GW/SW-003 - Fan Brycheiniog

GW/SW-003 - Fan Brycheiniog

24/02/2019

Summit to summit action

Today was reminiscent of some 8 years ago when Summit to Summit contacts would come in thick and fast on a regular basis.

My GPS track

My summit in the distance...look at the blue sky

Not so clear towards Pen y Fan...mist rising from the valleys

2.2 miles to the summit

Tops of Pen y Fan, Fan Fawr, Fan Nedd and Fan Gyhirych now clear

I had only just arrived at the summit of Fan Brycheiniog GW/SW-003 and soon had 5 Welsh summits in the log using my Yaesu FT270 (2M FM) handheld…it was a bit of a scramble to get the log book out of the rucksack to record the contacts. Something like 8 Welsh summits were being activated simultaneously in that first half hour of my arrival. It’s interesting to note that many of the activators were taking advantage of the fine weather to amass some large valuable activation and winter bonus points.

10:45z	GW4TQE/P	144MHz	FM	s2s John..GW/NW-003 Glyder Fawr
10:50z	MW0WBG/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Neil..GW/NW-040 Tal y Fan
10:52z	MW1CJE/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Andrew..GW/NW-005 Eilidir fawr
10:55z	GW4TJC/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Simon..GW/NW-026 Mynydd Mawr
11:05z	MW0VPS/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Emyr..GW/SW-005 Fan Fawr
11:13z	G0RQL	144MHz	FM	Don
11:22z	2W0FLW/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Derek..GW/SW-029 Foel Fynyddau
11:27z	MW0XOT/P	144MHz	FM	John
11:29z	MW6BWA/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Viki..GW/SW-006 Fan Gyhirych
11:30z	MW0OFA	144MHz	FM	Frank
11:31z	G8XYJ	144MHz	FM	Matt
11:33z	GW7MMG	144MHz	FM	Philip
11:34z	G8MIA	144MHz	FM	Andy
11:35z	M0NTC	144MHz	FM	Gez
11:36z	MW0JLA/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Rod..GW/SW-007 Fan Nedd
11:37z	G4DQB/M	144MHz	FM	Jeff..Canal boat
11:41z	2E0RYR	144MHz	FM	Roger
11:42z	G4ZTM	144MHz	FM	Neville
11:46z	MW6BWA/P	433MHz	FM	s2s Viki..GW/SW-006 Fan Gyhirych diff band
11:51z	GW4WSB/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Bill..GW/SW-036 Mynydd Sylen
11:52z	MW6BYW/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Debbie..GW/SW-036 Mynydd Sylen

I managed to get my HF antenna up in the time between the s2s with  Emyr MW0VPS/p and Derek 2W0FLW/P and of course I had to give Don RQL a call when he popped up on 2m with a strong signal even though my handheld was on the ground.  I sent a spot to Sotawatch and had a string of chasers including Rod and Viki for s2s from Fan Nedd and Fan Gyhirych with Bill GW4WSB/p and Debbie MW6BYW/p ending my run on the band…it was time for 60m.

HF and 2m ready to go (5m pole again today)..
..heather burning in the distance..had to keep an eye on that

Trig and Cairn...lot's of visitors and questions later

12:00z	G4AFI	5MHz	SSB	Andrew
12:01z	MW0OFA	5MHz	SSB	Frank
12:02z	G3YZY	5MHz	SSB	Howard
12:03z	G3RDQ	5MHz	SSB	David
12:04z	G8ADD	5MHz	SSB	Brian
12:05z	MW0JLA/P	5MHz	SSB	s2 Rod..GW/SW-007 Fan Nedd
12:06z	GB50WAB	5MHz	SSB	Dave
12:07z	GI0LAM	5MHz	SSB	Geoff
12:08z	G0NKZ	5MHz	SSB	Kenn
12:09z	MW0VPS/P	5MHz	SSB	s2s Emyr GW/SW-005 Fan Fawr
12:11z	MM0FMF/P	5MHz	SSB	s2s Andy..GM/SS-127 Bein an t-Sidhein
12:20z	M6OVW/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Gillian..G/WB-012 High Vinnalls
12:28z	GW7HEM/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Mike..GW/NW-003 Glyder Fawsr
12:40z	GW4HQB/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Philip..GW/SW-002 Waun Fach
12:53z	GM4MD/P	5MHz	SSB	s2s Paul..GM/SS-129 Meikle Bin

I handed my 60m frequency over to Emyr as my run had come to an end and Brian G8ADD had given me the ‘heads up’ that Andy MM0FMF/p was on 5.4035 he was soon in the log..thanks both.  2m was alive again with Gillian, Mike and Philip calling from their respective summits.  It was time for a sandwich but this was interrupted with an s2s with Paul GM4MD/p on Meikle Bin in Scotland..thanks Paul. 

A new page and another 4 s2s in the log with Paul GM4MD/p from Scotland

13:09z	G0FEX	3.5MHz	SSB	Ken
13:10z	G0RQL	3.5MHz	SSB	Don
13:12z	GW4CQZ	3.5MHz	SSB	Martyn

I finished the sandwich and set about adding the 80m coils to the system but everyone must have been having Sunday lunch as only three answered my calls and assuring me that I was putting out a good signal.

Hunting s2s from the cairn... had some nice QSOs with friends

I had been on summit for well over two hours but as it was such a nice day with a warm breeze from the South I decided to hang around to ensure that Rod and Viki qualified their second summits despite the fact that I would get no s2s points from them.  I packed everything away and took my station to the cairn giving a few CQ calls to see what I could pick up on the handheld.  The wait paid dividends with a few useful s2s points in the bag..thanks everyone.

13:55z	MW0PJJ	144MHz	FM	Phil
14:06z	GW6OVD	144MHz	FM	Mal
14:13z	2E0MDJ	144MHz	FM	Matt
14:14z	G0LGS	144MHz	FM	Stewart
14:22z	GW7HEM/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Mike..GW/NW-004 Y Garn
14:25z	GW0PLP	144MHz	FM	Don
14:26z	MW0JLA/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Rod..GW/SW-006
14:36z	MW6BWA/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Viki..GW/SW-007
14:38z	MW6BWA/P	433MHz	FM	s2s Viki..GW/SW-007 diff band
14:50z	GW4WSB/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Bill..GW/SW-028 Mynydd Betws

Amazing day with some great QSOs and truly fantastic weather..Spring has sprung early?

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 

Thanks everyone for the contacts

73 Allan GW4VPX