Radio Society of Great Britain. Official HF. Contest Results.
Results. IOTA 2002. Soapbox + Pictures.
Island. - Multi-operator | 12 hr SSB | 24 hr SSB | 12 hr CW | 24 hr CW | 12 hr MIX | 24 hr MIX | Expedition
World. - Multi-operator | 12 hr SSB | 24 hr SSB | 12 hr CW | 24 hr CW | 12 hr MIX | 24 hr MIX | - Assisted | SWL
4N6IOTA: Tnx to YT6A for his huge hospitality
5B4AFB: First time to enter an IOTA contest.
8S4C/5: Hard disk broke down; had to log by hand
9A/DL1ZU: Only had an antenna for 10-20m so I missed the multipliers on 40 & 80 m. It was very interesting to operate from an island.
9A0R: This operation was from Krk Island in Croatia EU-136. The island of Krk is connected by bridge to the mainland, and therefore we declare our operation, only like ISLAND. Please be informed that this is not permanent location, and all beams, dipoles, etc were installed only for contest and dismantled after contest. According to rules of IOTA contest 2002. This is NEW Radio Club and his First CONTEST on HF.
9A5Y: For the first time my real entry in IOTA contest from mainland. Still not good activity from North America and Japan ..... Why? CU again next year. Tnx to all who gave me points.
9A6PKT: I’m satisfied, considering on my QRP power on 10m band. 40m band was very noisy... It was nice contest Saturday.
9A7T/P: We have been operating from beautiful island of Trstenik with 100 Watts and modest antennas. Conditions have been rather good. Location on the island is perfect with the lighthouse on the top of the island (abt 20m asl) and open sea all around the island. Unfortunately our generator did not co-operate with us and we finished our operation 7 hours before the end of the contest. See you next year again from Trstenik with a better generator.
9V1RH: Poor pickings on 40m in Asia this year.
AF4RK: I wish that DX operators would send "QRZ de CALL SIGN". I had to wait for 15 minutes before I could find out the call sign of the pile up.
AY1DZ: We are celebrating all year long the GACW 25th Anniversary using special prefixes under "the amateur radio a safe way for our children" programme, under a GACW booklet. The IOTA was a good contest to use it.
BV2B/9: The Expedtion Station BV2B/9 located at N 24-50-35, E 121-56-48 on Kuei San Dao (Turtle Island) where 40km from Taipei City. WX was hot (up to 38.5C); two operators got heat stroke aftersetting up the equipment. But we had fun.
CO8ZZ: It is my very first IOTA entry but not the last, for sure...I really enjoyed it!
CU9D: New category? The CU9D team would like the IOTA committee to consider including a new category in future years. This would be for the more adventurous groups. We offer the following set of rules for discussion. 1. Name: Survival Category. 2. The island must be uninhabited. 3. It must be at least 500 nautical miles from the nearest land. 4. The only transport allowed to the island will be either a rowing boat or a canoe. 5. No food to be taken except water. Food in the form of berries etc may be collected from trees and bushes of the island. Animals and birds may be killed for food but only using a bow and arrow. 6. No matches are allowed. A fire for the purpose of cooking may only be lit using two sticks rubbed together (boy scouts please note). 7. To keep within the spirit of the category no fossil fuel will be allowed. A pedal-powered generator must generate electricity. Batteries may be charged from this generator. 8. Tents are not allowed. Shelter must be provided by either building mud huts or by the use of branches from, for example, the coconut tree. 9. In order to encourage and reward participating groups in this challenging category their final scores will be multiplied by a factor of 10. P.S. We could not agree whether rule 4 would make the category too difficult. Some thought crossbows should be allowed in addition to bows and arrows.
CX-N020: Only 14 MHz with good condx, in 21 MHz audible in the noise level, the other bands very bad.
D44TD: Bad Propagation to USA and Asia/Oceania.
