VHF NFD 2-3 July 2016

Wind, rain, thunder and lightning - that about summed up the weather on Friday and Saturday of VHF NFD.  In contrast, Sunday was much better for some with actual sunshine reported by some entrants.

The majority of entrants commented that conditions on 50 MHz were flat with only the occasional appearance of tropospheric propagation and the very infrequent occurrence of Sporadic-E propagation. Conditions on 70 MHz were also reported as flat with only the very occasional burst of Sporadic-E to tantalise the stations fortunate enough to catch them. In contrast to 50 MHz and 70 MHz, conditions on 144 MHz were reported by stations in the west of the UK as 'average to good'. Stations in the south, east and north did not fare so well with lots of reports of static rain which made even hearing stations difficult! Poor conditions coupled with low activity was the consensus on 432 MHz. On 1.2 GHz, several stations reported making contacts by aircraft scatter (AS) which relieved the 'expected slog' on this band.

There was repeated criticism from some entrants in the Sweeper section of a general failure of some portable stations to call CQ regularly. Portable stations please note: if a portable station does not call CQ, it makes it impossible for Sweeper stations to work them!

The full results (available athttp://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contest=VHF%20NFD&year=2016)    enable the eligible entrants to download their certificates and to see their station UBN report. The results also give all of the details of equipment and antennas employed by each station.

RULES. The Rules remained unchanged from 2013 and saw the fourth year of the Multi-band, Single Station (MS) section for portable entrants.

INSPECTIONS/COMPLAINTS. A few site inspections were made and nothing untoward was found. A couple of comments of interference/broad signal between portable entrants (on 144 MHz and 432 MHz) were noted by the adjudication team. The stations involved did try to resolve the issues as best they could and no formal complaints have been received. At least one of the problems appeared to have been caused by poor voltage regulation from the generator - the generator used in previous years was not available and its replacement appeared not to be up to the job. Several independent complaints were received about a portable station using the 70 MHz Calling Frequency (70.2 MHz) during VHF NFD. The rules for all RSGB VHF Contests prohibits the use of any Calling Frequency or Centre of Activity listed in the RSGB Band Plans in contests. In this case, a 10% points penalty was imposed for the use of the Calling Frequency.  Another problem - poor audio quality rather than a broad signal - was traced to RF feedback. A judicious rearrangement of the interconnecting cables reduced this problem to manageable proportions. This year, no stations were observed to be operating within the segment of 50 MHz reserved for Intercontinental working - thank you!

PORTABLE NUMBERS

Registrations: 60 Groups, comprising 205 stations registered. This was up 3 from the 202 doing so in 2015 (221 in 2014), [247 in 2013].

Entries: Overall, Group entries totalled 60 (but not the same 60 that registered!), with station entries numbering 184 {180 in 2015}, (181 in 2014), [229 in 2013].

Numbers of Stations entering - by Band:  50 MHz: 42 {41 in 2015}, (46 in 2014), [49 in 2013], 70 MHz: 35 {38} (35) [41], 144 MHz: 52 {50} (46) [68], 432 MHz: 33 {40} (40) [52], 1.2 GHz: 22 {11} (21) [19].

Numbers of Groups entering- by section: Total 60 {58} (62) [80]. Open: 19 {14} (17) [14], Restricted: 18 {18} (18) [28], Low Power: 10 {12} (10) [12], Mix & Match: 9 {10} (10) [14], Multi-Single: 4 {4} (7) [12].

FIXED SWEEPER OPEN (FSO) NUMBERS

Entries: 32 logs were submitted for FSO {23} (24) [34].

Band Distribution: 50 MHz: 7 {3} (4) [9], 70 MHz: 7 {6} (6) [8], 144 MHz: 6 {8} (6) [8] [6], 432 MHz: 7 {4} (4) [5], 1.2 GHz: 5 {2} (4) [4].

FIXED SWEEPER RESTRICTED (FSR) NUMBERS

Entries: 108 logs were submitted for FSR {56} (60) [127].

Band Distribution: 50 MHz: 27 {14} (9) [33], 70 MHz: 9 {3} (8) [16], 144 MHz: 36 {25} (18) [40], 432 MHz: 26 {19} (16) [30], 1.2 GHz: 10 {5} (9) [8].

LOGGING ACCURACY: As is unfortunately normal for VHF NFD, the standard of logging was again noticeably worse than for other RSGB VHF contests. Most errors were due to incorrectly logged call signs (sometimes transposed letters or incorrectly recording the prefix e.g. M0 for G0), serial numbers and locators which were wrong or implausible since they were incompatible with the call sign. Some entrants even managed to transpose their Received and Sent reports or mixed them indiscriminately. The usual wet squares appeared, as did IO/JO transpositions. All of these problems are seen in other RSGB VHF contests but the number of errors relative to the number of entrants in VHF NFD is much greater than in other contests.

