[UK-CONTEST] MW1LCR/P SSB FD

[Adrian Rees]

Hi all
Just recovering from SSB FD this weekend. In general it was quite a surprise to hear so many /P Stations from the British Isles,espicially the GW /P stations. Seemed to be lots of them this year. 
 
Anyway, I had horrendous problems with RF getting into everything, Laptop, the rig, Arcing ATU's, the tent blowing down (twice) and the generator drinking petrol like a 1970's Russian Army Truck! I spent the first half hour roping the tent down, and trying to tune the ATU, without getting RF burns. (Anything over 50w and it flashed.....I think too much water about !)....it wouldn't tune 7MHz...well it would, but no more than 25w...as to 20m and 15m, it was worse ! QRP time ! But 80 and 10m...it worked a dream ! (Time to rethink the aerial....). The table then went over, but I just caught the 756 before it hit a chair with a tool box on it. Decided to rope the table down as well.
 
After settling down to get going, I had a great run on 80m, til I decided to try and build my score on 40m, just got going, picking off mults, when at 1am the office phoned and I got called out. That was the end of SSB FD 2006 Day 1.....
 
Day 2, was better......?......getting back just before 7am, I opened up on 20m....with about 30w (see above, but still plenty of noises coming from ATU) and got going. Just after 11am, two German tourists (hikers) showed up (DARC on a check?) asking for directions and what I was doing. Their dog decided to use the open wire feeder as a toilet.(Wish I had a linear going at the time !) The generator started making Fizzing noises (more water getting in places it shouldn't), and the tent finally fell over, breaking two poles. I got the Tent back up (with a distinctive lean), when another gust of wind and the operating table went flying, even though it was roped down (table leg broke this time). I then spent some time roping the tent down, (and the table) and covering the ATU with a plastic bag. (I reckon the condensation build up on the inside of the tent was spraying everything inside with a fine mist of water, as the wind blew, causing the ATU to arc). 
 
The two German Tourists reappeared, (with a wet dog.....) asking "are you winning".......   
 
Apart from all the above, it was great ! 
 
Raw Score: 198,912    664 QSO's   81 Mults  (over 300 QSO's on 80m), an OZ on 10m, couple of JA's, W6's and HS1  on 20, V55 on 15. No cluster. 
 
Op: MW1LCR
 
Thanks to all.