RSGB Contest Results VHF NFD 2019   
v4.176 by G4CLA

VHF NFD - 6th/7th JULY 2019

The number of portable stations entering VHF NFD this year was 55, four down on 2018. The distribution of entrants between sections was similar, with fifteen Open section entries, seventeen Restricted, six Low Power, ten Mix and Match and seven Multi-Single. The number of Sweepers was the same as last year at 59.

Before looking at individual band results, it's worth noting that there were several points where entrant's comments bore a high level of commonality across the bands. Firstly, the overall weather picture appeared to be surprisingly similar across the UK: the pattern seemed to be that it was good (sometimes too good....) on setup, with some rain on Saturday night and Sunday morning, but clear again for takedown. The latter can be of considerable importance as for example it allows tents to be packed away immediately on return to base - unlike HF NFD where your scribe had the operating tent draped around his house for a couple of days to dry out..... However a couple of GMs did report problems with high wind. Secondly, and no doubt the weather contributed to this, most groups seemed to enjoy the weekend. Typical comments were 'Great weekend, everything worked well and a good time was had by all!' and 'Overall a great weekend with good company and great food and equipment almost worked as expected'. Thirdly, despite these upbeat overall comments, not all entrants got away without equipment problems....a rather higher than normal reported difficulties. For once no comments mentioned generator problems: however the following did arise:

- power amplifier periodically tripping out due to high SWR

- three cases of total PA failure

- two instances of mast collapse

- transceiver (TS790E) failure

- inability to run 6m station due to a medical problem in the family

- a log crash resulting in the loss of 39 contacts

- one arm broken during setup (meaning no CW....)

- feeder snagged round rotator

- reduced power due to RF feedback.

Sadly, three of the above events happened on the entry of a single club which is seriously bad luck. One can perhaps have less sympathy for the group who found it necessary to run slightly reduced power due to the load imposed by the dish washer.....

Overall, conditions in 2019 seem to have been well down on those in 2018. For example, looking at all the available band/section combinations (e.g. 6m / Restricted section), pre-normalisation points were higher in 2018 in seventeen out of the nineteen slots and best DX was higher in 2018 in sixteen.

The Open Section entrant scoring the highest number of normalised points (5095) was for the fourth consecutive year Wexford VHF Group EI9E/P in IO62 square. However, because only entrants located in the UK&CD (UK and Crown Dependencies) are eligible for Awards, the Overall Winner, taking the Surrey Trophy with 3579 normalised points, is Colchester & A1 CG in JO01 for the second year running. Runner up is again Reigate ATS and Crawley ARC, also in JO01, with 3275 normalised points. Third place in this section is taken by Aberdeen VHF Group, up one place from 2018 in IO86 with 2000 normalised points from an entry on just two bands, 6m & 4m, and winning both. Aberdeen VHF Group also take the Tartan Trophy (for the Leading Resident GM Entry).

In the Restricted Section, the Overall Winner and recipient of the Martlesham Trophy is Warrington CG in IO93, last year's Low Power section winner, with 3842 normalised points. Runner up was last year's winner is Lothians RS in IO74 with 2998 normalised points, earning themselves the Cockenzie Quaich as Leading Resident GM Entry. In third place is Windmill CG in JO01, moving across from the Open section in 2018, with 2868 normalised points.

In the Low Power Section, the Overall Winner is again South Bristol ARC in IO81 with 1912 normalised points, taking the Arthur Watts Trophy. In second place is Fareham & DARC in IO91 with 1070 normalised points. Third place goes to Spalding & DARC in IO92 with 954 normalised points. The recipient of the Scottish Trophy (for Leading Resident GM Group) is Ardiffery VHF Group in IO97.

Overall Winner in the Mix and Match Section, taking the G5BY Trophy, is Telford & DARS in IO82 with 3235 normalised points - up from fourth in 2018. Runner up is again Northern Fells CG in IO94 with 2786 normalised points and in third place is last year's winner Trowbridge & DARC in IO81 with 2565 normalised points.

In the Multi Single Section the Overall Winner is East Notts CG, up from third last year, in IO93 with 3000 normalised points. Runner up is Rugby ATS in IO92, up from seventh place in 2018 with 2270  normalised points, and in third place is Cambridge & DARC in JO02 with 1529 normalised points, up from fifth last year.

