GW/SW-006 – Fan Gyhirych

GW/SW-006 – Fan Gyhirych

30/03/2019

Poor band conditions

A chance comment to my friend Des that I was doing a SOTA summit prompted a reply that he would like to join me. The previous weekend I‘d joined John MW0XOT for his Mountain Goat summit but this time the walk would be a little longer.

MW0XOT now Mountain Goat

We arrived at the parking spot at  SN896222. There were a couple of cars there already but within minutes of us arriving another 8 or so arrived so we were lucky to have secured a spot. It transpired that most of them were part of a group of Para-gliders who were going to use our summit as a take off  point.

Our GPS track

On our way

It’s a three mile walk to the top but we made good progress having to discard some of the cold weather gear as the sun appeared and the faint hint of a breeze disappeared.  We were passed by a convoy of cars all loaded up with people and Para-gliders…they obviously had a key to the gate by the parking spot.

Our target

Before I set up close to the trig I gave a call for Viki..she was ready to set up so we agreed to listen out on 145.500 and make the s2s when we were both ready.  I was ready to share the microphone with Des for his first summit activation but sadly he couldn’t remember his callsign…doh! e’s been to busy at work to play radio since passing  A nice run on 2m after my spot went up but it soon went quiet.  

2m contacts

A spot by John GW4BVE/p on 60m attracted my attention but I just couldn’t get the s2s to stick as rapid QSB took his signal away.  I made a quick QSY to my alerted 60m frequency and had a rapid s2s with Rod who had been hovering on the frequency…nice one Rod.

12:06z	MW6BWA/P	144MHz	FM	Viki s2s GW/SW-003 Fan Brycheiniog
12:08z	GW7MMG	144MHz	FM	Philip
12:09z	GW6OVD	144MHz	FM	Mal
12:10z	MW6IUT	144MHz	FM	Bryan
12:11z	M1JMH	144MHz	FM	John
12:16z	2E0WPL	144MHz	FM	Peter
12:19z	G0RQL	144MHz	FM	Don
12:20z	2E0LFA	144MHz	FM	Tony
12:33z	MW0JLA/P	5MHz	SSB	Rod s2s GW/SW-003 Fan Brycheiniog
12:38z	2E0FGX/P	144MHz	FM	Matt s2s G/SC-003 Beacon Batch
12:41z	MW3TMX/P	144MHz	FM	Jordan s2s GW/NW-013 Pen Llithrig y Wrach
12:44z	MW0JCQ/P	144MHz	FM	James GW/SW-041 Black Mountain
12:48z	MW6BWA/P	433MHz	FM	Viki s2s GW/SW-003 Fan Brycheiniog
12:50z	MW0OFA	144MHz	FM	Frank

2m came alive and we had a flurry of s2s within 5 minutes and to finish it off I caught Viki on 70cms for her compulsory UHF contact :)  Full of anticipation I sent a spot for 60m, gave numerous calls but was greeted by silence…. Up went the 80m loading coils, another spot and a booming signal from Don RQL. It transpired nobody could hear me on 60m…that happened a few weeks ago so the 60m band is a bit iffy at the moment. A good run of SOTA and WAB chasers followed and an s2s with Andy up in Scotland….thanks everybody.

13:04z	G0RQL	3.5MHz	SSB	Don
13:06z	2E0FEH	3.5MHz	SSB	Karl
13:07z	G7LMF	3.5MHz	SSB	Graham
13:08z	G7AFM	3.5MHz	SSB	Phil
13:10z	GM8OEG/P	3.5MHz	SSB	Andy s2s GM/SC-108 Deuchary Hill
13:11z	G4IAR	3.5MHz	SSB	Dave
13:11z	G3RMD	3.5MHz	SSB	Frank
13:12z	GM6ZAK	3.5MHz	SSB	Andy
13:12z	G1YFF	3.5MHz	SSB	Jake
13:13z	G4WAB	3.5MHz	SSB	Phil

Time for Coffee and sandwiches

Cray reservoir below

Des with Fan Brycheiniog GW/SW-003 behind

Another great day with Des suggesting that a few more of these activations would fit in with his plans…he has found his callsign now :)

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)

VHF:-Yaesu FT270 and dipole

Antenna support – 5m Fishing pole

Thanks everyone for the contacts

73 Allan GW4VPX

GW/SW-002 – Waun Fach

GW/SW-002 – Waun Fach

20/03/2019

John GW4TQE/p Mountain Goat

John and I have done a few joint activations and I told him that I would join him for his Mountain Goat activation. The day arrived and John had chosen Waun Fach as he had noticed I had not done it this year. 