DH2SP: Great contest! Thank you for the results booklet 2001. EI5DI's software is good and FREE. See you next year...
DJ1AA: IOTA 2002 is over. Conditions in the last IOTA Contest 2001 were much better. I will be very surprised if I reach a better place in 2002. (12th on World Section 24h 2001). Now I am very tired. 24h without any break. 73 and hear you in 2003. 73 Mirko DJ1AA (AB0DL). By the way: I am very interested in exchanging QSLs with every IOTA Island contester. To get all infos about the QSL managing it can be very helpful to ask every station in a question/answer arrays in the summary sheet.
DJ1OJ: Quite poor result for long time of operation but at least got 4 new islands (hi).
DJ5AA: Poor condx;. no chance of working DS5AAQ/5; BV9L; ZX7XX; BV4YE/9 etc. Nice to meet old and new friends; tnx for pleasure.
DK3KD: Lots of pleasure from working lots of IOTA stations around the world.
DK8OL: Tried 100W entry this time. Very hard to keep my QRG clear for more than 10 min - always being pushed aside by others - not many takers - condx were not good but had fun (as always) anyway. This is the only contest I seriously take part in - thanks for calling!
DL0KWH/P: How a simple letter can help you! In previous years we did not use the "/p" after the call in order to save time - using slash/portable gave us an advantage in the pile-up! First time with high power but activity in CW became less - shall we concentrate on SSB? :-((
DL1EFD: started as a serious 12h entry but with the band conditions decided to enjoy the sunshine. Will try to be QRV from an island again next year.
DL3JPN: Nice Contest like every year.
DL4JYT: Nice contest. I hope to be on again next year
DL4MCF: Real great contest! 90 % search and pounce operation! A party right in front of the shack-window with very loud Techno-Music from Saturday 18:00 till Sunday 01:00z drove me real crazy! I am looking forward to next year’s IOTA-Contest
DL5AWI: Hello dear friends! I hope all ok this year! Murphy was here also. The PA failed to work on 80m (only 100wtts) and the balun from the 4 ele KLM (40m) was defective. But much fun and 4 new IOTA references for my collection! See you all next year!
DL6JZ: If this development would go on in the future I won't like CW/SSB-contests anymore. More and more of the so-called "big" running stations are sending their call only after 10 or more QSOs. As an S&P-station I have to wait and listen. And the greatest is when there are operating not so skilled hams who believe that they are running a big station. But they need almost 1 minute for one QSO. And then you need almost 5 to 7 minutes to get the callsign, sent once with keying errors! A puzzle! That operating style is not in accordance with amateur radio rules. So I wish that the contest sponsors would request, that every valid QSO includes both callsigns.
DL6MHW/P: Just for fun ... 200 CW-QSOs without automatic keying caused a new CW experience. A decision on Friday morning to go to EU-128. I started from my vacation QTH about 100 km west of Fehmarn. Therefore I had only a minimal station and had to construct some wire antennas. It's very difficult to defend an SSB frequency with only 100 watts against UA3... also if one is on an island. However ... just for fun (this year). (I had some clock problems with windows computer (first MESZ later UTC) and fixed the time and date after the contest).
DL7UIO: Nice contest, many thanks.
DL7VSN: It was a nice contest with some new islands for me. See you next year.
DL8ZAJ: Poor condx; I missed 10 meters
EA1BZP: For family reasons this year I was only able to participate for the last 6 hours of the contest, So I decided on hunting & pouncing for island stations only, but it has been even in this way very amusing and I hope to be able to participate next year again and increase my current score. This contest is a very good contest, congratulations.
EA1DGG: Very bad propagation on 10 meters
EA3DZZ: Why is there never a QRP section?
EA5KB/7: Difficult to access with heavy equipment. Many problems with wind (i.e. multiplier station breakdown). Incredible pile-ups in contest so poor ratios. Very difficult to leave the island; more than two hours for an operation with two Zodiacs and very dangerous for our equipment. Anyway very funny. The adventure is the adventure.
