SSB Field Day 2018

As with last year the majority of contacts were made on 3.6, 7 and 14MHz but again there were some useful contacts and multipliers to be found on 21 and 28MHz even though many of these were inter-UK.  Some non-Eu DX was found on 21MHz in the form of 9M and A4, Sporadic E on 28MHz appeared late on Sunday morning and yielded SM, YU and DL.  Overall QSO numbers were similar to the 2017 event.

Logs were received from other European societies which allows more rigorous cross checking.  The majority of errors were in received callsign, some were clearly more difficult to copy correctly than others judging by the number of stations that got it wrong and the number of variations!  There was only a single band error this year indicating the almost universal use of computer logging with rig control.

There were a number of random inspections by representatives of the HFCC and CSC, every station inspected was found to be fully compliant with the rules.  To be eligible for an award, UK & CD portable stations (excluding the QRP Renewable Energy section) must register their station no later than seven days before the contest and must supply a six figure NGR (two letters plus six numbers) and access details, or very precise location information to enable a visitor unfamiliar with the area to find them.  An inspector may also visit the site the day before the contest to ensure that the 24 hour rule has been observed.  This year several stations registered with insufficient location information (an NGR with less than six numbers for example), all were contacted and most updated their registration with the required correction in good time.  Unfortunately one inspector had a wasted journey when he found that the registered group had decided not to take part but had not bothered to inform the adjudicator.  Registered groups must notify the adjudicator as soon as possible if they have to change site or are unable to take part at all for whatever reason.

Entrants in the portable sections are reminded that only the Low Power Assisted category allows the use of antennas with multiple elements, parallel or otherwise. Groups using these types of antennas in the other portable sections will be reclassified as assisted.

For the second year running the leader in the Low Power Unassisted Portable section is the Sussex Downs CG G4FNL/P who are awarded the Northumbria Trophy.  In second place, up from third last year, is Yorkshire Amateur Radio Friends M0YRF/P.  Reading & DARC G3ULT/P take third place, up from fifth in 2017.  There were two non UK&CD entries, YL1ZX/P was the highest placed in 12th position overall.

The top spot in the Low Power Assisted Portable section is Camb-Hams G3PYE/P, followed by Horndean & DARC G4FBS/P in second and Scunthorpe Steel ARC G4FUH/P in third.  Camb-Hams were forced into a very late change in location due to travellers taking over their registered site but provided full and accurate details of their new site to the adjudicator to confirm their registration.

The QRP portable section attracted two entries, UT5UUV/P was placed first ahead of M0HMJ/P in second.  Unfortunately M0HMJ was not registered so is ineligible to receive the G3PSH Memorial Trophy.

New for 2018 is the QRP Renewable Energy Portable section which proved to be more popular than the basic QRP Portable section with a total of four entries.  In first place is Addiscombe ARC G4ALE/P operated by Mike G3VYI followed by Tynemouth ARC G5N/P operated by Glen G0SBN.  SP5UX/P was the leading non UK&CD station although did not make any contacts with UK portables.

In the Fixed section, Furness ARS G3RXQ operated by Ivan G3IZD and Stewart G3RXQ are the leaders, with Lionel MU0GSY in second place.  K3ZO was the leading non UK&CD entrant, Fred made seventeen contacts with UK portables evenly spread across the 3.6, 7 and 14 MHz bands.

John Cockrill G4CZB