Gun 2014

The first job after an early start on Sunday 12th January 2014 was to clear the ice from my car windscreen. It was a cold one! Care was needed on some of the sections of road between Macclesfield and Rushton Spencer as isolated patches of black ice were a hazard. Still in darkness around 6.30am when I parked, on went the headtorch. Plus an extra fleece, coat, hat, boots and padded gloves. It was very cold, but the track up Gun G/SP-013 remained gooey enough to necessitate replacing trainers with boots.

With a cold wind blowing from the south-west, I walked over the summit and down to a tree that I recently discovered had a relatively comfortable sitting position with something of a backrest. I set up the 12m GP antenna, but as expected, the band was dead. I left the Palm Cube sending automated CQ calls on beacon mode and relaxed with my flask of coffee while catching up on Facebook with my Galaxy S3 phone. It didn't rain, but I was almost immediately inside my bothy bag so as to provide a little extra warmth and shelter. It wasn't too long to wait before the first glimmers of daylight appeared over The Roaches, and with it came the occasional reply from Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Romania. The QSO rate was extremely slow though with long periods of calling between each contact.

Things picked up towards 8am, and I could start keeping myself a little busier. Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan dominated the logbook, with occasional replies from Eastern and Southern Europe. Whenever there was a gap in the action, I could remedy this by leaving the paddle on beacon mode while pouring myself another coffee. With flask in one hand and cup in the other, it was almost guaranteed that a reply would come in, as I discovered that band activity conformed to Sod's Law.

The first S2S contact of the day came from Viktor EN7JHF on Kurushlyu UT/CR-034. The second and third came around 90 minutes later from George SV2NCH/P on Kastania SV/MC-014, and then Dionisis SV2OYE/P on the same summit. Later on, the band seemed to be dominated by various Russian "22" stations. I worked RM22DX and RA22AA, but couldn't get through to R22FRS. Several VKs were heard on the band, but none were worked. A massive SSB signal was received from Bob VP8LP, but after a long ragchew with an M3 station, he announced he was going QRT for breakfast.

The final tally was 55 QSOs, with 47 on CW and 8 on SSB. Emerging from my bothy bag revealed a bright sunny morning, but it remained bitterly cold as I packed away and descended.

R3QJ	12m	CW
UR5LBM	12m	CW
UY0CA	12m	CW
4K9W	12m	CW
YO3JW	12m	CW
UR6IDX	12m	CW
G4OBK	12m	CW
LZ3YY	12m	CW
UT5UR	12m	CW
RA1QX	12m	CW
UN7FS	12m	CW
I8DKR	12m	CW
RX3AEX	12m	CW
RW3WG	12m	CW
SV1GSP/8	12m	CW
UA3DJC	12m	CW
SV2DCD	12m	CW
UT2LA	12m	CW
UY5LQ	12m	CW
RU3SD	12m	CW
G0VOF	12m	CW
RD3ACR	12m	CW
UR3VIO	12m	CW
RK9AD	12m	CW
2E1RDX/M	12m	SSB
SV2OXS	12m	SSB
EN7JHF on Kurushlyu UT/CR-034	12m	SSB
9A6DR	12m	CW
M0PNN	12m	CW
YO8BDQ	12m	CW
US7ISA	12m	CW
UA4FDL	12m	CW
GW4OKT	12m	CW
EA7AJR	12m	CW
UF0A	12m	CW
RN3ZDB	12m	CW
US0VA	12m	CW
OM0CS	12m	CW
UR5TEX	12m	CW
Z32LM	12m	CW
RU3ZL	12m	CW
OH4MDY	12m	CW
OF40R	12m	CW
UR7VA	12m	CW
YO9IE	12m	CW
LY2BNL	12m	CW
OH1HE	12m	CW
SV2NCK/P on Kastania SV/MC-014	12m	SSB
G6LUZ	12m	SSB
SV2OWX	12m	SSB
SV2OYE/P on Kastania SV/MC-014	12m	SSB
2E0JCM	12m	SSB
UA33DK	12m	CW
RM22DX	12m	CW
RA22AA	12m	CW

I awoke on Saturday 25th January 2014 at 6am, due to being fast asleep before 10pm the night before after staff football. I knew Maz, Jimmy and Liam would all be intent on having a long lie-in as usual, so I took myself for a little walk up Gun G/SP-013. The initial part of the path was waterlogged as usual, but most of the way was "passable with care". I set myself up on the lower side of "Mickey's Tree" to gain a little respite from the cold breeze. The clouds parted and a sunny blue sky ruled for most of the morning.

It was 12m stuff as usual for me, but only CW and SSB. It was a bit nippy and I never could summon the enthusiasm to do PSK31. If that 12m ad data stalwart Steve G6LUZ had asked if I would be doing it in our SSB QSO, I would have no doubt said yes and done some. However, he never mentioned it and found myself in reverse first three letters of the alphabet mode.

It was a desperately poor QSO rate throughout the activation. I did stick it out for nearly five and a half hours though, and so a total of 66 QSOs was racked up. This comprised 11 on SSB and 55 on CW. S2S QSOs came in courtesy of Gyuszi HA2VR/P on Prédikálószék HA/KM-007 and Simon G4TJC/P on Black Hill G/SP-002, both on CW. SSB S2S QSOs were made with George SV2NCH/P on Analipsi SV/TL-092 plus the Madeira Island pair of Peter CT9/OE5RTP/P and Inge CT9/OE5IRO/P, both on Pico Ruivo de Santana CT3/MI-001. They were very good signals and provided the highlight of the activation, even eclipsing my earlier call from Ian VK5CZ.

