Friday 6 November 2015

GW/MW-035 Rhos Ymryson



Unexpected activation

GW/MW-035 Rhos Ymryson

03/11/2015

It wasn’t all that early in the morning and with other activities planned I just happened to look at the alerts on Sotawatch and was surprised that Mal GW6OVD was heading for Drygarn Fawr GW/MW-003.  I immediately sent him a text to find out what his ETA was on summit..’30 minutes ‘ was the reply!!  A quick word with Val, an alert up on Sotawatch and a text to Mal to say we were heading out to Rhos Ymryson we were soon on our way as the rucksacks are always ready and batteries fully charged:)  The summit is only 20 minutes from home so I calculated that Mal would either be on 60m or 40m and as a last resort I could call him on 2m.
He was calling ‘final calls’ on 60m when I finally switched on the FT817 after setting up on the fence close to the underground reservoir on Rhos Ymryson.  A short chat to Mal and thanking him for the summit I took over his frequency as he had finished...thanks Mal.  I soon qualified the summit with a good run of regular chasers and one activation point in the bag (first time on this one this year) ...thanks everybody.
11:38z
GW6OVD/P
5MHz
SSB
Mal s2s
11:41z
G4WSB
5MHz
SSB
Bill
11:41z
G3RMD
5MHz
SSB
Frank
11:42z
G0TDM
5MHz
SSB
John
11:43z
G0RQL
5MHz
SSB
Don IO70uv
11:45z
G4ZRP
5MHz
SSB
Brian
11:46z
PA5V
5MHz
SSB
Bob
11:48z
M0EMM
5MHz
SSB
David
 
I plugged the linear in for 40m and looked for a clear frequency knowing that Mike G6TUH was around so I sent him a text saying that I was calling on 7.114 knowing he would spot me.  Also hovering was Bill G4WSB so they were both very quickly in the log followed by Ken G0FEX keen to get my summit in his log. Most stations were really strong with Christine and Ken from Scotland and Pedro once again making my log from Spain. 
11:57z
G6TUH
7MHz
SSB
Mike
11:59z
G4WSB
7MHz
SSB
Bill
11:59z
G0FEX
7MHz
SSB
Ken
12:00z
EA2CKX
7MHz
SSB
Pedro
12:00z
G1BLJ
7MHz
SSB
Steve
12:01z
M0IML
7MHz
SSB
Barry
12:01z
G0ELJ
7MHz
SSB
Dave
12:01z
M3FEH
7MHz
SSB
Karl
12:02z
G4OBK
7MHz
SSB
Phil
12:02z
G4WHA/A
7MHz
SSB
Geoff
12:03z
G8AVK
7MHz
SSB
Bob
12:03z
M3TAW
7MHz
SSB
Tom
12:04z
G0TDM
7MHz
SSB
John
12:04z
2E0SCS
7MHz
SSB
Steven
12:04z
LA3NGA
7MHz
SSB
Henning
12:05z
GM0AXY
7MHz
SSB
Ken
12:05z
GM4YMM
7MHz
SSB
Christine
12:07z
DL8DXL
7MHz
SSB
Fred
12:07z
G0VWP
7MHz
SSB
Terry
12:11z
ON6DN/P
7MHz
SSB
Alfons s2s
12:12z
ON9CBQ/P
7MHz
SSB
Franz s2s

The office...showing some of my 'dry bags' which I use to protect the equipment in transit

I finished my activation with a bonus s2s with Alfons and Franz on ON/ON-029 over in Belgium...thanks both.  As this was an unexpected activation and we had rushed out of the house we didn’t have time to prepare coffee and sandwiches so it was time to pull the plug,  head back down the hill and make tracks for home.

My activation set up:-  (HF) Yaesu FT817 (5 watts) (4Ah LiPo),  UK-MX 50M linear (for 817) and 12V 9.2 Ah Lithium Ion battery,  3 band link dipole (60/40/20 (+15m+80m extensions),  (VHF) Yaesu FT270 (5watts) into a ‘cable tie’ dipole.. Antenna support - 7m Fishing pole.

Thanks everyone for the contacts and spots
73 Allan GW4VPX


Monday 2 November 2015

Cyrniau Nod GW/NW-034



 Busy day on the bands

Cyrniau Nod GW/NW-034

31/10/2015

Val and I  started out early to get to the rough track at SH9463 2734 which eventually leads to the point where you have to turn off  and proceed over the boggy bits to get to the true summit.

