[UK-CONTEST] 70 cms UKAC

[Ken]

I take my hat off to anyone who operates from a hill top until 2230 
especially in the winter, I prefer my nice warm shack!
Having tripped over a bramble whilst taking the antenna down after a 
daytime contest it occurred to me that someone having an accident whilst 
alone at night might find themselves in need of assistance & there's no 
guarantee that a mobile phone is always within reach or will work.
I'd suggest that anyone going solo portable (especially at a remote spot 
at night) should tell someone what time they will be home and exactly 
where they will be operating from, NGR etc. ( I did hear of a SOTA 
activator who'd taken a fall & when calling for assistance was asked for 
his post code!)

My QTH is on the 'wrong' (west) side of the Cotswold's & I came on last 
night's 70cm UKAC mainly to give points away. I made 5 QSO's in the last 
half hour (I was about to give up at 2200) having worked only 6 in the 
previous hour &16 in the first hour. It seems that some stations in the 
east spend most of the time beaming towards the continent & only think 
to look west in the final minutes.  Perhaps it's not surprising that so 
few stations in the West Country bother to enter these events.

73...

Ken

G3LVP