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