144MHz Trophy 2010



The weather was variable across the UK but relatively benign to all entrants. There was scattered rain in places and stations in the north experienced windy conditions.

Conditions were rated from "poor" to "superb" with a number of entrants noting QSB. The best conditions were on a north south path but some reasonable distances were worked towards the east and south east. In total twenty countries appeared in the logs in one hundred and nineteen locator squares. One entrant managed to work 106 squares. There were 32 QSOs above 1000 km. The best contacts were by GM6MD/P (IO75) and GM3HAM/P (IO74) into northern Spain at 1336 and 1294 km. Other contacts beyond 1000 km were into DL, F, HB9, I and OK.

The numbers of entrants and the numbers of contacts made were very similar to 2009. A number of entrants commented on the poor level of activity from the UK.

Logging standards continue to improve with the average loss of points in the open section falling below 3%. Standards in the other sections could improve! All elements of the exchange are checked during the adjudication. Locators which do not coincide with the callsign prefix and the failure to log /P callsigns remain the most common errors. Some entrants continue to log the default 59 rather than the report actually received.

Amplifiers seemed to be the weak point this year with a number of failures. Some of these led to poor signal reports but all were solved amicably over the air at the time of the report. One station had their event ruined by high levels of power line noise.

Congratulations go to:

  • The Parallel Lines, G8P, who won the open section for the fifth year running to retain the Mitchell-Milling Trophy.
  • Andy G4PIQ, operating M6T, for winning the single operator (others) section and as the highest scoring single operator is awarded the Thorogood Trophy.
  • Bryn, G4DEZ, who won the single operator (fixed) section for the second year running.
  • The Clyde Coast Contest Group, GM6MD/P, who won the six-hour (others) section.
  • Richard, GD8EXI, who won the six-hour single operator fixed section.

These stations together with those marked * will receive certificates.

Thanks for check logs from 2E0VXX/P, G0FBB, G8APB, G8MCA, GW8IZR and M8C.

Roger Dixon, G4BVY

Section O
Pos
Callsign
Locator
QSOs
Total
ODX Call
ODX Kms
Power
Ant
Group
1 *
G8P
JO01
902
387,580
OK1KCR
1,031
400
4*12 + 4*10 + 17 ele
Parallel Lines Contest Group
2 *
G8T
JO01
667
258,044
EA1DVY/P
1,076
400
4*9 + 4*10 ele
The Black Sheep CG
3
M2F
JO01
609
213,558
ED1R
991
400
2*14 ele
Reigate ATS
4
G4Z
JO02
565
201,353
EA1AAA/P
1,117
400
2*12 + 2*12 + 4*12 ele
A1 Contest Group
5
G0VHF/P
JO01
493
185,511
EA2DHJ/P
1,008
400
4*6 + 2*12 ele
Colchester Contest Group of Colchester RA
6
G5B
IO92
447
160,053
ED1R
1,130
400
6*12 ele + 4*12 ele
Five Bells CG
7
G3PYE/P
JO02
295
91,361
AO2A
1,026
400
17 ele
Camb-Hams & CDARC
8
GM3HAM/P
IO74
220
70,555
EE2W
1,294
400
17 ele
Lothian's Radio Society
9
M9T
IO80
177
63,129
HB9FAP
1,036
350
10 + 10 ele
Moors Contest Group
10
G4FZN/P
IO94
162
49,632
DR9A
904
100
9 ele
 
11
GM2T
IO86
70
29,737
F5SGT/P
905
400
4*7 ele
Cockenzie & Port Seton ARC/Mid Lanark ARS
12
G0KDV/P
JO01
63
12,931
F5SDT/P
761
50
7 ele
Darenth Valley Radio Society
Section SF
Pos
Callsign
Locator
QSOs
Total
ODX Call
ODX Kms
Power
Ant
Group
1 *
G4DEZ
JO03
309
118,613
F1USF/P
984
400
4*12 ele
 
2 *
G6NHU
JO01
178
44,138
TM0W
680
200
9 ele
Martello Tower Group
3 *
PE1EWR
JO11
100
30,651
F1USF/P
760
80
10 ele
 
4
G4DBW
JO01
66
18,516
EE2W
934
50
6 ele
 
5 *
G4HGI
IO83
57
17,207
TM0W
986
25
12 ele
Bolton Wireless Club
6
G1TST
IO81
57
13,866
TM0W
799
50
10 ele
Trowbridge & DARC
7
GW8ASD
IO83
35
13,564
LX/PA1TK/P
716
100
12 ele
 
