70cm FT8 activity contest

It never fails to amaze me how far I can copy stations on 70cm FT8 RX. Last night was the UKAC FT8 activity contest and 30 stations in 7 countries were spotted despite me having just a 2m big-wheel omni antenna! See map. 

70cm activity contest (September)

Every month I try to go on the 70cm activity contest with 10W SSB to my 2m big-wheel omni. 

It is hard work with my voice, power and antenna, so I do not stop on for long. 

I am always surprised how well I get on. Last evening I managed 5 QSOs whereas last week in the 2m contest I only managed 2 QSOs! Some must have very good ears!

The map shows the QSOs managed.

70cm activity contest

My single 70cm SSB contact

To say I am under-equipped for 70cm SSB is a gross understatement! I use 10W to a 144MHz omni big-wheel antenna. I have a very poor voice as well, which does not help. 

Usually I manage a few contacts and give up after about 30 minutes. This time I gave up after a single contact. I get the impression SSB activity is going down. I may be totally wrong. It is a shouting match that I find hard these days. 

FT8 amazes me as I consistently spot stations at vast distances and have no trouble being received at distances I only dream about on SSB.

2m activity contest

Last Tuesday was the 2m activity contest (UKAC). As usual, I did not stop on long because of my poor voice and low ERP. 

2 stations were worked on SSB in the first 13 minutes then I QSYed to 6m FT8. Many  more would have been worked if I stayed longer. Maybe another time I should really try for longer?

70cm activity contest

Last evening I went on the 70cm activity contest with 10W to the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. 

Because of the football, I was on later than usual and then only a short while. 4 stations were worked. 

Good fun in the football hydration break!!

2m activity contest (UKAC) last Tuesday

Nearly forgot to submit my (poor!!) score. 

4 stations worked in 30 minutes with 10W, a big-wheel omni and a poor voice! 

All good fun, but FT8 is much easier for me.

2m activity contest

Running 10W to a big-wheel omni antenna I worked a couple of stations at decent distances. Because of my poor voice I only stayed on for under 30 minutes, as usual, this evening .

2m activity contest

Last night was the 2m UKAC (activity) contest. As usual, I was running 10W to my big-wheel omni antenna and I could only stay on for about 30 minutes because of my poor voice. 

In all, 5 stations were worked with some at quite decent range. See map.

70cm activity contest

Just now (belatedly) I submitted my entry for the 70cm activity contest. 

Because of my poor voice and rubbish set-up (10W and a 2m big-wheel omni antenna) I do not stop on very long. 

If I had stopped longer I would have worked far more than the 2 shown on the map. Usually I work over 100km.

70cm activity contest

Once a month I go on the 70cm activity contest (UKAC) organised by the RSGB. 

Because of my poor voice I usually stay on for only the first 30 minutes.

I only use 10W pep and a 144MHz big-wheel omni. Despite these limitations I still manage to work over 100km away most times. No doubt the antenna at the other end helps!

2m activity contest (December)

Although I cannot stop on long because of my poor voice, I try to come on the 2m UKAC sessions with my 10W SSB to the big-wheel omni antenna. I only worked a couple of stations in the short time I was on, although I am sure many more would have been worked had I stopped on longer.

2m UKAC activty contest (December)

Really, this is too hard for me now. 

After about 30 minutes I find my poor voice struggles these days in contests. I had to stop.  

I worked a new square for 2025 in the form of JO03, but I really could not manage any longer.

70cm UKAC last evening

Last night was the 70cm activity contest organised by the RSGB. 

I can only run 10W to a 144MHz big-wheel omni antenna, but I still worked as far as Wales. 

There was a station in N.Ireland, but I could not stay on long enough to work him because of my poor voice. 

In all, 7 stations were worked in about 45 minutes before I stopped.

2m activity contest last night

 Last night, I (eventually) got an email reminder of this RSGB contest. I did not stop on long and only made 1 QSO with my 10W to the big-wheel omni. The usual suspects were on and I am sure would have been workable had I stopped on. 

It was very hot and humid but today it is not nearly so hot and humid and we have had some rain.

Last Tuesday in the 2m activity contest

 

Although I run just 10W to an omni big-wheel antenna and stop on for about only 30 minutes because of my poor voice, I like to submit an entry. The map shows the stations worked.

70cm UKAC (May 13th)

 

Although I often come way down, I put an entry in just now. The map shows the 3 contacts before I stopped after about 30 minutes.

70cm activity contest (UKAC)

 

Every month I put an entry in for this contest. Because of my poor voice, I usually stop on for about 30mins. Even this is hard with 10W and a 144MHz big-wheel omni antenna. I am always surprised to work anyone at all. 

If my voice was better and I stayed on longer I am sure a lot more stations would be worked. 

The map shows the stations worked.

Better late than never

Just submitted my entry into the 2m activity contest (UKAC) organised by the RSGB.  In all, 6 stations were worked with my 10W and omni antenna in 45 minutes before my poor voice screamed,"stop". I usually come way down, but it is good to try!

Nearly forgot! - 70cms activity contest (February)

Usually I submit my (pathetic!) entry for this activity contest the next day.  My score is always near the bottom as I run low power to a 2m omni antenna and only stop on for about 30 minutes because of my poor voice. I remembered just now. 

I get the feeling interest is waning. 

The map shows the stations worked - all two of them!

70cm activity contest yesterday

Last evening I took part for about 20 minutes in the 70cm activity contest (UKAC). 

As usual, I was running 10W to my 144MHz big-wheel omni. 

3 stations were worked, with the furthermost a portable in Wales.