In summary, the Gods of Propagation were kind to the VHF NFD entrants this year, and the Gods of Weather reasonably so.
The total number of portable groups entering VHF NFD 2026 was 34 - one up on 2025. Entries were distributed between sections as follows:
Open 6
Restricted 8
Low Power 5
Mix & Match 10
Multi Single 4
This was a similar distribution to 2025, but with a small increase in the Open and Mix & Match Sections offset by a similar decrease in Restricted & Low Power.
The overall results at the top of the table reflect a very high level of consistency over the last six years:
Section
Group
Call
Years in 1st / 2nd position
Open
Reigate ATS & Crawley ARC
G5LK/P
6
Restricted
Warrington CG
G6WCG/P
6
Low Power
Andover ARC
G0ARC/P
4
Mix & Match
Trowbridge ARS
G2BQY/P
6
Multi Single
Addiscombe ARC
G4ALE/P
4
The total number of portable logs received across the five bands was 104, around 6% down on 2025. The distribution was as follows:
6m 20
4m 21
2m 30
70cm 22
23cm 11
One source of comments on VHF NFD weekend that is usually unrelated to band is the weather - always a favourite topic of discussion for us Brits! In fact the only band for which there were no weather-related comments was 23cm - perhaps UHF operators are just more focussed on the tasks in hand? Given the geographic spread of the British Isles, it is hardly surprising that there would be significant variations from one part to another. The main exception to this was the wind, which seemed to inflict inconvenience without fear or favour on entrants across the UK. Other aspects of the weather seemed to show a broad North/South divide, varying from 'dry, warm' and 'gorgeous' in the South to 'cold and wet' and 'rain all days' further North.
Likewise conditions can vary greatly from one part of the UK to another but bearing that in mind an extract of entrants' comments follows:
on 6m, tropo was reported as poor. However many stations reported sporadic E towards the end of the session, with a total of 26 DXCCs appearing in entrants' logs
as with 6m, 4m was reported as being slow - 'slooow' as one entrant put it - with a shortage of stations to work. However, a limited amount of sporadic E was available. 15 DXCCs appeared in the logs
reports on 2m conditions varied between good, particularly in South and South Westerly directions and poor, with a slow QSO rate. Nevertheless the QSO count was assisted by the 2m Backpackers on the Sunday, and QSOs with 22 DXCCs were made
on 70cm conditions were found to be good to the South, particularly Spain and Southern France, on Sunday - but less good to the East. The number of stations available to work was reported as fewer this year. 22 DXCCs appear in entrants' logs
Despite the fact that it was reported that there seemed to be fewer UK stations on 23cm than the other bands, conditions were reported excellent to Spain and France, contributing to a total of 12 DXCCs in entrants' logs.
Inclusions of 'Schadenfreude Corner' in previous VHF NFD reports may have presented a more downbeat view of the event than appropriate. So this year a mixture of entrants' comments, both good and bad, follows to give an overall feel of the event - which presumably makes it 'Schadenfreude / Frohenfreude Corner'...
Antenna too low
Good sporadic E about but almost nobody on!
No Es but lovely wx
Slooow [on 4m] pm
Dry, warm, less wind [on Sunday] than Saturday
Some stations hard to hear: opposite to that the weather was gorgeous
Friday setup was nice and relaxed. Really enjoyable weekend.
Great conditions, good company, good food and good weather, perfect!
Antenna coax feed repair needed Sat evening.
Windy enough to keep bugs away
All in all a very enjoyable contest.
Were well fed. Dinner in style.
Fylingdales was on steroids, S9+20 beaming away from it so hard work all weekend
Generally cold wet and very windy all weekend. Still had fun though
A lot of UK stations active on other bands but not on 23cm, there should be more of an incentive
EU stations seemed reluctant to make skeds
Well, that's it for another year - thanks to all for taking part and congratulations to all the trophy and certificate winners. Look forward to seeing you in VHF NFD 2027!
Some great conditions Sunday morning to France and EA but not enough stations active. There were a lot of UK stations active on other bands but not on 23cm, the....
6 / 34
G5LK/P (70)
7 / 34
G4BTS/P (144)
8 / 34
GW3ZTT/P (432)
Average. No dawn lift. Reasonable DX later Sunday. No Rain. Start & finish great weather. Were well fed. Dinner in style.
Good to EA, lots of AS and patience in other directions!
13 / 34
G2BQY/P (70)
Very slow
14 / 34
G4WAW/P (50)
Dry, sunny, high wind Pretty flat but some openings into Europe, highlight was Canada
15 / 34
G4ZAP/P (144)
16 / 34
G4ALE/P (50)
Good Es later
17 / 34
G2BQY/P (50)
Some great dx late in the contest
18 / 34
G6WCG/P (144)
Friday setup was nice and relaxed. Weather during contest was very windy and misty in low cloud, some static rain SE. Nice to get a couple of EA, HB9 and OZ. Re....
19 / 34
G2BQY/P (432)
Some good conditions Sunday morning to EA and S of France but otherwise it was a hard slog and very slow on Sunday We did prefer the 2 days rather than one. Dif....
