[UK-CONTEST] CQWW 160 CW - G3SJJ

[Chris Burbanks]

My entry was spread over 5 sessions. Saturday afternoon just after sunset, later in the evening, Sunday morning for about an hour before sunrise, 
early and later Sunday evening. For very specific reasons I didn't do any overnight sessions. Overall I thought conditions weren't as good as previous 
years. I spoke to GW3KDB on the LL on Saturday and he said that US activity was low. I managed about 30 Stateside Qs on my Sunday morning session but 
many usual callsigns were missing, eg K8MFO, K5NA, W5WMU etc.  Nice to get Gerd V31YN and KV4FZ in the log but just couldn't get XE1RCS and C6AMK to 
respond. During the evening sessions I didn't hear any JAs. On Saturday evening UA9s were virtually inaudible but much better on Sunday evening.

Speeding up rubbish was noticeable, as always among mainland Europeans. If you are CQing you don't need to save time, more importantly CQing is your 
marketing ploy where you attract the punters so a good robust CQ is best. TST etc just doesn't cut the ice. I can certainly understand if you are 
running at 200 an hour then speeding up might just raise that to 201, but I would question whether it is helpful at lower Q/H rates. Amusing to note 
that many French stations were doing the speeding up rubbish in their REF contest over the weekend, presumably Wintest was issued free with a cheap 
bottle of plonk!

150Hz or less selectivity on the K3 most definitely helped to find the weaker stations hidden underneath the big ones. Dipole at 57ft wasn't really 
high enough although the ends at 50ft up probably helps a bit. Acom 1000 at around 600-700w from the amp. (Antenna SWR is 1.4 at 1865 so loads of 
reflected power down at 1812 etc.  About 5mW ERP, oh I forgot the reflection co-efficient from local heavy clay soil, so about 6mW then! N1MM was, of 
course, solid as ever.

Seriously though! This was a planned post-major-surgery recuperation exercise for mental exercise. Now I must concentrate on physical exercise in the 
fresh air!

I must record my greatful thanks to the numerous people who have supported and encouraged me since my op on 12 January. Don G3BJ (who I must have 
known for 50 years now!), Hilary G4JKS and Chris G3SVL in particular, plus many who I know are on this Reflector. You support was very timely and 
helped enormously.

(and yes, I am now obeying all of Yvonne's instructions!!)

73 Chris G3SJJ