Great to see that the plan came together! (even without a cigar at the end 😃). Congratulations. The emotions of the occasion, the altitude and adrenalin all on show making it a great watch. A special activation indeed, I guess making it even more special being able to share it with Mo on the day. Pleased I made it in the log. 73, Robert M0RWX
Thanks Robert. Great to get you 1st in the log. I didn't realise it was you at the time but my brain was in a stew with the altitude. Cheers, Fraser MM0EFI
Excellent stuff Fraser 😊 Mad how nobody came over and asked you what you were doing or asked you to take it down…. Fair play Mo too with the camera work! I don’t think my Mrs would have been complicit in that type of activity!! 😂
Great activation Fraser! Tnx for sharing it. Genius antenna setup as well! We were up there last year and got dizzy quite fast 🙂Great views. Flew over it with my flexwing many years ago. Wonderful place. Will have to go back when I have my KH1.
Like you, I was there many years ago on a camping, biking and climbing trip. I do like the look of some of the unactivated summits around there but I'd need to sell a kidney (or a Landie) to hire a guide.
That was incredible! Loved the rig setup. Imagine it was a bit of a challenge to get it all done with an audience let alone the freezing temps and altitude. Huge congrats.
Your excitement upon officially activating that summit is what radio is all about , also the Chap in the yellow coat is studying for his license as we speak😅. We'll done excellent activation. 73
Well done, Fraser! That was amazing indeed. It seemed like your kit was well thought-through. Brilliant how you could hang the KX2 in the railing. Congratulations! -Thomas
Thank you Thomas! I was just glad it all worked. I had looked at web images of the viewing platform to try and get a solution. It was a last minute thing, going up there. I could have really done with a vertical whip. Cheers, Fraser MM0EFI
What an awesome activation! I loved your preparation and also that you were very unobtrusive, not taking up hardly any space on a very crowded platform. Super jealous!! 73, K8JLW
I did find a quiet corner, didn't I? I am always conscious when operating near people. Probably because in my area I never ever see anyone! Cheers, Fraser MM0EFI
Cheers Duncan. Oh yeah, something else will come along, however that one will stick in my memory. Especially working the USA with my droopy wire next to a building and rock face.
What an absolutely amazing place. I'm not sure that I would have the guts to setup like you did, well done! Though people didn't really seem interested in what you were doing, probably down to the awesome views. Your channel just keeps getting better and better. 73 Chris M0RSF
I was up there last October, I ended up drapping my efhw over the railing (used a nite-ize wire wrap to build a bridge to keep the wire off the railing. No way I was going to futz with a full mast, too crowded. Good Stuff!! de N6JFD 73
Well done! Can't imagine how you managed with a full 67' EFHW up there! It just shows that you can get a signal out from a mountain with pretty much anything. I would have packed a vertical in my luggage had I planned this activation. It was all a bit last minute. Cheers, Fraser MM0EFI
Very inspiring, congratulations and shout out to Mrs for the camera work and support. Was just up on Sandia Crest W5N/SI-001, 10679 ft - now that I've seen how you rigged your pole on the rail I think I could have done HF from the platform. As it was happy to have made the VHF activity despite front end overload. I'm going to have to watch this one a few more times. Thrilling. Excellent preparation. 73 de KC6ARY
Thanks! It is worth trying anything on a mountain top. I've found that just about anything works and the chasers always find you. Of course the 10m dx was unexpected! 🙂
Cheers Ian. It was a last minute thing while we were staying in Geneva. A day with a brilliant forecast, so nipped over the border. 1 hour later and we're in Chamonix having the best time!
In 2001 my XYL and I were on vacation there, we stayed in Servoz (we're South Africans). I took my 2m HT up to Mont Blanc and made a few QSO's! 73 de ZS1JY
Excellent! I tried to climb Mt Blanc 26 years ago but unfortunately the weather stopped me. I could hear very faint stations on 2m from the Aiguille du Midi, but didn't manage a QSO. 83, Fraser MM0EFI
Outstanding Frazer. What an experience. I'm curious if the guy in the biege spoke to you or was just being nosey 😂. Great you got left to it and some jobsworth stopped you.
Cheers Colin. No one spoke to me, although we had a few on-loolers off camera. The main fan seemed to be a 4 year old girl. 😂 There weren't any staff out there. It was -15°C and they were all inside. That helped!
