VK/ZL EU-S2S QSO Party from DM/BW-099 – Achalm – 707m (5)

Abstract

May 1st, 2022  05:10 – 06:40 UTC
My eighth activation of Achalm, one of my local summits, this time for the VK/ZL<> EU-S2S QSO-party.

Wx: Overcast/ misty, approx. 6°C
Walking time: 20 min. up, 15 min. down
Ascent/ descent: approx. 190 vertical metres

Rig: KX3 / 10-15W, 2.5Ah Li-Ion battery (4S), Palm Mini Paddle
Ant: Delta loop for 20m on a 6m squid pole

Conditions were good (SFI = 120, SSN = 50) with a slightly increased k = 3

2   SSB QSOs on 60m, 1 x EU S2S
12 SSB QSOs on 20m, 5 x VK/ZL S2S, 2 x EU S2S, 4 x VK/ZL, 1 x FY
14 CW QSOs on 20m, 4 x VK/ZL S2S, 5 x VK/ZL, 5 x EU

Highlights: Worked 19 x DX, thereof 9 VK/ZL S2S

Lowlights: After about one hour I felt really cold because during antenna set up my feet had become wet.

Trans-Atlantic S2S QSO Party from DM/BW-110 – Limburg– 598m (3)

Abstract

November 6, 2021  13:50 – 16:20 UTC
My third activation of Limburg – again for the trans-Atlantic S2S QSO-party.

Wx: Fog until the early afternoon, approx. 4°C, later sunny
Walking time: 25 min. up, 15 min. down
Ascent/ descent: approx. 200 vertical metres

Rig: KX3 / 10W, 2.5Ah Li-Ion battery (4S), Palm Mini Paddle
Ant: 42 ft (12.8m) random wire as inverted L on a 6m squid pole; vertical EFHW dipole on a 10m squid pole

Conditions were average at best: k = 4 (!), SFI = 94

2   CW QSOs on 40m, 1 x S2S
10 CW QSOs on 20m, 8 x S2S (4 x NA)
15 CW QSOs on 17m, 10 x S2S (6 x NA)
1  CW QSO on 15m, 1 x S2S (1 x NA)

Highlights:
Worked 11 NA S2S QSOs, the farthest was WA7JTM on W7A/MN-109 in AZ

Lowlights: None

Summer BBT on DM/BW-046 – Plettenberg – 1002m (4)

Abstract

August 7, 2021  07:00 – 08:00 UTC
My fourth activation of Plettenberg.

Wx: Overcast, approx. 15°C, rain started at 8:00
Walking time: 20 min. up, 15 min. down
Ascent/ descent: approx. 100 vertical metres

Rig: FT-290R and SG-Lab 1300MHz transverter, Belcom LS202E for 2m SSB
Ant: Bi-Quad for 23cm on a tripod, Oblong for 2m on a 6m squid pole

Condx on 23cm seemed to be good.

13 QSOs on 23cm SSB

Highlight:
– First activation on 23cm
– ODX: 311km

Lowlight:
– none

DM/BW-089 – Farrenberg – 820m (7)

Abstract

July 31, 2021  09:00 – 11:30 UTC
My seventh activation of Farrenberg, my local summit. This time together with five members of our local radio club.

Wx: Sunny, few clouds, approx. 20°C, light winds
Walking time: almost zero – drive on location
Ascent/ descent: approx. few vertical metres

Rig: KX3 / 10W, 2.5 Ah Li-Ion battery (4S), Palm Mini Paddle, Belcom LS202E / 3W for VHF
Ant: EFHW dipole w/ QRP-L-Tuner as inverted L on a 6m squid pole, MFJ1714 for VHF

34 QSOs on 40m CW, 1 x S2S
1   QSO on 60m SSB, 1 x S2S
12 QSOs on 60m SSB, 1 x S2S

Highlight:
– First SOTA event of our radio club

Lowlight:
– none

DM/BW-853 – Blankenhalde – 871m (2)

Abstract

June 12, 2021  09:00 – 13:30 UTC
My second activation of Blankenhalde, this time together with DC1SAF.

Wx: Sunny, few clouds, approx. 25°C, light winds
Walking time: almost zero – drive on location
Ascent/ descent: approx. few vertical metres

Rig: KX3 / 10W,  7.2Ah SLAB, Palm Mini Paddle, Belcom LS202E / 3W for VHF
Ant: EFHW dipole w/ QRP-L-Tuner as inverted L on a 10m squid pole, MFJ1714 for VHF

Condx seemed to be good. DC1SAF worked one station from NA on 20 metres.
k = 1, SFI = 77

12 QSOs on 2m FM, 11 x S2S
14 QSOs on 40m CW
12 QSOs on 60m CW, 7 x S2S
2   QSOs on 60m SSB, 1 x S2S

Highlight:
– First CW SOTA activation of DC1SAF
– Because of the HB9SOTA-weekend an incredible number of Swiss activators was QRV. Many of them could be worked on 2m FM with my old Belcom LS202E and about 3 watts output power.
– Great aerial views of the summit thanks to Fabian’s quadrocopter

Lowlight:
– none

DM/BW-046 – Plettenberg – 1002m (3)

Abstract

February 28, 2021  09:50 – 12:40 UTC
My Third activation of Plettenberg.

