Sad to hear that Roy. I didn’t know Dave very well but my thoughts go
out to his friends and family especially as a funeral will be so
different and difficult at these times.Andy
MM0FMF
Oh no – this is tragic. I’ve known Dave from away back in the 70’s when we were both experimenting on 2M – specifically Auroral contacts.
My last chats with him seem to reassure me that he had made a good recovery for the previous underlying heart problems. It appears not to have been the case?
As I’ve said – tragic and sad, and we’ll miss his ‘quirky’ experimentation. A true amateur (:>(
In message <0a5w.1585997020047929611.qLF7@groups.io>, Roy – GM4VKI via
groups.io <rkavampsev=aol.com@groups.io> writes
It is with tears in my eys to report the my best mate Dave GM3WIL
passed away last night due to a massive heart attack. RIP Pal.
Roy
GM4VKI
I’m sorry to hear that; I knew he had health problems. I’ve known him
since I lived in Troon some considerable time ago. I was chatting to him
at Galashiels in October. Worked him many times on 4m and 2m.
Frontier-women conquers Summits – By Péter Váry O.
Women usually go to the hairdresser, go shopping, and usually do “feminine” things when they have time off. Éva Gajdó, a teacher of computer science at Tivadar Puskás Vocational High School, who teaches programming on CNC (computer-controlled) machines, does not like this. She climbs mountains. And up there on the summit, she transmits radio signals. It may seem a strange combination at first, but it is recognised as a sport. Established for less than a decade and a half, it is already gaining in popularity and Éva Gajdó has accomplished something very big in this sport in a short time. Her success is the envy of her fellow men, which as she is a Szekler, does not often happen. (The Székelys derive their name from a Hungarian expression meaning “frontier guards”.)
Éva Gajdó has been roaming the mountains since she was a child. She became a true lover of climbing when one of her teachers took her on an expedition. Then life sank into the ordinary course of events: she got married, the children came and there was little opportunity to conquer the peaks.
Several years ago however, talking about childhood dreams with a group of friends, Eve recalled that when she was sixteen, she was determined to climb Mont Blanc. But it seemed it would remain just a dream. Then, a few days later, a friend told her that the Szeklers were hiring amateur climbers and heading to Mont Blanc.”I didn’t think, I called Tulit Sombor, and applied,” says Eve.
Two months of tough training was unsurpringingly not enough to qualify for the team. She also found her gear was unsuitable. She hiked in velvet pants and her ancient boots caused problems; the two months were agonizing. But Sombor reassured her that she had all the skills and with a little training, could climb Mont Blanc. It became a passion and she has not missed a weekend in five years and even celebrated New Year’s Eve on top of a mountain.
She applied for another expedition, but unfortunately before her departure she sprained an ankle. She was able to climb this year, but couldn’t use the radio.
In order to understand why Eve should have been broadcasting radio signals from the highest peak in the Alps and what activation means we need to introduce the sport called SOTA. The acronym comes from ‘Summits on the Air’, this radio competition was launched in 2002 by radio amateurs who combined there passion with mountaineering.
The competition (Edit: SOTA is not a contest it is based on your own self fulfilment) consists of climbing the designated peaks – at least 150 meters above its surroundings – by hiking, and from the ‘summit’ the hiker must establish at least four radio links with other radio amateurs around the world (meaning activation).
The peaks score between 1 and 10 according to their height and can be activated once per year.
The map provided by NASA to radio-operators in Romania has about two hundred SOTA peaks, of which 250-300 can be climbed under normal conditions, ie on a more or less well-marked path.
A walkie-talkie can achieve the necessary score if it is successfully activated, that is, it has been climbed and a minimum of four mandatory contacts made. After earning a thousand points, the title ‘Mountain Goat’ and trophy will be awarded to the competitor. Achieving a thousand points usually takes several years to complete. Eva did a special job here too.
Eva Activating
Eve met a man in Jezer (Bosnia and Herzegovina) on a hike, while trying to establish a radio connection at the summit. He was interested in the subject, because there is a radio club at Puskás Tivadar Vocational School, Budapest, and he was wondering how to create something new and interesting for the students. At that time, he had no plans to start radioing himself, or that hiking would become a competitive climb. He asked a teacher at Transilvania University in Brasov, Csaba-Zoltán Kertész, if he would come and introduce SOTA to the children.
Since January last year, Csaba has gone to St. George every Tuesday, trying to infect students with the radio virus. Because amateur-radio amateur is well-suited to the younger generation, SOTA is becoming more and more popular, including foxhunting, but knowing the basics of radio is essential.
