An evening of DX portable/mobile contacts

Last night (Monday 12th September 2021) I burnt the midnight oil a little and worked a handful of DX portable/mobile stations on 20m on the short path. The band was alive with European signals due to the Worked All Europe DX Contest, but I focussed on the portable operators who were operating outside of the Contest.

First in the log was Joe M1DLS who was activating Northumbrian Coast SPA-Blyth North Beach GFF-0339. Joe was 5/3 and gave me a 5/3 also. The map below shows his location.

Map showing the location of GFF-0339

The photos below show GFF-0339 (c/o Google maps).

I found the video below that was put together by Joe of his activation.

Next in the log was Mark M0NOM/p who was activating SOTA peak Whitbarrow-Lords Seat G/ LD-056 in GFF-0233. Mark was 5/3 and he gave me a 5/7.

Mark M0NOM. c/o QRZ.com

The map below shows the location of G/ LD-056 and GFF-0233.

Above:- The location of G/ LD-056 & GFF-0233

More info on the summit can be found at……..

This was followed by Balazs HA5GB/p who was activating SOTA peak HA/ KM-028 in Hungary. The signal reports were 5/3 sent and 4/5 received.

Next was Rodolfo I4RHP/p who was activating Natura 2000 – Alta Valle Del Torrente Sintria IFF-1888 in Italy. The signals were 5/5 both ways. The photos below are c/o https://ambiente.regione.emilia-romagna.it/

I then spoke with Steve G5EPC who was operating portable with 100 watts and a 5/8th vertical antenna. Steve was 5/5 and he gave a 5/6 signal report. Steve has a website which can be found at…….

https://g5epc.blogspot.com/

Above:- Steve’s vertical. c/o his blog

And finally I spoke with Fraser MM0JHCD/p who was stationary mobile about 40 miles east of Edinburgh. He was running an Icom IC7100, Heil headset, and a MFJ telescopic vertical antenna on the roof of his van. Fraser was 5/4 and he gave me a 5/5 signal report.

I did hear a number of other European/UK SOTA and Park activators, but unfortunately they were being drowned out by other European stations taking part in the Worked All Europe DX Contest.