[UK-CONTEST] 144AC contesting

[Alex GM3ZBE]

Hi
I have never been certain exactly what was the real reason for the 
decline in VHF/UHF dx'ing in the UK.  From 1968 when I was first 
licenced until around the mid '80's activity was excellent (for dx 
ssb/cw - I never was into "electronic handbag" style of FM/repeater 
operation).
Around about 1985, I lived on top of a 600ft hill on the east coast of 
Scotland with a superb take off to the south and max legal power and 
good antennas on 144MHz and most other vhf/uhf bands.  Nevertheless I 
remember coming to the conclusion that I was spending a disproportionate 
amount of time listening to white noise on vhf/uhf, I then decided to 
take down most of my antennas except for a token 2M setup. So activity 
was already falling off even then in the period from 1985 until1988.  I 
moved to England in 1988 and was surprised ito find it was not as good 
as I expected in the Midlands either!

So if we are looking to reverse the trend, I would be interested to hear 
views on what was thought to be the reason for the decline in the first 
place?
Alex, GM3ZBE