[UK-CONTEST] November UK Activity Contest Report - 1,296 MHz

[Ray James]

Last nights UK Activity Contest was blessed with a good level of activity but very variable conditions on 
1296 MHz.
I’d completed 12 contacts in the first hour. A number that not long ago would have represented a grand total!
Tropo conditions were dire and as the contest continued, diminishing returns were experienced for aircraft reflections and numerous ON4KST schedules concluded without a successful outcome.
Despite conditions, four contacts were completed over a distance of 500Km and top spot this month again went to Kjeld OZ1FF at 782Km. Last month we had benefitted with a marginal Troposcatter path to work each other but this time it was purely thanks to a convenient aircraft on the path.
Biggest surprise of the evening was not getting a JO02 multiplier at all. I can usually depend on G3XDY, G4DDK or G4BAO to deliver but it was not to be. The contact with Sam G4DDK came closest with just his serial number outstanding but that’s how it goes. Not hearing anything from John’s ‘XDY and ‘BAO was purely based on leaving it until too late in the event as aircraft numbers dwindled and no tropo available.
Scottish based activity was reasonable with another 5 stations active, including Alan GM0USI/P braving the sleet on the Kilsyth Hills at 1,000’ asl in IO76xa with his new 1.2m dish antenna.

Call/Locator/Km

GM7GDE    IO75         22
GM0USI/P  IO76         23
GM4GUF    IO85         58
GM4YLN    IO85         68
G3JYP     IO84        196
GI6ATZ    IO74        199
G8KBH     IO83        247
G1SWH     IO83        283
GW8ASD    IO83        332
G3OHH     IO83        345
2E1EUB    IO92        367
G8OHM     IO92        425
G4BRK     IO91        517
M0GHZ     IO81        521
G0MJW     IO91        525
G4EAT     JO01        572
OZ1FF     JO45        782


73 Ray GM4CXM IO75tw

150w + 4x44el + LNA