the last hour of the contest this time. Maybe time to start investigating a beam with more elements, but without making things too cumbersome for SOTA.

It was horribly cold by packing-up time, so I was less than impressed that the midges were still bothering. It was straight to the Harrington Arms for a pint of Robbies Ginger Tom, and a free-help-yourself invitation to two trays of sandwiches and pies, left over from a funeral wake held at the pub. The barmaid remarked "He wasn't as popular as they thought he was..."! Thanks to all callers.

G1ORC/P	70cm	SSB
2E0TXT/P	70cm	SSB
M1ZRP	70cm	SSB
G4APJ	70cm	SSB
G4IOQ	70cm	SSB
G8HCB	70cm	SSB
G6HFF	70cm	SSB
M3ZPJ	70cm	SSB
2E0ORC	70cm	SSB
2E0LES	70cm	SSB
M3OUA	70cm	SSB
2E0PHJ	70cm	SSB
M6OXO/P	70cm	SSB
M6XJP	70cm	SSB
2E0UOG	70cm	SSB
G8ONK	70cm	SSB
M3RNX	70cm	SSB
G8DTF	70cm	SSB
2E0RDU	70cm	SSB
2E0BMO	70cm	SSB
GW4ZAR	70cm	SSB
M6CWA/P	70cm	SSB
M3UVM/P	70cm	SSB
2E0DHT	70cm	SSB
GW8ASD	70cm	SSB
M5HFJ	70cm	SSB
G0CER	70cm	SSB
M3EYP	70cm	SSB
G0OWP	70cm	SSB
G4HSS	70cm	SSB
M6NYL	70cm	SSB
G4NTY	70cm	SSB
M0GVG/P	70cm	SSB
G4CLA	70cm	SSB
2E0LKC	70cm	SSB
G8OHM	70cm	SSB
M0JAV	70cm	SSB
M0XDJ/P	70cm	SSB
GM4JR	70cm	SSB
G8VHI	70cm	SSB
G0ODQ	70cm	SSB
M0GHZ	70cm	SSB
G7HOA/P	70cm	SSB
G4HGI	70cm	SSB
G4JLG	70cm	SSB
G3XAN	70cm	SSB
G4TGQ	70cm	SSB
G0LGS	70cm	SSB
M1CNY/P	70cm	SSB
G8ZRE	70cm	SSB
G0WTD	70cm	SSB
GI6ATZ	70cm	SSB
GI4SNA	70cm	SSB
GD8EXI	70cm	SSB
G0XDI/P	70cm	SSB
G4NBS	70cm	SSB
M6MGB	70cm	SSB
2E0KDM	70cm	SSB
G4MVU	70cm	SSB
G7APD	70cm	SSB
G1SWH	70cm	SSB
G4ODA	70cm	SSB
2E0YYY	70cm	SSB

After discovering that a typo (035 instead of 033) in my RSGB contest web entry demoted me from 1st to 2nd place in the April 70cm, I was fuming. The correct 033 was clear as a bell in my logbook as well!

On Tuesday 26th April 2011, after working my adversary G4HGI and exchanging a smaller serial than he gave me, my mood wasn't exactly lifted. Nonetheless, it was good to be on The Cloud G/SP-015 and playing radio again. It was a late tea-time at chateaux de eyp, and I had to leave without a feed. Throughout the contest my tummy rumbled louder than the noise floor. I wasn't sure whether this was a good or a bad thing.

Also on summit was Richard G3CWI/P, operating in the 10GHz of the SHF contest, which now occurs simultaneously with the 6m event that I was doing. He made one QSO, which appeared to meet his pre-determined target, and he was soon packing away and descending after that. I continued to call and work through the FT-817 and 6m delta loop through 'til 10.30pm BST, finally reahcing 58 QSOs. Some multipliers were missing, such as IO64, IO74, IO75 and JO01, but compensated by the unexpected appearance of IO73, IO80, IO86 and IO95, the latter appearing in my logbook for the very first time.

Mindful that my uneaten tea would await me when I got home, I gave the pie & pint-at-the-pub routine a miss. But when I got home, it appeared that certain individuals whose names might begin with a J or an L had eaten my tea as seconds to theirs. There was nothing for it but to go to bed and wait for breakfast. Thanks to all the following stations worked in the contest from the summit:

GW8IZR	6m	SSB
G4APJ	6m	SSB
GW4EVX	6m	SSB
GW8ASD	6m	SSB
G4IOQ	6m	SSB
G0MLC	6m	SSB
G2ANC	6m	SSB
2E0UOG	6m	SSB
M6NYL	6m	SSB
G8ONK	6m	SSB
G0LGS/P	6m	SSB
G7DWY	6m	SSB
M3WDS/P on Cleeve Hill CE-001	6m	SSB
G0NAJ	6m	SSB
G1ORC/P	6m	SSB
M3EYP	6m	SSB
G4SCY	6m	SSB
M6XJP	6m	SSB
M0WBN	6m	SSB
G8MKC/P	6m	SSB
M1DDD/P	6m	SSB
G7HOA/P	6m	SSB
GM4ZUK/P	6m	SSB
G3HIU	6m	SSB
M1CNY/P	6m	SSB
M0WLF	6m	SSB
GW4ZAR/P	6m	SSB
G4ELJ	6m	SSB
M0GVG/P	6m	SSB
G4DEZ	6m	SSB
G8APB	6m	SSB
G7APD	6m	SSB
G3ZOD	6m	CW
G3MEH	6m	SSB
G4FZN/P	6m	SSB
G8ZRE	6m	SSB
G4HGI	6m	SSB
M0NUT/P	6m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	6m	SSB
G6HFF	6m	SSB
M6OXO	6m	SSB
G3PYE/P	6m	SSB
G3JDT	6m	SSB
2E0BMO	6m	SSB
G0CER	6m	SSB
M3ZPJ	6m	SSB
G0OWP	6m	SSB
G3WGQ	6m	SSB
G1SMI	6m	SSB
G3NGD	6m	SSB
G4NDM	6m	SSB
G0WTD/P	6m	SSB
M3RNX	6m	SSB
2E0LKC	6m	SSB
G8CUL	6m	SSB
G3SVD	6m	SSB
G4TSW	6m	SSB
G3VCA	6m	SSB

Just a day after returning from the long Bank Holiday weekend in the Lake District, and still tired and aching from that trip, the May 2m UK Activity Contest was upon me. Tuesday 3rd May 2011, and it was back to more familar territory as I ascended The Cloud G/SP-015 on a dry but windy early summer evening.

The number of QSOs was not hugely impressive at 76, but the multiplier total was quite healthy at 17. Only IO84 and IO90 were "missed" on the night, from my perspective, but in the log were IO64, 73, 74, 75, 80, 81, 82, 83, 85, 91, 92, 93, 94 and JO00, 01, 02 and 03. JO00 was the undoubted highlight, and I was pleased to snag IO94 right at the death.

Other aspects of note included a S2S contact with GM4GUF/P on Tinto SS-064, and a runner who sat by me for a while appearing to show an interest - before passing me a leaflet that advised me of the path I should be taking in life. I guess he meant well. The disappointment of the 70cms logging error that cost me top place in April was partly anaesthetised by the news just in of my win in the April 6m, and a solid looking 1st place in this one, at the time of writing. A pint and read of the paper in the Harrington Arms rounded off the night in typical fashion. Thanks to all the following stations, all worked during the course of the evening's activity contest:

G3CWI

2m

SSB

2E0DHT

2m

SSB

G4HZG

2m

SSB

2E0BMO

2m

SSB

G4TCZ

2m

SSB

G1ORC/P

2m

SSB

G4APJ

2m

SSB

M3RNX

2m

SSB

G3XNO

2m

SSB

G4JLG

2m

SSB

M6NYL

2m

SSB

G2ANC

2m

SSB

M3ZPJ

2m

SSB

G6HFF

2m

SSB

MR3EYP

2m

SSB

G3UD

2m

SSB

2E0ORC

2m

SSB

2E0TXT/P

2m

SSB

G8DTF

2m

SSB

GW8IZR

2m

SSB

G0CER

2m

SSB

M6ASL

2m

SSB

G8EOP

2m

SSB

2E0LES

2m

SSB

G1HSG/P

2m

SSB

GW8ASD

2m

SSB

G7DWY

2m

SSB

M6XJP

2m

SSB

G8ZRE

2m

SSB

GR8APB

2m

SSB

GW7AAV

2m

SSB

G8EKG

2m

SSB

M5HFJ

2m

SSB

G4AJE

2m

SSB

G0TPH

2m

SSB

M0TAV

2m

SSB

G4FPJ

2m

SSB

G4JZF

2m

SSB

MR0WAY

2m

SSB

G0XDI/P

2m

SSB

M6OUT

2m

SSB

G0WTD

2m

SSB

2E0NEY

2m

SSB

M0GVG/P

2m

SSB

M0COP/P

2m

SSB

G8VHI

2m

SSB

G0HFX/P

2m

SSB

G7HOA/P

2m

SSB

GD8EXI

2m

SSB

GW4EVX

2m

SSB

GI4SNA

2m

SSB

MI0SMK/P

2m

SSB

G3ZII

2m

SSB

GS6PYE/P

2m

SSB

M1MHZ

2m

SSB

M0BRA

2m

SSB

G7APD

2m

SSB

M0GHZ/P

2m

SSB

M0WYB

2m

SSB

G4DEZ

2m

SSB

M1CNY/P

2m

SSB

G3ORY

2m

SSB

G0VVE

2m

SSB

M0DXR/P

2m

SSB

G4HGI

2m

SSB

G3WFK/P

2m

SSB

GM4JR

2m

SSB

GM4GUF/P on Tinto SS-064

2m

SSB

G1SMI

2m

SSB

M0ICK

2m

SSB

G8SRC/P

2m

SSB

G3MEH

2m

SSB

M3OUA

2m

SSB

G3TTC/P

2m

SSB

G6UBM

2m

SSB

G4FZN/P

2m

SSB

Monday 9th May 2011, and the last of the 11 days of my special Royal Wedding prefix NoV. I had used it extensively in the Lake District on SOTA activations during the Royal Wedding/May Day bank holiday weekend, and got quite a bit of joy airing it from home this last weekend. But it needed something to finish with, rather than just whimper out with the clock.

Hence the decision was made for an early one on The Cloud G/SP-015. These pre-work activations have become increasingly less frequent of late, but an effort needed to be made. Walking in bright early morning sunshine, I noted further improvements to the stone cottage beside the initial track, disturbed briefly by the barking of the now resident dog. The staircase ascent was not as painful as anticipated, and I do not remember much about the final ascent up through the National Trust land. Most probably I was still asleep. Or thinking deeply about something. But probably asleep.

By the topograph, I set up the MM20 and settled down for a bit of activating. Between 0605 and 0639 UTC, I worked 23 stations into Europe and Asiatic Russia on 14.022MHz CW. Then a station could be heard calling quite strongly beneath me. I took a listen, and it was VK8CAW. I had a couple of goes at returning to him, but without success. I did listen with interest to his relaxed rag-chew QSO with an EA8 station though. Moving down to 14.015MHz CW, I put out another call, and worked W4HG, which was pleasing. I packed away and put out some calls on the 2m FM HT, adding three stations to the log.

By the time I had returned to the car, I realised I was running late. I did not manage to recover this on my drive to work, so dispensed with the idea of changing into my suit, and crept into briefing - on time - but in my walking gear. After all announcements, I made a sharp exit to get changed and hoped no-one had noticed - or that I had passed as a P.E. teacher! Thanks for the calls.

UA4NCE	20m	CW
S51ZG	20m	CW
S58MU	20m	CW
SP2DX	20m	CW
EU6AA	20m	CW
HA6ZG	20m	CW
HA7UG	20m	CW
OE6WIG	20m	CW
OK1FHD	20m	CW
OK2RU	20m	CW
HA5KY	20m	CW
RV4AB	20m	CW
I0NNY	20m	CW
RZ3DC	20m	CW
UX1DC	20m	CW
OK2PAU	20m	CW
RN2FQ	20m	CW
RX9WN	20m	CW
S52ON	20m	CW
RM9T	20m	CW
OK2SG	20m	CW
UA4HBM	20m	CW
OK1AAZ	20m	CW
W4HC	20m	CW
GR3CWI/M	2m	FM
GW0WTT	2m	FM
GW6MXJ	2m	FM

And the following day, Tuesday 10th May 2011, brought around yet another SOTA activation of The Cloud G/SP-015, this time on 70cm SSB in the RSGB UK Activity Contest. I managed to ascend the hill in good time, which was useful as three large groups of runners all seemed to be in friendly, sociable and interested mode, and wanted to know all about my activity. Even though most of them concluded with "Oh yes, we have met you up here before".

The first minute of the contest was poor - I did not make a contact! But then things soon took off, although it meant an unplanned early use of S+P style operating. My second contact of the night yielded the best DX - F8BRK in IN99 square. Most multipliers were in the bag in the first hour, with the remaining targets in my mental checklist soon to follow. The final total was 66 QSOs into 13 multipliers, two squares better than I normally manage on 70cm, and that did not include the IN99 which does not count as a mult in these contests.

Bryn G4DEZ did not appear to be participating, although I later learned he had been uncharacteristically searching and pouncing. So JO03 was missed, as was IO70 which I believe was worked by some others. Squares worked were IN99, IO64, IO74, IO75, IO81, IO82, IO83, IO84, IO85, IO91, IO92, IO93, JO01 and JO02. I did occasionally call on FM and CW, but without any resulting contacts.

One station in IO83 caused problems of 200kHz-wide noise throughout most of the contest. Several other stations noted this and at least one that I know of reported this to him on air. That made things quite difficult for me at times, but overall I have to be pleased with the night.

As I completed my descent, residents of the recently refurbished cottage near the parking area looked suspiciously out of the window at me walking with my headlamp at 10.55pm. They should get used to it, but I hope they remember that the track outside their new home is a public right of way. The Harrington Arms in Gawsworth provided supper of Spearings beef pie and mustard, Nandos peri-peri chicken crisps and a nightcap of a pint of Robinsons Dizzy Blonde. Delicious.

G7APD	70cm	SSB
F8BRK	70cm	SSB
G8OHM	70cm	SSB
2E0LES	70cm	SSB
G0HIK/P	70cm	SSB
G4FPJ	70cm	SSB
M3EYP	70cm	SSB
2E0XOJ	70cm	SSB
M3OUA	70cm	SSB
2E0DHT	70cm	SSB
G4APJ	70cm	SSB
G0NAJ	70cm	SSB
G3WFK/P	70cm	SSB
G6HFF	70cm	SSB
G1ORC/P	70cm	SSB
G0LGS/P	70cm	SSB
2E0BZU	70cm	SSB
2E0TXT/P	70cm	SSB
2E0BMO	70cm	SSB
M0JAV	70cm	SSB
M0ICK	70cm	SSB
MW6OXO/P	70cm	SSB
G8CTJ	70cm	SSB
GW4EVX	70cm	SSB
G8DTF	70cm	SSB
2E0ORC	70cm	SSB
G0HRZ	70cm	SSB
M6NYL	70cm	SSB
GD8EXI	70cm	SSB
M0CES/P	70cm	SSB
G4HGI	70cm	SSB
GW3ATZ	70cm	SSB
M0GVG/P	70cm	SSB
G1SMI	70cm	SSB
M1CNY/P	70cm	SSB
M0COP/P	70cm	SSB
G8VHI	70cm	SSB
G3SPJ	70cm	SSB
G1SWH	70cm	SSB
GM4JR	70cm	SSB
G0ODQ	70cm	SSB
G4JLG	70cm	SSB
M3ZPJ	70cm	SSB
G4CLA	70cm	SSB
G0WTD	70cm	SSB
M5HFJ	70cm	SSB
2E0HRD/P	70cm	SSB
G0XDI/P	70cm	SSB
2E0PHJ	70cm	SSB
G7HOA/P	70cm	SSB
G4NTY	70cm	SSB
2E0UOG	70cm	SSB
M6XJP	70cm	SSB
GM4CXM	70cm	SSB
GW8ASD	70cm	SSB
G3XAN	70cm	SSB
GI6ATZ	70cm	SSB
G2ANC	70cm	SSB
GI4SNA	70cm	SSB
G8ONK	70cm	SSB
G4NBS	70cm	SSB
G3MEH	70cm	SSB
G4BRA/P	70cm	SSB
G8MKC/P	70cm	SSB
M3HBI	70cm	SSB
M0RDW	70cm	SSB

Back to The Cloud before work on the morning of Monday 23rd May 2011. All part of a 3 month masterplan to create a leaner meaner fitter sharper M1EYP before the end of August. I got up at 5.30am BST (0430z), but had breakfast at home (cereal - all part of the plan). The ascent of the hill was quick and enjoyable, and the sky, although dark grey, never genuinely threatened to open up.

On 20m CW, I made 24 QSOs into 15 DXCCs in a 35 minute operating spell: 4O, DL, E7, HA, HB, I, OE, OK, OZ, RA, SM, SP, SV, YO and YU. Calls on 2m and 70cm FM from the handy remained unanswered. Thanks to the regular chasers that called in - always a pleasure.

HA7UG	20m	CW
DH3SW	20m	CW
OK1DM	20m	CW
SV2DGJ	20m	CW
E73XL	20m	CW
HB9BIN	20m	CW
OE6WIG	20m	CW
I5FLN	20m	CW
YO2BBX	20m	CW
DK1IO	20m	CW
DF2UD	20m	CW
SP9FZC	20m	CW
SQ8LEI	20m	CW
DK2SG	20m	CW
DK3WM	20m	CW
HA5TI	20m	CW
HA8BE	20m	CW
SM7YIN	20m	CW
UA1AJ	20m	CW
SQ9DH	20m	CW
YT7EC	20m	CW
OZ4RT	20m	CW
4O/S59AA	20m	CW
YO4ASG	20m	CW

Well the doctor never mentioned my weight, belly, diet or beer consumption. But as I had made the decision to quit curry (etc) and alcohol for three months, there was no going back, even though the doctor did not require it after all. So, as the rest of the family were sitting down to roast leg of lamb and all the trimmings on Tuesday 24th May 2011, I got in the car and drove out to Cloudside. I did not worry unduly about the lack of a post-activation pie and pint in the Harrington Arms in prospect, as I was looking forward to the 50MHz Backpackers Contest.

I think the 50MHz BP was held on two Sunday afternoons until last year, but now it takes place alongside the 6m UKACs in the months of May, June, July and August. The Backpacker rules require a 10 watt limit and other restrictions similar to the AL (low power - 10w) section of the activity contests, and also that equipment is carried at least 100m from the transportation vehicle. So all my 6m UKAC AL activations qualify for the 50MHz BP, as all take place from the summit of The Cloud G/SP-015, one third of a mile away from, and 80m higher than my car!

I was set up with the 817 and delta loop nice and early, and noticed that the band was open with sporadic E. A HA station was heard loudly calling CQ, so I replied and an easy two-way contact followed. I hoped to work him again in the contest. Two G stations were worked as I hopefully called CQ on 50.095MHz CW, but it was clear that the sporadic E was being sporadic - and disappearing.

So it was back to normal fayre after 8pm in the contest, with most of the usual squares worked. However, high noise and congestion levels on the band made things difficult and the over rate was slow. The resulting 49 QSOs and 11 multipliers have put me into the lead in the 6m Backpackers, but only 3rd in the UKAC AL at the time of writing. Just one or two of the DX contacts in HA, S5 or YO near the start of the contest would have given me, with my multipliers, the extra 20,000 points to be competitive.

