5 Dec 2024
2m activity contest last Tuesday
As usual, I went on for a very short while with my 10W and omni antenna. I do not stop long because of my poor voice. The map shows the stations contacted.
7 Nov 2024
Almost forgot - 2m UKAC submission
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.
5 Nov 2024
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.
1 Oct 2024
2m activity contest (UKAC)
12 Aug 2024
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.8 Aug 2024
2m FT8 UKAC activity contest
2 Jul 2024
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.
29 May 2024
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/ .
2 May 2024
2m FT8 activity contest yesterday evening
Furthermost was OV3T (694km) in Denmark.
The map shows the stations spotted here.
1 May 2024
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.
28 Apr 2024
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)
2 Apr 2024
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.
5 Mar 2024
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.
10 Feb 2024
2m activity contest (UKAC) - February 6th
7 Feb 2024
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.
4 Jan 2024
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.
2 Jan 2024
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.
20 Dec 2023
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.
22 Nov 2023
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).