Individual band leader awards for portable stations are as follows:

50MHz

Open Section: Numerical leader (position #1), and leading non-UK&CD entrant: EI9E/P: Wexford VHF Group: IO62: Score 64780

Open Section: Leading UK&CD entrant: GM4ZUK/P: Aberdeen VHF Group: IO86: Score 35924

Restricted Section: Leading UK&CD entrant:  GM3HAM/P; Lothians RS: IO74: Score 25253

Low Power Section:  Leading UK&CD entrant: G4WAW/P: South Bristol ARC: IO81: Score 8325

Multi Single: Leading UK&CD entrant: G3TBK/P: East Notts CG: IO93: Score 15010

70MHz

Open Section: Numerical leader (position #1), and leading non-UK&CD entrant: EI9E/P: Wexford VHF Group: IO62: Score 64172

Open Section: Leading UK&CD entrant: GM4ZUK/P: Aberdeen VHF Group: IO86: Score 34983

Restricted Section: Leading UK&CD entrant:  GM3HAM/P; Lothians RS: IO74: Score 29734

Low Power Section:  Leading UK&CD entrant: G0ARC/P: Andover RAC: IO91: Score 11067

Multi Single: Leading UK&CD entrant: G3TBK/P: East Notts CG: IO93: Score 11121

144MHz

Open Section: Leading UK&CD entrant: G4ZAP/P: Colchester & A1 CG: JO01: Score 226711

Restricted Section: Leading UK&CD entrant:  G3CKR/P: Warrington CG: IO93: Score 86389

Low Power Section:  Leading UK&CD entrant: G3RCW/P: Worksop ARS: IO93: Score 18658

Multi Single: Leading UK&CD entrant: G7APD/P: Rugby ATS: IO92: Score 18120

432MHz

Open Section: Leading UK&CD entrant: G5LK/P: Reigate ATS & Crawley ARC: JO01: Score 60058

Restricted Section: Leading UK&CD entrant: G3CKR/P: Warrington CG: IO93: Score 24830

Low Power Section:  Leading UK&CD entrant: G3ZME/P: Telford & DARS: IO82: Score 14172

Multi Single: Leading UK&CD entrant: G3TBK/P: East Notts CG: IO93: Score 9689

1296MHz

Open Section: Leading UK&CD entrant: G0VHF/P: Colchester & A1 CG: JO01: Score 37710

Restricted Section: Leading UK&CD entrant: G3CKR/P: Warrington CG: IO93: Score 23205

Low Power Section:  Leading UK&CD entrant: G3ZME/P: Telford & DARS: IO82: Score 9364

Multi Single: No entry

Awards for Fixed Sweepers are as follows:

The Overall Winner is again G3XDY in JO02 with 3719 normalised points. Runner-up is GW4SHF in IO82 with 3120 normalised points. Third placed UK&CD entrant is GW8ASD in IO83 with 1729 normalised points. F1CBC in JN09 is Leading non-UK&CD Sweeper with 2013 normalised points.

50MHz

Section FSO (5 entrants): G4ELJ (IO91) - Band Leader

Section FSO: Silver Award - G4ELJ (IO91)

Section FSR (18 entrants): GW4SHF (IO82) - Highest placed UK&CD entrant

Section FSR: F1CBC (JN09) - Highest placed non-UK&CD entrant

Section FSR: Gold Award - GW4SHF (IO82)

Section FSR: Silver Award - G4HGI (IO83)

Section FSR: Bronze Award - G3RLE (IO83), GW8ASD (IO83), G8ONK (IO83), G8LZE (IO91)

70MHz

Section FSO (8 entrants): G4BWP (JO02) - Highest placed UK&CD entrant

Section FSO: S51DI (JN76) - Highest placed non-UK&CD entrant

Section FSO: Gold Award - G3MXH (JO02), G3NPI (IO92)

Section FSO: Silver Award - G4BWP (JO02), G3XDY (JO02), G4YHF (IO92)

Section FSO: Bronze Award - GW4RWR (IO83), M0IEP (JO02)

Section FSO: S51DI (JN76) - Highest placed non-UK&CD entrant

Section FSR (14 entrants): GW4SHF (IO82) - Band Leader

Section FSR: Silver Award - GW4SHF (IO82)

Section FSR: Bronze Award - GW8ASD (IO83), G4HGI (IO83), G3PHO (IO93), G8LZE (IO91), G4FOH (JO02)

144MHz

Section FSO (7 entrants): G3XDY (JO02) - Band Leader

Section FSO: Silver Award - G3XDY (JO02), G3NPI (IO92)

