It always makes me happy when I am the first VK in the log for a station. It is even more special when that station is portable.

On the 8th January 2023, I spoke with Peter G5AIB/p who was activating SOTA summit Ros Castle G/SB-009), a little east of the Northumbrian town of Wooler, in the North East of England, near the Scottish Border.

Peter sent me an email and said:

“You were my first ever contact outside of Europe, so I was delighted to speak to you”.

Peter was using a Elecraft KX3 on 15 watts, with a SOTA beams Band Springer Midi, end fed antenna-Bandspringer Midi , end fed antenna, 10m-60m – SOTABEAMS

Peter sent me the photo below of his set up at the time.

It was a pleasure to get Peter in the log.