[UK-CONTEST] Decline in 2m contest activity

[Ray James]

Excellent news Pete,
Many thanks for activating EI
See you on KST for sure ;-)
150w + 4x44el (very sharp indeed) + LNA
Fingers crossed the direct bearing is okay.
If not then I suggest we discuss reflection paths on KST, probably via the Cumbrian Mountains or Snaefell. I needed the former to work GD4IOM during VHFNFD as he was screened towards IO75 on a direct bearing.

Ahhh...the joys of VHF/UHF contesting and experimentation :-)
 
73 Ray GM4CXM


--- On Thu, 11/9/08, Pete Lindsay <psl at plcg.org> wrote:

> Ray,
> 
> Planning to be in EI again at 2500' ASL on 70 and 23 in
> October - see you on
> KST for that 23cms QSO :-)
> 
> 
> Pete, G4CLA / EI9E
> 
> 2008/9/11 Ray James <gm4cxm at yahoo.co.uk>
> 
> >
> > --- On Thu, 11/9/08, Paul O'Kane
> <pokane at ei5di.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Wrong!
> > Right
> >
> > Paul, with respect you're putting forward a HF
> perspective which is not
> > relevant.
> > This thread is discussing VHF/UHF contesting matters
> which differ greatly
> > due to the different nature of the beast.
> >
> > The ban on cluster/converse/kst etc stops at 70cm.
> > What is your thoughts on the validity or otherwise of
> contacts that take
> > place by schedule by the above systems on bands above
> 70cm and please
> > explain your reasons why?
> >
> > On a completely different tact.
> > Two years ago I wrote to the IRTS asking what they
> were doing to encourage
> > greater microwave activity because for a nation the
> size of Eire, it was an
> > embarrassing fact that the only microwave activity
> that emanated from the
> > Isle appeared on the surface to originate by
> non-residents.
> > DF6NA was active 2 or 3 years ago and I believe VHFCC
> member G4CLA was
> > active earlier this year. I still need EI on 23cm!
> > BTW, IRTS never had the courtesy to reply!
> > Folk don't usually go straight to microwave band
> operation. They usually
> > cut their teeth on VHF/UHF bands initially.
> > 2m EI activity isn't much to write home
> about....Charlie and a few others
> > being the exceptions. 70cm contest/dx activity is
> another matter...dire.
> > You might wish to put some effort to righting the
> dreadful situation in
> > your own country as well as making HF conclusions on
> ours.
> >
> > 73 Ray GM4CXM
> > XP09g
> >
> >
> > >
> > > Since the beginnings of radio, skeds have been
> used to
> > > facilitate DXing - think of Marconi's first
> > > trans-atlantic
> > > tests.  No matter what medium is used to make the
> skeds,
> > > it makes no difference to the validity of the
> 2-way
> > > contact, so long as the latter is made solely
> with RF.
> > >
> > > It's the same today with amateur radio DXing
> - all
> > > that's
> > > needed for a valid QSO (for DXCC purposes) is the
> exchange
> > > and acknowledgement of callsigns - how you find
> the DX
> > > does not matter so long as you personally use
> amateur-band
> > > RF to work it.
> > >
> > > It's not quite the same with contesting. 
> There are
> > > rules
> > > which impose constraints.  In general,
> single-operators
> > > are expected to find the DX, as well as work it,
> all by
> > > themselves. For both single-op and multi-op,
> pre-arranged
> > > skeds are out, as also are those arranged (at any
> time)
> > > by any means other than RF on the bands and/or
> modes
> > > corresponding to their entry class.
> > >
> > > In general (perhaps I'm optimistic), HF
> contesters
> > > understand this and stick to the rules.  It seems
> to me
> > > that some VHF contesters are economical with
> adherence
> > > to the rules, and consider it fair game to
> arrange
> > > skeds by any means at their disposal - after all,
> isn't
> > > everyone else doing it?  And how else could they
> be
> > > expected to have a reasonable number of contest
> QSOs on
> > > VHF/UHF, especially these days when activity is
> so low?
> > > And isn't it all supposed to be fun?
> > >
> > > As if any of this made a difference!
> > >
> > > If it's OK to arrange skeds using chat-rooms
> or
> > > spotting
> > > networks then, logically, it must be equally OK
> to arrange
> > > skeds by telephone.
> > >
> > > No contest QSO is valid in the context of
> rule-breaking.
> > > Sure, the QSO happened, but that's not enough
> to
> > > guarantee
> > > its validity.
> > >
> > > 73,
> > > Paul EI5DI
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> > >
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> >
> >
> >
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