Any fans of Summits on the Air (SOTA) out there?

I did my first activation yesterday atop Sassafras Mountain in upstate South Carolina. Nothing went as planned, but we still activated the peak with 14 QSOs.

The last time I hiked there, I discovered many trees on the peak. So I
figured I could toss a wire antenna up over a branch and be in business with
my Yaesu FT-817. No such luck; the peak had been stripped bare to make way
for some sort of upcoming lookout tower. Fortunately, I had a Buddistick vertical in the arsenal.

I didn't intend on operating CW, because I'm a complete n00b on the key, but SSB conditions were apparently awful, and my 5-watt signal wasn't landing anywhere. Called CQ SOTA on 20 meter CW and quickly had a caller. I
re-spotted myself on the SOTA network and immediately had a minor pile-up. Between me and my buddy, we were able to decipher most of the calls and issue the usual "5NN TU" exchange.

15 minutes later I was nerve wracked and trembling and decided to go QRT with 13 CW Qs in the log. Just for fun, I tried 40 meter SSB and managed a single contact out of Florida. With approaching storms, we decided to pack it in and head down the mountain towards home.

Overall, an excellent experience and one that's been on my ham radio bucket list for a while!

73 de KK4DSD, Andy

--- Mystic BBS v1.10 (Windows)
* Origin: Alcoholiday! - alky.duckdns.org

Re: Summits on the Air?
By: Veetid to All on Mon Jul 20 2015 03:40 am

Any fans of Summits on the Air (SOTA) out there?

I did my first activation yesterday atop Sassafras Mountain in upstate South Carolina. Nothing went as planned, but we still activated the peak with 14 QSOs.

The last time I hiked there, I discovered many trees on the peak. So I figured I could toss a wire antenna up over a branch and be in business with my Yaesu FT-817. No such luck; the peak had been stripped bare to make way for some sort of upcoming lookout tower. Fortunately, I had a Buddistick vertical in the arsenal.

I didn't intend on operating CW, because I'm a complete n00b on the key, but SSB conditions were apparently awful, and my 5-watt signal wasn't landing anywhere. Called CQ SOTA on 20 meter CW and quickly had a caller. I re-spotted myself on the SOTA network and immediately had a minor pile-up. Between me and my buddy, we were able to decipher most of the calls and issue the usual "5NN TU" exchange.

15 minutes later I was nerve wracked and trembling and decided to go QRT with 13 CW Qs in the log. Just for fun, I tried 40 meter SSB and managed a single contact out of Florida. With approaching storms, we decided to pack it in and head down the mountain towards home.

Overall, an excellent experience and one that's been on my ham radio bucket list for a while!

Neat story. Thanks for sharing. Take any photos?

digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #75:
Michael Swindell still has the "Synchronet Blimp" in his possession.
Norco, CA WX: 82.8°F, 63.0% humidity, 6 mph SE wind, 0.52 inches rain/24hrs

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■ Synchronet ■ Vertrauen ■ Home of Synchronet ■ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Re: Summits on the Air?
By: Veetid to All on Mon Jul 20 2015 03:40 am

Any fans of Summits on the Air (SOTA) out there?

I had not heard of this, but it sounds cool. Sounds like you had a great adventure!

73 de KB9SNL

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Tim Wray, Sysop - Backwood Realm BBS
telnet: bwrbbs.ddns.net web:home.backwoodrealm.com


---
■ Synchronet ■ The Backwood Realm BBS - bwrbbs.ddns.net - The heart of Southern Indiana

Overall, an excellent experience and one that's been on my ham radio bu list for a while!

Neat story. Thanks for sharing. Take any photos?

I actually did! I posted them over at my ham radio blog, kk4dsd.com.

Came away with a nasty sunburn up there. I got so focused on operating that I neglected to use sunscreen, but it was worth it :-)

73 de KK4DSD, Andy

--- Mystic BBS v1.10 (Windows)
* Origin: Alcoholiday! - alky.duckdns.org

I had not heard of this, but it sounds cool. Sounds like you had a great adventure!

73 de KB9SNL

Definitely Tim, check out www.sota.org.uk (UK site, but the program is huge here in America). You can browse all the summits in the program from there
and get more info on how to participate.

Also, check out WG0AT's videos on YouTube!

73 de KK4DSD, Andy

--- Mystic BBS v1.10 (Windows)
* Origin: Alcoholiday! - alky.duckdns.org

Re: Re: Summits on the Air?
By: Veetid to Digital Man on Wed Jul 22 2015 12:10 am

Overall, an excellent experience and one that's been on my ham radio bu list for a while!

Neat story. Thanks for sharing. Take any photos?

I actually did! I posted them over at my ham radio blog, kk4dsd.com.

Checking it out now. Very cool. Neat blog too.

digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #15:
Synchronet first supported FidoNet networking (with SBBSFIDO) in 1992.
Norco, CA WX: 80.9°F, 59.0% humidity, 12 mph ESE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

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■ Synchronet ■ Vertrauen ■ Home of Synchronet ■ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Re: Re: Summits on the Air?
By: Veetid to Tim Wray on Wed Jul 22 2015 12:12 am

Also, check out WG0AT's videos on YouTube!

Those were pretty good, what I've had time to watch. Your blog is good also. "When pigs fly on radio waves they travel at the speed of light!" <- That's spectacular!

I see you make a lot of PSK31 contacts...and I hear a lot of hams in your area here in southern Indiana. If I ever get my HF station set back up (space is an issue presently), I'll have to listen for you. I just picked up a rigblaster nomic to interface with, so hopefully I can start tackling those digital modes.

KB9SNL

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Tim Wray, Sysop - Backwood Realm BBS
telnet: bwrbbs.ddns.net web:home.backwoodrealm.com


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■ Synchronet ■ The Backwood Realm BBS - bwrbbs.ddns.net - The heart of Southern Indiana