Eve had no childhood dream of becoming a radio amateur but her dedication to teaching led her there. Csaba Kertész enthusiastic for the Tuesday afternoon classes included taking the students on several trips, where they could experience “live” what walking radio was about.
Eva thought that if Csaba couldn’t come for some reason, it would be a good idea if someone could take care of the children. But to do that she needed a radio license.
– You have to take a very tough exam: electronics, knowledge of frequencies, first aid. You have to learn the phonetic alphabet that is used in radio, to know what phrases can be heard and what are not, so there are ethical rules as well.
She passed and received her radio callsign: YO6EVA. (YO = Romania ID, 6 represents the area, and EVA unique, individual)
I’ll do it in a year – As I had passed my exam, I went with Csaba to a SOTA marathon. It was staged in the Bihari Mountains, Romania, and was worth exactly one thousand (1000) points for someone who had done it for six or seven years. I told Csaba, as I go to the mountains, I could earn a thousand points in a year.
In the beginning it was really hard because I didn’t know anything about radio, I didn’t have any equipment, I borrowed a walkie-talkie, which had only 300 meters range I went up the mountain and couldn’t activate it. I persuaded Csaba to come with me to collect points, but the points accumulated very slowly. Finally, I bought a serious radio, and then the “party” started.
– Has a thousand points been reached in one year?
– Not easily, but it was. I went to Nagykő (Transylvania, Romania) alone and for the first time spoke on the radio and I was so scared I switched it off.
There was bad weather at Nagyhagymás, I went up four times, but never activated it; in minus ten (-10) degrees activating radio was not a lot of fun.
Disappointed I told Csaba it wouldn’t work for me, but with the support of friends, somehow I hung on and continued. The biggest challenge was to get to the summits that I would not have gone to otherwise, I had to cut through a sign or path like in the jungle. Finally a thousand points were reached, 131 different peaks in a year.
– 131 peaks in a year, one average every three days.
– Most were the four eight-point peaks in a single day, 40 kilometers of walking at 3500 meters.
What’s next?
With her unique performance, Eve has earned the envy of many of the male walkie-talkie operators, She reached a thousand points in May – since then, the number of activations in Romania has increased, with another SOTA marathon being organized by December 1, interest in the sport has revived..
Although Eve has achieved what she set herself to do, she does not intend to stop walking but not as intense as before. Also because all of the closest peaks have been activated and new ones are usually a two-day hike away – She would like to climb the highest peaks in Europe, but she would need to take another license before she could broadcast abroad.
Eve talks enthusiastically about everything, but when it comes to the mountains, her eyes shine the most. What does mountain climbing, mean to her?
Its an obsession with me, an addiction. The mountain has given me so much, I try to pass that on to the students. Everything revolves around the mountain, I don’t go to the beautician or to the shops, and my daughter says you have seven pairs of hiking pants, but you just don’t have anything to go to school. SOTA has exposed a whole new side of climbing and fox hunting.
YO6EVA Eva Kelemen Gajdo reached a thousand points in May 2018 becoming the first YL Mountain Goat in Romania. An admirable achievement, showing great dedication and a nice example to follow. What is truly amazing, that she achieved this goal in just under a year after obtaining her HAM license, learning all about what it takes to operate a radio while hiking around the summits of Romania, whatever the conditions or difficulties. Hail, the rain, bad propagation could not deter her in achieving her target.
Romanian yl Éva YO6EVA active on Argentina Mountain
yl from Romania – YO6EVA Éva Gajdo and Csaba YO6PIB with colleagues from SOTA Mendoza, Argentina, activated SOTA (LUM/PC-004) Jan. 2020.
Éva Gajdó YO6EVA and Csaba-Zoltán Kertész YO6PIB came to climb and activate Aconcagua during the first two weeks of January 2020. Aconcagua (LUM/PH-001) is the highest summit in the SOTA programme, altitude. 6960m.
However they could not reach the summit due to very high winds. They began their descent as per schedule feeling very disappointed, especially regarding the Mendoza radioclub friends who had supported the expedition, prepared to ‘chase’ (on air) and even to make ‘summit-to-summit’ contacts. They made 2 attempts and spent 3 nights at over 6000m.
On their arrival back in Mendoza, Eva and Csabone had one day left before catching their plane home to Romania. Tthe Argentina SOTA group was also disappointed and it was decided to activate another summit where they could communicate in VHF and HF as originally planned.
