Fantastic! Did my first SOTA activation on Sunday, 10w into a Sotabeams di-pole, instantly had a summit to summit with a guy in Switzerland, and went on to have QSOs into Norway, Germany, Slovenia, and some UK stations to boot. Utterly addictive and cannot wait to undertake some more activations asap! 73s M7CQX
Great work Nick! conditions sounded great. I'll listen out for you. If you manage to document your story drop me a message via G5DOC.net and I'll share it in my newsletter.
Great video full of positive energy ! Your first HOTA (hill on the air !) I suppose you informed other users that your intended to activate that very day, because even in QRP , chasers are tending their ears ! Best 73 from France
Thanks for the great VIdeo... I hope to activate Short Mountain here in TN tomorrow. on 20 meters or 40 meters and 2 meters too! KK4EVJ! Great work and thanks for sharing!
PS: four QSOs for an activation, not five! But just keep going, I usually do 18-20 and try to get a wide spread. Remember, the chasers deserve to score points too!
Hello and great video. I am new to it all and yet to get out and try SOTA. I have put together 8m carp pole and a diy 2m slim jim guy ropes and a anytone 878 with a fist mic. Just need to sort my first SOTA. I have managed to gain 17 sota points chasing. Motters M7TRS 73
@@conradaleshire4428 I sware by my Comet GP9 at home. Amazing antenna. I have it on a scaffold pole. When out and about I have an inflatable 2/70. I’ve mentioned it on you tube somewhere :-)
@@Documentally 1. Use one of these websites to check band activity www.southpasradio.org/2018/07/sites-for-checking-signal-propagation-and-band-activity/ rsgb.org/main/gb2rs/propagation-news/ wsprnet.org/drupal/wsprnet/map You can spot yourself on sota/pota websites so people will be looking for your call. If run psk31 or WISPR you can see where you are being received in real time. I would suggest that you change your antenna for an End Fed Half wave, which is resonant on multiple bands and, if setup correctly, does NOT require a tuner/matcher. Sotabeams make one but you can make your own. 40m-20m-15m-10m-6m is not unusual. 30m and 12m can be got buy adding a simple tuner. Also check out videos by VK3YE, K6ARK and K4SWL who have practical stuff, and sota/pota stuff. You have a great radio so no need to succumb to 'radio equipment envy'. Antennas are the cheapest and easy to build so don't get suckered into 'wonder' antennas. Successful HF antennas are as big as possible and as high as possible. Even a bad one is better than none. regards G7VFY
@@G7VFY Thanks for the links and tips Stephen! The linked Dipole I have is resonant on three bands if you remember to clip and unclip the clips. I shall take a look at an ended halfway though. At the moment I like just having the one pole in the middle. I don't do PSK but do play with FT8. We had limited time and the weather was against us but I'd be interested at doing more of that next time. That said I can see why some head out with just a handheld. Next time if time is limited I shall consider a more limited set up and save the HF for a full day out. Cheers!
I'm not sure but, for SOTA, you must made only 4 QSO for get the score points. So others QSO you did "only" for fun. I'm right or I missing some game policies?
Yes there are. And I think I know what you are thinking... :-) If you want to get licensed Freda I bet you will find it easy. You would rock the airwaves.
@@Documentally I have thought about a Ham radio. It would be great to have as I travel in my RV. Like right now I’m way up in the forest. It sounds expensive however. I love that antenna.
@@RVFreeDa ping @Djuggler regarding the US requirements and exam but you can pick up a radio for $30. Would be super hands and fun to have. Especially in the wilds. :-)
I enjoyed this video, you have a lot of enthusiasm and make it look like fun. I just passed Foundation last week and Bardon is my local "summit", this is something I'll have to give a go when I get some mobile gear and figure out how to use it. M7XDB
It’s a great spot. You will have lots of fun. Congratulations on getting your ticket. Check out some of the online SOTA resources. There is a chance we will head up to make a new activation this year check G5DOC.net for more. And I’ll probably announce my next trip up there.
Thanks for the activation. Got you both on 2m 2E0LNE
Great to speak with you too - 2E0GPU
Cheers Dan!
Fantastic! Did my first SOTA activation on Sunday, 10w into a Sotabeams di-pole, instantly had a summit to summit with a guy in Switzerland, and went on to have QSOs into Norway, Germany, Slovenia, and some UK stations to boot. Utterly addictive and cannot wait to undertake some more activations asap! 73s M7CQX
Great work Nick! conditions sounded great. I'll listen out for you. If you manage to document your story drop me a message via G5DOC.net and I'll share it in my newsletter.
@@Documentally Indeed I will, thank you!
Great video full of positive energy ! Your first HOTA (hill on the air !) I suppose you informed other users that your intended to activate that very day, because even in QRP , chasers are tending their ears ! Best 73 from France
Yes sota is fun.
even more fun is sota hunting.