EA6URP: Like every year I enjoyed so much the participation in the IOTA test. This year with a multi operator station. A very simple set-up, but with the goal to train new operators in the contest.
EA7NW: What a shame! This year my participation was only for few hours. But it was amazing. Many stations from all over the world. Greetings and see you next year.
EC3AMJ: Your contest is very, very great fun, I congratulate your job in this contest. Many thanks.
ED1IRM: Unfortunately could not participate the full 24 hours of the competition due to problems with the generator which finally broke down for 01.06 hours. In the morning of my neighbours brought a reserve generator to the island, so that I could operate the last hour.
EI4CF: Still find it hard to pick the best 12 hours!
EI7IQ: Thanks very much for organising the contest and after this year's event, I have decided that I will be activating an island again next year!
EI7M: Congrats on last year’s log-checking/booklet. It was a huge improvement on other years. I just wish that the software writers would also make more of an effort, as yet again, computer problems were our main complaint!
EJ4F: I feel this operation was a true DXpedition. We travelled by boat, brought all our equipment with us, and erected the antennas on site. We did not have access to packet, and we did not use any other external means of spotting multipliers or other QSOs. Yes, there is a scheduled "airline" service (one 12-seater a few times each day), but we didn't use it. On the other hand, I know of another Irish island DXpedition (the island did not have a scheduled airline service) whose operators used a continuous 24-hour cellphone Internet connection for spotting multipliers. Surely the use of such external operating aids is inconsistent with the spirit of island DXpeditions and the IOTA contest. Success, or otherwise, then depends more on data communications and/or Internet connectivity than on amateur radio operating ability and experience.
ES0EA (OH0XX): Albert, ES0CB and Vello, ES1QD made this operation possible, BIG TNX!
ES5MC/0: Just 2 wire antennas hanging from the trees and 100W - nevertheless, it was a great fun to make my 1st IOTA entry...
EU2MM: Very good contest. See you next year again friends.
EU6TV: Good contest. But many IOTA stations frequently called only other IOTA (Hi). I searched for new IOTAs and found them! Best DX es 73 !!!
F5VHQ: Next time I will be operating from an island.
F6IRF: Enjoyed the IOTA-contest (my first participation). The 12-hour category is an excellent idea for those like me, who can't do the full 24hours from home due to domestic constraints, and the contest is really interesting even with a low performance home-station like mine. Sure will try /P from an island next year! However, I have a little complaint/suggestion: Expedition operators should be reminded that, in a contest, signing with the station call is mandatory after each QSO - not only once every 20, when the numerous "call?" start to slow down the pile-up - It is not only unfair for the "Search & Pounce" stations, but also for the operators (the majority) who follow this basic rule. Maybe it would be a good idea to remind this point in the contest rules.
G0AJH: Would appreciate a "Restricted" Section for those with modest antennas! Annoyed at some contest stations not giving their call regularly. Sometimes waited 2-3 minutes before station identified itself only to find had already worked it!
G0DIZ: too many stations failing to identify each contact cost a lot of time. Conditions bad. Otherwise a good contest.
G0MRH: Band conditions didn't appear to be good for my location. Limited possibility for antennas works against me and people in a similar situation.
G0MTN: Loved it. Lots of support and multipliers to hunt.
G0UKX: Conditions very poor. Bands very noisy with rapid QSB. Some stations disinclined to use callsigns. Conditions apart, very enjoyable
G0VAX: First Time I've done IOTA from home
G2AFV: Local QRM wiping out 80m – had it now for 7 months!
G3BJ: The first time I've tried the new QTH/station in a multi-op contest. Still some work to do to get the antennas right. Although DX working was easy, some suggestion that the high-angle HF signal was not competitive, borne out by the score! Conditions rather poor on 28 MHz, but nice low static levels on LF. Some stations exchanging without giving IOTA reference unless asked for - bad form! Also a few CW QSOs heard in the SSB band sections. Activity level very encouraging.
