[UK-CONTEST] GB5HQ

[Mike Harris]

G'day all,

Well, I didn't do too well.  I thought I might just see how many GB5HQ 
band/mode slots I could manage and it turned out to be three:

15 - CW
40 - CW
40 - SSB

Heard on 10M CW 529 but vanished just as I was about to call, approx 
18:45G

15 - SSB was copied for hours at 5&5 +/- QSB or beam changes, mainly 
working Europeans, at least they were when I listened.  Quite interesting 
to copy the inter-G QSO's.  Many South American stations calling, few 
worked.  Possibly cold have made a reasonable run.  My only comment would 
be about the time interval between CQ calls, approx 2.5 - 3 seconds.  Not 
much time to listen for weaker stations.  Maybe the EU noise level was 
high, if you didn't thump through in the first second, tough.  I couldn't 
make it.

15 - CW by contrast was very weak with me, not worth calling.

40 - SSB, the usual S9 signal but difficult to break with 100W and a 
vertical, the operator seemed slightly taken aback when I finally made it 
at 23:11.  No problems with the CW, first call if I remember correctly.

Very weak on 20 - CW not worth trying

ESP on 80M even with the DSP noise reduction.  Not surprising given I 
haven't got an 80M antenna, just matched the 40M vert with the K2 auto atu 
in the shack.  SWR massive.

Eventually wandered off and worked: OH2HQ, SN0HQ, R9HQ, TM0HQ and EA5HQ 
all on 40M CW.

Will send in a check log.

Regards,

Mike VP8NO