PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS:

2014 -- January, February, March, April, April special, May, May special, June, July, August, September.

RSGB CONTESTS FOR OCTOBER 2014 (by Quin G3WRR & John G3XDY)

RSGB CONTESTS FOR NOVEMBER 2014 (by Quin G3WRR & John G3XDY)

OTHER HF CONTESTS IN SEPTEMBER 2014 (by Quin G3WRR)

For more data on a wide range HF contests, the SM3CER website is a very useful source of information.

Another useful source of HF contest information is at http://www.hb9dhg.ch , which can be reached by clicking here, and clicking on "Contest Calendar".

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

VHF NFD (Updated to include commentary)
4th 144MHz Backpackers
144MHz Low Power
432MHz Low Power

80m Club Sprint (CW)
80m Club Sprint (SSB)

VHF Championship
144MHz Backpackers Championship



CHAIRMAN'S CORNER (by Ian G0FCT)

The consultation on the RSGB Contest Committee White Paper closed on the 14th August. Overall, 112 responses were received. Analysis of the responses revealed, as expected, a wide range of different opinions. Some of the proposals were very popular, some were unpopular and some had no clear majority for or against. The results of the analysis were considered at the recent Contest Committee meeting and after a discussion on every proposal, a collection of changes were agreed. Since the meeting, the Committee has been hard at work refining the agreed changes and drafting the revised rules for 2015.

Some of the rule decisions are:
* Addition of 40m to the 80m SSB AFS Contest (making it dual band 80m and 40m)
* Splitting the Single Operator category into Assisted and Unassisted in the:
- Commonwealth (BERU) Contest
- 21/28MHz Contest
- 1st 1.8MHz Contest
- 2nd 1.8MHz Contest
* Removal of QSO restrictions in the 1st and 2nd 1.8MHz Contests. This means non-UK stations can now work other non-UK stations: UK stations can work anybody
* No change to the timing or duration of 80m AFS (CW & SSB) Contests
* Station Inspection clause for all HF contests added
* Equipment (rig/antenna) declaration clause added
* Adherence to RSGB Band Plans clause to be clarified.

Once all of the new/altered rules have been reviewed, the complete set of contest rules for 2015 will be compiled and posted on the Contest Committee website. The target date for this is the RSGB Convention in October.

ACCESSING HISTORICAL CONTEST DATA (by Quin G3WRR)

Readers may wish to note that the CC website has been updated to make access to the historical record of contest results easier. To access the results for a given contest in a particular year, go the the current year's results for that contest, and click on the target year shown in red on the line under the contest title at the top of the page. It is planned to extend the historical record further back im time (currently 1997 for VHF contests and 2000 for HF ones) in due course.

IMPORTANT OFCOM CONSULTATION (by Quin G3WRR)

Many readers will already be aware that Ofcom has issued a consultation proposing the update of all classes of amateur licence, covering a number of aspects. The one that seems /.to have roused the most interest relates to the need to use the Regional Secondary Locator -RSL - (i.e. the M, W, etc in GM, GW, etc). This impacts the hobby in a number of ways, in which contesting is certainly one. Readers are encouraged to read the consultation document carefully and respond to it (responses can be made on-line, by e-mail or by post). The document is available at the following URL: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/amateur-radio-licence/ or by clicking here. The closing date for comments is 20 October 2014.

Following discussions with Ofcom at the pre-consultation phase, the RSGB conducted Litmus Tests on a number of the aspects covered, and responded to Ofcom accordingly. The results of this activity are shown at the following URL: http://rsgb.org/main/rsgb-consultations/consultation-archive/ofcom-consultations/licence-review-preparation/ or by clicking here. You may find it helpful to read these before composing your own reply - and don't forget that the more people reply, the better chance there is of us contesters being listened to!

Some readers may have got as far as the "And Finally" paragraph at the end of last month's Newsletter. For the benefit of these worthy souls, there is a mildly amusing follow-up, which carries a lesson that may be worth remembering. Son of WRR and I finally fixed the generator (a problem with the low oil level sensor). On reaching our site for SSB FD, I complacently started it...or tried to. Zilch. Choke on, no dice. Choke off, ditto. Check fuel line - fine: fuel getting to carb - and all over me... After 10 minutes getting coated in unsavoury hydrocarbons, retire for tea and a serious cogitate. Once topped up with tannin, remember to turn on ignition and try again...starts first time. Hum ho...lesson - check the obvious things before diving in too deep...

See you next month - good contesting!

73, Quin G3WRR

For RSGB Contest Committee