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Darn it! Yet again I forgot this most excellent contest last weekend, although I would have been very restricted as we had our little grandchildren staying. They take priority. I must try next year. Last year I missed it as I was in Addenbrookes Hospital still very ill. The last time I caught it was 2012.

Although I do not much like contests, this one is always a good test and I often fill a few logbook pages with DX contacts. Exchanges are simple and quick. CQWW is usually a good way to increase the DXCC score. I always use real QRP power.

I dislike CW contests as they are too much like hard work. On SSB you can usually work stations, even with 2-5W QRP, especially later on when the big stations have already worked loads and are glad of extra points.

It may not be to everybodies taste but one thing for sure is the case contest brings out just about every size and shape of gun. Myself, I’m more of a pea shooter with either my homebrew Cobwebb antenna and 100W being fed to it through some wet coax.

Stations from Greenland to Antarctica were on the clusters and quite a few were actually coming through onto the rig. Fewer still made it into the log, but a few hours in front of the rig gave me the thrill of the chase.

I’m fairly certain I couldn’t spend that long in front of the rig, rubber stamping the qso’s but I’ve never seen 10m so busy. If I’m really honest it was great. If the band’s were empty I’d be worried they’d take them off us.

Now then, how am I going to sell my new car and get that new rig/antenna/mast/amp….etc