[UK-CONTEST] June 23cm UK Activity Contest - Report

[Ray James]

Lost around 10 minutes at the start of Tuesday evenings 23cm UKAC with a switching issue and appreciated Alan GM0USI taking time out to confirm the problem was sorted. So a game of catch up thereafter.
 
Both OZ1FF and OZ9KY alerted me to the same aircraft for the opportunity of an aircraft reflection contact. I placed their different frequencies into separate VFO's and switched between each rapidly.
Only Kjeld OZ1FF became audible and a comfortable contact followed. 
  
A contact followed with a new addition to the Scottish microwave scene with the welcome appearance of John GM7OIN in Ayr, running 10w at the present time to a 44el Wimo yagi.

Hans PA0EHG was a very good signal via a well placed aircraft followed quickly by 3 long range weak troposcatter contacts with John G4EAT, Mike G0MJW and Phil G3TCU. 
That was me up to 11 contacts in the first 55 minutes and by that time I noticed a number of KST users commenting on poor conditions so I wasn't too perturbed. Swinging the antenna towards IO83 and all change!
The period between 2003 and 2023 yielded 14 contacts of which 10 were in IO83, 2 in IO81 and 1 in IO91. A nice "run" which was mainly via troposcatter but included periodical aircraft enhancement.

The last hour got a lot quieter but quality made up for the lack of width, generating needed multipliers in IO74, IO84, IO86, IO93 and JO02. Nothing was heard from anyone in IO82 and I see from the claimed score comments I wasn't alone, so it brought a wry smile to read the comments from one station active from IO82 asking that folk look his way. My answer is, we were!

My QSO map can be viewed at http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/kml_files/2011/p3CRV0BfFzVcWc0RgrT2XFyNECmhwL4

73 Ray GM4CXM IO75TW
150w 4x44 + LNA