Many due to Lee (M0VKR) who shares the next discipline report and video:
by Lee (M0VKR)
After taking a time off from work my spouse Joanne and I contemplated about what we may do. “We could go over to Dorset to that hill you have got spoken about and take your new radio?” There isn’t a have to ask me twice to get outdoors and activate so we had been shortly packed.
The KH1 got here because the Edgewood package deal, so all the pieces is contained in its personal pack, prepared for moments similar to this. I grabbed it off the shelf within the shack, together with a KX3 as backup.
Inside 10 minutes we had our labradors Toby and Konnie within the automotive and set off on a brand new CW ham radio journey to activate Lewesdon Hill in Dorset for a SOTA activation. It was mid-morning by this level and issues seemed promising for an ideal day of out of doors radio operation.
With my Elecraft KH1 and KX3 as a backup snugly packed, together with my trusty residence brew antennas, we launched into the journey. The drive was scenic, with the rolling hills of the Dorset countryside offering a ravishing backdrop, Visitors was gentle too – Good.
After 45 minutes or so we arrived on the base of Lewesdon Hill. I took a second to understand the tranquility of the world, respiration within the recent air. The one draw back was no close by carpark, so we parked the automotive in a layby ensuring it wasn’t going to be in the way in which of any farm visitors.
Discovering the suitable spot to arrange was the primary small problem.
Lewesdon Hill is simply 279 meters (915 toes) to the summit, not precisely a mountain however it’s the highest level in Dorset. We set off up the concrete driveway to a neighborhood farm, then turned proper by a gateway and commenced ascending. The ascent is marked as a footpath and is just about by woodland till you get to the summit. It’s a comparatively steep climb, and we stopped once in a while to absorb the increasing view of the countryside by the bushes.
Joanne had accomplished a 10K run just a few days earlier than so was completely satisfied to stretch her legs.
We arrived on the summit in good time. I wanted a location with good elevation and a transparent view to maximise my attain.
After a short stroll 1KM’ish, Joanne discovered the right spot—a clearing with a panoramic view of the encompassing space and a fallen tree which made the right workstation. I may already really feel the anticipation constructing as I started unpacking my gear.
Establishing the antenna is all the time a mixture of artwork and science, however principally simply plain luck. At the moment, I used to be utilizing my favorite residence brew random wire, which had served me nicely in earlier activations. I discovered a stone to behave as a weight and tossed the wire right into a tree on the primary shot and with just a few fast changes, it was up and prepared. Subsequent got here the radios.
The Elecraft KH1 and KX3 are compact but highly effective, splendid for moveable operations like this. As a result of the KH1 had been configured already at residence and former activations, I hit the tune button. It tuned the random wire inside a second or so and I double checked the keyer velocity and set it to 16 WPM. Fortunately, there was good telephone service, so I despatched out a spot on the SOTA web site and I used to be prepared to start out.
The band circumstances weren’t precisely beneficial, nevertheless the clear blue skies hinted at an excellent run. I powered up the KH1 and commenced calling CQ. A station in Northern Eire got here again immediately and exploded out of the speaker, at a stunning cadence. One after the other, contacts began rolling in. Every profitable connection was a small victory, a testomony to the facility of CW communication and the effectiveness of my setup and naturally the very good efficiency of the Elecraft KH1.
The climate was form, with a delicate breeze preserving issues cool. All through the activation, I logged 4 contacts, every one a narrative in itself. Notable amongst them was a contact from my good good friend Steve MW0SAW from throughout the Bristol Channel in Wales, a testomony to the attain of my modest setup. Steve and I had been in the identical CWOPS class final yr, so it’s all the time nice to get him on air, although we converse most days on the telephone.
By the top of the session, I had made 4 contacts. I used to be actually happy and will have sat for longer working the bands however, content material, we determined to pack up and go seize some lunch from the close by bakery within the village of Beaminster. The KH1 had carried out flawlessly, and the homebrew wire antenna had as soon as once more confirmed its value and general, it had been a profitable activation.
Reflecting on the day’s achievements as we hiked again down, the solar now a bit of greater within the sky, I couldn’t assist however really feel a way of accomplishment. Having simply accomplished a ten week complete ICR course with CW improvements and being a comparatively new CW operator, I used to be happy that the contacts had come again at a predictable tempo. This made copying the callsigns simple. As I full extra activations, I’m discovering every activation is a singular expertise, and at this time with the Elecraft KH1 was no exception. We’re wanting ahead to the subsequent journey, with new challenges and new tales to inform.
Again at residence, I reviewed the logs and relived the day by the video footage I had been inspired to make by my household and mates. For many who wish to see the activation in motion, you possibly can take a look at this video on my YouTube channel:
73 and see you on the airwaves!
Lee (M0VKR)
Readers: Would you do me a favor and subscribe to Lee’s new YouTube channel? Lee kindly shared his discipline report at my request and this activation video was a primary for his new channel. Let’s help him by giving his video a thumbs up and subscribing! Thanks for sharing your report, Lee! -Thomas (K4SWL)
