70cm activity contest last Tuesday

My entry (never a winning score with just 2 QSOs, 10W, short period on air and a 2m omni antenna!) was submitted this morning. 

It is my view that this 70cm UKAC is on the wane with fewer people active. The 70cm FT8 activity contest on the other hand is "humming". It looks like many people prefer FT8 to SSB these days. FT8 works with far weaker signals, but like so much these days, it has less human interaction. 

We seem to becoming a society with far less human contact sadly.

Am I alone in thinking impersonal AI call centres are a pain?  "Say in your own words what you are calling about". "You want to talk about xxx. Is that correct?".  Say "yes" or "no". Actually I would rather speak with a human being!

70cm FT8 UKAC activity contest

Stations spotting my 2.5W FT8
on 70cm earlier this evening

It never fails to amaze me how far 2.5W FT8 to the 2m big-wheel omni goes on 70cm.  On RX, stations as far as S.Eire, the Netherlands and Germany are always copied on 70cm FT8 irrespective of conditions.

2m activity contest last Tuesday

Although there is absolutely no chance of me coming remotely close to winning and despite only stopping on for 15 minutes, I usually submit an entry if I am home. This time I totally forgot to submit my entry. Just now I remembered!

2m activity contest (April)

This evening was the 2m section of the 2m activity  contest (UKAC) organised by the RSGB. As usual I was running 10W pep SSB to my omni big-wheel antenna. I only stopped on about 16 minutes as my voice is poor, but managed to work JO03 square, which is a first this year.

2m UKAC (activity) contest in March

The results of this March contest have been released. 

In the low power section, I am about half way up the table. Only staying on for a fraction of the time because of my poor voice and omni antenna, this is quite pleasing. 

Not scientifically, my impression is there is reduced activity in this contest, whereas there seems to be increased activity in the FT8 activity test.

70cm activity contest

Yesterday was the 70cm leg of the RSGB organised activity contest (UKAC). I was on for only about 45 minutes with my 10W and 2m omni big-wheel antenna. 5 stations were worked.

2m activity contest

Tonight is the 2m activity contest organised by the RSGB. I usually go on for a short while with my 10W pep to the big-wheel omni antenna. I usually give up soon as I find it very hard on my poor voice. I called a station in a rare square, but gave up.

70cm SSB/CW activity contest yesterday

Yesterday was the UKAC SSB/CW activity contest organised by the RSGB. I did not stop on for long - even less than usual. 2 stations were worked, but I soon gave up. The FT8 contest seems much more popular.

70cm activity contest SSB (UKAC) - February

Every month I have a go on the 70cm SSB activity contest with my 10W pep and the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. I usually manage a few contacts, but I do stop on long because of my poor voice. I am pretty sure I could work more if I was to stop on longer. The impression I am getting is there is now less SSB activity in this contest. The 70cm FT8 activity contest tomorrow is always busier.

2m activity contest (UKAC) - February 6th

Better late than never!  Last time, I was rock bottom of the AL (low power) section of this contest that runs every month for a year. One thing is certain: things can only get better, HI.  In all, 5 stations were worked (see map).

70cm activity session last Tuesday

Every month I take part in the 70cm activity contest (UKAC) using 10W pep and my 2m big-wheel omni antenna. It is usual for me to stop on not very long with my poor voice. 3 stations were worked (see map).

2m activity contest UKAC (Tuesday)

In the end I gave up after working just one station at 105km with my 10W pep to the omni antenna. Usually I work 5-10 stations in about 40 minutes. 

The low level of activity is probably for several reasons. Firstly many may just have forgotten thinking today was a Monday. Some may prefer FT8 these days. Also, the wind in the UK has been very strong, so there are probably fewer /P stations out this evening.

2m activity contest (UKAC)

The results of this friendly contest have been published  In the low power section I was 75th out of 172 using 10W PEP for less than an hour each time to the omni big-wheel antenna and the Cambridge Club was 37th (to which I give my points). This is one of the few occasions I use my voice.

70cm activity contest - December

Last night, I went on the 70cm activity contest organised by the RSGB. As usual, I ran 10W pep and my 2m big-wheel omni antenna. A couple of contacts were had in the short time I was on.

It is my view that SSB activity in this contest is declining.  I usually work a few stations but there seemed fewer people on.

VHF activity contests - waning interest?

For several years now, I have been on the Tuesday night 2m and 70cms activity contests (UKAC) organised by the RSGB ever month. If I am able, I usually go on for some of the first hour with my 10W SSB and big-wheel omni horizontal antenna.

Maybe it is just me, but are there seem to be fewer stations on SSB?  The FT8 activity sessions seem busy.

2m activity contest (Nov 7th)

It is Friday and I had forgotten to submit my entry. Usually I am in the bottom third of the low power section as I can only operate for a short while with an omni antenna after which my voice gives out! In all 5 contacts were made because our son called.

2m activity contest (November)

Just taken part in the UKAC 2m activity contest organised by the RSGB. This evening my 10W pep to the omni was in 2 sessions as my son called. I also had to do a reset on the IC-705 as it locked up. With my poor voice and low ERP it is hard work nowadays!

70cm UKAC October 10th

 Usually I send my (pathetic) entry in the next day, but I forgot. I use 10W to my 144MHz omni antenna and only stay on for a short while because of my poor voice. 4 contacts were had.

2m activity contest (UKAC)

Tonight is the 2m monthly activity contest (UKAC) organised by the RSGB. After 4 QSOs with my 10W and omni (and poor voice!) I gave up! Conditions seemed up, but with my QRP it was too hard.

2m activity contest UKAC

This evening was the 2m activity organised by the RSGB. Conditions were "up", but this makes it harder for QRP stations to get through the wall of stations. 

With my 10W pep and big wheel omni antenna, I managed 9 QSOs in about 45 minutes before I had to go QRT. Best DX heard was an OZ in JO46 square.