BERU was not really in my contesting plans for anything more than a casual bit of operating. ‘Domestic harmony’ was on the agenda since I have been doing quite a lot of contesting lately plus spending an awful lot of hours outside trying to sort out the antennas. Consequently, I was on a promise to put some hours in the garden. I made about 5 QSOs on 15m around 1130 and did an hour and a bit on 20m from 1300ish. The latter produced a few VK and I guess that’s where the ‘problem’ started. While outside planting trees, a plan evolved. I got back on 20m again a bit before 1700 but a tactical retreat was required at 1800 for eats. Back an hour later and by then, I was up for the 12 hour section.

WinTest does not tell you (unless it is another feature I don’t know about – there seem to be lots) how long you have been QRV apart from the SUM file – and even then, I think it assumes a 10min gap is QRT – NOT in BERU!! Some arithmetic told me I should probably QRT at midnight and come back on an hour before SR, and finish at 0930. So I did. Maybe this was a mistake but the 12 hour section is an interesting challenge and I was not really prepared for it, since I would probably have tried to find another hour Sat afternoon and go past midnight if I had planned this.

If it was not for our friends in VE3, this would be a grim affair. A few VKs were very welcome, but I did better on 40m than 20m into Oz, probably due to my timing and the utter failure of virtually any 20m long path on Sunday morning – only a couple of VK4. I did work a good number of ZLs, however, but only by beaming due south, they were inaudible on the usual 230-240 heading – very odd. Virtually all the QSOs on 15m were a scrape and I looked on 10m for as many seconds once. My lack of tactical preparedness meant I never asked any of the UK HQ stations to try 15 or 10m and I only heard Chris WOJ on 15m. 80m felt like it was shaping up well enough when I got there, timing my QSY for VK6 sunrise and was glad to get VK6LW who had a great signal. Judging by what I have read, I should have gone there earlier to see what was happening. The Canadian contingent built up nicely so my midnight QRT may have cost since it was pretty dire in that direction on Sunday morning on 80m and especially 40m. The ZLs were coming in well on 80m well after my SR and the VK/ZL path on 40m was pretty good though not a lot of volume unfortunately. I missed V31 on 40 and 80m, ZF2CA was extremely loud on 80m, not a single ZS in the log.

Really enjoyable contest in the end. I think the slow pace is easier to deal with because it is what you expect. I was getting grumpy in ARRL when the rate was double BERU standard. ‘Almost’ every call feels like nice DX and a success, and the openings to be caught (assuming brain is in gear!!) add interest. It is just a shame that support for the contest from some parts seems so poor. Don’t suppose that is likely to change.

73 Keith GM4YXI

SOU HP 12hr Operating time  : 10h45…………. Actually, nearer 12hr I think.