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The 70 years of UBA event is now over (OT70^^^ QRT)

Yes all good things must come to an end. So now the 49 OT70 stations are QRT. The operation was a big success. I had a blast and made 5500 QSO of which 150 are dupes. Apart from pretty crappy propagation I could have made more QSO if I didn’t have to compromise between WARC bands and low bands and if the weather wouldn’t have been serving thunderstorms for the last week.

It’s obvious that I would not have made a single QSO in May apart from the WPX contest (which was compromised – see link) if it weren’t for the UBA’s excellent idea and me being able to join the fun. I could call CQ all that I want with the same setup and from the same location but who would ever answer an omnipresent Belgian on any band? And who would hear my signals with such lousy conditions? I just wouldn’t bother. I can’t force myself anymore to do stuff that doesn’t yield a decent return. Not only in ham radio but in all aspects of my life. Time is too valuable, life is too short.

Not that I needed confirmation but this event with a special callsign that gets at least some response, is yet another proof that this is exactly the sort of thing that I’m looking for in the hobby: be QRV on HF, call CQ, work many stations and log many contacts. Preferably in CW. Enjoy the odd DX calling me on a seemingly dead band. Be surprised when a rare one makes it into the log.

Another lesson learned: the bands aren’t dead. In a coma perhaps, hibernating if you will. But not bead. The Reverse Beacon Network shows it. There is nothing heard between 21000 and 21450 (apart from the digital stuff that I can’t be bothered with). Yet the RBN picks up my call in VU, 9M, V5, ET, VK4, 3B8 etc. However no one answers. And then we think: “the band must be dead”.

Knowing all this, it’s only obvious that I like contesting so much…

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