NO-2617 Ellingsrud friluftsområde

NO-2617 was a new pota reference which I decided to activate. I used the KX-2 and the MP-1. Usually, this is a good combo. Unfortunately, the conditions were quite poor today. I got 3 QSOs on 20 meter SSB easily, but then everything stopped. I needed two more hours(!) in order to complete the activations. These 7 QSOs, all CW, were worked on 20, 17, 15, and 40 meter.

DXCC:  EA, F, G, I, SM, SP, UA

LAFF-0064, NO-1330 Midtsjøvann

I had the opportunity to activate Midtsjøvann. As for the last activations, I used a KX-2 and a MP-1. I started on 17 meter, then QSYed to 15, meter, then to 12 meter, and finally 10 meter. I ended up with 29 QSOs from 14 DXCCs. All on CW. It must be mentioned that I worked EA2DT, Manuel on all four bands!

DXCC: CT, DL, E7, EA, G, HA, I, LY, OH, OK, ON, S5, SP, UR.

LAFF-0060, NO-2581 Svartskog

 

I decided to head out for a short activation from Svartskog. I used a KX-2 and a MP-1. The conditions were good. I started on 10 meters, and got two QSOs only, both from UR. I then QSYed to 20 meter and got 30 QSOs, all on SSB. In total 13 DXCCs.

DXCC: DL, EA, HA, I, LX, OH, OM, ON, S5, SP, UR, W, 9A.

LAFF-0316, NO-1731 Rullestadtjern

This was my first activation of Rullestadtjern. It was dark, a lot of vegetation, and relatively wet soil. In order words, a place it is no reason to visit if it hadn’t been an “interesting” QTH. I used the KX-2 and a MP-1 antenna. The conditions were good, and I got 24 QSOs from 12 DXCCs on 10 and 15 meter (1 on SSB and 23 on CW).

DXCC: DL, EA, F, HA, HB9, I, LZ, OH, OM, S5, UR, W.

LAFF-0544 / NO-2280 Trolldalen

I visited Trolldalen once again this afternoon. 20 QSOs from 11 DXCCs on 40, 30, and  17 meter came in the log in a relative short time. KX-2 and SuperAntenna MP-1 was used. All CW.

DXCC: DL, EA, I, OH, OM, PA, S5, SP, UA, UT, 9A.

LAFF-0544 / LA-2280 Trolldalen

A second activation today in order to achieve the 44 QSOs needed for WWFF. According to QRZ.com, the conditions were supposed to be good on 17-10 meter, and poor on 30-20 meter. Therefore, I brought with me my MP-1 antenna and my FT-817 ND. I called a lot on 10 and 15 meter, which only produced 3 QSOs on 10, and 2 on 15. Then I QSYed to the "poor" 20 meter, which resulted in 12 QSOs in a few minutes. In total: 17 QSOs from 10 DXCCs.

DXCC: DL, F, HB9, I, OH, OM, SP. UA, UR, W.

LA/BU-026 Ringkollen

I activated Ringkollen once more on February 24. The weather was OK for SOTA, a few degreees below 0C, calm, but foggy. Usually I use a linked dipole. Not this time – I had forgotten it (but not the pole!). Fortunately, I do always bring a backup antenna with me, a MP-1.

The 20 meter conds were rather disappointing, only three QSOs came in the log (9A and EA). Therefore, I QSYed to 30 meter which was in much better shape.  At the end of the pile-up, I had 16 QSOs in the log. Especially fun to work SV with 5 watts and MP-1.

DXCCs: DL, EA, HB9, OK, ON, SP, SV, 9A.

LA/OS-003 Tryvannshøgda

A short activation of LA/OS-003 before the winter-bonus season ended. The conditions were poor, but I managed to get 8 QSOs (included one S2S) in half an hour.

DXCCs: DL, F, HA, HB9, SP.

LA/OL-043 Buhammaren

Three months since last activation (which ended in an accident), I was recovered, and it was thus time for a new activation. LA/OL-043 is an easily accessible summit, and the weather was beautiful; sunny and a temperature a little bit over the freezing point.

