You made it a tad further than you think. It was near Berwick-upon-Tweed not North Berwick. From a village called Ayton which is south of North Berwick by about 30 miles or so. I live in Wales but used to live in one of the nearby villages. Anyway thoroughly enjoyed another of your videos and well done on the activation.
It’s a pain! I took my 2m radio out the car as it was all silent, even the repeaters, while driving up here. There’s a net on .550 at 1330 most days, but outside of that it doesn’t feel like anyone is listening on the calling channels! I’m just as bad, but in my defence I’m working and either in the office or busy at home and don’t find time to stick the radio on in the background.
Great video. I guess I’m lucky here in Northern California, the summits look straight down into huge population centers. I’m not sure how many of my contacts are chasers and how many people just want to talk to some weirdo up a hill for no reason other than radio. 73 K1STG
Thanks Fred! When I do have success on 2m it is often to random stations. I recall that's what happened this day. I've hiked over in CA a few times. Can't wait to get back there and try some SOTA! 73, Fraser MM0EFI
I'm guessing it comes down to lower population density plus lots of hills in every direction getting in the way =). Think I got something like 62 2m FM contacts in a little over an hour from GW/NW-001 the other day.
I was less than 10 miles from Aberdeen and have a clear path to Edinburgh. It was a Saturday and an hour before VHF field day! I think the issue is there are no active Chasers looking at 2m up the east coast of Scotland.
@@theradiorover I’ve heard people say Scotland has 2M chaser issues before, and while it may be true on the east coast, it doesn’t seem to be in the rest of the central belt and southern Scotland. From the Highlands you can get the entire central belt too basically. I can easily get 20-25 contacts on 2M FM most places in the SS region if I spot first and also just random CQing.
@@MarkPentler you are correct. My last few videos illustrate your point. Umpteen QSO's from the Arrocher Alps and much summit to summit fun on FM last Sunday! Cheers, Fraser MM0EFI
I guess it all depends where you are in the world and how the word is put out. a friend of mine here in the states (he's in NY State, I'm in MA) and he does a lot of hiking and activates lots of hilltops. but not for sota just for his own pleasure,and he runs an elk antenna on 2m and 220. and works 146.52 simplex the national simplex channel here in the states and he makes anywhere from 5-30 contacts all most evertime he goes out which in the summer months averages up to three times a week sometimes.And I've work many others there and on air nautical mobiles also on 146.52 and 144.200 ssb so they are out there. you need to get the word out and alert the newer ops the digital guys and bring them over to the phone bands. Glu and thanks for sharing de Ellis WA1RKS
Hi Ellis, That's a great point that you make. Funnily enough, I went back up this same hill a month back. I'd pre-arranged a couple of contacts and I think I managed 5 overall on 2m FM, just using 5w handheld into my yagi. One was in Newcastle, England, around 150 miles to the south! So, as you say, it can be done! 73, Fraser MM0EFI
Possibly. I wish I had a map of amateurs and their density across the country. It was certainly easier on Gottfell on the Isle of Arran, which is closer to Glasgow. I made NI contacts that day too. I'm sure you watched that episode. 🙂
Certainly did. Couldn't believe it! Great fun. I scraped a qualification on 2m SSB yesterday on Ben Vane with four contacts, then got another 10 on FM.
@@theradiorover yeah, Jack mentioned you done Vane on last nights UHF Net. I didn't know you were going for it and I was on Loch Lomond most of the day.
That's why we did the 5 alive event. th-cam.com/video/bbS6tECX8c8/w-d-xo.html There's another one planned for April. I will put details in here when things are firmed up. 73, Fraser MM0EFI
👍👍👍 thanks for getting out there and making those contacts.
Good video and I like this format of showing some of the ascent then radio. Well done on qualifying the summit too. All the best, 73 Chris M0RSF
It was a struggle! Might get a 2m S2S one day Chris. I've worked into the Lakes and N.Wales with 5w before.
73, Fraser
You made it a tad further than you think. It was near Berwick-upon-Tweed not North Berwick. From a village called Ayton which is south of North Berwick by about 30 miles or so. I live in Wales but used to live in one of the nearby villages. Anyway thoroughly enjoyed another of your videos and well done on the activation.