Our GPS track

Happy John but would it be a misty journey?

It’s a bit of a slog up from SO185311 and over Y Grib but we made the summit in 1hr 52 minutes whereas in 2018 Val and I took 1hr 58 minutes….not bad going Val.

Mist clearing as we approach Y Grib

Pen y Fan and others popping up out of the mist

I let John set up his Slim Jim and sent a spot to Sotawatch.  It produced an instantaneous pile-up and Viki M6BWA/P had the honour of being his fourth contact for Mountin Goat..well done John and thanks to all the chasers for their response.

Ready for the MG activation

Viki M6BWA/p in the log for fourth contact just beating Rod M0JLA/p

Mountain Goat with badge

I had to get in on the celebration

11:00z	GW4AZS/P	144MHz	FM	Adrian s2s G/WB-006 Caer Caradoc Hill
11:04z	2E0YYY/P	144MHz	FM	Mike s2s G/CE-002 Walton Hill
11:05z	M6BWA/P	144MHz	FM	Viki s2s G/WB-013 Garway Hill
11:07z	M6BWA/P	433MHz	FM	Viki s2s G/WB-013 Garway Hill
11:10z	G0RQL	144MHz	FM	Don

My 2m log

I did get in on the action when a few s2s came up but eventual I set up HF and was away on 60m with Rod being the first in my log. He had been waiting for me on 5.3715 which was his and my alerted frequencies…thanks Rod.  60m was really working well and a nice pile-up followed with 2 WAB special event stations calling in....thanks everyone.

11:22z	M0JLA/P	5MHz	SSB	Rod s2s |G/WB-013 Garway Hill
11:23z	GW0PLP	5MHz	SSB	Don
11:25z	MW0OFA	5MHz	SSB	Frank
11:26z	G0RQL	5MHz	SSB	Don
11:27z	G8ADD	5MHz	SSB	Brian
11:30z	G7LMF	5MHz	SSB	Graham
11:30z	GB50WAB	5MHz	SSB	Graham
11:31z	G0VWP	5MHz	SSB	Terry
11:32z	GB1ABG	5MHz	SSB	Dave
11:32z	G0GWY	5MHz	SSB	Geoffrey
11:33z	G3YZY	5MHz	SSB	Howard
11:34z	GI0AZA	5MHz	SSB	Esther
11:35z	G3RDQ	5MHz	SSB	David
11:36z	G0HRT	5MHz	SSB	Rob
11:38z	M0YBM	5MHz	SSB	Brian
11:40z	G0BPU	5MHz	SSB	Mike

My 60m log

Relegated to sit on the peat :)

Although 80m was working it wasn’t as good as 60m as some of the return chasers gave me lower signal strength report but nevertheless 13 chasers made my log with some cracking signals from the South East of England.

11:55z	M0BKV	3.5MHz	SSB	Damian
11:56z	G0VWP	3.5MHz	SSB	Terry
11:57z	G0HRT	3.5MHz	SSB	Rob
11:57z	2E0FEH	3.5MHz	SSB	Karl
11:58z	G6NHW	3.5MHz	SSB	Pete
11:58z	G3RMD	3.5MHz	SSB	Frank
11:59z	DG1NPM	3.5MHz	SSB	Nobbi
12:01z	G0NES	3.5MHz	SSB	Don
12:02z	G3YZY	3.5MHz	SSB	Howard
12:04z	G7AFM	3.5MHz	SSB	Phil

My 80m log

John had packed away so when there was no response to my ‘final calls’ I pulled the plug as John was keen to activate Fan Nedd before heading for his B&B. A thoroughly enjoyable day not only by due the fact that John had got his Mountain Goat but also that the sun had shone with hardly any breeze…..spring is here?

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 & GW4TQE