Did you ask for permission or coord with the folks there before you extended your mast and threw the wire over? :-) Very fun... I watched to the end just to see if the blank video was a glitch... lol
Ha! Well done. I forgot I'd put that bit on the end. I didn't ask permission. There were no staff on the viewing areas. They were all in the restaurant and the cable car station, which surprised me.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Will go the Chamonix later this summer. Will bring my QRP rig as well. I dont know if I dare to do that. 73ss / SM4XDJ
its going to be hard to beat that activation ! great video to watch i thought you may have put a safety cord on your mobile just in case yours hands went numb cheers 👌👌
It will be hard to beat! Considering it was -15°C I think I did OK not dropping anything. Once I realised we were going to the Aiguille du Midi I practiced the set up from the ramparts of a castle, managing to make a few contacts to prove it worked.
No, but I got a speeding ticket on the drive back to Switzerland! 😒 It was an incredible day though. Never forget it. I didn't think I'd make any contacts, never mind dx to 🇺🇸 73, Fraser MM0EFI
Amazed you did not attract the unwanted attention of a guard or other officious person. Doubt you could do that in VK !! Not that we have 4800' mountains, but you know what I mean...
Thanks 😊 . It was the highlight of our trip to Geneva. We took advantage of the one excellent day of weather and nipped over to Chamonix in France. So glad we did. Cheers, Fraser MM0EFI
I smiled all the way through that, fantastic SOTA activation 🙂
Cheers! It was a special one. 😀
Outstanding Fraser! VERY VERY Well done!!
Thank you kindly! It was a bit of an unforgettable experience!
Well done Fraser was chuffed to get through on my 20 Watts, great effort - Ray MM6RMM
Cheers Ray! Great to work you. If you'd said Alford, I would have twigged it was you sooner.
Cheers, Fraser MM0EFI
That was AWESOME! Keep it up Fraser!
73 - KF6IF
Thank you, I have to agree - it was AWESOME!
Great to see that the plan came together! (even without a cigar at the end 😃). Congratulations.
The emotions of the occasion, the altitude and adrenalin all on show making it a great watch.
A special activation indeed, I guess making it even more special being able to share it with Mo on the day.
Pleased I made it in the log.
73, Robert
M0RWX
Thanks Robert. Great to get you 1st in the log. I didn't realise it was you at the time but my brain was in a stew with the altitude.
Cheers, Fraser MM0EFI
That was sublime Fraser. Especially the CODA! What stunning scenery. Take away 15 too- The best. 73, 'VRR.
Glad you hung around 'til the end, and yes I had to google CODA.
Excellent stuff Fraser 😊
Mad how nobody came over and asked you what you were doing or asked you to take it down….
Fair play Mo too with the camera work! I don’t think my Mrs would have been complicit in that type of activity!! 😂
Don't give Mo too much credit, she'll want a share of the royalties. 😄
Excellent Fraser ❤
Thanks Steven, A bit different from the usual. Makes me want to go back!
Great activation Fraser! Tnx for sharing it. Genius antenna setup as well! We were up there last year and got dizzy quite fast 🙂Great views. Flew over it with my flexwing many years ago. Wonderful place. Will have to go back when I have my KH1.
Ideal spot for a KH-1. I was just thinking that today when I re-watched the video.
All I can say is WOW!
It was a Wow! moment that I'll not forget for a while, that's for sure.
Brilliant! My first time up there was in 1985. Been up a few times since. But all a long while before SOTA.
Like you, I was there many years ago on a camping, biking and climbing trip. I do like the look of some of the unactivated summits around there but I'd need to sell a kidney (or a Landie) to hire a guide.
Well done, excellent activation 😊
Cheers Steve. One of the best I've had and the dx was a nice bonus!
Cheers, Fraser MM0EFI
Fantastic! Your adventures get better and better!
Thanks! I don't see me topping that one for some time. It was awesome 👌
👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽 very well done 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽.
Cheers Derek. Nice surprise - 10m dx with a droopy wire slung between a rock face and a building.
What a buzz!! Did Mo get a rock? 😁😁
No she Didn't 😄😄 She did get one from Ben Nevis though!
Super video Fraser, if only I’d known. 👍 KX2 - transformed the hobby 💪
Oh yes, it has. Couldn't see me doing that with any other radio. 🙂
That was incredible! Loved the rig setup. Imagine it was a bit of a challenge to get it all done with an audience let alone the freezing temps and altitude. Huge congrats.
