GW/MW-028 - Frenni Fawr

 GW/MW-028 - Frenni Fawr

27/03/2021

Lockdown easing….

It was a momentous day today as we have been allowed to move freely within Wales after a long and sad lockdown. It was back to the hills for me to test my SOTA fitness.

Thanks to everyone that tried to listen for me and to those who managed to contact me on Frenni Fawr (nr Crymych, West Wales).

My GPS track

Spring Lambs

Foel Drygarn (left) and Foel Cwmcerwyn GW/MW-011

From the Trigpoint

9 contacts in the 4m log using Wouxun KG-UV8G (5watts) and home brew 'flowerpot' antenna on 4m fishing pole.

4m 'flowerpot' antenna

Most of the contacts were with friends who were either using the IC7300 or other modified gear.  I had let them know by various means that I would be out on a SOTA activation and it worked. There would have been more but some were busy in the morning.

09:59	MW0OFA	70MHz	FM	Frank
10:00	GW0JLX	70MHz	FM	Andy
10:01	GW4OUU	70MHz	FM	David
10:02	GW8PSJ	70MHz	FM	Les
10:03	GW4XUE	70MHz	FM	Dave
10:04	MW0GOV	70MHz	FM	Colin
10:05	2W0LLJ	70MHz	FM	Jenny
10:06	MW0VLO	70MHz	FM	Barry

 

Hats off to Mike GW7ODP who went mobile and made my log just as I was packing up having changed back to the stock 'rubber duck' antenna that comes with the handheld...seems as if this is a good antenna as I was sitting down in the 'cairn'! .... must test this out next time. I did get one amusing comment from a station down in Milford Haven saying that 'you are the first person I've heard on 4m on my IC7300 and I've had it a long time' I think he was pleased.

HF and 4m setup

10:15	GW4OUU	144MHz	FM	David
10:16	2W0LLJ	144MHz	FM	Jenny
10:16	MW0OFA	144MHz	FM	Frank
10:16	GW0JLX	144MHz	FM	Andy
10:17	MW0VLO	144MHz	FM	Barry
10:18	GW4XUE	144MHz	FM	Dave
10:21	MW0UPH	144MHz	FM	Aled
10:22	G3PGA	144MHz	FM	Mike
10:24	2W0BML	144MHz	FM	Ben
10:26	GW0PLP	144MHz	FM	Don
10:30	GW4ZHI	144MHz	FM	Bryn
10:31	MW0BBU	144MHz	FM	Steve
10:32	GW6DGU	144MHz	FM	Roy
10:34	MW6IVK	144MHz	FM	Philip
10:35	GW0JAI	144MHz	FM	Glyn

   

Excellent run of chasers on 2m and becoming evident that some of my friends would try and get me on quite a few bands. After the mini pile-up on 2m I moved quickly on to 80m which was not behaving but nevertheless 12 made my log with many testing new antennas.

The office

10:40	GW0PLP	3.5MHz	SSB	Don
10:41	G0RQL	3.5MHz	SSB	Don
10:42	GW4ZHI	3.5MHz	SSB	Bryn
10:44	G0FEX	3.5MHz	SSB	Ken
10:44	G4WSB	3.5MHz	SSB	Bill
10:45	2E0AGB	3.5MHz	SSB	Allen
10:45	MW0OFA	3.5MHz	SSB	Frank
10:46	G8XYJ	3.5MHz	SSB	Matt
10:47	2W0LLJ	3.5MHz	SSB	Jenny
10:47	GW4XUE	3.5MHz	SSB	Dave
10:48	MW0VLO	3.5MHz	SSB	Barry
10:49	M0NMI	3.5MHz	SSB	David

Using the end-fed today meant that I didn’t need to get up and change any links and after I spotted myself on 60m I was up and running immediately on my previously alerted frequency.  Although I had been given a ‘heads up’ by 2 chasers I missed the s2s opportunity from the Lake District…I’m out of practice!

10:52	GW0PLP	5MHz	SSB	Don
10:53	MW0OFA	5MHz	SSB	Frank
10:54	G0RQL	5MHz	SSB	Don
10:56	G4OBK	5MHz	SSB	Phil
10:58	GW4ZHI	5MHz	SSB	Bryn
10:59	M0OAT	5MHz	SSB	Graeme
11:42	GW7ODP	70MHz	FM	Mike

With rain beginning to fall I refrained from visiting 40m and 20m as I heard the word ‘contest’ and comments from chasers earlier on that the band was ‘busy’….sorry.

Packing up......untidy today

My activation set-up

HF:- Elecraft KX2 (8 watts) and 4Ah LiPo

HF Antenna – End-Fed with loading coil for 80m

HF Antenna support – 6m Sotabeams Carbon Fibre Fishing pole

******

VHF/4m Antenna support – 4m Life’s a Breeze Glass Fibre Fishing pole

(VHF) Yaesu FT270 2m-FM (5watts) into a ‘Slim G

4m-fm  rig:-  Wouxon KG-UV8G (5 watts)  

Thanks everyone for the contacts

73 Allan GW4VPX