SPRING 70MHz CONTEST - 3/4/2022

48 entries (four section AL, eighteen section AO and 26 section AR)  were received for the 2022 Spring 70MHz Contest (the rebadged First 70MHz Contest) This was six (14%) down on the 2021 entry. A total of 116 valid callsigns appear in the logs, from 25 big squares (19 UK&CD and six outside) in nine DXCC entities (DL, EI, G, GW, GM, GU, ON, OZ, & SP). The best DX was between GM4AFF (IO86) and SP9HWY (JO90) at 1583km - one of three QSOs at over 1000km, all of which were with SP9HWY. The best DX below 1000km was between M0AFJ/P and GM4AFF at 752km.

Comments on conditions varied. A couple of entrants found them quite good, particularly earlier in the contest, but average to fair was probably the median opinion. There were no reports of sporadic E, and although a number of meteor scatter contacts were clearly made, one entrant gave it a try without success, commenting 'very few rocks'. Activity was reported as no better than average and deteriorating later on.  Those frequently reported bugbears of 4m operation, QSB and noise, also made an appearance, being reported by several entrants: QSB was reported as deep at times and noise as worsening towards the end of the contest.

Quin Collier G3WRR

g3wrr@rsgbcc.org