FIRST 50MHz CONTEST 14/4/19

The number of entries in the First 50MHz Contest 2019 was 49 (8 in section AL, 10 in section AO and 31 in section AR). This was a gratifying 20% up on last year. Conditions were generally agreed to be no better than fair, with no sporadic E. Comments on activity varied with a couple of entrants reporting it as better than 2018, but more reporting it as low. 'Where was everyone?' probably captures it.  Noise was found to be a problem, although one entrant thought it was not as bad as during the evenings. There were also several reports of QSB making life difficult. And two entrants commented on the wind - which was severe enough to cause one potential portable entrant to think better of it!

A total of 124 valid callsigns appear in the logs, from 7 DXCC entities and 23 big squares. The best DX, 596km, was between MM0CEZ and G4SDM/P. Although the number of valid callsigns was up, the number of DXCC entities & big squares and also best DX were all down - by 46%, 23% and 66% respectively - supporting entrants' comments on conditions!

Congratulations go to the section leaders:

• Open - G4FZN/P
• Restricted - G3TBK/P
• Low Power - G0EAK/P.

Quin Collier G3WRR

g3wrr@rsgbcc.org