The route was chosen so that Eva and Csaba could enjoy seeing animals from the local Villavicencio reserve, mostly guanacos. The group was also lucky enough to see several condors flying over the activated peak in the Paramillos area.
The group were surprised by the number of active stations that made contact. Many operators were keen to communicate their enthusiasm at contacting the visitors and to wish them a safe journey back to Romania. Unfortunately propagation conditions for HF were not good, although some contacts were achieved.
The Argentinians were happy that Eva and Csaba had managed to activate an Argentine summit and although it was not Aconcagua, that they had enjoyed the local hospitality of Mendoza.
LUM/PC-004, Paramillos 3356m This peak is not well known and does not have a name, near Termas Villavicencio, Mendoza (Argentina). Value 8 SOTA points,
See Éva Gajdó Facebook: Album Acongaua 6700 méteren
Aconcagua [32°39’12.35″S – 70° 0’40.00″W]
Aconcagua is a mountain in the Principal Cordillera of the Andes mountain range, in Mendoza Province,. east of Argentina’s border with Chile. Aconcagua is the highest mountain outside Asia, at 6,961 meters (22,838 feet)
The mountain and its surroundings are part of the Aconcagua Provincial Park. Aconcagua Provincial Park is 185 km away from the city of Mendoza, near the border with Chile.
The mountain has a number of glaciers. Aconcagua is arguably the highest non-technical mountain in the world, since the northern route does not absolutely require ropes, axes, and pins. around 3,500 climbers tackle Aconcagua each year with a success rate of about 60%. Aconcagua has one of the highest death tolls of the world’s highest peaks.
There are severe winds and low temperatures, but it’s Aconcagua’s altitude that presents the greatest problem. Every year sees several deaths on Aconcagua – mainly people who underestimated the task and help may take several hours to arrive. Climbing the mountain will require on average of around 21 days.
The official visiting season is from November 15 to March 15. During the summer, the temperature at night above 5,000 meters (16,400 feet) is about -20°C (-4°F), and the usual temperature at the summit is -30°C (-22°F). In the rain shadow of the Andean crest, the park is one of the most barren parts of the Andes, with only a discontinuous cover of prostrate shrubs and grasses. At the highest altitudes, it is almost pure scree and snow.
With a new Club member, Bartek the overall winner.
Well done Bartek !
This year the Scoring regime slightly changed – HERE. Although the Categories remained the same, the Points awarded to each was changed to give a possible maximum of 100 Points/Judge.
And to this end, our two Judges on the night were ERNIE – GM0EZP and JOHN – GM0XFK. Thanks ‘lads’!
The Top Three – Cong, Bartek & Stuart
This year’s standard of construction was high, but as has been said on other Construction related POSTS , it’s not the most technically complex, beautifully built gizzo that will win, as you can see other factors are taken into consideration. So next year please have a go.
Finally, it was good to see Paul – MM7AJE (through the generous help of Bartek popping out to Paul’s QTH) able to attend the meeting following his recent ACCIDENT with a Police van. Well done Paul (and Bartek).
Text – Courtesy of Mid Lanark Amateur Radio Society (MLARS)
Obituary Mr Denis Barret MM0DNX (SK)
Denis was the lead trainer and exam secretary for the Mid Lanark Amateur radio society for many years guiding many amateurs through their first nervous QSO and on to them becoming experienced operators.
Living in the Baillieston & Garrowhill areas of Glasgow, Denis had a wide and varied career before his retirement form a shop worker to bus driver and even a driving instructor indeed Denis taught several amateurs to drive – way back
His interest in radio – initially CB but he came over to the ‘bright’ side through the influence of Graeme – GM8JIP (SK) and Jack GM4COX.
His training style was an example to all trainers mixing as he did the course with real examples and admitting He was still learning, experimenting with new technology and old with ease and stressing that this is a hobby.
Over the past year or two his health was not the best and he encouraged several other club members to take over the training role but with his hand guiding them throughout this included the largest course in the clubs history, indeed the last course he was supervising finished only a week or so ago.
More recently he was forced to spend time in hospital but even there he had his handy talkies and phone to keep in touch with the world regularly on the GL repeater between 11 and 12 each day setting the world to right.
A sad loss to the world of amateur radio and the club.
An expedition or Dxpedition is an operation carried out by an amateur radio operator or a group of them from an “exotic” or “weird” place, radially speaking due to their remoteness, their complicated or restricted access, or simply because they do not exist or are very few resident radio amateurs who practice DX.