G3ECS: Operating times arranged to fit in with domestic chores
G3FNM: There was a real conflict between Contest Operating and following the Commonwealth Games locally here in Manchester. !!!
G3GLL: Lots of activity but there seemed to be fewer CW stations this year. Not much DX either - perhaps they were all on SSB! 10m was very disappointing
G3GMS: Really good fun with very active bands although 10 metres was pretty dead most of the time. So glad to have the 12-hour section just not able to keep awake for the full 24 hours.
G3KZR: 20 SSB was a real dogfight!
G3LHJ: Very enjoyable contest Condx a bit rough on the Saturday but things got better after the LF session on Sunday best points score so far. Cu next year.
G3SXW: 10 and 15 were well down on last year, only partially made up by 20 metres. Appreciate the new 100-watt category - good for we amplifier-challenged operators! Thanks indeed for a fun contest
G3TTC: Most enjoyable
G3UFY: Disappointing conditions, but activity good.
G4BGW: Great fun as usual but too many islands stations not sending their callsign after each contact and again, far too much non-island activity. Thought the idea was to promote activity from islands.
G4BUO: Conditions poor, with no chance to run QSOs with Japan. Pleased to get 200 mults in 12 hours. Using TRlog for the first time.
G4DDL: Not much time to operate this year but very enjoyable and some new islands worked!
G4EDR: Tried to beat my last year’s entry but 10 metres just not open for me without a beam. Will try again next year. Many thanks for a great contest.
G4FOX/P: Late start due to TX problems (still not sure why) much finger trouble on the keyboard logging no night session due to lack of assistance but the WX was FANTASTIC! Very enjoyable weekend
G4FVK: My scores are well down on last year, which I can put down to the lack of activity on 10m. Despite this, I was pleased to work 6 new islands and one new country on 40m. The highlights of the contest were working OC-034 on 15m and SA-046 on 40m. Unfortunately some stations persist in calling QRZ for long periods without giving a callsign. Also, several stations were ignoring rule 3 and calling CQ Contest above 14300. Despite this, I shall be looking forward to the results and to taking part in next year’s contest.
G4OGB: Dreadful conditions here.........think someone put a radio blackout over Westwoodside!!!!
G4WGE: 1/6 of the way to the first IOTA certificate. Grotty location at ground level surrounded by 4 storey buildings on 3 sides! Will try somewhere else next year!
G4ZCS: 25W only on 10M. My first solo contest.
G5XV: We look forward as a club entry, to IOTA each year. We get a little better as time goes on! Bearing in mind some of our team are non-contesters. We enjoyed every minute of the event. We were sited on one of the busiest walkways on the Island on Stenbury down, so had a few visitors, and general enquiries from the public with puzzled expressions on some faces! We were also kept on our toes by our new mascot - Hissing Sid the adder, who sat outside our shack the whole time (picture available on request)! We had prior authority from RA, CAA, & landowner before operations.
GI3XRQ/P: Hard to get software that handled contest properly. SDI very limited. Conditions not so good this year. Still a lot of fun! Hard to handle serial numbers with mult station and SDI software.
GI4TSK: All started well then trouble with mic. lead after 1st QSO so started again late on Sunday
GM0F: This year was a real struggle. Conditions were awful with very few QSOs on 10m and hardly any JAs on 15m. I still think too few expeditions send their callsign often enough and this is definitely the contest of the last two letters. Nevertheless, another great event. Can't wait 'til next year!
GM0WJN/P: Packed up due to Generator failure due to continuous rain so only a 12Hour entry. Hey Ho. I will try again next year.....
GM2T: As a team we had a great contest, plenty of laughs. Where did the sun go? It rained and rained. Due to a leaky roof we had to erect a tent inside the building! Good one! Radio wise we had the usual few problems but all resolved. Had Mains Power problems so lost over an hour until that was resolved. Band conditions this year not so good. Island hospitality second to none once again.
