Radio Tales from West Wales and beyond...: 2019

Thursday, 9 May 2019

GM/SI-155 - Sgurr na h-Iolaire

21/April 2019-05-09

First of 5 on the Isle of Skye

Last year we all decided to visit the Isle of Skye once more. With the cottage booked we looked forward enthusiastically to our little adventure on this beautiful island in 2019. With Len and Gwyneth off to meet friends Val and I opted for one of the summits behind the cottage. We parked at NG 610080 and crossed a very small dam/outlet from the loch.

My GPS track

The crossing..I took this pic a few days later

Damp and misty day..looking back at the car

Looking back at Loch Dhughaill

Val heading up

Long way to go and quite a few boggy bits...summit in the distance

We had company..Red Deer

Unpacking...

10:30z	G4TQE	5MHz	SSB	John
10:34z	M0JLA	5MHz	SSB	Rod
10:35z	G8ADD	5MHz	SSB	Brian
10:35z	G0RQL	5MHz	SSB	Don
11:08z	2E0FEH	7MHz	SSB	Karl
11:10z	M0YDH	7MHz	SSB	David
11:11z	2E0SEY	7MHz	SSB	Jake
11:12z	M6VWX	7MHz	SSB	Graham
11:12z	G0RQL	7MHz	SSB	Don
11:15z	EA2CKX	7MHz	SSB	Pedro
11:16z	MW0OFA	7MHz	SSB	Frank
11:17z	M0YDH	7MHz	SSB	David again :)
11:19z	G4OBK	7MHz	SSB	Phil

It was tough getting contacts as the bands were not behaving. Failed to get an s2s with Simon GW4TJC/p and Helen as rapid QSB kept taking them a way. Thanks everyone for the contacts.

Loch nan Clach behind

Heading back down

More company...Heron flying high

My activation set-up

HF:- Elecraft KX2 (10 watts) and 4Ah LiPo

Antenna - 3 band link dipole (60/40/20 (+15m extensions +80m loading coils)

Antenna support – 5m Fishing pole

Thanks everyone for the contacts

73 Allan GW4VPX

Tuesday, 16 April 2019

GW/MW-035 – Rhos Ymryson

14/04/2019

s2s chasing again

Rhos Ymryson is a one pointer about 30 minutes from home but serves as a good summit when chasing s2s. Andrew was on Pen y Garn GW/MW-004 and it would be more or less line of sight between us. I set up in a large depression in an earth mound which has been there for years but gives good protection from the biting wind that was still blowing but less fierce than yesterday.

Protected from the wind in a depression

Spot for 2m and still as quiet as yesterday but I was not too concerned as I would be able to put up the HF antenna. Andrew was soon in the log and after a few more calls I switched across to my alerted frequency on 60m to be greeted by Don RQL who had just come in to have a listen after a spot of gardening. We had a nice chat while Don put up a spot which brought a good run of chasers to the log although rapid qsb was playing havoc with the signals….very enjoyable 20 minutes..thanks everyone.


09:01z	MW0OFA	144MHz	FM	Frank
09:05z	MW3WSC	144MHz	FM	Will, Garndolbenmaen
09:12z	MW1CJE/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Andrew, GW/MW-004, Pen y Garn
09:14z	G0RQL	5MHz	SSB	Don
09:17z	G3YZY	5MHz	SSB	Howard
09:18z	GB2ABG	5MHz	SSB	Dave
09:19z	G0FEX	5MHz	SSB	Ken
09:21z	G3RDQ	5MHz	SSB	David
09:22z	G4TJC	5MHz	SSB	Simon
09:24z	MW0OFA	5MHz	SSB	Frank
09:29z	GM6ZAK	5MHz	SSB	Andrew
09:30z	GB4WAB	5MHz	SSB	Geoffrey G0GWY
09:31z	G6LKB	5MHz	SSB	David
09:32z	GI0AZA	5MHz	SSB	Esther
09:34z	M0TMD	5MHz	SSB	Helen
09:45z	MW0VKD	144MHz	FM	Kevin
09:54z	MW0OFA	3.5MHz	SSB	Frank
09:55z	G0FEX	3.5MHz	SSB	Ken
09:56z	GB2ABG	3.5MHz	SSB	Dave G4IAR
09:57z	G7WKH	3.5MHz	SSB	Paul
10:02z	G4TJC	3.5MHz	SSB	Simon
10:05z	EI2KD	3.5MHz	SSB	Rodney
10:06z	G4IPB	3.5MHz	SSB

80m was less hectic as I had spoken to many on 60m..some signals were 5/9 each way although I never did manage to get Helen M0TMD as rapid qsb set in and we were unable to make the contact stick..ah well.