PORTABLE RESULTS

OPEN SECTION: (19 Entries): This year's Overall Winner is Colchester and A1 CG (JO01) with an overall normalised score of 3681 points. They win the Surrey Trophy. In the Runners-Up position with 3340 points, lies Reigate ATS and Crawley ARC (JO01). In Open section results table at # position with 4705 points lies Wexford VHFG (IO62). Readers are reminded that only UK & Crown Dependency-based (UK&CD) entrants are eligible for Awards and all band-scores are normalised against the highest scoring UK&CD station. As a consequence, Wexford VHFG's scores on 50 MHz and 70 MHz are each greater than 1000. In 3rd place is last year's winners, Blacksheep CG (JO01) with 3056 points. The highest placed Scottish station is Aberdeen VHF Group (IO84), who win the Tartan Trophy as the Leading Resident Scottish group.

RESTRICTED SECTION: (18 Entries): This year's Overall Winner is Lothians RS (IO74) with 3299 points. They win the Martlesham Trophy and Cockenzie Quaich as the highest placed Scottish Group. In the Runners-Up position is last year's winners, the South Birmingham RS (IO92) with 3130 points. In 3rd place lies Bittern DX Group (JO02) with 2445 points.

LOW POWER SECTION: (10 Entries): This year's Overall Winner is Warrington CG (IO93) with 3000 points (the maximum attainable). They win the Arthur Watts Trophy. Lagan Valley ARS (IO74) are the Runners-Up this year with 2361 points. Loch Fyne Kippers (IO75) are placed 3rd with 1022 points and, as highest placed Scottish station, retain the Scottish Trophy for another year.

MIX AND MATCH SECTION: (9 Entries): This year's Overall Winner is Telford & DARS (IO82) with 3100 points and take over the G5BY Trophy from this year's Runners-Up, Trowbridge & DARC (IO81) with 2688 points. In 3rd place for the second year is Drowned Rats RG (IO91) with a score of 2224 points.

MULTI-BAND, SINGLE-STATION (MS) SECTION: (4 Entries): In the fourth run of this section, the Overall Winner is Workington & DARC (IO84) with 2937 points (1000 on 50 MHz and 1.2 GHz). In the Runners-Up position is Tall Trees CG (IO93) with 2822 points. In 3rd place lies Bolton Wireless Club with 1700 points.

FIXED SWEEPERS RESULTS

Certificates are awarded for top and runner-up best overall normalised score and, for each section, Band Leader and, if appropriate, Gold, Silver and Bronze awards for contacting 90%, 75% and 50%, respectively, of registered and active VHF NFD (Portable) stations. To facilitate this, a list of stations which had registered by the closing date was published on the RSGB CC website in advance of the Contest. The adjudicators have taken account of those registered stations that were not 'active' during VHF NFD.

OVERALL (66 Entries):

Overall Leader: G3XDY (JO02) with 3000 points from a three band entry and was the Band Leader on 70 MHz (FSO), 432 MHz (FSO) and 1.2 GHz (FSO)

Overall Runner-up: G0GQT with 2429 points from a five band entry and was the Band Leader on 432 MHz (FSR)

Overall 3rd place: G3UVR with 1967 points from a five band entry and was the Band Leader on 1.2 GHz (FSR)

Band Awards:

50 MHz FSO (7 Entrants): Band Leader & Silver Award: G4FJK (IO80)

FSO Bronze Award: G4ELJ (IO91), G4FKA (IO81)

50 MHz FSR (27 Entrants): Band Leader & Bronze Award: G3TBK (IO93)

FSR Bronze Award: G3RLE (IO83), G0BBB (IO91), G8FMC (IO91), M0OMB (IO83), G4RYV (IO91)

70 MHz FSO (7 Entrants): Band Leader & Silver Award: G3XDY (JO02)

FSO Silver Award: G4FJK (IO80)

FSO Bronze Award: G4FKK (IO91), G3NPI (IO92)

70 MHz FSR (9 Entrants): Band Leader and Silver Award: GW8ASD (IO83)

FSR Bronze Award: G4RYV (IO91), G8FMC (IO91), G8FMC (IO91), G3UVR (IO83)

144 MHz FSO (6 Entrants): Band Leader & Bronze Award: G6DOD (IO90)

FSO Bronze Award: GM4JJJ (IO86)

144 MHz FSR (35 Entrants): Band Leader & Bronze Award: G0BBB (IO91)

FSR Bronze Award: G0GQT (JO01), G1PPA (IO93), M0DDT (IO91), G4DBW (JO01), GW3ATZ (IO83), M0OMB (IO83), G4LPD (IO92), G4XPE (IO92), G8XTJ (IO91)

432 MHz FSO (4 Entrants): Band Leader & Bronze Award: G3XDY (JO02)

FSO Bronze Award: G8EOP (IO93)

432 MHz FSR (19 Entrants): Band Leader & Bronze Award: G0GQT (JO01)

FSR Bronze Award: G3UBX (IO82), G1HLT (IO93), G1PPA (IO93)

1.2 GHz FSO (5 Entrants): Band Leader & Bronze Award: G3XDY (JO02)

FSO Bronze Award: G8EOP (IO93)

