[UK-CONTEST] 23cms activity evening

[Ray James]

--- On Mon, 17/11/08, Nick Gregory <nickg0hik at fsmail.net> wrote:
> Hi All,
> I fancy having another go at the 23cms activity evening,
> but after only getting two contacts last time (I only had
> F.M. then) do I need talkback on 2mtr or something else to
> drum up contacts.
> Regards
> Nick G0HIK


Hi Nick,
I've rarely heard of stations using FM for the 23cm UK Activity Contest though I'm sure that mode would receive greater attention if we had something more parochial than the large Maidenhead locator square as a multiplier as the majority of FM contacts would be of a local nature.

>From what you write I assume you have SSB/CW available and that will make an enormous difference with the number of contacts you can make.

Due to the very sharp beamwidths on 23cm antennas, it is very important that you have an accurate means of establishing your bearings if /P as your QRZ listing suggests.
Random listening or calling CQ can certainly generate the possibility of making some contacts but in general you will find most microwave contacts are arranged in advance. If you've ever tried setting up a satellite dish for optimum signals from one or more satellites then you'll understand why this is the case! Doing this for a schedule is a relatively easy but would be a minefield for random with everyone with immensely narrow antennas turning them in all directions all the time! 
Schedules are made on 144.175 but since the advent of the award winning ON4KST system, 2m use has declined but is still useful. For /P it does mean having another station to set up. 
The majority of fixed stations and some /P use ON4KST's Microwave chatroom to arrange microwave schedules. It is important to note the ON4KST guidelines available under the menu and that the system is to be used to facilitate schedule making and not for exchange of information that would take place over the air.
Like Sporadic E contacts can do for 6/4/2m during contests, some really good non-tropo contacts can be made on 23cm via aircraft reflection and your location in Cumbria lends itself to the potential of some really good results utilising all the air traffic over the midlands. To assist in making these schedules as successful as possible, an accurate timepiece and use of schedule partner timed periods (30 seconds or 1 minute) is recommended. 

Good luck for your future in 23cm contesting and I look forward to working you.

73 Ray GM4CXM
IO75TW GS