[UK-CONTEST] Preamps coax et al.!

[BCSLLEWELLYN at aol.com]

Dave
 
Read your email with interest.
 
Worked some AU last night (we worked as you know) I also worked other GMs  
and some LAs and ESs. but it wasn't that brilliant so far South (JO03).  A  
lot with just 100w to 7e (on 6m).
 
The 2m contest was interesting in that I thought conditions were relatively 
 flat, I worked a few GMs and the usual OZs off the back of the antenna 
(they are  only just over the water from here of course). 
 
You mentioned the stations down in the SW and some of the problems of them  
getting out due to hills and buildings, luckily I do not suffer from  that 
problem as I am on top of a hill and no buildings or neighbours close  by.  
I do howevere work many of those that are "badly sited".
 
I ALWAYS use mast head gasfet preamps on 6m 4m 2m 70cms and 23cms, and  on 
6 2 70 and 23cms heliax feeder.  4m I have very lossy RG213 which has to  be 
changed over to LDF 5-50 (which I have) but cannot get it up the  tower as 
I am now badly disabled!
 
I think that any station that gives a report far far  lower than  the 
received report must really think about improving the set up.  G1LAT/P  for 
instance tried to work me twice, I could copy them perfectly but they  struggled 
to hear my 400w and 4 x 12e set up,  In the end we exchanged  59/51 reports, 
 I got the 51 report, if they struggled with me I bet they  struggled with 
everyone else   G0UIQ ( Norfolk) commented (off the  back of my antenna that 
he couldn't believe the report I had received.
 
Just changing to LDF 4-50 or if you can LDF 5-50 ( I got most of mine at  
rally very cheaply)  will make an impressive difference and connectors are  
not too pricey.  
 
Last Tuesday night I thought I might be a bit down on QSOs but it seems  
not.  Managed 10 countries all on SSB although I think I went back to a  
couple using SSB,who called on CW. 
 
Bryn G4DEZ