New Key.

The current key I take up the hill is just too big and heavy.

I looked at various portable keys, but  decided on The American Morse Equipment, Porta Paddle.

The kit was ordered and arrived quickly from California.

Kit of parts.

It didn't take long to put together and the result is a tiny, light, beautifully finished masterpiece.
I'm looking forward to giving it some serious use soon.

The finished key.

I've now got myself a plastic sandwich box, to which I've added foam, to hold all the components I take with me to the field.

Equipment box

SOTA - Bredon Hill G/CE-003

Bredon Hill -  G/CE-003 - 299m, 1 point

Association: England  Region: Central England  
Latitude: 52 3 36 N, Longitude: 2 3 45 W

Grid Reference: SO 957402, QTH Locator: IO82XB



After the first 2 succesful activations, today I went further afield to activate Bredon Hill.
There are several approaches to the Hill, however I took the route from the South.
Parking for 3 or 4 cars is available beyond the lane form Kemerton at SO954384.
The walk to the summit is easily graded and a round  trip of 3.5 miles.
The weather was mild but murky with low cloud and mist, but it remained dry.

A total of 45 QSOs and 21 DXX  were quickly rattled off.

A second SOTA Shakedown.

Cleeve Hill - 330m, 1 point

Association: England  Region: Central England  
Latitude: 51 55 11 N, Longitude: 2 0 20 W
Grid Reference: SO 996245, QTH Locator: IO81XW

Well I returned to Cleeve Hill to check out the gear and address the lessons learnt from last time.
Armed with gloves, longer straps, a flask of coffee and some food I hit the hill again.

Got the antenna up unpacked the radio and guess what?
The BNC to RCA adaptor which fits on the antenna tuner is sitting on my desk at home!
Not only that but so is my tool kit.
Whoops!

Using my car keys I hack off the BNC plug and use my teeth to strip back the coax.
Then with the aid of a convenient twig and a crocodile clip I fashioned a connection to the tuner.

Doctored patch lead.

This brought me a very pleasing 65 QSOs and 21 DXCC which, under the circumstances, is not to be sneezed at.

Another valuable lessons learnt, But we're getting there!

SOTA Activation Cleeve Hill, G/CE-001

Cleeve Hill - 330m, 1 point

Association: England  Region: Central England  
Latitude: 51 55 11 N, Longitude: 2 0 20 W
Grid Reference: SO 996245, QTH Locator: IO81XW

Well, I couldn't keep the ATS4 locked in the house any longer, so armed with a bag full of "bits" I headed for my local hill for my first ever SOTA activation.

As can be expected things didn't all run exactly to plan.
I got myself in a bit of a tangle trying to erect my 62' wire for my 40m End Fed Half Wave antenna. Of course I then discovered that the velcro straps that I had with me were not long enough to go a round the convenient fence posts to hold the 8m roach pole!
I did eventually mange to get it sorted out.

My next discovery once I had setup was that I'd left my mobile at home so I couldn't self spot.

Never the less, I persevered with calling CQ SOTA and was soon knee deep in a pile up on 20metres.


The contacts came thick and fast, and I worked 14 stations before calling it quits and QSYing to 40metres.
Here again after being spotted the contacts came quick and fast and after a further 22 contacts I was cold and satisfied enough to call it quits.

In summary then all went surprisingly well.
The main problems were:

• leaving my mobile at home so I couldn't self spot.
• leaving my gloves at home because I thought it was a warm day (frozen hands).
• Not having long enough velcro straps to go round the convenient fence posts.
• Not taking any food or drink.

Altoids L Tuner

Whilst looking for some componenets to build another L tuner for an EFHW, I came across a kit at http://hamshop.cz/kits-c4/stavebnice-altoids-l-tuner-i50/

I duly ordered and it was delivered within a few days.
I've built it in a fully enclosed box so drilling mounting holes was not necessary.
I may change this as time goes on.
It works very well between 40 and 17 Metres.
15m it struggles with because of stray capacitance but just about manages.

I use EFHW antennas exclusively for portable operations, and this seems like a good addition to my current arsenal.

Getting some QSOs in on the ATS4

On the Air

Well my ATS4 has had it's first outing on the air.
With a 12V supply I seem to be getting around 3 watts output,but I need to measure that more accurately once I get a few moments and complete the alignment.

I hooked the rig up to a length of wire in my attic (I'll not call it an antenna) and firstly put out a CQ on 20 metres. This allowed me to check on the Reverse Beacon Network to ascertain whether I'm actually producing a readable signal. It was pleasing to note I'd been heard in European Russia, Finland, Slovenia and Italy. A repeat on 17 metres got me spotted in Iceland but not before I had my first QSO with EW8DJ in Belarus.

This afternoon I had a few more QSO's and am really loving the little rig. I'm looking forward to some /MM operations later in the year when I'm off sailing in my boat!

72 HNY.