But what is the grace of transmitting from these places you would think because we could spend our lives without them and nothing happens.
What happens is that there are programs leading to the obtaining of diplomas such as the IOTA program (Islands on the Air) or the DXCC (Dx Century Club), the first one divides radio amateurs in Chaser or island hunters and in Activators or expeditionaries ( who perform the operations) if you wish to pursue and get these Awards (Diplomas) you will love knowing that a group of operators will put on the air a very elusive island that is just the one you need. In order to regulate the IOTA diploma program, a significant number of islands or groups of islands have been identified and numbered under the same name, for example: –
SA 018 Call area CE7 LOS LAGOS REGION SOUTH group (= Acui, Alao, Apiao, Caguache, Cailin, Caucahue, Chaulinec, Chaullin, Chauques Isls [namely Anihue, Aulin, Buta Chauques, Cheniao, Mechuque, Tac, Taucolon], Chelin, Chiloe, Coldita, Colocia, Deserters Isls [namely Ahullini, Chuit, Chulin,
Imerquina, Nayahue, Talcan], Dona Sebastiana, Guafo, Guapi Quilan Isls, Guar, Laitec, Lemuy, Liliguapi, Linacre, Linguar, Lin Lin, Lipipe, Llancahue, Llingua, Maillen, Meulin, Pelada, Puluqui, Quehui, Quenac, Quenu, Queullin, Quinchao, Redonda, San Pedro, Tabon, Teuquelin, Tranqui
More information on its website: https://www.iota-world.org/es/ The DXCC program, which is a registered trademark of the American Radio Relay League, is also a program of permanent diplomas that offers diplomas in different categories according to the number of entities contacted and confirmed, modes and types of operation (mobile and QRP, CW. , SSB, Etc.) The DXCC program maintains an official list of entities that may or may not be a country because for geo-graphical or political reasons some places count as a country, the case of Hawaii that despite being United States count as a different entity or the Chilean Antarctic or Easter Island that despite being Chilean territory count as different entities.
To qualify for some of the Awards (Diplomas of the DXCC program you must prove that you have contacted the entities indicated by physical QSL cards to check a Card Checker (radio amateur volunteers who check that everything is in order or electronically through the Logbook of the World (loTW)
Information about the DXCC program here: http://www.arrl.org/dxcc
Logbook of the World here: https://lotw.arrl.org/lotwuser/default How a Dxpedition works:
The group of operators or operator will try to spend as much time as possible on the air and will transmit in all bands and so that their respective licenses, the regulations of the country and the technical aspects allow them. Its objective is to contact as many stations and entities as possible and will be available to all radio amateurs in the world who wish to contact them. And how do you participate?
Well the main thing is to have patience, to STUDY and LISTEN A LOT before you start talking silly. Inquire on the expedition’s website about the bands and modes in which they will be active, and the dates between which the operation will take place. Help yourself with the reports of the Cluster to see if there are stations in your country that are making contacts, study the propagation reports for the date, listen carefully, normally the operators work in SPLIT when they have many stations calling them (they listen on one frequency and they transmit on another) do not do the crazy calling where there is no one to listen to them, have patience wait for your chance as the more powerful stations leave because they already “worked” the Dxpetition, when your possibilities increase. Many times the operators also divide and call with some requirement: for example Stations with Number 2 in the call, or callsigns, ending in M, or only South America stations, etc.
Email from Alan – GM3PSP “………sad news of the passing of Andre Saunders GM3VLB…………”
Sad news indeed. Anne (GM4UXX) knew Andre through their profession as teachers. And of course I knew Andre through his escapades with low (ish) QRP and simple aerials and his island jaunts. Indeed I had Andre come to WoSARS many years ago describing these jaunts. Went down well. Always enjoyed having a rag-chew at the various rallys. And wonder where you heard the news of his passing? We could have included this in our GB2RS broadcast this morning.
Veronica & Andre’ Outside The MOC May 2019 (Photo – Alan GM3PSP)
Jack,
Andre was actually member of the LRS and he and Veronica usually came up from Kelso for our social events – summer BBQ, Christmas Curry etc.
I saw them at the MoC at a lecture just a couple of weeks ago and he told me about his condition. He was already in pain and walking with a stick. I took the attached photo of them outside the MoC after the talk.
I was shocked to learn of his passing last Thursday after Veronica told one of our members. We shall be helping her to dispose of his equipment. It occurs to me that we should be trying to write up a VIP-SK for him.