It was a “contest weekend”, so 20 meter was a bad idea for a QRP operation. However, it was no problem to operate on 30 and 17 meter.  In the end, 20 stations were in the log.

Rig: FT-817ND, antenna: MP-1

DXCCs: DL, EA, G, GI, HB9, I, OK, PA, W.

LA/OS-003 Tryvannshøgda

LA/OS-003 Tryvannshøgda was activated once again this morning. I was using a FT-817ND and a MP-1 antenna.

I started to call on 20 meter SSB around 06:50 UTC. Ten minutes later no one had replied, and I QSYed to the CW part of the band. Ten minutes later, and I was still without any QSOs. A quick look at RBN revealed that no RBN-skimmers had copied me. The band was dead (at least with QRP and a portable vertical antenna). I then QSYded to 30 meter and hoped for better band conditions. It was. I got five QSOs in around 15 minutes. I then start calling on 40 meter CW, and three more QSOs came in the log. Finally, I QSYed back to 20 meter CW. Now, the band had opened, but there were no chasers, so I decided to QRT.

DXCCs: DL, HB9, OE, OK, OM.

LA/OL-085 Prestkampen

On October 2 I once again visited LA/OL-085 Prestkampen. It was slightly more than 4 years since the last time. I parked at Gamledalen (the last part is toll road, fee NOK 40).

It was very windy. A strong gale simply made it impossible for me alone to erect any pole and dipole. I thus used my MP-1 instead.

The schools have their autumn vacation this week, and many people were hiking. Prestkampen is the highest summit in this area, and thus a popular destination. On the summit itself, it was in periods crowded. I started the activation in one of these periods, and it was therefore most convenient to start with CW on 20 meter. In a short time, 16 QSOs (and among them 3 S2S) were in the log. Since it so far has only been made CW QSOs from the summit (in the SOTA program), I decided to also offer SSB for the chasers. However, after an initial spotting and 10 minutes of calling, no QSO was made! I have no idea why. The most likely reason is perhaps due to the heavy wind. This could have added to much noise to the signal. I then QSYed to 30 meter, and worked 6 more QSOs before I went QRT. The wind made it simply too cold to stay at the summit any longer! So therefore, non-CW QSOs are still to be made!

DXCCs: DL, EA, F, G, HB9, OE, OK, OM, PA, W.

LA/RL-063 Vedafjellet

Vedafjellet was my second activation on July 29. At the summit, the wind was very strong, and it didn't seem to be easy to erected my fiberglass pole and dipole. Thus, I decided to use the MP-1 instead.

The conditions were quite poor. 30 minutes with calling on 20 meter CW, had only resulted in 10 QSOs. Therefore, I didn't try to make any SSB QSOs. Instead, I QSYed to 30 meter, and was able to work 2 more QSOs. I then went QRT.

DXCCs: DL, EA, F, OK, PA, SP.

LA/AH-008 Gåsebrenna

Gåsebrenna was activated for the first time today. As far as I could see, there are no trail leading to the summit. However, that doesn't make it difficult to reach. I parked at N 59 58.241, E 011 28.435. Then it is around 2 km walk to the summit. I followed a forest road until a road cross at N 59 58.714, E 011 28.098, and then picked out the direction and headed for the summit.

The weather was fine; sunshine, little wind, and temperature more than 20C. However, the activation was rather unpleasant. I was accompanied with a tremendous number of gnats!! I managed to stay there for about an hour, but then I had to make a quick return to my car. The gnat attacks were simply too intense.

I brought with me both a linked dipole and the MP-1. The plan was to try to make some comparisons between these antennas. Due to the gnats, this project is postponed...

I used the linked dipole on 20 meter (CW/SSB) and 30 meter (CW). I did also try to call on 12 meter using the MP-1, but the conditions was too poor. The result of the activation was 33 QSOs, among then 2 S2S.

DXCCs: CU, DL, EA, F, G, HA, HB9, OK, OM, ON, PA, S5.

