by Anthony (M7TAW)
Introduction
After the success that was my first ever activations at Satan’s Punch Bowl, I’d earmarked one other shut by POTA spot for my second activation.
This one had an unusually low variety of activations, given the native exercise in surrounding parks. I simply figured possibly it’s a bit out the best way and a smaller space, barely much less widespread. There can’t be one more reason, proper…proper?
Only some activations at this park, however G7SQW (pota.app) had a great one!
Outdated Winchester Hill is a 164-acre nature reserve, with an Iron Age hill fort on the summit of its largest hill. Apparently when testing the situation I did spot the phrase “Some unexploded Ordnance should stay in ‘fenced-off’ sections of the hill” because the hill was used as goal follow again in WW2. Watch the place you’re strolling then!
Historical past buffs delight. An iron age hill fort!
Gear
The radio gear checklist was mainly the identical as my final activation aside from throwing within the Baofeng, so I simply needed to seize the already stuffed backpack once more, and never have to consider it an excessive amount of!
The one factor I did test was that the batteries have been totally charged. I’ve seen a few movies of individuals mentioning working out of battery on an activation Lee – MØVKR! Additionally I made a decision that I’d additionally deliver a tenting chair, which wound up being a bit hefty to hold and never very helpful ultimately…extra on that later.
A full checklist of substances and hyperlinks beneath.
Establishing
The presence of a devoted automobile park is a particular plus, particularly for guests who is probably not acquainted with driving on slim UK nation roads. Discovering appropriate parking close to some parks could be a problem, so having a chosen parking space makes entry a lot simpler!
After having parked up, I donned my cap and grabbed my again and the chair. The day was heat, and the solar was out. It was an excellent day, however I’d forgotten one factor…it wasn’t radio associated however you’ll see the results of that later.
I set off down the trail and was greeted by a beautiful view, and a fork within the path. Do I’m going left or proper?
In a poor select your individual journey, I selected proper and realised about half means down an enormous hill that I’d chosen incorrectly. What is that this SOTA?!
I used to be carrying my backpack, a tenting chair, and an enormous bottle of water. The quantity of vegetation and the incline of the place I used to be strolling meant I didn’t notably be ok with establishing anyplace. So on I trod.
The warmth was exhausting and the terrain was a bit difficult. I then needed to get by a fairly overgrown forested space.
The route to this point.
What goes down…should additionally come up? No matter…I used to be panting and I broke by the forested space to be greeted with this hill.
Deceptively tiring.
I’ve to say, wanting on the picture now it doesn’t look that dangerous, however on the time it felt horrendous. There have been different individuals struggling getting up, and the warmth didn’t assist! I calculated the incline afterwards utilizing google earth and it seems it’s about 16 levels, or roughly 25% grade.
In both case, I can see why this park has so few activations. It’s a little bit of a slog to rise up and down, and there aren’t many nice spots to activate.
Fortunately, after I received to the highest of the hill, I discovered a pleasant wanting bench, which turned out to be a reasonably precariously balanced little bit of wooden on prime of some form of water trough. I didn’t care although, I’d discovered a spot to sit down down.
The spot for the day.
I’d spent a little bit of time training establishing the antenna for each 20m and 40m at dwelling utilizing a wider vary show on the NanoVNA which actually helped. I may setup rapidly, and boy after the stroll that was useful!
I’m loving this antenna for it’s fast setup and ease of being fairly discreet.
I discovered that for 20m I actually wanted to unfold the radials out to get a great SWR. 40m tended to discover a low SWR with simply the radials lengthened out collectively. Not likely that a lot bother!
All setup and able to go!
On The Air
Earlier than I began, I really pulled out my Baofeng this time, and tried to provide a couple of calls out to no avail. I coordinated with a fellow On-line Novice Radio Neighborhood (oarc.uk) member over on Discord, and while we couldn’t make a straight line QSO, we did handle to speak by way of a repeater (which doesn’t depend for POTA).
This time, I prioritised CW, and with my low SWR and good spot excessive up on a hill, I believed I’d be getting out and getting calls in very quickly. That nice ball within the sky had different concepts although.
After setting my spot on the web site, I known as CQ on 40m for about 10 minutes and seen I wasn’t even getting heard on the RBN. I gave it one other 5 minutes of making an attempt and thought, “rattling, possibly I’ll change to 20m.”
A fast slide on the coil and adjustment of the whip and I’m on 20m. Okay, CQ once more…nothing nonetheless. I attempted shifting in regards to the frequencies a bit however nonetheless nothing on the RBN and no calls coming in. That’s irritating, I used to be actually wanting ahead to some CW.
Okay let’s change tact, and go together with FT8. Once more, the (tr)uSDX is fairly helpful for this as I can simply plug instantly into my telephone by way of USB and boot up FT8CN and that’s that…I’m working FT8.
I attempted on 40m first, and I discovered HB9XQH (pota.app) who was additionally POTA at the moment! My first P2P, that looks like a great begin!
It was one other 6 minutes to get the following QSO with PA3CPS, instantly adopted by M6BLV (pota.app). Then nothing for a great quarter-hour on 40m. Drat!
I then switched to 20m. My pal from the primary activation got here again this time DK5UR (pota.app), then adopted EA7HTE (pota.app), and rapidly SP1JQJ, and in addition OH1NOA (pota.app). Phew! Not less than it seems to be like I’ll be getting my 10 (foreshadowing).
Not less than there have been some good views to move the time.
I then spent one other hour working each 20m and 40m, FT8 and CW to no avail. I didn’t appear to both be getting out a lot, or anyone coming in. I had a few sniffs of a QSO on FT8 however they didn’t full.
Lastly, I received M0PTZ (pota.app) after this hour, however the day had gone on about 3 hours now, and I used to be beginning to get too scorching and drained. That was solely 8 within the log, and it felt tremendous irritating to solely be 2 away, however I wanted to get again and I needed to give you the vitality to make my means again up the hill!
After the excessive of the primary activation, to go to a low of not being profitable was disheartening, however it shall not dissuade me from future makes an attempt! Simply possibly I’ll give this previous hill a miss for some time.
Oh, and in addition that factor that I forgot? Sunscreen…don’t overlook that otherwise you’ll find yourself wanting like I did.
A British confectionary illustration of my pores and skin color palette the following day.
The place are these final 2 hiding?
73s
Anthony (M7TAW)
