[UK-CONTEST] 144MHz UKAC last night

[Jonathan G0DVJ]

Hi Ray et al.    

(Ray if you need to reply again to my points I suggest u do it direct rather than via the list - so we don't make this an endless thread of CXM/DVJ :) )

On 5 Jan 2011, at 17:06, Ray James wrote:

> What was certainly apparent was a substantial increase in the number and geographical spread of "GM" activity which is an area I expect to see grow even further this year.

Was does substantial mean?  3, 5 10, 20 more GM stations?   How much geog spread?  2, 4, 6 more GM squares?

It might be interesting for the possible squares that were active to be published after the contest adjudication so that we can all see how many we missed.

> Scores are going to be a lot closer so every contact counts and elusive squares have to be searched for rather than running for 2.5 hours.      

We searched as well as calling ... that's how RRA and us found each other (for IO80/JO02)

> Worked 2 in JO02, nobody in JO01.

Probably PYE/P and us from 02 square.  Amazing that you didn't work JO01 ... maybe more threw out rattles (as you put it) than I thought.

> Tactics Jonathan!
Well our tactics already included everything you said except the DXC which we don't have there in the club shack - hard enuf to get a cell phone signal where we are.

> You were a very good signal on the one occasion I heard you here and no reason contacts into IO85, IO86 and IO97 would not have forthcoming had you either looked or called this way more often or kept an eye on the DXC.

You either love cluster or hate it.  Those that prefer to work what *they* find rather than what someone else finds during the contest are obviously going to be penalised.  Those who talk about level playing fields might consider this.  I called and called many times for many minutes solid for GM.   I even included "CQ CXM country" a couple of times during those efforts, as I hoped you'd be on!!  

> Under M2, it was commonplace up here to mainly hear stations make a flitting search this way and become readable for a short time before beaming elsewhere the rest of the time. This will not work in your favour under M5. 

I really don't know how to say this for the Nth time ... We did/do not spend a short time looking for GM before beaming elsewhere.  

> Not once did I hear anyone in G control a pile-up, they just took every s9 signal first and worked there way through others calling.
I generally take the weakest first in this situation - not guilty guv!

> Competitors should keep a map of UK squares to hand and cross off the ones worked
We do this!

> and include calls within CQ's like "looking for IO84 and 95",
I did this!

> "any GM, GD or GI",
I did this!!!

> and if a pile-up results from a CQ......a quick "was there a GM or GI calling?".
When in the relevant direction I do this too!!

> A Happy New Year to one and all.

Likewise Ray et al.  Hope to work you next month.

73
Jonathan G0DVJ 
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