[UK-CONTEST] RSGB 144mhz contest & C class

[Andy Swiffin]

>>> On 02/08/2010 at 16:01, in message
<4C56DDB3.12317.20A8C56 at dave.davesergeant.com>, "Dave Sergeant"
<dave at davesergeant.com> wrote:
> On 2 Aug 2010 at 15:24, Dave H wrote:
> 
>> Anyone think the C class flare will hit Earth in time to make the 144MHz
>> UKAC interesting tommorrow night? I got home too late to catch the DX on
>> last weeks 50MHz contest so would like to have this for the contest -
>> even if it means losing HF for a while after.
>> 
> 
> A C3.2 flare is a relatively minor one, just like Earthquake 
> maginitudes it is a logarithmic scale - not until you get to the higher 
> M class or X class do you need to start worrying. There is a slight 
> possibility of minor geomagnetic disturbance within the next 48 hours 
> but nothing exceptional. For anything to happen on 2m you would be 
> talking about a BIG aurora, and I suspect that is MOST unlikely.

Although OT, just in case it's of use for further "planning of expectations" of what to expect following a flare, this did provide some useful traffic on 144mhz, although sadly too late in the evening for the contest.   Although not a huge opening it did burble along quite nicely for a while giving quite weak reflection but at reasonable distance,  best dx was ly2wr in KO24 and sp2cwn in jo93 with a few other dls in the jo60odds plus a goodly handful of SMs LAs etc.    

I did hunt and peck around at the contest but it seemed quiet here, I am wondering if my coax is completely knackered and I'm loosing dozens of dbs in it - I'm going to replace it anyway (it's only 30 years old..... )  BUT,   how about the RSGB buying a job lot of preamps for you lot down there?   I spent quite a while calling a few people who weren't even hearing a whisper of me (m0bra, m1lat/p - if you're on this list you're loosing easy qsos!),  I was running 100w and imho my ts2000 is completely deaf (preamp sorted out yesterday (and amplifier when I want it) :-)  and both stations were an easy 55 here even in my pre preamp days!   

73
Andy
gm8oeg



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