Well, thank you. That is good news. I should have checked the callsign location on qrz.com...I often do!. That path would have been mainly over water.
Great video my friend thanks 73 from kb2uew
Thanks. Great to meet you Alvaro.
73, Fraser
It’s a pain! I took my 2m radio out the car as it was all silent, even the repeaters, while driving up here.
There’s a net on .550 at 1330 most days, but outside of that it doesn’t feel like anyone is listening on the calling channels!
I’m just as bad, but in my defence I’m working and either in the office or busy at home and don’t find time to stick the radio on in the background.
I promised myself to have 2m on when I'm im my workshop. So far, heard a little weekend traffic on GB3GN repeater but not much else.
Great video. I guess I’m lucky here in Northern California, the summits look straight down into huge population centers. I’m not sure how many of my contacts are chasers and how many people just want to talk to some weirdo up a hill for no reason other than radio. 73 K1STG
Thanks Fred! When I do have success on 2m it is often to random stations. I recall that's what happened this day.
I've hiked over in CA a few times. Can't wait to get back there and try some SOTA!
73, Fraser MM0EFI
I'm guessing it comes down to lower population density plus lots of hills in every direction getting in the way =). Think I got something like 62 2m FM contacts in a little over an hour from GW/NW-001 the other day.
I was less than 10 miles from Aberdeen and have a clear path to Edinburgh. It was a Saturday and an hour before VHF field day!
I think the issue is there are no active Chasers looking at 2m up the east coast of Scotland.
@@theradiorover Ah OK yes good point!!
@@theradiorover I’ve heard people say Scotland has 2M chaser issues before, and while it may be true on the east coast, it doesn’t seem to be in the rest of the central belt and southern Scotland. From the Highlands you can get the entire central belt too basically.
I can easily get 20-25 contacts on 2M FM most places in the SS region if I spot first and also just random CQing.
@@MarkPentler you are correct. My last few videos illustrate your point. Umpteen QSO's from the Arrocher Alps and much summit to summit fun on FM last Sunday!
Cheers, Fraser MM0EFI
@@theradiorover noice! I need to get back out before it gets cold…
I guess it all depends where you are in the world and how the word is put out. a friend of mine here in the states (he's in NY State, I'm in MA) and he does a lot of hiking and activates lots of hilltops. but not for sota just for his own pleasure,and he runs an elk antenna on 2m and 220. and works 146.52 simplex the national simplex channel here in the states and he makes anywhere from 5-30 contacts all most evertime he goes out which in the summer months averages up to three times a week sometimes.And I've work many others there and on air nautical mobiles also on 146.52 and 144.200 ssb so they are out there. you need to get the word out and alert the newer ops the digital guys and bring them over to the phone bands. Glu and thanks for sharing de Ellis WA1RKS
Hi Ellis, That's a great point that you make. Funnily enough, I went back up this same hill a month back. I'd pre-arranged a couple of contacts and I think I managed 5 overall on 2m FM, just using 5w handheld into my yagi. One was in Newcastle, England, around 150 miles to the south! So, as you say, it can be done! 73, Fraser MM0EFI
Its the location? Do the same in the Lakes or Wales and you will do well.
Possibly. I wish I had a map of amateurs and their density across the country.
It was certainly easier on Gottfell on the Isle of Arran, which is closer to Glasgow. I made NI contacts that day too. I'm sure you watched that episode. 🙂
@@theradiorover I have seen that episode. Added addition of chopper making an appearance.
Well you came to SS land and got pile ups! 😂😂
Certainly did. Couldn't believe it! Great fun. I scraped a qualification on 2m SSB yesterday on Ben Vane with four contacts, then got another 10 on FM.
@@theradiorover yeah, Jack mentioned you done Vane on last nights UHF Net. I didn't know you were going for it and I was on Loch Lomond most of the day.
@@Dougsterxplor that's a fail! We could have had a nice QSO. It's always a bit more relaxed on 2m...
pretty much dead all over the UK.
That's why we did the 5 alive event.
th-cam.com/video/bbS6tECX8c8/w-d-xo.html
There's another one planned for April. I will put details in here when things are firmed up.
73, Fraser MM0EFI