[UK-CONTEST] G4PIQ/P SSB AFS ramblings

[G3SJJ]

Andy, thanks for the info. Slightly re-assuring. Whilst I consistently do
well in the CW leg I have found over the last 3 years or so that I am
lacking in loudness in the SSB leg, yet the station was exactly the same in
both events. I am willing to coincidence that this difference has lost me
around 20 Qs compared with leading SSB stations, but I am most unhappy that
I also lost a further 20 to 30 Qs due to the conditions I have indicated. I
can assure you that the racket in my passband was virtually intolerable
despite having the MP's IPO switched out, 6 or 12 Db of attenuation in, EDSP
in and width/notch controls in play. I could copy stations on the sub-rx
better and that was without the benefit of narrower filtering etc. There
were many instances when I knew I was being called but could not make any
sense of the callsign.

I also suffered some jamming but not as bad as others, 3745.7 was probably
more acceptable to them! I did get a guy sending a cw "K" after each CQ, but
I decided that was acceptable and may even have been of assistance in making
those stations conversant with repeaters more at home! (sorry, that isn't
very pc.)

As I said after last year's SSB leg (and was shouted down), I think it is
now time the sub-band was extended to 3770. HFCC could then issue a request
that contesters keep clear of the SSTV (advisory not compulsory) sub-band
3730-3740 and contact their associations and also request tolerance. I have
just had a tune across the band: SSTV on 3728! 3738 and RTTY on 3765.

Finally, it was good to hear so many G1/7/8 and M3 stations. Reg, G8VHI was
really motoring.

Chris G3SJJ (cooling down slightly after 24 hours)

-----Original Message-----
From: uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of "Andy
Cook"@contesting.com
Sent: 18 January 2004 11:26
To: uk-contest at contesting.com
Subject: [UK-CONTEST] G4PIQ/P SSB AFS ramblings

>Was also interesting to spend a bit of time tuning around and seeing who
was loud and how this changed through the event. I didn't take any great
notes but what was very noticeable was that sometimes one person would be
loud and later someone else. All the usual suspects were loud at times.
Chris SJJ complained of being squashed between bad splatter. There was some
QRM there but it didn't look too bad to me, but Chris was simply not as loud
as the folks around him with me.

So - interesting experience, but good fun as usual, and it's good evidence
that these SSB contests aren't effectively closed to small stations.

73   Andy, G4PIQ