[UK-CONTEST] March 144/432 @ G3PYE/P

[Robert Chipperfield]

Hi all,

Just a quick report from the Camb-Hams at G3PYE/P. This was the first 
time we'd entered the March 144/432 contest - indeed, looking back at 
our logs, it's not quite a year ago that we first started playing in the 
VHF contests to begin with.

The usual suspects of M0LCM, M0VFC and M1BXF were joined in Flossie by 
the slightly less local but very much welcomed Jimmys 2E0SQL and M0MJH - 
thanks guys. We also received a steady stream of non-operating visitors, 
amateur and otherwise. Amusingly, all the non-amateurs who asked what we 
were up to invariably also asked how much power we were running. On 
hearing "3 to 400w", they universally declared that to be "oh, not that 
much then..."

Most important was our early QSO with David, G8IDL. Whilst only netting 
us 12 points, it did mean that along with the report, serial number, and 
locator, he also got our coffee orders, and duly delivered these to the 
site. Thanks, David!

We weren't initially sure whether we'd be able to get antennas for both 
bands up on the mast at once, and a few of the 2m elements ended up 
vertically polarised temporarily as a result of the lifting operation, 
but that was soon resolved, and the array went up nicely. The absence of 
wind meant that no guying was required - mind you, with the weight of 
M1BXF's 2m linear in the van, I'm not sure much could have toppled us. 
The 70cm linear that failed in 432MHz AFS had a new cooling fan fitted, 
and this time performed admirably. There were, of course, a few last 
minute adaptors that needed making, but it seemed rude to start the 
contest on time in any case. One TFT monitor let its magic blue smoke 
out, but for some reason, M0MJH just happened to have a spare one in his 
car...

Being more familiar with the UKAC contests, we weren't sure what to 
expect in this one, much less have anything you might call a strategy. 
After a good initial run towards the north and north-west, we turned our 
attention to Europe. This proved rather effective, accounting for about 
40% of our QSOs on 2m and of course some decent distances as well, 
though at 838km ODX, nothing to rival some of the other claimed scores.

Opting for the 6-hour session meant that we managed to pack up and still 
find an Indian restaurant willing to serve five rather muddy guys who 
wandered in at about 11pm on a Saturday evening - spot on!

Claimed scores (6O section):
     2m: 171 QSOs, 49,540 points
     70cm: 59 QSOs, 13,464 points

Thanks all that we worked, and hope to catch some of you again on 
Tuesday evening for some more 70cm fun...

73,
Rob, M0VFC