500+ Chaser Points

500 chaser points is relatively miniscule in the relative scale of SOTA ‘chasing’, there are stations with points achieved in the tens of thousands. Dedication at its best.

My points total has been mostly achieved on VHF with only 8 points

from a 5 mhz (60m) contact(I’m waiting on more points though).

My very first SOTA contact was Robert a GM4 station who was activating Tinto whom I heard calling on S20 as I was descending from a walk to Corlic (perhaps I should change my name to ‘Corlic Bob’), using my 2m FM handie with only its ‘rubber duck‘, I spoke to then listened to Robert until I reached home. I had previously been told about SOTA by Steve GM7 from Greenock and this obviously fired up my enthusiasm, if you have read the posts ‘ How It All Started’ Parts One <HERE> and Two <HERE>, you will know of my old 11m hilltop activations.

This is all to do with the easy part of SOTA, the armchair part although I have taken to the local hills to ‘work’ quite a few of these stations. I have sat here whilst some activators have suffered horrendous conditions to activate in snow and every conceivable inclement weather the Scottish climate can throw at you.

GM7something in full flow

There are 81 unique summits and 110 activations worked  in my latest points total (549), the most popular summit I’ve contacted is Ben Lomond with 5, the most contacted hill outside Scotland is Moel Llyfnant in north Wales with 3, all are STS (summit to summit) from Beinn Chaorach and a’Mhanaich.

I could make ‘Shack Sloth’ status quicker if I chose to chase HF activations but I’ll stay loyal to 50, 70 mhz and above but occasionally I will make visits for points to HF.

My thanks , obviously goes to those regular activators in the Scottish hills, you lads and lassies know who you are. although one of you took my call sign on an activation and later declared me a ‘pirate’, no names but you know who you are, the depriving me of four points still hurts hihi. The upside of it all is that if I was a ‘pirate’ then I’m in good company as Captain Kidd is also Greenock born, give me my four points, you scurvy dog !

Get Involved

For any interested blog readers in whether it be ‘activating’ or just ‘chasing’ , go to this webpage for further information <HERE>

For more detailed information on the awards that are achievable in SOTA , go <HERE>

Photo shown is © Roddy, 2M0IOB

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