Also on the summit, for the first 75 minutes or so, was Richard G3CWI, operating in the SHF UKAC on 10GHz. Like last month he made his one contact, packed up and left. Smash-and-grab selfishness of the highest order! So with the absence of the usual post-contest nightcap, I was home for 11.15pm, and preparing for an early outing the following morning. Thanks to all stations worked:

HA8DM	6m	CW
G0WRS	6m	CW
G3ZOD	6m	CW
G3WPF	6m	CW
GW8ASD	6m	SSB
G8ZRE	6m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	6m	SSB
G4APJ	6m	SSB
G4FPJ	6m	SSB
M6OXO	6m	SSB
M0OBW	6m	SSB
G0CER	6m	SSB
G3WFK	6m	SSB
M0COP/P	6m	SSB
M3RNX	6m	SSB
GI4SNA	6m	SSB
M0GVG/P	6m	SSB
M0WLF	6m	SSB
M0DSR	6m	SSB
G7DWY	6m	SSB
G1SMI	6m	SSB
G8APB	6m	SSB
G4HGI	6m	SSB
GW4EVX/P	6m	SSB
GW4ZAR/P	6m	SSB
G0WTD	6m	SSB
2E0BMO	6m	SSB
M1CNY/P	6m	SSB
G0LGS/P	6m	SSB
G4ZRP	6m	SSB
G4FZN/P	6m	SSB
GI6ATZ	6m	SSB
G8ONK	6m	SSB
G3GIZ	6m	SSB
G1SWH	6m	SSB
G3JDT	6m	SSB
G3MEH	6m	SSB
M3OUA	6m	SSB
2E0UOG	6m	SSB
G4BDO/P	6m	SSB
M0ICK	6m	SSB
M3EYP	6m	SSB
G0EHV/P	6m	SSB
G4DEZ	6m	SSB
2E0VXX/P	6m	SSB
G3CWI	6m	SSB
M0NUT/P	6m	SSB
G8MKC/P	6m	SSB
M0EMM	6m	SSB
G4ELJ	6m	SSB
GM4JR	6m	SSB

I awoke with my radio alarm at 5.30am BST on the morning of Wednesday 25th May 2011. I must have drifted off to sleep again, because I found myself waking up to my radio a second time. Blow! A pre-work SOTA opportunity missed. Then I glanced at the clock to see 5.35am, and realised I must have only been back asleep again for a minute or so!

And by now, I was wide awake, enabling a swift departure from the house. I was QRV from The Cloud G/SP-015 by 6.50am and entering the first contact - with S51HU - in the log at 0551z. Next in was U3AZ which confused me as I had never seen such a prefix before - but it turns out he is in Moscow.

End result - 21 contacts, and an early pack-away, leading to an early arrival at work. A lovely mild morning with lots of sunshine and a gentle breeze - a nice way to start the day. Thanks to:

S51HU	20m	CW
U3AZ	20m	CW
SP5FHF	20m	CW
RN6AJ	20m	CW
SP9GFI	20m	CW
S58AL	20m	CW
M0AMS	20m	CW
OK2LI	20m	CW
YU7RQ	20m	CW
RG3C	20m	CW
LY4C	20m	CW
IK3DRO	20m	CW
OM3TYC	20m	CW
SP5ARP	20m	CW
IK5FKB	20m	CW
OK2PHQ	20m	CW
RZ3GV	20m	CW
OK1KC	20m	CW
S51ZG	20m	CW
IZ0AYM	20m	CW
UU2JQ	20m	CW

Thanks to all who made the effort to get out of bed early and listen for me. It was much appreciated. It nearly didn't happen, for I dozed off (again) after my first alarm setting, but this time for 30 minutes until the second one went off. Thankfully, I was then able to get cracking and made up much of the lost time.

I was calling CQ on 3.653MHz SSB just after 7am local on Thursday 26th May 2011, and it didn't take long to be working the chasers. Nine QSOs were made - 7 into G, and one each into GW and GM. I then worked two of the stations again on 3.557MHz CW. It looks like everyone who voted for the 'winner' (80m SSB) was true to their word and called me. I heard Geoff G6MZX calling, but he had disappeared when I called him in.

The rain arrived at 0620z, and I packed up and left. It was quite heavy by the time I reached the car on Cloudside, but the heater dried me off on the drive to work. It was a pity that I wasn't heard in Germany, but I intended activating again the following morning... Thanks to the following stations:

G0VOF	80m	SSB
GM7UAU	80m	SSB
G8BVJ	80m	SSB
G3RMD	80m	SSB
M6WSB	80m	SSB
G8ADD	80m	SSB
M6HBS	80m	SSB
M0LEP	80m	SSB
GW0NUP/P	80m	SSB
G0VOF	80m	CW
GW0NUP/P	80m	CW

Friday 27th May 2011 saw my fifth daily consecutive Cloud activation of the working week. Another successful early get-up meant that I was QRV on 40m CW by 0550z. Ten stations were worked before things went quiet and I switched up 30kHz to 7.062MHz SSB. The next contact - with Mark G0VOF - was extraordinary, almost like a fully quietening 2m FM QSO with a station in the same town. It was then a pleasure to speak for the first time with David EC2DM, who I have worked several times on CW, including in that segment of my operation earlier.

Back on 7.032MHz CW, three more stations were worked, bringing the QSO count to 15 and the DXCC count to 10 - CT, DL, EA, F, G, HA, I, LA, OK and S5. My SLAB was flat, and I was working on 500mW by the end. I had a listen on 15m and heard a DX station working a pile-up - A7 I think it was. However, I just didn't have enough juice left in the SLAB to call him or call CQ, so I packed up.

At this point the light rain became heavy rain, so I wasted no time in scuttling back down the hill. It was cold and wet, and my car heater was used on my drive to work. May? Ha!

G0TDM	40m	CW
DL1NKS	40m	CW
I2CZQ	40m	CW
OK1YR	40m	CW
IK3GER	40m	CW
G0VOF	40m	CW
EC2DM	40m	CW
HA7VY	40m	CW
F8AAB	40m	CW
LA2OG	40m	CW
G0VOF	40m	SSB
EC2DM	40m	SSB
DJ5AV	40m	CW
CT1BQH	40m	CW
S51ZG	40m	CW

Saturday 28th May 2011 - The Cloud G/SP-015: 15m was not in anything like the sort of shape as the previous day, so the activation was almost exclusively on 40m. There was no option other than to S+P on the contest stations. The logs began unimpressively at 0602z with a QSO to the Stockport Contest Group G5O in a caravan in Rainow, just about 7 miles away. The QSO rate was very slow in the band crowded with high power (and fairly deaf) contest stations, and EA8 was probably the best of nine contacts.

A tenth and final contact came on 15m CW as some life finally appeared on that band. After working YU5A at 0725z, I packed up and went home, for it had started raining. Last minute CQ calls on 2m and 70cm FM were unanswered. Back at home, I had a good day working new DXCC-band slots (for the 2011 G3WGV UK CW Table) in the WPX contest, but reasoned that this was best left at home, and that I should adjourn to a WARC band for the Sunday morning activation.

G5O	40m	CW
OL3Z	40m	CW
LY7A	40m	CW
LY9Y	40m	CW
UX5D	40m	CW
S56X	40m	CW
EF8M	40m	CW
LX7I	40m	CW
OM3ZWA	40m	CW
YU5A	15m	CW

Sunday 29th May 2011, and I was up promptly at 0530z again. After a breakfast of cereal and yoghurt, I was on the road. The skies were dark and menacing grey, so I anticipated rain.

I swapped the 40m dipole for the 30m dipole in my pack, and walked up the hill (again!) to Cloud summit. The choice of 10MHz proved to be a good one, and I was quickly into a good run, consisting largely of regular chasers. And this without a self-spot as well, for I had left my mobile in the car. Thanks to HA5CW and HA7UG for those all-important spots.

The 30m dipole works acceptably if not spectacularly on 10m as well, so occasionally when things went quiet, I QSYd to 28MHz and worked a few contest stations. A very heavy band of rain could be seen approaching quickly in my direction, so I unleashed the bothy bag and got inside. In the event, no rain actually came down on the summit, but it was nice to warm up a bit anyway.

A total of 41 QSOs were made - 36 on 30m CW and 5 on 10m CW. As usual, I called on the 2m and 70cm calling channels before leaving the summit, but as usual there wasn't a response! Thanks to all the chasers that called in today:

HA5CW	30m	CW
DJ5AV	30m	CW
UY5YA	30m	CW
DL1DVE	30m	CW
IK3DRO	30m	CW
F6CEL	30m	CW
OE8SPW	30m	CW
DL1EJG	30m	CW
F9CZ	30m	CW
DL2EF	30m	CW
DL1MDV	30m	CW
HB9BQK	30m	CW
F8AAB	30m	CW
SM3OPZ	30m	CW
F5SQA	30m	CW
OK2QA	30m	CW
DL2RU	30m	CW
SP7SQM	30m	CW
SM0BXT	30m	CW
OE6GND	30m	CW
DL5ZG	30m	CW
OM3CAZ	30m	CW
DK1HW	30m	CW
OH2NFN	30m	CW
SM0GNS	30m	CW
DL5AMF	30m	CW
E77A	10m	CW
IK8FIQ	10m	CW
EA5AER	10m	CW
II9T	10m	CW
OZ7JZ	30m	CW
HA7UG	30m	CW
OK1GS	30m	CW
I2ZBX	30m	CW
DL7UYO	30m	CW
YU3MMM	30m	CW
F6FTB	30m	CW
DK1HW	30m	CW
DL2KZA	30m	CW
OZ4RT	30m	CW
YT2T	10m	CW

Up at 0430z again on Monday 30th May 2011, and looking forward to another early morning Cloud activation. I removed the 30m dipole from the rucksack, and replaced it with the quarter-wave verticals with groundplane for 17m and 12m. How was I to know that those bands, which have been wide open, day and night for three days, would have shut right down?

Soon after commencing the drive from Macclesfield, some drizzly rain started, and it looked set to continue as I parked on Cloudside some 20 minutes later. So it was on with the jacket an waterproof overtrousers before starting the familiar climb. The rain had almost stopped when I reached the summit, so I didn't get a soaking while erecting the 17m antenna. I called CQ incessantly on 18.077MHz CW, but it was 20 minutes before I got any response. Then things really picked up with a staggering six QSOs in just 45 minutes!

The rain had restarted, and become much heavier, so I was now huddled inside my bothy bag. All ideas of changing antennas and going on to 12m were dismissed. I packed away the 817 and accessories, but could still hear the rain pounding down on the bothy bag. I was warm and dry inside it, and was reluctant to emerge, but it was clear that the rain was not about to stop.

During the packaway and descent I got a bit of a soaking, or rather my waterproofs did; I was pretty much unscathed inside them. The drive home was irritating with BBC Radio 5 Live 909kHz AM flicking between the news of corruption within FIFA and a phone-in about what advice should/shouldn't be available regarding caring for a baby. How I never managed to revert to Canalside Community Radio 102.8MHz FM I do not know. Thanks to all callers.

UR5WCA	17m	CW
S58AL	17m	CW
OE6WIG	17m	CW
HA7UG	17m	CW
R9MM	17m	CW
E77O	17m	CW

It was a pleasant, mild and still morning on Cloud summit on Thursday 2nd June 2011. The 80m dipole went up, but I only worked Mark G0VOF (on CW and SSB), and Jonathan M6HBS (SSB). On 2m FM from the handheld, it was that man G0VOF again, then Steve GW7AAV.

Further calls on 80m CW (the USB QRM had gone by then) and SSB brought zilch, and I packed up and descended. Although I made five QSOs, three of them were with G0VOF, so it was a good job I qualified the summit for the point back in January! Thanks to all stations worked:

G0VOF	80m	CW
G0VOF	80m	SSB
M6HBS	80m	SSB
G0VOF	2m	FM
GW7AAV	2m	FM

I was up at 4am again on Saturday 4th June 2011, but a sluggish start meant that I wasn't on the road until 5am. I started calling CQ on 6m CW at about 6am, but found, and heard absolutely nothing. So at 6.15am I put up the MM17 on the same pole that the 6m delta loop was on. The two antennas seemed to be able to co-exist quite happily, and no deterioration in SWR was noticed as a result of the very close (almost touching) proximity of them to each other.

I had just completed hanging the MM17 and restored the pole to its upright position, and about to sit down and change band from 50MHz to 18MHz on the FT-817. Out of the blue came a strong CW signal on the QRG I had been calling on - 50.095MHz - and it was asking for me! It was Mark G0VOF/P, with the added information that he was on Billinge Hill G/SP-017. So the logbook for the morning opened with a surprise S2S on 6m CW! Unfortunately, that was the first and last 6m contact of the activation - the band was absolutely dead, and hadn't awoken when I tried again later. But that was why the MM17 was carried - as a fall back option in the likelihood that 6m disappointed (apart from the S2S of course).

A further 12 QSOs were made on 18MHz CW, some where stations responded to my CQs, and some where I answered others' calls. The bonus here was that I worked an interesting selection of DXCCs, which included 5 new ones for this band in 2011 for the G3WGV UK CW Table. In the log this morning were DL, EA, ER, ES, EU, G, HA, OH, RA, UA2 and UA9. A second S2S came on 18MHz CW thanks to HA2VR/P on HA/KD-003. I spent a bit of time calling 9M2/JE1SCJ who came up on 18.075MHz, but this proved unsuccessful. Many thanks to the following stations:

G0VOF/P on Billinge Hill SP-017	6m	CW
EV1R	17m	CW
UA9JLL	17m	CW
ES3ROG	17m	CW
HA7UG	17m	CW
EA7ATE	17m	CW
RA6JR	17m	CW
RT2F	17m	CW
RN2FQ	17m	CW
OH1CM	17m	CW
HA2VR/P on Középsö-Hajag KD-003	17m	CW
DL8MCG	17m	CW
ER3EFF	17m	CW

Sunday 5th June 2011 brought a fairly interesting activation - but where was Kjell LA1KHA? He won the vote to have 10MHz as the band being used - but was not heard during the activation. I overslept until 5am, so it was 6.30am (0530z) before I was QRV on the summit. Thankfully, the rain that had accompanied the entire 20 minute drive from Macclesfield to Cloudside stopped just prior to parking. But it was still windy and very cold.

Only 30m CW was used. 10m was dead, and my CQ calls on 2m and 70cm FM were unanswered. A total of 21 stations were worked on 30m CW, the pick being WA1IIE in Maine, who told me that he was 5 watts QRP also! My QSO with DL0CUX/MM was not complete when my aerial was blown to the ground, and he had gone by the time I was running again. YS3CW from El Salvador was putting in a fine signal on 10.1027MHz, but I couldn't get myself heard through his growing pile-up. So a couple of frustrating getaways as well. Thanks to everyone who called in.

LY5G	30m	CW
G4OBK	30m	CW
DL4CW	30m	CW
OM1DM	30m	CW
UT4WA	30m	CW
DL1VVQ	30m	CW
IK3DRO	30m	CW
SP7HOV	30m	CW
SP8ARY	30m	CW
OE8SPW	30m	CW
SP7LFT	30m	CW
OK1GS	30m	CW
IV3SXI	30m	CW
WA1IIE	30m	CW
IK4UNH	30m	CW
DL7VMM	30m	CW
OZ4RT	30m	CW
DL4DQA	30m	CW
F6GUF	30m	CW
SM1CXE	30m	CW
HA5CW	30m	CW

Monday 6th June 2011, and the start of a new half-term at work. So, in contrast to the last few days, I allowed myself a lie-in until 5am BST, but then I was away sharpish. During the previous day, I had contacted Roberto YS3CW and arranged a sked. As soon as I had set up the 30m dipole and FT-817, I tuned to his QRG - 10.102MHz CW - and heard him calling me! I tried to reply, but he clearly didn't hear me. On one attempted reply, I stupidly put his callsign before mine, and of course he then had all Europe calling him!

I cleared off up the band to my alerted frequency. Trade was slow with just 8 QSOs in the first hour. At 0515z and 0530z I returned to 10.102MHz to check out the El Salvador situation, and both times again heard YS3CW actually calling for M1EYP! But again, I couldn't get my signal back to him - how frustrating! He was two S points stronger the previous day, so maybe on another day I will make the contact.

Back up on 10.118MHz CW I made a couple more contacts, before I was bullied down to 10.117MHz by the splatter of a QRO station just above me. Now with more people out of bed, I had a much better run of QSOs. After packing most of the stuff away, I called on 2m FM and worked Richard G3CWI/M and Steve GW7AAV. Total for the morning was 31 QSOs. Many thanks to all who called in.

OK1GT	30m	CW
SM5DGA	30m	CW
I2UBI	30m	CW
IK3DRO	30m	CW
DL7UKA	30m	CW
OG2O	30m	CW
ES3ROG	30m	CW
UT2IO	30m	CW
SM5CJW/3	30m	CW
DJ5AV	30m	CW
SM0GNS	30m	CW
DM3AZ	30m	CW
HB9BIN	30m	CW
9A9L	30m	CW
IK3/HB9CQL	30m	CW
S52ON	30m	CW
HA7UG	30m	CW
SP9GFI	30m	CW
OK2KR	30m	CW
SP9HTY	30m	CW
IZ0HTW	30m	CW
DL7URH	30m	CW
I1ZL	30m	CW
DL2HWI	30m	CW
S58MU	30m	CW
DL3HXX	30m	CW
OK2MBP	30m	CW
S51ZG	30m	CW
RV3LO	30m	CW
G3CWI/M	2m	FM
GW7AAV	2m	FM

So to the 144MHz UK Activity Contest of Tuesday 7th June 2011. I set off at 6.30pm BST from Macclesfield, and felt confident while driving along the lanes to Cloudside. After all, I had a decent lead in the 2m table, based on four 1st places and one 2nd out of the five contests so far.

Tom on summit and set up ready for the contest The night was windy so I double-guyed the mast

I was on summit in plenty of time, so there was no need to rush in setting up the SB5. As I was doing so, I was greeted by a man in a yellow hoodie, yellow robe and sandals. We chatted as I was continuing the set up and he said that he was a Buddhist monk. He had walked up from Warwick, and was bivvying for the night under the overhanging rock just off the north of the summit.

SB5 Nice evening, great views

He disappeared and I waited for 8pm. The contest got off to a flyer with seven QSOs inside the first two minutes. Activity was up on the previous month, and I finished with 87 QSOs and 14 multiplier squares. To be honest, I descended and drove home in the belief that I had probably won the AL with these totals. I was in for a rude awakening!

10.30pm, and the end of the contest Nearly all packed up...

Disaster! G4HGI had entered the AL section instead of his normal AR. Richard has a home QTH on the side of Billinge Hill, a tower, a beam, is a very experienced VHF contester, and always does well. And he thrashed me 147,000 to 105,000. Worse still, M0MST/P and G1HSG/P beat me down into 4th place. It was looking like being a closely fought second half to the 2m VHF UKAC year, and I began considering a different site for at least one of the remaining sessions.

