[UK-CONTEST] 21 28 MHz what a waste of a day

[Nick Totterdell]

Just a few comments in support of this contest continuing.

 

1.	It wasn't a waste of a day - first genuine QSO 0830 ZC4VJ (15 CW)
and last 1517 (K3ZO 15 CW) - it was a bit a waste of about 7 hours!
2.	How on earth did Brian Z21GC get to a serial number of 114 (I guess
it was a mistake but I did ask him to repeat it).
3.	There was a higher level of activity from the UK this year - I heard
more UK stations and many were working other UK stations - presumably to
keep up their morale.
4.	Conditions were worse than last year - only one QSO on 10m (with
HA1YI at 1146 on SSB).
5.	There was one 9 minute period when I had a QSO every minute - when
conditions are good enough, non UK stations will call. I guess 15m didn't
have much 'passing trade' yesterday.
6.	I have struggled through this thing for three years (and won the
mixed mode section twice - a measure of endurance only) but this year I will
be well down the list as only 64 scoring QSOs.
7.	Oh and I would have had no hope of working Dave from St Vincent on
SSB as I could barely hear him on CW.
8.	David 5B4AHL told me it was his favourite contest of the year and
kindly had a go on 15m CW for the first time for years to give me an extra
QSO.
9.	This is with 400W to a 2 ele yagi just above the roof and my house
is not on top of a hill - not a great contest station - I live in a
conservation area.

 

My point is that having run this contest through the bad times on these two
bands, it would be criminal to kill it off just before the good times
return. If the contest is as bad as yesterday when the sunspots return then
by all means stop it. (It may be a distant memory today but 15m and 10m can
be excellent with wonderful worldwide propagation.)

 

The sun had a single small new cycle spot yesterday - live in hope.

 

73 Nick G4FAL