A surprise visitor was Richard G3CWI, just as I was working the CT3 S2S contacts. Well not quite a surprise as he had earlier texted me to say he was coming. But that initial text was unexpected at least. Sensibly, Richard was wearing wellington boots on Gun Hill today. Less than sensibly, I don't think he had studied the weather forecast in great detail. Neither had I to be honest, but I'm just lucky and get away with stuff. Other interesting contacts were had with Madjit UK7AL (Uzbekistan), Victor ER5DX (Moldova), Sergey EX8MLE (Kyrgyzstan), Eduardo CO8LY (Cuba) and Ahmet TA3AX (Turkey). Plenty of the Russian special Winter Olympic '22' call stations were around as well. A few other 12m SOTA activations were heard, but I failed to work them, so these will go into the SWL section. These were Viktor EN7JHF on Staurnyn-Burnu UT/CR-047, Peter OE5AUL/P on Grillenparz OE/OO-316 and Herbert OE9HRV/P on Mutjöchle OE/VB-335.

Around 1.15pm, I decided I was tired, cold and hungry, and it really was time to be packing up and going home. This wasn't such a bad move as I was to find out shortly after. Firstly, to my surprise, the path back down the parking area was virtually all under deep water. It was mostly dry on the way up, and there hadn't been any rain whatsoever! I could only deduce that there must have been significant rain just before I arrived earlier, and that the damp ground had drained in the intervening hours. A bit of light rain was felt in the air just as I reached my car. I kitted down (or should that be dekitted?) and got in the car. As I turned the ignition, on automatically cam BBC Radio 5 Live on 909kHz medium-wave. And every few seconds came a menacing static crash. Looking ahead of me, I could see a rather nasty torrent of grey approaching from the side of The Cloud G/SP-015. I rang Richard G3CWI on his mobile to warn him. Richard had spotted it and was halfway through packing up. I later learned that he had had to hunker down in the heather while the storm passed, taking a beating - and a soaking from an incredible hailstorm.

Driving down to Rushton Spencer, I had a spectacular view of the electrical storm, and some terrific displays of forked lightning. One particular bolt was horizontal, and seemed to zap across from The Cloud to the wooded area on Gun where Richard usually sets up. I hoped he was OK and was relieved to receive a text from him later to say he had got back to his car in one piece. As I drove through Bosley village, the hail was so intense and heavy that visibility was reduced to next to nothing, and all the cars on the main A523 road ground to a halt. I definitely got off that hill at the right time!

Activation summary:
66 QSOs.
12m CW: 55
12m SSB: 11
SOTA S2S: 5
SOTA SWL: 4
DXCC: 21

CO: 1
CT3: 2
DJ: 1
ER: 1
EU: 1
EX: 1
G: 6
HA: 1
I: 1
LZ: 2
OH: 1
OK: 1
RA: 18
SV: 4
TA: 1
UK: 1
UR: 15
VE: 1
VK: 1
W: 3
YO: 3

Many thanks for all the calls. It was nice when the USA/Canada chasers began to come through shortly after local midday. Not often you work Oceania and North America in the same SOTA activation!

UT5PI	12m	CW
UU4JIM	12m	SSB
EW8OED	12m	CW
YO4WO	12m	CW
UR3IF	12m	CW
RA3SX	12m	CW
VK5CZ	12m	CW
RL3DZ	12m	CW
UA3DJC	12m	CW
RA3DUO	12m	CW
UK7AL	12m	CW
RN1QA	12m	CW
RZ3DJ	12m	CW
G6LUZ	12m	SSB
UR5LCZ	12m	SSB
ER5DX	12m	CW
EX8MLE	12m	CW
UR5ITU	12m	CW
R3AR	12m	CW
G0VOF	12m	CW
OH9XX	12m	CW
DJ1ND	12m	CW
UX1UX	12m	CW
UR6LAF	12m	CW
UA3XFO	12m	CW
RD3BV	12m	CW
OK2BCN	12m	CW
LZ1GU	12m	CW
RT22SA	12m	CW
R22FIS	12m	CW
RM22HD	12m	CW
SV3/SV1NN	12m	CW
HA2VR/P on Prédikálószék HA/KM-007	12m	CW
UR8QV	12m	CW
RQ22RP	12m	CW
UT2IV	12m	CW
UA3XAC	12m	CW
RK3NWA	12m	CW
SV1EDY	12m	CW
UT2LA	12m	CW
UT7EM	12m	CW
US4IDY	12m	CW
YO4ASG	12m	CW
UA3MIQ	12m	CW
UA3DSK	12m	CW
SV1JDZ	12m	SSB
M0UTD	12m	SSB
YO4RIU	12m	SSB
CO8LY	12m	CW
N4EX	12m	CW
G4TJC/P on Black Hill G/SP-002	12m	CW
LZ1MG	12m	CW
IT9UCS	12m	CW
N7UN	12m	CW
SV2NCH/P on Analipsi SV/TL-092	12m	SSB
CT9/OE5RTP/P on Pico Ruivo de Santana CT3/MI-001	12m	SSB
CT9/OE5IRO/P on Pico Ruivo de Santana CT3/MI-001	12m	SSB
G3VKF	12m	SSB
M1CNL	12m	SSB
TA3AX	12m	SSB
UY5MR	12m	CW
VE2JFM	12m	CW
KF4MH	12m	CW
RQ1A	12m	CW
UU9JFT	12m	CW
UR5MUM	12m	CW

