Almost forgot!

Almost as time was running out, I remembered that I had not submitted an entry for the 2m UKAC activity contest for February. With just 2 QSOs before my voice said "enough", I expect I shall be somewhere near the bottom of the low power section! 

2m UKAC

Last evening, I was briefly on 2m SSB in the monthly activity contest. After a couple of QSOs I decided to go QRT: with my poor voice it was hard work. The band seemed a bit "up" as the photo indicates.

2m FT8 activity contest (Wednesday)

Starting at 1900z tonight is the 2m FT8 activity contest. I shall probably go on briefly at 1900z with 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. I was on for about an hour.  66 stations spotted (see map).

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.

SSB activity lower?

Every month I take part in the 2m and 70cm UKAC activity contests organised by the RSGB. My voice is poor and I only run QRP to my big-wheel omni antenna. I am usually on for less than an hour. I also have a go at the FT8 activity contests.

Although I rarely use SSB and FM outside contests, I gather activity with these modes is down on the past. I guess there are several reasons. Firstly, people can chat for free on the internet by video with anywhere on the planet, so there is less need to use the amateur bands just for chatting. Secondly, the average age of amateurs is increasing, with the hobby appealing to retired people. Some of these are now getting infirm so less active. Thirdly, there are more digital modes not needing much bandwidth. For example, the FT8 slot is often busy, but very little bandwidth is needed.

QSOs on 2m UKAC
last Tuesday

Certainly, SSB UKAC contest QSOs seem harder now on 2m than a few years ago. My average used to be about 10 QSOs whereas now even getting a couple is harder.

Change is inevitable, but you do not just chance upon FT8 as this needs specialist software. People will no longer just chance upon amateur radio. The danger is numbers decline over the next 10-20 years unless we can galvanise the interest of younger people.

2m activity contest this evening

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 .

2m activity contest results

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.

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).

Last night's 2m FT8 activity contest

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.

2m FT8 activity contest (Wednesday)

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.

Stations spotting my 5W
2m FT8 this evening

71 stations spotted on
2m FT8 RX this evening

UPDATE 2045z:  4 QSOs and spotted by loads of stations. 71 stations spotted here.

2m UKAC yesterday evening

As usual, I went on the 2m activity contest organised by the RSGB with 10W pep and my horizontal omni antenna. 6 contacts were had in about 40 minutes before I stopped. 2 QSOs at 105km.

2m activity contest this evening at 2000z

 The RSGB 2m activity contest (UKAC) is on this evening. I hope to take part briefly with my QRP station.

4m activity contest (UKAC)

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. 

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.

2m activity contest last evening

As usual, I entered the low power section of this contest last evening. I get the impression that there are fewer people taking part. 

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.

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 .

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.