Not sure about you, but I am all mixed up over the days of the week! I thought yesterday was Tuesday.
Tonight is the first 2m activity contest organised by the RSGB. I usually stay on for less than an hour and enter the low power section with my ICOM IC-705 and big-wheel omni antenna.
See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?contest=2mukac .
The results have just been published for the 2m UKAC contest. These results are for December and the overall scores for the year. Despite just one QSO in December, I managed to end up in 67th place in the low power section (I run 10W to my big-wheel omni antenna) out of 175 stations. As my voice is poor these days, I find SSB contests hard work, so I usually stop on for 30-60 minutes only.
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.
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| Stations spotted on 70cm FT8 last night with the 2m omni |
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| Stations spotting my 5W to the 2m big-wheel on 70cm FT8 last night |
For the first time, I submitted an entry for this 2m FT8 UKAC activity contest. It was surprising not to see a list of affiliated societies. If it was there, I missed it.
This being the case, I am unlikely to submit an entry in future. The only reason I entered a score was to help CDARC. I could enjoy the activity without submitting an entry.
Starting at 1900z, tonight is the 2m FT8 activity contest (UKAC). Although I often go on with my 5W and omni antenna, I rarely actually submit an entry. I might do this evening.
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| Stations spotting my 5W 2m FT8 this evening |
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| 71 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX this evening |
The RSGB 2m activity contest (UKAC) is on this evening. I hope to take part briefly with my QRP station.
This evening is the 4m UKAC activity contest. Although I have no 4m antenna, I may take a peek on RX. The contest starts at 1900z.
UPDATE 1923z: As I have no 4m antenna I tried 4m SSB receive with my transverter and a variety of antennas. Best DX was a station in IO82 square.
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.
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| Stations spotting my QRP on 70cm FT8 this evening |
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.
I only stayed on for under an hour (poor voice), but there seemed fewer people on even though conditions were better than normal.
Perhaps more people prefer FT8 for contests than SSB? I think the 2m FT8 activity contest is this evening. I often come on, but do not submit a result.
Next Tuesday evening is the 70cm activity contest. Most use SSB.
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 .
Every month I enter this UKAC activity contest. I can only run 10W to my big-wheel omni and because of my poor voice I manage an hour. Results were published today and, surprise, surprise, I am in the top half of the low power section. My points go to the Cambridge club CDARC. In the 70cm UKAC I gave up.
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| 5W pep QRP 2m SSB contacts last evening |
I think tonight is the FT8 activity contest. I sometimes go on, but rarely submit results.
UPDATE 1301z: My VHF power max was set to 5W, so last night all my QSOs were with 5W pep, not 10W!!
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| Stations spotted on 70cm FT8 this evening |
Results for this activity contest organised by the RSGB have just been published.
See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contest=432MHz%20UKAC&year=2022 .