G3CWI	2m	SSB
G3NQX	2m	SSB
M3EYP	2m	SSB
G6HFF	2m	SSB
G4FPJ	2m	SSB
G0WTM	2m	SSB
G0BWC/P	2m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	2m	SSB
G1HSG/P	2m	SSB
G1DDU	2m	SSB
G1AEQ	2m	SSB
2E0HST	2m	SSB
G8EKG	2m	SSB
G4WAC	2m	SSB
M0EMM	2m	SSB
2E0BMO	2m	SSB
M0WAY	2m	SSB
G4PWD	2m	SSB
G1SMI	2m	SSB
M1NTO	2m	SSB
GW4OKT/P	2m	SSB
G3UD	2m	SSB
M1MHZ	2m	SSB
G4FZN/P	2m	SSB
GW4EVX	2m	SSB
GW8ASD	2m	SSB
M0GVG/P	2m	SSB
M3OUA	2m	SSB
M0WLF	2m	SSB
G8ZRE	2m	SSB
G7DWY	2m	SSB
G0XDI/P	2m	SSB
G4NTY	2m	SSB
MI0SMK/P	2m	SSB
M1CNY/P	2m	SSB
M1DDD/P	2m	SSB
GW4ZAR/P	2m	SSB
G4HGI	2m	SSB
G3MEH	2m	SSB
G2BQY/P	2m	SSB
M0MST/P	2m	SSB
2E0DHT	2m	SSB
G3UEY	2m	SSB
G0CER	2m	SSB
2E0UOG	2m	SSB
2E0SBM	2m	SSB
GI4SNA	2m	SSB
G3VLG/P	2m	SSB
G3PYE/P	2m	SSB
G8CUL	2m	SSB
M0BRA	2m	SSB
G4APJ	2m	SSB
2E0ORC	2m	SSB
G0ELJ	2m	SSB
2E0YYY	2m	SSB
G6TGO	2m	SSB
G8DTF	2m	SSB
M3ZPJ	2m	SSB
M6ALQ	2m	SSB
M5HFJ	2m	SSB
M3RNX	2m	SSB
G0CDA	2m	SSB
2E0VFR	2m	SSB
G3WGU	2m	SSB
M0SJS	2m	SSB
G3ZII	2m	SSB
G0HIK/P	2m	SSB
G0ODQ	2m	SSB
M0ICK	2m	SSB
G0WTD	2m	SSB
MM0GPZ/P	2m	SSB
GD8EXI	2m	SSB
M0COP/P	2m	SSB
G4IRC	2m	SSB
G4DEZ	2m	SSB
G7HOA/P	2m	SSB
MW6OXO/P	2m	SSB
G3MOT	2m	SSB
2E0GYO	2m	SSB
2E0XOJ	2m	SSB
M6XJP	2m	SSB
G3XAN	2m	SSB
2E0LES	2m	SSB
G1JZU	2m	SSB
G0OWP	2m	SSB
G4JQN	2m	SSB
G0LGS/P	2m	SSB

Wednesday 8th June 2011 saw me back in the groove of daily dawn activations. I took the 40m dipole to the summit of The Cloud and anticipated a good morning run of about 30 stations. I was wrong. I worked just DL2HWI, and no-one else. A one QSO activation, but at least it was still an activation, and a walk.

DL2HWI

40m

It was The Cloud G/SP-015 once again on Thursday 9th June 2011, but this time the antenna carried was the 20m groundplane. I was set up and QRV on the summit by 0609z, and Mark G0VOF was first in the log. By 0637z, 16 stations were in the 20m CW log, and G3CWI/M and GW7AAV were added on 2m FM just prior to descent. Thanks to all stations worked.

G0VOF	20m	CW
HB9BQR	20m	CW
S51ZG	20m	CW
RA2FIZ	20m	CW
IK1SOW	20m	CW
US8IB	20m	CW
YO2BBX	20m	CW
I2ZZU	20m	CW
S52ON	20m	CW
OK1US	20m	CW
I2WDB	20m	CW
U3AZ	20m	CW
IK3DRO	20m	CW
UU9CI	20m	CW
OH6MM	20m	CW
G3CWI/M	2m	FM
UR5ICW	20m	CW
GW7AAV	2m	FM

On Friday 10th June 2011, I decided to wheel out the 18MHz groundplane (MM17) aerial. I arrived on the summit of The Cloud G/SP-015 fairly early, but soon hit problems. As soon as I got the MM17 out of the rucksack, the radials broke away from the feeder and driven element. I twisted these back together as best I could, and used an extra cable tie to secure all this to the pole in such a way as to avoid strain on the repaired bit.

Somewhat amazingly, the pole was guyed vertically without problems, and the SWR indicated was flat. But so was the 17m band. After working Mark G0VOF, there was a long silence before 9A8W and OM5TF were added. But that was the lot on HF. There was still a good result in there, for G0VOF was my first G station on 18MHz CW so far this year - so another point for the G3WGV UK CW Table. GW7AAV and 2E0LVO/M were added to the log on 2m FM before I descended and went to work.

G0VOF	17m	CW
9A8W	17m	CW
OM5TF	17m	CW
GW7AAV	2m	FM
2E0LVO/M	2m	FM

Things were getting silly by Sunday 12th June 2011. This time I was awake by 3.15am BST, chillingly confirmed by my shack clock downstairs as, in reality, 0215z. With an extra hour to play with, I added the 40m dipole to the rucksack, and added 7.032-cw to my alert. At least the fitness is paying dividends. I skipped up to the summit of The Cloud G/SP-015 and barely felt or noticed it. The 40m and 30m dipoles were hung from the same pole at right-angles to each other. I sat down by the topograph and set the radio side up.

The activation comprised 25 contacts, 15 on 30m CW and 10 on 40m CW. The highlight came at 0554z when after 16 minutes of calling in the pile-up, I worked YN2GA (Nicaragua) on 10.104MHz split. That was a brand new DXCC for me, and made the whole outing most worthwhile. It was, as always, nice to be called by several of the stalwart SOTA chasers.

OH3OJ	30m	CW
E77AW	30m	CW
RZ3QZ	30m	CW
DL6KVA	40m	CW
DL7BQ	40m	CW
E74A	40m	CW
HA7JJS	40m	CW
HA0IS	40m	CW
E74A	30m	CW
SM0NJO	30m	CW
SM2CEW	30m	CW
LY2QT	30m	CW
IK1RQQ	40m	CW
YN2GA	30m	CW
DJ5AV	30m	CW
S51EC	30m	CW
S51ZG	30m	CW
OH2EI	30m	CW
HA5TI	30m	CW
LA1ENA	30m	CW
EA6NB	30m	CW
DF3MC	40m	CW
OH3HTR	40m	CW
IK3DRO	40m	CW
SM1CXE	40m	CW

The problem with going to bed early is that you get up early - too early! But once awake at 0250z on Monday 13th June 2011, my mind was soon focused on an early morning walk and possibly some DX, rather than drifting back off to sleep for another three hours.

A bowl of coco pops later and I was on the road in fine drizzle. This was still coming down, and slightly worsening as I arrived on Cloudside at 5.30am BST, so I donned waterproof overtrousers for the ascent. The walk to the summit is becoming quicker and less noticeable as my fitness continues to improve. The view across the Cheshire Plain was dramatic, as visibility was good, but yet a dark and menacing ceiling of cloud threatened from above.

I had selected the 20m vertical antenna for the activation, and after setting it up, I huddled down inside my bothy bag as the drizzle persisted. I was having a nosy around the band to find a suitable frequency when I heard something with a 'V' in it. Further monitoring identified the calling station as VP5/W5CW. When I called in, I got him first time, 599 both ways, so that was a nice bit of DX to open proceedings.

Nearby, I then heard XE2SQI at 579, but he didn't hear me, or anyone else in the fast-growing pile-up that wanted to work him! When the pile-up became a wall, and the XE2 was still calling CQ and not hearing anyone, I decided that the chances of me working him were virtually non-existent.

I worked Ranko 4O3A (a station that many of us would envy - http://www.4o3a.com/location/ ) before settling on my own QRG. I finished with 43 QSOs, including four at the end on 2m and 70cm FM. I enjoyed a good chat with Dave M0TUB and was delighted to learn that he had now done 39 SOTA activations since my club talk at Warrington ARS. Richard G3CWI/M and Graham GW0HUS were also on frequency as the social conversation became more repeater style (in the best sense, naturally) than SOTA style.

VP5/W5CW	20m	CW
UT7LW	20m	CW
UX5OF	20m	CW
4O3A	20m	CW
YO5OAG	20m	CW
UT3IV	20m	CW
HA7UG	20m	CW
RA3CQ	20m	CW
UX1IM	20m	CW
RU3QR	20m	CW
RK3LO	20m	CW
SP8AJK	20m	CW
UT2LA	20m	CW
R3QJ	20m	CW
UX2MS	20m	CW
I5FLN	20m	CW
RA3AET	20m	CW
OM3LL	20m	CW
UX1DC	20m	CW
UN7MMM	20m	CW
HA0IS	20m	CW
RT2F	20m	CW
M0TUB	20m	CW
YO4ASG	20m	CW
YO4BEW	20m	CW
LZ1XX	20m	CW
RN6AJ	20m	CW
YO4HEL	20m	CW
EA1DFP	20m	CW
HA5HY	20m	CW
YO4FFL	20m	CW
UY0CA	20m	CW
LA4XX	20m	CW
US2LX	20m	CW
OK1GS	20m	CW
UT5UIA	20m	CW
E73XL	20m	CW
UA3URQ	20m	CW
M0TUB	2m	FM
GW0HUS	2m	FM
G3CWI/M	2m	FM
GW0HUS	70cm	FM

My 23rd consecutive day of SOTA activating coincided with the 70cm session in the RSGB UK Activity Contests on Tuesday 14th June 2011. I had some extra time to play with so decided to do some 20m CW for 45 minutes or so before the contest began. Alas it was not to be. Not only did I manage to snap a radial off my aerial, but there was no interest in my CQ calls anyway.

So it was back to Plan A, and the 6 element SOTA Beam for 70cm. It was a reasonable night with lower activity than the previous month, but yet more multiplier squares worked. Conditions on the summit were mild and still, but operating was difficult when about 50 very noisy runners arrived at about 9pm. They excitedly shouted and yelled through their seemingly never-ending photo-shoot at the trig point and I was glad to see the back of them!

A couple of highlights of the activation were S2S contacts with other SOTA stations taking part in the contest. These were Matt M3WDS/P on Cleeve Hill G/CE-001 and Robert GM4GUF/P on Tinto GM/SS-064. DXCCs worked on 70cm tonight were G, GM, GW, GI and GD. The final total was 64 QSOs and 13 multipliers, with 62 on 70cm SSB and two on 70cm FM. In keeping my health kick in progress, I swerved the Harrington Arms and drove straight home, entered my contest log and went to bed.

G4FPJ	70cm	SSB
2E0LES	70cm	SSB
G8APB	70cm	SSB
G1SWH	70cm	SSB
2E0RXX/P	70cm	SSB
M1CNY/P	70cm	SSB
2E0TXT/P	70cm	SSB
M3RNX	70cm	SSB
G3VUS	70cm	SSB
G6HFF	70cm	SSB
M0GVG/P	70cm	SSB
M0TGT/P	70cm	SSB
M3OUA	70cm	SSB
M0COP/P	70cm	SSB
M3EYP	70cm	SSB
2E0XOJ	70cm	SSB
G0WTD	70cm	SSB
M3ZPJ	70cm	SSB
GW8ASD	70cm	SSB
G6OES	70cm	SSB
G8VHI	70cm	SSB
G4JLG	70cm	SSB
G7APD	70cm	SSB
GD8EXI	70cm	SSB
G4HGI	70cm	SSB
G3CKR/P	70cm	SSB
G8OHM	70cm	SSB
M0EMM	70cm	SSB
G7HOA/P	70cm	SSB
2E0ORC	70cm	SSB
G8DTF	70cm	SSB
G0CER	70cm	SSB
2E0BMO	70cm	SSB
M6KFC/M	70cm	SSB
G8ONK	70cm	SSB
M6NYL	70cm	SSB
G3UBX	70cm	SSB
MW6OXO/P	70cm	SSB
G4CLA	70cm	SSB
G4NTY	70cm	SSB
GI4SNA	70cm	SSB
GI6ATZ	70cm	SSB
M1CVL	70cm	SSB
2E0UOG	70cm	SSB
G3WGU	70cm	SSB
G8ZRE	70cm	SSB
M0GHZ	70cm	SSB
G4NBS	70cm	SSB
G1SMI	70cm	SSB
M5HFJ	70cm	SSB
G3PYE/P	70cm	SSB
M3WDS/P	70cm	SSB
G8MKC/P	70cm	SSB
G3MEH	70cm	SSB
G4XQB	70cm	FM
G4OGF	70cm	FM
G0OWP	70cm	SSB
GM0USI	70cm	SSB
GM4CXM	70cm	SSB
GM4GUF/P	70cm	SSB
M6XJP	70cm	SSB
G0LGS/P	70cm	SSB
G3NYY/P	70cm	SSB
G0XDI/P	70cm	SSB

Getting up at 6.15am after 4.75 hours of sleep on Wednesday 15th June 2011, was challenging! But I remained determined to persist with my regime, even if the back-to-back scheduling of the Tuesday night contests with the early morning Wednesday activations does test it to the limit!

The original plan was for 20m CW, but with that aerial now requiring attention, a late change to 40m CW was made. An unremarkable 11 minutes saw five QSOs enter the logbook, with stations from S5, OE, DL and F. Nobody walked over the summit during my activation, and nobody replied to my CQ calls on 2m or 70cm FM. But thanks go to:

S52ON	40m	CW
OE7PHI	40m	CW
DJ5AV	40m	CW
F6AJM	40m	CW
DL2HWI	40m	CW

I don't know whether conditions were half decent or not on the morning of Thursday 16th June 2011, but 20m CW seems to work regardless! Driving through Gawsworth and North Rode, I was more concerned as to whether my aerial repair would be effective. Had I taken enough care to avoid shorting the antenna?

A light drizzle just started as I arrived on summit, but action required was no more than putting my hood up on my coat and laying the Exped Drybag over the top of the 817. The antenna repair was effective in terms of structure and strength, and the vertical was soon standing upright with no strain on the repaired section.

Turning the radio on revealed a lively sounding 20m band, and a nudge of the paddle indicated flat SWR. I was happy! I was even happier when my first contact was a regular SOTA chaser - Mike DJ5AV - responding to my self-spot, and two minutes later when a pile-up formed in my honour! A couple of times I was asked "REF WFF?", to which I replied "NO WFF SRI, HR SOTA" - but the callers concerned still worked me anyway.

An activation of 53 minutes returned 57 contacts, all on 20m CW, and the best DX was K6VVA in California. I had operated until 7.54am BST, so there was no time for calling on VHF prior to descent. A pleasing activation, and the conditions were certainly good enough for 20m. Thanks to the following stations:

DJ5AV	20m	CW
HA7UG	20m	CW
OK1IVU	20m	CW
IT9ORA	20m	CW
HA1RW	20m	CW
EA1AST	20m	CW
LZ1XX	20m	CW
I4GAS	20m	CW
I5FLN	20m	CW
SP5IVT	20m	CW
EA1RT	20m	CW
HB9BIN	20m	CW
DF5CD	20m	CW
S52ON	20m	CW
DL5ML	20m	CW
OH9TH	20m	CW
OM3CW	20m	CW
DL6UBF	20m	CW
IK3DRO	20m	CW
R1AC	20m	CW
OK2SKI	20m	CW
OK1NL	20m	CW
OM5NL	20m	CW
DL5ASE	20m	CW
UA1AV	20m	CW
OM1ADM	20m	CW
UX3MF	20m	CW
EA5AM	20m	CW
OK1DMZ	20m	CW
R4AX	20m	CW
OK2BHD	20m	CW
K6VVA	20m	CW
S51ZG	20m	CW
UT7NF	20m	CW
UR5MA	20m	CW
R6YY	20m	CW
UA3MIQ	20m	CW
SP9IGY	20m	CW
RA4LO	20m	CW
IK7FPU	20m	CW
UR5ICW	20m	CW
EA4CWW	20m	CW
DL2JES	20m	CW
F5LML	20m	CW
UR5WX	20m	CW
OE5NNN	20m	CW
RA6AR	20m	CW
ES0NW	20m	CW
RA6Y	20m	CW
DM5EL	20m	CW
DM3SWD	20m	CW
IZ1ELP	20m	CW
UA9KB	20m	CW
RA3YAO	20m	CW
OK1DJS	20m	CW
EW8KF	20m	CW
OK1FMG	20m	CW

I was up mega-early at 4.45am on Friday 17th June 2011, but decided to put that time to good use as extra activating time. But maybe the radio amateurs out there are getting a little bored of me on 20m CW now. Although I operated for 101 minutes compared to 53 minutes the previous day, I made exactly the same number of contacts - 57. But this time three of those were on 2m FM.

All good fun nonetheless, and I was set to persist with 20m CW as I reacquaint myself with the WFF crowd from Gun G/SP-013 on the coming Saturday morning. Many thanks to the following stations:

US8IB	20m	CW
OM2DT	20m	CW
OK1US	20m	CW
YO3AAK/P	20m	CW
OK1MGW	20m	CW
9A/DJ2FR	20m	CW
OK7PY	20m	CW
OK1WF	20m	CW
HA7UG	20m	CW
SV0XAO	20m	CW
I5FLN	20m	CW
EA1SB	20m	CW
UA3CS	20m	CW
EA2OK	20m	CW
SP2B	20m	CW
UY0CA	20m	CW
UT0MF	20m	CW
RU4HD	20m	CW
SP2FAP	20m	CW
YO6MZ	20m	CW
UR9MB	20m	CW
Z33A	20m	CW
OK2HI	20m	CW
UA6FJ	20m	CW
OH6MM	20m	CW
RU9UC	20m	CW
R7FK	20m	CW
LY4C	20m	CW
OE5GA	20m	CW
RA1AQ	20m	CW
E74RG	20m	CW
SP0CFF	20m	CW
IK5AUX	20m	CW
OE6PIG	20m	CW
IK3DRO	20m	CW
S51ZG	20m	CW
OM6TC	20m	CW
S58AL	20m	CW
W4HG	20m	CW
DL6UNF	20m	CW
EA1CCO	20m	CW
I2UBI	20m	CW
F8BJO	20m	CW
OE5WLL	20m	CW
OH3HTR	20m	CW
RU3DM	20m	CW
OK1AL	20m	CW
OK1KOK	20m	CW
OK2BUJ	20m	CW
F9CZ	20m	CW
HA0MO	20m	CW
S59O/MM	20m	CW
OK2VX	20m	CW
I5CDF	20m	CW
GW0HUS	2m	FM
G3CWI/M	2m	FM
GW7AAV	2m	FM

After a very early morning activation of Gun G/SP-013, there was still a good 2.5 hour window remaining before I needed to be home. I decided to drive across to The Cloud G/SP-015 and take a walk up there. This time, I left the rucksack in the car and just took the VX7 handheld, and waterproof logbook in my coat pocket. It was raining again as I commenced the walk, but eased again as I entered the NT area.

Of course, with just the handie, there was no back-up in case of no replies, so I was pleased when Graham GW0HUS, Halkyn Mountain came back to my very first call. He was followed by Phil G4SCY in Stoke-on-Trent, so it was 2 on 2 on my 2nd summit of the morning. Nobody else was about, so I descended, and I was still home before 8am, after activating two summits!

GW0HUS	2m	FM
G4SCY	2m	FM

I enjoyed Barnaby weekend. Barnaby is the local industrial holiday for silk trade workers in Macclesfield, along the same lines as Wakes in Bollington and Potters in Stoke-on-Trent. Like most industrial holidays, it is pretty much a thing of the past, but I always hated Barnaby time because it coincided with peak hayfever time. So I had the best Barnaby weekend of my life because it hammered it down with rain throughout most of it in Silktown, washing the pollen away and leaving me free of hayfever symptoms.

Fast forward to the morning of Monday 20th June 2011, and what a lovely sunny morning it was. That meant a return to work for the bees - and there were plenty of them atop The Cloud - and a return to my sneezing. Still, I had a nice activation to take my mind off it. Operating between 0614 and 0637 UTC, I made 19 QSOs on 30m CW. After a 12 minute break to take down and pack away the 30m dipole, I then called on 2m FM from the HH+RD. This resulted in three more contacts, including one into Warwickshire which was quite a surprise.

QSO-wise, it was a pleasant and pleasing activation. However, of concern was the increasing amount of problems I am getting from the power socket at the rear of the FT-817. For a long time, I knew something was broken there, because the internal battery pack wouldn't charge up on the 817's charging cycle. But for a while now, power through the power socket has been intermittent as well. This is usually rectified by fiddling with the plug until something above 11V is indicated on the 817 display - then not moving the radio!

