[UK-CONTEST] M0MCX CQWW SSB report

[Callum M0MCX]

I played single op, low power all bands with a couple of full wave NVIS
loops for 80m and 40m and a fishing rod stuck on a 6 meter aluminium pole
fed via the SG230 ATU mightily hoisted to feedpoint for all other bands.
Worked almost exclusively S&P and achieved 500 QSOs over weekend for just
under 140k points which for me was my best score yet (30 x 50 feet garden).
It was a trifle difficult to raise it up without crashing through Wendy's
new greenhouse however there's at least some benefits to being a bit meaty!

How I would have loved to have run high power with my new ACOM but I don't
have the antennas at this QTH to warrant it - and in any case, I'd have
blown the SG-230 up! :(  This weird vertical worked remarkably well, even on
160m however 15m was the best fun and most relaxed and having James in the
shack (Foundation Candidate) for 15 hours on Saturday made the contest a
very friendly affair – however all the chatting and demonstration meant that
I was down on straight Qs but a good day's radio for both of us all the
same.

Voice started to go early on and I’d left it late to install and go through
learning curve with my new MK2R+ (I must get around to installing this!) so
I nearly had no DVK on hand. Luckily for me, Lee had lent me his DVS-2 for
SSB Field Day in September so it rescued my failing voice early on. Very
funny when someone needs clarification of the call but only needs last
letter and I croak out something resembling XRay – but in a voice only my
Mother would recognise (yes, there were stations NOT running super check
partial!?!).

Bed at midnight after scoring with the standard top-10 NA stations on 40m.

Sunday I tried a little harder. Stations heard on all bands all the time but
most productive was 15. Found 20m very difficult not having a yagi or higher
gain antenna - it was just a mess of noisy frantic stations. Fastest scoring
was above 14.300. Best fun was 15m.

I still can’t get over 13 countries on 160m with a 7 meter whip!

Photos here: http://www.m0mcx.co.uk/gallery/index.php?/category/46  

Band	QSO	Pts	Cty	ZN
1.8	24	23	13	2
3.5	90	94	34	6
7.0	81	104	36	8
14	142	171	42	5
21	121	186	46	11
28	50	49	21	3
--------------------------
Total	508	627	193	36
Score 143,583

Cheers,

Callum McCormick
M0MCX
07976 631881
http://www.m0mcx.co.uk/