GW/SW-023 – Allt yr Esgair

GW/SW-023 – Allt yr Esgair

10/05/2017

Chasing s2s once again..second summit of the day (see previous post)

Gerald and I parted company at Storey Arms as he was heading back down to Pembrokeshire but taking in the summit of Trichrug GW/SW-022 which would be an unique for him.  I made my way around to the Llangasty Community Hall car park ( SO 122 256) and the beginning of the trail to the summit of Allt yr Esgair.

Llangasty Community Hall....looking towards Llangorse Lake

Information board-Llangasty Community Hall

Track to the summit can be narrow in places...beware of Mountain bikes!!

I grabbed a quick sandwich as well as talking briefly to Lee MW6LPU over in Llangorse on 2m then made my way to the top..  Although Lee had warned me it was quite a shock to see the amount of tree and vegetation clearance that had taken place….nice views all round now.  Easy navigation…just follow the track to the summit.

Abundance of Bluebells

Clear view towards Pen y Fan

Looking towards Mynydd Troed and Mynydd Llangorse..Barry's double for the day

I had tried to chase Myarth GW/SW-035 for several years without success..today would be a different matter as Rod and Viki would be activating it whilst I was on Allt yr Esgair and I could also see the summit :) 

Myarth..just down the valley

Barry IML was by now over on Mynydd Llangorse so we soon had a few s2s flying around on a variety of bands as can be seen from my log. Gerald soon joined in the fun but sadly Viki missed out on a contact with him even with a 2m beam…Pen y Fan was in the way. 

14:30z	MW0IML/P	144MHz	FM	Barry s2s
14:33z	MW6LPU/P	144MHz	FM	Lee, Llangorse
14:35z	MW0IML/P	70MHz	FM	Barry s2s
14:46z	GW1SXT/M	144MHz	FM	Mike
14:47z	MW6BWA/P	144MHz	FM	Viki s2s
14:48z	MW6BWA/P	433MHz	FM	Viki s2s diff band
14:49z	MW0JLA/P	433MHz	FM	Rod s2s
15:03z	MW0WML/P	144MHz	FM	Gerald s2s
15:12z	G0RQL	5MHz	SSB	Don, Devon
15:12z	G6TUH	5MHz	SSB	Mike, East Sussex
15:13z	MW0IML/P	5MHz	SSB	Barry s2s diff band
15:13z	G0VWP	5MHz	SSB	Terry
15:16z	G3WZD/A	5MHz	SSB	Duncan
15:20z	G4IAR	5MHz	SSB	Dave, Leicestershire
15:30z	SM7DIE	7MHz	SSB	Tore, Sweden
15:31z	EA2CKX	7MHz	SSB	Pedro, Spain
15:32z	OH6JYH	7MHz	SSB	Harri, Finland
15:32z	F5LKW	7MHz	SSB	Roger, France
15:33z	DJ5AV	7MHz	SSB	Michael, Germany
15:34z	SM6CNX	7MHz	SSB	Dan
15:38z	MW0JLA/P	5MHz	SSB	Rod s2s diff band
15:50z	MW0WML/P	5MHz	SSB	Gerald s2s diff band

I had taken the KX2 (10 watts) to the summit and I was soon on 60m picking up 7 regular chasers with a further  6 difficult contacts on 40m. I had to give Rod and Gerald a call when they appeared on 60m to end the day.  

Elecraft KX2

Rod, Viki, Barry and myself had arranged to meet up in Crickhowell for an evening meal …a perfect end to a perfect SOTA day…thanks everyone.

My activation set up:-  (HF) Elecraft KX2 (10 watts) (4Ah LiPo), Antenna - 3 band link dipole (60/40/20 (+15m extensions +80m loading coils),  (VHF) Yaesu FT270 (5watts) into a ‘cable tie’ dipole, ( 4m) Wouxon KG699E. (UHF) Kenwood TH-F7E. Antenna support - 7m Fishing pole.

Thanks everyone for the contacts

73 Allan GW4VPX

GW/SW-005 - Fan Fawr

GW/SW-005 - Fan Fawr

10/05/2017

Joint activation and s2s

Barry M0IML/P was coming up from Kent to activate SW for a few days so we were all out to welcome him and there would be a lot of s2s activity today.  Gerald and I were heading for Fan Fawr and looking forward to basking in the glorious sunshine on top of the summit.  

