[UK-CONTEST] CQWWCW - G4FKA

[g4fka at aol.com]

Another story from the wire antennas brigade. Mine was an entirely search  
and pounce entry using the IC-756ProIII, 100w, MFJ auto-tuner, 30m inverted V  
doublet at 10m and a 10m wire vertical with the base at ground level and a few  
radials. 160/80 QSOs on the doublet and most of the rest on the vertical.
 
Bands were busy throughout, not bad for sunspot bottom. Didn't operate  all 
the way through. Did the first four hours then around 11 hours on Sat  and 12 
on Sun. Made 934 QSOs with a band spread for 160/80/etc of  
57/250/202/207/201/17. 40m was best for DXCC count.
 
On 160 the 57 Qs were spread around 31 countries so some useful additions  to 
the DXCC count. Thanks to the stations who took the time to pull out my weak  
signal. Heard stations from across the Atlantic but no joy for the log.
 
10 opened up on Sunday to USA, Indian Ocean etc but none of the  DX very 
strong here so didn't spend any time chasing it.
 
 
15 on Sunday morning had an odd multi-path fading effect. A  station would 
transmit; the main signal would then be followed by one or more  signals by 
other paths in rapid succession that combined to almost kill the main  signal like 
an overdamped control loop. Like a multiple echo with very rapid  decay. The 
stations effected were eastern Europe/Russia but I also noticed it on  some 
very local stations (eg a GW). It disappeared later on and I didn't  notice it 
on any other band. I thought I'd heard most effects over the years but  that 
one was new to me. I wonder if anyone else spotted it?
 
Overall plenty of activity to keep it interesting and a good spread  across 
the bands. Next challenge is to improve the antennas for 160 in a 40 foot  
garden without having to put up a mighty vertical!
 
 
Geoff G4FKA