Some comments / advice from me for HQ stations below :
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1. Aim to be active for as many of the 24 hours as you can manage – enlist a second operator if needed.
2. Call CQ constantly – all other BERU entrants are looking for you as a valuable Bonus. However, many entrants are Unassisted, so if there are no stations calling your HQ station, use the second VFO / second radio / click on Cluster/RBN spots to do some S&P, then back to CQing.
3. Never assume a band is ‘dead’ – always spend at least 3 or 4 mins CQing – Skimmers may pick up your signal on a seemingly ‘dead’ band.
4. On 20/15/10m, in UK and elsewhere stations can often be worked on backscatter – beam towards the maximum ionisation. Inter-UK QSOs may also be made on ground wave or scatter modes.
5. Think about propagation – is this band likely to be open, at this time, to any part of the world where there are BERU stations? On 40m and 20m, check long and short paths for best signals.
6. Make a particular effort to work DX at your Sunset and Sunrise. Check 80m for ‘antipodeal focussing’ – signals from ZL are strong in the UK for a short period.
7. Make sure you persevere on Sunday morning when the QSO rate may be very slow. Many UK stations will be looking for HQ mults on 80m and 40m on Sunday morning.
8. You will inevitably be called by many non-BERU stations – don’t ignore them – just send ‘sri BERU’ and they usually go away. If persistent, give em 5NN then immediately CQ BERU.
9. If your station has that capability, interleave CQs on two bands for maximum effect.
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Will probably think of some other hints later……
73 Chris GM3WOJ
