G4IUF: WAG Contest same day didn't held with QSO rate.

G4OBK: Condx were much better than in the 21/28 SSB with at least some mediocre propagation east-west. Condx were very poor to Africa though. The WAG Contest got in the way with many stations refusing to provide a QSO, but at least we could work lots of Germans! Any blanks in serial received column mean I worked the station but no serial was sent to me. A few of the Germans sent a 5 character DOK exchange. I only logged the first 4 characters sent.

GM3CFS: SLIGHTLY BETTER CONDITIONS BUT TEN STILL POORLY. WHY 2 CONTESTS AT SAME TIME? GREAT DIFFICULTY IN GETTING QSOS AT BEGINNING ESPECIALLY, AND ACTIVITY LATER VERY SPORADIC.

GM4HQF: As usual most of the DX was working the German contest. Please make this contest all band HF & change the date. I used SD by EI5DI for logging. Thanks for running the contest.

HA2MN/5: PROPAGATION WAS POOR. HOPE NEXT YEAR WILL BE BETTER.

JG0MWU: This is my first contact with English HAM radio station. Thank you.

N4UH: First time for the CW section.Band not as active as the SSB section which I missed this year. Still fun!

Most entrants reported this contest to be a challenge again this year, firstly due to the difficult propagation, and secondly due to the Worked All Germany contest which coincides with this event. The number of entrants is slightly increased over the 2004 contest, although propagation and the amount of available QSOs was actually much better in 2005. The patient and skilful entrants in the Open section were able to work a surprising amount of DX, albeit not in great quantity. Importantly, many of the same stations were to be found in the leading Restricted section logs.

This year’s Open section winner, and recipient of the G6VQ trophy, is Chris G3VHB, who had a very similar score on 21 MHz to runner up Phil G4OBK, but was able to find some extra 28 MHz QSOs and multipliers to claim the lead. Peter G3LET convincingly wins the restricted section with a multi-band vertical, and a good take off!

Last year the lack of G0 and M0 callsigns were noted. This year was much improved, with a welcome entry from M1DXC too. It’s pleasing to see many Overseas entrants returning each year too, and it’s interesting to see how the results change year to year for the regular entrants. Rumen LZ2RS completes 10 consecutive years of winning the Overseas QRP section, again with a very respectable score.

The adjudication process will be a lot simpler if entrants ensure their electronic log matches the required format specified in the rules. Whilst some Overseas stations can be forgiven for initially not declaring their Open / Restricted / QRP section status, which is unique to RSGB contests – I’d expect UK entrants to know better!

Congratulations to all of the winners and runners up. All comments about the future development of the contest were welcomed and will assist in the decision making process when making changes.

Lee Volante, G0MTN

SOAPBOX.

A45WG: Very confusing to have this and WAG running at the same time. Still nice to hear so many G Stations for a change

F/G3XWK/P: In July this year my wife and I moved permanently to the Languedoc region of Southern France. I am still awaiting a definitive French callsign for which I can apply after 3 months' permanent residence, pending which I have been operating under the CEPT arrangements as F/G3XWK/P. I thought I might give the 21/28 MHz CW a throw, but was quickly convinced that 10 was a non-starter from here as I couldn't hear anything closer than A7 and EA8. I kept a watch on 15 at intervals throughout the day, in the hope that the skip might shorten enough to permit UK contacts, and with 4 minutes to go finally made it through to G3ZRJ. He was in fact one of only three Gs I heard, the others being G4NOK and G3VHB, neither of whom could I raise. Still, I thought I'd send in an entry. Someone has to come last, and anyway I wouldn't like 'ZRJ to be penalized under 4(b) of the General Rules!

G0IBN: Stations only seemed to be working worked all germany which was very frustrating

G0LZL: sent MCR then changed to MR. struggled for 10 hours then had to close down with TVI problems. please don't drop this contest just change to a different date or go mixed mode with the ssb contest. 73 Dave

G0ORH: Nice to work a few stn's on 28mhz during sunday afternoon into USA. Condx were poor generally out of my hole in darkest Berkshire!! The most important thing is, I had a good time working old & new friends!!

