Radio Society of Great Britain. Official HF. Contest Results.
Results. Ropoco 2, 2004.
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Ropoco 2 Contest, 2004. It's surprising how subjective the assessment of band conditions can be. For those that reported them to be bad there was a similar number who believed them to be reasonable. Against those who thought the band quiet there were others who were plagued with noise and QRN. In fact, entries were 20% up on the April event and a number of well-known stations were also active but did not submit logs. Yet the number of QSOs made by the leaders was about the same, which is indicative of poorer propagation. Another clue is given by the proportion of error-free logs, improved from 1-in-6 to 1-in-5 ... less-readable signals often mean more concentration, more repeats and, surprisingly, better accuracy! A lot also depends on the quality (and speed) of the transmitted CW! Special acknowledgement is due to Andy Swiffin, G8YCM, who was visiting his parents over the weekend of the contest and, having no key with him, manufactured one out of an old relay screwed to a piece of wood. All the information he sent was received correctly! Several entrants lost points (in one case, a substantial number) because they 'corrected' faulty incoming postcodes. The problem is that we know the format which postcodes take. It's all too easy to assume that a '4' received where a 'V' would be expected is just a slip of the ear, so to speak, and record the 'V'. If in doubt, ask for a repeat! It is also worth bearing in mind that this event has been subject to the activities of 'pranksters' who introduce bogus (and sometimes ridiculous) codes. While such QSOs are not invalid, it does mean that one should be prepared for anything! In the April contest we had to look to position 13 to find the first error-free entry. Things have changed, and how! Phil Catterall, G4OBK, and Fraser Robertson, G4BJM, tied for first position, both submitting faultless logs. They each made 63 QSOs, of which 50 and 49 respectively could be confirmed with other submitted logs. They will share the G3XTJ Memorial Trophy. Tony Roskilly, G3ZRJ, receives a certificate of merit for his third-placed entry. The G5MY Memorial Trophy, awarded for the highest aggregate score over the year's two events, is won by G4BJM with a tally of 1220 points, only 8 QSOs ahead of his nearest rival Lee Volante G0MTN, who amassed 1140 points. Steve Knowles G3UFY Soapbox: G4OBK Condx pretty good - noise level down for me 90% of the time and lots of space on the band. A quiet last 30 mins, but that's RoPoCo for you - not much left to work. First time I took part for at least 10 years. G4BJM Good fun, as always. G3ZRJ Conditions not too hot here in Welsh borders, with very heavy QSB on signals from GM. Band noise increased considerably after 0800z. Seemed less activity than usual or maybe it was just I couldn't hear 'em. G0MTN I hid out high in the band early on and found that 3520 was free for the last half hour. Lots of listening with 2nd RX required. Postcodes getting sillier towards the end ... how do they end up like that? G4CZB Last minute decision to take part as shack still in pieces from VHF FD! Managed to get antenna up and rig re-assembled in time. Same number of QSOs as last year. G3OOK Good few years since I worked RoPoCo. Activity seems well down. A few daft postcodes had crept in by the second hour. Some things never change, I guess. GM3JKS Poor turnout. Difficult to break into mid-England cluster of stations. This is a good contest - gets away from usual complaints around exchanges ... needs better promotion. G3BJ What happened? Only 58 Qs and little more to find. Was it conditions or activity? Very slow. G0VQR My biggest effort so far in this contest. Hard going near the end but great fun and well worth getting up early for. See you next year. G3RSD There was deep QSB on some signals. G3KNU Long time since I worked this one ... it don't
get any easier! |
G3IZD Very much QSB and QRN but enjoyable as ever. The north/south divide was much in evidence as stations were being worked which I couldn't hear.
G3GLL Started late. Enjoyed the contest ... usual run of funny ones! Band conditions not good.
G4XPE Good conditions, though activity rather low. A good way to exercise the mind on a Sunday morning!
G3SET Conditions were good although GMs were not very strong. Not over-crowded like AFS and CC.
G3LHJ Condx not bad though lost lost part of antenna in storms and remainder only 6ft high at fat end. Good fun though!
G0WHO Very hard work. Conditions difficult and deteriorating and my antenna seemed to be orientated wrongly for the available activity. Calling CQ produced not one caller.
GW3SB The constant S7 noise eventually abated and let me enjoy some QSOs.
G3TXF One or two postcodes were completely busted!
G3MBN/P Enjoyed the contest very much. Operation was from a campsite to the south of Salisbury. Looking forward to the next one!
G3HKO There were only three calls heard which I was unable to work so my 3 Watts was no handicap. I wonder what difference an East-West antenna would have made. Noise level was high.
G8YCM My first RoPoCo. I was visiting my parents and had no key so I had to make one out of an old relay screwed to a piece of wood.
GM3UM Condx very poor with much QSB.
G4DBW What fun! Postcodes I never heard of! Came on for last 45 minutes and slowed to 16wpm for accuracy!
G0GDU Stuck to search-and-pounce but found it slow going - there were not many stations on! Did not get my own code back but heard a corrupted version being given.
Equipment: G4OBK Yaesu FT1000MP + Acom 1000 Linear. 1/4 wave vertical G4BJM K2 & MP + amp - 400W. Dipole G3ZRJ Kenwood TS-50 - 100W. G5RV at 25 feet. G0MTN FT1000MP-Field. 400W. Windon @ 8m. M0AJT FT1000MP + Dipole @ 47 feet. G3OOK Ten-Tec Omni VI + KW1000 linear - 400W. Two phased quarter-wave Inverted Ls. GM3JKS FT1000MP + Dipole G3JJG FT900 + Linear. 66ft doublet at 17 ft. G0VQR FT1000MP - 400W. Full size G5RV. G3RSD TS940S + Inverted Vee dipole with centre at 30ft. G4OGB IC746 - 90W. 176ft doublet @ 15ft. G3TJE FT920 + Delta Loop G3KNU IC756 + Dipole G3IZD FT1000MP + 132ft long wire G3HEJ FT-ONE. East-West 264 ft Inverted Vee with apex @ 60ft G4BVY TS850 + 7MHz Dipole G4EBK FT101B (100W) + Inverted Vee, 30ft centre, 10ft ends. G3GLL FT1000MP. 80ft doublet with open wire feeder. G4XPE TS830S (100W) + Trap Dipole up 4mtrs G3SET TS940S. 60m band bi-square horizontal loop + picatune. G3MA FT101ZD + Dipole G3JSR IC7400 + G5RV G4XRV FT897 + 150ft doublet at 25ft G3VQO FT290 + end-fed wire at 20ft through SG-230 auto-tuner G3LHJ FT990 + 80ft end-fed wire G0WHO TS440sat + 132ft doublet at 11 metres. GW3SB Alinco DX-70TH + 132ft end-fed wire G0ADH 100Watts - G5RV G4PTE IC761 + Sandpiper V9 vertical G3MBN/P Elekraft K2 (5 Watts) + 90ft long wire G3HKO IC 735 + N/S Dipole GM3UM FT401 + 130ft long wire G4ARI/P FT817 (5 Watts) + 80ft long wire up 30ft G4DBW Elekraft K2 (10 Watts) + G5RV GM4OSS IC756 Pro2 + Butternut HF6V G0GDU FT1000D (100W) + W3DZZ @ 45 ft. G3CQR Ten-Tec ARGOSY 535 Output 30w + 100 ft Wire Doublet @ 30 ft G3JJZ TS940S + 85ft long wire G3VYI TS930S + linear - 400W; 1/2 wave. G3ZDD TS570 + 132ft end-fed wire
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G8YCM's Quick Homebrew key. |