But on the last two activations, it has become really difficult to find the position at which the radio was receiving the necessary voltage, so much so that the previous day on Gun G/SP-013, I thought the SLAB was flat. On today's activation though, I was using a freshly charged 7Ah battery, so it had to be the socket become increasingly "worn and torn". I've had this problem before, and taken it up to Ken G8BEQ up in Glossop. I would need to again, but this time leave the plug to powerpole patch lead in it, and secured to the case. It really doesn't like being pushed in and out; well not as often as I do it anyway! Thanks to the following stations:

SP9BRP	30m	CW
HA3OD	30m	CW
OM7OM	30m	CW
HB9BIN	30m	CW
SP9YCW	30m	CW
IZ0HTW	30m	CW
DL7UCW	30m	CW
DJ5AV	30m	CW
OK2KR	30m	CW
S51ZG	30m	CW
YU7RL	30m	CW
S52ON	30m	CW
IK3DRO	30m	CW
9A9L	30m	CW
HA7UG	30m	CW
DL1DVE	30m	CW
F8FKK	30m	CW
DL2HWI	30m	CW
I0NNY	30m	CW
GW7AAV	2m	FM
GW0HUS	2m	FM
M1CNL	2m	FM

From Gun G/SP-013, I drove back down to Rushton Spencer, then across and up the hill past the old Fox Inn, long since closed as a pub. At the top of the hill, I turned right signpost "Cloud Side 3/4" and continued to the familar parking place, but from a (relatively) unfamiliar direction. The fitness continues to improve, and again I managed to climb the big staircase in quick time and continue to the summit without a rest. It is only about seven minutes of walking, but it is nonetheless a decent little cardio exercise. And doing it every day is definitely having an effect.

It was less windy at the summit than it had been on Gun earlier, and I stood up on the base of the trig point for a few centimetres of extra height. To my surprise, Steve GW7AAV and myself exchanged exactly the same reports as we had done on the earlier summit, despite the much superior take off from The Cloud in his direction. Prior to that, I had already worked Ray G0DMV/M and Emily 2E1AEQ/M (Edward M6NSR's mum and dad) driving to work. Ray almost referred to my being on The Cloud, then checked himself, saying "Oh no, it's far too early for you to be up there!". I told him that I was indeed up here, and that it was my second SOTA summit of the morning.

Another enjoyable couple of activations, and no doubt the manner in which I will continue until the FT-817 is fixed. Thanks to all callers. This took my run of consecutive days of SOTA activating to 30 - the run began on 23rd May 2011. These 30 days have included 36 activations of 8 different summits, and 1017 QSOs. Moreover, the sequence shows no sign of stopping, so the dawn chasers are highly appreciated.

G0DMV/M	2m	FM
2E1AEQ/M	2m	FM
GW7AAV	2m	FM

Wednesday 22nd June 2011 followed pretty much the same pattern as Tuesday 21st June 2011. Gun G/SP-013 followed by The Cloud G/SP-015, both activated on 2m FM with the VX-7R handheld. I had to be fully waterproofed, as the rain was heavy throughout. Most of those worked expressed surprise that I was out! This did not prevent a six minute over about one gentleman's hearing aid history, but then I did break into their QSO when nothing was happening on S20, so fair enough.

It was just three QSOs on Gun, and then two on The Cloud, so both one down on the previous day. But the FT-817 is now repaired and collected, so HF will resume on Thursday morning - cast your votes (if you promise to be up). It was now 792 activator QSOs since I last earned my self an activator point...! Many thanks to:

G3CWI/M	2m	FM
GW7AAV	2m	FM

There was heavy rain throughout the drive from 6.15am BST on Thursday 23rd June 2011, but fortunately a dry window for my walk and activation. 20m CW was the chosen combination, and Mark G0VOF was amongst the 40 stations worked. This also included W4HG again from North Carolina, as well as DL, EA, HA, I, OK, OM, RA, S5, SM, SP, UR, YO, YU and Z3.

It was a new luxury to have a solid non-intermittent connection to the SLAB. The 817 power socket has now been fixed, and I have put the plug in permanently - taped up and the lead to the Powerpole connector secured with elastic band around the rig. This was also a convenient opportunity to reintroduce the vinyl case/cover for the 817, not used for ages as it impeded the magnetic connection between the 817 and the Mini Palm Paddle. But I now prefer to hold and use the paddle in my hands, not on top of the rig. The radio's charging circuit is working as well, so some lightweight SLAB-free outings will be in order too.

A single contact on 2m FM, with Ray G0DMV/M, brought the activation to a close with 41 QSOs in the book. Unusually no sign of Graham GW0HUS or new VHF mobile enthusiast Richard G3CWI while I was on 2m. Thanks to all callers.

Z35F	20m	CW
RU4HD	20m	CW
HA2MI	20m	CW
S51ZG	20m	CW
RX3ASJ	20m	CW
IK1MDF	20m	CW
SQ9DH	20m	CW
W4HG	20m	CW
IK3DRO	20m	CW
YO7MGG	20m	CW
OK1PR	20m	CW
DL6ATI	20m	CW
S51UJ	20m	CW
DL2JES	20m	CW
OK1GT	20m	CW
G0VOF	20m	CW
OK1APR	20m	CW
OM3CFF	20m	CW
S52ON	20m	CW
OM3CFF	20m	CW
UT9LB	20m	CW
YT2EU	20m	CW
SP2MKI	20m	CW
SP2HWW	20m	CW
YO6EZ	20m	CW
SM3AHM	20m	CW
G4MUL	20m	CW
EA5YI	20m	CW
OK2XRW	20m	CW
US5ETV	20m	CW
DL6KVA	20m	CW
DL6UCD	20m	CW
EA1JD	20m	CW
SM5CBM	20m	CW
UA4FCO	20m	CW
I1ZL	20m	CW
DG3LSM/P	20m	CW
SP2FAV	20m	CW
SP1MWK	20m	CW
OK1AL	20m	CW
G0DMV/M	2m	FM

I had a luxurious lie-in until the decadent hour of 0510z on the morning of Friday 24th June 2011. But then it was business as usual, with a walk up The Cloud G/SP-015 before I went to work. On this occasion I had selected 40m, but it was a bad choice. Or at least, I hope it was a bad choice. Either conditions on 40m were shocking, or my radio has a serious TX and RX fault just two days after having the power socket repaired.

As it was, I worked two Italians plus an Austrian and a Czech station on 40m CW, before a groundwave QSO with Mark G0VOF on 15m CW. And that was the lot on HF CW, so I was looking forward to my 20m CW WFF activation on Saturday morning if only to reassure myself that the rig is healthy!

Unleashing the handheld prior to descent brought Steve GW7AAV on 70cm FM, followed by three more - including Mark G0VOF again - on 2m FM. A couple of early morning joggers were interested in my activity and had lots of questions, including all the "normal" ones. I have never been much good at multi-tasking, but I am getting slowly better at fielding passer-by comments and questions without pausing my CW QSO! Thanks to:

IK3GER	40m	CW
OE3AYW	40m	CW
IK3DRO	40m	CW
OK1AU	40m	CW
G0VOF	15m	CW
GW7AAV	70cm	FM
M1CNL	2m	FM
MW0TTK	2m	FM
G0VOF	2m	FM

Jimmy M3EYP was with me on the evening of Monday 27th June 2011, but as usual operating on 2m FM. His friend Edward M6NSR was QRV and made four QSOs into four DXCCs on 20m SSB. Edward's mum and dad, Emily 2E1AEQ and Ray G0DMV each made just one or two contacts, so did an activation but didn't get the points! We also had Greg 2E0RXX, Ray M1REK and Simon M0TGT playing radio on the summit this evening, so it was a pleasant occasion - one of Greg 2E0RXX's "Turn up and activate" sessions for members of the Macclesfield & District Radio Society.

Jimmy M3EYP Greg 2E0RXX Liam

10m was open tonight, and I worked a few, the best being EA8. But this was through the 30m dipole, so not optimal. It reminded me that I really must get round to making an MM10 vertical with groundplane, and an MM15 for that matter as well. And replace the feeders on my MM17 and MM12.

Ray M1REK Simon M0TGT 30m dipole

Jimmy M3EYP & Edward M6NSR Emily 2E1AEQ & Ray G0DMV

Thanks to all stations that worked me this evening. Particular thanks to those that worked Edward M6NSR - you made his night, he was really excited to have been called from all around Europe. Funniest thing on the night was near the end. Only Greg 2E0RXX and myself remained on summit, and Greg was working a Manchester station with his handheld. Greg was explaining the concept of SOTA to him, to which he replied "Yes, this SOTA sounds fantastic. Let's hope it catches on. I'm sure it will". Priceless.

MDRS club activation of The Cloud Greg 2E0RXX & Jimmy M3EYP enjoying the beer in the Harrington Arms

MW0BBU	30m	CW	T
LA1ENA	30m	CW	T
PA0SKP	30m	CW	T
M3OUA	2m	FM	J
DL8YR	30m	CW	T
M0GIA	2m	FM	J
G0NUP	30m	CW	T
OK1GT	30m	CW	T
G3WPF	30m	CW	T
G6SPG	2m	FM	J
M6GHU	2m	FM	J
G3WPF	10m	CW	T
M6SCM	2m	FM	J
M3VUO	2m	FM	J
2E0EDX	2m	FM	J
EG8LP	10m	CW	T
G0CQY	2m	FM	J
M1CNL	2m	FM	J
G6LUZ	2m	FM	J
M0LEX	2m	FM	J
M0TUB	2m	FM	J
M6MGB	2m	FM	J
MW0TTK	2m	FM	J
S51MF	10m	CW	T
G6OCW	2m	FM	J
M0TUB	10m	CW	T
M0SAD	2m	FM	J
M0GIA	10m	CW	T
2E0PXV	2m	FM	J
DL4FDM	30m	CW	T
OZ4RT	30m	CW	T
DL3HXX	30m	CW	T
IK/OE7PHI	30m	CW	T
ON2WAB	30m	CW	T
M3EYP/M	2m	FM	T
2E1AEQ/M	2m	FM	T
G0DMV/M	2m	FM	T
M6NSR/M	2m	FM	T

Fast forward one month to Tuesday 28th June 2011, and another 6m UK activity contest. Moreover, as feared, another evening of lift conditions across Europe. I had no choice but to attempt to follow my proposed Alternative Strategy - but it took considerable self-discipline and restraint!

I was quite late setting off from Macclesfield, so the station was only completely set up on summit by 1856z, so cutting it fine to say the least! However, I wasn't about to sit on a clear frequency and start running at two QSOs per minute anyway. No, the Alternative Strategy forbade such decadence. The plan was to spend the first hour devoted to working DX, and starting in the CW segment of the band. This started promisingly with a QSO with LY2X, 1699km into KO14WV. The next two were G3ZOD and G3KAF both a few miles up the road in IO83 square!

Next on CW were two Ukrainians and a Hungarian, including my best DX of the night - UX1UA, 2218km into KO50CO. That seemed to exhaust what was currently available on CW, so it was now over to SSB. First up on fone was HA6NL, 1641km into JN98WD, and reassuringly, a serial number of 014. A little worrying was that all the DX stations on CW had given me 001; I hoped that someone else in the contest worked them, as it was clear that they weren't entering themselves! Contesters heard on CW were Walt G3NYY/P (although Walt didn't hear me calling him), Jim G3KAF and Graham G3ZOD, so hopefully the DX callsigns will appearat least twice in the adjudication computer.

In any case, I was sure the Uniques rule was designed to weed out mistyped or erroneously logged callsigns, and not DX genuinely worked correctly by a participant. The second station worked on SSB was the two Rogers M0GVG/P (operated by Roger M0GMG and Roger G0BSU, heading up a run of 16 QSOs all into IO83. This was briefly punctuated by another DX contact on SSB, YO5OHY, 1908km into KN17SP. It was 1954z, nearly an hour gone, and I was only on serial number 022, well short of where I would normally be by this time. Furthermore, I had only one UK multiplier in the log. It was time to get a few more!

Well, two more, IO64 and IO81, before six consecutive DX contacts on CW - HA, OM, S5, YO and two in DL. Back on SSB, it was still DX with OK and SP. But the UK multiplier count was still floundering on a lowly 3. Another block of familiar VHF contester calls were worked, adding another 5 mults to the score. One station told me he had worked South America, so I figured that my chance of winning the section had gone. But looking on the contest site later, his ODX was closer to Belgrade than Brazil, so perhaps a prefix-recognition error in the frenzy of the contest!

A final, and difficult contact, was completed at 2128z. G6UBM was worked in JO01CE, my first JO01 of the night, and the contact completed just seconds before the cut-off. So the final reckoning was 52 QSOs, 9 multipliers and 240,957 the score. My lack of focus on UK mults resulted in a slight drop from May's total, but the increased attention on DX piled lots of points on and let me finish with a much better score.

It was looking promising for a win in the AL section this time, and another first place in the 50MHz Backpacker Trophy, and indeed the results published in mid-July confirmed this. Mind you, in the first two sessions of the 50MHz Backpacker Trophy, I have been the only entrant! Attention now turned to the 2m UKAC the next Tuesday, where I needed to try to find a way to beat G4HGI, who was creeping up from a good position. Here is a map of my contacts in the 50MHz UKAC:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/kml_files/2011/c12xJARWniMbophnSrgVn1iuee3orR8

Many thanks to all stations worked:

LY2X	6m	CW
G3ZOD	6m	CW
G3KAF	6m	CW
UX1UA	6m	CW
HA7MG	6m	CW
UX2SB	6m	CW
HA6NL	6m	SSB
M0GVG/P	6m	SSB
GW4ZAR/P	6m	SSB
2E0XOJ	6m	SSB
G1SMI	6m	SSB
YO5OHY	6m	SSB
G8ZRE	6m	SSB
G3NGD	6m	SSB
M3EYP	6m	SSB
GW8ASD	6m	SSB
M0ICK/P	6m	SSB
2E0BMO	6m	SSB
M3RNX	6m	SSB
G3TDH	6m	SSB
G4APJ	6m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	6m	SSB
2E0NEY	6m	SSB
G8APB	6m	SSB
G2ANC	6m	SSB
GI4SNA	6m	SSB
HA8BE	6m	CW
OM5XX	6m	CW
S50R	6m	CW
YO5DAS	6m	CW
DL4CF	6m	CW
DL7BA	6m	CW
OK2BGW	6m	SSB
SQ9IAU	6m	SSB
G0GSH	6m	SSB
G4DEZ	6m	SSB
G7APD	6m	SSB
G8ONK	6m	SSB
G0LGS/P	6m	SSB
2E0DHT/P	6m	SSB
M0TAV	6m	SSB
G0OWP	6m	SSB
M0COP/P	6m	SSB
M3ZPJ	6m	SSB
G3PYE/P	6m	SSB
G3MEH	6m	SSB
DK2KK	6m	SSB
G4FPJ	6m	SSB
M0YJT/P	6m	SSB
MW6OXO/P	6m	SSB
M0NUT/P	6m	SSB
G6UBM	6m	SSB

I had originally alerted for 40m CW for the morning of Wednesday 29th June 2011, but after the excellent conditions of the previous evening, I simply kept the 6m delta loop in my rucksack. After setting up on The Cloud G/SP-015, I heard a few weak CW signals around the band, but nothing that sounded workable, or in some cases, even readable. Ultimately, just Mark G0VOF in Blackburn was worked, and he was an excellent 599 signal.

The drought continued on 2m and 70cm FM when called CQ on the VX-7R. Nobody responded at all, and I didn't have the stomach to sit through long overs of health complaints in order to break an existing 2m QSO. Wrong choice of antenna, but nonetheless, a nice early morning walk before work. Thanks to:

G0VOF

After the Black Hill G/SP-002 activation on Thursday 30th June 2011, I was back at home at 3.10pm. I watched some Wimbledon tennis on the telly, while Jimmy transformed himself into a dapper young man in a dress suit and bow tie. It was the evening of his 6th Form Valedictory Ball, a celebration to mark the end of his A level studies. And guess who was on taxi duty for a 35 mile round trip to Lymm, and then another one at midnight, that included dropping his mates home in Bollington and Hurdsfield? Yes, old muggins Dad, that's who.

I decided I would leave the house in plenty of time to pick them up at midnight, so set off just after 9pm. This would allow time to visit the 24 hour Tesco in Congleton to get ingredients for mine and Liam's school lunches for the Friday - and, of course, to activate The Cloud G/SP-015.

It was only after I had ascended the hill and set up the MM20 that it dawned on me that I had left both headlamps in the car - doh! Thank goodness it was the end of June, but all the same there was some very murky logging going on after 10.15pm BST, and carefully picked murky descent at 10.45pm!

Just 8 stations were worked on 20m CW, comprising 6 DXCCs - DL, G, HA, OK, RA and VE. The contact with regular chaser VE2JCW was obviously the most satisfying. I also heard XE3ARV calling, but didn't manage to get back to him.

My timings all worked out. I descended, drove to Tesco to do my shopping, then to Sandbach, took the M6 north to J20 (Lymm), then down the A50 to the Mere Court Hotel, where I pulled onto the car park just before midnight. Jimmy and his mates had had an enjoyable evening in their tuxedos. By the time I had exchanged pleasantries with one of his teachers, and done the Borough of Macclesfield Nightbus run, I finally crawled into bed, shattered, at 1.48am. And, somewhat ridiculously, I was intending climbing The Cloud again before work the next morning!

OK2BDR	20m	CW
G3KAF	20m	CW
OK1AU	20m	CW
DL1DVE	20m	CW
HA5HRK	20m	CW
RZ3VY	20m	CW
VE2JCW	20m	CW
G3WPF	20m	CW

So with June out of the way, it was Friday 1st July 2011, and back to work, after my "unusual day off" on the Thursday. But an early get-up it was not to be. Even a 7am rise meant barely more than five hours sleep, but I kind of had to keep the run going. "Why?" you might ask. Indeed, so might I. But I tend to say "Why not?".

I arrived at Cloudside at 7.45am, which meant I had time to ascent, make one or two immediate contacts on 2m FM, and descend! I timed my ascent at exactly 7 minutes. I clambered up and stood on the trig point base, but no-one responded to my CQ calls on S20. So I mugged the ever-present morning net on 145.525MHz FM, and as usual Robin G4VXW was in the chair.

All three gentlemen on the net - G4VXW, G4XQB and M3HJH - were worked, and I was straight into my descent without the inconvenience of having to pack up. That now reached the (very personal, and of no interest to anyone else) milestone of 40 consecutive days of SOTA activating (48 activations, 10 unique summits, points value = 16, QSOs: 1296). Thanks to:

G4VXW	2m	FM
G4XQB	2m	FM
M3HJH	2m	FM

So, I had decided to keep my run of consecutive days activating going by crossing off Saturday and Sunday 2nd and 3rd of July 2011 in a single expedition, hence the opportunity for double points if anyone cared to chase them. In the event, only one station - Reg G3WPF - took advantage of this. I left the house around 11pm BST on the Saturday night and drove beyond the Cloudside parking spot and up to Newtown near Biddulph. This was the site of the Macclesfield club's NFD stations, and I called back in for a second stint of operating the 70cm station that day. The going was mind-numbingly slow, and I only added 4 or 5 contacts to the log while I was there. Interestingly though, three of these were in IO91 - a new multiplier for 70cm on the day.

Club chairman Roger M0GMG wandered across from the 2m station and explained that he thought he had better turn the generator off now, and that some of the ops were going to go to sleep for a while in their tents and caravan. It was probably the most polite way I have ever been told to sling my hook! But that was OK, for it was just after midnight local, so less than an hour left to claim a SOTA activation for the calendar date of Saturday 2nd July 2011. Good job it was only a five minute drive back to Cloudside, and a seven minute climb to the summit!

After setting up the MM20, I was QRV at 2348z, and after three minutes of calling CQ, I got my first contact - WB8YYY (not your cousin is it Mickey 2E0YYY??) - in Maryland, USA. This was soon followed by avid chasers Jean VE2JCW in Quebec, Canada, and Reg G3WPF in Wilmslow, East Cheshire! W1MO in Florida and M0TJU wrapped things up for the Saturday activation as we hit midnight UTC.

WB9YYY	20m	CW
VE2JCW	20m	CW
G3WPF	20m	CW
W1MO	20m	CW
M0TJU	20m	CW

So to Sunday 3rd July 2011, and just two minutes into it, there was Reg G3WPF again earning himself the chaser point just 7 minutes after his last one! More North Americans entered the log, courtesy of K4MF (Florida), VO2NS (Newfoundland), K5FY (Virginia) and N3ER (Massachusetts).

