Radio Society of Great Britain. Official HF Contest Results
Results - 1st 1.8MHz Contest 2008
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1st 1.8 MHz Contest 2008 This contest is getting ever more popular - with a total of 107 logs received plus 4 checklogs. This represents a small increase of 5% over the previous event in November 2007 – and that was a record event! To further demonstrate the appeal to those outside the UK, for the first time, there were more Overseas logs received than from UK stations. Band conditions were not as good as the previous event in November. However, despite this, the leaders from both sections managed to retain the same quantity of QSO’s. A number of stations worked a new country in the shape of EL2DX. However, the numbers of USA stations worked was well down on previous contests. On the other hand, the quantity of Europeans signals on the band was in part enhanced by the PACC contest that was also running. This was beneficial to both the RSGB & Dutch participants, in driving up the overall potential QSO numbers. A comment from Clive GM3POI is worth noting from the RSGB general contest rules - rule 4a, which states “information from those not competing in should be logged” (i.e. PA0 areas should be logged under district if sent). The vast majority of entrants complained that their aerial systems were just not adequate. Clearly, the bigger and higher the better, but it is surprising what is achieved using low (30ft) very bent dipoles etc. It was good to see that at least two stations were running the new Elecraft K3 rigs for the first time. If 160m isn’t tough enough, there were 8 entrants who entered, using low power. In Section A, (UK), with a score of 1083, the leader and winner, of the Somerset Trophy is Clive Penna GM3POI. In fact, for the past seven years, whenever he’s entered, Clive has won this contest each time - quite a feat. Just 10 points behind, in 2nd place, a previous winner of the event, with a score of 1073 points is Martin Platt G4XUM operating the GD0EMG station. In third spot, with a score of 1000 points is Fraser Robertson, G4BJM. In Section B (Overseas), the leader is Paul O’Kane EI5DI. With a score of 480, Paul is 73 points ahead of 2nd placed entrant Slavko Celarc S57DX, who scored 407 points. In third place, with 347 points is a previous Overseas winner, Gediminas Lucinskas LY3BA. From the adjudicator’s perspective, the most time-consuming aspect of the adjudication task is to go through each log, ensuring that the log is set into the correct Cabrillo format. This often means fiddling about on a PC with a text editor, moving columns / adjusting spaces etc. One particular log (from a highly placed G station) took over 45 mins to get into the correct format. So, next time you submit a log, please ensure that you at least look at it before sending it off, and try and make it look like a Cabrillo log! Getting this improved would make a significant difference in terms of being able to produce the results at a much earlier stage. Anyway, congratulations to the worthy winners. Thanks to everyone that took part, and I hope to see you all in the 2nd 1.8MHz contest in November. Graham Bubloz G4FNL *= Error-free log check logs - C31CT, DL8UNF, G3VQO, GW4BLE |
SOAPBOX:
2E0KOP: hard work with loaded wire.