Section FSO: Bronze Award - G3MXH (JO02), MM0GPZ (IO75), GM4FRC (IO86)

Section FSR: (37 entrants) G6DOD (IO90) - Highest placed UK&CD entrant

Section FSR: F1CBC (JN09) - Highest placed non-UK&CD entrant

Section FSR: Silver Award - G6DOD (IO90), GW4SHF (IO82), G4PDS (IO80), G0GJV (IO91), G4YHF (IO92)

Section FSR: Bronze Award - F1CBC (JN09), PE1EWR (JO11), M0HOM (IO93), GW8ASD (IO83), M0NVS (IO91), G8LZE (IO91), G0JRY (IO91), M0IEP (IO91), G3PHO (IO93), M0YOL (JO01), G4HUN (IO92)

432MHz

Section FSO (5 entrants): G3XDY (JO02) - Highest placed UK&CD entrant

Section FSO: PE1EWR (JO11) - Highest placed non-UK&CD entrant

Section FSO: Bronze Award - G3XDY (JO02)

Section FSR (25 entrants): GW4ZAR (IO83) - Highest placed UK&CD entrant

Section FSR: F1CBC (JN09) - Highest placed non-UK&CD entrant

Section FSR: Silver Award - GW4ZAR (IO83)

Section FSR: Bronze Award - G0GJV (IO91), M0DDT (IO91), GW3ATZ (IO83), G8LZE (IO91)

1296MHz

Section FSO (6 entrants): G3XDY (JO02) - Highest placed UK&CD entrant

Section FSO: PE1EWR (JO11) - Highest placed non-UK&CD entrant

Section FSO: Silver Award - G3XDY (JO02), G4KCT (IO93)

Section FSR: (12 entrants):  G4PDS (IO80) - Highest placed UK&CD entrant

Section FSR: F1CBC (JN09) - Highest placed non-UK&CD entrant

Section FSR: Bronze Award - G4PDS (IO80).

Moving on to individual band reports...

Despite one entrant finding them to be good, the majority of comments on 50MHz conditions were that they were flat or poor. Sporadic E was reported before the start of the contest but most comments suggested there was little or none during it. Nevertheless, a total of 28 apparent Es contacts with 9A, I, S5, SM SP and TA appear in the logs. A total of 392 valid calls were worked, in 56 big squares and 19 DXCC entities.  The best DX worked by a UK&CD entrant was between GM4ZUK/P and IZ5EME in JN52 at 1848km. One 6m station reported a flypast by the Lancaster of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - but it is not clear whether any attempt was made to take advantage of this for aircraft scatter.....

A wide spread of 70MHz tropo conditions between 'good' and 'poor' were reported with a weighted mean of 'above average'. Some sporadic E was reported, with 45 contacts involving 7 DX stations in 9A, EA, S5 and SV in entrants' logs.  A couple of stations reported hearing beacons in TF & OY, but with no contacts resulting. A total of 290 valid calls appear in the logs, in 18 DXCC entities and 49 big squares. The best DX by a UK&CD entrant was between G3PYE/P and SV8PEX in JM99 at 2040km.

On 144MHz, conditions were most frequently reported as flat with a few entrants (fairly evenly balanced) considering them to be either better or worse than that. Activity was generally seen as slow but steady. 1442 valid calls appear in the logs, from 20 DXCC entities in 109 big squares. Best DX by a UK&CD entrant was between G4ZAP/P and Z35U in KN01 at 1870km.

70cm conditions were reported as generally flat but with a few brighter patches where tropo DX could be worked. Activity was thought to be sparse, mostly taking place on the Saturday with Sunday being quiet.  The best DX was by a UK&CD entrant was between G0VHF/P and OL1C in JO60 at 873km.

Finally, as with 4m, opinions of on 23cm conditions varied quite widely, between 'good' and 'below average' with a probable consensus around 'some enhancement'. However there was more agreement about activity which was reported as low. One entrant reported frustration that a number of stations logged into KST were not responding. A total of 189 valid calls appear in the logs, in 13 DXCC entities and 48 big squares. The best DX was between G3CKR/P and DR5T in JN47 at 940km.

A number of station inspections were carried out by members of the CSC or its representatives, and no transgressions were reported. Many thanks to the adjudicators (6m - G0KAD, 4m & 2m - G0FCT, 70cm - GW4SHF, 23cm - G0NBI),  and overall coordinator G0FCT.

Bookings will be taken shortly for VHF NFD 2020.....