A call on the handie on 2m FM brought Dave 2E0PHJ in Moston, Manchester. He told me that him and his wife couldn't believe their ears when they heard a CQ call at two o' clock in the morning, on a radio that they had left switched on, and that disbelief was compounded when it was a "CQ SOTA" that they were hearing!

It was a lovely night on the summit, very mild and calm and with a glorious clear star-filled sky above. The lights of towns and cities far and wide could be seen from my vantage point, and the only drawback was the active insect population in my vicinity!

I lingered for longer, because I was hearing calls from Central and South America on my 817. Calls heard included OA, YV, HK, PR, HI and H7, but none of them heard my replies. I think my SLAB was on its last legs, having already done a few activations and contests that week, and having been powering the 817 on 2m FM receive throughout the four hours of the Stockport Rally the previous day. I packed up, went home, and hit the sack for about 3.45am BST! Thanks to:

G3WPF	20m	CW
K4MF	20m	CW
VO2MS	20m	CW
2E0PHJ	2m	FM
K5FY	20m	CW
N3ER	20m	CW

Number 43 in the consecutive daily activations - of various summits, not just The Cloud - took place on Monday 4th July 2011 - on The Cloud G/SP-015. I had made a mistake setting my alarm and wasn't up until 5.50am, but that should have still been early enough. However, I was feeling rather fatigued, and didn't haul myself out of the house until just after 7am BST.

This meant I could go light, as only a 2m FM handie activation was feasible timewise. Richard G3CWI/M was astonished and appalled in equal measure to learn that he was my first contact at the decadent hour of 7.46am. Two followed in the logbook, before unanswered calls on S20 and SU20 heralded the end of the activation. It was time to go to work anyway.

G3CWI/M	2m	FM
MW0TTK	2m	FM
G4SCY	2m	FM

Declaring on 44 ... consecutive days of SOTA activating. From 23rd May to 5th July inclusive, I had conducted one (or more) SOTA activation(s) each day. In the 44 days, I did 52 summit activations on 10 different (unique) summits. I earned myself the enormous total of 14 activator points in the process, and made 1385 activator QSOs. These were distributed as follows:

G/SP-002 --- 14
G/SP-013 --- 361
G/SP-015 --- 873
G/WB-021 --- 15
GW/NW-040 -- 66
GW/SW-011 -- 23
GW/SW-013 -- 15
GW/SW-016 -- 6
GW/SW-023 -- 5
GW/SW-026 -- 7

80m --- 14
40m --- 157
30m --- 150
20m --- 632
17m --- 21
15m --- 2
12m --- 3
10m --- 10
6m ---- 107
2m ---- 223
70cm -- 66

FM ---- 55
SSB --- 336
CW ---- 994

The sequence is now at an end, not through lack of enthusiasm (as if!), but work and other circumstances. There wouldn't even be another activation until the following Sunday now!!! Anyway, here follows the report of that last one, the 52nd activation on the 44th day:

Tuesday 5th July 2011, and the 2m session of the RSGB UK Activity Contest series. These contests have become incredibly popular this year, and rightly so. They are ideally timed and scheduled to encourage high participation levels, and those levels just keep going up.

So it looked set to be another busy night. I chatted to Peter G4FPJ, who would also be submitting a log on behalf of the Macclesfield & DRS, on 2m FM mobile on the drive south. Another time of exactly 7 minutes was recorded for the ascent, as my fitness remains good. Set up was a little slower than intended due to large groups of runners passing over the summit and asking questions. I always try to show enthusiasm that they have asked, although this sometimes requires a little "acting", especially when it gets to around 7.50pm BST!

I decided to start by running, and beaming north with the SB5. This resulted in reaching serial number 035 within the first half hour, but mainly in IO83 as the multipliers were slow to get moving. The 15* squares worked included some welcome surprises, with a few rare ones: IO64, IO65*, IO72, IO73, IO74, IO75, IO80, IO81, IO82, IO83, IO91, IO92, IO93, IO94, JO01 and JO03. *Of course, only UK multipliers count in this contest, so EI9JU in IO65 (County Donegal) did not get me a mult, although it was my best DX at over 400km.

There were some unwelcome surprises as well, with nothing in the log, unusually, from IO84, IO85 or JO02. M0GHZ/P in IO90 disappeared just as I found him. One of these days I will get 20 multipliers in the 2m UKAC, but not on this occasion!

So the final reckoning was 85 QSOs in 16 squares (15 counting as multipliers), and 130,530 points. My main objective was to beat G4HGI, which I was doing on the night, but his final score isn't in yet. M0MST/P from the Cotswold hills was going great guns in the low power AL section, and has definitely beaten me, and G4VPD, also from IO92 is ahead as well. So it is looking like a 3rd or 4th place for me in this session, and a keenly fought remainder of the series in 2011. I swerved the Harrington Arms on the way home, and maintained the current healthier lifestyle! Thanks to:

M3RNX	2m	SSB
M0SAD	2m	SSB
G6HFF	2m	SSB
G4APJ	2m	SSB
G4ZRP	2m	SSB
G3TDH	2m	SSB
2E0UOG	2m	SSB
M3OUA	2m	SSB
M6MGB	2m	SSB
G7HOA/P	2m	SSB
M3EYP	2m	SSB
M5HFJ	2m	SSB
G4FPJ	2m	SSB
G8DTF	2m	SSB
G4KRN	2m	SSB
2E0YYY	2m	SSB
M3GHI	2m	SSB
G0OWP	2m	SSB
2E0DHT/P on Winter Hill SP-010	2m	SSB
G3XNO	2m	SSB
2E0CRZ	2m	SSB
G2ANC	2m	SSB
M0DNA	2m	SSB
G4NTY	2m	SSB
M6XJP	2m	SSB
M6NYL	2m	SSB
G4EII	2m	SSB
M6DLT	2m	SSB
G1HSG/P	2m	SSB
M0SWZ	2m	SSB
MM1DDD/P	2m	SSB
M6CWA/P	2m	SSB
G8ZRE	2m	SSB
M0YJT/P	2m	SSB
G4VPD	2m	SSB
MI0SMK/P	2m	SSB
M0COP/P	2m	SSB
GW4ZAR/P	2m	SSB
G3VLG/P	2m	SSB
M6ASL	2m	SSB
GM4PPT	2m	SSB
M0BUL/P on High Vinnalls WB-012	2m	SSB
G0JCQ	2m	SSB
GD8EXI	2m	SSB
G0GRI/P	2m	SSB
G4HGI	2m	SSB
GI4SNA	2m	SSB
G0WTD	2m	SSB
M1MHZ	2m	SSB
M0BRA	2m	SSB
G7APD	2m	SSB
M0GVG/P	2m	SSB
G6RC	2m	SSB
G4JQN	2m	SSB
G4KZV	2m	SSB
G1SMI	2m	SSB
G4BRK	2m	SSB
G8APB	2m	SSB
G8ONK	2m	SSB
M0WAF	2m	SSB
2E0HST	2m	SSB
G4FZN/P	2m	SSB
G4JLG	2m	SSB
G4DEZ	2m	SSB
2E0BMO	2m	SSB
M0MST/P	2m	SSB
G2BQY/P	2m	SSB
G0BWC/P	2m	SSB
M3ZPJ	2m	SSB
M0ICK	2m	SSB
G3MEH	2m	SSB
M3WDS/P on Cleeve Hill CE-001	2m	SSB
G4BDO/P	2m	SSB
G8MCA	2m	SSB
G4XPE	2m	SSB
M0JAV	2m	SSB
G7DWY	2m	SSB
MW0BER	2m	SSB
EI9JU	2m	SSB
GW8ASD	2m	SSB
G0HFX/P	2m	SSB
G0NMY	2m	SSB
GW8BTX	2m	SSB
G8CUL	2m	SSB
G0KZT/P	2m	SSB

I had definitely lost my touch in these contests. I was still winning each of the 2m, 70cm and 6m series, but the competition was getting stiffer during the summer. I could only hope that October, November and December heralded a return of the kind of advantage I had in January, February and March.

The biggest lead I held was in the 70cm series, including a win last time out in the June session. So I was confident of a win going into the session on Tuesday 12th July 2011, especially having just learned that Richard G4HGI of the all-conquering Bolton Wireless Club was having to sit this one out. And by the end of the contest, I thought I had won it - and even declared my confidence to Roger M0GMG, Jimmy M3EYP and Greg 2E0RXX in an impromptu Macclesfield club debrief just after 10.30pm. Doh!

It was a strangely quiet night on The Cloud G/SP-015, with just a couple of pairs of walkers passing over. No club runners and no enthusiastic interviewers! In the contest itself, I racked up 63 QSOs into 11 multiplier squares. This is par for the course for 432MHz, but still seemed "bare" with the uncharacteristic absences of IO64 (David GI4SNA) and JO03 (Bryn G4DEZ). Two S2S contacts were made, with 2E0DHT/P on Winter Hill G/SP-010 and Matt M3WDS/P on Cleeve Hill G/CE-001.

Upon entering the logs at home, my points tally fell narrowly short of M3HBI/P in the AL (10 watt) section. Just one more GI, GM or JO01 QSO would have done it for me - or an extra multiplier. So only Mr Adjudicator could save me now! Many thanks to the SOTA chasers and other contesters that worked me.

M0ANQ	70cm	SSB
G3UBX	70cm	SSB
G2ANC	70cm	SSB
G6HFF	70cm	SSB
GW4ZAR	70cm	SSB
G4FPJ	70cm	SSB
M3HBI/P	70cm	SSB
M0ICK	70cm	SSB
2E0UOG	70cm	SSB
M1CNY/P	70cm	SSB
M3EYP	70cm	SSB
M5HFJ	70cm	SSB
2E0MAS	70cm	SSB
2E0TXT/P	70cm	SSB
M3OUA	70cm	SSB
M6NYL	70cm	SSB
G4APJ	70cm	SSB
G8ZRE	70cm	SSB
GW8ASD	70cm	SSB
G7HOA/P	70cm	SSB
2E0XYL	70cm	SSB
G0HIK/P	70cm	SSB
M3ZPJ	70cm	SSB
G8DTF	70cm	SSB
G6SPG	70cm	SSB
G4SCY	70cm	SSB
G1SWH	70cm	SSB
G0OWP	70cm	SSB
G8OHM	70cm	SSB
M0GHZ	70cm	SSB
G0WTD	70cm	SSB
G1SMI	70cm	SSB
2E0LKC	70cm	SSB
M0COP/P	70cm	SSB
G0PPO/P	70cm	SSB
2E0BMO	70cm	SSB
M0GVG/P	70cm	SSB
G4NTY	70cm	SSB
2E0ORC	70cm	SSB
G4JLG	70cm	SSB
G0VOK	70cm	SSB
G3TDH	70cm	SSB
2E0DHT/P on Winter Hill SP-010	70cm	SSB
G8ONK/P	70cm	SSB
G8MKC/P	70cm	SSB
G4CLA	70cm	SSB
GD8EXI	70cm	SSB
2E0LMD	70cm	SSB
G0ODQ	70cm	SSB
GM4JR	70cm	SSB
2E0XOJ	70cm	SSB
M6XJP	70cm	SSB
G3MEH	70cm	CW
MW6OXO/P	70cm	SSB
G0XDI/P	70cm	SSB
G0EHV/P	70cm	SSB
G3PYE/P	70cm	SSB
G0AJJ	70cm	SSB
G0CER	70cm	SSB
G0VOF	70cm	SSB
M0JAV	70cm	SSB
M3WDS/P on Cleeve Hill CE-001	70cm	SSB
2E0RXX	70cm	SSB

Tuesday 19th July 2011, but unfortunately, no 41 reports sent or received. I decided to do an early morning activation on The Cloud G/SP-015 before work, and for some strange reason, selected 80m as the band of choice. I needn't have bothered!

Actually, that's a little unfair. I did work Mark G0VOF. He was 599 on 3.557MHz CW and also kindly spotted me. After Mark, nothing, so I went up the band to 3.633MHz SSB. My mobile 'phone is currently AWOL, so self-spotting the frequency was not possible. However, Mark G0VOF found me, worked me and spotted me again. He was an excellent 59 on SSB.

But that was it! I unleashed the handie and worked M1CNL in Warwickshire, but that was it there as well. No sign of Richard G3CWI/M on his way to work, nor Steve GW7AAV monitoring 70cm. A tune across 3.5MHz found a largely empty CW segment, but I did hear a CQ call from G4XRV. I called Rupert and had more of a ragchew style QSO with him before making my excuses about going to work and saying 73. Maybe I ought to stow the 80m dipole away until winter! Thanks to:

G0VOF	80m	CW
G0VOF	80m	SSB
M1CNL	2m	FM
G4XRV	80m	CW

After the damp squib that was 80m the previous day, I decided to go for 20m CW on Wednesday 20th July 2011. That is one guaranteed way to get 50 QSOs in the logbook before going to work. Or is it?

Apparently not. I was earlier this time, and enjoyed my walk in misty yet dry and airy conditions. I was cross with myself upon realising that I didn't have a reusable cable tie with me to secure the radials to the pole. However, I did this instead with an elastic from a kite winder, which made me think that this might be a better way to do it anyway!

So the MM20 groundplane vertical was up, and looked very nice (to the trained eye), but the logbook just never sprang into action. In 25 minutes I limped to just five QSOs, and that even included two G stations. It was very nice, of course, to get Mark G0VOF and Dave M0TUB in the log, but indicitive of where conditions were, especially as signals dropped markedly when going on to work DL, S5 and OM.

In one of the big gaps, I had a good chat with Richard G3CWI/M on his way to work, and clearly now a very keen chaser of SP-015. Mark MW0TTK/M and Steve GW7AAV were also worked on 2m FM before I gave up and went to work myself.

G0VOF	20m	CW
M0TUB	20m	CW
DL3NQC	20m	CW
S52ON	20m	CW
G3CWI/M	2m	FM
OM3CFF	20m	CW
MW0TTK/M	2m	FM
GW7AAV	2m	FM

Well, after unremarkable results on 80m and 20m this week, surely 40m couldn't disappoint as well? You bet it could! The low activity pattern extended into Thursday 21st July 2011, where one QSO was made on 7.031MHz CW and five on 7.032MHz CW. A seventh QSO was made with Steve GW7AAV on 2m FM, before I packed up and continued on my journey to work.

Either SOTA is dying (often stated, never proven), my radio has died and is only putting out milliwatts - or HF conditions have been absolutely awful on mornings this week. I trust it is the latter. I intended going for 30m the following morning, see if I could buck the trend. Many thanks to all the stations that managed to work me on this activation.

OK1NR	40m	CW
PA0ALW	40m	CW
EC2DM	40m	CW
DL2HWI	40m	CW
DL3HXX	40m	CW
HB9AAQ	40m	CW
GW7AAV	2m	FM

Friday 22nd July 2011, and the last day of term - yippee! And 30m worked well, so either that was the answer, or HF conditions had picked up nicely since the previous day.

It was a nice morning - for the ascent, at least. Views were nice, and conditions mild at the top, but the midges were bothering and biting, which wasn't so great. The man who does two circuits over The Cloud came over the summit at 0710 and 0730 local. The lady who brings three dogs up to play chasing-the-ball was walking up as I was descending.

30m CW realised 24 QSOs as I breathed a sigh of relief that all was working as it should be. 2m FM brought three more before I descended and went to work. Thanks to all the stations that called in.

YO2BF	30m	CW
DL/GM0WED/P	30m	CW
LA8BCA	30m	CW
HA5BWW	30m	CW
EC2DM	30m	CW
OK2ZO	30m	CW
OE3AYA	30m	CW
S58AL	30m	CW
DL2EF	30m	CW
I5FLN	30m	CW
IK8FIQ	30m	CW
DL6KVA	30m	CW
S51ZG	30m	CW
SM6LWH	30m	CW
SP6EIY	30m	CW
DJ5AV	30m	CW
DL5BRE	30m	CW
F6CEL	30m	CW
F8NUH	30m	CW
DL6XAZ	30m	CW
OH1CM	30m	CW
EA6UN	30m	CW
SM2BXT	30m	CW
SP5ARP	30m	CW
9A4MF	30m	CW
S58MU	30m	CW
ON7PQ	30m	CW
M1CNL	2m	FM
GW7AAV	2m	FM

Monday 25th July 2011 was an afternoon of antenna building with Sean M0GIA. We made a MM10 and MM15 - groundplane quarter wave verticals for 28MHz and 21MHz respectively. Initial checks in the back garden indicated that the SWR was as it should be, so we headed out to The Cloud G/SP-015 after tea. Jimmy M3EYP joined us to activate, while younger brother Liam and Sean's son Dan also tagged along. On the summit, Jimmy realised he had forgotten to carry the SOTA Beam up, so had to stick to HH + RD. He made lots of 2m FM contacts anyway!

It was a struggle to work anything on 15m and 10m, but it was getting rather late in the day, around 8pm. An Italian and a G were worked on 10m CW, while on 15m CW, it was Reg G3WPF and a 4X (Israel) station. Some good signals from the DX were heard, with LU (Argentina) and ZP (Paraguay) coming in, but they didn't hear my calls through their pile-ups.

The main thing is that the aerials did work and they would be put through their paces in due course. Jimmy made S2S contacts with Greg 2E0RXX/P and Simon M0TGT/P on Gun G/SP-013, participating in a Macclesfield club portable evening. On the way home we called at The Harrington Arms in Gawsworth for some Robinsons Dizzy Blonde ale and some lively political debate with Dan! Good fun. Thanks to the following chasers:

2E0RXX/M	2m	FM	J
M3OUA	2m	FM	J
G3ZHE	2m	FM	J
M3HJG/M	2m	FM	J
G3WPF	15m	CW	T
M0PER	2m	FM	J
M0TGT/M	2m	FM	J
4X1UN	15m	CW	T
M6EAL	2m	FM	J
IK6BAK	10m	CW	T
G3RKF	10m	CW	T
2E0LKC	2m	FM	J
MW0RSS/M	2m	FM	J
G0SJS	2m	FM	J
M0TGT/P on Gun SP-013	2m	FM	J
2E0RXX/P on Gun SP-013	2m	FM	J

It was back up Cloud summit the following night, Tuesday 26th July 2011, for the 6m UK Activity Contest. The DX flirted with me in this one, and attempts were made to work IK5GQK, EA5XC, IZ5EME and EA6SA. However, these attempts failed and my best DX was restricted to within the British Isles - GM4ZUK/P in IO86 and EI4II in IO62. Thanks to all the stations worked:

M3EYP	6m	SSB
G8APB	6m	SSB
MW6OXO/P	6m	SSB
G2ANC	6m	SSB
GW4EVX	6m	SSB
GW8ASD	6m	SSB
M1CNY/P	6m	SSB
G0JCQ	6m	SSB
G3ZOD	6m	SSB
EI4II	6m	SSB
GW4ZAR/P	6m	SSB
M3KIN	6m	SSB
M0GVG/P	6m	SSB
G7DWY	6m	SSB
M6MGB	6m	SSB
G8ZRE	6m	SSB
G7HOA	6m	SSB
2E0VXX/P	6m	SSB
GM4ZUK/P	6m	SSB
M0VAA	6m	SSB
M0NUT/P	6m	SSB
2E0XOJ	6m	SSB
G1SWH	6m	SSB
M0EMM	6m	SSB
M0COP/P	6m	SSB
G6UBM	6m	SSB
G1SMI	6m	SSB
G4BDO/P	6m	SSB
G3KAF	6m	SSB
2E0BMO	6m	SSB
2E0UOG	6m	SSB
G4ZRP	6m	SSB
G4DEZ	6m	SSB
G4EJL	6m	SSB
G0EHV/P	6m	SSB
GM4JR	6m	SSB
G3WFK	6m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	6m	SSB
G4FPJ	6m	SSB
M3OUA	6m	SSB
G4APJ	6m	SSB
M3WDS/P on Cleeve Hill CE-001	6m	SSB
G6ITO	6m	SSB
2W0TDX/P on Penycloddiau NW-054	6m	SSB
2W0XYL/P on Penycloddiau NW-054	6m	SSB
2E0DHT/P	6m	SSB
G0CER	6m	SSB
M3RNX	6m	SSB
2E0HRD/P	6m	SSB
M3ZPJ	6m	SSB
G0LGS/P	6m	SSB
M0WLF	6m	SSB
G0XDI	6m	SSB
G8MKC/P	6m	SSB
G4TSW	6m	SSB

I returned to The Cloud G/SP-015 for the 70cm RSGB UKAC on Tuesday 9th August 2011. All day the weather had threatened to spoil things, and most of the day I had tried to buy a new bothy bag. I couldn't find a suitable one, but then it didn't rain after all.

