Tuesday, 22 February 2011

GM/SI-006 - Goat Fell

In a few weeks I'm off to the Isle of Arran. Not for any radio playtime but for a family commitment. This involves being on goat fell, and whilst I'm not quite a SOTA chap I thought I'd at least attempt to activate the summit using what equipment I have. This has meant getting hold of a SOTAbeams MFD and 270 beam which both are easy to transport in a car but in a backpack its another matter.

Putting a long pole in a rucksack is asking for a 'donk' on the head every few paces as the thing swings about in a loose bag if its vertical and being held up in some kind of comedy 'can't get a long plank through a doorway' type scenario. Equally holding onto a couple of poles is not my idea of fun.

Normally I'd prefer to cycle up and down a hill and having cycled part way up the fell a few years ago I know this isn't a goer, not least because its a path not a bridleway. But this is definately a walking thing. Estimates also put it as anything from 3.5 to 8 hours up and down so time could be tight.

So the weekend of the 19th/20th March isn't looking too promising as a proper SOTA activation. I'll just have to see how far I get but I will try and I'll also see just how much 'kit' is really necessary with 5 watts FM on 2m. I'm thinking the long pole is going to stay at home!

Perhaps this 3.5 hour route would be nice. Better check the OS map for extra hilly / boggy parts though.

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2 comments:

  1. Steve GW7AAV26 February 2011 at 04:44

    Never been donked on the head by my fishing poles on my rucksack yet. Caught them up in trees and had trouble getting stuff out of the car with them sticking up. That dreaded "Drat I left the mobile in the charger" moment is when I usual fall foul of the poles. The trick is have it/them sticking out of the right place. My rucksack has straps on the sides and little pockets the ends of the poles slide in (meant for walking poles I think).

    Wire antennas are much easier to carry than beams and more of us would love to work that summits on HF than will ever hope to get you on VHF, but if you are only doing VHF be aware that the locals tend to monitor their own local natter frequency rather than the calling channel. So you will need to find out which frequency they use or you will call until you are blue in the face.

    What ever you do have fun.

    73 Steve GW7AAV

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  2. Alex27 February 2011 at 01:12

    I'm not quite up for hf sota yet. Partly because my hf rig is an ic7000 and will be a pain on 12v so its the vx8 or nothing at the moment. Still could persuade the missus to let me get a ft817 but at the moment all she wants is a dog. Not sure if its an hf version.

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