PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS for 2013:

RSGB CONTESTS FOR OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013 (by Quin G3WRR & John G3XDY)

OTHER UK CONTESTS IN OCTOBER (by John G3XDY)

The UK Microwave Group runs a 1.3/2.3/3.4GHz Contest on Sunday 6th October, from 0800 - 14:00 UTC, to coincide with the later part of the IARU Region 1 UHF Contest. Rules are at: UK Microwave Group Contest Rules

OTHER EUROPEAN VHF/UHF CONTESTS IN OCTOBER (by John G3XDY)

Details of French events (English translation may be available from your browser)

Details of German events (English translation may be available from your browser)

The NAC Contests in Scandinavia

Czech Activity Contest

RECENT RESULTS (by Quin G3WRR & John G3XDY)

The following results have been published or updated since the previous Newsletter:

50MHz UKAC
144MHz UKAC
432MHz UKAC
1.3GHz UKAC
SHF UKAC
Overall UKAC

144MHz Low Power
432MHz Low Power
4th 144MHz Backpackers
VHF Field Day
50MHz Trophy
VHF Championship

IARU Region 1 VHF (2012)
IARU Region 1 UHF (2012)


Low Power Contest
80m Club Sprint CW
80m Club Sprint SSB

AFS Super League -- commentary added

AFS SUPER LEAGUE 2012-13 (by Ed GW3SQX)

Here is more information about the results of the AFS Super League published a couple of months ago, and a reminder about the new trophy to be presented at the RSGB Convention in October.

In the third season for this event, the competition seems to have spurred participants to even greater efforts than before. Bristol Contest Group and Camb-Hams had been fighting it out for top place since the inception of the Super League, with Trowbridge knocking at the door not far behind. In the end, Bristol managed to pull ahead by quite a small margin. Second and third placed clubs receive a Super League Certificate.

A new trophy is now available for the winners, kindly donated by the Hadley Wood Contest Group. It's sad to relate that that the trophy results from the demise of this group -- staunch supporters of the AFS contest series as well as other RSGB contests. However, they decided to put some of the members' funds that remained to good use, in donating a trophy for the winner of these popular Affiliated Society contests.

To get to the top of the table, clubs need to get their best operators out on five different bands in six contests. Nine of the 113 clubs participating managed to do this, with four qualifying for a Certificate of Achievement for appearing in the top three-quarters of each of the six AFS contest tables.

It's interesting that some clubs show a definite HF or VHF bias, but it's also clear that there are plenty of clubs having a mixture of enthusiasts operating both above and below 30MHz. With many HF rigs now covering 6m, 2m and 70cm, it is becoming easier to get on to bands where there was little off-the-shelf equipment available just a few years ago. Of course, the fact that this is a winter series of contests means that setting up a VHF station in bad weather for a few hours on top of a local hill is not always an attractive proposition!

Thanks to all societies who participated in the AFS contests -- we look forward to seeing even more of you joining in the 2013-14 series, starting in October with the 50MHz AFS .

TROPHIES - CLUB CALLS CONTEST (1.8MHz AFS) (by Ed GW3SQX)

This contest, and similar ones on which it was based, has been running every November for over 40 years. It is a short 160m event specifically aimed at Affiliated Societies and their members, with the aim of getting club callsigns on the air. It is also intended to encourage as many club members as possible to join in, with some clubs using this opportunity of encouraging new licensees to operate under appropriate supervision. Entrants will use either a specifically designed 160m antenna, or press into service whatever HF antenna they have at their disposal and can match with an ATU.

When the AFS Super League was introduced, it seemed natural to incorporate the contest under that umbrella. This has increased its popularity, and has shown entrants that it isn't as difficult as they think to put out some sort of signal on the band. The allocation of the two winners' trophies was not changed significantly, although there were some modifications in the rules regarding Team size (changed to four) and introduction of club name abbreviations.

The rules on trophies up to this year have been as follows: "The Ariel Trophy is awarded to the leading Club Station in Section (a) or (b). The David Hill, G4IQM, Memorial Trophy is awarded to the Society entering Section (a) with the highest score in the table of Society and Club Team results." The reference to Sections (a) and (b) is to distinguish Affiliated Societies (a) from groups formed for the purpose of entering the contest (b).

In recent years, the winners of the two trophies have been the Club Station of the winning team in the overall club table (Ariel trophy) and that club itself (G4IQM trophy). This means that the same club has won both trophies, one for its winning HQ station and one for the club itself. This can mean that the highest scoring entrant in the individual stations' table is not always recognised, even though that station achieved the best result.

The Contest Committee considers that the purpose of these two trophies is no longer being met in the way that the original donors would have recognised. This is not to detract from those who have won the trophy in recent years, since it is no easy matter for clubs to find four members who can out a good signal on a band where 32 watts is the legal maximum. However, the committee has decided that one of the trophies will be awarded, starting this year, to the operators of leading individual station, as in the other Affiliated Society contests.

Older contesters may remember David Hill (G4IQM), a member of the former HF Contest Committee, and a strong proponent of the Team element in this contest. So the rule for the award of the trophy in his memory will remain the same. The Ariel trophy, donated by the BBC Ariel Group, will be awarded as follows, "The Ariel Trophy is awarded to the operators of the leading station in the individual tabulation."

It could well be that the Club Station of the winning club will lead the individual tabulation, but the operators of that station (rather than the club itself) will be the trophy winners. This then brings the rules into line with the 80m AFS contests, and recognises the achievement of the best scoring station in the contest.

AND FINALLY

Apologies for the fact that this issue of the Newsletter is a little later than our normal 20th of the month target. The CC were holding off issue so that information on an important topic could be included. However due to circumstances beyond our control, that information is not yet available and further delay is not appropriate. Depending on when the information becomes available, the CC may issue an interim Newsletter.

Good contesting to you all.

73, Quin G3WRR

For RSGB Contest Committee