GW/MW-036 Pen-crug-melyn

s2s on 2m SSB

GW/MW-036 Pen-crug-melyn

04/04/2015

Matt GW8XYJ had alerted that he would be on Pen y Fan GW/SW-001 so I could not miss the opportunity to get an s2s with him on 2m SSB (his main mode for activation today). I elected to activate Pen-crug-melyn which is not far from home and a very easy walk to the summit. You have to drop down about 15m away from the trig point here as there are 11Kv lines running nearby so I usually set up against the stone wall with the pole attached to the fence.....cosy when it’s wet and windy.   

 Trig and Power lines

Quite a set up today as I had brought my 3 element 2m beam, 2m dipole and the Band Hopper 3 linked dipole all on the 7 metre fishing pole.......

3 ele beam (2m), dipole (2m) and HF dipole above- not a set up for a windy day

Unfortunately, even though I was set up at least 15 minutes early RRT informed me that Matt had been and gone...oh dear....

09:15z	GW6DGU	144MHz	FM	Roy
09:17z	GW3UZS	144MHz	FM	Jeff
09:19z	MW0UTC/A	144MHz	FM	Paul

A quick call on 2m FM (FT270 via dipole) to let Roy know I had arrived on summit brought another two contacts with my friend Jeff GW3UZS and Paul MW0UTC/A  who were down in the area and on holidays.  Now I heard some activity on my FT817 which was set up for 2m SSB with the 3 ele beam pointing at the Brecon Beacons so I hoped that either Matt was back or John 2W0XOT/p was on Mynydd Troed GW/SW-009 and beginning his activation.  It transpired that that it was Don G0RQL in Holsworthy, Devon talking to Graham in Willenhall, West Midlands . They had been looking for Matt but had missed him also and were now waiting for me.  They both made my log even though my beam was pointing ESE although I did swing it around  for Roger in Tamworth, Staffordshire when he called in..great fun to be had on 2m ssb :)

09:25z	G0RQL	144MHz	SSB	Don
09:27z	G4JZF	144MHz	SSB	Graham
09:28z	G0TRB	144MHz	SSB	Roger

I informed them that I would now move to 60m so Don said he’d be listening. A spot sent by RRT and I was away.....

09:39z	G0RQL	5MHz	SSB	Don
09:40z	G4CFS	5MHz	SSB	Glyn
09:41z	G4AFI	5MHz	SSB	Andrew
09:42z	G0ELJ	5MHz	SSB	Dave
09:43z	GI0HWO	5MHz	SSB	John
09:44z	M0MDA	5MHz	SSB	Mick
09:44z	M0JLA	5MHz	SSB	Rod
09:45z	G0TDM	5MHz	SSB	John
09:45z	G4JZF	5MHz	SSB	Graham
09:46z	G4NFS	5MHz	SSB	Norman
09:46z	G8ADD	5MHz	SSB	Brian
09:47z	GW6OVD	5MHz	SSB	Mal
09:47z	G0LGS	5MHz	SSB	Stewart
09:48z	M1MAJ	5MHz	SSB	Martyn
09:50z	GI4ONL	5MHz	SSB	Victor
09:51z	G6ODU	5MHz	SSB	Bob
09:51z	G6DFM	5MHz	SSB	John

Good VHF path to Pen y Fan

I had a good run on 60m so as soon as everything went quiet I moved onto 40m with a spot which brought a steady run of regular chasers.  It was nice to get Tristan in the log a minute or so before the pile-up...

