First 70 MHz 2011

Activity on 70MHz continues to grow with 156 stations active from G, GI, GM, GU, GW and ON. This compares with 123 stations in 2010 and 92 in 2009. The numbers of entrants in the SF section increased by 60% and again a number of relatively high scoring stations did not enter. Activity levels were high and continued throughout the event with 20% of contacts taking place in the last hour.

Conditions were rated as variable and from poor to average with the usual deep 70MHz QSB causing problems. The appearance of a northerly GM helped to boost the number of longer distance contacts and there were ten QSOs over 600 kms and a further eighteen over 500 kms. The best contacts were between GM4ZUK/P and G4RFR and G3ZVW, both at 687 kms.

Logging accuracy is paramount in an event such as this. The QSB caused problems and entrants will note reductions to their claimed scores. Indeed the first and second places in the open section and the first, second and third places in the fixed section were determined by logging accuracy.

Congratulations go to the section winners: Alan, GM4ZUK/P and John, G4ZTR. Stations marked (*) will receive certificates.

Roger Dixon G4BVY

Section O
Pos		Callsign	Locator	QSOs	Total	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Ant	Equipment	Group
1	*	GM4ZUK/P	IO86	36	16,158	G3ZVW	687	150	8 element Yagi	Elecraft K3 + Transverter
2	*	G4RFR	IO90	78	15,832	GM4ZUK/P	687	150	12 ele Yagi	IC746 + Meon + Linear	Flight Refuelling ARS
3		G3TCU/P	IO91	77	14,607	GM4ZUK/P	648	160	6 ele DK7ZB	IC-7000 + HB Xvtr & HB PA
4		G0EHV/P	IO84	51	13,064	G6HIE	458	160	5 Element	FT-847
5		G3NYY/P	IO92	49	7,209	ON5VW	412	20	3 el yagi	FT-817 + Spectrum xvtr	International SWL
6		G4FZN/P	IO84	34	6,277	G2KF	455	5	5 ele	MM Transverter
7		G3WIE/P	IO90	26	5,387	GM4ZUK/P	670	70	4 element yagi	WPO tvtr, h/b linear, Elecraft K2
8	*	2E0XTL/P	IO82	36	5,240	G0EHV/P	271	20	3 Element Homebrew	Yaesu FT817 - Spectrum Transverter
9		M0ICK/P	IO83	34	4,031	G4RFR	318	20	5 ele	spectrum xverter/ic7000	Bolton Wireless Club
10		G0PQF/P	JO02	14	3,425	GM4ZUK/P	502	20	3el Yagi	IC706MkIIG + Tvtr
11		MM0GPZ/P	IO68	7	2,539	G4KUX	476	70	8 ele, 7.2M boom	K3 + SPECTRUM
12		M0COP/P	IO82	17	2,223	G4ZTR	265	10	Dipole	FT817 & XVTR
13		G8BJG/P	JO01	20	2,170	G8APB	278	25	HB9CV	FT857D + Spectrum Transverter
14		M0CES/P	IO93	7	896	G4RFR	282	10	single ele dipole	FT 847	RAF Waddington ARC
Section SF
Pos		Callsign	Locator	QSOs	Total	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Ant	Equipment	Group
1	*	G4ZTR	JO01	66	13,835	GM4ZUK/P	599	150	6 ele LFA	FT-847	Colchester
2	*	G3ZVW	IO80	50	13,708	GM4ZUK/P	687	160	5-ele DK7ZB	IC-7800 + Tvtr + 4CX250B
3		G4ASR	IO81	66	13,255	GM4ZUK/P	553	150	2 x 7-element DK7ZB Yagis	TE Systems 150W SSPA GaAsfet LNA
4		G3MEH	IO91	74	11,899	GM4ZUK/P	588	160	2 x 5 el	FT1000 + MEH TVTR + HLV650
5		G4DEZ	JO03	48	10,578	GU6EFB	454	150	8e	FT847 + TE LINEAR Mast head preamp
6		G3TCT	IO81	41	9,071	GM4ZUK/P	649	160	6 ele DK7ZB	Elecraft K3 + hb tvtr + hb PA
7		G1SWH	IO83	49	8,973	G4AVD	389	140	6ell	ft847	Bolton Wireless Club
8	*	ON5VW	JO10	23	7,402	GW8ASD	527	10	8 element YU7EF	OZ2M + FT950
9		G3NPI	IO92	45	7,074	GM4ZUK/P	557	50	12el	Mosfet PA (RX) Spectrum
10		GW8ASD	IO83	37	6,910	ON4KHG	553	100	7 element Eagle	IC-756ProII + Transverter
11		G8APB	IO83	40	6,691	GM4ZUK/P	423	35	9 ele LFA	FT-847
12		GM4JR	IO85	25	6,414	G3ZVW	479	150	6 element yagi	FT920, Spectrum TVTR, TE amplifier
13		GW4RWR	IO83	32	5,783	GM4ZUK/P	421	160	5el	FT-707 + Meon
14		G2KF	IO70	23	5,168	G4FZN/P	455	150	4element Yagi	ic7400 xtvtr +amp
15	*	G8DTF	IO83	30	4,902	GM4ZUK/P	380	10	5 ele LFA	TS700 + TVRTR
16		GM4IGS	IO75	14	3,963	G3TCU/P	549	100	6 ele yagi	FT-847 + trnsvr + Amp + p/amp
17		GW4EVX	IO83	24	3,845	GM4ZUK/P	419	80	3 Ele Yagi	FT817 + Transverter + Amp
18		G4BRK	IO91	22	3,835	GM4ZUK/P	594	40	5 el	FT847
19		G1OGY	JO01	16	3,147	GI4SNA	538	50	4-ele LFA	FT-847	Colchester CG
20		G8ONK	IO83	17	2,885	GM4ZUK/P	358	25	6 Ele YU7EF	ft897 + Transverter
21		G8LZE	IO91	20	2,593	G0EHV/P	372	20	5 element	FT879 + HB Transverter
22		G1SMI	IO83	17	2,551	G2KF	352	40	4 ELE	FT847	Bolton Wireless Club
23		G4SJH	IO91	26	2,537	G1SWH	282	150	5Y	Homebrew TCVR
24		G1EHF	IO91	13	2,409	GM4ZUK/P	634	160	4 ele Yagi	IC275E + HB trvtr + PA
25		G3VCA	IO93	10	2,239	GM4ZUK/P	432	20	5EL YAGI	ft910 + transverter
26		G4JED	JO01	16	1,847	ON5VW	254	10	8 ele dualband Yagi	FT847	Cray Valley RS
27		GM4DIJ	IO85	10	1,733	G4DEZ	374	80	6ele	FT847 + Pye A200 + mosfet preamp
28		G6UBM	JO01	16	1,633	ON5VW	253	20	5el sandpiper	FT-847	West Kent ARS
29		G4CZB	IO92	13	1,521	G0EHV/P	297	20	3 element yagi	FT 847
30		G8HGN	JO01	8	800	G4RFR	193	10	HB9CV	Yaesu FT-847
31		GM4VVX	IO78	2	468	GI4KSO	412	25	6 ele yagi	FT897 + MM tvtr
32		G0KSC	JO01	2	280	G4RFR	194	150	6el LFA Yagi	FT847
33		G1EFU	IO83	7	158	GW8ASD	58	12	Home brew half wave dipole	Ascom SE550

