ZS6DX/ZS2M
Update 2/1/2023:
See my note below on SOTA and why I have not activated a SOTA peak for 20
years, well, that is one of the reasons!
But times move on and there are now different people active on the local SOTA scene so I have decided to give SOTA a go again, well at least when it is convenient. For me POTA (Parks On The Air) is more relevant as I will be visiting a lot of parks starting in 2023 as part of photography and videography trips. I might as well activate them and hand out a few rare grid squires at the same time!
I have ordered a 6 band Hex Beam that I am hoping would be suitable for POTA activations as well as some local, southern African DXCC activations, as soon a is have customized and tested it I will report back here.
On 1/01/2003 I activated a Summit locally, as part of the SOTA movement worldwide to introduce the local branch that we are planning on launching on that day. For more details on this operation check here.
Sadly the local SOTA guys decided to ignore/forget my activation on 1/1/2003 even though it was well published! So much later someone else activated the same summit and claimed it was the first activation. When I questioned it I was met with less than friendly reply so that kind of killed SOTA for me, I have not activate a summit since then. I think it is quite sad since I spent a lot of time as part of the original team who got SOTA going in South Africa.
But times move on and there are now different people active on the local SOTA scene so I have decided to give SOTA a go again, well at least when it is convenient. For me POTA (Parks On The Air) is more relevant as I will be visiting a lot of parks starting in 2023 as part of photography and videography trips. I might as well activate them and hand out a few rare grid squires at the same time!
I have ordered a 6 band Hex Beam that I am hoping would be suitable for POTA activations as well as some local, southern African DXCC activations, as soon a is have customized and tested it I will report back here.
On 1/01/2003 I activated a Summit locally, as part of the SOTA movement worldwide to introduce the local branch that we are planning on launching on that day. For more details on this operation check here.
Sadly the local SOTA guys decided to ignore/forget my activation on 1/1/2003 even though it was well published! So much later someone else activated the same summit and claimed it was the first activation. When I questioned it I was met with less than friendly reply so that kind of killed SOTA for me, I have not activate a summit since then. I think it is quite sad since I spent a lot of time as part of the original team who got SOTA going in South Africa.
I am also planning a mini DX'pedition in the near future, most
likely as part of a tour around Southern Africa starting in 2023. I will keep you informed.
Some possible destinations include Namibia (V5), Swaziland (3DA), Lesotho (7P8), Botswana (A2), Zimbabwe (Z2), Mozambique (C9)
Since I have done V5, A2 and 3DA before the current favorite is 7P8. All these countries are within easy driving distance from our QTH. The political situation in Zimbabwe will rule out that destination for while.....
The plan is to activate bands/modes that are in demand, WARC bands as well. The station will be equipped with good antennas to make it workable by most.
Hope to see you in the pile-up !
Some possible destinations include Namibia (V5), Swaziland (3DA), Lesotho (7P8), Botswana (A2), Zimbabwe (Z2), Mozambique (C9)
Since I have done V5, A2 and 3DA before the current favorite is 7P8. All these countries are within easy driving distance from our QTH. The political situation in Zimbabwe will rule out that destination for while.....
The plan is to activate bands/modes that are in demand, WARC bands as well. The station will be equipped with good antennas to make it workable by most.
Hope to see you in the pile-up !