[UK-CONTEST] WPX CW G3YMC QRP

[Andy swiffin]

>
>
>Top band seems to have been abandoned in this contest (very little 
>heard the times I listened). Perhaps it is a quirk of the rules that 
>mults only count once and it is not worth wasting time there when you

>can get better results from runs on the higher bands. In that respect

>I was stuck for choice last night - working Europeans on 40 at 2 
>points or USA/DX at similar rate on 20m for 3 points. I stuck on 20 
>and forgot about 80 and 160.
>

Hi,

I found top band quite good, which I find surprising considering we're
moving towards the time of year when it doesn't really get dark here.

I was just in it to up my 2004 CW totals and it proved quite effective,
I gave 135 stations the benefit of my probably unique GM8 multiplier!  I
was just S&P because the one time I tried running (on 160) it was too
busy!  I'm  using a hand key, my ts830 needs negative keying and so its
more of a faff to get N1MM to key the rig (I must get round to building
the interface now that I've found a source of 5V out of the soundcard
port).  Using a key _and_ the logger proved too much of a handful for
running but was fine for s&p.  

I only _heard_ my hilight, On top band, saturday, about 0300 I heard a
big signal from OC4WW, OC4 I wondered, where the hell is that, where's
my prefix list (too stupid to just enter the prefix in N1MM and find
out).  By the time I'd found the prefix list, realised what I was
listening to, he'd faded out - ho hum - moral of the story: when I next
hear someone and I don't know who they are, work em first, ask questions
later....   I also heard ZY7C on 160 on sunday morning but much weaker,
probably at least a KW so he didn't hear me.  I heard Don having a go -
did you get him in the end?

So where were all the UK stations??  I still need GM GU GJ GW GI on CW
for this year!!  AND I need GD on any mode (except on VHF)!!  

Another question - why on earth are some people running at 40+WPM?? 
What is the point, I can't believe that you get a better QSO rate than
the people at 20.  We should have a rule - hand keys only - then we'll
see how many of them are still at 40+!

And finally - those people who slowed down to a sensible rate (my rate
:-) when I called them - you know who you are - you should be awarded
bonus points.  And those who gaily carried on at 40, I hope you get lots
of qsos deleted :-)

73
Andy
gm8oeg