As it's just into the new year, I thought a quick post was in order, looking back at 2011, and forward to what's in store for the forthcoming year...
Like Keith, G6NHU, I started 2011 with the goal of making a QSO every day of the year - something to try and get myself more active from home. For the first four months of the year, I managed that, with no days missed.
However, the start of May saw the very successful Camb-Hams DX'pedition to Arran - where as a group we made 9,100 QSOs in a week from the not-very-rare DXCC of Scotland - and I realised that the "project 365" challenge was getting in the way of many other activities I was enjoying, so decided to put it on hold on my return. My hat goes off to Keith for completing his a couple of days ago - very well done indeed!
Another regular feature has been the Tuesday evening RSGB UK Activity Contest series, where I've joined Gavin, M1BXF, Lawrence, M0LCM, Joe, M0ZRN, Mark, M0MJH and several others throughout the year to put G3PYE/P for 48 weeks of the year. We've seen our results steadily increase, ending the year second on 4m, 6th on 2m, and hopefully in the top few on 70cm and 6m as well. 23cm has been a challenging band for us, but with some recent investigations, it looks like we're heading in the right direction there at last.
After a summer of various other contests, Raynet events (Cambridgeshire Raynet's busiest and most successful year for a long time - if not ever), September bought with it a week-long trip to Saint Pierre et Miquelon with Cambridge University Wireless Society (CUWS). Between the six of us, we managed over 15,000 QSOs from our four stations, with some wonderful pileups to go with the great food, company and hospitality. It was a pleasure to meet Rick, VO1SA and Jean-Pierre, FP5CJ, while we were out there, and it was a real trip to remember.
Barely time to unpack, and it was off to the RSGB Convention, where Cambridgeshire was well represented, with myself, Gavin and Dom, M0BLF all giving talks. As well as the entertaining and informative lectures, the social side of the convention was great, and the chance to meet up with some very familiar callsigns face to face most welcome.
Next up, CQ WW SSB with the CUWS (operating as M4A), where the fantastic HF conditions allowed us to anhialate the England Multi-Two record we set ourselves in 2010 - final results pending adjudication, of course.
And so into the winter months, with the return of the AFS Super League, and a great start there for the Camb-Hams: second in the 50MHz leg, and third on 160m. The 2m results aren't yet published, but it's looking hopeful for a good result there as well.
Finally, a few days off over Christmas allowed me to join my Dad, G3VFC and Fred, M0RFD operating as G5MW/P in the RSGB Christmas Cumulatives contest series, which runs over four days from 26th to 29th December. It's a fairly relaxed and cheerful contest, and it was a nice way to round off the year.
I ended 2011 with just over 600 QSOs (80 DXCCs, 90 all-time) in my M0VFC logbook for the year - a small fraction of the number I've made using other callsigns (G3PYE, FP/M0VFC, M4A, G6UW, G5MW and so on), but well up on the 210 logged in 2010.
So what of 2012?
2011 saw a lot going on - a little too much, at times - and there's lots of projects I just couldn't find time to finish. I need to make some more time available for these in the next few months, as well as maybe keeping a few more weekends free to "just play". Having literally zero free days for months on end certainly doesn't lead to boredom, but I do need to find some down-time sometimes.
That said, there's already a lot of exciting stuff planned:
In September, I also hope to be travelling to Tristan da Cunha (ZD9) with Martin, G3ZAY, where we'll be active for about three weeks. This is still dependent on getting a place on the ship, but it's looking hopeful so far. Assuming we do get there, it should be a real once in a lifetime experience.
I look forward to catching you on the bands!
73 and Happy New Year,
Rob, M0VFC