Wednesday 27 May 2015

GW/MW-028 Frenni Fawr and GW/MW-033 Mynydd Carningli



Two one pointers today


GW/MW-028 Frenni  Fawr

25/05/2015

Another ‘keep fit day’ for the group although I was going to pick up a few activation points and hopefully a few s2s would make the log. 
 GPS track - Frenni Fawr
The trig at Frenni Fawr
After a long discussion with Carolyn G6WRW and Helen M0YHB at the 2015 Norbreck Rally on the Pros and Cons of an FT817, small linear amp and battery as opposed to an FT857 and battery I decided to follow their lead and opted for the first option which weighed considerably less than the second.  All this was to give that little extra punch to my audio under the various difficult band conditions we have been experiencing during the last few months.  Now this combination would also enable me to share the load with my wife carrying the linear and Len carrying the battery in their respective rucksacks for these two summits  :) We have a mini SOTA expedition lined up in the very near future so today would also be a good day to try things out.  Now the summit of Frenni Fawr is 2km from the lay-by at SN188359 on the A478 just to the South of Blaenffos with just one false summit to upset you on the way up :) 
 Frenni fawr distant
On our way...
False summit in the distance
It was cold on top and a good opportunity for our little group to try out the Bothy bags leaving me out in the cold wind to activate by the fence...I didn’t have enough cable on my 2m dipole to join them :( 
A quick call on 2m brought Aled and Bruce and a difficult s2s with Viki M6BWA/p on G/WB-007 Heath Mynd..thanks Viki.
10:11z
MW3DLA
144MHz
FM
Aled
10:15z
GW4XXF
144MHz
FM
Bruce
10:28z
M6BWA/P
144MHz
FM
Viki s2s
No joy on 60m despite sending a spot so I quickly sent another spot for 40m and I was away. As Don RQL loves his multi band contacts I offered to pop down again to 60m and we exchanged 5/9 reports.... he later popped up on 2m also :)
10:33z
G6TUH
7MHz
SSB
Mike
10:34z
2W0XOT
7MHz
SSB
John
10:34z
M0MDA
7MHz
SSB
Mick
10:35z
DK1WI
7MHz
SSB
Ed
10:35z
M0IML
7MHz
SSB
Barry
10:35z
G0HRT
7MHz
SSB
Rob
10:36z
G4JZF
7MHz
SSB
Graham
10:37z
PA0B
7MHz
SSB
Rob
10:37z
G0RQL
7MHz
SSB
Don
10:38z
EA2CKX
7MHz
SSB
Pedro
10:40z
G4DFI
7MHz
SSB
Owen
10:42z
M6RUG
7MHz
SSB
Dave
10:43z
M3FEH
7MHz
SSB
Karl
10:44z
ON5SWA
7MHz
SSB
Francois
10:45z
G0RQL
5MHz
SSB
Don
11:01z
G0RQL
144MHz
FM
Don
For the WAB net I set up the linear to see if was functioning properly and worked down the list quickly with Brian G0BFJ as net controller.  It was great to hear Dave G4ASA calling from EI with such a strong signal as band conditions during our last contacts have been quite dismal and difficult.
Linear set up for WAB net
11:14z
G0BFJ
7MHz
SSB
Brian
11:14z
G7BGA
7MHz
SSB
Geoffrey
11:14z
MM3PDM/M
7MHz
SSB
Peter
11:15z
G0VWP
7MHz
SSB
Terry
11:15z
G0CQR
7MHz
SSB

11:16z
DL7UCW
7MHz
SSB
Ben
11:16z
G4DUE
7MHz
SSB

11:16z
G4ZRP
7MHz
SSB
Brian
11:16z
G6LKB
7MHz
SSB
David
11:17z
G0ABY
7MHz
SSB

11:17z
G7AFM
7MHz
SSB
Phil
11:18z
EI/G4ASA
7MHz
SSB
Dave
11:20z
M6KVJ
7MHz
SSB
David
11:21z
G3RXA
7MHz
SSB
John
11:22z
G4SQA
7MHz
SSB
Dave
The icing on the cake for this summit was an s2s with Angel and Eva on GW/SW-001 Pen y Fan. I had spoken to them the previous day and suggested that they might like to try PyF on their way home so thank you both (and little one) for the contacts.  Mal got in on the act and made my log also. I had all but given hope of getting Simon on GW/NW-30 Moel Cynghorion but as I was just ready to pack away up he pops on 2m calling “CQ SOTA” ....thanks Simon.
11:24z
MW0HJV/P
144MHz
FM
Eva s2s
11:25z
MW0HDF/P
144MHz
FM
Angel s2s
11:27z
GW6OVD
144MHz
FM
Mal
11:37z
MW0RHD
144MHz
FM
Bob
11:46z
GW4TJC/P
144MHz
FM
Simon s2s
Ready to leave...not without a selfie :)
 As we made our way down we could see our next destination in the distance....Mynydd Carningli
Carningli in the distance
GW/MW-033 Mynydd Carningli

25/05/2015

On numerous occasions I have tackled this summit from the East which means quite a stiff climb so today I decided that we would approach from the West which is a longer (2.75km) but a more pleasant walk in with only a short kick up at the end. We parked the car at SN038365 and proceeded East along a well defined path.  