8
G3YJR
IO93
49
13,377
TM2A
642
25
9 ele
 
9
G3UFY
IO91
51
11,776
GM4ZUK/P
636
50
9 ele
 
10 *
2E0BMO
IO83
52
11,432
F6HPP/P
637
50
7 ele
 
11
G4VPD
IO92
34
10,147
TM0W
861
100
19 ele
 
12
G0CDA
IO83
22
6,850
DF0MU
672
20
11 ele
Warrington CG
13
G7HDJ
IO91
9
763
F1UVN
238
80
6 ele
 
Section SO
Pos
Callsign
Locator
QSOs
Total
ODX Call
ODX Kms
Power
Ant
Group
1 *
M6T
JO02
639
261,216
ED1R
1,113
400
2*17 + 2*17 + 16 ele
 
2 *
GM4ZUK/P
IO86
251
108,963
F6KCZ/P
901
400
4*13 ele
 
3
G3XBY/P
IO81
116
45,133
DL0GTH
1,011
100
2*17 ele
 
4
G8BGV/P
JO01
65
19,155
DL0GTH
718
10
6 ele
 
5
G4ARI/P
IO92
56
10,611
F5SGT/P
522
3
6 ele
 
6
G4HUN/P
IO92
28
6,404
LX/PA1TK/P
553
5
3 ele
 
7 *
2E0TXT/P
IO83
12
2,295
G8P
377
20
Moxon
 
Section 6O
Pos
Callsign
Locator
QSOs
Total
ODX Call
ODX Kms
Power
Ant
Group
1 *
GM6MD/P
IO75
154
50,665
EE2W
1,336
400
2 * 9 ele
Clyde Coast Contest Club
2 *
M4W
IO91
100
33,833
F4APR/P
885
100
5 ele
Swindon & District ARC
3
M0B
JO02
89
25,561
DL0GTH
741
400
2 * 17ele
Hadley Wood Contest Grooup
4
G0EHV/P
IO84
72
22,082
F6HPP/P
716
160
13 ele
 
5
GW3Z
IO81
66
18,215
ED1R
999
50
9 ele
Telford & District Amateur Radio Society
6
G8N
IO92
83
17,198
TM0W
805
100
7 ele
Northampton Radio Club
7
G3PIA
IO91
60
15,918
HB9STY/P
773
100
10 ele
 
8
G0UTT/P
JO01
49
12,665
F5PSC/P
827
50
12 ele
Dengie Hundred ARS
9
GW8ZRE/P
IO83
59
12,451
DF0MU
719
10
8 ele XY
Bolton Wireless Club
10
G8IB/P
IO91
52
11,853
HB9BA
798
50
19 ele
ODARS
11
G8DOH
IO92
48
11,847
HB9STY/P
819
120
8 ele
Old Pharosians
12
G0PKT/P
JO01
46
8,937
TM0W
687
100
9 ele
Martello Tower Group
13
G1ONE/P
IO83
35
8,790
F6HPP/P
625
80
2 * 6 ele
Bolton Wireless Club
14
G8IBL/P
IO91
31
7,442
TM0W
713
50
5 ele
 
15
G0BWC/P
IO83
23
5,951
F6KCZ/P
538
80
2 * 6 ele
Bolton Wireless Club
16
GW8OVZ/P
IO71
9
3,213
PA6NL
611
5
3 ele
 
Section 6S
Pos
Callsign
Locator
QSOs
Total
ODX Call
ODX Kms
Power
Ant
Group
1 *
GD8EXI
IO74
89
31,017
TM2A
837
400
18 ele
 
