Tuesday 15 January 2019

GW/SW-041 – Black Mountain


GW/SW-041 – Black Mountain

14/01/2019

First of two today

Viki M6BWA, Rod M0JLA and John MW0XOT would be out today so there would be winter bonus points and a chance of s2s points. I chose my mountain carefully as it was within easy VHF range of the others and not far from The Begwns GW/MW-025 which would also be well placed.  My journey to the summit was impeded by a road traffic accident but luckily I had started out early.  I opted for the parking spot above the Gospel Pass … short stiff climb and I would soon be on the plateau which leads to the AZ of Black Mountain in about 3.68km (2.2 miles).

My route today from Gospel Pass..3.68km to AZ

My route last year.. 2.77km ... about the same travelling time to AZ

One of the residents..just by the parking spot

Well on my way now..car below

Sunshine in the distance...Lord Hereford's Knob on the left

Hay Bluff Trigpoint...head South East here

A few more Km to the AZ

I hadn’t remembered that the phone signal was iffy here the last time so once again I resorted to calling out on 145.500 in the hope of getting a response. Graham from Redditch answered immediately followed by Ben near Hereford. After chatting to Ben and then calling QRZ a strong 5/9 s2s signal appeared in the form of John from Mynydd Troed ....in the log .. thanks John. It was only a matter of minutes before I had qualified the summit with a call from Peter near Llanelli and that was it.  Quick scan of 2m and I heard Viki announcing a QSY to 70cms…I duly followed…had a listen whilst she finished her qso then called in for a contact on 70cms then back to 2m…thanks Viki

11:25z
G0MYD
144MHz
FM
Graham..Redditch
11:28z
M0SWV
144MHz
FM
Ben..Hereford
11:30z
MW0XOT/P
144MHz
FM
John s2s..GW/SW-009..Mynydd Troed
11:32z
GW0RUD
144MHz
FM
Peter nr Llanelli
11:37z
M6BWA/P
433MHz
FM
Viki s2sG/WB-002..Brown Clee Hill
11:41z
M6BWA/P
144MHz
FM
Viki s2s..G/WB-002..Brown Clee Hill

I set up on the GW (Welsh) side of the path

I had a dilemma of remaining seated or getting up and searching for a phone signal … I chose the lazy option by going to 60m and searching for Rod who I guessed would be on 5.3715….another s2s in the log and I announced a QSY with Rod’s permission to 5.395.  This frequency was in use so up to a quiet 5.3985…it’s just brilliant how chasers read your mind because as I asked “Is this frequency in use” back comes Don G0RQL with “What took you so long”… thanks Don.  I already had a pile-up and with Don’s spot on Sotawatch and I was kept busy for a while…thanks everyone.

11:43z
M0JLA/P
5MHz
SSB
Rod s2s..G/WB-002..Brown Clee Hill
11:45z
G0RQL
5MHz
SSB
Don,Holsworthy
11:46z
GW0PLP
5MHz
SSB
Don nr Aberporth
11:47z
EI3GYB
5MHz
SSB
Michael, Co Mayo
11:48z
G4WSB
5MHz
SSB
Bill,Wiltshire
11:49z
GB9WAB
5MHz
SSB
Dave
11:49z
GW6OVD
5MHz
SSB
Mal nr Nelson, South Wales
11:49z
G3RDQ
5MHz
SSB
David, Stockbridge
11:50z
GI0AZA
5MHz
SSB
Esther, Dungiven, NI
11:50z
G7AFM
5MHz
SSB
Phil nr Hereford
11:51z
G4AFI
5MHz
SSB
Andrew, Hants
11:52z
M0TMD
5MHz
SSB
Helen, Glossop
11:53z
G4OBK
5MHz
SSB
Phil, Pickering
11:54z
GI4ONL
5MHz
SSB
Victor, Bushmills, NI
11:54z
G6NHW
5MHz
SSB
Pete, Birmingham
11:55z
MW0OFA
5MHz
SSB
Frank, nr Blaenffos
11:56z
G0ELJ
5MHz
SSB
Dave, Norfolk
11:57z
MM0GGI
5MHz
SSB
John, Sutherland, Scotland

Lord Herford's Knob and Waun Fach to the far left

This time I had arranged with Don for a frequency for 80m and it was great to get some different callsigns on this band although it did go quiet rather quickly.

12:03z
G0RQL
3.5MHz
SSB
Don nr Holsworthy
12:05z
GI0AZA
3.5MHz
SSB
Esther, Dungiven, Ni
12:06z
G0FEX
3.5MHz
SSB
Ken, Leicester
12:07z
2E0FEH
3.5MHz
SSB
Karl, Saltash
12:08z
G1YFF
3.5MHz
SSB
Jake nr Cambridge
12:10z
MW6IUT
3.5MHz
SSB
Bryan nr Neath

I had a choice of eating my sandwiches and having a coffee or moving on. I certainly didn’t want to be late for my second summit and as it was about 2deg C with a cold wind from the North I decided to have lunch on The Begwns which has plenty of protection from the elements.

Below, the other car park  that I used last year

My activation set-up

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

VHF:- Yaesu FT270 and dipole

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

Antenna support – 5m Fishing pole with end supports

Thanks everyone for the contacts
73 Allan GW4VPX

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