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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 16/09/2026

I finally tracked down some QRM at home ahead of the 80m CC contest this evening. Turns out my OpenEVSE causes S9+10 of noise below 9 MHz, which drops to S4 when off! #hamradio #qrm #emi

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 27/08/2026

A 2m FM only activation from #SOTA G/WB-009 (Worcestershire Beacon) in #POTA GB-0356 (Malvern Hills). I was planning HF CW and SSB but there were storms immenent and I could hear the static crackling on the tip of my RH770 antenna on the handheld. #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 15/08/2026

A day of #SOTA activations in G/WB, with a few bonus #POTA too! #hamradio Lots of familiar callsigns from here, too which was nice! Same again tomorrow!

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 08/08/2026

I ended up also doing an ATNO activation of #POTA GB-5740 (with 85 in the log) and also GB-5597 (with 12 in the log) once John M0IDA departed, since the ATNO was on the way home, and the other was on the walk from the car to the forest. #hamradio #portable

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 08/08/2026

Activated a few ATNO #POTA parks today with M0IDA. A mix of CW and SSB. #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 06/08/2026

Another FT8-bot left unattended while 100s try calling... T2JK

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 05/08/2026

A slow activation testing out my AX1 clone at #pota GB-5958 #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 31/07/2026

This evening I spent a couple of hours on the radio from Thetford Heath Nature Reserve (until they closed up), #POTA GB-0009. I had a great run on 20m CW, with lots of pileup practice and some nice DX. Great fun! I also had a blast on 40m SSB, but the band was noisy! #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 27/07/2026

A few additional pictures of #SOTA G/SP-001 Kinder Scout (I activated from Kinder Low trig point). The walk was nice, despite the WX.

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 27/07/2026

On Sunday I activated three SOTA summits, G/SP-001, G/SP-015 and G/SP-013, along with their associated #POTA parks. WX was bleak, it rained all day, and was about 13C. But it was a good day! #hamradio #AmateurRadio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 25/07/2026

Today @m0wut.bsky.social and I activated #SOTA G/SP-004 and #POTA GB-6042 - Shining Tor. It was windy at the summit! As usual Elecraft KX2, at 10W CW on 40m dipole and Kenwood TH-D74E. #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 22/07/2026

Afternoon activation of #POTA GB-6686 was good fun, 27 contacts, 5 SSB and 22 CW. Got two #SOTA chases and six P2P. Mostly a wooded area with a busy clearing, so I stayed in the shade of the woods out of the way. Elecraft KX2, 10W, and MA-12 antenna. #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 21/07/2026

Tonight's activation of #POTA GB-2325 was fun as I had a sked with Jon GW2HFR on #SOTA GW/NW-047. I total, 26 in the log: a mix of CW and SSB on 40m with 2 bonus contacts on 15m when I called thinking the band was dead! 😂 Thanks to those OPs who follow me here, too! #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 20/07/2026

A long day today (Sunday) to make up for feeling unwell yesterday. Managed to activate 7 #SOTA summits today, all in G/WB. Made a bit more tricky by SOTA servers being flaky, but we got there! Thanks to all those who chased! Enjoy some random pictures from the day! #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 18/07/2026

I managed a couple of #SOTA today, G/WB-010 and G/WB-015. I had a lot more planned but felt quite unwell after lunch! No takers on 2m CW. Decent activity on HF, as expected on the weekend. Let's see what tomorrow has in store!

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 16/07/2026

Todays #POTA activation was at GB-4807. I activated with my mcHF, homemade in 2015, on the higher HF bands with 10W CW. A added bonus was meeting up with @qrper.bsky.social Thomas K4SWL (M5SWL with his UK call), as well as Bob M6BOB. #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 14/07/2026

Another activation this evening, and this time a 2-for-1 #pota at GB-5462 & GB-5461. #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 13/07/2026

First time out portable in a couple of weeks and my CW felt rusty! Still, managed to get 27 QSOs in the log in an hour. Nice mix of EU and US. #pota GB-2325 #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 04/07/2026

All stations go for #RSGB #VHFNFD at @g3pye @cambhams - this year we're QRO with renewable energy solar powered... #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 01/07/2026

Trying out a tiny 20m homebrew whip out portable today. Few in the log but once the band changed, nothing! 😂 #hamradio #pota

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 17/06/2026

Painfully slow #POTA activation this evening after work at GB-5460. Took an hour to make the 10 contacts. I called on 20m (2 Qs), 30m (0 Qs) and 40m (8 Qs). #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 16/06/2026

I squeezed in a bonus #POTA on the way home from the parents, too, activating GB-5457. It was very slow, and I resorted to searching and pouncing, as nobody answered CQ calls on 40m or 20m, and only 4 folks on 30m (for which I'm very grateful). The park was beautiful! #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 16/06/2026

Todays #POTA activation of GB-6687 on the way to the parents from seeing friends. #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 16/06/2026

Reminds me of this classic, when @m0taz.bsky.social got a sheep tangled in an antenna...