Quin Collier G3WRR

g3wrr@rsgbcc.org




1 / 42
G0IVR/P (144)
Busy at times
2 / 42
G3WM/P (432)
Good conditions, but slow going disaster whist buiding station, Mast after being raised vertical, became horizontal very quickly, failed pulley resuting in winc....
3 / 42
M0HRF/P (144)
Flat Conditions average activity, WX Sunburn Friday and Saturday for setup. Early Sunday rain caused issues with leaky tent, but dry up for strip down. Overall ....
4 / 42
G8LED/P (50)
Very flat, NO Sp-E. Good fun though for all. Lancaster salute during setup!
5 / 42
G2BQY/P (432)
SSPA died at start of contest so resorted to IC-9700 barefoot.
6 / 42
G2LO/P (50)
No SpE heard this year.
7 / 42
GW3ZTT/P (144)
Very busy start to the contest but much slower later. Propagation was very flat with very little non-UK contacts.
8 / 42
G4RFR/P (50)
9 / 42
G3PIA/P (50)
Great weekend, everything worked well and a good time was had by all!
10 / 42
G6COL/P (432)
11 / 42
M0BB/P (144)
mainly a single op station with new setup. good activity and not too may problems with local staions
12 / 42
G6COL/P (70)
13 / 42
M5IC/P (144)
No 23cm due to disaster Sat morning with 70cm Mast collapsing whilst being wound up, Yagis survivied but had to press spare Scam 12 into action, 2nd disaster pr....
14 / 42
G3RCW/P (144)
15 / 42
G2BQY/P (1.2 GHz)
All operators are members of TDARC Good conditions Saturday. Got up early Sunday to find weather had changed to drizzle and poor conditions. Although rain clea....
16 / 42
G3ZME/P (50)
Almost nil Es throughout
17 / 42
M0NFD/P (1.2 GHz)
18 / 42
M0HRF/P (432)
Flat Conditions average activity, WX Sunburn Friday and Saturday for setup. Early Sunday rain caused issues with leaky tent, but dry up for strip down. Overall ....
19 / 42
GD6ICR (144)
20 / 42
G2LO/P (70)
Conditions and activity seemed reasonable.
21 / 42
EI9E/P (50)
Weather dry during set up and tear down, but we spent most of the time in-between in the clouds. Only and handfull of Es QSOs on 6m this year, but good UK activ....
22 / 42
G3RCW/P (70)
23 / 42
G3PIA/P (432)
Great weekend, everything worked well and a good time was had by all!
24 / 42
G3RCW/P (50)
25 / 42
G3PIA/P (70)
Great weekend, everything worked well and a good time was had by all!
26 / 42
EI9E/P (1.2 GHz)
Difficult conditions this year.
27 / 42
G0IVR/P (432)
Deep QSB at times. Had to reduce power to 20w on Sunday due to RF feedback problems
28 / 42
GW3ZTT/P (50)
Very wet antenna build on Saturday but good weather during the contest. Propagation conditions were as flat as a pancake but we had a very busy first 90 minutes....
29 / 42
G8OHM/P (144)
Conditions and activity seemed down.
30 / 42
G3OHM/P (1.2 GHz)
Slow going at times, activity and conditions seemed below average.
31 / 42
G2BQY/P (144)
Conditions fairly flat and a bit disappointing.
32 / 42
G3ZME/P (432)
Flat most of the time some tropo some dx worked hard going at times.
33 / 42
G3PIA/P (1.2 GHz)
Everything worked well with twice the QSOs than last year.
34 / 42
G3VLG/P (50)
Bands not in the best condition with no openings to Europe noted. Slow with UK contacts also. Some new to contesting operators in the team who all made the simi....
35 / 42
G6COL/P (144)
36 / 42
EI9E/P (70)
A slack handfull of Es QSOs and good acivity from the UK kept us busy to give us our highest ever QSO total on this band.
37 / 42
G3RCW/P (432)
38 / 42
G3ZME/P (144)
39 / 42
G3RCW/P (1.2 GHz)
40 / 42
G3PIA/P (144)
Great weekend, everything worked well and a good time was had by all!
41 / 42
M0HRF/P (50)
Poor conditions low activity, WX Sunburn Friday and Saturday for setup. Early Sunday rain caused issues with leaky tent, but dry up for strip down. Overall a gr....
42 / 42
M0HRF/P (70)
Poor conditions low activity, WX Sunburn Friday and Saturday for setup. Early Sunday rain caused issues with leaky tent, but dry up for strip down. Overall a gr....
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