[UK-CONTEST] Entering Contests

[Darrell G0HVQ]

" In contrast stations in the Midlands have active squares all round them 
for the full 360 degrees compared with my 180 degrees.  "

Hmmm, in theory yes, but beaming West from IO81 has yielded about 5 QSOs 
over 18 or so 2m Act contests, a couple of EIs and a couple of GWs. Still 
have not worked IO72 or IO73 since I returned to 2m 4 years ago after a long 
break. I usually spend 15 minutes or so beaming West each contest, and 
generally work no one (last Tues was no different, despite a few people 
reporting good EI activity).

There seems to be a number of 'blackspots' around the country with little or 
no VHF activity.....always surprised that, despite some big population 
centres, how little activity there is from the North West such as IO93.

As for why we enter, I gave 2m Act my 'best shot' from here last year, was 
active in every event, came 13th overall out of 190. The only way I'll 
improve is to significantly improve the aerial syatem and/or move to a 
mountain top. But I still enter, there are always some surprises e.g. a 
600km with JO31 this week, doubt I'd have worked that DX with casual tuning 
around any other night.

73
Darrell


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ray Hills" <g3hrh at btinternet.com>
To: <uk-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 09, 2009 11:16 AM
Subject: [UK-CONTEST] Entering Contests


>
> There is one other point that I don't think has been mentioned so far. 
> For
> stations (like me) near the South Coast and away from the South East, 
> there
> are only half as many squares available in practice because there is 
> little
> or no contest activity from GJ, GU and F on the other side of the channel.
> In contrast stations in the Midlands have active squares all round them 
> for
> the full 360 degrees compared with my 180 degrees.