[UK-CONTEST] RSGB 21 / 28MHz Contest 2010

[Darrell G0HVQ]

Like others, I will be disappointed if this contest goes - it's a great 
opportunity for new/returning contesters to cut their teeth, and a nice 
daytime-only event for us more experienced contests to have a bit of 
non-pressure radio time. You don't have to worry too much about being on the 
wrong band at the wrong time, so can spend an hour or two at the radio, take 
a break, then come back later when the propagation has changed...goes down 
much better with the XYL than spending 48hrs in the shack (yes, I did CQWW 
RTTY last weekend, although not quite 48hrs radio time...)

Let's face it, the last few years have been pretty dire condx wise, very 
long solar minimum, I used to enter 21/28 every year from G3SSO but haven't 
the past few mainly due to lack of propagation accessible with a small 
set-up. So it's a bit disappointing that this contest is cancelled right at 
the end of a long solar minimum, when there's hardly been any life on 15m 
and 10m for years (OK, I know these bands do come alive from time to time, 
but for the casual operator/contester, they can appear dead for long 
periods).

I came back this year, admittedly 79 QSOs isn't going to set the world on 
fire (I can sometimes get more in a Tues night 2m activity contest) but it's 
a nice event, away from the 24/48hr hell-for-leather bedlam of CQWW or 
similar, and nice to be called by the likes of JA and E2. Even heard a 
couple of VK8s on 10m at the end of the Oceania contest, and worked a VU, so 
although we're just off the bottom of the sunspot cycle, it doesn't take 
much to liven up these bands. And it'll only get better.

So please RSGB Contest Committee, keep this one going, it's a feather in the 
cap of the RSGB that 21/28 is a little different from other contests.

73
Darrell G0HVQ