GW/SW-011 – Sugar Loaf

GW/SW-011 – Sugar Loaf

24/01/2019

The mist spoilt the activation

I could see on the way to Abergavenny that the Brecon Beacons were shrouded in mist or low cloud but I hoped Sugar Loaf would be better…no such luck. 

My route to the summit

Low cloud and snow on the Brecon Beacons..in the distance

Sugar Loaf..where?

On a good day

A group of RAF recruits on a training exercise..I soon passed them

I was up on top before the recruits..can't understand why?

To make matters worse there was a bitingly cold wind blowing from the North West and right along the ridge line leaving very little protection. I set up and soon had Rod and Viki in my Log from two different summits.  I’d put a spot up and soon had a small pile-up on 2m.  A real surprise s2s was with Adrian who had decided that he would join the fun and grab himself an s2s....thanks Adrian

11:32z	MW0JLA/P	144MHz	FM	Rod s2s..GW/SW-015..Mynydd Llangorse
11:32z	MW6BWA/P	144MHz	FM	Viki s2s..GW/SW-009..Mynydd Troed
11:33z	2E0MDJ	144MHz	FM	Matt, Cheltenham
11:34z	GW6OVD	144MHz	FM	Mal nr Nelson, South Wales
11:35z	G4AZS/P	144MHz	FM	Adrian s2s..G/WB-005..Long Mynd PB
11:36z	M0SWV	144MHz	FM	Ben, Hereford
11:38z	G3LVP	144MHz	FM	Ken, Cheltenham
11:40z	M0GQC	144MHz	FM	James, Swindon
11:47z	MW6BWA/P	433MHz	FM	Viki s2s..GW/SW-009..Mynydd Troed

All on my own now

I’d hoped that I might have had an s2s with Phil G4OBK and Geoff M0PYG down in Cornwall but no luck on 2m and I couldn’t hear them on 40m either.  I nevertheless had a good run on 60m but finding that my VSWR was rising due to ice forming on the antenna wire.  I never ventured on to 80m as it was getting colder so a quick pack up and I was off down to  a warmer environment..thanks everyone.

11:55z	G4WSB	5MHz	SSB	Bill, Wiltshire
11:57z	GB9WAB	5MHz	SSB	Dave
11:57z	GW0PLP	5MHz	SSB	Don nr Aberporth
11:58z	G0RQL	5MHz	SSB	Don, Holsworthy
11:59z	G8MIA	5MHz	SSB	Andy, Rugeley
11:59z	G0VWP	5MHz	SSB	Terry, N.Yorks
12:00z	G0FEX	5MHz	SSB	Ken, Leicester
12:01z	GM6ZAK	5MHz	SSB	Andy, Fife
12:02z	PA0SKP	5MHz	SSB	Sake, Netherlands
12:02z	M0MDA	5MHz	SSB	Mick, West Yorks
12:03z	MW0XOT	5MHz	SSB	John, LLandrindod Wells
12:03z	GI4ONL	5MHz	SSB	Victor, Bushmills, NI
12:04z	G0ELJ	5MHz	SSB	Dave, Norfolk
12:05z	G0HIO	5MHz	SSB	Mike, Burton upon Trent

Rod and Viki were swapping summits as can be done with Mynydd Troed and Mynydd Llangorse and as these were on my way home I decided to visit the ‘bwlch’ in between the two and meet up with  them.  As I called in to Viki to help her qualify her summit she could not understand why my signal were so strong… I explained that I was parked next to their car :)  It wasn’t long before they were both down and we had a long chat with tea and coffee in the comfort of my now warm car. Great end to the day.

Rod & Allan...Viki got away...Low cloud shrouding the top of Mynydd Troed

My activation set-up

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

VHF:- Yaesu FT270 and dipole (TH-F7 for 70cms)

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