[UK-CONTEST] The first 144MHz UKAC of 2010

[Keith Maton]

That was an interesting evening, very cold in our Martello Tower, every time I breathed out I had to use an ice pick to get through it.  Luckily we didn't get the snow that was forecast but I think a lot of the rest of the country did.

One thing I found very frustrating was that I'd been sitting on a frequency just keeping it occupied for around fifteen minutes prior to the start of the contest (I always make a point of spinning the beam the full 360 degrees while doing this to make sure that there's nobody doing the same thing that we're not hearing because they're in a null) with not a peep heard but 30 seconds before the official start time (according to my MSF set watch) someone started calling CQ contest just 2.5 KHz above us forcing me to tune down a couple of k to clear them.  I wish people would take the time to actually listen on the frequency they want to use rather than what appeared to happen, ie just turn the radio on and start shouting without having a good listen around first.

Conditions were poor this evening, the highlight was when I suggested one of our operators point the beam towards Scotland and see what we get and after his  second call we did indeed work GM!  No Wales, Ireland or the Channel Isles this evening though.

Looking forward to the 70cms contest next week, providing we can find someone brave enough to get the aerial up!

73
Keith, G6NHU