Comments from the logs

G0EHV/P

Lots of activity but not so good conditions. QSB a problem at times.

G0KSC

Only around last half hour but very quiet by then.

G0PQF/P

A bit of a struggle. Lots of stations heard but not worked. Only using a small antenna this time which might be the reason.:

G1EFU

Dry with slight showers

G1EHF

Seemed fairly good and clearly plenty of activity. I only managed just under an hour of operating.

G1OGY

Normal. Had to wait for the QSB for both DX contacts

G2KF

Some Qsb Otherwise ok

G3MEH

Conditions up slightly but deep, slow, QSB gave problems.

G3NYY/P

Lots of QSB but reasonable level of activity. I was pleased to work Belgium for the first time. I heard and called GM4ZUK/P but my 20w was not enough to work him.

G3TCT

Conditions much better than the UKAC 5 days before. Pleased to work GM4JR for first time after many attempts.

G3TCU/P

Average conditions but good activity & nice Wx.

G3WIE/P

Generally fair. Apparent lift to the north later.

G3ZVW

Conditions unremarkable, but worked 4 GMs. Tnx everyone for the QSOs.

G4ASR

GU GI 3xGM 2xON. Bit slow going in the last hour. Worked less than in the shorter UKAC last week!

G4DEZ

Very poor conditions.

G4RFR

Deep QSB

G6GVI

Giving away points on FM from home, having loaned out my transverter.

G6UBM

Interesting having to work split for ON. reasonable amount of activity

G8APB

Fair. Newly built 9 element LFA antenna worked fantastically

G8HGN

Didn't hear quite as much as last Cum', but worked into ON.

G8LZE

Hard work. GM4ZUK/P audible but not workable.

G8ONK

Reasonable conditions, Mothers day not good for contests

GM4DIJ

Only managed 1st Hour, but worked all I heard. GB3CFG was loud

GM4IGS

Avarage conditions, activity seemed good with a few GM's out portable.

G3TCU/P

was strong at times. As always missed a few.

GM4JR

Hard going. Activity not as good as I'd expect. MM0GPZ/P on Stornoway was a SUPERB bonus!

GM4VVX

Long slow qsb. Heard several G stations but always in qso = qsb before could call.

GM4ZUK/P

Condx flat but activity reasonable. Some stations are very deaf on this band.

GW4RWR

QRV 2hrs for first time this year! Shameful.

GW8ASD

Conditions all over the shop! Very quiet during the last hour but two ON stations worked plus GM4ZUK/P.

M0CES/P

grim with a dipole and much qsb

M0LUY

Lot of signals in noise suddenly peaking for a few seconds then fading back down ON5VW Glad to see that more and more OM's listen on 69950. Had a lot of QRN frm a elec. pwr stn nearby.