LA/AH-015 Vardehøgda

Today, I visited Vardehøgda. I followed a suggestion from Turistforeningen, and parked at Svangerud, N 60 15.88, E 011 14.32. From Svangerud it is around 2.5 km to walk; first on a forest road, and then on a clearly marked trail. It was very easy to reach the summit.

At the summit, I mounted my MP-1, and start calling on 20 meter. 35 minutes and 28 QSOs later (one of them was a S2S), it was time to investigate other bands. I realized that 12 meter was open. Unfortunately, no QSOs were obtained (even though I was spotted through the RBN). I then QSYed to 30 meter and worked four QSOs. Finally I QSYed to 40 meter and worked two stations, both S2S. Fascinating that such a small antenna works reasonably well on 40 meter :). Before returning to my car, I climbed up in a tower at the summit, and tried to make some QSOs on 2 meter and 70 cm with no success.

DXCCs: CT, EA, DL, F, G, GM, HA, HB9, OH, OK, OM, SP.

LA/AH-016 Holterkollen

Earlier today I visited Holterkollen. Since WWII a lots of cabins have been built in this area. One of the cabins is in fact only 40-50 meters from the summit. Due to all the cabins, a good forest road exists all the way up to the summit (well, except for the last 75-100 meters or so). However, the road is closed for public traffic. Thus, one has to go from a small parking lot near the start of the forest road. The parking is around 260 meter below and 2.5 km away from the summit.

Also today I used my FT-817 and the MP-1 antenna.

I started the activation on 20 meter. The conditions were quite OK, and 22 QSOs were achieved. I then QSYed to 12 meter (which was closed), then to 15 meters (which was open, but with no replies), and then to 30 meter. On 30 meter 10 stations were worked. Afterwards, I made some CQs on 40 meter, which resulted in two QSOs. Finally, I had a nice QSO with LA4PGA on 2 meter. It's not very often I achieve any QSOs on that band!!

On my way back to the car, I met LA1GPA, who was on his way to the summit. This was in fact my first SOTA eye-ball QSO!

DXCCs: CT, DL, EA, EU, F, G, GW, HB9, I, LA, OK, OM, ON, OZ, SP.

LA/OF-002 Tremannsrøset

Tremannsrøset (probably better known as Buråsen) is new summit in Østfold, and I had the opportunity to activate it on April 16. I parked at N 59 21.65, E 011 08.70. As far as I have found out, there are no trails to the summit. Based on some information I found on the net, I chose to walk a forest road to Pommen. From there, it is around a 650 meter long walk to the north. The summit is easily found.

The equipment used was my FT-871 and the MP-1 antenna. As usual, I started on 20 meter, and 14 QSOs were obtained. I then made some calls on 12 meter (both on CW and SSB), but no stations were worked (despite the band was open). Finally I made a call on 30 meter and worked 3 more stations. As usual, no QSOs were obtained neither on 2 meter nor 70 cm (only some invalid repeater QSOs).

DXCCs: DL, EU, F, G, HA, HB9, OE, OM, ON.

PS. If you have time, there are a few geocaches in the area.

LA/OS-004 Puttåsen

A new summit in Oslo has recently been discovered, and it was approved last week. The summit is rather easy accessible, and yesterday I had the opportunity to activate it.

I parked at N 59 55.51 E 10 52.39. Alternatively, I could have taken bus no 69. The bus stop "Ole Messelts vei" is next to the parking lot I used. If one take the metero to Trosterud, one is 1 km away from the parking lot.

The parking lot is slightly more than 2 km away from the summit, and it easy to reach. It is just to walk along the forest road to Lutvann, and then on blue marked trails.

The weather was relatively poor; cold (2C), windy, and a little bit rain. I used my FT-817 rig and MP-1 antenna.

I tuned the antenna to 20 meter and started to call. Around 30 minutes later, 20 QSOs were in the log. I then decided to QSY to 12 meter, but unfortunately the band was closed. Due to the cold weather, I decided to go QRT rather than QSY to another band. Before leaving the summit, I did also try some calls on 2 meter and 70 cm but with no luck.

DXCCs: DL, G, HB9. OE, OK, OM, PA, SP, SV.