[UK-CONTEST] 1st 1.8MHz - G3SJJ

[Chris G3SJJ]

Chris SVL jogged my memory about the contest, also I received a trial copy of the new N1MM format for the contest during the week from G4LMW. I never 
got round to trying it until just before the contest. It seemed to work out but I had a dreadful evening! Those of a nervous disposition please look 
away now!

During my first contact I realised I hadn't changed the Fn messages from last week's FOC Marathon. It was impossible to change during a pile-up so I 
sent everything on the paddle / Winkey until after 21 minutes (35 QSOs) then f*!^^//**!! the whole shebang locked up. Exactly same as I experienced in 
the second hour of AFS. Nothing comes from pressing the paddle, not a bl**dy dot. I think the memories (macros?) worked but the speed was slow. 
Rebooted, still no go. Switched everything off and started again, waited until the pc was fully up and running etc. It worked with a hitch after that. 
Seems to be a suggestion that buffers get full. Dunno. I lost a full 21 minutes though during the busiest time and ended with just 64 after the 1st 
hour which was only around 12-16 behind the leaders so I must have caught up.

Don't tell G3LET but several of my QSOs in the 2nd hour were made using this new fangled, well, 25 year old, system called SO2V, also known as 
LETting! Basically you wait until LET has worked you then press Cntrl --> to bring in the 2nd Rx. You then have YOUR run freq in the left ear and can 
find stations to call in the right ear. Dob in a quick F4 and then F2 and hit Cntrl <-- to clobber the guy who has been trying to steal YOUR run freq 
whilst you have been away. Good fun!

I added another 70 in the 2nd hour and wasn't far away from the leaders but then new activity seemed to drop off so I went ahunting for SSB stations 
after witching the amp out. Mainly PAs, a few keen Gs and a number of punk ops including one who after a CQ was "Listening by!!!!!!!!!" Yer what??? 
Been licenced 47 years and never heard that one!! I very quickly returned to the CW end but rate was virtually zero so packed in and went to bed at 2330.

There was a couple of really ropey sigs, a GM4 sounded as though he was keying an amp relay and another had a 50Hz modulated buzz! Had a few who were 
speeding up/ slowing down!! Really, really annoying and totally unnecessary.

Any road up, I ended with 135 CW Qs and 13 SSB QS for 804 points.

Nice try HFCC but I think the new version is a dead duck.  73 G3SJJ listening by!