August 2m Activity Contest

This contest takes place on the first Tuesday of each month from 2000 to 2230 Clock time. If you are new to contesting then give it a go as it's a lot more friendly than most events. Listen around 144.300 SSB. The exchange is (genuine) signal report, serial number and 6-figure grid square.

I sometimes operate portable, but the weather was bad so stayed at home. Just before the contest my 25W linear started playing up so had to run my bare back 817 with just 5W. Conditons were poor so spent the first two hours working local stuff and clocking up a miserable score.

I did work G4DEZ, Brin in Lincolnshire (JO03) , but just after my computer froze and I lost the report and I had to go back and ask for a repeat. Brin is one of the 'big guns' in this contest, but he very kindly broke off and helped me out.

Just after 10pm the band opened a bit and I worked 4 multipliers in 15 minutes that gave me a respectable score. Never give up on 2m is the moral of this tale.

Dave

IOTA Contest

Unfortunately, I missed the IOTA contest this year as I had a wedding in Manchester that day. I did toy with the idea of taking a rig along and doing a couple of hours portable operation but decided it was better to spend my time with seldom-seen relatives and friends.

Prior to being invited to the wedding, I had started planning a light-weight operation in Iceland. Perhaps 2009? If you are interested in joining me then get in touch.

73

Dave

6m Activity Contest

I had a go at this tonight; first time I think. Conditions were not great and only managed three Qs and 2 Multipliers. I heard a few other stations, but with my 5 Watts and an indoor dipole (non-rotatable), I was not able to work them.

I don't realy have a 6m portable capability, to get myself to a better location, but I might work on this to see if I can improve my scores in this event.

73

Dave

2m CC Contest

The results of the 2m Club Championship contest were out today. I was pleased to see one of my clubs, Bittern DX Group (www.bittern-dxers.org.uk/) improve our place from 13th to 11th.

This contest runs from 2000 to 2230 (clock time) the first Tuesday of every month on 2m SSB. Given that it runs every month throughout the year it's a tough one. Given my home QTH is not a good radio site I try to get out portable when I can which gives me the best chance of working some good multipliers (grid squares).

IARU Contest - 12 July

I had a busy weekend, but did manage to operate for an hour or so on Saturday evening. The SSB portion of 40 & 80 were very noisy so I moved down to CW. Sadly, I did not work the UK HQ stations but did work a few overseas stations.

Dave

2m FM 2E0RPS

A short 2m FM QSO with Rod in Peckam tonight. Just as I was thinking of going to bed, he called CQ.

About M0BGR's Station

I live in a crowded suburban area where external antennas are not allowed. This means I have to either run low power with clandestine antennas or go out portable/mobile.

My station consists for an SGC-2020 for HF and an FT-817 for all bands, QRP, Portable. Additionally I have a Kenwood D7 for VHF/UKF FM and packet/APRS and a Yaesu VX5-R for VHF/UHF FM.

My antennas are all in the loft space:-

• An HF doublet that tunes OK on all bands with my Z-11 auto tuner
• A 6m fixed horizontal dipole (made from some old 15mm copper pipe)
• A 2m 5-element beam on my Yaesu G-250 rotator
• A 70cm 7-element beam, also on my rotator.
• A vertical 2m/70 cm co-linear for FM.

As well as operating in London, we have a house in Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk and I operate from there whenever possible.