Saturday 1st February 2014 - Gun G/SP-013. Dreadful activation this one. An icy cold wind was pushing in from the south-west, so a known sheltered spot under a tree was taken. Just five contacts were managed, 3 on CW and 2 on SSB. Again it was too cold to stomach the idea of PSK31. I really was flogging a dead horse trying to squeeze more contacts out of this activation, so I took up Richard G3CWI's suggestion of a Spearing's meat & potato pie (freshly baked) and a meet up with him in SOTAbeams workshop at Paradise Mill in Macclesfield for a welcome mug of tea.

UT3UY	12m	CW
UU4JIM	12m	CW
G0VOF	12m	SSB
G6LUZ	12m	SSB
SV2CNE	12m	CW

A second activation for the Challenge on Saturday 1st March 2014. Richard G3CWI offered me a ride up to Gun G/SP-013. I had finished the SOTA Database updates and uploads (VE7, YO and VK8) and put a basket of laundry away. Marianne was snuggled up on the settee watching Miss Marple and I had a couple of hours to spare before a gig. The answer was therefore in the affirmative. Richad used his preferred parking spot at SJ965619, on the opposite side of the summit from the approach most people use. This was a slightly longer, enjoyable and not quite as muddy walk. Richard G3CWI diverted off by the side of the wood to his favourite activating spot while I continued along the path to a tree which appeared to have potential as a backrest.

As expected, and indeed hoped-for, the 24MHz band was dominated by the USA at this time of the afternoon. The results were as follows:

Total QSOs: 31
CW: 21
SSB: 10

EA: 1
G: 4
RA: 1
SV: 1
UR: 1
VE: 4
W: 18
YO: 1

The pick of the bunch was probably the W5 associations manager Mike KD5KC, in El Paso, Texas. Mike called in several times, and he was a good 599 signal with me every time, but it took a while for him to hear my replies which needed to be coincidental with the troughs in QSB. An enjoyable activation in the last of the late afternoon sunshine. Thanks to Richard for the invite.

G0VOF	12m	CW
YO3JA	12m	CW
N4EX	12m	CW
UU4JIM	12m	CW
N7UN	12m	CW
W4DOW	12m	CW
KG3W	12m	CW
W0EA	12m	CW
W7RV	12m	CW
VE2JCW	12m	CW
G4OBK	12m	CW
AE4FZ	12m	CW
SV1AOW	12m	CW
UA4PT	12m	CW
AE4FZ	12m	SSB
N4EX	12m	SSB
M3NHA	12m	SSB
M6NHA	12m	SSB
W0MNA	12m	SSB
VE2WFF	12m	SSB
EA7IUP	12m	SSB
W0ERI	12m	SSB
N3WT	12m	CW
NM9C	12m	CW
WI2W	12m	CW
N3CU	12m	CW
KD5KC	12m	CW
NE4TN	12m	SSB
WX4ET	12m	SSB
VE2UFT	12m	CW
VE3CRG	12m	CW

And do the VK party rolls on. Dizzy new heights were hit on the morning of Sunday 9th March 2014. The very first contact of my activation of Gun G/SP-013 was with Matt VK1MA/P, S2S to Mount Ainslie VK1/AC-040. Well I guess it was all downhill from there!

At this point came a very pleasant ten minute break as famed Marilyn bagger Graham Illing (1549 British Marilyns) walked by, on a circular route from Meerbrook taking in Gun and The Roaches. Graham recognised me from meeting me last year on The Cloud G/SP-015. He was fascinated to learn of other countries around the world developing their own lists based on Marilyn criteria, in order to participate in SOTA.

Included in the activations 39 contacts were three more into VK and twelve into North America. One of the US contacts was Marc W4MPS on PSK31. In total there were four data QSOs alongside the 18 on SSB and 17 on CW. Best of all, it was a beautiful warm sunny morning with lovely sunshine and stunning views. Delayering down to T-shirt was satisfying in the first half of March after the weather we have had!

