Sunday 31 May 2009

LA/TM-052 Storfjell

During our long weekend at the cottage XYL on myself decided to climb Storfjell. The weather was very nice but the QSO rate was poor. I only managed one single qso on 40m! 20m was a little better.

I managed to work both Aage LA1ENA/P and Kjell LA1KHA/P summit to summit from LA/TM-042 on 80m.

7MHz: 1 QSO
14MHz: 6 QSOs
3.6MHz: 2 QSOs
S2S: 2 QSOs
DXCCs: GM, DL, S5, HA, G, OK, LA

Blog entry is backdated

Wednesday 27 May 2009

LA/TM-050 Kittilskollen

The weather was very nice today although it was very windy. I started on 10m but could not hear any stations so I QSYed to 40m. I worked 15 stations before QSYing a bit up due to a strong carrier on my QRG. I then worked 7 more stations before I QSYed to 20m. I did not get any answers so I went for another try on 28MHz. I worked two LY stations. I also worked Kjell LA1KHA again on 145.550MHz and a MJ/DL station on 18MHz.

Thanks to Einar Kenneth (Ken) GM0AXY for the spots!

7MHz: 22 QSOs
28MHz: 2 QSOs
144MHz: 1 QSO
18MHz: 1 QSO
DXCCs: G, DL, F, LA, GM, 9A, ON, HB9, LY, MJ

Tuesday 26 May 2009

The Poll

When I asked "What's your favorite SOTA activity?" I got 4 answers. 2 votes for Activating and 2 votes for Both. No-one voted for Chasing only.

The new Poll is inspired by the Sporadic E season: "Do you fancy Activating/Chasing on 10m?"

Monday 25 May 2009

LA/TM-018 Hørsfjell

The plan for today was to activate Hørsfjell and hopefully work some 10m contacts. I checked DX Sherlock before leaving home. At the top I put up my 20m Extended Double Zepp antenna (2*13,4m) inverted V style supported by a 6m telescopic pole. At first I had some problems with my FT-817 not giving out any power but I soon realised that this was caused by a faulty control cable to the Elecraft T1 ATU. I removed the control cable and everything worked great!

I worked 7 stations on 10m before QSYing to 40m. Before heading home I worked Tom LB8X and Øystein LA8IY over the LA5GR 2m repeater. We also did some testing on 6m but I was only able to work LA8IY.

Edit: Tom, LB8X, has commented that we also did a QSO on 2m simplex and he is completely right. I must have forgot to log the QSO when we QSYed back to LA5GR repeater.

28MHz: 7 QSOs
7MHz: 16 QSOs
145MHz: 1 QSO
50MHz: 1 QSO
DXCCs: OM, DL, HB9, S5, 9A, YU, G, GM, GW, LA

Monday 11 May 2009

LA/TM-044 Skulssnippen

Tonight I had a hard time getting the four qsos I needed. I started on 40m and even though I self spotted I could hear no answers in the S9 QRN! I QSYed to 20m and was soon called by HA7UG and received a 59 report. He told me that LA1ENA was calling me but I barely heard Aage at all.

I QSYed to 80m and managed to work LA1ENA and Hans-Petter LA6GOA. Back on 20m I worked two EA stations and received 59 and 58 reports. At the end I tried to work A41LD who was very strong with me but the pileup grew to large for me.

I left a sheet from my Rite-in-the-rain-notepad in the plastic box in the cairn to document activations. On my way home I spotted another badger, the second in four days! This one was crossing the road in front of my car.

Thanks to LA1ENA who helped me with spots and to HA7UG who let me know Aage was on the frequency.

14MHz: 3 qsos
3,6MHz: 2 qsos
DXCCs: HA, LA, EA

Road fee: Nok 30 (coins only), old fashion Pay and Display box.

Sunday 10 May 2009

LA/TM-048 Vestre Hoppefjell

Today Sissel, my XYL joined me on a trip to Vestre Hoppefjell. I worked 12 stations on 40m. After 15 minutes it started to rain and we packed our gear and headed home.

Road fee: Nok 50, credit card only

7MHz: 12 qsos
DXCCs: G, ON, OZ, DL, MM, 9A, LA

Thursday 7 May 2009

LA/TM-013 Vestre Vealøs

Due to reports on the Internet on Sporadic-E openings on 10m I decided to join the NAC28 (NRAU Activity Contest on 10m) from Vestre Vealøs. I scanned the band for a while but could only hear two local stations.

I QSYed to 20m and worked one OE station. On 40m I worked 9 stations but the activation suffered from a lot of QSB. I used the PAC-12 antenna with coils for the different bands but had a little problem getting the SWR down on 10m. I fixed this by changing the radial kit.

I walked from the gate at Skifjell because I expected to return in the dark. The wind on the summit was rather heavy.

I almost stepped on a badger on my way home!

14MHz: 1 qso
7MHZ: 9 qsos
145MHz: 2 qsos
DXCCs: OE, HA, G, DL, GW, LA

Blog entry is backdated

Monday 4 May 2009

LA/TM-016 Valsåsen

DXCCs: ON, G, GW, DL, LY, GM, LA

7MHz: 16 qsos
3,6MHz: 3 qsos
145MHz: 1 qso

Friday 1 May 2009

LA/TM-030 Jønneberg

LA1ENA, LA1KHA and myself decided to celebrate the one year anniversary of SOTA in Norway by activating Jønneberg. On the way we tried to call LA1DNA to invite him but he didn't answer the phone. The activation today suffered from a lot of RFI mostly because the rigs were set up to close.


Photo: LA1ENA in cw qso

LA1ENA
10MHz: 10 qsos
7MHz: 28 qsos
DXCCs: DL, G, 9A, HB9, GM, F, HA, OK, ON, SM, EI, OE, S5

LA1KHA
10MHz: 11 qsos
7MHz: 7 qsos til
DXCCs: DL, F, G, HA, OE, OK, S5, UA, 9A

LA1TPA
14MHz: 8 qsos
7MHz: 4 qsos
DXCCs: S5, LA, HA, I, OE, HB9, G, ON