[UK-CONTEST] IOTA 2011 (GM3F)

[Stewart GM4AFF]

It's strange that there aren't more contest reports on here for the premier
RSGB contest of the year. (Or is it?)
I only returned from my 5X1SF mini-expedition late on Friday night (without
my luggage) so I couldn't handle my usual favourite 24 hrs SSB section. I
decided on 12 hrs Mixed mode. These 12 hour sections are great - strategy is
far more important than I realised. In fact, although I ran a little, I
would say it was a mistake, and I should have spent the whole contest S & P.
I spent too long on 40m on the Sat evening and should have gone to 80m
earlier - that left me with only 1 hour on 80m which was not enough, and I
lost a lot of mults. Being located in GM it is very difficult to catch all
those nice GM mults, even on 80m. Also, in a single mode 24 hour section
SO2R is a huge advantage, but in 12 hours mixed mode it is totally
unneccessary - you seldom run, so you have no time to work the 2nd radio.
And an amp is probably unneccesary too, so the 12 hour low power and QRP
sections are something which more people could consider (as Gordon and
Bernie pointed out). For me it was an interesting learning experience, but a
thoroughly enjoyable one

 Band  CW Qs  CW Mults  Ph Qs  Ph Mults
----------------------------------------
   80:   22       16      20       10
   40:   84       24      72       28
   20:  130       37     116       43
   15:   30       20      32       20
   10:   12        8      12        8
----------------------------------------
Total:  278      105     252      106

Total Score = 950,766

Used a K3 and an FT1000mp, an Alpha 91 and Alpha 76, four monobanders, 80m
vertical and beverages and Win-Test.

This is the worst contest for bad operating technique. I don't know why, but
these island expeditions with ops who are more into IOTA than contesting
just assume everyone knows their callsign. (And strangely, most people
calling them do.) Even when there is no pile-up they complete a QSO by
saying "QRZ". Failing that they'll finish by saying "73's" and then the
frequency sits quiet for about 20 seconds before they then decide to call
CQ. And as for the people calling with two letters only. If I didn't lose
out, I think I ought to log them as two letter calls too - that'll teach
them!

73
Stewart
GM4AFF / GM3F