Meet Andrew 2E0GYI and his contesting fun

Andrew 2E0GYI is one of our club members who can often be heard taking part in contest activities here is Andys story

In the 1990's Andy started as a shortwave listener and was looking for ways to enhance his SWL experiences in radio communications and something he really enjoyed doing.

In 2012 he joined the 'International Short Wave League' (as stated in the title ) a World Wide Club that any radio ham or listener can join to take part and enhance ones listening activities and gain experience from doing Amateur receiving contests as well as Broadcast and Air band contesting.

Andy gained considerable radio receiving and the competative experience and skill of logging radio reception reports and the moving up and down the receiving 'league tables' in the ISWL club.Andy did this for a number of years.

Andy describes how he then went on to gain his amateur radio licence but continued to take part in the receiving contests as well as the transmitting element to contest operations.By now Andy was taking part not only in the reception reports but now too the transmitting side of contest activities.

Andy puts lots of effort in taking part which has led to bigger things as detailes below:

Andy has won several small trophies which no doubt increased his confidence and encouraged him into the transmitting side to contest working. 

Andy says he thoroughly enjoys taking part in contests both receing and transmitting however never expecting to win especially in the World Wide contests. He says it's not just the taking part thats important but were it not for the likes of the small, moderate and limited stations like his own in these competitions the big guns and almost 'super club stations' would have no one to work. 

He goes on to say it tests him out personally with targets to achieve and the comparing of scores to previous years.

Andy goes on to say that in the big contests like the CQ World Wide Contests it gives him an opportunity to  fill his logbook and to work many DX stations that he would under normal non contest days find it almost impossible to do.

Andys contesting isn't just limited to the HF bands and he can often be heard taking part in the UK AC contests on 2mts 70cm and in the summer months 6mts.

Andy says that a lot of his radio work is at the weekends, having a daily daytime job and so that usually fits in with the contests as most but not all take place.

Andy usually uses 100 watts ( as a low power station) and then he says theres the QRP section which is 10 watts . Andy will use 50 watts on his VHF and UHF contesting.

His antennas are the vertical for HF, Delta loop for VHF and Vertical for 70cms.

It's something Andy will continue to do as he gains a lot of experience and enjoys the adrenalin flow from spotting and then logging those rare stations.

Here are some awards that Andy has gained through his time intaking part in contest activities.