[UK-CONTEST] 2005 summary - G0MTN

[Lee Volante]

Hi all,

I've had some recent email chats with Tim, G4VXE, and Stewart, GM4AFF, and 
was asked the question "What, no review of 2005?"  So I thought I'd try to 
put a few thoughts together.  I'm aware that there is at least one similar 
annual review waiting in the wings which is the only reason I'm going to 
post this.  If we can get a variety of submissions it makes for an 
interesting comparison, perhaps with some good ideas posted of things to try 
for 2006.  If it's just me, I'd be the first to admit it would then just 
look like a 'brag sheet' which isn't the idea at all.

2005 Contests entered (i.e. log sent): 121 (cf. 86 in 2004, 73 in 2003)

This started out as a bit of a joke to try to enter 100 contests, but as the 
year went on, it became an increasingly feasible target.  The introduction 
of the 80m club contests helped with the 2004 score, and on top of that last 
year tried to take part in as many of the VHF UKAC events on Tuesdays that I 
could from my radio club.

Many contests were definitely quantity over quality e.g. working everyone I 
could hear during a 432 MHz UKAC and sending in a log with 2 QSOs on.  Or 
some very short "part time" HF operations - a snatched 30 minutes operating 
time here and there is generally not going to disturb the leaders. 
 However - in some limited QSO events e.g. "everyone works PA or HB9" type 
contests - it is actually quite easy to make a reasonable score by popping 
up just a few times to catch high band and low band conditions.  More 
attributable to G entry levels than any operating prowess on my part, I won 
a certificate for operating a contest like this, part time, on the second 
radio last year whilst taking part in a RTTY contest.  Some contests were 
just damn hard to find many people to work - Holyland and EU-PSK being some 
examples.

Some contests overlap, but QSOs can be eligible for both events e.g. 
Ukranian DX, and the November High Speed Club contest, or the Canada Winter 
contest and the 9A CW contest.  If contests and contest managers are 
pleading for logs - this is a way to enter 'for free.'

Looking back at the 2004 review, I noted that I'd made 21,000 QSOs from 
home. Last year I was surprised to count up that it was 19,000 for 2005.  As 
well as the extra small contests, the total was including a serious home 
effort for CQWW CW, whereas in 2004 I was operating with the VooDoo group. 
I've not done the band by band breakdown, but I think it's safe to say high 
band conditions were a big cause.

What have I done to the station?   I added a microHam keyer, which has been 
great for 'on the fly' voice recordings for SSB.  I've obtained some 
fibreglass masts, aiming to put some wires on them, or even try some VHF 
from the garden shed, but I think these will now be projects for the spring. 
I put a 2m HB9CV in the loft, added some lossy feeder, and connected it to 
my original FT290.  I doubt this will win me many certificates!  And 'for 
fun' I purchased an FT857 for portable operations, and some VHF.  It's 
already been on a few trips with me.

I've taken down my HF6V - unfortunately it's mounting position, surrounded 
by foliage  - seems to leave it many S points down on my windom, which is a 
shame as I know in the right location it's a great antenna.  My windom fell 
down a few times, and is currently caught up in the top of a tree and I can't 
release it - even with big ladders.  The tree surgeon is booked!   At the 
bottom of the sunspot cycle the LF bands are favoured, but this is where my 
antennas perform the least well.

If someone asked me what I felt the biggest trend change is in HF contesting 
generally over the last year - I'd say it was RTTY.  Participation continues 
to increase. Like it or loath it, it's happening.

Operating Highlights:

I did make a number of serious entries during the year, and was reasonably 
pleased with the results e.g. IOTA, UBAs, Russian DXC, EUHFC, CQ WWs and 
WPXs.

Team events with the human factor remain important.  NFD, VHF NFD, GB5HQ 
etc. can be hard work at the time, but always good to look back upon.

Operating Lowlights:

2004 saw all a good overall EUSprint score over the whole year. But last 
spring I missed one due to a wedding, then made two half hearted attempts in 
the autumn due to being at the HF Convention (operating /P in my hotel 
room!), and, erm, going shopping, which brought about a much less impressive 
overall result.

My ARRL DX and WAE activity suffered this year along with the high band 
conditions - it was difficult to maintain morale.  For SSB, as well as 
losing QSOs and multipliers on 21 and 28 MHz, the knock on effect is the 
increased congestion on 20m, which can make it more difficult for second 
tier or below stations to run  (i.e. me.)

No fun portable backpacking again, and no SSB Field Day last year.

I was invited to a number of multi-op events, but due to trying to save as 
many holiday days from work didn't take up many of them. I hope I didn't 
leave too many people in the lurch and burned my bridges.

Last week a certificate for the 2003 WPX CW arrived, which was very nice. 
Unfortunately I have absolutely no memories of the contest, but at least I 
did find an old UK-Contest post after the event to reassure me it wasn't 
sent in error or a pirate operation.  The second certificate that arrived 
telling me I'd won 40m Europe may have been sent in error though (!) 
Similarly, whilst just looking through the 2005 list to jog my memory of 
things to write here, I see that most of the events are starting to blur 
into one.

The negatives are outweighing the positives here - but I'm sure it wasn't as 
bad as that really !  The 'good stuff' is I guess just 'business as usual' 
contesting from home, of which a blow by blow account would not be that 
exciting.

Trips away:

The Contest Club Finland meeting on the Helsinki <-> Stockholm ferry cruise 
was a real blast.  A unique venue, interesting presentations, well organised 
and with some great ship-mates.  To anyone going along again next weekend - 
I'm sure you'll have fun - and it's nice to know there will be big UK 
support again.

I had my first visit to Friedrichshafen and I wasn't disappointed.  This can 
be done on a reasonable budget with a budget airline delivering you to the 
door.  As well as the 'awe' factor of the size of the show itself, it was a 
great place to meet many UK and EU contest types.

I tagged along to the WWYC meeting in Poland, which was again good fun. 
This year the party moves on to Serbia.  There are many memorable moments 
here, some of which are unprintable :-)  This was the birth of ideas such as 
Single Op 2 Contests (or 2 Coffee machines), the "5 and 10" signal report - 
for when "5 and 9" is simply not good enough, and a new take on the meaning 
of pileup with 30 European operators all shouting at the same time into the 
same microphone during "Lighthouses on the Air" weekend.

A casualty last year was the trip to TZ with the Voodudes.  I didn't have 
enough holiday left for the full trip away, if I wanted to be away for 
Christmas too.  But reading the excellent account in the new CDXC Digest by 
John G4IRN it was clear I missed another great adventure.

So for 2006 - what to do?  Far less entries - I deserve a break hi.  I need 
to catch up with my QSL chores, fix my antennas and ATU.  Knuckle down, pay 
off mortgage, find a QTH with real antenna possibilities?  Make sure it's 
still 'fun' !

I do have 'increased social responsibilities' now too in the form of a YL 
friend which I'm sure will keep me away from the radio.  She did sit through 
AFS with me today, but I'll be taking her shopping tomorrow to make up for 
it.  Oh, and there is now a copy of Foundation Licence Now in the house too. 
But as a result I've not yet decided on FHN, or visiting WRTC etc.  I can't 
quite remember the last time I had a holiday where there wasn't a radio 
involved. Decisions, decisions.

Thanks for all of the QSOs - best 73,

Lee G0MTN