Thanks! I kept on thinking someone would come and tell me to stop, but there were hardly any staff and they were all inside keeping warm!
Your excitement upon officially activating that summit is what radio is all about , also the Chap in the yellow coat is studying for his license as we speak😅. We'll done excellent activation. 73
Cheers! I was struggling to contain my excitement. The easiest SOTA in terms of physical effort. The hardest in terms of everything else!
Well done, Fraser! That was amazing indeed. It seemed like your kit was well thought-through. Brilliant how you could hang the KX2 in the railing. Congratulations! -Thomas
Thank you Thomas! I was just glad it all worked. I had looked at web images of the viewing platform to try and get a solution. It was a last minute thing, going up there. I could have really done with a vertical whip.
Cheers, Fraser MM0EFI
WOW, awesome, well done. A cracking day.
It was an awesome day. Apart from the speeding ticket waiting for me when I got back to Scotland. 🤣
Fine business OM! What a view from the top.
It was stunning! I don't think I'll forget that day for a long, long time.
73, Fraser MM0EFI
What an awesome activation! I loved your preparation and also that you were very unobtrusive, not taking up hardly any space on a very crowded platform. Super jealous!! 73, K8JLW
I did find a quiet corner, didn't I? I am always conscious when operating near people. Probably because in my area I never ever see anyone!
Cheers, Fraser MM0EFI
looks stunning fraser, well done, great activation.
Nothing can beat it until the next challenge hahaha
73
Cheers Duncan. Oh yeah, something else will come along, however that one will stick in my memory. Especially working the USA with my droopy wire next to a building and rock face.
@@theradiorover def m8, that wont happen often, or the lift to the top hahaha, that's my kind of SOTA lol
Cracking activation Fraser well done 👍 😊
Thanks Paul. Don't think I'll forget that one for a while!
Excellent video! Tnx
Thank you 😊 Glad you enjoyed it. I'll never forget it.
Great video Fraser and Mo. Great activation. VE6KBI in Canada
Thanks! Mo did a great job with the camera and only got distracted by planes a couple of times. 🤣
Nice! Want to climb that one day 🤞
I'd advise waiting til summer. 🙂 -15°C is a little cold for me.
What a stunning QTH!
The callsign becmes a mouthful! (I'm presently F/G4ABX)
Well done Frazer
73 Bruce G4ABX
Thank you Bruce. I hope you are having a fine time in 🇫🇷 and enjoying some nice 🧀 and 🍷
What an absolutely amazing place. I'm not sure that I would have the guts to setup like you did, well done! Though people didn't really seem interested in what you were doing, probably down to the awesome views. Your channel just keeps getting better and better. 73 Chris M0RSF
It was surreal Chris, that's all I can say about it. 😀
I was up there last October, I ended up drapping my efhw over the railing (used a nite-ize wire wrap to build a bridge to keep the wire off the railing. No way I was going to futz with a full mast, too crowded. Good Stuff!! de N6JFD 73
Well done! Can't imagine how you managed with a full 67' EFHW up there! It just shows that you can get a signal out from a mountain with pretty much anything. I would have packed a vertical in my luggage had I planned this activation. It was all a bit last minute.
Cheers, Fraser MM0EFI
it was the LNR Trailfriendly, and I only operated 20-cw. (my backup antenna). Its only 42’ IIRC
Beautiful activation, beautiful omega, PU4RSN, 73!
Thank you. Brilliant day, brilliant fun!
Simply stunning!
Thanks John. It was a cracking day. Memorable for many reasons. 😊
Very inspiring, congratulations and shout out to Mrs for the camera work and support. Was just up on Sandia Crest
W5N/SI-001, 10679 ft - now that I've seen how you rigged your pole on the rail I think I could have done HF from the platform. As it was happy to have made the VHF activity despite front end overload. I'm going to have to watch this one a few more times. Thrilling. Excellent preparation. 73 de KC6ARY
Thanks! It is worth trying anything on a mountain top. I've found that just about anything works and the chasers always find you. Of course the 10m dx was unexpected! 🙂
Excellent Fraser, entertaining and informative, great to see your enthusiasm. Good luck with the next peak!
Thanks Philip 😊. It may be a while before I beat that one!
Well done Fraser and Mo. Great activation and adventure.
