[UK-CONTEST] May 2m Contest - follow up

[Ray James]

As expected, a 2m UK contest which included postal codes as a multiplier resulted in a most enjoyable event.
I entered the 24 hour rather than 6 hour "single fixed" category despite knowing I would be unable to be on for the whole duration. It allowed me to be more flexible, including getting dragged around a garden centre on Sunday morning.

Lots of QSB was experienced both days though with an occasional glance at the cluster, this identified some extended tropo was being enjoyed well into France and Germany. Had the PC mult not been in place then it would have turned into just another session like the UK Activity Contests with most UK stations beaming east or south east and therefore a much quieter band for those away from the south and south east of England.
Despite looking north on numerous occasion, nothing further afield than IO66, IO76 or IO86 was heard.

When things got quiet on SSB I resorted to FM to pick up some nearer postal codes. This consisted of a CQ announce on s20 advising I could be found on s22 for contacts. If that didn't work then the same ploy on numerous repeaters certainly did. Despite filling my boots with KA, PA, ML, FK and EH, I only managed one solitary GS and that wasn't even on FM!
I had to take some time out during an FM contact to work out the locator square for a number of the MM3, MM6 and 2M0 stations but felt it was more worthwhile doing it for them there and then rather than take their full postal code and work it out later. Be nice to folk on the way up, you might meet them on the way down!

It certainly crystallised how we have a new influx of radio amateurs with no exposure to contesting and even too shy to come on for a quick exchange when normally they'd talk the rear end off a donkey on some innate subject. This reinforces my earlier suggestions regarding PC's for the regular monthly UKAC's so a greater exposure could be made, more fun for those on throughout the UK and certainly more communication to club secretaries each month by corresponding CC member(s) to market contesting. Not everyone are club members just like not everyone reads or gets RadCom but there has to be a start somewhere with the newer generation around.
  
SF GM4CXM IO75TW GS 48 qso's 45 mults 	Claimed score: 510,750 	 
ODX M0BAA/P  612Km Station:400w	 2x9 

73 Ray GM4CXM