[UK-CONTEST] RSGB 1.8MHz G3LET

[Peter Hobbs]

Total 234 Qs, incl 4 dupes and 46 DX (UA0, VE, all US except 6 and a couple of caribs, of which more than half gave out 001)  Quite a few more couldn't be resolved in the rather high noise level.  Rate: 95-64-45-26.

SD reported a disappointing 78 bonuses altogether when I keyed in the log, making 1080 in all, but as this was a record for me I was not too despondent!  US signals *seemed* easier to copy the further up the  band you went and it's possible as little as 30kHz makes a difference.  Moving up a notch for the second half probably makes sense.

I'd managed to lay out around 20 temporary ground wires from the feed point of the sloping wire into the NW quadrant before it got dark and have convinced myself they do make a difference.  May install them properly when the ground is softer and include a couple to the SE as well for Bob in 5B4!  

The wind got up around midnight and tested the pulley and counterweight at the skyhook end of the wire (145 ft up), but without mishap.  Lessons learned: consider a proper LF receiving antenna and install a supplementary power feed to the shack to allow for electric heating!

73 and thanks to all for the QSOs
Peter G3LET