[UK-CONTEST] Aircraft Reflection

[Ray James]

Ahh....there is another thing I forgot to mention. Preparation!
Make a list of known competitors or areas you would like to work.
Use the SM7LCB map plot to establish all the mid-points and as you are working the contest you can refer to these and the virtual radar screen to see what opportunities arise for either a schedule or random calling or listening. Another approach is to use a transparency feature like Gridvista were you have the virtual radar screen overlayed by the SM7LCB screen.
Lars's website has two plotting pages. One for a single mid-point, another for up to 10 mid-points at once.
I personally prefer one at a time though with experience you tend to know exactly what to look for and rely less on the mapping tool.

Near Harrogate gives me Ipswich and JO01KW
Around Carlisle gives me the Leeds area.
Just west of Southport gives me Chippenham
Runcorn gives me the Isle of Wight
Just east of Scarborough = JO22
Just east of Hornsea = JO21

Once you become familiar with the mid-points it becomes second nature.

Another important point is to capitalise on multiple opportunities.
Quite often in the first hour of UKAC's you'll notice jets acting like buses...they all come at once! If you observe a stream of 3 or even 4 on roughly the same path in a line then that beam heading is one to concentrate on for the duration. They'll all pass multiple mid-points on route to work stations up and down the country before they descend. This is particularly useful if you're running in the contest at that time thogh it can also be handy to pick some long haul square contacts that have perhaps been spotted.

73 Ray GM4CXM

> The translation of information from aircraft radar screen to the path and
> scatter screen, is that done by eye?