[UK-CONTEST] RSGB 2nd 1.8 - G3LET

[Peter Hobbs]

Out all day today, so a delayed report, mainly to apologise for my 
appalling keying during most of this event.  With 20 minutes to go I 
realised that I hadn't laid out the usual radials that sit below my 
sloping wire and which are coiled up during the cutting season.   
Managed to get 6 of them out by the off, the penalty being hands with 
very little feeling left.  There also seemed to be a sticking relay in 
the ETM keyer, which has regretfully had no use since the last evening 
CC event.  This (and my fingers!) partially recovered after a couple of 
hours.

Conditions were quiet here apart from the slow widebandf keying QRM, 
which seems to pervade the band below 1820.  First across the pond, as 
usual, was VE3CUI at 21.40.  Most of those that followed were really 
weak, even K8MFO.  Nothing anywhere near as far over as AZ!  All the 
bits are on hand for a K9AY receiving loop, which is becoming really 
urgent with the recent fall-off in propagation.

Ended with 220 QSOs, 28 DXCC and 58 PCs for a total of 1090.  As Chris 
has confirmed, many of the usually easy countries seemed to be missing, 
despite a fair  time spent searching around.  Not a sniff of a JA, 
although 9M2AX was a big signal.  A lot of the overseas serials received 
were very low, indicating generally disappointing activity from the UK.

K3 400W into 250ft sloping wire, fed in the shack by Racal MA144 tuner.  
Hand logged, to be post-entered into SD.

As always, thanks to all who came back or called

73, Peter G3LET