Fontardión (EA1/CR-005)

This is a video of the SOTA activation of Fontardion (EA1/CR-005) together with EA1AQ and Adi, who also helped with the camera.

I think I chose the wrong frequency this time (15m). I only managed to make 2 local QSOs before it started raining, but it was a good experience anyway.

Formigueiros (SOTA EA1/LU-002): DG7LAL

This is a video of a QSO with German station DG7LAL (op Rainer) from the summit of Formigueiros (1639m) on 20m SSB.

Rainer was one of the first phone QSOs I made with my Clansman PRC-320 when I still had problems with my handset's microphone, and he made a voice recording for me at that time that you can see here:

Thank you Rainer!

Cova da Serpe (EA1/LU-046): OK1KZ

This is a video of a QSO with Czech station OK1KZ (Pavel) from Cova da Serpe (SOTA ref. EA1/LU-046) using my FT-857 with a whip antenna.

Cova da Serpe was first activaded on 1 August 2010 by EA1LQ (Ernesto).
The mount is already mentioned in the 10th century as 'Cova de Serpente' (Snake's Cave). The name stems from a cave near the summit, about 12m long and 2m high at the entrance, with a maximum width of 5m.

2m FM from Monte do Oural (EA1/CR-018)

This is a video of a QSO with EA1UP (Julio) from Monte do Oural (Irixoa) on 2m FM.

Then I also made a QSO with EA1AQ/M.

I was using my FT-857D with a quarter-wave mobile whip.

From SOTA EA1/LU-025 to IOTA EU-031 (Procida Island)

This is a video of a QSO with Italian station IC8ATA (operator Raul) from Procida island (IOTA reference EU-031).

Procida is one of the Phlegrean islands off the coast of Naples in southern Italy. The island is between Cape Miseno and the island of Ischia. With its tiny satellite island of Vivara, it is a comune of the province of Naples, in the region of Campania. The population is about ten thousand.
Procida has been chosen as a film set for numerous films, mainly for its panoramas and its typical Mediterranean architecture. The most famous are Il Postino and The Talented Mr. Ripley.

From Naxos Island to the Falklands

Today I made a QSO with Greek station SV8FEB from Naxos Island (operator: Vangelis) on 15m SSB. He gave me reference EU-067 for the IOTA (Islands On The Air) programme.
Naxos is the largest island (429 km2 (166 sq mi)) in the Cyclades island group in the Aegean. It was the centre of archaic Cycladic culture. Mount Zas (999 metres) is the highest peak in the Cyclades, and tends to trap the clouds, permitting greater rainfall. According to a story in Greek mythology, the young Zeus was raised in a cave on Mt. Zas ("Zas" meaning "Zeus").
Immediately after that I made a QSo with VP8LP (Bob) from the Falklands (IOTA ref. SA-002).
I also made contacts with South Africa (ZS6RF and ZS1AX), the US (KC0CF, K1BKE and W3JK), Cameroon (TJ9PF), and Uruguay (CX4BW).

Summit to Summit with EA1HNP

This is a video of a summit-to-summit QSO with EA1HNP (José Luis) who was activating another SOTA summit near Pedrafita do Cebreiro.

The QSO was on 20m SSB and we agreed to meet later to eat "pulpo" (octopus)...

My first SOTA certificate

Today I have received my first SOTA certificate, for 100 points as an activator, dated 31 December 2010.
There are also certificates waiting at 250, 500 and 100 point levels, plus the certificates based on SOTA uniques, i.e. the number of different summits activated regardless of SOTA points, starting at 100.
We will probably have to celebrate this weekend.

15m QSOs from A Cotela do Faro (EA1/LU-003)

On this video you can see the QSOs I made from the Summit of A Cotela do Faro. There was a great view from up there at 1615m of height.

The QSOs were all made on 15m SSB using my battery operated light manpack radio with a 2.9m whip and a dragwire as a counterpoise.

A Cotela do Faro (EA1/LU-003)

Last Saturday I went with Robi to do some SOTA activations near Pedrafita do Cebreiro. One of them was A Cotela do Faro (1615m), SOTA reference EA1/LU-003. This is the video of the final ascent.

As you can see, the weather was very good, so we left our jackets in the car.
During the ascent, I made a repeater contact with my father, EA1AQ, who was 200km away, in A Coruña.

Bert and Ernie at Beiramar: IW2CLM

This is a video of a QSO on 20m SSB with Italian station IW2CLM. We look like Bert and Ernie testing the new little manpack radio.

Domenico (IW2CLM) is a software engineer and has been licensed since 1983. His 9-element optibeam is 35m above the ground.