DATE: JANUARY 2016 |
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PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS:
2014 -- January, February, March, April, April special, May, May special, June, July, August, September, October, October special, November, December, December upissue. 2015 --
January,
February,
March,
March special,
April,
May,
June,
July,
August,
September,
September special,
October,
November,
December.
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| Tuesday | 5th January 2016 | 144MHz UK Activity Contest | 2000 - 2230 UTC |
| Sunday | 10th January 2016 | AFS Contest (CW, 3.5&7MHz) | 1400 - 1800 UTC |
| Tuesday | 12th January 2016 | 432MHz UK Activity Contest | 2000 - 2230 UTC |
| Saturday | 16th January 2016 | AFS Contest (SSB, 3.5&7MHz) | 1400 - 1800 UTC |
| Tuesday | 19th January 2016 | 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest | 2000 - 2230 UTC |
| Tuesday | 26th January 2016 | 50MHz UK Activity Contest | 2000 - 2230 UTC |
| Tuesday | 26th January 2016 | SHF UK Activity Contest | 2000 - 2230 UTC except 2.3GHz 2030 - 2230 UTC |
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| Monday | 1st February 2016 | 80m Club Championship Contest (SSB) | 2000 - 2130 UTC |
| Tuesday | 2nd February 2016 | 144MHz UK Activity Contest | 2000 - 2230 UTC |
| Sunday | 7th February 2016 | 432MHz AFS Contest | 0900 - 1300 UTC |
| Tuesday | 9th February 2016 | 432MHz UK Activity Contest | 2000 - 2230 UTC |
| Wednesday | 10th February 2016 | 80m Club Championship Contest (data) | 2000 - 2130 UTC |
| Saturday | 13th February 2016 | 1st 1.8MHz Contest (CW) | 1900 - 2300 UTC |
| Tuesday | 16th February 2016 | 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest | 2000 - 2230 UTC |
| Thursday | 18th February 2016 | 80m Club Championship Contest (CW) | 2000 - 2130 UTC |
| Tuesday | 23rd February 2016 | 50MHz UK Activity Contest | 2000 - 2230 UTC |
| Tuesday | 23rd February 2016 | SHF UK Activity Contest | 2000 - 2230 UTC except 2.3GHz 2030 - 2230 UTC |
| Sunday | 28th February 2016 | 70MHz Cumulative Contest #1 | 1000 - 1200 UTC |
The full 2016 RSGB contest calendars and rules for the above contests are available
here (HF)
and here (VHF).
OTHER UK VHF/UHF CONTESTS IN JANUARY 2016 (by Dave G7RAU)
Following a successful pilot last year, the UK Six Meter Group (UKSMG) will be running a 6 Metre Winter Contest this year. Its aim is
to promote activity during the winter months:
* the contest is a Marathon style event and will be held over a 2 months period commencing the first day in December and ending on the last
day in January (00:00z on 1st December to 00:00z on 31st January)
* there is no contest exchange, however the normal QSO data must be recorded e.g. Date of QSO, Time of QSO (on/off or both), Callsign of station
worked, 4 digit locator of station worked (6 digit locator accepted, but your score will be based on the first 4 digits), QSO frequency in
Megahertz, RS(T) Sent and RS(T) received
* scoring to be 1 point awarded per unique 4 digit locator worked
* logs to be submitted via the UKSMG website in ADIF format. These can be submitted in real time throughout the event, or in total after the
contest end, but before the submission cut off date.
See http://uksmg.org/contest/winter-marathon-rules.php or click here
for full rules and to upload your ADI file.
OTHER EUROPEAN VHF/UHF CONTESTS IN JANUARY 2016 (by John G3XDY)
Full details of European events will be published when available.
OTHER HF CONTESTS IN JANUARY 2016 (by Quin G3WRR)
For more data on a wide range HF contests, the SM3CER and WA7BNM
websites are very useful sources of information.
Another useful source of HF contest information is at http://www.hb9dhg.ch , which can be reached by clicking
here, and selecting "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 Final
432MHz UKAC Final
SHF UKAC Final
Overall UKAC
1.2/2.3GHz Trophy
October 432MHz-248GHz
144MHz Marconi CW
144MHz AFS
21/28MHz
VHF Championship Final
VHF CW Championship Final
HF Championship
AFS Superleague 2015/16
CHAIRMAN'S CORNER (by Ian G0FCT)
As part of the implementation of the recommendations of the President's Review of Contesting the Board has agreed to split the Contest Committee into three Committees with effect from 1st January 2016. This develops the concept put forward in the Review of having spectrum representatives within the committee, and will improve accountability and communications.
