Åslandsnuten, LA/RL-061

Åslandsnuten, LA/RL-061 was activated on July 17. I parked a few hundred meters from Figgjo along the road from Figgjo to Kverneland (near the highest part). There, I was slightly less than 700 meters away and 180 meters below the summit. Thus, it is a relatively steep ascend/descend, and it took 30-45 minutes to reached the summit. However, it was easy to access the summit, it just took some time. I follow the route indicated by www.turinspirasjon.net.

I had purchased an MP-1 portable vertical whip-antenna from England some time ago, and this was the first time I tried it on a SOTA activation. It proved to work great, and since it is no vegetation at the summit, it was very convenient to use (opposed to a wire antenna). I first started on 30 meter. However, the conditions were bad, and I only managed three QSOSs, all with poor reports. I then QSYed to 20 meter, and here the conditions were much , much better. I first worked 17 QSOs / 8 DXCCs on CW, and then 8 QSOs / 5 DXCCs on SSB. Among them were two CTs (it was the first time I have worked Portugesian chasers).

As usual, I also made calls on 2 meter FM and 70 cm FM. And as usual, no one replied.

DXCCs: CT, DL, EA, F, G, GM, HB9, OK, OM, ON, PA.

PS. If you plan to activate Åslandsnuten, remember to log the geocache GC14XNQ when you are on the summit.

Varingskollen, LA/AH-013

Varingskollen was activated yesterday. This is one of the summits which easily can be reached by public transportation (followed by a hike!). Just take the train towards Gjøvik/Jaren/Hakadal to Varingskollen station, and you are around 1.5 km away and 360 meter below the summit. However, I came by car and parked at the station.

I started the activation at 30 meter and worked 14 station in about 30 minutes. After having worked all who called me, I QSYed to 20 meter SSB, then to 40 meter SSB, then to 80 meter SSB, then to 2 meter FM, and finally to 70 cm FM without obtaining any QSOs.

DXCCS: DL, F, G, HB9, OK, OM, PA.

You can see more pictures at flickr.

PS. When you are on the summit, remember to log the geocache GC1NMG8 – Varingskollen 2^nd edition.

Kvitberget, LA/OL-184

Almost 8.5 months without a SOTA activation is a very long time. On June 11 I had fortunately once again the opportunity to activate a summit. Due to limited time, I chose a summit which is reached easily,
Kvitberget – LA/OL-184.

I also activated Kvitberget two years ago. As last time, I parked at Rudlandsseter (toll road, fee: NOK 30,-)., which is less than one kilometer away and around 80 meter below the summit. The last time, it was very convenient to mount the antenna pole to the trigonometric point. Now it had unfortunately been removed, but I found a small pine which was an excellent substitution. I mounted the antenna (13 meter longwire as an inverted L, three counterpoise wires, and MFJ-16010), keyer, microphone, and power. Then, I realized that the power cable had broken… Sad. Luckily, the internal batteries in the FT-817 was newly charged, and these had to be used during the activation. Therefore, I used the default power setting (2.5 watts). But 2.5 watts were shown to be sufficient.

I discovered that the six meter band was open to S5 and southern part of DL. Thus, I started with working some QSOs on six, because Kvitberget is located within a relatively rare locator (JP41). After a while, I QSYed to 30 meter, then to 20 meter SSB, and finally back to six meter. It was by the way fun to be the first activator the SOTA chaser DJ5AV worked on six. Before I left the summit, I also worked one LA on 80 meter, and made some calls on 2 meter and 70 cm. As usual, no QSOs were achieved, neither on 2m nor 70cm.

All I all, a really fun activation. A total of 13 DXCCs were worked (1-80, 11-30, 7-20, 2-6).

DXCCs: DL, F, G, GW, HB9, I, LA, OE, ON OM, OZ, S5, YL

Amadores, EA8

This was not a SOTA activation (it was a HOTA - Hills On The Air, hi, hi). Nevertheless, it was great fun. One week from March 28, we were on a vacation at Amadores, south at Gran Canaria, EA8. I brought my FT817 and a MFJ-1899T whip antenna with me. In addition I also had some (long) wire and a MFJ-1610 antenna tuner - just in case the 1.6 meter whip antenna should behave like a dummy load.

Our hotel was located along a hill, and the top of the hill was just a few hundered meters away. It showed to be a great QTH. The ten meter band was open, and during slightly more than an hour operation, the FT-817 and whip antenna gave me 18 QSOs with excellent reports from 9 DXCCs. All but one were on SSB. In conclusion, EA8/LA1EBA/P will certainly be QRV the next time we visit Gran Canaria.

DXCCs: DL, EA3, F, G, I, PA, S5, UT, 9A

More pictures can be found at flickr.

Toåsen, LA/AH-014

Toåsen, LA/AH-014 was activated on Ocotber 1 2011. I parked at Alværn shool, which is located around 1 kilometer away and 75 meters below the summit.

The antenna was a 13 meter inverted L. All QSOs were on 30 meter CW. I also had my first S2S (summit to summit). LA1ENA/Åge located at LA/TM-109 Heddersfjell called me. Really fun!

In 45 minutes, I had 19 QSOs from 10 DXCCs.

DXCC: DL, F, G, HA, HB9, LA, OE, OK, PA, RA3.

Øykjafjellet, LA/RL-012

In the evening on July 25 Øykjafjellet (LA/RL-012) was activated. I parked at Noredalen bygdahus (N 58 50.983, E 005 53.447) and just followed the red sticks/marks. It is a relatively hard walk, the trail is somewhere quite steep, but one is rewarded with a tremendous view at the summit!

This time, it seemed that all chasers were on summer vacation, only eight QSOs were achieved. I decided to start on 40 meter SSB, and managed to work four stations. Then I QSYed to 30 meter, and four more stations were worked. Then there were no answers to my many CQs neither on HF, 2m nor 70cm, and when it in addition started to drizzle, I found it was time to go back to the car (but first I had to find and log the geocache GC260Y3).

Five DXCCs were worked: EA, EI, G, HA, I.

Prestkampen, LA/OL-085

Prestkampen (LA/OL-85)was activated on July 16. It is the highest summit along Peer Gynt vegen (between Skei and Golå). I activated it together with my family, so only a short activation was possible. The weather was excellent; sunny, relatively calm, and 22C. Not bad 1244 meters above sea-level!!

We parked at Gamledalen (tollroad; fee: 40 NOK), around 350 meter below and 2.5 km away from the summit. The view from the summit is magnificent (some photos are uploaded at flickr).

All QSOs were on 30 meter. After around 30 minutes I went QRTon HF. As usual I did also make some calls on 2m and 70cm but no one answered. Finally, I tried to make some calls via repeaters, but with no luck. I was, by the way, surprised that I was able to open LA8KR at Kongsberg.

Before we started to go back to the car, we also remembered to log the geocache GCGV6K.

Six DXCCs were worked: DL, G, HB9, I, OH, OK.