10:08z	MW3VJN	7MHz	SSB	Tristan
10:09z	G0TRB	7MHz	SSB	Roger
10:10z	G8VNW	7MHz	SSB	Nick
10:11z	G0RQL	7MHz	SSB	Don
10:11z	M0IML	7MHz	SSB	Barry
10:11z	G4JZF	7MHz	SSB	Graham
10:12z	DK1WI	7MHz	SSB	Ed
10:12z	GM4WHA	7MHz	SSB	Geoff
10:12z	G0VWP	7MHz	SSB	Terry
10:13z	G6TUH	7MHz	SSB	Mike
10:14z	DJ6OK	7MHz	SSB	Oliver
10:15z	M0NTC	7MHz	SSB	Gez
10:16z	G4OBK	7MHz	SSB	Phil
10:16z	M3ZCB	7MHz	SSB	Caroline
10:16z	EI7GEB	7MHz	SSB	David

I was quite disappointed that so far no UK s2s had appeared but then as I tuned into the WAB ‘Net’ bingo..... With Brian G0BFJ as net controller I was able to work both John 2W0XOT and Mike 2E0YYY for s2s and t2t...great stuff ..thanks both.  A quick run down the list and a promise of another trig on the way home my thoughts turned to a cup of coffee and sandwich :)

10:39z	2W0XOT	7MHz	SSB	John s2s t2t TP5040
10:42z	2E0YYY/P	7MHz	SSB	Mike s2s t2t TP1362
10:45z	G0BFJ	7MHz	SSB	Brian
10:45z	G4SQA	7MHz	SSB	Dave
10:45z	G7AFM	7MHz	SSB	Phil
10:46z	G0FEX	7MHz	SSB	Ken
10:46z	G4DUE	7MHz	SSB
10:47z	DL7UCW	7MHz	SSB	Ben
10:47z	G0GWY	7MHz	SSB	Geoff
10:47z	M0GDJ	7MHz	SSB	Brian
10:48z	2E0HPI	7MHz	SSB	Carl
10:48z	G0FVH	7MHz	SSB	David
10:48z	G4ZRP	7MHz	SSB	Brian
10:49z	M0HEM	7MHz	SSB	John
10:49z	MM3PDM/M	7MHz	SSB	Peter
10:49z	G7CLY	7MHz	SSB
10:50z	2E0SCS	7MHz	SSB	Stephen
10:51z	G0GIK	7MHz	SSB

Whilst enjoying my ‘dinner’ I called Roy GW6DGU to let him know that I would call him from my next trig after I’d caught Matt on Fan Fawr.  Matt had sent a spot saying he would be on summit shortly so I was going to make sure I’d  get him in the log this time. In the meantime I was surprised by an S9 signal on 2m as Frank G3RMD/M called me.  Normally Frank will call me on 60m but today he was down in the area and not far from my location...thanks for the qso Frank.  A quick call on 2m ssb brought a reply from another Matt 2E0MDJ in Cheltenham then a short wait and Matt GW8XYJ with a booming signal was in the log.....marvellous.....

11:12z	G3RMD/M	144MHz	FM	Frank
11:17z	2E0MDJ	144MHz	SSB	Matt
11:33z	GW8XYJ/P	144MHz	SSB	Matt s2s

 Mynydd Rhos y Corn
As promised to the WAB ‘gang’ I activated the trig on Mynydd Rhos y Corn (TP0218) on my way home. This recently built cairn and trig is right by the small mountain road which leads home so I was able to carry both the FT817 and FT857 for the activation.   

 Recently built cairn and trig

As Don G0RQL  wanted a 2m ssb contact from this one I began my activation by pointing the beam towards Devon.  Don and Roger G0TRB were already chatting away awaiting my arrival. 5/8 each way between me and Don and 5/1 each way for Roger having swung the beam towards him...5 watts from my FT817.  Now for the WAB ‘net’ I fired up the FT857 although I’m convinced the FT817 would have been adequate but it was nice to have a ‘play’ with a different rig.  16 WAB chasers made my log and I ended the day with a nice chat with my friends Roy GW6DGU and Aled MW3DLA on 2m FM. It was a glorious day and I had a lot of ‘fun’ on 2m SSB so thanks everyone for all the contacts on all the bands. Looking forward to the next one.......

73 Allan GW4VPX