The three committees will be known as the VHF Contest Committee (VHFCC), the HF Contest Committee (HFCC) and the Contest Support ommittee (CSC). Vacancy notices for the three chairs, and other positions, will be posted early in the New Year and carried in the February RadCom. The work on the Contest Committee Terms and Conditions will continue but adjusted to reflect the new structure. As an interim measure Andy, G4PIQ will be acting-Chair of the VHFCC, Nick, G4FAL acting-Chair of HFCC and Ian, G0FCT acting-Chair of CSC.
Externally, we hope that this will aid the work of developing an exciting and challenging programme. Internally, we hope that the three groups will continue to work as a cohesive unit but more in a federated way, with clearer internal responsibilities.
The Board would like to thank those who worked hard, often over many years in the old structure, and wish those who will be tasked with making the new structure work, every success.
Several people raised their concerns as to whether the rules that relate to the AFS contests on 10th and 16th January 2016
(http://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2016/rafs.shtml) reflect the position agreed by the President's Review of Contesting.
As a result of these concerns, AFS Rule 3(h) has been altered as shown below:
* AFS Rule 3(h) Note: "cheerleading" -- making contacts principally with members of one's own society or group that has a team
or teams entering the contest, is not permitted
* in the same vein, HF General Rule 7(b) has also been modified by removing the additional sentence that had been added for 2016. As
agreed in the Review "direct appeals" are being made to people to make every effort to participate and make their QSOs generally available.
Apologies for the need to revise the wording of these rules and I hope we can now focus our thoughts on how we can prepare for taking
advantage of the SO2R opportunity within the 2016 AFS rules. The RSGBCC website has been updated with these amended rules.
REVERSE UBNs AND ACCESS TO OPEN LOGS (by Quin G3WRR)
The above two items are not closely linked, but are included here under the same item as both are available via the UBN system. For 2016:
* the existing arrangements allowing individual entrants to access their UBNs will be also be used as the mechanism for accessing open logs (ie. lists
of all stations worked in a particular contest)
* in addition to receiving UBNs showing details of QSOs where they have made errors, entrants will also be receiving
"reverse UBNs" which show details of QSOs where other stations have made errors when working them. The aim is to allow entrants to see where they
may have contributed to other stations' errors and thereby potentially improve their own standard of operating. As
with traditional UBNs, reverse UBNs will be visible only to the individual entrant and not to others.
2016 HF AND VHF CONTEST RULES (by Quin G3WRR)
Rules for RSGB HF contests in the first quarter of 2016 are now available via links from the 2016 HF calendar page here. Rules for the remaining 2016 contests will follow shortly. The rules for each contest include a summary of rule changes for that contest since 2015.
Rules for all RSGB VHF contests in 2016 are now available via links from the 2016 VHF calendar page
here. VHF contest rules changes since 2015 are summarised on a separate page
here.
RSGB CONTEST CLUB (by Nick G4FAL)
One of the recommendations coming out of the 2015 Presidential Review of Contesting was that "[the] RSGB should facilitate a national, virtual contest club where local clubs are not engaged in, or supportive of, contests." To expand upon this a little, the idea is aimed at RSGB members who are not members of a club, or whose local club is not interested in contesting, but who nevertheless would enjoy taking part in club based contests such as the 80m Club Championships or Club Sprints. The creation by the RSGB of such a national virtual club (which would be in the General Category) would provide such members with the opportunity to support a group which could win an award.
Accordingly the RSGB Contest Club is being set up. This will initially be a national group, but depending on take-up, a regional element could
be introduced later. Please register with the group by sending your name, callsign and RSGB membership number by e-mail to ContestClub@rsgbcc.org.
The same e-mail address can be used if you have any queries about the RSGB Contest Club.
AFS CW 2016 (by Quin G3WRR)
Just a quick reminder that, following the addition of 40m to 80m in HF SSB AFS last year, 40m will also be included the CW event for 2016.
With over two weeks to go, there is still time to put up a separate 40m antenna if necesssary - you might even see this as an opportunity
to work off some of that turkey and Christmas pudding!
BFRA AWARDS (by Quin G3WRR)
Readers who have entered VHF contests organised by BFRA (the Bulgarian National Society) in 2012, 2013 and 2014 may wish to note
that award certificates and certificates of participation may be downloaded from the website at http://vhfcontest.bfra.bg/cgi-bin/CERTIFICATES/make_award2012_2014.py.
This may be accessed by clicking here.
AND FINALLY (by Quin G3WRR)
And it really does mean "and finally" this time! Following my resignation from the Contest Committee and the RSGB, this will be the last CC Newsletter you will receive under my editorship. I have been requested not to comment further, so will merely say goodbye.
73, Quin Collier G3WRR
For RSGB Contest Committee