VK1MA/P on Mount Ainslie VK1/AC-040	12m	SSB
OH9XX	12m	CW
VK5CZ	12m	CW
G4OBK	12m	CW
YU1TY	12m	CW
G0VOF	12m	CW
N4EX	12m	CW
AE4FZ	12m	CW
VK2DAG	12m	SSB
YO9IPF	12m	SSB
M0HGY	12m	SSB
SQ8JMZ	12m	SSB
N4EX	12m	SSB
G6LUZ	12m	SSB
KB1RJD	12m	SSB
KB1RJC	12m	SSB
N7UN	12m	SSB
AE4FZ	12m	SSB
2W0JYN	12m	SSB
IK8YSS	12m	SSB
W4MPS	12m	PSK31
LY2OT	12m	PSK31
SQ8JMZ	12m	PSK31
M0HGY	12m	PSK31
CT1EHI	12m	SSB
RM22OZ	12m	SSB
OM8KT	12m	SSB
OH6JYH	12m	SSB
LY1SR	12m	SSB
HA0HH	12m	CW
CT1DRB	12m	CW
VE2WFF	12m	CW
LZ1YY	12m	CW
VK2DAG	12m	CW
UU4JIM	12m	CW
KK1W	12m	CW
W6UB	12m	CW
UA6AX	12m	CW
K4UX	12m	CW

Saturday 15th March 2014. Last day of winter bonus season in the UK. So I did a summit with no winter bonus, and indeed no points available to me anyway - Gun G/SP-013. As I got to the parking spot it struck me that it had been dry for a number of days. Therefore, I risked not changing into my boots and keeping my trainers on. This proved to be fine, with the route up to the summit bone dry - a real rarity!

A chilly wind was blowing, so the first priority was to find appropriate shelter. I dropped down on the farm side of the hill and behind the second tree from the trig point. This gave sufficient shelter, although it remained rather cold. Anyway, the results:

24MHz: 24 QSOs, 10 CW, 12 SSB, 2 PSK31
A9: 1
G: 8
LZ: 1
RA: 5
UN: 1
UR: 3
YO: 3
YU: 1
Z3: 1

The obvious highlight was the DX from Bahrain - Fabien A92HK. UP6KEDR could also qualify as "DX" being in Asia, and being some sort of special call. Of course, the premier sought-after contacts in SOTA are the S2S, and this activation contained three - Colin M1BUU/P on Pen-y-ghent G/NP-010, Darius M0KCB/P on Sharp Haw G/NP-029 and Carolyn G6WRW/P on Hergest Ridge G/WB-008. Nothing was heard of Mickey 2E0YYY/P on Winter Hill G/SP-010.

G0VOF	12m	CW
YU1TY	12m	CW
M1BUU/P on Pen-y-ghent G/NP-010	12m	CW
UU4JIM	12m	CW
LZ1GU	12m	CW
UP6KEDR	12m	CW
YO4ADL	12m	CW
RV80KEDR	12m	SSB
RM22DX	12m	SSB
G3UGC	12m	SSB
A92HK	12m	SSB
G1MTC	12m	SSB
G6LUZ	12m	SSB
M0KCB/P on Sharp Haw G/NP-029	12m	SSB
R1AY	12m	PSK31
G6LUZ	12m	PSK31
YO6PIB/P on Runcu YO/EC-247	12m	SSB
G6WRW/P on Hergest Ridge G/WB-008	12m	SSB
RC80KEDR	12m	SSB
Z36T	12m	SSB
UR5UBD	12m	SSB
UT5XS	12m	CW
YO2BF	12m	CW
RA4DB	12m	CW

Anyway, after a particularly hideous staff meeting on Wednesday 19th March 2014, I desperately needed some fresh air. Having already done The Cloud G/SP-015 before work that morning, I needed to divert to Gun G/SP-013 on the way home.

The route had dried sufficiently during the day to allow a trainers walk to the activating spot, no problems at all. Note I said "activating spot" and not summit. I didn't bother with the summit; I just got to the little rock beside the path about halfway along, which is known to be within around 10 to 15m vertically below the summit height, and set up beside that. A total of 13 contacts were made on 12m, these being 10 on CW and 3 on SSB, with 12 from the USA and one from Malta.

I packed up just after sunset, around 6.30pm, and returned to the car in fast-fading twilight. It was dark by the time I got home, but summer and the lighter evenings are approaching quickly!

W0MNA	12m	CW
N4EX	12m	CW
W0ERI	12m	CW
W7RV	12m	CW
W7USA	12m	CW
KB7HH	12m	CW
K7SS	12m	CW
KG3W	12m	CW
WN1E	12m	SSB
N7AMA	12m	SSB
9H5DX	12m	SSB
NE4TN	12m	CW
K0LAF	12m	CW

My new Deben / Tracer LiFePO4 16Ah pack had arrived the previous day, and a very nice product it was too. At 2kg it weighs about 75% of a 7Ah SLAB. It is in a sturdy package with charge socket and fuel gauge. It was supplied with charger and mains lead, and an alternative 2-pin power lead. I was anticipating ripping a lead off one of my old SLABs to secure to the screw terminals on the Tracer pack, but in the box was a T-bar connector, already terminated with an Anderson Powerpole connector! So connecting to my FT-817 (which has a patch lead with Powerpole permanently secured to it these days) was a breeze.

It was fully charged after 2.5 hours. It initially showed 13.8V on the FT-817, but that soon dropped to 13.1V. And that's where it stayed throughout 4 hours of activating on Gun G/SP-013 on Wednesday 26th March 2014. The 12m band was in indifferent shape and just 47 QSOs were made - 3 PSK31, 15 SSB and 29 CW. S2S were completed with Ricky MW6GWR/P on Maesglase GW/NW-029 and Mickey 2W0YYY/P on Mynydd y Cwm GW/NW-076. Best contact was J8/LY2IJ, St Vincent. After returning to the car, I checked out the fuel gauge on the battery pack - and it still showed as full! Happy days.