2 *
G0JJG
JO02
75
23,247
TM0W
721
300
11 ele
 
3
G0HVQ
IO81
73
17,627
HB9STY/P
856
100
9 ele
 
4
G0TPH
IO92
60
15,121
HB9STY/P
852
25
9 ele
De Montfort University ARS
5
GM4JR
IO85
49
13,068
G8P
546
350
12 ele
 
6
G4BRK
IO91
38
12,483
TM0W
779
50
9 ele
 
7
M0VRL
IO70
38
12,001
ED2T
857
300
2 * 17 ele
 
8
M1FUR
IO91
65
11,753
TM0W
691
100
7 ele
Coulsdon ATS
9
G8LZE
IO91
41
11,707
F5PSC/P
859
23
9 ele
 
10
GU6EFB
IN89
28
10,711
DR9A
800
200
8 ele
 
11
M0MCV
JO01
21
8,849
HB9STY/P
698
100
9 ele
 
12
GW4RWR
IO83
20
7,911
F6HPP/P
637
350
9 ele
 
13
G0GJV
IO91
24
7,053
F4EIZ/P
810
100
9 ele
Bracknell Amateur Radio Club
14
G6CSY
JO01
16
6,439
HB9STY/P
688
5
9 ele
 
15
G4XPE
IO92
28
6,414
GM4ZUK/P
460
25
10 ele
 
16
G0LGS
IO81
23
5,960
GM4ZUK/P
562
100
8 ele
Gov Comm ARC
17
G1MZD
IO92
25
5,448
GM4ZUK/P
554
50
13 ele
Milton Keynes ARS
18
G3SPJ
JO01
21
5,151
GM4ZUK/P
632
100
11 ele
 
19
G1WKS
JO01
21
4,991
HB9STY/P
667
100
13 ele
 
20 *
2E0XBF
JO01
25
3,731
TM2A
394
40
12 ele
 
21
GW3ATZ
IO83
16
3,648
G8P
378
50
6 ele
 
22
G4GTH
IO90
11
3,021
GM3HAM/P
470
95
9 ele
Christchurch ARS
23
G3HIU
IO91
16
2,997
GM4ZUK/P
564
100
Log Periodic
Milton Keynes ARS
24
G7PVZ
IO91
17
2,623
F6HPP/P
383
5
9 ele
Bracknell ARC
25
G4HHJ
IO91
14
2,555
TM2A
446
20
HB9CV
 
