Determined to take part in the RSGB Xmas Cumulatives this year, I worked from home on 3 days using completely inappropriate antennas. On 26th December I spent 2 hours hunting around 6m, making only one contact using a dipole antenna. The 27th and 28th faired better (~8 contacts a day) on 2/70 using a dual band colinear (vertical!).
Portable from Barbury Castle IO91CL
Finally, on the 29th I decided to head up a hill, taking a more appropriate 70cm ZL special antenna. James 2E0FUR also attended and on this occasion manned the station using his FT857 and own call, scoring 10 contacts in a 1.5 hour period.
Not too bad at all for 20W to a tiny beam mounted on some wooden poles!
I did make some token contacts using an FT817 on both 6 and 2m using the rubber helical antenna and 2.5W.
Matt M6ZIH and Russell M6??? also attended. We all agreed we should be a little more organised in future, arming ourselves with larger antennas and proper masts we could maybe work some of the larger contests as a multi operator group.
Thanks to all who took part and Happy New Year!
Sounds like a lot of fun!