[UK-CONTEST] NFD 2009 - G3BJ/P - Restricted section

[Don Beattie]

A few weeks ago, Chris, G3SJJ, suggested that the two of us might enter NFD this year. I had not done NFD for about ten years, and so we decided to give it a go. I still had the doublet G4DQW and I had used in the 90's from Oxfordshire, and Chris provided a tent and table and second computer. We decided to use a corner of the field here, supporting half the doublet with an 11 m mast, and a convenient tree, the second half running from the pole to nearly ground level. My recollection was that we were able to use the antenna tuner in the FT1000MP to handle the mis-match on all bands.

 

Chris arrived at around 11 am on the Saturday, by which time the antenna was up and the generator positioned. With the tent erected, we started to configure the station, only to find we had big problems with our computers. We planned to use the "big knob-little knob" means of S&P, which really meant we needed two logging computers. For some reason the Win-Test network would not play, and we spent too long fixing that (fixed 20 minutes before the start). We then found that we had a conflict between the USB:Serial driver for the CAT and that for the WK-USB. So we had no option but to ditch the WK-USB interface on the problem computer. This lost us some time at the start. By then, the Shropshire weather had closed in, and the rain was incessant until about 11.00 on the Sunday. Just after dawn on Sunday the antenna broke in the strong gusting winds - again about 20 minutes lost. Then to crown it all the generator failed 80 minutes before the end with what turned out to be an oiled plug (and no plug spanner to hand). By that time, the weather had dried (even the tent was dry) and we took things apart and retreated indoors.

 

So it turned out to be one of those "learning experiences". For next year, we will start earlier configuring things, and will have a new plug in the genny !

 

And the radio conditions ? Oh yes, conditions seemed quite good, although out here on the Welsh Marches, we heard precious little on ten metres. 160-20 were the banker bands and we had one glorious three minute spell when we were running on 20m when we were called by W, VE, VP8NO (thanks Mike) a 9V1 and a VR2/P. The FT1000MP/doublet worked well and the auto-tuner handled it all.

 

Despite the very cold weather and huge quantities of rain, it was fun. Without the technical issues, we might have done quite well, so there is everything to play for next year !

 

Thanks to all for the QSOs. Here's the end result:

 

G3BJ/P NFD 2009 - Restricted section

 

Operators: G3BJ and G3SJJ



Equipment: FT1000MP + doublet, Win-Test logging.

 

 

 BAND   QSO DUP DXC  POINTS   AVG 

----------------------------------

  160   121   0  16     904  7.47 

   80   181   1  27     594  3.28 

   40   254   4  30     786  3.09 

   20   385   3  48    1135  2.95 

   15   119   0  31     356  2.99 

   10    36   0  16     214  5.94 

----------------------------------

TOTAL  1096   8 168    3989  3.64 

==================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 3 989

 

73,

 

Don, G3BJ