GM3CFS: My score well below last year’s. Conditions extremely poor and 10m virtually useless!
GM3HAM/P: We were totally unprepared - loaded a pile of junk into the van and tried to sort it out on site in the rain. Some of it worked - some didn't. The site looked good on the map but turned out to be waist deep heather. We set up on a local beauty spot - turned out to be a repository for the ashes of the recently deceased! We had wondered what the little piles of grey earth were. The local farmer said we would be ok. but some visiting relatives were a bit perturbed. There were three palm trees on the island - but being in Scotland they were only 5 foot high All the operators are being sent back to nursery school to learn how to count - our serial numbers wandered all over the place. We are all vhf contesters so didn't really know which way to point the beam for great circle headings. The check log system failed completely. It was all summed up rather unkindly by one of our visitors who enquired what we were doing and when we replied said " Ah yes I thought you looked like a bunch of amateurs!" We enjoyed it.
GM3PPG/P: Enjoyed contest again immensely even though HF condx. in GM were poor. 80m 4SQ worked fine. Hope rules for DXpedition category change next year to include "/P" category with NFD style rules. I need 4 days at least though to erect all masts (good doing vert experiments near sea) CU in 2003
GM4SID: Enjoyed the IOTA as usual. Where were all the UK stations?
GM5A: Great contest sadly beset with many computer/software problems. Pity about conditions too. Everyone enjoyed themselves despite the problems and the weather. A few stations still not giving their IOTA Ref in each QSO. The consensus is that the official definition of a DXpedition stinks! The only thing we didn't take and set up from scratch was the mains power and the room we had as a shack! If that isn't a DXpedition we don't know what is, and all because of 11 scheduled flights per week from Glasgow into the island's very small airport! Re-think this rule please!
GM5V: Just here for the beer this year - like the name says, everything was held together by Duct tape. Trusty Ft1000MP, 20m vertical with 2 radials on a wooden pole on the beach and the rest of the antennas were dipoles at 30 feet. Not the most competitive station, plus we all went to bed at night :-(
GM7X (G3SQX): 12 hr is a difficult category, because you have to choose which hours to operate! I'm not sure I did the right 12 hours, but it was fun anyway.
GN0ADX/P: Weather lousy score lower this year.
GU8D: A great contest and an excellent weekend. Island activity appeared higher but was spoilt by poor HF band conditions. 15m in particular did not support longer distance traffic such as JA, VK and ZL. 10m was also disappointing, providing just a few EU QSOs on Sunday morning. As if poor band conditions weren’t enough we also suffered problems on 15m with both our beams. The TH6 was very prone to a local high noise level and really made running and multiplier searching difficult, the A4S located 50m away was quieter but had a high SWR on the band. We subsequently found it was resonant on 21900 with an open circuit driven element trap. We all enjoyed the multi-mode aspect of this contest, switching from SSB to CW and vv when the need arose. A feature of the GU8D operations have been team spirit. All members of the group commented on how well the team works together. Our thanks to members of Guernsey Amateur Radio Society who have worked so hard on station improvements. We are already looking forward to next year’s event.
GW0GEI: Conditions down on last year (200 or so QSOs less) and resulted in no JA runs. 10m was poor. Mults up on last year but overall score still down due to lack of 15p JA stations in the log. No strong run of 3p USA stations either. Tactically challenging with the 12hr option!
GW3KJN: Condx poor to last year great fun for a 69yr old. Very hot day was that our handicap? See you next year
GW3NJW: Part time effort with a crippled antenna.
GW4BVJ/P: The effort of getting to the island and rigging the antennas took its toll and I was tired at the start of the contest. Enjoyed my first 100W entry anyway.
GW4MVA: Poor conditions? Not one JA worked!