This year, the 145 Alive activity is joined by its side project, “More on 144”—extending the normal FM-only activity to SSB on the lower part of the 2m band as well.

One of my Radio New Year’s Resolutions was a POTA activation entirely on VHF, plus I still needed to shake down the repaired FT-817 to make sure it was functional. So what better opportunity than this to give it a shot?

I needed somewhere high up, both for the line of sight, and because anything vaguely low-lying in my area is currently underwater. I needed a good view towards Dorchester and Devon where my nearest net coordinators were setting up their stations. It needed a car park at the top, because I’d seen the forecast, and it wasn’t great. And being able to check off one of my last remaining unactivated POTA parks in the area would be a nice bonus. Those criteria narrowed it down to exactly one place: GB-4515 Fontmell and Melbury Downs.

The Maidenhead grid locator, IO80wx, felt like an omen… and indeed, Wx by name, Wx by nature. The photo above was from one of the breaks in the rain, though the wind kept up throughout my time on the hill and mic noise was a killer whenever I tried to use a radio outside. So, sadly, the view I got for most of the activity was this:

The good news was, the FT-817 was back on form. I’d previously managed half a QSO on it, and I was struggling to love it like I knew I should. But it came through for me today, allowing me to switch between FM and SSB on the 2m band with ease. I stuck with the 2m/70cm whip that lives on the roof of my car, as the wind didn’t leave much opportunity to set up the beam on its tripod. I also had a couple of FM QSOs on the HTs.

14 in the log was the total, over around 3 hours of operating. I really need to learn how to slow my brain down for things that aren’t explicitly xOTA activations. I’ve got used to being the one in the centre of the pile-up, rather than just someone checking into a net and trying to make a few QSOs where I could! I narrowly missed out on QSOs with a couple of FRARS members but did manage my first with Richard M0RHS. My furthest contact of the day was Keith M0CPJ down in Devon, a distance of 123km.

So, a POTA activation on 2m SSB is definitely possible, though without 145 Alive I’m sure it wouldn’t have been! Huge thanks are due to our net controllers, 2E0TPH, M7DVX, M0TCF and G1NNR. See you on the air again next time!