G0TSM: SO2R was useful, didnt help the score that much but it helped with the boredom. QSO rate was very low, I set my target as 100-QSOs as I needed to get on with some decorating, thought I'd get there by late morning... :-( Two calls signing as [CALL]/QRP and not [CALL] QRP. So they were logged as how they were sent. Too many stations WAG'ing and not interested in Gs.

G3GMM: CONDX APPEARED TO BE ON THE POOR SIDE ALL ROUND THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH LoW NR & RSTs & QSB. ALSO G STNS COULD BE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE CONTEST AT 259 IN THE BACKGROUND UNLIKE PAST YEARS WHEN THEY WERE ONLY HEARD DURING THE LAST HOURS. WHAT IS SO ATTRACTIVE ABOUT THE WAG CONTEST THAT 75% OF STATIONS ON THE BAND WOULD ONLY WORK DLs? TRUE I DID, WITH LUCK, WORK SOME WAG STATIONS RUNNING DUAL LOGS, BUT WASTE OF TIME CALLING OTHERS. WONDER HOW MANY Gs WORKED J6/G3TBK. I HEARD HIM AT 13:15, RST 259, FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES, BUT NO CHANCE OR LUCK TO WORK HIM.

G3JRM: We found it very hard going with the majority of stations opting to work the WAG contest plus a couple of hiccups with the computer logging. All in all an interesting excercise in diplomacy

G3KZR: can we find a way to avoid WAG test? part time op only

G3LET: Pretty dire with most people involved in WAG. Recommend some changes if this event is to be retained. e.g. 1. Change the weekend 2. Combine with SSB. 3. Allow inter-G QSOs with region multipliers (as WAG does) OR approach DARC REF etc. with a view to combining

G3VHB: Great fun as usual. Conditions never cease to amaze! W's on 10 at this stage of the sun-spot cycle. Please do not kill off this contest.

G3VQO: I only came on 'cos I felt sorry for the poor souls abroad desperately seeking UK contacts!! Their dedication deserves some reward!!

G3VYI: POPPED ON AT END ! CONDX POOR!

G3WRR: This pitiful entry should stop somebody more deserving from coming bottom....just popped on for a few QSOs Conditions better than I had expected

G3ZRJ: JUST SORRY COULDN'T DEVOTE MORE HOURS. SOME WEST COAST WS HEARD ON 21 BUT NOT WORKED SOUTH AMERICANS VERY LOUD ON 28MHZ AT 1800 Z SD PERFORMED FLAWLESSLY AGAIN THANKS TO PAUL "GIANT IN CHAINS" AGAIN FROM G3ZRJ TOP OP POOR STN

G4DBW: Very difficult contest clashing with WAG Lots of activity but mainly in WAG contest Lost count of the number of times I called stations to be told sri WAG only
Maybe Contest Committee should combine 21/28 MHz CW and SSB events ?

G4EBK: poor condx again. Gave up after a couple of hours. Lots of stations working WAG only.

G4ERW: Slow going - although WAG contest was buzzing! SD + WINKEY -- as reliable as ever!
RA3XEV: I’VE ONLY MAGNETIC LOOP ANTENNA AND 5 WATTS PWR,
BUT I GOT GOOD PLEASURE. THANKS FOR THE GOOD TEST
AND I HOPE TO MEET YOU IN THE NEXT YEAR.

RA3XO: Seems it is the time to open RSGB all bands format

RU4CS: TX 50 Watts and 20 m wire tense on a balcony (12 m high). All my QSOs have been made owing to skill of operators stations. Excellent work, guys!

VA3RKM: My first time in 21/28. Very competent and polite ops in GB!

VE3OM: Enjoyed the contest, although prevailing conditions were not the best.

YO8MI: Vy bad propagation! After 1700 hrs nil signals.

G4FAL: Well this one was much more lively than the SSB contest two weeks ago. Some good openings on 10m which added excitement. Plenty of German WAG stations who sent their standard exchange and were happy with the serial number from me - presumably ignoring my district code - which is their perogative. I guess the results will be considerably up on 2004.