Almost forgot - 2m UKAC submission

Not quite sure why I bother as I know I shall be well down the results! 

Last Tuesday was the 2m leg of the RSGB organised activity contest (UKAC). Despite running 10W and an omni I submit my results, despite stopping on for very little time. Conditions seemed a bit "up". 

The map shows the stations worked in 30 minutes.

2m activity contest (UKAC)

A reminder that the November 2m activity contest (UKAC) is on tonight starting at 2000z. Although I usually submit an entry, there is no need to do so. Many just come on to enjoy the activity. Because of my poor voice and low power I do not stop on long. 

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?year=2024&contest=2mukac .

UPDATE 2038z: 4 stations worked with my 10W and omni, then I stopped as it was too hard with my poor voice. Best DX was GW1YBB/P. I have no idea (yet) how far this was.

2m activity contest (UKAC)

This evening was the 2m activity contest organised by the RSGB. 

As usual, I was running 10W PEP to my big-wheel omni antenna. 

Because of my poor voice I was only on for 30 minutes. 4 QSOs were made. See map.

2m activity contest last Tuesday

My mother-in-law would have called me a gunner. Why? Because I am "gunner do this and gunner do that". 

Several days ago I was going to submit my (pathetic) entry into the RSGB organised 2m activity contest (UKAC). I nearly forgot and submitted my entry just now. 

I get the feeling this contest is waning in popularity. Yes, there are still plenty of entries, but I seem to have fewer QSOs than I once did. This could be because urban stations find my 10W PEP harder now with increased local noise?

The map shows the QSOs with 10W PEP and the big-wheel omni antenna. I only stopped on very briefly.

2m FT8 UKAC activity contest

Last night was the 2m FT8 activity contest. This clearly illustrates the popularity of FT8 with 66 stations spotted here as the map shows.

2m activity contest this evening

After 5 QSOs with 10W SSB to my big-wheel omni, my voice had had enough, so I went QRT. 

Battling with repeating my callsign is no longer fun. In fact it is hard work. As my voice is now poor, I really struggle in SSB contests. It used to be fun whereas now it is far harder.

2m Es (Wednesday)

Es on 2m is rare. I see that 2m Es is occurring in the east of Europe. Maybe it will spread further west? 

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

2m FT8 activity contest yesterday evening

It is amazing what may be heard on 2m FT8 when there is an activity contest.  Last evening 67 stations were spotted here despite just using a big-wheel omni antenna and no beams. 

Furthermost was OV3T (694km) in Denmark. 

The map shows the stations spotted here.

2m FT8 activity contest (Wednesday)

After working a local, I am now RX only on 2m FT8. The furthermost copied is DK0TR (617km).  With FT8 I am sure we are able to tap into some kind of scatter. My own 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna was copied by by 14 stations with the furthermost G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall.

2m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

 

For a change, I am on 2m FT8 with my 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna. I cannot believe conditions are "up" at all.  2m FT8 seems very busy. There is an MGM contest on. Furthermost is EI9KP (649km)

UPDATE 1410z:  36 spots of my 2.5W 2m FT8.

2m activity contest (April)

This evening was the 2m section of the 2m activity  contest (UKAC) organised by the RSGB. As usual I was running 10W pep SSB to my omni big-wheel antenna. I only stopped on about 16 minutes as my voice is poor, but managed to work JO03 square, which is a first this year.

2m activity contest

Tonight is the 2m activity contest organised by the RSGB. I usually go on for a short while with my 10W pep to the big-wheel omni antenna. I usually give up soon as I find it very hard on my poor voice. I called a station in a rare square, but gave up.

2m activity contest (UKAC) - February 6th

Better late than never!  Last time, I was rock bottom of the AL (low power) section of this contest that runs every month for a year. One thing is certain: things can only get better, HI.  In all, 5 stations were worked (see map).

2m FT8 UKAC activity contest

 At 1900z, the RSGB 2m FT8 activity contest is being held. Already, there is a contest on in Europe, so the 2m FT8 segment is already busy.

UPDATE 2042z:  Over 50 stations in 6 countries spotted and several QSOs made.

UPDATE 2142z: 73 stations spotted as the map shows. I am pretty sure conditions were not "up" and this is normal with FT8. Remember, the antenna is just a big-wheel omni, with no beams!

2m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

As my 10m beacon is sending 500uW, my 2m big-wheel, FT817ND and PC are free, so I am on 2m QRP FT8 with 2.5W.  G0LRD has a very useful on line grabber so I can see if my signal is clean.

2m FT8 UKAC last evening

Last night was the first 2m FT8 activity contest. I worked a couple of stations using 2.5W and my big-wheel omni antenna, but I was not seriously taking part. I was only on for about 15 minutes. 

The map shows the stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX. It seems to me these distant stations are coming through by tropospheric scatter.

2m activity contest UKAC (Tuesday)

In the end I gave up after working just one station at 105km with my 10W pep to the omni antenna. Usually I work 5-10 stations in about 40 minutes. 

The low level of activity is probably for several reasons. Firstly many may just have forgotten thinking today was a Monday. Some may prefer FT8 these days. Also, the wind in the UK has been very strong, so there are probably fewer /P stations out this evening.

2m activity contest (UKAC)

The results of this friendly contest have been published  In the low power section I was 75th out of 172 using 10W PEP for less than an hour each time to the omni big-wheel antenna and the Cambridge Club was 37th (to which I give my points). This is one of the few occasions I use my voice.

2m FT8 (Wednesday)

At the moment, I am on 2m FT8 with 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna. Already 4 spots. after 10 minutes or so.

UPDATE 1445z: So far today (as the map shows) my 2.5W 2m FT8  using the big-wheel omni has been spotted by 11 stations with the furthermost GI6ATZ (479km).

2m 2.5W FT8

 Using my big-wheel omni antenna, I have been on 2m FT8 since about 0830z. So far, 4 spots today.

UPDATE 0947z: Now GI6ATZ (479km) spotting me. Too easy, even with 2.5W and an omni antenna! I am still unsure if this is aircraft reflection or troposcatter. The reports (decent) suggest aircraft.

UPDATE 1754z:   12 stations have spotted me today on 2m QRP FT8.