From Allan GW4VPX

Tuesday, 15 January 2019

GW/SW-041 – Black Mountain

GW/SW-041 – Black Mountain

14/01/2019

First of two today

Viki M6BWA, Rod M0JLA and John MW0XOT would be out today so there would be winter bonus points and a chance of s2s points. I chose my mountain carefully as it was within easy VHF range of the others and not far from The Begwns GW/MW-025 which would also be well placed.  My journey to the summit was impeded by a road traffic accident but luckily I had started out early.  I opted for the parking spot above the Gospel Pass … short stiff climb and I would soon be on the plateau which leads to the AZ of Black Mountain in about 3.68km (2.2 miles).

My route today from Gospel Pass..3.68km to AZ

My route last year.. 2.77km ... about the same travelling time to AZ

One of the residents..just by the parking spot

Well on my way now..car below

Sunshine in the distance...Lord Hereford's Knob on the left

Hay Bluff Trigpoint...head South East here

A few more Km to the AZ

I hadn’t remembered that the phone signal was iffy here the last time so once again I resorted to calling out on 145.500 in the hope of getting a response. Graham from Redditch answered immediately followed by Ben near Hereford. After chatting to Ben and then calling QRZ a strong 5/9 s2s signal appeared in the form of John from Mynydd Troed ....in the log .. thanks John. It was only a matter of minutes before I had qualified the summit with a call from Peter near Llanelli and that was it.  Quick scan of 2m and I heard Viki announcing a QSY to 70cms…I duly followed…had a listen whilst she finished her qso then called in for a contact on 70cms then back to 2m…thanks Viki

11:25z	G0MYD	144MHz	FM	Graham..Redditch
11:28z	M0SWV	144MHz	FM	Ben..Hereford
11:30z	MW0XOT/P	144MHz	FM	John s2s..GW/SW-009..Mynydd Troed
11:32z	GW0RUD	144MHz	FM	Peter nr Llanelli
11:37z	M6BWA/P	433MHz	FM	Viki s2sG/WB-002..Brown Clee Hill
11:41z	M6BWA/P	144MHz	FM	Viki s2s..G/WB-002..Brown Clee Hill

I set up on the GW (Welsh) side of the path

I had a dilemma of remaining seated or getting up and searching for a phone signal … I chose the lazy option by going to 60m and searching for Rod who I guessed would be on 5.3715….another s2s in the log and I announced a QSY with Rod’s permission to 5.395.  This frequency was in use so up to a quiet 5.3985…it’s just brilliant how chasers read your mind because as I asked “Is this frequency in use” back comes Don G0RQL with “What took you so long”… thanks Don.  I already had a pile-up and with Don’s spot on Sotawatch and I was kept busy for a while…thanks everyone.

11:43z	M0JLA/P	5MHz	SSB	Rod s2s..G/WB-002..Brown Clee Hill
11:45z	G0RQL	5MHz	SSB	Don,Holsworthy
11:46z	GW0PLP	5MHz	SSB	Don nr Aberporth
11:47z	EI3GYB	5MHz	SSB	Michael, Co Mayo
11:48z	G4WSB	5MHz	SSB	Bill,Wiltshire
11:49z	GB9WAB	5MHz	SSB	Dave
11:49z	GW6OVD	5MHz	SSB	Mal nr Nelson, South Wales
11:49z	G3RDQ	5MHz	SSB	David, Stockbridge
11:50z	GI0AZA	5MHz	SSB	Esther, Dungiven, NI
11:50z	G7AFM	5MHz	SSB	Phil nr Hereford
11:51z	G4AFI	5MHz	SSB	Andrew, Hants
11:52z	M0TMD	5MHz	SSB	Helen, Glossop
11:53z	G4OBK	5MHz	SSB	Phil, Pickering
11:54z	GI4ONL	5MHz	SSB	Victor, Bushmills, NI
11:54z	G6NHW	5MHz	SSB	Pete, Birmingham
11:55z	MW0OFA	5MHz	SSB	Frank, nr Blaenffos
11:56z	G0ELJ	5MHz	SSB	Dave, Norfolk
11:57z	MM0GGI	5MHz	SSB	John, Sutherland, Scotland

Lord Herford's Knob and Waun Fach to the far left

This time I had arranged with Don for a frequency for 80m and it was great to get some different callsigns on this band although it did go go quiet rather quickly.

12:03z	G0RQL	3.5MHz	SSB	Don nr Holsworthy
12:05z	GI0AZA	3.5MHz	SSB	Esther, Dungiven, Ni
12:06z	G0FEX	3.5MHz	SSB	Ken, Leicester
12:07z	2E0FEH	3.5MHz	SSB	Karl, Saltash
12:08z	G1YFF	3.5MHz	SSB	Jake nr Cambridge
12:10z	MW6IUT	3.5MHz	SSB	Bryan nr Neath

I had a choice of eating my sandwiches and having a coffee or moving on. I certainly didn’t want to be late for my second summit and as it was about 2deg C with a cold wind from the North I decided to have lunch on The Begwns which has plenty of protection from the elements.

Below, the other car park  that I used last year

My activation set-up

HF:- Elecraft KX2 (10 watts) and 4Ah LiPo

VHF:- Yaesu FT270 and dipole

Antenna - 3 band link dipole (60/40/20 (+15m extensions +80m loading coils)

Antenna support – 5m Fishing pole with end supports

Thanks everyone for the contacts