1st 144MHz Backpackers Contest of 2010

As is almost traditional, the first 144MHz Backpackers contest of the year attracted a mixed bag of weather. Some entrants managed to stay dry while others became very wet. The band conditions were also variable with deep QSB causing difficulties for some stations. The coordinated May 144MHz Contest ensured plenty of activity for the Backpackers to enjoy.

During adjudication of this contest, it has become apparent that some stations had not read the rules concerning antenna height. In the 3B section, your antenna must not be more than 4m above the ground, 6m in the 10H section. Also, please take care when completing your cover sheet as several `typos' were discovered which, if taken at face value, would have resulted in several stations being disqualified!

Finally, if you are using a FT817, please remember not to select the highest power setting (5W) if you are entering the 3B section!

Congratulations to:

Winner: Hill Toppers (10H): Paul Selwood, G8BGV/P
Runner-up: Hill Toppers (10H): Neil Whiteside, G4HUN/P
Winner: Backpackers (3B): Rhys Thomas, GW4RWR/P
Runner-up: Backpackers (3B): Tom Read, MW1EYP/P
Highest placed Intermediate Station: Chris, 2E0FSR/P
Highest placed Foundation Station: Jimmy Read, MW3EYP/P

Thank you to G3SPJ and M0REG/P for providing very useful check logs.

Reminder: The 2nd 144MHz backpackers Contest is on 13th June, 0900 to 1300 hours UTC

Ian, G0FCT

Section 10H
Pos	Callsign	Locator	QTH/Postcode	QSOs	Score	Multiplier	Total	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Ant	Equipment
1	G8BGV/P	JO01	CM	68	13,678	68	930,104	DK1FG	778	10	6 Ele DK7ZB	FT817 + Amp
2	G4HUN/P	IO92	SG	58	7,913	54	427,302	MM0GPZ/P	459	5	9 el Tonna	FT817
3	M0BAO/P	IO80	TA	38	7,884	42	331,128	MM0GPZ/P	509	10	13 ELE TONNA	ICOM IC7000
4	G0LGS/P	IO82	WR	50	5,312	46	244,352	G0VHF/P	253	10	3 Ele (SOTA)	FT-857D
5	G0LMV/P	IO93	LN	33	5,796	41	237,636	EI9JU	521	10	9 ele Tonna	FT-897D
6	G7IVF/P	IO91	OX	32	3,563	37	131,831	GM6MD/P	450	10	5 element yagi	Yaesu FT857D
7	G0TKZ/P	JO01	TN	23	2,968	28	83,104	G1ONE/P	336	10	4 ele beam	FT-100D
8	GM8OTI/P	IO74	DG	10	2,508	19	47,652	G0VHF/P	515	10	5 ele Yagi (DK7ZB design)	Yaesu FT-817 + homebrew PA
Section 3B
Pos	Callsign	Locator	QTH/Postcode	QSOs	Score	Multiplier	Total	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Ant	Equipment
1	GW4RWR/P	IO82	LL	84	12,630	67	846,210	EI9GQ	357	3	9 el Tonna	IC-202e
2	MW1EYP/P	IO83	CH	66	7,603	48	364,944	G0VHF/P	342	2.5	SB3 (3Y)	FT-817
3	GW0RMX/P	IO81	NP	45	6,096	44	268,224	GM6MD/P	386	2.5	13 Yagi	FT-817
4	G4VRC/P	IO90	PO	36	5,695	41	233,495	MM0GPZ/P	543	2.5	12 ele homebrew	FT817
5	G7DDN/P	IO92	BM	36	4,903	41	201,023	MM0GPZ/P	363	2.5	5 ELEMENT YAGI	YAESU FT-817ND
6	G4XZL/P	IO90	GU	41	4,976	39	194,064	G1ONE/P	312	3	5 Element DK7ZB yagi	FT-817
7	G8HXE/P	IO83	BB	37	3,737	40	149,480	M0MCG/P	370	2.5	Sota 5 ele	FT817
8	G4ALE/P	IO91	GU	34	2,693	32	86,176	G4SIV	178	3	5 EL	FT290RII
9	GM1TPO/P	IO85	TD	16	2,938	27	79,326	M0MCG/P	532	2.5	4 element yagi	FT-817
10	G8TMV/P	JO02	CB	23	2,543	27	68,661	GM6MD/P	453	2.5	Dipole	FT-817ND
11	2E0FSR/P	IO93	LS	15	2,645	25	66,125	G3ZVW	358	2.5	Diamond A144S	Yaesu FT817ND
12	G1RVK/P	IO83	SK	18	1,728	24	41,472	MM0GPZ/P	272	2.5	Dipole	FT-817
13	MM0VTV/P	IO85	EH	15	1,384	24	33,216	GW4RWR/P	288	2.5	5 ele	Yaesu FT-817ND
14	G0KSC/P	JO01	SS	17	1,276	21	26,796	GW3NYY/P	243	3	11el G0KSC OWL Yagi	FT817
15	MW3EYP/P	IO83	CH	11	1,508	16	24,128	GM1TPO/P	256	2.5	SB3	FT-817
16	MW0DSZ/P	IO82	SY	8	1,340	16	21,440	G4FUR/P	266	2	Moxon	FT290R
17	M0XIK/P	IO92	NG	8	1,133	18	20,394	GM6MD/P	336	2.5	9 ELEMENT TONNA	FT-817
18	G7NBE/P	IO92	LE	9	1,036	16	16,576	G4ZAP/P	146	3	4 element beam	FT290R2
19	M0TTE/P	IO91	SN	1	98	3	294	G7DDN/P	98	2.5	Cushcraft A27010S	Yaesu FT-817

Comments from the Logs:

2E0FSR/P

Breezy but dry. Big city like Leeds yet I was the only op active!

G0KSC/P

Low-Noise antennas work!

G0TKZ/P

Not bad conditions - weather a bit ropey after 1400 local

G4ALE/P

First time from the hilltop /p good fun. Failed to work GM6MD/p; ant too short !!

G4HUN/P

Plenty of UK stations to work. Heard, but didn't work, F, DL & ON.

G4VRC/P

WX light rain at start then cold and windy. Conditions flat, but able to work 2 GM from the South Downs.

G4XZL/P

Flat conditions, very average

G7DDN/P

First time entry in this contest. Conditions seemed flat but lots of QSB. Delighted to work Scotland from Birmingham with 2.5 Watts!

G7IVF/P

Lasted three hours then chased off the hill by rain. Worth it to work my first SOTA contact

G7NBE/P

Worked for one hour only.

G8BGV/P

Flat Conditions. Pity EI9GQ Got away.

G8HXE/P

Disaster! SLAB developed fatal internal fault after 2 hours.

G8TMV/P

Windy, but the rain held off

GM8OTI/P

On for a couple of hours to give away some points. Rather poor pickings where I was - will go higher up again next time.

GW0RMX/P

Band was very flat. Pleasant weather.

GW4RWR/P

No GD,GI, continentals. GM0HTT could not hear me. Sunny but cold breeze. Passing walkers asked if I was 'taking measurements'? Thanks to all.

M0TTE/P

Rained for much of it.

M0XIK/P

First real foray into /p Great fun for an hour and amazing how far you can work on 2.5w!

MM0VTV/P

First Backpackers Contest. What a great mix, radio and the country! Must thank my old man (MM6GHF) for helping to setup. Weather was good to start but changed on the way home.

MW1EYP/P

Lovely sunny day, but very windy. Nothing from continent or GI/EI/GD. Good coverage of GB mainland though. Plenty of QSB.