First 70MHz 2006



This year saw increased activity levels with 98 stations from EI, G, GD, GI, GM, GW and S5 active during the event. Only one entrant worked over half of the stations active. Although conditions were generally described as poor to average, there were many contacts over 400 kMs and 10 QSOs over 500 kMs.

The weather conditions did not favour the portable stations with rain, hail, snow and strong cold winds being reported. As one entrant stated "The WX forecast was reasonable but unfortunately the WX itself didn't realise this!"

Congratulations go to the Northern Lights, GD0EMG, and Bryn, G4DEZ, for their section wins. These stations together with the runners up Trev, G2KF/P, and Stewart, GM4AFF, will receive certificates.

Roger Dixon, G4BVY

Section O
Pos
Callsign
QSOs
Score
ODX Call
ODX Kms
Power
Antenna
1 *
GD0EMG
55
17,347
S51DI
1,673
160
2 * 8 ele
2 *
G2KF/P
40
9,854
GM4AFF
702
160
8 ele + 4 ele
3
G4RFR
56
9,842
GM4AFF
673
150
2 * 12 ele
4
GW4EVX/P
25
4,414
GM4AFF
402
80
3 ele
5
G6GVI/P
25
3,704
G2KF/P
361
25
2 ele
6
G0SRC/P
29
3,655
G6HIE
265
10
3 ele
7
G4VRC/P
13
1,654
GD0EMG
427
10
5 ele
8
G4ADV
8
1,054
G8SRL
389
25
2 * 7 ele
Section SF
Pos
Callsign
QSOs
Score
ODX Call
ODX Kms
Power
Antenna
1 *
G4DEZ
43
10,229
G3YJX
450
150
8 ele
2 *
GM4AFF
22
9,417
G2KF/P
702
140
8 ele
3
G3MEH
46
7,281
GM4AFF
574
160
2 * 5 ele
4
G3JYP
25
6,188
G2KF/P
462
120
8 ele quagi
5
G8SRL
29
5,662
GD0EMG
475
100
7 ele
6
G0ODQ
33
5,074
GM4AFF
580
150
5 ele
7
G3IKR
34
4,949
GM0USI/P
442
160
4 ele
8
G3XPU
23
3,548
GM4AFF
482
50
3 ele
9
G4SJH
21
2,058
GD0EMG
407
65
6 ele
10
G3RHH
14
1,966
GD0EMG
429
50
4 ele
11
GM4DIJ
7
1,007
G4DEZ
374
60
4 ele
Comments from the logs: G0SRC/P
Good fun with snow, hail and sun.
G2KF/P
Slow start but very windy. Missed a few but many thanks.
G3IKR
Not Good!! More, deeper QSB than usual.
G3JYP
Snowing again! Not as much as last contest. Conditions about average.
G3MEH
Poor conditions but reasonable activity. Missed out on a GM4? just too weak to copy on CW.
G3RHH
Poor propagation, fair level of activity.
G4ADV
A bit of a struggle with only 25w
G4DEZ
Deep QSB low activity no DX (should have used JT6M) but considered that not to be very fair! Heard OZ calling me but too weak!
G4VRC/P
Deep QSB. Sunny before contest. Overcast and cold during. Sunny after. My first contacts on 70MHz. Hope to do better next time.
G6GVI/P
I started the event from the home QTH, but having made no QSOs in 25 minutes, I decided to brave the elements and head for the hills. Up on Winter Hill, there were two hail showers, but also some warm sunshine. A passing aircraft helped me to exchange with GM4AFF, whose signal came up past S9 briefly. It was good to hear one of the IC-E90s in operation, getting out well with just a set-top helical, over a 71km path.
G8SRL
Conditions were not very good with best propagation to the West. There was also a lot of QSB with the resultant failure to complete some QSOs. There was also a shortage of stations.
GM4AFF
Poor to average. Lots of QSB
GM4DIJ
Deep QSB. No new calls heard after 1 1/2 hours. Gotaway GI4KSO, G8XVJ
GW4EVX/P
Atrocious WX when arrived at site so started contest 50 mins late. Average conditions and usual level of activity. The WX forecast was reasonable but unfortunately the WX itself didn't realise this! Rain, hail and very cold wind when arrived at the site so was 50mins late starting - not that it makes much difference in a 3hr four metre contest!