20 / 34
G3MDG/P (1.2 GHz)
21 / 34
G4ALE/P (70)
slooow pm
22 / 34
G3MDG/P (144)
23 / 34
GW3ZTT/P (1.2 GHz)
24 / 34
G4WAW/P (70)
Dry, warm, less wind than Saturday Usual UK only contacts
25 / 34
G2BQY/P (144)
Great conditions, good company,good food and good weather, perfect! Thanks for the QSOs
26 / 34
M0NDA/P (70)
27 / 34
GW1YBB/P (144)
4hrs backpackers.Dry,warm,windy enough to keep bugs away. AND tropo! Only 4 despite beaming to it a LOT,but 4 more than usual! thx all,Steve
28 / 34
M0NFD/P (432)
Fylingdales was on steroids, S9+20 beaming away from it so hard work all weekend. Generally cold wet and very windy all weekend. Still had fun though.
29 / 34
G5LK/P (432)
Good conditions to EA, no CT9 here, though.
30 / 34
G5LK/P (50)
Some welcome Es, including a short opening to VO1.
31 / 34
M0NDA/P (144)
32 / 34
GW3ZTT/P (144)
Band conditions ok, some stations hard to hear opposite to that the weather was gorgeous. Some noise on 2m, and sporadic conditions for long distance contacts
33 / 34
M0NDA/P (432)
Good weather Few stations seemed to be operating in the UK compared to normal UKAC or previous NFDs
34 / 34
G4FRE/P (144)
good sp-e to south. Unable to work the very loud east coast and scotish stations despite many attempts!
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VHF NFD - 5th/6th JULY 2026
In summary, the Gods of Propagation were kind to the VHF NFD entrants this year, and the Gods of Weather reasonably so.
The total number of portable groups entering VHF NFD 2026 was 34 - one up on 2025. Entries were distributed between sections as follows:
Open 6
Restricted 8
Low Power 5
Mix & Match 10
Multi Single 4
This was a similar distribution to 2025, but with a small increase in the Open and Mix & Match Sections offset by a similar decrease in Restricted & Low Power.
The overall results at the top of the table reflect a very high level of consistency over the last six years:
The total number of portable logs received across the five bands was 104, around 6% down on 2025. The distribution was as follows:
6m 20
4m 21
2m 30
70cm 22
23cm 11
One source of comments on VHF NFD weekend that is usually unrelated to band is the weather - always a favourite topic of discussion for us Brits! In fact the only band for which there were no weather-related comments was 23cm - perhaps UHF operators are just more focussed on the tasks in hand? Given the geographic spread of the British Isles, it is hardly surprising that there would be significant variations from one part to another. The main exception to this was the wind, which seemed to inflict inconvenience without fear or favour on entrants across the UK. Other aspects of the weather seemed to show a broad North/South divide, varying from 'dry, warm' and 'gorgeous' in the South to 'cold and wet' and 'rain all days' further North.
Likewise conditions can vary greatly from one part of the UK to another but bearing that in mind an extract of entrants' comments follows:
on 6m, tropo was reported as poor. However many stations reported sporadic E towards the end of the session, with a total of 26 DXCCs appearing in entrants' logs
as with 6m, 4m was reported as being slow - 'slooow' as one entrant put it - with a shortage of stations to work. However, a limited amount of sporadic E was available. 15 DXCCs appeared in the logs
reports on 2m conditions varied between good, particularly in South and South Westerly directions and poor, with a slow QSO rate. Nevertheless the QSO count was assisted by the 2m Backpackers on the Sunday, and QSOs with 22 DXCCs were made
on 70cm conditions were found to be good to the South, particularly Spain and Southern France, on Sunday - but less good to the East. The number of stations available to work was reported as fewer this year. 22 DXCCs appear in entrants' logs
Despite the fact that it was reported that there seemed to be fewer UK stations on 23cm than the other bands, conditions were reported excellent to Spain and France, contributing to a total of 12 DXCCs in entrants' logs.
Inclusions of 'Schadenfreude Corner' in previous VHF NFD reports may have presented a more downbeat view of the event than appropriate. So this year a mixture of entrants' comments, both good and bad, follows to give an overall feel of the event - which presumably makes it 'Schadenfreude / Frohenfreude Corner'...
Antenna too low
Good sporadic E about but almost nobody on!
No Es but lovely wx
Slooow [on 4m] pm
Dry, warm, less wind [on Sunday] than Saturday
Some stations hard to hear: opposite to that the weather was gorgeous
Friday setup was nice and relaxed. Really enjoyable weekend.
Great conditions, good company, good food and good weather, perfect!
Antenna coax feed repair needed Sat evening.
Windy enough to keep bugs away
All in all a very enjoyable contest.
Were well fed. Dinner in style.
Fylingdales was on steroids, S9+20 beaming away from it so hard work all weekend
Generally cold wet and very windy all weekend. Still had fun though
A lot of UK stations active on other bands but not on 23cm, there should be more of an incentive
EU stations seemed reluctant to make skeds
Well, that's it for another year - thanks to all for taking part and congratulations to all the trophy and certificate winners. Look forward to seeing you in VHF NFD 2027!
Quin Collier G3WRR