Lifjellet, LA/RL-010

Lifjellet (or actually a summit close to it) was activated in the evening on July 12. It is relatively easily reached from Hommersåk, a small village in Sandenes municipality. Most of the hike is on a road; only the last 80-90 meters of climbing is quite steep.

This evening I was accompanied with am infinite number of flies and - even worse - gnats, which made the activation unpleasant. In addition, the center of the coax between the antenna tuner and the transceiver was (partly) broken. I first tried calls on 20 meter SSB and 40 meter SSB without noticing the coax problems. After, QSYing to 30 meter I realizing that something was terrible wrong. However, by holding the paddle between the knees and using one hand for the coax connection, it was possible to work 6 QSOs before the gnat attacks were too intense.

DXCCs: 5S, 9A, G, HB9, I.

Mastravarden, LA/RL-022

Today, Mastravarden was activated. It is the highest peak on Mosterøy island, which in fact is also an island valid for IOTA. Mosterøy is easely reached within a 20 minute drive from Stavanger. At Haugvaldstad (a kilometer or so from the Utstein Kloster Hotel), it is a parking place, from which Stavanger Turistforening has put red sticks into the ground which leads to the summit. The distance from the parking place to the summit is most likely slighly more than one kilometer. The view from the summit is really tremendeous.

At the summit it is a guestbook, and 100 visits to the summit qualifies to an award. An award can also be avhieved by being at the summit at 04:45 am at least 5 times within a year (for watching the dawn).

I started to work at 30 meter. It was quite much QRM, but 12 stations from 7 DXCC contries were worked. Next, I QSYed first to 14.285 MHz, then to 7.118 MHz (both SSB), and finally to 2 meter FM, but nothing was worked.

DXCCs: 9A, DL, EI, GW, HA, HB9, ON.

Feforkampen, LA/OL-181

Last Saturday I activated Feforkampen, LA/OL-181. It is located not far from Vinstra, the center of Nord-Fron municipality. The last kilometers to the parking place was a toll road (road fee: kr. 30,-; cash only).

I mounted the pole just beneath the cairn at the summit, and the end of my 20 meter longwire antenna to a nearby cairn.

I first worked 19 stations on 30 meter (thanks G4ELZ for spotting), and then QSYed to 20 meter SSB. Fortunately, G3RDQ responded to my call and spotted me, which gave seven more QSOs. Finally, I made a call on 2 meter, and had a little chat with LA7FOA, who was sitting at his balcony in Vinstra and actually saw the summit (no problems with signal strength...).

Also on Saturday, the weather was beautiful; sunshine, calm, and temperature 22C.

DXCCs: 9A, DL, EI, F, G, GW, HA, HB9, LA, OK, ON

Nårkampen, LA/OL-263

Last Friday it was time to activate Nårkampen, LA/OL-263. It is located a few kilometers from Hundorp, the center of Sør-Fron municipality. I parked at Bålsætra (road fee: kr. 30,-; cash only). From Bålsætra it is slightly less than 2km to walk.

I mounted the pole by the cairn at the summit, and the end of my 20 meter longwire antenna to a nearby cairn.

I first tried called cq on 40 meter for about ten minutes without any response. Then I QSYed to 30 meter where fortunately HA7UG was QRV, and also spotted me after our QSO (thanks). This resulted in seven more QSOs. Finally, I also tried some calls on both 80 meter and 2 meter, but did not get any answer.

Beautiful weather; sunshine, calm, and temperature 23C.

DXCCs: DL, F, G, GW, HA.

Lushaugen, LA/AH-001

Yesterday, I activated Lushaugen, LA/AH-001. I parked at Bustevollen, which 2 km from and approximately 150 meter below the summit. It was quite easy to find the summit, it was just to follow the blue marks.

First, eight stations were worked on 40 meter. Then I QSYed to 30 meter, and worked 10 more stations.

The weather was unstable, but fortunately the showers came south of the summit.

DXCCs: DL, F, G, HB9, OE, ON, SM.

Venehaugane, LA/OL-047

Today, I activated Venehaugane, LA/OL-047. This is one of the summits which is easy to activate. Just drive to Bislingen fjellstue, whose altitude is one (1) meter below the summit. The summit itself is only approximately 1 km away - and at the same level.

I started by working 6 stations on 40 meter. Then, I decided to try 20 meter SSB. 15 minutes later I had only one more QSO in the log (thanks OH3GZ). After 5 more minutes and no more QSOs I QSYed to 30 meter and worked one more station. Before returning from the summit, I also made some calls on two meter FM, but did not get any reply. In periods, the QRN and QSB were quite troublesome.

DXCCs: DF, F, G, OH.

Paradiskollen, LA/OL-048

Paradiskollen is one of the SOTA summits which can easily be reached by public transportation. Just take the train to Harestua station, walk around 250 meter along the track (on a nearby road!), so through a tunnel, and then follow the blue signs to the summit. It is 3 km to walk and 400 meters to climb.

I activated Paradiskollen on May 21, and 19 QSOs came in the log; 1 on 40 meter, 17 on 30 meter, and 1 on 2 meter.

DXCCs: DL, EI, F, G, GW, LA, OK, ON, PA, S5.

Stikkvannskollen, LA/BU-032

My first SOTA activation took place on April 19. I then acitivated Stikkvannskollen, LA/BU-032.

It is a small parking lot around 500 meter north of the Steiner school (at road 289), where I parked. Then it was just to follow the signs to Stikkvannskollen.

I worked 11 QSOs on 40 meter and 1 on 2 meter. DXCCs: DL, G, LA, LY, OE, ON.

Welcome to my blog

Here you will find some notes concerning my SOTA activites and QRP operations.
73 de LA1EBA