Cheers Ian. It was a last minute thing while we were staying in Geneva. A day with a brilliant forecast, so nipped over the border. 1 hour later and we're in Chamonix having the best time!
Goosebumps ! well done .. 73
I was super nervous. All those people around, never mind if I dropped my mast or worse, the KX2!!
In 2001 my XYL and I were on vacation there, we stayed in Servoz (we're South Africans). I took my 2m HT up to Mont Blanc and made a few QSO's! 73 de ZS1JY
Excellent! I tried to climb Mt Blanc 26 years ago but unfortunately the weather stopped me.
I could hear very faint stations on 2m from the Aiguille du Midi, but didn't manage a QSO.
83, Fraser MM0EFI
Outstanding Frazer. What an experience. I'm curious if the guy in the biege spoke to you or was just being nosey 😂. Great you got left to it and some jobsworth stopped you.
Cheers Colin. No one spoke to me, although we had a few on-loolers off camera. The main fan seemed to be a 4 year old girl. 😂
There weren't any staff out there. It was -15°C and they were all inside. That helped!
What a hoot! Been doing QRP since about 1964 but the equipment sure wasn't as awesome as the Elecraft rigs. QRP forever! 72, N7SR
QRP is where it's at. You actually don't need anything else for SOTA. I've worked the World with it. As you say, the KX2 makes it a breeze.
hang on.... radios, Land Rovers and the Mull Rally, so much in common...
There's definitely a theme there! 😂
Did you ask for permission or coord with the folks there before you extended your mast and threw the wire over? :-) Very fun... I watched to the end just to see if the blank video was a glitch... lol
Ha! Well done. I forgot I'd put that bit on the end.
I didn't ask permission. There were no staff on the viewing areas. They were all in the restaurant and the cable car station, which surprised me.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Will go the Chamonix later this summer. Will bring my QRP rig as well. I dont know if I dare to do that. 73ss / SM4XDJ
Go on, you know you want to!! 😀
@@theradiorover yeea I do! :) Did you ask permission before hand or just winged it? :)
@@torbjornsoderberg3210 I just went for it. There wasn't anyone around anyway. A few bystanders looked on in interest. Happy Days 😊
its going to be hard to beat that activation !
great video to watch
i thought you may have put a safety cord on your mobile just in case yours hands went numb
cheers 👌👌
It will be hard to beat! Considering it was -15°C I think I did OK not dropping anything. Once I realised we were going to the Aiguille du Midi I practiced the set up from the ramparts of a castle, managing to make a few contacts to prove it worked.
Congratulations Fraser, great activation. Did you make that mini microphone for the KX2 yourself, or can you buy it ?
Cheers! I used a modified baofeng mic. It easy to do. There's a video on TH-cam:
th-cam.com/video/QSccadQoadM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=RxWEHhJ9Q_9ohq6v
Pikes Peak CO USA is 14,100+ feet, and you can drive your car up, park it, and buy lunch. Lightheaded, yes !!
Don't I know it! Check my two Pike's Peak videos and my Mt. Evans video from September 2023 trip to CO and WY 😊
Well done, cracking video and activation. Was there champagne to celebrate?
No, but I got a speeding ticket on the drive back to Switzerland! 😒
It was an incredible day though. Never forget it. I didn't think I'd make any contacts, never mind dx to 🇺🇸
73, Fraser MM0EFI
@@theradiorover Well done. Just shows what can be done with minimal gear, and some height!! As for speeding ticket, put it down to euphoria!!
@@G0RXA HaHa! I'll tell Mo that.
Amazed you did not attract the unwanted attention of a guard or other officious person. Doubt you could do that in VK !! Not that we have 4800' mountains, but you know what I mean...
I was also surprised! The French seem to be quite relaxed about that sort of thing.
Cheers, Fraser MM0EFI
a little cold 😅
Yes, -15°C but lots of ☀️☀️☀️
Well done Fraser! So exciting! Enjoy de Kp4GR Norber!
Thanks 😊 . It was the highlight of our trip to Geneva. We took advantage of the one excellent day of weather and nipped over to Chamonix in France. So glad we did.
Cheers, Fraser MM0EFI
I've been QRT quite some years now, glad to see HF is still active! 73 de ZS1JY
Portable radio is where it is at!! For me anyway. Cheers, Fraser MM0EFI