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 15/06/2026

Nice peaceful #POTA activation at GB-2325 until about 20 sheep crept up behind me! I jumped when I saw them, and they all retreated to safely! 😂 Then they wouldn't leave me alone! Kept on coming over to me 🤷 #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 11/06/2026

We take over a layby just north of Cambridge.

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 07/06/2026

I also did some 2m CW. 👌 bsky.app/profile/kibb... It was so windy and wet the entire day... Look at the trees struggling! 😂

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 07/06/2026

Still alive OM. Bleak WX, this was on the next summit, less wet than the "please work me" one! I wanted to just activate with 2M FM and not get HF out. Video of Long Knoll G/SC-007 about half way to the summit, just along the back of the knoll #SOTA

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 06/06/2026

Thanks for the report! 😂 10W from IC705

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 04/06/2026

This is a capacitive touch paddle based on the M0UKD circuit. It feels much more precise than the pressure paddle, but is perhaps too sensitive. At 20 WPM it's fine, but at 30 WPM it's tricky. Needs a tweak to reduce the sensitivity a bit. #morse #cw #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 04/06/2026

Messing about with pressure paddes for the KX2 and KX3 based on an idea from VK3IL. The work OK but aren't really my style. When I get a moment, I'll share the design files if anyone wants to make their own. (Excuse my CW, I'm only new to morse.) #cw #morse #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 03/06/2026

This is an MA12. Cost around £100. Seller stock photos. It's 20m to 6m, 1/4-wave vertical, and then loading coil for 40m, and I made a coil for 30m too.

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 01/06/2026

A quick activation of #POTA GB-6689 Marston Marsh near Norwich on the way home from seeing a school friend. I was hoping to work down through the bands and get some CW practice in, but ended up going QRT after 10 QSOs on 20m since rain stopped play. #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 31/05/2026

Great to catch @k5em.com on a layover and activate #sota G/CE-005 and #pota GB-1850 today, along with @G5RFJ - we had a blast on both HF and VHF mixed modes! #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 24/05/2026

Sunday's #SOTAs of GW/NW-058, GW/NW-058 and GW/NW-064 (all in #POTA GB-1002) had much better weather ☀️ #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 24/05/2026

It got better! 😂 Thankfully!!

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 24/05/2026

Tell me about it. It's the same today! Currently heading up #SOTA GW/NW-058. While the rest of the UK is cooking! 😂

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 23/05/2026

Todays #hamradio activations included #SOTA GW/NW-035 and GW/NW-050 as well as #POTA GB-0995 and GB-4251. Despite most of the England being at 30C, up in North Wales it was about 10C. 😭

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 18/05/2026

Dunstable Downs Radio Club rally 2026 was good! I didn't buy any junk! And manged to activate the park with a few friends, plus a bonus park on the drive home! #ddrc #pota #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 11/05/2026

Action shot of when I was desperately calling on 40m CW, with no takers! Eventually @PA1AKM answered.

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 11/05/2026

Another 5 #pota parks activated today with @g5rfj - conditions on HF were poor 😔 #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 09/05/2026

A few #pota activations today with @m0ida - WX was good! #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 05/04/2026

@m0wut.bsky.social operating, with the first summit of the day (EA1/AT-043, with the red/white antenna mast) in the background. #hamradio #sota #portable

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 29/03/2026

Today saw me activate three #SOTA summits in G/SC, and the Dorset Landscapes #POTA GB-0008. All on 2m, mix of SSB, CW and FM. Weather was on side. Thanks for the QSOs! #hamradio #portable

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 28/03/2026

Four #SOTA summits and associated #POTA parks activated today in G/SC. All on 2m, mix of SSB, CW and FM. Weather was on side. Thanks for the QSOs! #hamradio #portable

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 15/03/2026

Good to catch you mate! Great signal here with me, 599++; hope your weather was reasonable at least! Few of us did the 'favourite five' SOTAs (and their POTAs) yesterday! I'll try and get a POTA in after work this week for the CW practice. 😂

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 14/03/2026

Just back from the second #sota #pota activation on Stiperstones G/WB-003 with @m0blf.org.uk and @m0vfc #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 22/02/2026

This mornings activation of GB-6035 with @johnpaulparkins 2E0TFJ using his magnetic loop! #pota #hamradio

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George Smart, M1GEO @m1geo.com · 31/01/2026

🙁 Penultimate hole: 13.5/15 holes tapped to M3. Cooper is so sticky. I may have said bad words. Anyone have an M3 tap I can borrow? 😐

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