1.2 GHz FSR (10 Entrants): Band Leader & Bronze Award: G3UVR (IO83)

CHECK LOGS

These were gratefully received from:

50 MHz: G8CMU, GW0GEI and G0OLE/P

70 MHz: G0TCD and G8CMU

144 MHz: G3TCR/P, F1CBC, G8CMU, GD1MIP, GW1YBB/P, GW4IDF/P, M1MAJ/M, M3ZCB, MM0GPZ/P and OZ1ALS

432 MHz: GD1MIP and F1CBC

1.2 GHz: None

BAND RESULTS

50 MHz Activity: 432 individual call signs were worked {435 in 2015} (421 in 2014) [554 in 2013]. These comprised stations in the following countries:

DL, EI, F, G, GD, GI, GM, GU, GW, I, LY, ON, PA, S5 and YL

50 MHz Band Leaders and Scores:

Open: Numerical Leader, Position #: EI9E/P Wexford VHFG (IO62), Score 52282 (1403 Normalised)

Open 1st UK & CD: GM4ZUK/P Aberdeen VHF Group (IO86), Score 37266

Restricted: GM3HAM/P Lothians CG (IO74), Score 22388

Low Power: GI4GTY/P Lagan Valley (IO74), Score 33321

MS: G4VFL/P Workington & DARC (IO84), Score 9273

FSO: G4FJK (IO80) 31 QSO, Score 8978, Mults 29, Total 260362

FSR: G3TBK (IO93) 28 QSO, Score 5717, Mults 26, Total 148642

70 MHz Activity: 210 individual call signs were worked {171} (147) [196].These comprised stations in the following countries:

EI, G, GD, GI, GM, GU, GW, ON, PA and SP

70 MHz Band Leaders and Scores:

Open: Numerical Leader, Position #: EI9E/P Wexford VHFG (IO62), Score 33094 (1448 Normalised)

Open 1st UK & CD: GM4ZUK/P Aberdeen VHF Group (IO86), Score 22854

Restricted: GM3HAM/P Lothians RS (IO74), Score 18579

Low Power: GI4GTY/P Lagan Valley (IO74), Score 24539

MS: M1DDD/P Tall Trees CG (IO93), Score 8254

FSO: G3XDY (JO02) 27 QSO, Score 6911, Mults 26, Total 179688

FSR: GW8ASD (IO83) 26 QSO, Score 5481, Mults 25, Total 137025

144 MHz Activity:1500 individual call signs were worked {1471} (1219 in 2014) [2117 in 2013]. These comprised stations in the following countries:

DL, EA, EI, F, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, HB, LA, LX, LY, OE, OK, ON, OZ, PA, SM, SP and UA

144 MHz Band Leaders and Scores:

Open: M0BAA/P Blacksheep CG (JO01) Score 189254

Restricted: G3ZME/P Telford & DARS (IO82) Score 48369

Low Power: G3CKR/P Warrington CG (IO93) Score 59123

MS: M0ICK/P Bolton Wireless Club (IO83), Score 13643

FSO: G6DOD (IO90) 69 QSO, Score 20800, Mults 35, Total 728000

FSR: G0BBB (IO91) 56 QSO, Score 15356, Mults 32, Total 491392

432 MHz Activity: 383 individual call signs were worked {379} (327) [598].These comprised stations in the following countries:

DL, EA, EI, F, G, GD, GM, GU, GW, HB, OK, ON, OZ, PA, SM, SP

432 MHz Band Leaders and Scores:

Open: G5LK/P Reigate ATS & Crawley ARC (JO01), Score 49298

Restricted: M0HRF/P Drowned Rats RG (IO91), Score 19126

Low Power: G3CKR/P Warrington CG (IO93), Score 15002

MS: M1DDD/P Tall Trees CG (IO93), Score 1914

FSO: G3XDY (JO02) 32 QSO, Score 10737, Mults 18, Total 193266

FSR: G0GQT (JO01) 24 QSO, Score 4463, Mults 21, Total 93723

1.2 GHz

Activity & Conditions: 147 individual call signs were worked {111} (94) [224]. These comprised stations in the following countries:

DL, EI, F, G, GU, GM, GW, OK, ON, OZ and PA

Band Leaders and Scores:

Open: G0VHF/P Colchester & A1 CG (JO01) Score 17768

Restricted: G3OHM/P South Birmingham RS ((IO92) Score 16655

Low Power: G3CKR/P Warrington CG (IO93) Score 12112

MS: G4VFL/P Workington & DARC (IO84) Score 1837

FSO: G3XDY (JO02) 37 QSO, Score 13484, Mults 14, Total 188776

FSR: G3UVR (IO83) 12 QSO, Score 2455, Mults 11, Total 27005

SIGN OFF

Congratulations to all recipients of Trophies and Certificates and thank you to all participants.

73 from the 2016 VHF NFD Adjudication Team: Ian G0FCT, Mike G0KAD, Roger G4BVY and Stephen G4SHF