 Dark blue line is my GPS route from the rough track to the summit
From the small cairn at the side of the track follow a narrow trail to fence seen in the distance, turn right and follow fence to next fence then left along this fence to summit
Follow second fence to summit

I had already notified Barry M0IML via text that I was nearing the summit so that he could start out and get me s2s.  Having bungeed the pole to a convenient  fence post  and as we were early I gave a few calls on 2m and quickly qualified the summit...what a difference to a few days ago...location, band conditions and operating on the weekend no doubt contributed to this..there would be more action on 2m later.
11:51z
GW0JAI
144MHz
FM
Glyn
11:55z
MW0XOT
144MHz
FM
John
11:56z
MW0YCC
144MHz
FM
Alan
11:59z
G0LGS
144MHz
FM
Stuart
12:00z
M6DHK
144MHz
FM
Dave
12:00z
2E0MDJ
144MHz
FM
Matt
12:03z
2E0SOZ
144MHz
FM
Robert

The cairn on Cyrniau Nod

With the FT817 already on 60m I heard Barry calling from G/SE-015 Cheriton Hill and very soon he was in the log with my first s2s of the day..thanks Barry.  It was evident that band conditions were really good with request from a few chasers for me to turn the linear off as I was 5/9 plus everything :) 
12:06z
M0IML/P
5MHz
SSB
Barry s2s
12:08z
GI4ONL
5MHz
SSB
Victor
12:08z
G0RQL
5MHz
SSB
Don
12:09z
G0VWP
5MHz
SSB
Terry
12:10z
G0TDM
5MHz
SSB
John
12:10z
EI9GLB
5MHz
SSB
Jim
12:11z
M0SGO
5MHz
SSB
Scott
12:12z
M0YAF
5MHz
SSB
Bill
My  visit to 40m produced a massive pile-up including  s2s with David G3RDQ/p,   Juerg HB9BIN/p, and Daniel HB9RDD/p....thanks everybody....it was hard work and I’d  forgotten to put on my headphones .
12:27z
G4WSB
7MHz
SSB
Bill
12:28z
G8ADD
7MHz
SSB
Brian
12:28z
G4AFI
7MHz
SSB
Andrew
12:29z
M0JLA
7MHz
SSB
Rod
12:30z
EA2DT
7MHz
SSB
Manuel
12:30z
DK7ZH
7MHz
SSB
Manfred
12:31z
M0BKV
7MHz
SSB
Damian
12:31z
G7BGA
7MHz
SSB
Geoffrey
12:32z
G3RDQ/P
7MHz
SSB
David s2s
12:33z
G0FEX
7MHz
SSB
Ken
12:33z
M6KVJ
7MHz
SSB
David
12:34z
G6TUH
7MHz
SSB
Mike
12:34z
M6RUG
7MHz
SSB
Dave
12:34z
MI0TGO
7MHz
SSB
Brian
12:35z
DL1HA
7MHz
SSB
Harald
12:36z
G4OJB
7MHz
SSB
Bill
12:36z
G4OBK
7MHz
SSB
Phil
12:37z
SM7DIE
7MHz
SSB
Tore
12:37z
HB9BIN/P
7MHz
SSB
Juerg s2s
12:38z
M0YMA/M
7MHz
SSB
Andrew
12:38z
DL8NH
7MHz
SSB

12:39z
EA2CKX
7MHz
SSB
Pedro
12:40z
M6RJA
7MHz
SSB
Robert
12:40z
M0WBG
7MHz
SSB
Neil
12:40z
MW0PJJ
7MHz
SSB
Phil
12:41z
HB9AGH
7MHz
SSB
Ambrosi
12:41z
G1FOA/P
7MHz
SSB
Peter
12:42z
PA0B
7MHz
SSB
Michael
12:42z
G1BBY
7MHz
SSB
Walter
12:43z
G4BLH
7MHz
SSB
Mike
12:43z
LA5WNA
7MHz
SSB
Odd Harald
12:44z
G4ZRP
7MHz
SSB
Brian
12:45z
2E0GBK
7MHz
SSB
John
12:46z
HB9RDD/P
7MHz
SSB
Daniel s2s
12:47z
M0MDA
7MHz
SSB
Mick
12:47z
M0KLK
7MHz
SSB
Bill
12:48z
G4RYV
7MHz
SSB

12:48z
G8VNW
7MHz
SSB
Nick
12:49z
HB9CYV
7MHz
SSB
Christian
12:49z
DF1OM
7MHz
SSB
Ludwig
12:50z
GW6DGU
7MHz
SSB
Roy
12:51z
G4XRO
7MHz
SSB
Stan
12:51z
G0URY
7MHz
SSB

12:52z
M0TTE
7MHz
SSB
Simon

Val checking RRT on the phone

Ending my session on 40m I went to add my little extensions to the links so that I could work on 15m then on 2m I heard Denis calling from G/SP-004 Shining Tor and he was quickly in the log...thanks Denis.  I could not resist calling  special event station GB2OGG and spoke to William then picking up the ever present John GW4ZPL/p from his caravan.  It was very evident that there was a lift on 2m as French stations were booming in and most ‘channels’  were busy.
13:05z
M0USV/P
144MHz
FM
Denis s2s
13:10z
GB2OGG
144MHz
FM
William
13:12z
GW4ZPL/P
144MHz
FM
John
Now after that pile-up we had a quick cup of coffee then I ventured on to 15m with a host of regular chasers and not so familiar stations calling me...
13:18z
VE2JCW
21MHz
SSB
Jean
13:19z
N4EX
21MHz
SSB
Rich
13:19z
VE1WT
21MHz
SSB
Phillip
13:20z
SQ8JLU
21MHz
SSB
Adam
13:21z
NE4TN
21MHz
SSB