MW6GWR/P on Maesglase GW/NW-029	12m	SSB
2W0YYY/P on Mynydd y Cwm GW/NW-076	12m	SSB
G4OBK	12m	CW
UA6PF/3	12m	CW
RN3ZBB	12m	CW
G6LUZ	12m	SSB
EA7ZZ	12m	SSB
J8/LY2IJ	12m	SSB
EA7SS	12m	SSB
SV1BHF	12m	SSB
M1CNL	12m	SSB
SV2OXS	12m	SSB
YO7LHE	12m	CW
RX3DOR	12m	CW
UA3ALE	12m	PSK31
SV2DFK	12m	PSK31
YO9APK	12m	SSB
2E0LKC	12m	SSB
2E0LMD	12m	SSB
RO2DX	12m	SSB
RL3DZ	12m	CW
UA6GG	12m	CW
YO8COQ	12m	CW
LZ1IC	12m	CW
LZ1YY	12m	CW
RV9UDO	12m	CW
N7UN	12m	CW
VE1WT	12m	CW
R22FIS	12m	CW
UN7JZ	12m	CW
UA3BV	12m	CW
AE4FZ	12m	CW
LZ3SM	12m	CW
LZ1CY	12m	CW
US7IID	12m	CW
UY3IR	12m	CW
W4VQ	12m	CW
SV1DOJ	12m	CW
VE1RGB	12m	CW
R5FU	12m	CW
ER80KEDR	12m	CW
CT9/DF7ZS	12m	SSB
M3NHA	12m	SSB
RA1QV	12m	CW
YO6EZ	12m	CW
RU3SX	12m	PSK31
NE4TN	12m	CW

Wednesday 16th April 2014. A late morning activation in the sunshine. 12m band in erratic shape and just ten QSOs made, half on CW and half on SSB.

UU4JIM	12m	CW
SV1BHF	12m	CW
RU6MO	12m	CW
WH6LE	12m	CW
N4EX	12m	CW
M3NHA	12m	SSB
M6NHA	12m	SSB
SV2OXS	12m	SSB
N4EX	12m	SSB
M1CNL	12m	SSB

Good old St George. I assume it was he, on his Big Day, that worked the magic that brought the 12m band back to life. Yes, Wednesday 23rd April 2014, and I was back out on my local hills. After dropping Liam off at college, and dropping a batch of SOTA window stickers off at SOTAbeams, I called into the local Halfords. I needed another 3.5mm jack patch lead as I had finally destroyed another one during the Easter South Wales trip. This is the lead that goes between the Palm Cube and the FT-817. These leads seem to be vulnerable adjacent to the plastic plug casing with heavy portable use!

I proceeded to Gun G/SP-013 and set up about halfway between the road and the summit - the AZ is fairly large here. It was like going back in time a couple of weeks. Self-spot - first CQ call - N4EX N4EX. Just like the old days! No less than 18 USA stations were worked, suggesting that 24MHz was actually working again, especially given that it was only just past local midday.

Other interesting DXCCs worked included JA, SV5, SV8, UK, CT3, TA and CO. The first of two Madeira contacts was a S2S with Jurg CT9/HB9BIN/P on CT3/MI-001. The final reckoning was 38 QSOs made up as follows: 5 on 12m SSB, 1 on 12m PSK31 and 32 on 12m CW.

N4EX	12m	CW
G0VOF	12m	CW
WH6LE	12m	CW
AE4FZ	12m	CW
K4DY	12m	CW
N4EX	12m	SSB
JF2IWW	12m	CW
RA/UU9JAN	12m	CW
N7UN	12m	CW
W4DOW	12m	CW
SV5BYR/5	12m	CW
SV8/SV1CEI	12m	CW
UK/R1ZY	12m	CW
W2/G3RKF	12m	CW
UR0EW	12m	CW
CT9/HB9BIN/P on Pico Ruivo de Santana CT3/MI-001	12m	CW
UR5ITU	12m	CW
TC57A	12m	CW
UA4NN	12m	CW
WA2USA	12m	CW
N1EU	12m	CW
WD9DZV	12m	CW
N1FJ	12m	CW
K2YGM	12m	CW
N9JV	12m	CW
R7CA	12m	CW
CO8LY	12m	CW
W1AW/2	12m	CW
CT3MD	12m	SSB
SV2OXW	12m	SSB
G6LUZ	12m	SSB
R5DO	12m	PSK31
LZ1GU	12m	CW
K5WE	12m	CW
W0WP	12m	CW
LZ1MG	12m	CW
KK1W	12m	CW
SV2OXS	12m	SSB

It was nice that a few of the QRPTTF stations made it onto 12m for some S2S action on Saturday 3rd May 2014. I reluctantly decided to not do the QRPTTF this year in order to focus on the 12m Challenge, but I hope to be involved again in 2015 as the 2013 QRPTTF was such a super event.

First, I went onto Gun G/SP-013 and made 17 QSOs (11 of which were into NA), 12 on 12m CW, 3 on 12m SSB and 2 on 2m FM. S2S were as follows:

Colin M1BUU/P on Ingleborough G/NP-005, 12m CW Barry N1EU on Utsayantha Mountain W2/GC-026, 12m CW Bill W4ZV/P on Rocky Knob W4C/EM-047, 12m CW Ian G7ADF/P on Winter Hill G/SP-010, 12m SSB Richard G3CWI/P on The Cloud G/SP-015, 2m FM. Things eventually went quiet and I drove across the valley to The Cloud G/SP-015.

