Well 160m DX conditions were pretty good all week, so I was looking forward to working lots of NA stations in the contest.
However, we had a HUGE storm here in the north of England - 100mph winds (worse I have ever known). So I came on at 0000Z, and checked the VSWR on my 160m antenna . . . surprised that it was still up! I started at the bottom of the band, and worked 1 NA station (came back first call) . . . went a bit higher and called the next NA station I heard and . . . heard the Linear Amp flashing over ! My antenna had just come down. Real shame, as tuning around on my Receiving Loop, signals were pretty good. Apologies to all the stations I told I would look out for in the Contest ! Anyway . . . put the Antenna back up after the weekend, and installed a slightly higher mast at one end, which has got it much higher above the trees (which have grown since I first put it up), so there should be less wasted absorption. I will be on 160m tonight looking for reports . . . 73 Roger G3YRO _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
