HF NFD 2015

This number of entrants in NFD this year was, at 37, one down on 2014, with a significant change in the balance of number of entrants between sections. The Open Section was almost static at eight, but the QRP Section had almost double the number of entrants. This was up from six to eleven, probably due to the difficulty of getting enough CW operators to cover the full 24 hours. The Open Section increase was largely offset by a fall in the number in the Restricted Section, which was down to eighteen: here the balance between Complex and Simple Categories was almost the same as 2014, with 6 Restricted-Complex and 12 Restricted-Simple entries.

Although NFD has been lucky for the last year or two, the turndown in the sunspot cycle, and consequentially HF conditions, caught up with us at last. Although the total number of QSOs made by UK stations (27757) was only down by 3.3%, 10m in particular was badly affected. In percentage terms, the percentage of total NFD QSOs made on 10m fell from 11.4 to 3.8%: nevertheless some surprisingly good DX appeared, including 3B8, 9N, HS, VR2 and a sprinkling of South Americans. The fall on 10m was mostly offset by increased QSO percentages on 20m (up by 4.6%) and to a lesser extent 40m (up by 1.9%). The percentages on 160, 80 & 15m each differed from 2014 by 1% or less. As might be expected, 20m carried the greatest percentage of QSOs (36.2%), with 64 DXCC entities appearing on UK logs.

In terms of equipment, the Elecraft K2/3 range, with 21 in use, was again dominant in the way the FT1000 series was a decade (or perhaps two?) ago. Apart from a single Orion and a Flex 6500, the rest were ones and twos of various models from Yaesu, Icom and Kenwood. Antennas usage was surprisingly standardised, with QRP stations using single doublets or inverted Vs (but with some variations in feed arrangements), a pattern largely followed in the Restricted-Simple category: one station of an adventurous turn of mind  tried experimenting with a delta loop and will not be repeating that next year! The Restricted-Complex category followed the same general pattern of using doublets, but in a variety of numbers and configurations taking advantage of the flexibility offered within the limits of wire length and mastage. And the Open Section again mainly used doublets for the LF bands, with a variety of beam types for HF.  Interestingly the two 20m only entries chose to use verticals, either alone or in conjunction with other antennas.

As for that other old NFD chestnut, the weather, generally this was reported as good or better, although frequently quite windy and cold overnight. Two GM stations reported it as being cold throughout with a lot of rain.

And so on to the winners, with congratulations:

• The Open Section leader was Stockport RS (G3LX/P), up from 3rd last year, followed by last year"s winner Newbury & DARS (G3KLH/P). In this Section there were two 20m single band entries, with Three As CG (GW0AAA/P) taking the Frank Hoosen G3YF Trophy from the Castel CG (GU4YOX/P) for the second year running
• The Restricted Section leader and overall NFD winner and was Brimham CG (G6MC/P), up from 6th last year, followed by last year"s Restricted Section leader Sussex Downs CG (G4FNL/P). It is surprising for the overall winner to be in the Restricted Section rather than the Open: this is quite a feat , and from memory it is at least 30 years since this last happened. Both these stations were in the Restricted-Complex category: the leading station in the Restricted-Simple category for the second year running was North of Scotland CG (GM2MP/P)
• In the QRP Section, the leading station was Horsham ARC (G4HRS/P), a non-entrant last year: this was a single operator entry by Peter G3LET. Runner up was last year"s winner Reading & DARC (G3ULT/P).

And finally, a couple of snippets that readers may find interesting. Firstly, this was the 50th consecutive HF NFD in which Dave Cree G3TBK has operated (and the 56th which he has attended): if there are any operators who can exceed this, please let me know so they can be given due credit! And secondly, for the first time that I am aware of, an NFD station (G3JRM/P) operated from a boat:  I"ll bet that gave them good ground conductivity"..

See you all in 2016!

g3wrr@r s gbcc.org