N5PT	12m	CW
NE4TN	12m	CW
AE4FZ	12m	CW
M1BUU/P on Ingleborough G/NP-005	12m	CW
N1EU on Utsayantha Mountain W2/GC-026	12m	CW
KK1W	12m	CW
W4ZV/P on Rocky Knob W4C/EM-047	12m	CW
N4EX	12m	CW
WA2USA	12m	CW
UA6AUA	12m	CW
VE1WT	12m	CW
G7ADF/P on Winter Hill G/SP-010	12m	SSB
RY9C	12m	SSB
G3CWI/M	2m	FM
N4FD	12m	CW
G3CWI/P on The Cloud G/SP-015	2m	FM
AE4FZ	12m	SSB

On Bank Holiday Monday 5th May 2014, I nipped up Gun G/SP-013 while the rest of the family remained in bed for a lie-in. I may as well have not bothered, for 12m was in poor condition. I managed to eke out just three QSOs, one each on CW, SSB and PSK31, with two DXCCs being worked - G and, interestingly, SX5 (Dodecanese Islands).

SX5LA	12m	CW
G6LUZ	12m	SSB
G6LUZ	12m	PSK31

Amazing. Five and a half months in, Saturday 14th June 2014, and Jimmy M0HGY still hadn't activated Gun G/SP-013, in the current calendar year! He joined Liam and I on a mixed up outing of errands, shopping, visiting, lunching, gambling and boozing. After visiting my nanna (who will be 99 years old on Tuesday) in her care home in Congleton and fixing her TV remote control, I enjoyed the spectacle of watching her eat, unaided, a bowl of custard while sleeping soundly throughout. Magnificent stuff, and worth the trip for that alone.

A bit of snack luncheoning in Congleton followed, and an unsuccessful search for new radio controlled (Anthorn 60kHz) clock for me - mine had stopped working properly. I was, naturally, going to nip up The Cloud G/SP-015, but Jimmy revealed that he still hadn't collected his 2014 activator point from Gun! A most shocking disclosure.

So up to Gun it was for a quite bobbins activation. I set up the SOTAbeams EFHW and kicked off on 20m CW. Four stations were quickly worked, but then things went very quiet. I tuned around the various spotted frequencies looking for S2S, but I couldn't hear any of them. (I have this personal code that if I can't hear them, I don't call them or try to have a contact with them. Fairly revolutionary, but it might just catch on).

Jimmy M0HGY was activating using just his 2m FM handie, and had made 6 QSOs. The skies continued to darken menacingly. A few distant rumbles were heard. The midges were bothering. This was not enjoyable, and it might even have not been all that wise either. So a quick packaway ensued, and we drove back to Macclesfield. To our surprise, the anticipated thunderstorm and cloudburst never materialised. Nonetheless, I was quite contented to be spending half-an-hour in the Pack Horse drinking St Austell Tribute Ale rather than batting the midges away on Gun Moor! Many thanks to the four callers. Four and run, me? You bet!

OK2PDT	20m	CW	T
M6DIJ	2m	FM	J
2W0JYN	2m	FM	J
2E0TDX	2m	FM	J
M3DUR	2m	FM	J
MW6SHJ	2m	FM	J
M3VUO	2m	FM	J
DL3JPN	20m	CW	T
SP9AMH	20m	CW	T
EA2DT	20m	CW	T

I had a bit of time to kill on Wednesday 23rd July 2014, and the weather was stunning, so off to Gun G/SP-013 it was. The main objectives were to test some solar chargers (for smartphones and games consoles) and consider the HF antenna of choice ahead of a planned backpacking expedition with Liam this summer. The antenna being used on this activation was a 30m end-fed halfwave, coupled to a Micro Z unit, giving me access to several bands. A summary of the QSOs made is as follows:

40m CW: 4 (including 3 S2S) 40m SSB: 6 (including 2 S2S) 30m CW: 3 (including 2 S2S) 20m CW: 14 (including 4 S2S) 20m PSK31: 1 20m SSB: 5 (including 2 S2S) 6m CW: 8 6m SSB: 1 6m FM: 2 2m FM: 6 (including 2 S2S) SOTA activations SWLd (logged as heard but not worked): 4

Total: 50 QSOs including 16 S2S.

It was towards the end of the activation when I decided to have a dabble on the "Magic Band". Only thing was, I didn't have the delta loop for 6m, as I had used for contesting the previous night. However, I managed to tune the Micro Z and halfwave system, and it worked. 6m brought 11 contacts, into EA, G, OE, OH, S5 and SM. But just after 5pm, I decided that it was too hot, the pollen count was too high, and I needed a beer! The End.

