First 70MHz 2004

The level of activity in this event far exceeded that in 2003. The number of entries increased, 15% more contacts took place and a total of 99 callsigns were active in the event. Activity took place from EI, G, GD, GI, GM and GW and GD0EMG managed to contact 9A and S5. Most people failed to work GM with the activity north of the border confined to GM4VVX/P’s private event in the far north.

Conditions were average with the usual 4 metre QSB causing problems. Many stations will notice that their scores have been significantly reduced with 8% of all contacts containing errors. Activity dropped off towards the end of the event with only 5% of all contacts taking place in the last hour.

Congratulations go to:

The Northern Lights, GD0EMG, who maintain their stranglehold on this event;
Phil, G4OBK for his win in the fixed single operator section;
Ron, GW4EVX/P for his win in the single operator other section;
Ian, G3YBY, who was the leading low power fixed station.
The Newquay & DARS, Roger G3MEH and Roger GW5NF/P who were runners up in their section

All of these stations will receive certificates.

Roger, G4BVY


Section M										
Pos 	Call	Loc	QSOs	Score	ODX	Kms	Pwr	Ant		
1* 	GD0EMG	IO74QD	61	20644	9A3AB  1726	160	2 * 8 ele
2* 	G4ADV	IO70LK	21	5677	G4OBK	511	150	6 ele

Section SF										
Pos	Call	Loc	QSOs	Score	ODX 	Kms	Power	Ant		
1* 	G4OBK	IO94OF	31	7636	G4ADV	511	75	5 ele
2* 	G3MEH	IO91QS	50	7618	GI4KSO	467	160	2 * 5 ele
3  	G3NAQ	IO91HL	47	6723	G8FWE	402	90	8 ele
4 	G0ODQ	IO91NQ	42	6387	GI4KSO	461	150	5 ele
5	G3TCU	IO91QE	41	6050	GD0EMG	425	150	6 ele
6  	G3IKR	IO82XF	39	5477	GI0GDP	373	150	4 ele
7*	G3YBY	IO91BO	30	4018	GD0EMG	338	10	4 ele
8	G1KHX	IO81MI	24	3746	G4OBK	351	90	5 ele
9	G3XPU	IO92HM	25	3375	G4ADV	344	50	3 ele
0	G4SJH	IO91PI	24	3133	GD0EMG	407	65	6 ele
10	G8SRL	JO01ED	19	3034	GD0EMG	474	100	7 ele
11	G3JYP	IO84SN	11	3341	G0ODQ	337	120	8 ele quagi
12	G4DEZ	JO03AE	11	1810	GD0EMG	325	60	8 ele
13	G0UPU	IO91AX	15	1502	GD0EMG	300	50	5 ele
14	G3NKS	IO81XU	12	1424	G4OBK	277	100	6 ele
15	G6UBM	JO01CE	7	 937	GD0EMG	463	15	5 ele
16	G4JED	JO01DF	6	 752	GD0EMG	464	10	2 ele
Section SO										
Pos 	Call	 Loc	QSOs	Score	ODX 	Kms	Power	Ant		
1*	GW4EVX/P IO83JF	 34	4356	G8SRL	337	25	3 ele
2*	GW5NF/P	 IO81KR	 30	4189	G4FUF	254	80	5 ele
3	G6GVI/P  IO83RO	 21	2676	G8SRL	337	45	2 ele
4	GM4VVX/P IO78VB	  3	 288	GM6VXB	139	10	6 ele

Comments from the logs

G0UPU
Quite a good turn out but did not hear any GMs. Conditions fairly good. Was not able to get on for very long.

G1KHX
Fair, but no GM heard. Closed down at 11:30GMT due to early lunch at daughter’s QTH.

G3IKR
As ever on 4m – QSB!! But not too bad. Nothing heard from GM – perhaps none on of the regulars. Unfortunately only able to be on for the first two hours.

G3JYP
Station operated by Alan, G3IOE. Wanting to go to church, having Alan here (why do all 70MHz contests have to be on Sunday mornings?), I showed him how the gear worked and left him to it. Unfortunately he suffered from an unusual form of QRM! Two red squirrels arrived in the garden and not having seen any for several years he abandoned the contest and spent 45 minutes taking photographs! I think he quite enjoyed the bit of the contest he took part in. It was his first experience of 4 metres. I hope it might inspire him to get going on the band as there is a lack of activity from the Newcastle area.

G3MEH
Reasonable activity for the first three hours, but last QSO at1202. Do we really need the last hour? No GM’s heard.

G3NAQ
Average to poor.

G3TCU
Conditions mediocre (no GM, GI or EI hrd) but activity was quite good

G3YBY
Condx flat and lots of QSB NO GMs or EI/GI heard

G4ADV
Enjoyable 4 hour Contest

G4DEZ
Antenna not working. M/head amp not working!

G4OBK
Could only manage 2 hours unfortunately. Condx seemed average. A lack of GM stations - none heard or worked and I didn't hear any EI stations either.

G6GVI/P
Calm and mild, but very misty and overcast. I heard stations in EI and Cornwall, but they couldn't quite hear me.

G8SRL
Before the contest I could just hear the Angus beacon (abt 640 kms). However 5 minutes into the contest I had S8 electrical noise. When this stopped after about 2 hours there did not seem to be many stations left to work.

GM4VVX/P
Heavy rain to set up in, and got drenched. Could hear the Buxton beacon and also the Angus beacon so thought will be worth the effort. Sky slowly cleared throughout but the Buxton beacon GB3BUX disappeared completely. Copied a couple of callsigns from G land, but made no qso.

GW5NF/P
No contacts in last hour. 2.5 hours would be sufficient time.