For those unfamiliar with Amateur Radio, there are these contest things. This weekend has been one of the biggest of the calendar. The CQWW SSB (Single Sideband) one that runs for 48 hours, not that everyone would operate for all of that time on their own of course. I can't, there's plenty else to do in the meantime.
This means there is a mad scramble to exchange a signal report and the CQ Zone number, the UK being in 14. Last year the main action was on the 15m band (21MHz), this year the improved propagation has meant that the 10m band (28MHz) has been the one to get all the good DX (long distance) contacts.
Here my log has collected a resonable number of callsigns, and I have added a pair of new countries to my overall total. For the curious - India and China. I've also nabbed quite a few stations in North America despite the fact that the buildings in the way don't help.
Last year I had less chance to operate, this weekend I have been nearer to the station and managed to clock up a few hours here and there, in between eating, sleeping and taking the dog out. My log will be going off for the results, I won't be anywhere near the leaders, but at least mentioned somewhere for putting it in.
The sunspot count is up at 104 or so, and the solar flux somewhere in the region of 123 - better than last year. Same antenna as last year apart from it being moved to the other end of the garden. I don't think reassembling it after it being used for a Special Event Station at the end of last month makes much difference.
It's been fun. How has anyone else done?