13:21z
K4DY
21MHz
SSB
Leslie
13:23z
UK7UZ
21MHz
SSB

13:24z
US6IKF
21MHz
SSB
Nickolay
13:24z
UT7LA
21MHz
SSB
Sergey
13:25z
F4FHV
21MHz
SSB
Christophe
13:26z
YE0PO
21MHz
SSB
Roedi
13:26z
UR7EZ
21MHz
SSB
Mykhailo
13:27z
RN4HIT
21MHz
SSB
Oleg
Lowering the pole I changed the links to 20m but as I was settling down and getting the office organised again I was truly surprised to hear Caroline calling from the Isle of Wight on G/SE-012 Brighstone Down on 2m.  I replied immediately and delighted that she responded to my s2s call...then with a ‘stand-by Martyn  was also in the log..made my day...thanks both.
13:40z
M3ZCB/P
144MHz
FM
Caroline s2s
13:41z
M1MAJ/P
144MHz
FM
Martyn s2s

Mist in the valleys

Headphones on and I was away on 20m with a load of regular SOTA chasers including Sean MW3PZO....well done Sean (5/1-5/1).  It was a frantic eighteen minutes but one station took me by surprise as he came booming in over the top of everyone else and that was James KK1W..great to get you in the log James.
13:50z
OH4EBD
14MHz
SSB
Juha
13:51z
LA3NGA
14MHz
SSB
Hennig
13:51z
OK2PDT
14MHz
SSB
Jan
13:52z
EA3EGB
14MHz
SSB
Manel
13:52z
DL8DXL
14MHz
SSB
Fred
13:53z
SO9EWA
14MHz
SSB
Henrik
13:53z
MW3PZO
14MHz
SSB
Sean
13:53z
SP9AMH
14MHz
SSB
Mariusz
13:54z
EC4TR
14MHz
SSB
Jose
13:55z
DJ5AV
14MHz
SSB
Michael
13:55z
OE8SPW
14MHz
SSB
Paul
13:55z
OE7WGT
14MHz
SSB
Karl
13:56z
DL/OK1MCS/P
14MHz
SSB
Pavel s2s
13:57z
I7YJU
14MHz
SSB
Giuseppe
13:57z
EC1DJ
14MHz
SSB
M
13:58z
I0KHY
14MHz
SSB
Claudio
13:59z
KK1W
14MHz
SSB
James
13:59z
LZ4GL
14MHz
SSB
George
14:00z
DJ5YL
14MHz
SSB
Johanna
14:01z
UA1ADZ
14MHz
SSB
Leonid
14:01z
I5FLN
14MHz
SSB
Luciano
14:02z
DF1XC
14MHz
SSB
Carstan
14:02z
EB2JU
14MHz
SSB
Jose Luis
14:02z
RA1AVP/P
14MHz
SSB
Alexei
14:02z
IK5ZAI
14MHz
SSB
Michele
14:03z
R9WKV
14MHz
SSB

14:03z
SP6XQX
14MHz
SSB
Jacek
14:04z
LZ1UBO
14MHz
SSB
Georgi
14:05z
IK1DFH
14MHz
SSB
Roberto
14:05z
F5ILV
14MHz
SSB
Michael
14:05z
EA4YT
14MHz
SSB
Luis
14:06z
DP5R
14MHz
SSB
Special event
14:07z
SP9GFI
14MHz
SSB
Kaz
14:07z
RU6YZ
14MHz
SSB
Alexandar
14:07z
IK7MOF
14MHz
SSB
Giuseppe
14:08z
I3QDK
14MHz
SSB
Paolo
14:08z
UT5ZC
14MHz
SSB
Vyacheslav
14:08z
IZ2XNY
14MHz
SSB
Mario
It all went quiet on the band so I pulled the plug as it was time to head for home. During my last few contacts we had a visitor on the summit....our one and only of the day. It was Steve Smith and he was working his way over the mountains following the Nuttalls routes. We had a nice long chat as I was packing up and during the conversation he gave me the link to his blog..interesting reading..nice to meet you Steve. http://stevejsmith56englishnuttalls.blogspot.co.uk/

On our way home we decided to visit a Geocache next to Llyn Vyrnwy. By this time the  sun was setting and the mist was forming over the lake...photographic opportunity :)


Towards the Dam

From the Dam 
My activation set up:-  (HF) Yaesu FT817 (5 watts) (4Ah LiPo),  UK-MX 50M linear (for 817) and 12V 9.2 Ah Lithium Ion battery,  3 band link dipole (60/40/20 (+15m+80m extensions),  (VHF) Yaesu FT270 (5watts) into a ‘cable tie’ dipole.. Antenna support - 7m Fishing pole.

Thanks everyone for the contacts..very busy day :)

73 Allan GW4VPX