Welcome to week one hundred and seventy two of NARC’s contest news. As we move into a new year and a new season of contests I hope you’ve all had an excellent festive season.
Results:-
On VHF
The results of the 50MHz UKAC of 12th December were released on 2nd January. Our 7 entries performed well giving us a good 4th place result. Congratulations to Mike, G4KQY for being our highest scoring competitor this time with a 14th place in the Restricted section and to Roger, G3LDI for a well-earned 4th place in the Open section. I was pleased to see that several QSOs I had been uncertain about were good as was Roger with best Dx for us being OY1OF. Link to all results from the 50MHz series which is now complete for 2024 here.
In the overall UKAC we are still running 4th out of 58 in the General clubs section. Link to this here
We’re now almost up-to date with VHF results from the RSGB, just awaiting the final 2 UKAC results from this month (1.2GHz and 4m).
NARC is running 10th at the moment in this year’s VHF championships out of 84 clubs. Link here
On HF
No new HF results I could see this week.
2024 results overall :-
NARC won the 80m Club Championships – Link here
NARC came 4th in the AFS super league – Link here
NARC won the 80m Autumn series – Link here
Several NARC members featured well in the HF Championships – Link here
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 Christmas series of VHF and UHF contests ran over the past week with several entries from NARC members. These were on 50, 70, 144 and 432 MHz each lasting 2 hours. Links to the claimed scores here :- 50MHz, 70MHz, 144MHz, 432MHz
The 2m FT8 ACs 2h and 4h took place on 1st January – It looks like the only club members who entered were Terry G0BIX and Roger EI8KN. Link to 2h claimed scores here.
On HF
The Stew Perry Top Band contest took place last weekend on 28th December. This was CW only as usual. Link here to logs received. I have received the following report from Stewart G4AFF who entered:-
I took part in the Stew Perry contest this weekend. This is a 160m band only contest in which the scores are calculated based on the distance of stations worked. You also gain extra points for working QRP and low power stations. 100w entrants also multiply their score by 2 and QRP stations can multiply their score by 4. I made 311 QSOs, best DX was VK6VZ at 14452km distance. Scores are not available until all the results have been tabulated due to the multiplication factor for some stations. I only worked about 6 UK stations, with no local activity. I was probably the only JO02 station active. Conditions were not good, but it was still fun. I strung up 3 beverages – one each to the west, north and east. They worked well giving quite a difference in front-to-back and noise reduction. The transmit aerial was a 71ft vertical with 4 top hat wires and 50 or so radials. I hope the effort pays off!
73 and HNY!
Stewart
G4AFF
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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 7th Jan. 2000-2230 144MHz UKAC
* Wed 8th Jan. 1700-2230 432MHz FT8AC 2h and 4h sections
* Thu 9th Jan. 2000-2230 50MHz UKAC
* Tue 14th Jan. 2000-2230 432MHz UKAC
* Thu 16th Jan. 2000-2230 70MHzUKAC
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 4th Jan. 1300-1700 RSGB AFS 80m and 40m CW (AFS Superleague and HF Championship) – Link to rules here.
* Sat 4th Jan. 0000 for 24h PODXS 070 Club PSK fest (PSK31) – Rules here.
* Sat 4th Jan. 0700-2100 Marconi club ARI Loano QSO party day CW – Link to rules here.
* Sat 4th Jan. 1200 for 24h WW PMC Contest CW / SSB – Link to rules here.
* Sat 4th Jan. 1800 for 36h ARRL RTTY Roundup – Rules here.
* Sat 4th Jan. 2000-2300 and Sun 5th JAn 0400-0700 EUCW 160m Contest – Link to rules here.
* Sat 11th Jan. 1200-2400 SKCC Weekend Sprintathon – Link to rules
* Sat 11th Jan. 1200 for 24h UBA PSK63 Prefix contest – Link to rules
* Sat 11th Jan. 1800 to Sun 12th Jan. 0559 North American QSO party CW – Link to rules
* Sun 12th Jan. 0900-1059 DARC 10-Meter contest CW and SSB – Link to rules
* Sun 12th Jan. 1300-1700 RSGB AFS 80m-40m Data (AFS Superleague and HF Championship) – Link to rules here.
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 CWops 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
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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 whatsover 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!
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Submissions or comments for this news to thedoctorphil@gmail.com
73 until next week,
Phil G4LPP
