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A Year of Spothole

Written on Sunday 4 Oct 2026

It’s a lovely sunny afternoon across Europe. Light clouds hover in wide blue skies, the temperature is warm but not hot, a perfect balance caught between the heatwave summer we have just endured and the icy grip of winter that is sure to follow. Ham radio folks have headed to...

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The IC-705 Kit

Written on Tuesday 8 Sep 2026

Since I name-dropped my new IC-705 transceiver in my previous post, I thought I’d add another quick post to cover the rest of the kit as well. I went for this bag on advice from a SOTA Reflector post, and honestly it could do with being about 20mm wider, as...

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Summer's Last Gasp: 5th Backpackers and an Isle of Wight Rove

Written on Sunday 6 Sep 2026

With the fifth and final RSGB Backpackers contest coming up, I fancied a try at a new hilltop, and with it one of my last chances to get some more 2m SSB contacts in the log for the 2026 SOTA challenge. The logging assistant decided to cycle around the island...

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SOTA Activation Report: Autumn on Lewesdon Hill

Written on Wednesday 2 Sep 2026

Once again, summer has been a quiet season for me on the radio. Completing my POTA challenge made me think I should have a break from HF for a bit, but even on VHF I’ve only been out three times since: Field Day, 145 Alive, and a bonus trip up...

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145 Alive at Win Green

Written on Sunday 12 Jul 2026

For this afternoon’s 145 Alive event, I took a gamble and headed to every local ham’s favourite spot, Win Green. I had backup plans in case the summit was already spoken for, but luckily (and I think for the first time) I didn’t see another ham all day, and had...

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2026 Challenge Complete: Activate all POTA Parks within 20 miles!

Written on Friday 3 Jul 2026

It’s been a busy two years. In June 2024, after four years holding an amateur radio licence without talking to anyone, I finally discovered “my thing”: portable operating. Alongside the thrill of getting on the air and the beauty of being out in the wild, came an obsession with completionism...

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The Parks not Documented

Written on Thursday 2 Jul 2026

As I close in on the end of my “every POTA park within 20 miles” challenge, and start writing it up, I have noticed there were a few gaps in the list of activation reports. When I first started outdoor amateur radio, I breathlessly documented every single trip, somehow even...

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RSGB 2nd 144MHz Backpackers 2026 Contest Report

Written on Sunday 14 Jun 2026

Whenever you think there’s not going to be a hike, just a civilised walk from the car to the activation spot… there’s a hike. There’s always a hike. Today’s intention was to have my first go at the RSGB 144MHz Backpackers contest, and conveniently get a 2m SSB SOTA activation...

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Activation Report: The Heatwave Roves

Written on Tuesday 26 May 2026

Whitsun weekend, 2026. The country bakes under an unrelenting sun. Heat health warnings have been issued, with daily highs of 32C; the hottest May day since records began. Alright, time for some parks! Day One: 25th May On the first day, I tackled the four remaining parks of my challenge...

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POTA Rove Report: The Meeting of the Ways

Written on Tuesday 5 May 2026

My part of the world is home to two major rivers, the Stour and the Avon, which both meet each other and the sea at Christchurch. Both have trails along their length that have been recently added to the POTA system, as has the Castleman Trailway, which crosses them both....

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