Our GPS track...get to the car park early...you have been warned

Corn Du/PyF in the distance and Storey Arms below

We set up two poles, one for HF (linked dipole) and the other with the ‘cable tie’ dipole for  VHF/UHF. 

 Initially we had a flurry of 2m/70cms contacts then Gerald was let loose on HF with me saying ‘Hello’ to some of the regular chasers and taking a few pictures and spotting when necessary…very relaxing :)

Looking South towards Cantref and Llwyn-on Reservoir

10:45z	M0KCB/P	144MHz	FM	Darius HWB-032
10:47z	MW6BWA/P	144MHz	FM	Viki s2s
10:56z	MW6BWA/P	433MHz	FM	Viki s2s diff band
11:01z	MW0JLA/P	5MHz	SSB	Rod s2s
11:07z	G0RQL	5MHz	SSB	Don, Devon
11:17z	GW7MMG	144MHz	FM	Philip, Swansea
11:19z	GW6DGU	144MHz	FM	Roy, Cardigan
11:22z	2W0RRG	144MHz	FM	Robert, Ebbw Vale
11:23z	2W0IGC	144MHz	FM	Ian, Blaenycoed
11:26z	GW4ISJ/P	144MHz	FM	Pete s2s
11:29z	MW6LPU/P	144MHz	FM	Lee,nr Llangorse
11:45z	G6OVD/P	144MHz	FM	Mal s2s
11:46z	2E0IWM/P	144MHz	FM	Ian s2s
12:20z	MW0IML/P	144MHz	FM	Barry s2s

My Log

Gerald thoroughly enjoyed his visits to 60/40m and eventually to 20m where his best DX of the day was George N1GB in Vermont, USA…thanks George.

Gerald enjoying his 'play' on HF....Corn Du/Pen Y Fan in the distance

10:47z	MW6BWA/P	144MHz	FM
10:54z	MW6BWA/P	433MHz	FM
10:58z	MW0JLA/P	5MHz	SSB
11:03z	G8ADD	5MHz	SSB
11:05z	G0RQL	5MHz	SSB
11:08z	G0VWP	5MHz	SSB
11:09z	G0GWY	5MHz	SSB
11:10z	G4AFI	5MHz	SSB
11:11z	G0FEX	5MHz	SSB
11:12z	MI0RTY	5MHz	SSB
11:13z	G0WFH	5MHz	SSB
11:26z	GW4ISJ	144MHz	FM
11:33z	GW6DGU	144MHz	FM
11:34z	G3LVP	144MHz	FM
11:44z	2E0IWM/P	144MHz	FM
11:44z	G6OVD	144MHz	FM
11:52z	ON5SWA	7MHz	SSB
11:54z	EA2CKX	7MHz	SSB
11:54z	G0VWP	7MHz	SSB
11:56z	DJ5AV	7MHz	SSB
11:56z	SP6BBE	7MHz	SSB
11:57z	HB9AGH	7MHz	SSB
11:58z	ON9CBQ	7MHz	SSB
11:59z	EI9GLB	7MHz	SSB
11:59z	MM0XPZ	7MHz	SSB
12:07z	SQ9LGG	14MHz	SSB
12:08z	N1GB	14MHz	SSB
12:08z	OE6GND	14MHz	SSB
12:10z	OK3KW	14MHz	SSB
12:11z	SP9AMH	14MHz	SSB
12:12z	OE7HPI	14MHz	SSB
12:12z	OE7FMH	14MHz	SSB
12:13z	DJ5AV	14MHz	SSB
12:20z	MW0IML/P	144MHz	FM

Gerald's log

Barry had been held up on the M25 so was late on summit but eventually made the top of Mynydd Troed much to our relief…needless to say an s2s frenzy took place as 3 summits called him to get him in the log. Quick ‘pack up’ and we were heading for our next summits.

Looking towards Corn Du and PyF

Yes, I was there :)

Our activation set up today:-  (HF) Yaesu FT857 (20 watts +/-). Ant - 3 band link dipole (60/40/20),  (VHF) FT270  (5watts) with ‘cable tie’ dipole.  Antenna support - 7m Fishing poles.

Thanks everyone for the contacts.

73 Allan GW4VPX and Gerald MW0WML