It turned out to be another of those irritating contests when several regulars, who you suspected were on someone, just couldn't be found. As such, I missed GD8EXI in IO74, G3PYE in JO02 and G4DEZ in JO03, the latter two also leaving those multipliers absent from my log.

So this time, it looked like M3HBI/P, who I beat into second place last month, would return the compliment this time. The final reckoning was 59 contacts in 11 multipliers, all on 70cm SSB, although CW was used to complete a couple of them. No replies were made to my calls on 433MHz FM. Thanks to all callers:

G4FPJ	70cm	SSB
M3EYP	70cm	SSB
M3OUA	70cm	SSB
M1CNY/P	70cm	SSB
M3ZPJ	70cm	SSB
G4APJ	70cm	SSB
M3RNX	70cm	SSB
G4SCY	70cm	SSB
G0WTD	70cm	SSB
G2ANC	70cm	SSB
M6FAY/P	70cm	SSB
M5HFJ	70cm	SSB
2E0TXT/P	70cm	SSB
G0CDA	70cm	SSB
G8ZRE	70cm	SSB
MW6OXO/P	70cm	SSB
2E0HRD/P	70cm	SSB
GI6ATZ	70cm	SSB
G4JLG	70cm	SSB
G3UBX	70cm	SSB
G3NYY/P	70cm	SSB
G8OHM	70cm	SSB
G8VHI	70cm	SSB
M1MHZ	70cm	SSB
G1SMI	70cm	SSB
G0CER	70cm	SSB
M3HBI/P	70cm	SSB
2E0XOJ	70cm	SSB
G0LGS/P	70cm	SSB
M0COP/P	70cm	SSB
2E0DHT/P on Winter Hill SP-010	70cm	SSB
M0ICK	70cm	SSB
M0AFJ	70cm	SSB
G8CUL	70cm	SSB
G7HOA/P	70cm	SSB
M0GHZ	70cm	SSB
2E0LKC	70cm	SSB
G4CLA	70cm	SSB
G8ZTT	70cm	SSB
G4ZRP	70cm	SSB
G0OWP	70cm	SSB
G8MKC/P	70cm	SSB
G4NTY	70cm	SSB
GI4SNA	70cm	SSB
G1SWH	70cm	SSB
2E0RXX/P	70cm	SSB
M1BYH/P	70cm	SSB
M3ZRY/P	70cm	SSB
2E0UOG	70cm	SSB
G0PPO/P	70cm	SSB
G4LBH/P	70cm	SSB
2W0TDX/P	70cm	SSB
2W0XYL/P	70cm	SSB
G4CPE	70cm	SSB
G4DHF	70cm	SSB
G8ONK	70cm	SSB
GM4JR	70cm	SSB
G1HLT	70cm	SSB
G3MEH	70cm	SSB

The gaps between my activations are getting longer. Eight days since my last one - on Bardon Hill G/CE-004 - and an even longer gap coming up shortly. On Monday 22nd August 2011, I bribed Jimmy and Liam to help me tidy my room - my classroom at work that is. In return for a 6am get-up, and five hours of manual graft (in which they both put in a supreme effort), I took them to the local Chinese buffet in Tunstall for an all-you-can-eat lunch.

Driving back north, with the temperatures in the high twenties, and the sun beating down, we went for a toddle up th' Cloud, as you do. Jimmy M3EYP - 2m FM, SOTA Beam, VX-110 - 14 contacts. I tried on 15m CW with the MM15, and made just six, including N4EX. I tried to answer the CQ calls from FS/W6IZT (French St Martin) working split, but he didn't come back to me.

The activation was blighted by big swarms of big flies all over the summit, so 20 minutes up there was plenty. While packing up, I spoke to a fascinating chap who told me about the radio history of The Cloud, where apparently Lord Egerton of Tatton Park had a rudimentary experimental station in a caravan on the hillside, sited to enable communication back to the estate.

M0UJD/M	2m	FM	J
G6NFR	2m	FM	J
G0WTD	2m	FM	J
G4ZRP	2m	FM	J
2E0TDX/M	2m	FM	J
M1CNL	2m	FM	J
GW4ZAR	2m	FM	J
G0BJK	2m	FM	J
2E0GIV	2m	FM	J
N4EX	15m	CW	T
G0SJS	2m	FM	J
G3WPF	15m	CW	T
S51ZG	15m	CW	T
G7NPT	2m	FM	J
RA6YDX	15m	CW	T
OK1ANN	15m	CW	T
2E0LKC/P	2m	FM	J
OE6WIG	15m	CW	T
G7SKR	2m	FM	J
G6ODU	2m	FM	J
S52TC	15m	CW	T

Tuesday 23rd August 2011, and the 6m UK activity contest. Venue, as usual, The Cloud G/SP-015, right on the summit with the delta loop. Arrived at the parking spot and immediately discovered that the problem with my brakes sticking was still there, and evidenced by that fact that my break lights were still on even with me outside the car! And this despite my local tyre/exhaust/breaks centre relieving me of a few hundred quid, diagnosing lots of other problems with my breaks fixing them and finally informing me that the dragging back sensation on my car had not been fixed and was nothing to do with the breaks, more probably a diesel filter. An angry M1EYP will be outside that particular establishment at 8am in the morning, and demanding answers.

Nothing like a good walk, even if a little short one, to flush the annoyance out of the system, and I was in a better mood on summit. As usual, setting up had to be multi-tasked with fielding all the usual questions from the cross-country runners. Them and me weren't the only hobbyists using The Cloud either, as a chap arrived hauling a serious camera and a massive tripod, to catch some arty shots of the sunset.

So to the contest, and 70 QSOs made into 13 multipliers. Not bad, but nothing from any of the seventy-something squares. It did hear a 73 and a 75 on, but never did get to work them. As the light dimmed and dusk morphed into night, around 6 bats were swooping around the summit, no doubt feeding on the midges and spiders that were plentiful, but mercifully, not realling bothering. My SOTA log actually reached 71 QSOs, for Mark G0VOF was worked for a second time, over on CW. That went in the SOTA log, but not the contest log. Thanks to all who called in.

G4FPJ	6m	SSB
M1CNY/P	6m	SSB
2E0DHT	6m	SSB
G0OWP	6m	SSB
G8HXE/P	6m	SSB
G1AEQ/P	6m	SSB
M3EYP	6m	SSB
G4APJ	6m	SSB
G3XNO	6m	SSB
M0VAA	6m	SSB
G4SCY	6m	SSB
2E0LKC	6m	SSB
G7HOA/P	6m	SSB
G3TDH	6m	SSB
GW4EVX	6m	SSB
G0WTM	6m	SSB
G0WTD	6m	SSB
GW8ASD	6m	SSB
M6OXO	6m	SSB
M6FAY/P	6m	SSB
G4ZRP	6m	SSB
G3NYY/P	6m	SSB
G0VOF	6m	SSB
M6NYL	6m	SSB
G3PYE/P	6m	SSB
G3ZVW	6m	SSB
G0JCQ	6m	SSB
G0EHV/P	6m	SSB
M0GVG/P	6m	SSB
M0ICK	6m	SSB
G0CER	6m	SSB
G6HFF	6m	SSB
G4HGI	6m	SSB
G7DWY	6m	SSB
M0COP/P	6m	SSB
G4TSW	6m	SSB
G3MEH	6m	SSB
G0XDI	6m	SSB
GM4JR	6m	SSB
G4BLH	6m	SSB
G4ELJ	6m	SSB
2E0RXX	6m	SSB
G8MKC/P	6m	SSB
G4JED	6m	SSB
2E0LMD	6m	SSB
G8BFF	6m	SSB
G8ONK	6m	SSB
G0LGS/P	6m	SSB
M0TAV	6m	SSB
GI4SNA	6m	SSB
G8ZRE	6m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	6m	SSB
G1SMI	6m	SSB
G1XOW	6m	SSB
2E0VXX/P	6m	SSB
G1SWH	6m	SSB
G7APD	6m	SSB
G4DEZ	6m	SSB
GW4ZAR/P	6m	SSB
G0VOF	6m	CW
2E0VPX	6m	SSB
G6UBM	6m	SSB
M0NUT/P	6m	SSB
G0BWC/P	6m	SSB
2E0UOG	6m	SSB
G4ERO	6m	SSB
M3RNX	6m	SSB
G3VCA	6m	SSB
M0MST/P	6m	SSB
G8CUL	6m	SSB
G3UVR	6m	SSB

We had been away on a family holiday to the Orlando region of Florida. I had never been to the USA before, and found it pretty much as I expected it. I surprisingly enjoyed a couple of theme parks, and not so much another one. The weather was hot (apparently Florida was experiencing a heatwave!), and the villa and pool was nice. The food over there was excellent once or twice, but more usually mediocre. We even went to visit a radio amateur - Bill KJ4KDO, in Clearwater, Tampa - who I had worked on Echolink the previous week and invited us!

Jimmy M3EYP was quite relaxed about our holiday destination - because Florida doesn't have any SOTA hills! The highlight of the holiday was watching Tampa Bay Rays v Baltimore Orioles in Major League Baseball, while a disappointment was twice failing to participate in the Saturday SOTA Net from W4. On the first occasion, the Echolink repeater being used (K4ZPZ, of G4ZPZ / GB3PZ heritage) didn't have Echolink enabled! Later in the week I worked Richard G3CWI via that facility, but by the Saturday, it was offline again. However, we were in Downtown Disney at that point, and so able to work a few more Echolink repeaters. And then, just at 3pm EST (8pm BST), the batteries went flat in my Yaesu VX7. Unfortunately, I had not properly checked out about what charging methods would work for me in the US in conjunction with a travel plug, and so it was game over!

Landing at Manchester Airport at 9.25am on Sunday 4th September 2011 was like a breath of fresh air - literally. We had caught Florida in a heatwave, where temperatures nudged 98 degrees F on most days. The fresh air of Cheshire was a welcome tonic! After getting the taxi home to Macclesfield, I was very tired. Despite my best efforts, I had not managed to get more than about one hour of sleep during the flight. But due back at work the next day, I didn't have time to spare to beat the jetlag.

So while Marianne and Liam went to bed, and Jimmy started ploughing through his Skybox recordings of Coronation Street and Doctor Who, I reasoned that I needed a walk, some radio and lots of fresh air to keep me going through the day. And it was the day of the 5th 144MHz Backpackers Contest after all!

The familiar drive up to Cloudside was rather stuttered in my car that has something wrong with it (and is now in the garage). The walk was a tonic in spite of my extreme fatigue, and the weather was lovely - but not too hot! I set up in G3CWI's favourite spot beyond the trig point, just above the Big Hole. Set up was FT-817 - set to 2.5 watts of course (I do agree with Walt G3NYY though, that it would be more sensible to have the power limit for the BP as 5 watts) - and SB5 at 4m on the pole.

And it was good. Slow going for the first hour on 2m SSB, while I chased the more distant UK stations on the continental DX, but good. But then the second and third hours were similarly lethargic. The longest run of stations I got on my own frequency, at any stage, was a pathetic nine! Still, the distance points, the squares and the countries continued to accumulate at a steady rate. DXCCs worked were G, GW, GI, GM, PA, ON and F. Two DLs were heard, but neither heard me. Nothing from GD or EI.

The QSO rate finally picked up in the final hour - but only after I switched in desperation to FM when SSB went deathly quiet after 3pm BST. In my final call at 1459z, I had an amazing pile-up of five stations, all wanting to be my 70th and final contact in the contest. That honour went to G3YTI, but like any good activator, I remained on air to work the other callers!

In fact, it was a beautiful afternoon, and I was enjoying the radio, the views and the comfortable operating position I had moulded into - so comfortable I could have fallen asleep there and then! Anyway, I worked down those five, but the calls kept coming. And coming. It seemed I was now a 2m FM SOTA activation in demand as 5pm came and went with no sign of a let-up. The now-rapid QSO rate was slowed for a couple of very pleasant ragchews. The rareness of my forays onto 2m FM these days was summed up with one station commentating "Oh yes, you're Jimmy's dad". I corrected her and told her in no uncertain terms that M3EYP was "Tom's son"! Harrumph.

A map of my contest QSOs may be viewed at http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/kml_files/2011/3TYAhrRKr1WOGxelrlCX3rNT84yWbIK

At 1633 UTC, John G1STQ was the 100th and final station worked on this activation. It had been a most pleasing rehabilitation into the homeland. It was, believe it or not, the first time I had ever done the Backpackers contest from The Cloud G/SP-015. There were lots of people on the summit, one or two of whom wandered over to see what was going on. One of these was a learning mentor from the school I work at, Jo, with her two young sons! After driving back to Macc, I deposited the car in the driveway then walked up to the pub with Jimmy, to meet Richard for a couple of pints of Black Sheep. Most welcome.

GB0SHM	2m	SSB
GW4RWR	2m	SSB
G8ONK	2m	SSB
G8ALB	2m	SSB
GM4ZUK/P	2m	SSB
M6XJP	2m	SSB
GW4EVX/P	2m	SSB
G8CUL	2m	SSB
TM6M	2m	SSB
G5RS/P	2m	SSB
G4DEZ	2m	SSB
F1CXX/P	2m	SSB
G3PYE/P	2m	SSB
MW6OXO/P	2m	SSB
G7SKR	2m	SSB
GW0DSP	2m	SSB
GW1LFX	2m	SSB
G8DTF	2m	SSB
M0NED	2m	SSB
G8HXE/P	2m	SSB
G0EHV/P	2m	SSB
2E0BMO	2m	SSB
G5B	2m	SSB
G3XBY/P	2m	SSB
M0BAO/P	2m	SSB
2E0NEY	2m	SSB
G4Z	2m	SSB
GW8ASD	2m	SSB
F8BRK	2m	SSB
G0VHF/P	2m	SSB
G3NYY/P	2m	SSB
PA6NL	2m	SSB
F5KAR/P	2m	SSB
G8T	2m	SSB
M0B	2m	SSB
F1ISM	2m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	2m	SSB
G8ZRE	2m	SSB
2E0VXX/P	2m	SSB
GM4JR	2m	SSB
ON4KHG	2m	SSB
G8P	2m	SSB
ON4MCL	2m	SSB
G1HLT	2m	SSB
G8LZE	2m	SSB
G4LWC	2m	SSB
G8N	2m	SSB
GI4SNA	2m	SSB
G3BPK/P	2m	SSB
G4XZL/P	2m	SSB
GM4PPT	2m	SSB
M3DPQ/P	2m	SSB
G4PBP	2m	SSB
G1ARU/P	2m	SSB
GM0PJD/P	2m	SSB
G4ALE/P	2m	SSB
G4ZAR/M	2m	FM
2E0LKC	2m	FM
2E0LMD	2m	FM
2E0XYL	2m	FM
G4UPO/M	2m	FM
M1DTJ	2m	FM
G4BLH	2m	FM
M0RCP/P	2m	FM
G3WGQ	2m	FM
G2ALN	2m	FM
G8JSM/P	2m	FM
2W0CVE/M	2m	FM
G8ALB	2m	FM
G0HRT	2m	FM
G3YTI	2m	FM
M3YYK	2m	FM
M0TKD	2m	FM
G3WFK	2m	FM
M3OOL/P on Kinder Scout SP-001	2m	FM
M0XRS	2m	FM
G6ODU	2m	FM
M3ZKU/P	2m	FM
M6AUE	2m	FM
MW6AQT	2m	FM
GW0HUS	2m	FM
G4FPJ	2m	FM
G1JHB/P	2m	FM
G8HXE/M	2m	FM
M6CRC	2m	FM
G0BJK	2m	FM
M6DLT	2m	FM
2E0HRD/M	2m	FM
M0GIA	2m	FM
G0RXA	2m	FM
2E0NLY	2m	FM
G7OEM	2m	FM
M0SJS	2m	FM
M6TMM	2m	FM
G0SJS	2m	FM
2E0LDJ	2m	FM
G0SLR	2m	FM
G3CWI	2m	FM
G1JZU	2m	FM
G1STQ	2m	FM

And now to Tuesday evening, 6th September 2011, and the next 2m UK activity contest. The evening commenced with a meal out with Marianne and Liam at the Robin Hood pub on the A54. This was then supposed to combine with Liam walking up the hill with me, and Marianne walking up to collect him after a spot of shopping in Congleton. But when we emerged from the pub in heavy rain, all such ideas were cancelled, and I was walking up The Cloud G/SP-015 on my own.

The weather being horrid, I carried my Karrimor Ultralite backpacking tent up with me, and pitched it on the summit. The advantage of this was that I remained warm and dry, while the disadvatage was having to operate throughout against the utter din the tent was making in the wind.

I was completely set up for just a couple of minutes after the 8pm start time, and dug through my pockets for my logbook. No sign of it whatsoever. Frantically, I started to sift through my pockets and rucksack for other things I could write on. A couple of retail receipts and a pack of tissues were not up to it; I was not a happy bunny.

Reluctantly, I decided to descend to my car, hoping the waterproof logbook was in there and not left at home, in which case I would just have to collect a batch of garage service reports to write on! Thankfully, the logbook was found in a rear door pocket, and I was off on my second ascent of The Cloud that evening!

It was obvious that Autumn had arrived, for the headtorch required to be switched on from the start of my operating. This was an irritating 24 minutes late, but I guess it could have been worse. Fortunately, I quickly found a good frequency to run on, and enjoyed a decent start. Then it was into search & pounce mode as I set about building up the multiplier squares worked. All the time, I sensed the wind was getting stronger and stronger, and total concentration was required to copy the information from the weaker stations, even with my 817 volume set unusually high.

By 9.25pm, I had made 67 contacts into 13 squares. However, the wind was still increasing ferociously. Many stations worked expressed surprise that I was still out on a hilltop in such conditions. One of my main competitors, M0MST/P, announced that he was about to pack up due to the weather shortly after 9pm - and he was in a car!

And then bang crash! The wind had blown my mast and antenna right over, and was doing all it could to take my tent away as well. Fortunately, the elements of the SB5 escaped without damage. However, there wasn't enough time to reset the aerial to even make one more contact before the contest end time of 10.30pm. So, I actually began the pack-away at 10.28pm. I had to hang right onto the tent while taking it down as other forces wanted to take it on a flight to Rushton Spencer.

