[UK-CONTEST] 144MHz Trophy - lack of UK activity

[geoff plucknett]

Well said Dave. I may have made the Bristol setup/takedown seem simple in my
recent report but that's only because we have done it so many times in both
open and restricted sections. IOTA also became an SSB FD de-risk session as
we used the same configuration as the IOTA run station.

I agree about the general lack of 144 activity. As last year we also had a
small 144 station (30w, 3 ele at about 4m) on site to give away a few
points. Very low UK activity, we worked all we could with flea-power and
gave up after a couple of hours. As I've heard said for the last 38+ years
on the air, no-one ever beams west in VHF events. Having moved west I now
know it to be true!

I've operated in 144 Trophy a few times with both open and lesser
configurations. I've also done VHF NFD in open, restricted and low power
configurations over many years and can assure everyone setting up HF and VHF
can be equally easy or equally frustrating. They key to all events is
preparation, testing out everything in advance (particularly anything being
done for the first time), and thereafter the experience gained through doing
it time and time again. Always have well filled tool boxes on site as
something will always require drilling/hitting/testing/soldering/etc.

I'm really encouraged to see the reports from the groups having a go or
beginning to establish new groups. Well done and keep at it.

Geoff G4FKA


On 7 September 2011 16:08, dave <daveg3tbk at googlemail.com> wrote:

> Bob, a quick look at the Contesting calendar would have told you that
> RSGB SSB FD runs concurrently with IARU Region 1 Field Day, which I
> suspect has as many or more entrants than the 2m event, being supported
> this year by stations from Namibia to Asia and literally hundreds of Eu
> portables.
>
> Stewart, try telling stations like Bristol or ourselves that setting up
> an Open Section FD station is easier than a 2m one! Multiple towers and
> HF Yagis plus other antennas for LF, and antennas for spotting RX
> aren't trivial - plus auto bandswitching and other refinements.
>
> Some clubs manage to do both events, we used to do but gave up, partly
> because of lack of ops interested in VHF and partly because we were
> totally uncompetitive from our Site - which is great for HF but lousy
> for VHF/UHF, despite being on the highest point in the vicinity.
>
> I regret the loss of interest in major VHF/UHF events in the UK, but
> that goes along with the general decline in VHF/UHF activity. I don't
> think the blame can be laid at the door of SSB FD.
>
> 73 Dave G3TBK - still recovering from working 1400+ in SSB FD!
>
>
>
>
>
>
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