Friday 3 March 2023

HEMA #2 G/HSP-015 Idle Hill (Werneth Low)

 This is actually my second attempt to activate Idle Hill (Werneth low) G/HSP-015 the first being an utter fail due to the vicinity of other transmitters in the area swamping the radio.. since then I have purchased the SOTAbeams bandpass filter an amazing pice of kit that makes the previously impossible, possible! hahaha

Anyway, we rocked up here after we completed the 6 trig mission, as we were in the area! now, this is where things get interesting.. we had been operating from the vehicle due to my broken leg, HOWEVER the HEMA rules are similar to SOTA in that all activations must be "human powered" so, to ensure I was sin the spirit of the award, I abandoned the car, walked about 30 yards on my crutches and activated /P off the handheld. 5 contacts!


Not as busy as I was hoping, but got some experimentation in with filters and antennas ETC, and that was a worthwhile thing to do... Was starting to get pretty cold after 20 mins sat on a rock..


We wrapped it up about half 3, happy with the afternoons achievements... 6 Trigs, and 1 HEMA!

Again, a HUGE thankyou to Duane 2E0DIJ Chief planner, Driver, equipment carrier ETC ETC 😂😂 and of course the Chasers! it was fun, as usual!

Alan - 2E0JWA


Thursday 2 March 2023

Broken leg vehicle assisted 6 Trig day! with a bonus HEMA.. 26/02/23

Getting pretty peed off stuck indoors with my smashed up leg, Duane (2E0DIJ) came up with a plan to activate 6 vehicle accessible trig points around Greater Manchester! as plans go, this wasn't a bad one, and obviously I was well up for it! a date was set for the 26/02/23 and we were off! 

WAB Trig #18 TP1071 WABSq SJ79 Barton Moss

First of the day, Barton Moss located up a private road near the AirField, we decided forgiveness was easier then permission and rocked up activate the trig!


 Me Making a dash on sticks for the trig! 😂😂


Anyhow, this one is a leaner, and is slowly toppling... 


1 contact made, 2E0LMD Anne in Heald green! (Anne and her partner Mark feature quite heavily in this story). as i was completing the contact the landowner came along to ask what we were up too (fair enough) he was a sound fella! good to have a natter matey! 5 mins later, we were off to the second one of the day..

WAB TRIG #19 TP2030 WABSq SJ78 Castle Hill
Interesting trig this one, being in view of the runways at Manchester Airport.
I absolutely promise you, there is a plane landing in this pic! 

Quick fire contacts with M0XMX/P who was up on the Gun G/SP-013 performing a SOTA activation (bonus chase FTW), 2E0LMD Anne (again, told you!) and M0CQE Paul in Oldham. Duane made his contacts separately, and with that we were off again.. no messing around with these! 

WAB TRIG #20 TP3640 WABSq SJ88 Harrison Pit
Not an easy one to locate this one, we had to use the Trig FindAR app to help us, its below road level in a field, but not to worry! we could operate well within the 30M limit from the car... slightly dodgy parking so no messing with this one, quick in and out smash and grab job! 😂😂


Quick contact with Mark this time, in Heald Green.. 2E0LKC, and off we went!

WAB TRIG #21 TP3920 WABSq SJ88 Hill Top Farm
Another one up Private farm tracks in this case, you have to go through the farms yard.. tried to call to request permission, but no answer.. so like last time we went for it! We got busted in the farms yard, but the guy was sound and allowed us to continue 😄 another one where we had to use the TRIGFINDAR app, buried in a hedge just off the track is the trig... again, the 30M rule was used here, I think we were 16M away from the trig point. not wanting to block the farms track, it was fast again... 2E0LKC - Mark in heald green was the contact! less tan 5 mins on this one.. time to go again!


WAB TRIG #22 TP4668 WABsq SJ98 Marple Ridge
Spectacular spot, plenty of altitude... could have played radio up here all day, but the pillar is on someone's drive in a cul-de-sac.. 
the usual quick call and we got 2W0JYN Stephen in Rhos, nice and strong full scale too! fantastic! and with that, the curtain twitchers were starting, so off we went again!

WAB TRIG #23 TP6798 WABsq SJ99 Werneth Low
Located in a gatehole Just off Cowlishaw Road, this was to be the last one of the day. usual quick call and Mark 2E0LKC replied.. job done!

6 trigs in just over 2 hours... and my 20 activated certificate too! Fabulous day out.... good company and some right laughs! 
But, you said there was a bonus HEMA?? I did! and for that you will have to wait till tomorrow evening.. sorry! [NB - Post will be 1700 on the 03/03/23 - Alan]

Thanks as usual to the chasers, its great fun working you all, and a special thanks again to Duane 2E0DIJ for being the driver and photographer!
Cheers, till tomorrow! 

Alan - 2E0JWA