1.3GHz & 2.3GHz Trophy Contests 2009



The entry level for these contests which run during the IARU UHF contest is just slightly up on the last two years. In total, 93 different stations were active on 1.3GHz & 23 stations on 2.3GHz. The weather conditions were once again very windy throughout the country, tropo conditions were equally as poor. There were also a few reported equipment casualties again this year with antenna systems & preamps being the main cause of problems.

Congratulations go to John Quarmby, G3XDY for not only winning the single operator fixed section on both bands but also for managing to beat the open section entries on 2.3GHz which earns him the G6ZR Memorial Trophy. Congratulations also to the Colchester Contest Group of Colchester Radio Amateurs who reclaim the VHF Contest Committee Cup after missing out last year, and to all certificate winners.

Richard G4WFR


1.3GHz
Single Operator Fixed
Pos
Callsign
Locator
QSOs
Score
ODX Call
ODX Kms
Power
Ant
Equipment
1*
G3XDY
JO02OB
38
10,668
DK6AS
654
200
8x23Y
(TX) K3 + Tvtr + 4x 2C39BA (RX) ATF54143 Preamp, Tvtr, K3
2*
GM4CXM
IO75TW
13
5,035
M1CRO/P
587
150
4x44Y
(TX) FT736R DL2AM (RX) SP23mk2
3
G0JJG
JO02LE
15
3,606
DJ5BV
460
30
23Y
(TX) IC910 + 2 x M57762 (RX) IC910
4
G3YJR
IO93FJ
14
2,347
GM4LBV
372
8
44Y
(TX) FT817 + LT23S (RX) FT817 + LT23S + preamp
5
G4DEZ
JO03AE
7
1,105
PA6NL
307
100
4x23Y
(TX) IC910 SSB Linear (RX) IC910 gas fet mast head pre-amp
6
G4LBH
IO91TV
2
132
G3OHM/P
127
15
44QLY
(TX) FT-726R/TVTR + PA (RX) FT-726R/TVTR + Preamp
Open
Pos
Callsign
Locator
QSOs
Score
ODX Call
ODX Kms
Power
Ant
Equipment
1*
M1CRO/P
JO01PU
51
14,635
DK6AS
651
175
8x23Y
(TX) TS-2000X + SSPA (RX) TS-2000X + LNA
2*
G3CKR/P
IO93AD
46
11,425
DK0ZB
728
310
4x55Y /1.6m
(TX) IC1271A 2 x 2c39 (RX) IC1271A SSB HEMP
3
G3OHM/P
IO82XJ
43
10,057
DF2VJ
716
400
8x23Y + 4x23Y
(TX) IC-970H + SSPA (RX) IC-970H + masthead LNA
4
M0SKC/P
IO91RQ
22
4,019
DJ5BV
540
100
4x44Y
(TX) FT-847 + DB6NT transverter and 100watt amplifier (RX) FT-847 + DB6NT TRANSVERTER and PREAMP
5
G4RFR/P
IO80UV
13
2,654
PA6NL
461
140
8x37Y
(TX) IC910 with homebrew PA (RX) NEC35284 masthead LNA

2.3GHz
Single Operator Fixed
Pos
Callsign
Locator
QSOs
Score
ODX Call
ODX Kms
Power
Ant
Equipment
1*
G3XDY
JO02OB
14
3,837
DK0ZB
513
100
0.8m
(TX) K2, tvtr,LMW tvtr, MRF21120 PA (RX) ATF54143 x 2, LMW tvtr,tvtr,K2
Open
Pos
Callsign
Locator
QSOs
Score
ODX Call
ODX Kms
Power
Ant
Equipment
1*
G3OHM/P
IO82XJ
12
3,102
ON4SHF/M
510
400
2.0m
(TX) IC-970E + transverter + SSPA (RX) IC-970E + transverter + masthead LNA
2*
M1CRO/P
JO01PU
11
2,485
F1BZG
447
80
1,2m
(TX) FT221R + DB6NT + SSPA (RX) FT221R + DB6NT + LNA
3
G4RFR/P
IO80UV
4
820
M1CRO/P
271
60
2.0m
(TX) DB6NT with spectrian PA (RX) DB6NT
* denotes certificate winner
Comments from the logs:
G0JJG
reasonable activity but poor condx
G3CKR/P
V.High winds restricted ant height and problem keeping yagis in one direction.V.low activity and conditions. Without KST we would have not had people beam to us in IO93.Still advanatag to JO01 being nearer to concentration of activity and sea path.
G3OHM/P
1.3GHz: High winds prevented full height (27m) being used on main antenna system. Masthead two way RF splitter fractured after first two hours, operated rest of contest with degraded main antenna system and with reduced power to protect SSPA due to mismatch. 2.3GHz: Conditions very poor, even some regular contacts failed or more difficult than usual.
G3XDY
Flat conditions, very windy.
G3YJR
Even in my attic it was cold & windy so my thoughts went out to the portable stations!
G4DEZ
Nothing failed but condition very poor
G4LBH
Conditions poor with much QSB
G4RFR/P
Condx flat and activity very low. Lost LNA during the Saturday so ran with reduced RX for most of the contest.
M0SKC/P
Awful conditions and activity but not a bad outing for a first attempt
M1CRO/P
1.3GHz: WX made raising tower above rest height impossible for the first 3 hrs. Did not seem to make ~that~ much difference when coupled with the extra ERP from the new PA. 2.3GHz: A little off the pace while coming to terms with the beamwidth of the dish. That said, fewer opportunities were rolling up from 23cms this time.