The 2015 RSGB Affiliated Societies SSB contest saw a change in the normal 80M only AFS event. Following the 2014 contest comments from entrants focused on the difficulty in working stations due to the number of participants within the allocated band space. Taking this into account the Contest Committee introduced, as a trial,  a dual 80M and 40M contest.

Going on the soapbox comments from this years participants this change has been overwhelmingly well received, indeed the number of logged contacts submitted for adjudication has increased from 28,000 in 2014, to over 42,000 in 2015. The number of logs was slightly up from 246 to 250, and the submitted logs represented 66 affiliated societies.

With the Hungarian DX contest running concurrently extra activity from Europe was welcome. Entrants are reminded that when working stations participating in other contests to record the exchange as sent by the other station. This may not be a serial number as expected, don't worry, the contact will be accepted as authentic during the adjudication process. Take time before the event to learn how your logging software allows you to log exchange values that would otherwise be invalid, for instance, N1MM calls this 'forced logging', pressing Ctrl+Alt+Enter will log such a QSO.

With the introduction of the two bands a number of participants lost points due to not recording the band / frequency accurately. For those that choose not to interface their radio to a computer, or cannot due to the age of the rig, the importance of accurate logging of all parameters is even more significant, not recording the correct information is just throwing points away.

Several entrants expressed an interest in the introduction of 40M to the CW AFS event. Whilst during the CW event overcrowding is not a major issue adding 40M to the CW AFS, and formalising the introduction for SSB AFS,  will be discussed by the Committee before the 2016 calendar is published.

Congratulations to the winning team, Bristol Contest Group (G3ZVW, G3TKF, G3XZV, G0BKU) and the overall individual leader M0DXR.  The leading stations for 80M and 40M were  G3TBK and M0MCV respectively.

Mark, G4MEM

RSGB CC Adjudicator