DL3HXX	20m	CW
OK1DVM	20m	CW
LA/PA3FYG/P on Hea LA/TM-237	20m	SSB
DJ9MH/P on Eierberge DM/BM-359	20m	CW
DL8AWK	20m	CW
YO2LIW	20m	CW
I0KHY	20m	CW
DL8UVG	20m	CW
DD5LP/P	20m	SSB
OK1SDE	20m	SSB
HB9MKV	20m	SSB
SM4EPR	30m	CW
DL6WT/P	40m	CW
G6WRW/P on Muncaster Fell G/LD-055	40m	SSB
M0YHB/P on Muncaster Fell G/LD-055	40m	SSB
MW0JST/P on Glyder Fawr GW/NW-003	2m	FM
M0MDA	40m	SSB
G0RQL	40m	SSB
M0GMG	40m	SSB
G4UXH	40m	SSB
HB9AFI/P on Le Suchet HB/VD-036	40m	CW
DL2EF	40m	CW
M0HGY	2m	FM
G0OHY	2m	FM
G0IUA	2m	FM
M0XOC/P	2m	FM
SP9AMH	20m	CW
EA2DT	20m	CW
DL2DXA/P	20m	CW
OH3T on Venäläisvuori OH/JS-067	20m	CW
EA2BDS/P on Alen EA2/BI-022	20m	CW
IS0/OE9HRV/P on Punta Lamarmora IS0/IS-301	20m	SSB
IK1CIC	20m	PSK31
OK2PDT/P on Ochoz OK/PA-040	30m	CW
DJ9MH/P on Kulch DM/BM-361	30m	CW
DL4TO/P on Zwerenberg DM/BW-662	40m	CW
OH2NOS/P on Jyränvuori OH/JS-066	20m	CW
DL3NAA/P	20m	CW
S59A	6m	CW
MW0JST/P on Y Garn GW/NW-004	2m	FM
OH4UV	6m	CW
S53K	6m	CW
G3JUX	6m	CW
M0HGY	6m	SSB
M0HGY	6m	FM
G3SMU	6m	FM
EA2LU	6m	CW
OE4VIE	6m	CW
SM3EVR	6m	CW
OH3JF	6m	CW
OE3XMA	6m	CW

Now I was supposed to be driving up to South Shields, near Newcastle upon Tyne for a theatre gig during Saturday 27th September 2014. What with having another gig in Blackpool on the Sunday, I was going to take Jimmy M0HGY with me as "road manager" and overnight in Gateshead in between. A summit in the G/NP or G/LD or possibly even G/TW could have been possible in the early part of Sunday, however... All that changed when the gig got cancelled late on Friday afternoon. Instead, we were at something of a loose end. A hastily arranged trip to the ten-pin bowling alley meant that we found ourselves on the south eastern tip of Macclesfield by noon, with yet more time to kill. From this position, we were barely 25 minutes drive from Gun G/SP-013, and Jimmy's mate Craig was up for joining us on an activation.

I did a strenuous five minute walk to the marker stone halfway between the parking spot and the summit, but well within the activation zone. Jimmy, Liam and Craig all continued on to the actual summit. Jimmy did his 2m thing there, just with a handheld, and made four contacts including S2S with David MW0YDH/P on Cadair Berwyn GW/NW-012. I was using my new lighter weight but better designed version of the 20m GP. Or in other words, the one I made from the first of these kits, originally prepared for the YOTA event earlier in the year:

Getting on air was a problem though, as my Mini Palm Paddle was not getting any dashes or dots through to my FT-817. I knew it wasn't the paddle levers themselves, as I had just programmed the summit reference into one of the memories of the Palm Cube. Bother, must have been the connecting lead. I randomly pushed and squeezed various parts of the cable, to try and revive it, but to no avail. It was then I thought to try the cable that was in my bag as part of the PSK set-up. Now that has 3-pin rather than 2-pin plugs, but I figured that should work. It did indeed work, and I shuddered at the thought that I had been unnecessarily carrying two leads around when one would have done!

In any case, 20m CW did not yield much after all - just 13 QSOs. 20m SSB was much livelier with 27 contacts rattling in, pile-up style at one point (16 QSOs in 5 minutes). S2S came courtesy of Ken KB1HXO on Peaked Mountain W1/CR-006, S57MS/P on S5/KA-028 and DL/HB9BRJ/P on Botzberg DM/BW-012. While on CW, Martin DF3MC, who I had worked earlier, returned to the frequency when it became quiet to ask if he could work Jimmy. I explained that Jimmy was not nearby at that moment, but that a QSO should be possible later. When Jimmy, with Liam and Craig did return to my position on their way back to the car, I mentioned this to Jimmy. I called a couple of times for Martin in CW, and announced a QSY to 14.345MHz SSB when he replied.

That QRG was in fact busy, but 14.340MHz was free. Jimmy M0HGY/P began calling CQ SOTA there and I placed a spot on SOTAwatch. There was no sign of Martin, but jimmy was answered by OK3KW. However, when Jimmy then called QRZ, in came Martin DF3MC with a big signal. Now Jimmy never hands the mike back until he has called QRZ and doesn't get a response! Hence three more stations were worked, including CU3EJ which Jimmy reckoned was an all-time new DXCC for him.

So he ended with 9 QSOs, 4 on 2m FM and 5 on 20m SSB. I finished with 42, with 13 on 20m CW, 27 on 20m SSB and 2 on 2m FM. The drive back to Macclesfield was made interesting by a mobile QSO with a newly licensed chap that had done some operating from Cloud summit, but needed to know the "iota" for it other stations were asking. I dug deeper and worked out that it was the Maidenhead locator he actually needed. Anyway, I made sure he was equipped with the Maidenhead, WAB and SOTA information, and understood the difference between them. He seemed appreciative. For what it's worth, I did answer his original question by advising the IOTA ref. of EU-005 as well!

