Activating (almost) ZS/GP-001

I have just returned home after my first attempt at being a SOTA activator (goat)

Yesterday, I spent quite a long time carefully packing my kit in preparation for the trip. We awoke before sunrise and SWAMBO and I hit the road early, we arrived at our destination with some time to spare. In fact on the way I stopped to survey yet another summit: GP-002 on the way.

I immediately erected the telescopic fibre glass mask and hauled up the 20/40m linked inverted vee dipole. With that all done, we quickly took a few photographs for prosperity and then sat down and started connecting the Elecraft K2 to all the paraphernalia: Paddle, microphone, feed line and battery….. It was then I discovered a huge problem. The battery cable was not in the bag, I had inadvertently left it at home.

I had no choice, but to pack up and return home.

Even though no QSOs were made it still was a most pleasant experience. I recon I will do this again sometime.

Click on images for higher resolution.

Perdekop ZS/GP-001 view SE

ZS/GP-001 Perdekop

SOTA statistics

Looking at the SOTA web site the following information can clearly be derived:

·         CW is still the most popular mode by a good margin. 46% of QSOs were made in CW, followed by SSB 32% and FM 22%.

·         The most popular bands are 40m followed by 2m thereafter the 30m band. This is understandable, but also a pity since it virtually excludes South Africans from participating on an international level.

Click on image below for a better view.

SOTA statistics

Working the DX pileup: Operating guide

 

I found the following video clip to be most informative:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=svLlfrFA-1E

It might seem like a bit of a joke, but it is not. The advice given IMHO is on the money.

I was very surprised to see that some of the poor behaviour being placed with the expedition operators, but the author makes 100% sense.

There is very good advice given for both the DX expedition operators as well as the DX chasers.

New ultra light QRP tranceiver: LNR FX-2

A new ultra small QRP rig is now available: 40/30 m Mojo mode transceiver - LNR FX-2

http://www.lnrprecision.com/transceivers/

I suspect this little transceiver will become very popular. I have and often use use a HB-1a transceiver and that has given me endless hours of enjoyment.

I like the idea of the onboard SWR indicator built into the FX-2, this will be most useful and results in one less item of equipment to lug along.

LNR FX-2

SOTA Dilemma….

Looking at the frequencies used on SOTA activations and plotting it on a graph clearly shows the popularity of the most common frequencies being used.

Their choice of frequency to use is governed by their location and the prevailing skip. It is thus obvious why in Europe 40m and 2m are so popular. This is followed by the use of 20m and 30m band. The higher bands 15m and 10m are almost never used.

It goes without saying the regular frequencies 40m, 2m, 30m, 40m, 60m and 70 CM are not suitable frequencies we need to be using 10m, 12m or 15m if we wanted to work the International SOTA stations.

No wonder we never hear international SOTA station activity from South Africa.

IMHO if one considers all the aspects, propagation, number of F2 hops, losses, QRP and less than perfect antennas etc. we as South Africans need to use 15m, 12m or 10m to have any chance in working international SOTA stations.

This is a bit of a dilemma, I suppose the North Americans, Asians and the stations in Oceana are in the same predicament?

Click on graph for a more detailed view.

SOTA: number of activations by band

Richard G3CWI - QRPp PP3 Magic

The information below is quoted from the SOTA reflector.

Wow !!

This is a very remarkable achievement IMHO. Imagine all those QSOs with one single tiny 9V PP3 battery powering a 100 mW transceiver.

And some still don’t say QRP is for the birds?

73, Pierre ZS6A

Great short skip again today.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardnewstead/6339712635/in/photostream

Battery: #1
Activation: #23
Summit: G/SP-013
Band: 30m
Finish Voltage at room temp: 7.79 Volts
QSOs: 25
New DXCCs: None
Cumulative QSOs: 268
Cumulative DXCCs: 18 (ON, S5, OK, PA, G, DK, I, LA, F, OE, HB9, HA, SM, 9A, EV, EA, OZ, GW)

**New World Record**

Thanks to all the regular callers - it's much appreciated!

73

Richard
G3CWI

SOTA Ossewakop ZS/MP-004

I was pleased to find and work the following mountain goats that activated Ossewakop  ZS/MP-004 during a SOTA adventure: Chris ZR6LJK, Willie ZS6WBT, Tom ZS6TMO and Gert ZS6GC.

Sure hope they will provide us with a trip report and some photos.

I see the scientists are predicting that we might be heading towards another “Maunders minimum” What a miserable thought. I sure hope they are wrong. I cannot help, but think trying to second guess the Sun is a waste of time. Maybe the Sun surprises us with a solar maximum that exceeds the 1958 cycle. Now that would be nice?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110614/ts_afp/usspacesun

I have been monitoring 21.060 MHz all day and nothing heard. Scary stuff, maybe my antenna is unplugged?

Tomorrow 17 June is World QRP day. Maybe we get lucky…..

Have Fun !!

SOTA - South African perspective

I have been monitoring the summits on the air - SOTA watch site for a while now. Unfortunately it seems the choice of frequencies used by the activators in Europe are not very useful for us here in South Africa.

http://www.sotawatch.org/spots.php

It is great to see that CW is by far the most popular mode during SOTA activations. Who said CW is obsolete?

According to the VOACAP online site we have a fair chance of working into Europe on 15M and above. Most of the SOTA activity takes place on 40M, followed by 30M.

http://www.voacap.com/coverage.html

Are there any South African stations taking part in SOTA? If so, please share your info and experiences with us. Use the comment facility below.

73, Pierre