NARC Contest News 178 Friday 14th February 2025

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NARC Contest News 178 Friday 14th February 2025

Results:-

On VHF

No new relevant VHF results of which I am aware this time.

On HF

The results of the SSB 80m CC test of 3/2/25 were released on 8th February. I’m pleased to report that this was a convincing win for our team of 16 entrants. We totalled 8528 points with second placed Sheffield on 3,993 points. Link here to results.

If people are entering other contests of whose results I am obviously unaware please e-mail me to let me know the outcome and I’ll mention it here.

Contests

On VHF

The 432MHz UKAC ran on Tuesday 11th Feb. I was away for this one. NARC members put up a good entry with 7 logs topped by Stewart G4AFF who managed 74 contacts with best DX EI3KD. Thanks to all who took part. Link to claimed scores here.

The 432MHz FT8 AC (2h and 4h) ran on 12th February. NARC members who were spotted entering were Roger, EI8KN and Terry, G0BIX. Link to claimed scores 2h here.

The 50MHz UKAC ran on Thursday 13th February. Conditions were not great, best DX was worked by those stations using digital modes. I am aware of 9 NARC stations who were on. Best DX for them was G4AFF working YL2AO probably on JT6m. Thanks to all who came on who achieved good scores in view of the conditions. Link to claimed scores here.

On HF

Over the weekend of 8th / 9th February, the CQ WW WPX RTTY contest ran. I’m uncertain quite how many NARC members had a dabble but am aware of at least 7 including Tracey, 2E0CEY. Conditions were reasonably good and most of the world was on the air! I had the following short report from Ray, G3XLG (G3G) :-

I did a few hours (2hrs 31 mins) in this contest this weekend when I reached 101 Q’s with only 100W and my puny wire dipole at 25ft.

73 Ray

Link to logs received here.

The second of this year’s 80m CC contests ran on Wednesday 12th February. 166 logs were received at RSGB at the time of writing this column. I was away for this contest. NARC put up an excellent number of stations with 16 entries including the station who topped the number of QSOs, Ray G3G, with 137. Link to logs received here.

I’ve not had any reports of other activity although there were several good contests to choose from!

Please let me know if you were on in any other VHF or HF contests and I’ll put a summary in next week’s news.

Upcoming contests in the next 2 weeks (all times in UTC):-

On VHF / UHF / SHF

Before each of the 2m and 70cm UKACs there is an FM leg starting 1 hour before for 55 minutes. I hear almost no activity in this from here but others may have more luck! Rules etc on RSGBCC site.

* Tue 18th Feb. 2000-2230 1.3GHz UKAC
* Thu 20th Feb. 2000-2230 70MHz UKAC
* Tue 25th Feb. 1930-2230 SHF UKAC

Also of interest for some on the vhf / uhf bands are the EU FT8 activity tests – see the following link for more information. These are on the first (144 MHz), second (432MHz) and third (1.3GHz) Wednesdays of each month. 1700-2000 Hrs EU FT8 series website

On HF

NB:- Note the RSGB has changed several of the rules for HF contests in 2025 – Link here to changes.

* Sat 15th Feb. 0000 for 48h ARRL International DX CW contest. - Link to rules here.     https://www.arrl.org/arrl-dx
* Sat 15th Feb. 0000 to Sun 16th Feb. 2359 YLRL YL-OM Contest CW, Digital, SSB. - Link to rules here.     
* Sat 15th Feb. 1900-2059 Feld Hell Sprint. - Link to rules here.     
* Sun 16th Feb. 0000-2359 FISTS Sunday Sprint, CW - Link to rules here. 
* Sun 16th Feb. 2300 to Mon 17th Feb. 0100 Run for the Bacon QRP CW contest. - Link to rules here.  
* Fri 21st Feb. 2200 to Sun 23rd Feb. 2200 CQ 160m SSB contest - Link to rules here.     
* Sat 22nd Feb. 0600 for 36h REF SSB Contest (France based) - Link to rules here. 
* Sat 22nd Feb. 1300 for 24h UBA DX contest CW (Belgium based) - Link to rules here. 
* Sat 22nd Feb. 1800 to Sun 23rd Feb. 0559 North American QSO party RTTY - Link to rules here.     
* Sun 23rd Feb. 0000 to 2359 World Wide Patagonia DX Contest CW - Link to rules here. 
* Mon 24th Feb. 2000-2200 RSGB FT4 contest
* Thu 27th Feb. 2000-2130 80m CC CW

See Link to WA7BNM for other contests not mentioned above.

Wednesdays throughout the year, CW ops 1 hour mini tests 13:00, 19:00, Thurs 03:00 and 07:00, exchange Name and G if not a member or CWOPS number if you are a member.
See CWOPS website for more details.
Also on Fridays 2000 to 2100 and Mondays 0000 to 0100 each week CW OPs runs the K1USN slow speed CW contests. Any speed up to 20wpm is acceptable. For rules see :- CW OPs SST page these contests are open to anyone.

All RSGB contest rules and further details plus log submission at RSGB contest site
Look to WA7BNM’s contest calendar for other contests and links to rules etc at WA7BNM weekly contest calendar
A link to John 2E0TWQ’s site’s Narc contest history page – 2E0TWQ’s NARC contest results page

Contesting can be great fun but I know there’s a reluctance to step into unknown waters. It’s a great way of improving many aspects of our hobby including one’s own performance and the quality of your station. If you have any interest whatsoever please call in to the contest net on Friday evening at 9pm on 145.250MHz FM or speak to any of the regular contesters on 450. Or indeed email me!

Submissions or comments for this news to thedoctorphil@gmail.com

73 until next week,

Phil G4LPP