70cm activity contest tonight

As this is the second Tuesday in the month, at 1900z tonight should be the 70cm UKAC activity contest organised by the RSGB. 

As I can only run 2.5W to a 2m big-wheel and my voice is poor, I usually stay on for much less than 1 hour. 

As I recall, activity last time was down with many preferring the FT8 activity contest that is usually on the Wednesday. Usually, the activity contest sees SSB activity higher than usual.

70cm FT8 activity contest

This contest starts at 1900z tonight. I usually go on with my 2.5W to my 2m big-wheel omni antenna for about 30 minutes. I may well stay on RX until much later in the evening to see which stations come through.

UPDATE  2115z:  After 2.25 hours, 24 stations spotted (see map). What a difference from the UKAC last night!  It would seem many now prefer FT8 to SSB.

70cm activity contest

After copying no stations at all (!) I gave up. I expect the next 70cm FT8 activity contest will be much better!

70cm activity contest

On the second Tuesday of the month is the 70cm activity contest (UKAC). I can only run 2.5W to the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. Because of my voice, I cannot stay on long. This evening was hopeless and I only stopped on for about 20 minutes and worked just 1 station. I expect there will be many more on the 70cm FT8 activity contest, that I think is tomorrow.

70cm FT8 activity contest

 Yesterday evening was the 70cm FT8 activity contest (UKAC). I can only use 2.5W to my 2m big-wheel omni antenna, yet stations as far away as Germany were copied  (see map) and 2 locals worked. I was not on very long as we have a regular 2m FM net.

70cm activity contest

Last evening, I took part in the 70cm UKAC activity contest organised by the RSGB. As I had just sold my IC-705, I had to use my FT817ND at 2.5W without the speech processor. 

To my surprise I worked 6 stations and some good DX as the map shows.

Once again, my antenna was the 2m big-wheel omni.

70cm activity contest results

The results of the first 70cm activity contest of the year have just been released. I came near the bottom of the lower power section, so things can only improve, I hope!

70cm FT8 activity contest (Wednesday evening)

This evening, the 70cm FT8 activity contest organised by the RSGB starts at 1900z. I believe this coincides with a European 70cm FT8 contest that starts earlier. Activity is surprisingly good.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?contest=70cmsgmac .

Stations spotted on 70cm FT8 RX....with the 2m omni antenna!

70cm activity contest (UKAC)

Tonight is the 70cm leg of the 70cm activity contest organised by the RSGB. It starts at 2000z.  I usually go on SSB for about 45 minutes with 10W to the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. As it sounds rough outside, I expect conditions to be flat. 

UPDATE 2038z:  Just one station worked! It is my view that there are now fewer stations on SSB. After about 15 minutes I gave up as there were so few stations active. Maybe tomorrow in the FT8 UKAC there will be more.

70cm FT8 RX

At the moment I am on 70cm FT8 RX.  Tomorrow is the 70cm activity contest, so tonight I expect to copy none, or at best, very few stations.

UPDATE 1941z:   No spots.

70cm activity contest (UKAC)

Tonight was the 70cm activity contest organised by the RSGB. After just a single contact I gave up. Activity seems lower than it was although I only use 10W pep and the 2m omni big-wheel antenna. 

Speech contests are hard work these days for me and the shack was quite cold. The 70cm FT8 activity contest tomorrow evening is a bit easier for me.

70cm FT8 activity contest

Stations spotted on 70cm FT8 last night with the 2m omni

Last night was the 70cm FT8 activity contest. I continue to be amazed by how far stations can be copied with just a 2m omni. I am sure some sort of scatter is involved. In all, 5 stations were worked and my 5W to the 2m big-wheel was widely spotted.

Stations spotting my 5W to the 2m big-wheel on 70cm FT8 last night

70cm activity contest (UKAC)

This evening was the 70cm activity contest (UKAC) organised by the RSGB. As usual I entered the low power section for about 40 minutes with 10W and the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. 4 QSOs were made (see map).

70cm QRP FT8

At 1900z, I think there is an RSGB organised activity FT8 contest. Before that, I think there is a European 70cm FT8 contest. I have already worked a local.

Stations spotting my QRP
on 70cm FT8 this evening

UPDATE 2002z:  Loads of stations spotted on 70cm FT8 RX including EI and PE. Quite a few spotted me on QRP FT8 TX with the 2m big-wheel omni antenna.

70cm activity contest (UKAC) October

This evening, I took part in the 70cm activity contest (UKAC). In all, 3 stations were worked when using 10W and the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. I was on for under an hour.

The impression I am getting is there are fewer SSB stations active than there were a few years ago. Perhaps more are using FT8 than SSB these days? Unless I am mistaken the 70cm FT8 UKAC is tomorrow. It will be interesting to see how busy this is. My expectation is there will be far more people active during this.

70cm activity contest results

These have been published. My position is unchanged in the low power section.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contest=432MHz%20UKAC&year=2022 .

70cm FT8 contest this evening

If things are normal, this evening is the 70cm FT8 activity contest. Activity is usually high. 

Even with the V2000 vertical or 2m big-wheel omni I usually copy PA and EI and manage a few QSOs. Normal FT8 QSOs are fine. No special contest software. Even if you don't enter a score, this is a good chance to find activity.

If you think 70cm is quiet, you are in for a shock! 

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?year=2022&contest=70cmsgmac. The RSGB contest starts at 1900z.

UPDATE 1958z:  I only stopped on for about 30 minutes, but despite 5W to the 2m omni big-wheel I was copied as far away as Devon. Had I been on longer I am pretty sure further would have been possible. 1 QSO was had and I was called by another but we did not complete. On RX, the furthermost was Cornwall and the Netherlands.

Last night's 70cm activity contest

Last night I was only on for 30 minutes. Conditions seemed a bit up, but after 30 minutes my voice had had enough. Also, I had probably worked all the stations that I was likely to with my 10W pep and 2m big-wheel omni antenna. In all, 5 stations were worked. The map shows the stations worked.

70cm QRP FT8

At about 1830z, I hope to try 70cm FT8 QRP on 432.174 MHz USB dial. It is very unlikely anyone will copy me or I shall copy anyone else. Still, it is worth a try.

UPDATE 1840z:  70cm FT8 QRP turned on. Apart from the first 2 transmissions with the 2m big-wheel, I am using the V2000 vertical omni. No spots. Am I surprised? No!

UPDATE 1935z:  No spots.

70cm activity contest reminder

Stations spotted on 70cm FT8 this evening 

This evening is the 70cm FT8 activity contest. I do not usually submit a score, but usually come on with my QRP and 2m omni big-wheel antenna. I am always surprised how far I can spot.