[UK-CONTEST] Feb 2m UKAC Contest Report

[Ray James]

An interesting evening.
Decided to give "Lover's Drop" in IO76XA an airing for this contest.

Arrived on site a bit late, just 20 minutes to the off.
At least the rain had stopped on the drive up the hill but t'was still a very cold task putting the mast and antenna together and installed on a wheel based support. 

Unfortunately I'd parked on a bit of a gradient so the antenna wasn't exactly pointing at the horizon so that's noted for future events.
The spot was originally chosen so my xyl (book worm and torch holder) had a superb view of the cities and towns of central Scotland all lit up below us to look at whilst I played radio.

Armstrong method of rotation so I was popping out the car at regular intervals to point in different directions during a relaxed S&P and occasional run session. 

Numerous cars and vans would appear, then lights out, music, steamed up windows and depart, to be replaced by others at regular intervals.
After 2 hours of this I just said to the wife "have these folk not got beds to go to?". Obviously not!

I was pleasantly surprised at the number of GM's worked or heard.
Almost 20 though I now know there were more from further north that I never heard despite looking that way numerous times. It's not the best spot for the north east through to west due to local screening unfortunately.

G3ZVW IO80, G4RRA IO80, M0GHZ/P IO81 and M0BRA/P IO91 were heard throughout the contest from the deep south. G4BRK IO91 was the sole cw contact. Having lived and operated in South Wales and know how tough it can be to get out of the valley's in this direction, 2W0VAG/P IO81 (Rhondda) was a pleasure to get in the log. 38 contacts and 14 multipliers was a satisfactory result evening though I did finish 15 minutes early when S&P dried up and CQ's went unanswered. Still didn't arrive home until 23.30.

Weather permitting, I'll try to activate IO76 whenever possible for the 2m UKAC. 70cm, 23cm and 13cm UKAC's will be done from the comfort of home.

73 Ray GM4CXM/P
IO76XA

IC910HX 100w 7el