Now you have: pota, sota and WWFF, all three are fun to hunt
Thanks for the Video.👍
Ron Pd3ron
Great video and nice to meet you today ad the St Neots Rally :) 2E0FKC (Mr Chippie)
Cheers! Great to meet you as well!
Looking forward to hearing you again from another summit. Good job on recruiting a new ham at the same time!
Cheers Ady!
Enjoyed that!
You were quick off the mark. :-) I only had the phone with me as I hadn't planned to do a video. Thankfully it wasn't crazy windy. :-)
Thanks for the great VIdeo... I hope to activate Short Mountain here in TN tomorrow. on 20 meters or 40 meters and 2 meters too! KK4EVJ! Great work and thanks for sharing!
Great video! Love the narration. Very enthusiastic and clear explanation of this wonderful aspect of the radio hobby. Keep it up!
73, PE2AAB
Cheers Rick!
Welcome to the club - MM3IIG
PS: four QSOs for an activation, not five! But just keep going, I usually do 18-20 and try to get a wide spread. Remember, the chasers deserve to score points too!
Cheers Mark!
Hello and great video. I am new to it all and yet to get out and try SOTA. I have put together 8m carp pole and a diy 2m slim jim guy ropes and a anytone 878 with a fist mic. Just need to sort my first SOTA. I have managed to gain 17 sota points chasing.
Motters M7TRS 73
Cool, and nice one on the points! 73.
My First SOTA Activation! 😀
Nice 😊👍😉✅❤️😍🙏🙏💋💋
Do you have a video that talks about all the gear you pack in and out?
Not yet! :-)
@@Documentally Do you have an antenna for 2m/70cm that you recommend for mast use? I'm new to the mast and SOTA thing. KI5BWY - 73
@@conradaleshire4428 I sware by my Comet GP9 at home. Amazing antenna. I have it on a scaffold pole. When out and about I have an inflatable 2/70. I’ve mentioned it on you tube somewhere :-)
Don't forget to join the G-QRP club and the RSGB.
Already in the RSGB :-)
Well done. G7VFY. What HF antenna where you using?
Hi, thanks! it was the Sotabeams linked dipole 40-30-20.
@@Documentally 1. Use one of these websites to check band activity
www.southpasradio.org/2018/07/sites-for-checking-signal-propagation-and-band-activity/
rsgb.org/main/gb2rs/propagation-news/
wsprnet.org/drupal/wsprnet/map
You can spot yourself on sota/pota websites so people will be looking for your call.
If run psk31 or WISPR you can see where you are being received in real time.
I would suggest that you change your antenna for an End Fed Half wave, which is resonant on multiple bands and, if setup correctly, does NOT require a tuner/matcher. Sotabeams make one but you can make your own.
40m-20m-15m-10m-6m is not unusual. 30m and 12m can be got buy adding a simple tuner.
Also check out videos by VK3YE, K6ARK and K4SWL who have practical stuff, and sota/pota stuff.
You have a great radio so no need to succumb to 'radio equipment envy'.
Antennas are the cheapest and easy to build so don't get suckered into 'wonder' antennas. Successful HF antennas are as big as possible and as high as possible. Even a bad one is better than none.
regards G7VFY
@@G7VFY Thanks for the links and tips Stephen! The linked Dipole I have is resonant on three bands if you remember to clip and unclip the clips. I shall take a look at an ended halfway though. At the moment I like just having the one pole in the middle. I don't do PSK but do play with FT8. We had limited time and the weather was against us but I'd be interested at doing more of that next time. That said I can see why some head out with just a handheld. Next time if time is limited I shall consider a more limited set up and save the HF for a full day out. Cheers!
I'm not sure but, for SOTA, you must made only 4 QSO for get the score points. So others QSO you did "only" for fun. I'm right or I missing some game policies?
Yes that’s right. We got far more than we needed but why not do radio when you have the chance.. :-)
Are there Ham radio police 👮♀️?
Yes there are. And I think I know what you are thinking... :-) If you want to get licensed Freda I bet you will find it easy. You would rock the airwaves.
@@Documentally I have thought about a Ham radio. It would be great to have as I travel in my RV. Like right now I’m way up in the forest. It sounds expensive however. I love that antenna.
I see they have the Yasu handheld radio for $125 or so at the Ham Radio shop close. Ok now you have me on a possible new hobby.
@@Documentally Haha just saw SOTA Dogs on Summits. This is fun!
@@RVFreeDa ping @Djuggler regarding the US requirements and exam but you can pick up a radio for $30. Would be super hands and fun to have. Especially in the wilds. :-)
I enjoyed this video, you have a lot of enthusiasm and make it look like fun. I just passed Foundation last week and Bardon is my local "summit", this is something I'll have to give a go when I get some mobile gear and figure out how to use it. M7XDB
It’s a great spot. You will have lots of fun. Congratulations on getting your ticket. Check out some of the online SOTA resources. There is a chance we will head up to make a new activation this year check G5DOC.net for more. And I’ll probably announce my next trip up there.