26
M0DSZ
IO82
6
1,642
F4ARU/P
433
20
Hentenna
 
27 *
M3HSJ
IO94
2
416
G5B
220
10
Whip
 
Comments from the logs
2E0BMO
Decent conditions worked some continentals. Not quite enough for TM2A in JN18.
2E0VXX/P
Very good Conditions. Rain but cleared up
G0CDA
Just worked everyone I could hear on Saturday and Sunday morning in between other tasks!
G0EHV/P
Average conditions, activity low from "G"?
G0FBB
Check log only. Abandoned serious entry as S9 Power line noise 90 degrees either side of East. Frustrating. Pity the pikeys tried to steal the wrong section of 11KV line.
G0HVQ
Some nice DX around inc HB9 and LX and plenty of F stations best condx I've experienced for sometime in a 2m contest.
G0JJG
Difficult operating as XYL working nights so not allowed to turn Antenna while she sleeps!!! QRV 6 hours Sat with break 16:30 to 17:40 to cook (and eat!) dinner for the family. Some DX but not as much as the tropo forecast might have suggested. Spent most of the last hour trying to raise HB9FAP in jn47ph but could he got away - DOH!
G0LGS
Nice conditions, just worked a few as / when I was in the shack.
G0UTT/P
Nice to work into LX. Good contest, but very windy. Thanks for all QSOs.
G0VHF/P
Condx variable (aka 'Normal'). Activity overnight - poor. All QSOs tropo. 4x6 LFA did what they were designed to do. Next time maybe, 4x8.
G1WKS
Seemed few UK stations
G3PIA
Thanks for all the contacts Harwell ARS! :
G3SPJ
A token 2 hour effort
G3UFY
Superb!!! But should have switched off after 6 hours - instead stayed listening and gave way to temptation ... worked a GD for a new one that put me 15 mins over time and out of the 6-hour section. Ho-Hum!!
G3XBY/P
My first contest for 20 years and first qsos for 15 years. Good fun! Conditions good to South, but average elsewhere.
G3YJR
Nice to have a bit of tropo to liven things up. Scottish stations very strong.
G4ARI/P
Rain & wind but nice to catch some DX. I was amazed to hear UR7D for about 5 seconds at 11
G4DEZ
Conditions poor lots of QSB.
G4FZN/P
Good tropo on the Saturday morning before contest started, but tailed off once the contest began. Shortage of UK stations beaming North. Missed EA and HB9 although both heard.
G4GTH
Quite Good but some QSB
G4HGI
Condx seemed good. Water leak in kitchen and unexpected DIY made s & p only option
G4HHJ
Just making a token entry to set the bar for next year.
G4XPE
Reasonable activity but qsb at times.
G4Z
Some good Dx but generally disappointing seems like those on the coast had much better propagation.
G5B
Some nice Dx and worth staying awake all night for BUT ..... just when you think all is going well the 2010 gremlin [aka "Phantom of the Over" struck - PA died ?dead valve, then we swapped PAs & got a poor report so changed again and blew the driver amp -lost a LOT of time & QSOs. Sincere apologies to anyone who suffered poor sigs from us we changed set up again as soon as we knew - every contest this year inc LP!!
G6CSY
Very pleased to work HB9 for a new dxcc. Missed out on the LX station who didn't turn his beam though!
G6NHU
This is the first time I've pulled a 24 hour single op session and it was hard work but enjoyable. Conditions were flat, the tropo to Spain didn't seem to reach me in JO01.
G8BGV/P
Main entry in Hill toppers
G8DOH
Conditions generally up, and it was real luck, having a last tune around to hear HB9STY/P, splendidly strong and stable- extended Tropo. duct. Strangely, we heard few PA, ON but many DL, F.
G8IB/P
Conditions poor with some fading
G8P
Great contest, warm calm WX, fair conditions and everything worked! New DK7ZB antennas worked really well. Operators EI3JE G0HFX G4CLA G4IRX G4PCS
M0MAT
LY3MM. Thanks to EI3JE and LY3MM for making the trip to be here for the contest.
G8T
Great fun flat conditions but some dx. A couple of comments were received about our audio. The problem was found to be RF feedback and resolved promptly
GD8EXI
Probably chose the wrong 6hrs missing the best DX Sunday morning.
GM2T
Part Time entry, main emphasis on SSB Field Day. Seems to get harder each year to get enough QSO's to justify the effort. Poor number of domestic QSO's, considering we have beam through the UK to work most of the continentals.
GM3HAM/P
Good Conditions at times - especially Sunday - but not too many G stations
GM4JR
Disaster! 2 QSOs into Saturday (had planned 24 hours) amp, just returned for repair post DOA as new, failed AGAIN! Out came the old NAG. Decided to do it as 6 hours split 2 on Sat (1400-1600UTC), 4 on Sunday (0957-1357UTC). Hard going, lots of BIG stations - but where were all the little guys? Very few single fixed stations around both days. Thanks all the points.
GM4ZUK/P
Conditions good before contest but about average during the event. Quite windy on Sunday and a little wet. No spectacular DX this year.
GM6MD/P
Conditions were not bad, poor UK activity, weather dry, misty and windy.
GU6EFB
Part time effort good fun
GW3ATZ
Just on short time giving points. Worked most I could hear. Condx better early morning. Not a lot of activity.
GW4RWR
Plenty of French stations. Just giving away a few points before the Welsh Food Festival.
GW8ASD
Reasonable conditions with an unusual number of French stations heard here. Just giving a few points away as time allowed.
GW8OVZ/P
Very overcast but least it didn't rain....
GW8ZRE/P
Main entry in Backpackers contest.
M0MCV
Only did about 4 1/2 hours. All Asia contest was main contest activity over this weekend and then only cherry-picked at this one.
M0VRL
Noisy due to deliberate qrm from local station
M1FUR
Several openings with new distances for the band! Backpackers thin on the ground though.
M3HSJ
First attempt at contesting, conditions weren't fantastic for me but the few QSO's I had gave me a buzz...
M4W
Tested a new site results appeared better than before
M6T
Nice to be back on 2m for first time in 4 years. Lots of work done to get station working properly and many problems uncovered so everything took much longer than anticipated, I got very tired, and the UK antenna was still only at 30 feet (found a jammed tower pulley)! Unfortunately, had a catastrophic switching system failure just under 2 hours before the end and unusually I was too tired to be able to figure out how to work round it so called it a day after trying for fix for an hour. Conditions were not good to the East - though funny to work two stations in JO70SS back to back - one in OK and one in SP. Also DF0YY in Berlin was worked with him on his two stacked big wheels rather than the big array. Stinky conditions overnight and on early Sunday morning to the East especially - very little long DX found overnight. A little enhancement to the South on Sunday morning.
M8C
Rules for operators prevented a contest entry this year
M9T
Hard going from the South West but conditions appeared to be reasonable. North/South path was good with some big signals from EA & GM. 90 QSO's down on last year!