Big decision! What to put in the F1 macro, CQ CC or CQ BERU? RSGB encourages the use of CC, but there are still plenty of stations using BERU and for me I find BERU more recognisable when tuning around.

 

The propagation story has already been told. I spent a lot of time scratching around in the noise, so many thanks to those who persevered and sent the report several times, I think there was only station, Tony, ZL2AGY, where we gave up and then we worked 20 minutes later. However I’m confident there will be many busts in the log. An extra 4db gain from a small beam would have made a significant difference.

 

The plan was to just take a 60 minute rest around 3AM Sunday morning, but at 1:30 with 208 QSOs in the log and none in the previous 30 minutes I set the alarm for 5AM and crawled under the quilt on the shack sofa. 

 

Sunrise at 0615 didn’t give the usual boost in QSOs on 80 and 40m – what happened to the S9 signals form VE3 on 80m and abundance of ZLs on 40m.

 

Only a further 15 QSOs before the end, mainly on 20m and like Dave (BUO) the last hour was looking stark until I caught ZD7BG on 10 and 15m and then a big signal from Bob 5B4AGN on 15m.  The final count of QSOs and points was about 65% of my 2025 total.

 

BAND QSO DUP BONUS HQ POINTS 

———————————

   80  28   0    16  8    245 

   40  49   2    33  8    460 

   20  98   0    52 15    945 

   15  33   0    27  6    305 

   10  13   0    11  2    120 

———————————

TOTAL 221   2   139 39   2075 

========================

        FINAL SCORE: 5 635

 

Equipment: FTdx101D with ACOM 1k at 500W out. Dipoles at 12m for 40/20/15/10m and 45m end fed wire at 80m at 12m. DXLog for logging.

 

As always I need to thank the travellers and operators of the HQ stations, they are a significant part of the success of this contest, but thanks to all for the QSOs.

 

Thanks & 73

Mike /G3WPH/G3P