Here is a map of my contacts: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/kml_files/2011/z1z48MUF85j6kddFnsVJWufzP0NXHpT

G4APJ	2m	SSB
2E0LMD	2m	SSB
M3RNX	2m	SSB
G3UDA	2m	SSB
GM4AFF	2m	SSB
G8HAV	2m	SSB
M3ZPJ	2m	SSB
G4FPJ	2m	SSB
G0HIS	2m	SSB
G0JCQ	2m	SSB
G1ORC/P	2m	SSB
G6HFF	2m	SSB
G6LUZ	2m	SSB
M0ICK	2m	SSB
G4HGI	2m	SSB
G4SCY	2m	SSB
2E0ORC	2m	SSB
2E0UOG	2m	SSB
G1AEQ/P	2m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	2m	SSB
G4MVU	2m	SSB
M3OUA	2m	SSB
G4TUP	2m	SSB
2E0DHT/P	2m	SSB
M6XJP	2m	SSB
2E0BMO	2m	SSB
G2ANC	2m	SSB
G7APD	2m	SSB
M0JAV	2m	SSB
G0CER	2m	SSB
M0RIA/P	2m	SSB
G8ZRE	2m	SSB
2E0XOJ	2m	SSB
G0NED	2m	SSB
M3EYP	2m	SSB
2E0SBM	2m	SSB
G1SWH	2m	SSB
G0GSH	2m	SSB
G4DEZ	2m	SSB
G8VHI	2m	SSB
M1CNY/P	2m	SSB
M0MST/P	2m	SSB
M5HFJ	2m	SSB
M0MCV	2m	SSB
G0GRI/P	2m	SSB
GI4SNA	2m	SSB
G7DWY	2m	SSB
M6ASL	2m	SSB
G0BBL/P	2m	SSB
M0GVG/P	2m	SSB
G4FZN/P	2m	SSB
GW4EVX	2m	SSB
G8YIG	2m	SSB
GD8EXI	2m	SSB
M0COP/P	2m	SSB
GM4JR	2m	SSB
G0WTD	2m	SSB
G4IRC	2m	SSB
M0BUL/P	2m	SSB
M6NYL	2m	SSB
G8DTF	2m	SSB
G0OWP	2m	SSB
G4NTY	2m	SSB
G0CDA	2m	SSB
GW8ASD	2m	SSB
G3ZII	2m	SSB
G3MEH	2m	SSB

For my 70cm contest activation of The Cloud G/SP-015 on Tuesday 13th September 2011, I took some risks, both intentional and unintentional - and got away with them. The first was that, as the UK-dwellers will know, it was extremely windy, something like 35mph with gusts up to double that. The fishing pole and SB6 antenna took a battering for 3 hours, but remained intact and upright. The second risk was that I hadn't refreshed the batteries in my main headtorch, so only had Jimmy's spare to use - with no backup if those batteries ran out! They didn't, although the moonlight was brighter than my headtorch on the descent!

I was pleased I did it and got away with it. For the weather conditions meant that most folks stayed at home, even those who tend to operated in the contests from their vehicles. Even some home based contest stations reported problems with masts blown down.

It was hard going. I sheltered by the topograph - which helped me, but not the mast - and needed torchlight from the start of the contest for the first time since before spring. 54 contacts into 8 multiplier squares would not normally file a competitive entry, but on a rotten night with many regulars giving it a miss, it could turn out to be a winner. Even if not, it should be enough to now guarantee that I have won the 70cm series in the AL - low power section of the UKACs for 2011.

One S2S QSO was included in the log, this with Matt M3WDS/P on Cleeve Hill G/CE-001. Looks like winter is just around the corner!

G2ANC	70cm	SSB
G4FPJ	70cm	SSB
G0VOF	70cm	SSB
G0CER	70cm	SSB
G7HOA	70cm	SSB
G8ONK	70cm	SSB
G8ZRE	70cm	SSB
M5AFG	70cm	SSB
M1CNY/P	70cm	SSB
2E0LKC	70cm	SSB
M3EYP	70cm	SSB
2E0XOJ/P	70cm	SSB
M6NYL	70cm	SSB
2E0LMD	70cm	SSB
G6HFF	70cm	SSB
G4APJ	70cm	SSB
M3OUA	70cm	SSB
G0NMY	70cm	SSB
G8BFF	70cm	SSB
GW8ASD	70cm	SSB
2E0BMO	70cm	SSB
G1AEQ	70cm	SSB
M3RNX	70cm	SSB
2E0DHT/P	70cm	SSB
G4HGI	70cm	SSB
M0GVG/P	70cm	SSB
G0WTD	70cm	SSB
G4CLA	70cm	SSB
G8OHM	70cm	SSB
G4JLG	70cm	SSB
M0COP/P	70cm	SSB
2E0UOG	70cm	SSB
2E0TXT/P	70cm	SSB
G8AXW	70cm	SSB
M3ZPJ	70cm	SSB
G0SLR	70cm	SSB
G0OWP	70cm	SSB
M0AFJ	70cm	SSB
G0LGS/P	70cm	SSB
GD8EXI	70cm	SSB
G3WKZ	70cm	CW
G8MKC/P	70cm	SSB
G1SMI	70cm	SSB
G0RGU	70cm	SSB
G0XDI/P	70cm	SSB
M0GHZ	70cm	SSB
G0ODQ	70cm	SSB
G1HLT	70cm	SSB
2E0ORC	70cm	SSB
G7HEJ	70cm	SSB
M0SDA	70cm	SSB
M3WDS/P on Cleeve Hill CE-001	70cm	SSB
G0CDA	70cm	SSB

Tuesday 27th September 2011 saw my first visit to G/SP-015 for two weeks would you believe? It was the 6m contest, and an opportunity to all but seal my victory in the 2011 series. I was on a roll, having already made sure of the 70cm UKAC series and the 50MHz Backpackers Trophy in recent weeks.

Despite the balmy weather of the following day, summer's end was evident on the ascent, which was in the last dregs of daylight. I had to turn the headtorch on the erect the 6m Delta loop, and this was tricky in very blustery conditions. It took me ages, so it was as well that I had walked up early and had plenty of slack available.

I was set up by 7.55pm BST, but my radio wouldn't turn on. I then noticed that one side of the power cable from my 817 had come away from the Powerpole connector - nightmare! In the absence of either appropriate tools or practical knowhow to fix this, I simply rested the loose cable into the connector and wrapped a bit of my rucksack around it to keep it pushed in. To my amazement, this worked, and gave me uninterrupted power for the duration of the contest!

It was a slow start to the contest, as I couldn't seem to establish a frequency of my own. Still, you have to search & pounce at some stage to collect the multipliers, so I did this at the start. By the end of the contest, I had only 10 multiplier squares in the logbook. Some did well, with fellow Macclesfield club contesters M0GVG working 19. What made up for the lack of multipliers for me was a healthy number of contacts made - 68 - and an astonishing number of QSOs into IO91 square, which really bulked out my distance points.

At the time of writing, I have a big lead in the AL (10 watts) section, and I didn't hear any potential AL section challengers on the air. A win in this one will, I think, guarantee a series victory, so attention will now turn to the 2m series where there is a serious three-way fight going on. Thanks to any SOTA chasers that called in.

G3MEH	6m	SSB
G8MKC/P	6m	SSB
GI4SNA	6m	SSB
G8APB	6m	SSB
G8ZRE	6m	SSB
M0WLF	6m	SSB
G7HOA/P	6m	SSB
M0COP/P	6m	SSB
G4ELJ	6m	SSB
G4JQN	6m	SSB
G0VOF	6m	SSB
GW4ZAR/P	6m	SSB
GM4JR	6m	SSB
M0NUT/P	6m	SSB
G4HGI	6m	SSB
G0EHV/P	6m	SSB
M5HFJ	6m	SSB
M0GVG/P	6m	SSB
G3ZOD	6m	SSB
G7DWY	6m	SSB
M1CNY/P	6m	SSB
G1AEQ	6m	SSB
G0LGS/P	6m	SSB
GW8ASD	6m	SSB
M6OXO	6m	SSB
G4FPJ	6m	SSB
M0EMM	6m	SSB
G3XNO	6m	SSB
G3NGD	6m	SSB
G4APJ	6m	SSB
G4ENZ	6m	SSB
G3WFK	6m	SSB
G4XKC	6m	SSB
G3SVD	6m	SSB
G1NUS	6m	SSB
G1SWH	6m	SSB
2E0UOG	6m	SSB
G0CER	6m	SSB
G4ZRP	6m	SSB
G6HFF	6m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	6m	SSB
G1SMI	6m	SSB
G3VCA	6m	SSB
2E0BMO	6m	SSB
G0XDI	6m	SSB
M0TAV	6m	SSB
G4NDM	6m	SSB
G0WTD	6m	SSB
G0OWP	6m	SSB
G8CUL	6m	SSB
G8BUN	6m	SSB
2E0NEY	6m	SSB
G6TGO	6m	SSB
G3TA	6m	SSB
G8GHO	6m	SSB
M3RNX	6m	SSB
2E0VPX	6m	SSB
G4VFL/P	6m	SSB
2E0ORC	6m	SSB
M0ICK	6m	SSB
G4APL	6m	SSB
G4EHD	6m	SSB
G4RYV	6m	SSB
G7IVF/P	6m	SSB
G3VRE	6m	SSB
G0MZZ	6m	SSB
GW8IZR	6m	SSB
G7APD	6m	SSB

Well, it all looks a lot simpler now! My main competitor G4HGI was in the AR (100w) section on the 4th October 2m activity contest, and therefore cannot catch my score now. The only other station that could catch me, M0MST, was not heard in the contest, and at the time of writing, has not entered a log. Still, it was fun to consider the mathematical permutations anyway!

BBC Radio 2 was irritating on the drive from Macclesfield to Cloudside, so the car radio was reset to BBC Radio 5 Live. The walk up The Cloud G/SP-015 was enjoyable in the dusk, and the headtorch was switched on at the summit for setting up. As well as the SB5, the FT-817 and SLAB, there was another component to the station tonight. This was a 10w linear borrowed from Richard G3CWI, in my bid to secure the points needed for the series win!

It was actually good fun using the linear, finding myself getting more easily heard by the DX stations, and my "ears" working better too when the rx amp clicked in between transmissions. Performance was certainly enhanced, and I finished with 111 QSOs and 19 multiplier squares, a score of 217,026 points, and my best ever in a Tuesday night 2m contest.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/kml_files/2011/hmM536CI3gEGpmeEgccnUS2n2V9eRHZ

The highlights from the log were F8BRK in IN99, 460km, several GM stations, two GIs, lots from JO02 and JO01 and a rare contact into IO70. Very satisfying!

It was nice to have several known SOTA chasers working me for the point, and their cooperation in working a few other contest stations as well (to save me from falling foul of the "unique" cull) was appreciated. There is always something strangely satisfying of hearing a SOTA chaser saying "I'm not doing the contest, I just want the SOTA contact"! A very pleasing and enjoyable evening. Thanks to all the SOTA chasers that worked me.

M3OUA	2m	SSB
G0VOF	2m	SSB
2E0HST	2m	SSB
G4TUP	2m	SSB
G4APJ	2m	SSB
G7NPT	2m	SSB
M3EYP	2m	SSB
G6LUZ	2m	SSB
M3RNX	2m	SSB
M3ZPJ	2m	SSB
GM4AFF	2m	SSB
M6CWA/P	2m	SSB
G3CWI	2m	SSB
M0TGT/P	2m	SSB
G4HZG	2m	SSB
G1NUS	2m	SSB
G7APD	2m	SSB
M1CNY/P	2m	SSB
M6BYR	2m	SSB
M0RSF	2m	SSB
G0BWC/P	2m	SSB
G4FPJ	2m	SSB
M0ICK	2m	SSB
M0RSD	2m	SSB
2E0SBM	2m	SSB
G2ANC	2m	SSB
M0TAV	2m	SSB
G6HFF	2m	SSB
G4MVU	2m	SSB
G8LZE	2m	SSB
GW8ASD	2m	SSB
M1DDD	2m	SSB
G0LGS/P	2m	SSB
F8BRK	2m	SSB
G3UVR	2m	SSB
2E0FRY	2m	SSB
M0VLC	2m	SSB
M5HFJ	2m	SSB
G4DBS	2m	SSB
G0SLR	2m	SSB
G0AJJ	2m	SSB
G4YHF	2m	SSB
G7DWY	2m	SSB
M0DXR/P	2m	SSB
G3USE	2m	SSB
G4XPE	2m	SSB
G0JJG	2m	SSB
G4BAO	2m	SSB
M0COP/P	2m	SSB
G0CER	2m	SSB
G8HCB	2m	SSB
G3UDA	2m	SSB
G4GTH	2m	SSB
M1MHZ	2m	SSB
M0WAF	2m	SSB
G4JLG	2m	SSB
G0ODQ	2m	SSB
G8DTF	2m	SSB
G1SMI	2m	SSB
G4PBP	2m	SSB
G0HFX/P	2m	SSB
G1TST	2m	SSB
GI4SNA	2m	SSB
M0GVG/P	2m	SSB
G8VHI	2m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	2m	SSB
G4DEZ	2m	SSB
M0YJT/P	2m	SSB
M0SRA	2m	SSB
G0XDI	2m	SSB
GW4WND	2m	SSB
2E0LES	2m	SSB
G8ZRE	2m	SSB
G8BUN	2m	SSB
2E0BMO	2m	SSB
M6NSR/A	2m	SSB
M0WAY	2m	SSB
G3XQE	2m	SSB
G0ELJ	2m	SSB
G0AFH	2m	SSB
G0NFA/P	2m	SSB
G0GSH	2m	SSB
2E0UOG	2m	SSB
2E0LMD	2m	SSB
G1VVF	2m	SSB
2E0LKC	2m	SSB
M0HJO	2m	SSB
GW4RWR	2m	SSB
G4JZF	2m	SSB
G8XYJ	2m	SSB
G4FZN/P	2m	SSB
GM4PPT	2m	SSB
GM4CXM	2m	SSB
2E0RXX	2m	SSB
G4BEE	2m	SSB
G0VRR	2m	SSB
G0WTD	2m	SSB
G4XKC	2m	SSB
G3SMT	2m	SSB
G0HIS	2m	SSB
G6UW	2m	SSB
G4NTY	2m	SSB
MI0SMK/P	2m	SSB
M6NYL	2m	SSB
G4HGI	2m	SSB
G3MEH	2m	SSB
G4IRC	2m	SSB
G8CUL	2m	SSB
G8HGN	2m	SSB
M0BUL/P	2m	SSB
GM4JR	2m	SSB

And then the world tips itself upside down and everything is wrong. Tuesday 11th October 2011 was a horrible night with the only variation in the weather being the difference between constant drizzle and heavy rain. Even inside my new 4 man bothy bag, the was a constant sense of damp and the ground beneath me churning up with every slight move to generally make everything filthy.

Problems continued. Relatively few people were out and about for the 70cm activity contest, meaning that I finished with a QSO total of only 46 - 44 on SSB and 2 on FM. Finding my 10 multipliers in amongst that lot was also hard work. Something wasn't right in the system with the SWR indication on the FT-817 showing between 3 bars and 5 bars all night. I fiddled with various parts of the feeder and antenna, but couldn't identify any problems.

I was hearing stations in JO01 and JO02 well enough, and they were giving me good reports, so I suspected the SWR situation wasn't as bad as it looked. Nonetheless, it is something to take a proper look at. I don't think it is anything to do with the feeder, which was perfect for the 2m UKAC the previous week, although it may not be an exact mutliple of half a wavelength on 70cm!

The headtorch and full waterproofs were required from the parking spot, and my outer shell was drenched by the time I crawled into the bivvy bag to connect up the FT-817. The local fellrunning club arrived on summit around 8.30pm and told me they had been speculating as to whether I would be doing my radio tonight. "No chance" they had all agreed! But they were wrong!

So a difficult, disappointing and unenjoyable evening, for a change. My second bobbins SOTA activation in a row. But still second place in the AL section claimed scores for the session, and in with a good chance of picking up another 900+ normalised points!

I'll tell you how horrible it was last night though. At one point I even thought "I've already won this year's 70cm UKAC series, why have I come out in this?", and even worse, around 9.30pm I even considered packing up and going home early. I didn't, but it is worrying that my resilience has weakened enough to allow such dark thoughts to materialise.

G4NTY	70cm	SSB
G6TGO	70cm	SSB
G4APJ	70cm	SSB
GW8ASD	70cm	SSB
G3UBX	70cm	SSB
G3TDH	70cm	SSB
M3OUA	70cm	SSB
M3RNX	70cm	SSB
G8EOP	70cm	SSB
G4CLA	70cm	SSB
G8ZRE	70cm	SSB
G4JLG	70cm	SSB
M1CNY/P	70cm	SSB
GD8EXI	70cm	SSB
G8VHI	70cm	SSB
G0ODQ	70cm	SSB
G4CPE	70cm	SSB
M0SDA	70cm	SSB
M3EYP	70cm	SSB
G4FPJ	70cm	SSB
G3PYE/P	70cm	SSB
G8JXV/P	70cm	SSB
G0XDI/P	70cm	SSB
G8MKC/P	70cm	SSB
G0LGS/P	70cm	SSB
G0NMY	70cm	SSB
G4IOQ	70cm	SSB
M0NTI	70cm	SSB
2E0BMO	70cm	SSB
G8DTF	70cm	SSB
2E0DHT	70cm	SSB
G3MWQ	70cm	SSB
M0CSP	70cm	FM
G8OHM	70cm	SSB
G0CER	70cm	SSB
G8ONK	70cm	SSB
G0AJJ	70cm	SSB
G0WTD	70cm	SSB
2E0UOG	70cm	SSB
M0COP/P	70cm	SSB
G2ANC	70cm	SSB
2E0KDM	70cm	FM
M0XOC	70cm	FM
G1SMI	70cm	SSB
M6XJP	70cm	SSB
GI4SNA	70cm	SSB

After a break from SOTA and contesting for a full two weeks, it was time to take to the summit of The Cloud G/SP-015 once again for the 6m UKAC. Now I must be well into these events now, for it was chucking down with rain on my outward drive and ascent, I had already made mathematically certain of winning the 2011 50MHz UKAC series anyway, and alternative entertainment was on offer up at the Moss Rose, where Macclesfield Town were playing Bradford City.

So why do this? Well part of me wants to do every contest for the club points to the Macclesfield & District ARS, another part wants to continue to compete and not allow any potential competitors for 2012 to have an "easy run", but mainly, having established successfully with the XYL that three Tuesday a month are contest nights, I would be foolish to stop using them as intended!

I have to say though, it was a real mental tussle at Cloudside, bringing myself to put on my waterproof overtrousers in driving rain for a contest that I didn't even need to enter! As if to compound the mental anguish further, I could see the floodlights at the Moss Rose stadium shining brightly in the distance.

I was expecting a proper soaking, but the ground was surprisingly dry. The trainers are normally the first to suffer on wet contest nights, I tend not to bother with proper boots for these. Soon enough into the walk, the rain eased considerably, and actually stopped at 7.50pm just after I had completed setting up the 6m delta loop antenna.

The bothy bag was deployed midway through the night when there was a short spell of light rain, but the contest ended with me enjoying the views of the stars above me again. The contest itself was often slow going, with lower levels of activity than recently enjoyed, and conditions down as well. It was particularly important to work the stations I heard in IO64, IO80, IO81, IO94 and JO03 - because I heard only one station in each of those squares. JO01 (G6UBM) and IO85 (GM4JR) were heard, but not worked - the dastardly "gotaways".

One particular QSO with M0NUT/P took ten minutes to complete! But this wasn't too much of a problem, because there was typically 6 minutes between consecutive contacts in much of the contest anyway. I ended with 50 QSOs in the logbook, in 11 multiplier squares. Fellow members of the Macclesfield club worked were Roger & Roger M0GVG/P, Chris G8APB, Peter G4FPJ and Jimmy M3EYP.

I managed to pack away quickly, and I was in my car by 10.45pm. I hadn't done this for a while, and it was half-term holiday, so I returned to an old habit and called in at The Harrington Arms, Gawsworth, for a pint of Elbow (another Robinsons limited edition ale), a Spearing's beef pie and a bag of Nando Peri-Peri crisps. They all went down without touching the sides, and I was home before midnight, so I didn't turn into a slipper or whatever it is. And I learned that Macc had picked up another 3 points winning 1-0.

An amusing thing during the evening was that it transpired that a number of people assumed that my /P meant that I was sat in a car. The weather was worse further north, and fellow contesters enquired "What's it like up there tonight?". When I replied "Getting very cold", they replied "You'll have to turn the heater up"! I explained I was on a hilltop with no such thing as a roof, and ten minutes walk back down a hill from my car, and they seemed genuinely surprised! Don't they read Radcom?