After dropping Craig home in Bollington, we too returned home and got on with preparing the evening meal while listening online to BBC Radio Lincolnshire's commentary of the Lincoln City v Macclesfield Town game. My seafood pasta bake was absolutely delicious, but the 0-2 reversal was more difficult to stomach.

Anyway, there would be no plans for SOTA the following day (Sunday), because at least the Blackpool gig remained well and truly on, despite the fact that the poster shows it as having ended three weeks previous! No, the show actually ran right through to November. It will be a cold day before I have Sundays available for SOTA again!

Time	Call	Band	Mode	S2S	Op
12:00z	M6CEQ	144MHz	FM		J
12:04z	MW0YDH/P	144MHz	FM	GW/NW-012	J
12:11z	DM4QX	14MHz	CW		T
12:12z	9A2AA	14MHz	CW		T
12:12z	2W0JYN	144MHz	FM		J, T
12:13z	DK2MU	14MHz	CW		T
12:13z	2W0VAC	144MHz	FM		J
12:14z	EA2DT	14MHz	CW		T
12:15z	DF3MC	14MHz	CW		T
12:15z	OK2PDT	14MHz	CW		T
12:16z	EA2IF	14MHz	CW		T
12:18z	SP9AMH	14MHz	CW		T
12:19z	F5LKW	14MHz	CW		T
12:23z	EA5FJD	14MHz	CW		T
12:24z	YO7YO	14MHz	CW		T
12:27z	KA3RCS	14MHz	CW		T
12:38z	OK3KW	14MHz	SSB		J
12:39z	DF3MC	14MHz	SSB		J
12:41z	CU3EJ	14MHz	SSB		J
12:41z	OE7FMH	14MHz	SSB		J
12:42z	OE5REO	14MHz	SSB		J
12:58z	KB1HXO	14MHz	SSB	W1/CR-006	T
13:05z	M0HGY/M	144MHz	FM		T
13:08z	F/PA3GHG/P	14MHz	SSB		T
13:12z	OK3KW	14MHz	SSB		T
13:12z	SQ8JMZ	14MHz	SSB		T
13:15z	F4FWO	14MHz	SSB		T
13:19z	IW4BLZ	14MHz	SSB		T
13:22z	EA8AYT/M	14MHz	SSB		T
13:24z	I5FLN	14MHz	SSB		T
13:25z	UA3AIU	14MHz	SSB		T
13:25z	UA3GJM	14MHz	SSB		T
13:26z	S58AL	14MHz	SSB		T
13:26z	HB9BIN	14MHz	SSB		T
13:26z	SP6OJG	14MHz	SSB		T
13:27z	I5JFG	14MHz	SSB		T
13:27z	OK2MA	14MHz	SSB		T
13:27z	IZ1JMN	14MHz	SSB		T
13:28z	R7AY	14MHz	SSB		T
13:28z	SM6CNX	14MHz	SSB		T
13:28z	W1OW	14MHz	SSB		T
13:29z	IZ1NJA	14MHz	SSB		T
13:29z	IK1DFH	14MHz	SSB		T
13:30z	YO2LGH	14MHz	SSB		T
13:30z	SQ3KKR	14MHz	SSB		T
13:30z	SQ4CTS	14MHz	SSB		T
13:31z	OZ7KM	14MHz	SSB		T
13:32z	S57MS/P	14MHz	SSB	S5/KA-028	T
13:34z	OK1SDE	14MHz	SSB		T
13:35z	DL/HB9BRJ/P	14MHz	CW	DM/BW-012	T

It was already going dark on 29th December 2014, and was completely so by the time I pulled onto the iced-up parking area for Gun G/SP-013. As I started walking, I noticed that the front of my left thigh was sore and possibly strained. Fortunately, this eased slightly during the rest of the evening. I didn't bother going all the way to the summit of Gun, even though it is only a short easy walk. I got as far as the marker stone which is well within the activation zone, and set up there.

I was interested to compare the just-after-dusk performance of the 30m band with that from just-before-dawn early that morning. There was no comparison. The band was all but dead. The fact that an auto RBN spot was generated from a skimmer in Spain gave me encouragement to persist, but to little avail. Richard G3CWI was worked to banish the spectre of the possibility of erecting an aerial and taking it down without making a contact! I ploughed on and on, and at least got a call from EA8, possibly even a new one for the year on 30m CW.

That crumb of satisfaction was enough to encourage me to give it up as a bad job and pack away. On 2m FM, I added two further QSOs to take me to the nominal four for the activation, not that I needed that having activated this summit many times already in 2014. It was bitterly cold - in fact it had remained a constant 1 degree Celcius all day - and my padded gloves were very welcome, even for a five minute return walk to the car.

Next was the drive across the Dane Valley to The Cloud G/SP-015 for a final bit of exercise for the day.

Time	Call	Band	Mode
18:25z	G3CWI	10MHz	CW
18:32z	EA8/DH2MS	10MHz	CW
18:50z	2E1INY	144MHz	FM
18:54z	2E0FFM	144MHz	FM