[UK-CONTEST] CQ WW CW GZ7V SOAB HP

[Cooper, Stewart]

Now back on the mainland, and slowly recovering. Only did 35 hours of
operating - was unwell for a lot of the weekend, having to stop to lie
down/sleep on Saturday three times. Had a chest/throat infection of some
kind. Hadn't slept on the ferry to the island either, so started off so
tired I couldn't read CW from the off... but those who worked me know that -
sorry! Top band antenna wouldn't tune, so made a dipole quickly on Sunday so
I could work some stuff in the evening.  Ran out of time on Friday, so no
beverages. It got pitch dark by 1600!
Pile-ups were a baptism of fire! I found it impossible to get a rate going
as soon as the pileup built. I have no experience of this, and found it
difficult, especially not being able to split. All the theory will never
make up for the reality.
Conditions were probably very good, although I had no way of knowing what to
expect, or how it compared, from 60deg north. Aurora on Sunday at 1700 wiped
out most of HF, but then found I could work stations on 10 and 15 on aurora
(as far south as the Caribbean) by beaming due north (at 2200)! Just like
VHF.
Once I realised I was quite ill, I opted to just give away points so the
score is fairly poor, but I had a great time. I thought I'd be the only one
on from GM/s but I worked a station on Friday on 10m, only to discover it
was Hans MM0XAU, who was living in the Eshaness lighthouse less than a mile
away! He made 1400 QSOs in the contest on a paper log and helped with the
tear-down on Monday. I left him my PC so he's now running CT! There are
amateur radio ops, even at the end of the world! 

Single FT1000MP + ETO 91b, Titanex V80e + ATU, C3SS Tribander and a 160m
dipole.
Class: SOAB HP
QTH: Shetland Islands
Operating Time (hrs): 35

Summary:
Band  QSOs  Zones  Countries
------------------------------
  160:  126     8       37
   80:  693    16       67
   40:  849    24       81
   20:  603    24       77
   15:  747    20       72
   10:  702    27       73
------------------------------
Total: 3720   119      407  Total Score = 3,656,226


Stewart
GM4AFF as GZ7V
Check out www.gm7v.com soon.



 

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