A map of my QSOs is here:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/kml_files/2011/IbRbXzQpT36BBIsY017zqm4XpM23svi

G4APJ	6m	SSB
GW8ASD	6m	SSB
M0COP/P	6m	SSB
M6OXO	6m	SSB
G4FPJ	6m	SSB
G2ANC	6m	SSB
M3EYP	6m	SSB
M0GVG/P	6m	SSB
2E0UOG	6m	SSB
2E0BMO	6m	SSB
M0ICK	6m	SSB
GW4ZAR	6m	SSB
G4IOQ	6m	SSB
G3ZOD	6m	CW
M0YJT/P	6m	SSB
G4DEZ	6m	SSB
G8APB	6m	SSB
M1DDD/P	6m	SSB
G6UW	6m	SSB
G4HGI	6m	SSB
G3PYE/P	6m	SSB
GI4SNA	6m	SSB
G8ZRE	6m	SSB
G3MEH	6m	SSB
G1SWH	6m	SSB
M0NUT/P	6m	SSB
G0JCQ	6m	SSB
G0WTD	6m	SSB
M1CNY/P	6m	SSB
M3ZPJ	6m	SSB
G6MML	6m	SSB
M3OUA	6m	SSB
G3NGD	6m	SSB
G1AEQ	6m	SSB
G3XAN	6m	SSB
G1SMI	6m	SSB
GW4EVX	6m	SSB
G6TGO	6m	SSB
G4NTY	6m	SSB
G0EHV/P	6m	SSB
G0WTM	6m	SSB
M1MHZ	6m	SSB
G8BUN	6m	SSB
G7APD	6m	SSB
G4TSW	6m	SSB
M0WLF	6m	SSB
2E0ORC	6m	SSB
G0BWC/P	6m	SSB
M0AEP	6m	SSB
G3UVR	6m	SSB

With the 2011 series of the 2m UKAC already mathematically certain, for some reason I was still compelled to go out on the cold evening of Tuesday 1st November 2011. After my torchlit ascent to the summit of The Cloud G/SP-015, I was soon regretting my decision. The SB5 was erected on the pole and I connected up the FT817 and mike, paddle etc. But could I get it to transmit? No chance.

I fiddled around for 25 minutes, trying in vain to rectify the problem. The factory reset was initiated, achieving nothing other than returning the backlight colour to blue and causing slightly distorted audio. I did eventually find slight damage to the modular plug for the microphone, but remained confused because the Up/Down/FST buttons were still working and my CW paddle couldn't cause the rig to transmit either. I checked the VOX/BK settings, and all was as it should be there.

At 8.15pm, I finally got some tx going, but I'm not quite sure how. The microphone plug needed a little extra pressure to remain in contact without slipping out, but that didn't explain why the paddle didn't seem to be working. (It did when I plugged it back in later).

Anyway, I didn't have time to diagnose. I had already missed the first 15 minutes of the contest. With that, and the fact that I periodically needed to push the mike plug back in again, progress was limited. I ended with 67 contacts, all on 2m SSB, and with 15 UK multiplier squares, plus F8BRK in IN99. This is a map of the QSOs made:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/kml_files/2011/AaoFuaquwm3zePFerIr20QylQhsfmp9

At the time of writing, I am narrowly leading the AL section, but questions remain. Why is my audio/speaker distorting since doing the factory reset? Why was CW failing to transmit as well as FM/SSB? (Also, the HOME button wouldn't cause a transmit either before 8.15pm, but worked afterwards). I can fix or replace the microphone lead, but have I got some other issues?

M0ICK	2m	SSB
G4FPJ	2m	SSB
M3EYP	2m	SSB
G7DWY	2m	SSB
M3RNX	2m	SSB
M6BYR	2m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	2m	SSB
G4AQB	2m	SSB
M3ZPJ	2m	SSB
2E0LKC	2m	SSB
M6LSB	2m	SSB
G1AEQ	2m	SSB
GW8ASD	2m	SSB
G3UVR	2m	SSB
G6HFF	2m	SSB
M0TAV	2m	SSB
GW4ZAR	2m	SSB
MW6OXO/P	2m	SSB
M0COP/P	2m	SSB
G4FZN/P	2m	SSB
M0WAF/P	2m	SSB
G4JQN	2m	SSB
G1SMI	2m	SSB
G0HIS	2m	SSB
GW4WND	2m	SSB
G4JLG	2m	SSB
G4APJ	2m	SSB
2E0BMO	2m	SSB
G4XKC	2m	SSB
G0XDI/P	2m	SSB
G8CUL	2m	SSB
M0SRA	2m	SSB
M0YJT/P	2m	SSB
G7APD	2m	SSB
M0AFJ	2m	SSB
GI4SNA	2m	SSB
GD8EXI	2m	SSB
F8BRK	2m	SSB
G0GRI/P	2m	SSB
G3MEH	2m	SSB
G0BWC/P	2m	SSB
M1CNY/P	2m	SSB
M6ALQ	2m	SSB
G4HGI	2m	SSB
G8ZRE	2m	SSB
2E0LDJ	2m	SSB
G4NTY	2m	SSB
M6SXR	2m	SSB
M0BRA	2m	SSB
G4LDR	2m	SSB
G0BBL/P	2m	SSB
G0WTD	2m	SSB
G0CDA	2m	SSB
G8BUN	2m	SSB
G4DEZ	2m	SSB
GW4RWR	2m	SSB
2E0UOG	2m	SSB
M0NUT/P	2m	SSB
G0HFX/P	2m	SSB
M0GHZ/P	2m	SSB
GW4EVX	2m	SSB
G0NMY	2m	SSB
G8ONK	2m	SSB
GM4JR	2m	SSB
G0AJJ	2m	SSB
G0CER	2m	SSB
G4XPE	2m	SSB

It was Tuesday 8th November 2011. I was tired and just getting over an irritating cough and a back problem. Outside it was chilly with horrible constant drizzle. Other factors meant that it would be a late start, only able to leave the house at 7.20pm. With the 70cm UKAC already mathematically certain, the only decision had to be to have a night off and stay in, right?

Not a bit of it. A good effort found me on summit and QRV by 2008 UTC, so only 8 minutes into the session was a relatively pleasing outcome to the circumstances. It was a pleasing yet frustrating contest. The rarer and DX squares of IO64, IO72, IO74, IO75, IO85, IO90, IO94 and JO01 were safely in the log with time to spare. But regular squares like IO81, IO93, JO02 and JO03 were missing. Frustratingly, I did hear two stations in JO02, but never got to work them, and the same with F8BRK in IN99 and a station in IO84.

The final total was 51 QSOs into 12 multiplier squares. Twelve is quite good for the AL section of the 70cm UKAC, but it could have been so much higher! Still, the score looks competitive in my section - time will tell.

All QSOs were on 432MHz SSB, except for one, where it was a pleasure to work regular SOTA chaser Colin in South Liverpool, using the club call of MX0NAC on 433MHz FM.

M3RNX	70cm	SSB
2E0UOG	70cm	SSB
G4APJ	70cm	SSB
GI6ATZ	70cm	SSB
M3EYP	70cm	SSB
M3OUA	70cm	SSB
GI4SNA	70cm	SSB
2E0LKC	70cm	SSB
G2ANC	70cm	SSB
M6XJP	70cm	SSB
G4AQB	70cm	SSB
M0COP/P	70cm	SSB
2E0LMD	70cm	SSB
M1CNY/P	70cm	SSB
GW8ASD	70cm	SSB
G0OWP	70cm	SSB
G6HFF	70cm	SSB
G3TDH	70cm	SSB
G3UDX	70cm	SSB
G8OHM	70cm	SSB
G4CPE	70cm	SSB
G4JLG	70cm	SSB
G1MZD	70cm	SSB
GD8EXI	70cm	SSB
M0XDJ	70cm	SSB
G4CLA	70cm	SSB
2E0BMO	70cm	SSB
G8DTF	70cm	SSB
M3ZPJ	70cm	SSB
G6TGO	70cm	SSB
G4NTY	70cm	SSB
G1VGF	70cm	SSB
G0NMY	70cm	SSB
M6SXR	70cm	SSB
M0MYA/P	70cm	SSB
G3MWQ	70cm	SSB
G0WTD	70cm	SSB
MX0NAC	70cm	FM
GM4JR	70cm	SSB
GM4CXM	70cm	SSB
MW6OXO/P	70cm	SSB
G0VVE	70cm	SSB
G8ZRE	70cm	SSB
G0XDI/P	70cm	SSB
G7APD	70cm	SSB
G4VFL/P on Ditchling Beacon SE-006	70cm	SSB
G1SWH	70cm	SSB
G1AEQ	70cm	SSB
G0EHV/P	70cm	SSB
G1SMI	70cm	SSB
M0SDA	70cm	SSB

And now to Tuesday 22nd November 2011, and another RSGB UK Activity Contest, again from the summit of The Cloud G/SP-015. I walked up from Cloudside, a touch on the late side at 7.05pm, illuminated throughout by my Petzl headlamp on a cold and misty evening.

I set about preparing the usual working conditions - FT-817 running 5 watts into a delta loop antenna hung from the fishing pole. Problem 1: Again, I had not thought to bring a cable tie to secure the bottom of the loop to the pole, enabling it to hang in the correct shape. I searched frantically around my rucksack for a piece of cord or something to use. To my surprise, I discovered a bag full of pegs from my backpacking tent. I emptied the pegs out and used the cord from the top of the bag to tie around and secure the loop! The bag itself flew as a small black flag from halfway up my pole for the rest of the night!

Problem 2: As I neared completion of set-up, plugging in the Mini Palm Paddle triggered a continuous string of dots when in CW mode. Pulling the plug out slightly meant that the left paddle did nothing, whereas the right sent alternate dots and dashed, in a sort of iambic manner. I couldn't fathom this, nor why my 817 audio (on SSB) was still sounding distorted. The latter certainly seems to have occurred since I did a partial reset a couple of weeks ago - I must check the settings carefully.

The contest itself was "par for the course" under flat conditions on 6m. 63 contacts were made, into 12 squares, with IO74, IO75, IO81, IO84 and JO01 being the notable "holes" in my log. When I noticed G3ZOD on 50.092MHz CW, I was irritated that I couldn't work him. So I enabled the mike key and used the up/down buttons on the fist mike to send some CW back at him. Because this CW was much slower than my usual, G3ZOD slowed his speed right down to match, although I had no difficulty reading his existing speed!

A map of my activation QSOs on 6m is here: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/kml_files/2011/adzRTuLHRzBbFY5JLM2tx6WfpEzwyxC

I was surprised when four teenage lads arrived on summit at 10.35pm, as I was packing up. I guess they were surprised to see me as well. They were doing some stargazing. I put my gloves on as it was very cold and descended. At the time of writing, I was leading the AL section for this session, and hoping to bring in the 21st win out of the 33 activity contests participated in this year.

G3VLG	6m	SSB
G1AEQ	6m	SSB
GW4ZAR	6m	SSB
G6HFF	6m	SSB
2E0UOG	6m	SSB
G0WTM	6m	SSB
M3EYP	6m	SSB
G4NTY	6m	SSB
G4FPJ	6m	SSB
G0GSH	6m	SSB
G3TDH	6m	SSB
GW8IZR	6m	SSB
G3KAF	6m	SSB
GW4EVX	6m	SSB
GW8ASD	6m	SSB
G0NAJ	6m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	6m	SSB
G0UNJ	6m	SSB
M0SDA	6m	SSB
G1SMI	6m	SSB
G0JCQ	6m	SSB
M3OUA	6m	SSB
G0OWP	6m	SSB
M1ZRP	6m	SSB
G0EUN	6m	SSB
G4HGI	6m	SSB
2E0LKC	6m	SSB
2E0LMD	6m	SSB
G8CUL	6m	SSB
2E0SBM	6m	SSB
G8APB	6m	SSB
G7APD	6m	SSB
G8LZE	6m	SSB
G4VFL/P	6m	SSB
M0NUT/P	6m	SSB
2E0BMO	6m	SSB
G4ELJ	6m	SSB
G8ZRE	6m	SSB
G3PYE/P	6m	SSB
M0COP/P	6m	SSB
G3PIA	6m	SSB
G7DWY	6m	SSB
G1SWH	6m	SSB
G3MEH	6m	SSB
GI4SNA	6m	SSB
G4TSW	6m	SSB
G3ZOD	6m	CW
M3RNX	6m	SSB
G0WTD	6m	SSB
G0EHV/P	6m	SSB
MW6OXO/P	6m	SSB
G6TGO	6m	SSB
G6UW	6m	SSB
G1MZD	6m	SSB
GM4JR	6m	SSB
G8ONK	6m	SSB
G0CER	6m	SSB
G4RRM	6m	SSB
G2ANC	6m	SSB
G4NDM	6m	SSB
M3ZPJ	6m	SSB
G0BWC/P	6m	SSB
G8YMW/P	6m	SSB

6th December 2011, and the final 2m UKAC of the year. At home, dinner was on the stove, but would not be ready until I had dropped Liam off where he was going out for a meal in Congleton. But I would not have time to drive back to Macc, dine, and then back out to Cloudside. So the spare dinner got reallocated to Jimmy's lunch for the following day, and I prepared a litre flask of spicy bean and vegetable soup to take out with me.

With Liam safely dropped off at The Cheshire Tavern, I was soon on Cloudside and on summit very early, just before 7pm. I figured it might be fun to play a bit on HF. There is something about HF at night that fascinates me! I set up the SB5 on the fishing pole, but also hung the 40m dipole from above it. I was sheltered inside my bothy bag and QRV by 7.15pm.

My first call on 7.023MHz CW brought an immediate QSO with OK1ACO. It then took 19 minutes of zero response, QSYs and self-spots before three chasers went into the log. Thanks to OK1DVM, EA3EGB and G3WPF. With that, I decided it was time, at 7.45pm, to find myself a clear frequency for the 2m contest. I needn't have bothered, it was very unbusy in the early part of the contest, and I could have played longer on HF.

In the contest, activity was down, and some deep QSB was a constant problem all night. On the positive side, a good number of multiplier squares came in early, in the first hour, and signals from GM were up. There were several contacts of note. In DX terms, outside of the UK, I worked EI3GE in IO63XD, and PD2TW in JO33FI. From SOTA circles, I worked Jimmy M3EYP, Roger 2E0BMO, John GW4BVE (who was reporting his intention to take part in one of the series next year - good luck John), Pete 2E0LKC, Anne 2E0LMD, Pete M0COP/P, Graham G4JZF, Ron GW4EVX and Dave M0MYA.

The final total was 60 contacts and 12 multipliers, so a modest effort, but one that will be competitive for December. It was very cold - about 1 degree on the summit - so I was glad of my bothy bag, and especially of the spicy bean soup, which was most welcome - and tasty. I spent another half hour on 40m CW after 10.30pm, again making just four contacts. The signals were now starting to arrive from North America and North Africa, but I didn't really have the time, will or patience to work anything that wasn't first call. So it was four more Europeans into the log, all in social mode with names and greetings exchanged.

It was 11.30pm by the time I had packed away everything and descended, so it was a late night for me. Straight home, and pretty much straight to bed. Thanks to all callers.

OK1ACO

40m

CW

OK1DVM

40m

CW

EA3EGB

40m

CW

G3WPF

40m

CW

G3UDA

2m

SSB

M6LSB

2m

SSB

M3OUA

2m

SSB

M3EYP

2m

SSB

G4APJ

2m

SSB

M3ZPJ

2m

SSB

M1MHZ

2m

SSB

G0WTD

2m

SSB

GM4JR

2m

SSB

2E0UOG

2m

SSB

2E0BMO

2m

SSB

G2ANC

2m

SSB

M0ZXA

2m

SSB

G0PKT

2m

SSB

GW4BVE

2m

SSB

G0CER

2m

SSB

G4FPJ

2m

SSB

EI3GE

2m

SSB

G4JLG

2m

SSB

G3NPJ

2m

SSB

G6HFF

2m

SSB

G8ZRE

2m

SSB

G0CDA

2m

SSB

2E0HST

2m

SSB

G0BWC/P

2m

SSB

2E0LKC

2m

SSB

2E0LMD

2m

SSB

G8SRC/P

2m

SSB

G0XDI/P

2m

SSB

M0SRA

2m

SSB

G4NTY

2m

SSB

G4DEZ

2m

SSB

G8VHI

2m

SSB

GI4SNA

2m

SSB

M0COP/P

2m

SSB

G0JCQ

2m

SSB

G4ODA

2m

SSB

2E0XOJ

2m

SSB

G3NVB/P

2m

SSB

GM4BYF

2m

SSB

G4JZF

2m

SSB

G4XKC/P

2m

SSB

MW6OXO/P

2m

SSB

2E0TXT/P

2m

SSB

G1SMI

2m

SSB

G0ODQ

2m

SSB

PD2TW

2m

SSB

G6COL

2m

SSB

G7DWY

2m

SSB

G3VCA

2m

SSB

GW4EVX

2m

SSB

M0ICK

2m

SSB

G1AEQ

2m

SSB

G0HIS

2m

SSB

G8EOP

2m

SSB

G4FZN/P

2m

SSB

GD8EXI

2m

SSB

M0MYA

2m

SSB

G4XPE

2m

SSB

G3PYE/P

2m

SSB

UA3ZAC

40m

CW

9A2N

40m

CW

YU1WN

40m

CW

E75MC

40m

CW

Tuesday 13th December 2011 was an unusual and challenging night. Powered by a chicken kebab (with salad and chilli sauce) from an emporium in Congleton, I ascended The Cloud by headtorch on a fiercely cold (approx 1 degree Celcius) evening. The weather seemed calm as I ascended, but I had seen the forecast - and the warnings - and did not allow myself to be lulled into a false sense of security!

Upon arrival at the summit, I was greeted by a stiff and gusting south-westerly wind. Knowing that it was forecast to reach gale force at some point in the next hour or two, I reckoned that a fishing pole loaded with 6 element Yagi would not make it through unscathed. So I took the unusual step of scrambling steeply down to about 5m vertically below the trig point, to a ledge that was almost entirely sheltered from the prevailing wind by the hill itself.

Here I was able to set the antenna up in relative calm, and be able to assume an operating position where the cold factor wasn't amplified by windchill. It did of course restrict my take-off, especially to the west, which was now blocked by The Cloud itself! Nonetheless, I managed to rack up ten multipliers, with IO75 and IO85 in Scotland the most pleasing. Given my sheltered position, it was no surprise that I missed both IO81 and IO64. The QSO total was well down at just 37 (35 SSB, 1 FM, 1 CW), probably as a result of both my lower sheltered position, and a low level of activity on this cold December night. And yet, at the time of writing, it is still enough to see me leading the AL section.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/kml_files/2011/KdYp8doKNeJKUMldTWslyR8s0HRPg4e

After packing everything away, I scrambled back up onto the summit plateau, to be greeted by mind-blowing gale-force wind. It was quite a surprise after being sheltered for three hours! And I reckoned my decision was a good one, for no way would my mast and antenna have lasted ten seconds in wind like that! From the home QTH, Jimmy M3EYP made 15 contacts through the vertical, but with only two multipliers. It should be enough to gain another block of a few hundred points for the Macclesfield club.

M3RNX	70cm	SSB
G0WTD	70cm	SSB
G0VOF	70cm	SSB
G4APJ	70cm	SSB
G2ANC	70cm	SSB
G8DTF	70cm	SSB
M0XDJ	70cm	SSB
M3OUA	70cm	SSB
G4CLA	70cm	SSB
G4NTY	70cm	SSB
G8OHM	70cm	SSB
M1MHZ	70cm	SSB
G4JLG	70cm	SSB
G0ODQ	70cm	SSB
GM4JR	70cm	SSB
M3EYP	70cm	SSB
2E0UOG	70cm	SSB
GW8ASD	70cm	SSB
2E0TXT/P	70cm	SSB
G1SWH	70cm	SSB
M0MYA/P	70cm	SSB
G8XYJ/P	70cm	SSB
M0SDA	70cm	SSB
G8ZTT	70cm	SSB
G8ZRE	70cm	SSB
MW6OXO/P	70cm	SSB
G3UVR	70cm	SSB
G3PYE/P	70cm	SSB
G1SMI	70cm	SSB
2E0BMO	70cm	SSB
M6LSB	70cm	SSB
G8GHO	70cm	SSB
M0ICK	70cm	SSB
G0XDI/P	70cm	SSB
M0XOC	70cm	FM
GM4CXM	70cm	CW
G6COL	70cm	SSB