[UK-CONTEST] 1.8 MHz Contest G3SJJ

[G3SJJ]

Had a good bash but a dipole at 57ft is just not competitive in this 
one. 90 to 120ft being the norm now for top enders. I thought there was 
a distinct lack of UK stations but at least the OE contest increased 
activity. I think the lower sub-band edge should be scrapped since with 
SSB now dominating 1845 up, we only have 25KHz of usable band which 
means all the big signals are packed in that space which could deter 
lesser equipped and experienced participants. The work on upgrading 
filters in the FT1kMP and the new coax loop/rf-preamp helped me hear 
stuff better. Many times a weaker station on the loop was inaudible on 
the dipole.

Hourly rates of 96, 58 24 and 37 show that for me it all collapsed in 
the third hour when I suspect stations with higher antennas were getting 
more callers. I was about to switch off at midnight when things started 
picking up and produced one of the best openings to States I can 
remember in this event with 19 Ws in the last 60 minutes.

Used Wintest in support of the G5W effort next weekend and have to say I 
don't like it. Very much old CT style, log and QSO entry window all one 
and in a fixed position on the screen. Really old hat. No ESM so hands 
needing to wander all over the keyboard. It doesn't handle Winkey well 
at all. I had set it to 32wpm at the start to get  good rate but it was 
really around 36wpm, so well done Andy GM0OEG for sticking with it! 
Later I set Winkey and external paddle to the same speed but the 
indicated 24wpm was again more like 30. It does have a Districts window 
which is of little use since you want to work everything anyway.

213 Qs    60 Districts    26 Countries    1069 points

FT1kMP, Acom 1000, Dipole at 57ft, LDF4-50 coax loop with Ten Tec 
Pre-amp kit.

Chose a French Pinot Noir to accompany our Dinner hoping it had been 
blended with some Pinot More. It helped! No QSY needed during the 4 hours.

Enjoyable despite the mutterings!!

Chris G3SJJ