FIRST 70MHz CONTEST - 5/4/2020

56 entries were received for First 70MHz Contest of 2020 (13 section AO, 33 section AR and 10 section AL, plus four check logs). This was sixteen up on last year's event, perhaps due to potential entrants being at a loose end due to the current COVID-19 related restrictions - which also resulted in comments on the lack of aircraft. A total of 126 valid callsigns appear in the logs, all but one being from the UK&CD - the exception being two contacts with the same PA station. 22 big squares in 6 DXCC entities were worked. The best DX was between G4FZN and PA4VHF in JO32 square at 613km.

The almost universal view of conditions was that they were poor or worse, although possibly improving slightly towards the end. Probably as a result, activity was reported as low, with a couple of stations closing down early and the suggestion that the contest was too long. For once there were no reports of QSB and only a few of a noisy band - including one of lawnmower QRM....

Quin Collier G3WRR

g3wrr@rsgbcc.org