GW/MW-035 – Rhos Ymryson

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.

  

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/MW-004 – Pen y Garn

GW/MW-004 – Pen y Garn

13/04/2019

2m was quiet

As I walked up from the parking spot for Pen y Garn I soon felt the full force of the wind, another 100m in height had a marked difference in wind speed…HF would be doubtful as I was buffeted as I approached the cairn and trig. I was confident that I had quite a while to wait for Andrew to summit GW/MW-001 so I quickly set up my 2m dipole on the fishing pole and called CQ SOTA. 

My 2m dipole held in place with Velcro

Even though a spot was up on Sotawatch contacts were very slow…Pen y Garn is usually a good summit for VHF but not today. Of those contacts I made they were 5/9 so the equipment was working.

11:50z	MW0OFD	144MHz	FM	Frank
11:57z	2W0RYR/P	144MHz	FM	Roger heading for SW-003
12:10z	GW0PLP/P	144MHz	FM	Don in Aberystwyth
12:14z	GW4UKU	144MHz	FM	Pete, Pwllheli
12:15z	2W0RYR/P	144MHz	FM	s2 Roger, Fan Brycheiniog GW/SW-003
12:28z	2W0HYW/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Hywel, Mynydd Llangyndeyrn GW/SW-038
12:29z	GW8SFT/M	144MHz	FM	Dave
12:39z	MW0CJE/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Andrew, GW/MW-001 Plynlimon

A few bonus s2s came my way as Roger and Hywel had both popped up on their respective summits so I was delighted with those extra points..thank you both. 

Waiting for Andrew

Eventually, Andrew made my log but only just managed to qualify the summit…the chasers were not there today. I think that the sun and the warmth in the valleys had prompted many to go out for the day… very different on the summits though.

Many layers today..the trig, cairn and wind generators in the distance...whizzing around today

The wind was far to fierce  for HF so reluctantly I packed away but not before having a lovely chat with a couple passing through.

My activation set-up

VHF:-Yaesu FT270 and dipole

Antenna support – 5m Fishing pole

Thanks everyone for the contacts

73 Allan GW4VPX

GW/MW-038 – Disgwylfa Fawr

GW/MW-038 – Disgwylfa Fawr

13/04/2019

Chasing s2s

Andrew M1CJE had alerted that he would be doing three summits in my area so I could not miss the opportunity to gather a few more s2s points. I chose Disgwylfa Fawr which would be only a stone’s throw from Andrew’s first summit and just over an hour from home.

My GPS track

 Disgwylfa ahead, on my way up the track  (not shown on map)

Lake Syfydrin and Cardigan Bay in the distance..looks nice but it's cold

Mountain Weather had forecast wind speeds of 30-40mph so a good bend in the pole could be expected and it would be touch and go whether to attach the coils for 80m. Not only was it windy but the chill factor was probably touching on freezing as Andrew and I commented on later.  

Andrew was soon in the log as we had timed our arrival on summit to perfection. I soon qualified the summit but 2m soon went quiet so on to 60m.

08:53z	MW1CJE/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Andrew GW/MW-008 Drosgol
09:03z	GW0PLP	144MHz	FM	Don
09:04z	MW0OFA	144MHz	FM	Frank
09:07z	GW8SFT/M	144MHz	FM	Dave
09:14z	G4TJC/P	5MHz	SSB	Simon
09:14z	M0TMD/P	5MHz	SSB	Helen
09:19z	G0RQL	5MHz	SSB	Don
09:23z	GB2ABG	5MHz	SSB	Dave
09:24z	G0FEX	5MHz	SSB	Ken
09:25z	M0NMI	5MHz	SSB	David
09:26z	G1BLJ	5MHz	SSB	Steve
09:28z	MW0OFA	5MHz	SSB	Frank
09:30z	G6LKB	5MHz	SSB	Dave
09:47z	2E0FEH	3.5MHz	SSB	Karl
09:49z	GM4WHA	3.5MHz	SSB	Geoff
09:51z	GB2ABG	3.5MHz	SSB	Dave
10:17z	MW1CJE/P	144MHz	FM	s2s Andrew GW/MW-007 Banc Llechwedd-mawr

Simon and Helen had gone out on to their local summit which sadly is not a SOTA, nevertheless thank you both for making the effort and making my log. The band wasn’t good and I soon moved to 80m where strong signals from Karl in Saltash and a surprise call from Geoff in Annan followed by Dave with his WAB special event callsign…thanks everyone.

The wind putting a good bend in my 5m pole, Drosgol in the distance.

I poured a cup of coffee but didn’t have time to start it when Andrew called from Banc Llechwedd-mawr with 5/9 each way. It was time to finish the coffee and head for Pen y Garn to catch Andrew on his third summit of the day.

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