[UK-CONTEST] GR prefixes

[Christopher Plummer]

Guys,
 
I was one of the UK calls to use the prefix in a UKAC contest, and did not put in an entry, although I could have as there is no VHF rule against it.
 
As the NOV was only temporary, we should have been allowed to use it in any contest, (note they are NOT banned from international contests) in fact using it in the only RSGB HF contest (80m CC) would not have made any advantage as nearly all the contacts were inter-UK, thus no-one would have been prefix chasing anyway.
 
I had a great time, limited though it was, and worked 227 contacts in my general log and 25 in nthe UKAC 2m contest.
 
I found that overseas contacts were a bit of a pile up, but I would have been working the same QSOs anyway without the NOV prefix.
 
I was in Canada when the Winter Olympics were on and worked several hundred QSOs within the period of allowed operation including several HF contests, no-one complained then, and I bet many UK stations were in the pile ups to work the special prefix including contest stations.
 
I will certainly apply for the next one we will be allowed.
 
Chris G8APB