 GPS track - Mynydd Carningli
Nearing Mynydd Carningli
Newport and Dinas Head
I had been in 2m contact with both Aled MW3DLA and Roy GW6DGU for most of the day so a quick call for Aled brought an immediate response from Mal who had gone mobile to chase me..thanks Mal.  Soon after setting up another quick call brought Don with a 5/5 each way followed quickly by Simon.....I had qualified my summit :)
14:06z
GW6OVD/M
144MHz
FM
Mal
14:07z
MW3DLA
144MHz
FM
Aled
14:29z
G0RQL
144MHz
FM
Don
14:30z
GW4TJC/M
144MHz
FM
Simon
I set the linear up which is the UK MX P50 HF Power Amplifier as used by John G4YSS on his many, many activations and linked to my 9Ah LiPo. Along with the normal antenna connections there is also a TX switching lead which connects to the ACC of the FT817. 
Running the FT817 off a 4Ah LiPo I set the power level to 5 watts and from some rushed preliminary tests at home I estimate that I would get around 35-40 watts out...I need to perform some more accurate tests when time allows. See (  http://gm4slv-geek.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/mx-p50m-amplifier-for-ft817.html  ) for some test results.
I sent a spot via RRT for 40m and I was away however this time I did let the chasers know that I was running the linear and hoping for reports.  Those running Flexradios said I was well within bandwidth and the audio reports were also pleasing. However, in the heat of a pile-up I forgot to ask for reports with the amp switched off...doh!  At the end of this stint the heat sink was slightly warm to the touch. If this little amp is reliable I will be more than happy....it remains to be seen.....
 40m in full swing
14:43z
M0IML
7MHz
SSB
Barry
14:43z
G6TUH
7MHz
SSB
Mike
14:44z
M0MDA
7MHz
SSB
Mick
14:44z
G4OBK
7MHz
SSB
Phil
14:44z
G0RQL
7MHz
SSB
Don
14:45z
G0HRT
7MHz
SSB
Rob
14:46z
F/G4AFI
7MHz
SSB
Andrew
14:46z
G0TRB
7MHz
SSB
Roger
14:47z
MW0YCC/P
7MHz
SSB
Alan s2s
14:47z
MW6MMI/P
7MHz
SSB
Ryan s2s
14:48z
GW4CQZ
7MHz
SSB
Martyn
14:49z
EI9GLB
7MHz
SSB
Jim
14:49z
G4TSQ
7MHz
SSB
Mike
14:49z
G0EVV
7MHz
SSB
David
14:49z
G0LGS
7MHz
SSB
Stuart
14:50z
G4WYL
7MHz
SSB
Christine
14:50z
M6RUG
7MHz
SSB
Dave
14:51z
GW2HFR
7MHz
SSB
Jonathan
14:52z
G4APO
7MHz
SSB

14:52z
PA0B
7MHz
SSB
Rob
14:53z
2E0MDJ
7MHz
SSB
Matt
14:53z
G4EHT
7MHz
SSB
Bill
14:54z
G0WRE
7MHz
SSB
Paul
14:54z
GM0AXY
7MHz
SSB
Ken
14:55z
DK1WI
7MHz
SSB
Ed
14:55z
M3HJH
7MHz
SSB
Harry
14:56z
GM4YMM
7MHz
SSB
Christine
14:56z
2I0DJM
7MHz
SSB
Joe
14:57z
G4AZS
7MHz
SSB
Adrian
14:58z
LA1ENA
7MHz
SSB
Aage
14:58z
GW6DGU
7MHz
SSB
Roy
14:59z
G0PJI
7MHz
SSB
Peter
14:59z
EA2CKX
7MHz
SSB
Pedro
15:00z
2E0TVX
7MHz
SSB
Ray
Thanks to Alan MW0YCC/p and Ryan MW6MMI/p for the s2s from GW/SW-003 Fan Brycheiniog .....icing on the cake and bringing that Gold s2s certificate within grasp in the next few months.  There were other s2s opportunities but we were just out of sync as David M0YDH knows only to well...sorry.
 Frenni Fawr in the distance
As a group we had a wonderful day and thanks once again to all the activators and chasers for just being there. Once again thanks for the extra pics Len.  Expect a rush of summits over the next few weeks and I hope the weather will be kind....oh yes and the bands.

73 Allan GW4VPX

2 comments:

  1. Hi Allan

    What kind of battery to you use for the linear? is it 3s/11.1v LIPO or 4s? Do you know the operating voltage range for the amp?

    Many thanks

    Alan MW0YCC

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Alan
    Here is a link to the battery that I use http://clulite.cluson.co.uk/lithium-ion-battery-packs/395-pp19-li-ion-12v-92a-hr-rigid-box.html. Linear supply ..13.8V 8 Amps quoted on the e-bay site..no literature with the amp! Need to do some tests in the near future to see what it is actually delivering..73 Allan

    ReplyDelete