2016 50MHz UKAC

The 2016 series of the 50MHz UKAC kicked off with 187 entries compared to the 184 entries in January 2015. February saw the first month with over 200 entrants, which was topped in March when 219 entries were received. In the remaining months, entries averaged about 190.  Radio conditions were not good between January and May with descriptions ranging from 'poor' to 'dire' being typical.

The Sporadic E season finally kicked off in June with approximately 650 Es QSOs being logged. In all, QSOs were made with 26 non-UK countries and 102 locator squares. The July session was less exciting with only 71 Es QSOs being completed but nine of these QSOs were with Italian stations in the first 32 minutes of the contest followed by one with KP4.

Overall, 492 entrants representing 78 clubs/groups competed in the 2016 50MHz UKAC. The winning team was the Travelling Wave CG who scored 91288 points. In second place was the Drowned Rats RG with 82737 points. Ossett ARO occupy third place with 80167 points.

In the AO section, the clear winner was GI4SNA who scored the maximum possible number of points (8000). G3MEH occupies the runners-up spot with 7133 points with G3TCT in third place with 5906 points.

The top place in the AR section was keenly contested by G4CLA and G3TBK/P. In the end, G4CLA was the winner by 51 points with a score of 7984 with G3TBK/P in second place with 7933 points. G7LRQ/P was third with 7795 points.

The clear winner in the AL section was G0EAK/P with 7825 points. M0RKX/P was second with 7631 points and M0GAV was third with 7579 points.

The Leading Overseas entrants was F1BHL/P.

In the AO section, the Leading Intermediate Licensee was 2M0RRT.

In the AR section, the Leading Intermediate Licensee was 2E0LDZ.

In the AL section, the Leading Intermediate Licensee was 2E0DXK/P.

Finally, in the AL section, the Leading Foundation Licensee was M6KTP.

Congratulations to all certificate winners.

The 2017 50MHz UKAC starts on Thursday 12th January at 2000 local time (2000 UTC). Please note the change of day! The change of day is to de-conflict the 50MHz UKAC with the SHF UKAC and to align with overseas activity contests.

The Club Championship for all UKAC is also being split into a General category and a Local category and clubs need to choose which section to enter and email their decision toafs.query@rsgbcc.org.

Clubs wishing to enter the Local category must specify a Virtual Meeting Place (VMP) -- a reference point from which distances are measured, and which need not have any connection with the Society's activities. Societies must email the UK Postcode or 6-digit QTH locator of their VMP to

afs.query@rsgbcc.org before the first relevant contest entry of each calendar year. Their VMP will be used for all HF AFS, 80m CC, VHF AFS and UKAC contests.

An Affiliated Society must enter the same club category for every UKAC band. Society members in the Local category must have their home QTH (as shown on their Ofcom validation document) within a circle of radius 35km from their Club's Virtual Meeting Place. However, members may be based outside the 35km radius if there are no other AFS with that 35km.

Stations must state their UK Postcode or 6-digit QTH locator of their home QTH when entering their log on behalf of a club in the Local category. There is no distance restriction on where their station is operated. There is no distance restriction on society members in the General category.

Ian G0FCT