70 MHz UKAC

I have never made any bones about it, I am just not really a /P operator. My last venture onto 4 meters was from a good, high location in Somerset and I did abysmally. Four meters is not a band that I had any equipment for so all of it was borrowed. Unfamiliarity tends to add the general state of confusion that I find myself in while portable operating. Fortunately there are not many 5th Tuesdays in the month to worry about so I have lived with the situation.

For this months 4 meter UKAC I was at home and determined to do a bit better. I ordered a 4 element beam from Andy, our "antenna man" at SDARS and also spent a bit more time setting the station up. The Transmitter was the same borrowed kit, An FT690 with transverter and small linear giving 20 watts. As usual I checked out the band plan to make sure where I knew where I was supposed to be going. 70 MHz is a bit different from other bands in that the bottom segment is for beacons and not CW. Phone and key share a calling frequency of 70.200 MHz.

The biggest improvement to my station was the addition of my shack headphones. I had taken them along last time but had the wrong 1/4" to 3.5mm adapter and could only hear from one earpiece!

Conditions were quite flat for the contest and that is fine by me as when others score very well, I tend to just score a little better than usual. A flat band tends to even out the "luck" of sporadic E contacts.

I passed my last efforts within the first hour so was well pleased. I went on to make 42 contacts in 12 multiplier squares.

I was happy to work several squares that often evade me, IO90, IO94 and IO95 but still cannot manage to find the number of squares more experienced contesters can conjure up.

Overall it was an enjoyable contest with a mixture of search and pounce along with some sessions calling CQ.

Many thanks to all for the points and hope to work you again in the next UKAC.

73 de Jim GØHGH