[UK-CONTEST] [ukmicrowaves] December 23cm UKAC - Result

[Sam Jewell]

Folks,
an enjoyable evening on the band(s). Due to confusion over a part number I didn't get the new 13cm transverter completed, so activity limited to 23cm. Must learn IRFD120 and IRFD9120 are not the same!

I used Planefinder on my IPAD for the first time and found it most instructive. Learning exactly what size of reflection circle can be used is the hardest part. It obviously requires plane height info as well as offset angle from the centre of the reflection area. These are not always immediately obvious from a quick glance at the screen during the 'heat of battle'.

During the contest conditions from here (East Anglia coast) were not so good. Even plane reflections seemed down on normal. Only one long distance contact into the Continent. DF9IC, worked by the usual troposcatter mode, was much weaker than normal.

My new DX1000 rotator seems to dislike cold weather. Although it rotated anticlockwise quite happily, clockwise it was really slow.

16 stations worked, including my 100th 23cm locator, IO85, GM4JR! by a mixture of tropo and AS. Thanks Andy.

If you have a port for the UKAC, I would appreciate it for the co.umn, please.

Merry Christmas to microwavers, wherever you are.


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