Wx: Sunny, no clouds, approx. 5°C, gusty winds
Walking time: 12 min. up, 7 min. down
Ascent/ descent: approx. 100 vertical metres

Rig: KX3 / 10W,  2.5 Ah Li-Ion battery (4S), Palm Mini Paddle
Ant: End fed dipole with QRP L- Tuner as inverted L on a  6m squid pole.

Condx seem to be average at best according to the RBN spots. Very few spots from NA.
k = 1, SFI = 79

16 QSOs on 20m CW, 1 x DX
19 QSOs on 30m CW, 5 x S2S
16 QSOs on 40m CW, 2 x S2S
10 QSOs on 40m SSB
12 QSOs on 60m CW, 3 x S2S
4   QSOs on 60m SSB, 1 x S2S

Highlight:
– Mountain Goat activation and a fairly large number of S2S-QSOs

Lowlight:
– none

Three summit tour: DM/BW-057, DM/BW-195, DM/BW-038

Abstract

February 14, 2021
My third activation of Lupfen, BW-057, second activation of Zundelberg, BW-195 and fourth activation of Lemberg, BW-038.

Wx: Sunny, temperature approx. -6°C in the morning to -3°C in the afternoon, the wind grew stronger during the day and was very gusty at BW-038.

Rig: KX3 / 10W, 2.2 Ah LiPo battery (3S) and  2.5 Ah Li-Ion battery (4S), Palm Mini Paddle
Ant: 42 ft (12.8m) random wire as inverted Vee on several trees
Total weight of the (radio) equipment: approx. 3500g

Condx seem to be average with k = 1, SFI = 71

DM/BW-846 – Burg Hohenzollern – 850m (3)

Abstract

February 6, 2021  09:40 – 11:45 UTC
My Third activation of Hohenzollern.

Wx: Cloudy, approx. 5°C, gusty winds
Walking time: 30 min. up, 15 min. down
Ascent/ descent: approx. 140 vertical metres

Rig: KX3 / 10W,  2.5 Ah Li-Ion battery (4S), Palm Mini Paddle
Ant: 42 ft (12.8m) random wire as inverted Vee on a tree
Total weight of the (radio) equipment: 2647g

Condx seem to be poor according to the RBN spots.
k = 1, SFI = 73

11 QSOs on 20m CW, 2 x S2S
  8 QSOs on 30m CW
21 QSOs on 40m CW, 5 x S2S
20 QSOs on 60m CW, 3 x S2S
Weight per QSO: 44.1g

Highlight:
– surprising number of activations resulting in many S2S-QSOs

Lowlight:
– none

DM/BW-228 – Hummelsberg – 1002m (4)

Abstract

January 24, 2021  11:10 – 12:45 UTC
My fourth activation of Hummelsberg, first time during winter conditions.

Wx: Cloudy, approx. -4°C, strong, gusty winds, 30 cm of snow
Walking time: 30 min. up, 20 min. down
Ascent/ descent: approx. 30 vertical metres

Rig: KX3 / 10W,  2.5 Ah Li-Ion battery (4S), Palm Mini Paddle
Ant: 42 ft (12.8m) random wire as inverted Vee on a tree
Total weight of the (radio) equipment: 2647g

Condx were good according to the RBN spots.
60 metres was the most productive band, followed by 20 metres.
k = 1, SFI = 78

23 QSOs on 20m CW, 4 x DX
  7 QSOs on 30m CW, 1 x S2S
16 QSOs on 40m CW
29 QSOs on 60m CW, 2 x S2S
Weight per QSO: 35.3g

Highlight:
– A real winter adventure with very few people on the trail.

Lowlight:
– none

DM/BW-041 – Wandbühl – 1007m (2)

Abstract

January 16, 2021  11:00 – 12:35 UTC
My second activation of Wandbühl, first real winter activation.

Wx: Sunny, approx. -6°C no winds, 60 cm of snow
Walking time: 30 min. up, 25 min. down
Ascent/ descent: approx. 40 vertical metres

Rig: KX3 / 10W,  2.5 Ah Li-Ion battery (4S), Palm Mini Paddle
Ant: 22 m end fed wire with QRP L- Tuner as inverted Vee on a tree
Total weight of the (radio) equipment: 2439g

Condx on the higher bands were average and activity was low.
60 metres through 30 metres produced many strong signals.
k = 1, SFI = 73

2 QSOs on 20m CW, 1 x DX
12 QSOs on 30m CW, 2 x S2S, 1 x DX
18 QSOs on 40m CW
11 QSOs on 40m SSB
17 QSOs on 60m CW, 3 x S2S
Weight per QSO: 40.65g

Highlights:
– A super winter activation with an incredible amount of snow on a sunny day.
– Very well behaved pile-ups.

Lowlights:
– none