RSGB Contest Results VHF Fixed Station Contest 2026   
v4.185 by G4CLA

VHF Fixed Station Contest

The 2026 edition is the second one for this contest (which replaced the sweepers section in VHFNFD). The intent behind the contest was to create a more interesting alternative to entering VHFNFD for those unable to form a large VHFNFD group or to otherwise go portable.

The number of entrants for this contest was 78 (70 in 2025) and for VHFNFD was 33 (36 in 2025), so there is a some evidence of a drift from VHFNFD towards this contest. One group of long term VHFNFD entrants (Harwell) were unable to form a club group for VHFNFD and so instead sought to do a group entry for this contest.

Bonus system - on 144 MHz there were 50 available mults (VHFNFD entrants plus backpackers) and each counted for 500 points. The most effective hunter of mults was G7LRQ who found 28 of them, adding 28% to his score. But that did nothing to affect the margin at the top in FSO where band leaders M0BAA found fewer at 24 adding just 5% to their score. Looking at the increment added by the bonus few stations gained or lost a place because of the bonus system. It's not clear whether the bonus system is not understood or whether the increment isn't worth chasing. Is there a better way ? Answers to VHFCC please.

So what did entrants think ? Comments generally lamented poor conditions and lack of activity. On the format G4CIZ notes 'It only serves to reduce the number of operators available to radio clubs entering Field Day.' Both 50MHz and 70MHz offered some Es, and M0HDO, M0UHF, G4JED and PE1EWR were able to work VO1SIX on 6m, a path of well over 3000km. On 144MHz DX was also to be found with G4ODA and M0AFJ working CT9ACF a path of around 2500km. And on 432MHz and 1296MHz EI8KN worked EA1IT, a path of over 1000km.

The format is still relatively new this year and I am sure VHFCC would welcome feedback. But on the face of it is a better contest than the 2024 version of sweepers. Whether G4CIZ is right that it encourages operators to stay at home and not help out with their local club entry is for others to judge. VHFNFD ought to have primacy as the main multi-band, multi-entrant contest, a role it has served well for many years.

Congratulations to all the Certificate winners listed below.

Stephen Purser GW4SHF