VHF National Field Day 5-6 July 2008

Each year, during the first weekend of July, groups of enthusiasts head for the hills to participate in what many believe to be the highlight of the VHF portable-station contesting programme.

The uninitiated may imagine VHF NFD to be an immaculately planned, two-day trip to the countryside, equipped with faultless radio apparatus, generators, masts and antennas, accompanied by the nicest companions one could ever meet, transported by immaculate  conveyances and all performed on a stage upon which the sun never sets. Sadly, the reality often falls just a little short of expectation. Even with the best of plans and preparations, there is an omnipresent hazard just waiting to take advantage of what appears initially to be the most minor act, omission or simple happenstance.  Embracing the unexpected  is one of the, possibly more perverse, attractions of this facet of our hobby. If you have never tried it before, then join with your local contest group and be part of the great adventure in 2009. If you have done it before, then you will need no further encouragement from me.

The Weather. Our friends at the Met Office summarized the weather for the month of July across the UK, by all measures, as averagely average. To your Commentator, that is somewhat akin to describing the coat of a leopard as averagely khaki – statistically true, but totally misleading. As July opened, there was some cause for optimism that the first weekend would turn out to be reasonably fine. However, the 1^st weekend forecast   indicated a depression in the south west – heading east and north. Friday in most parts started quite nicely but, as the hours passed, temperatures fell and many early starters of tent and mast building were troubled by a stiffening wind and fingers which just couldn't keep hold of those nuts. Saturday dawned with some bright patches but, as that day progressed, the wind grew fiercer - reaching Force 8 in places and often accompanied by showers or heavier rain. As Sunday rolled-out, the winds became a little more subdued, but still accompanied by showers, lightning storms or sunny periods depending on the goodness of your fortune.

Almost every group commented on the direness of the weather. What follows here is just a sprinkling: Ayr ARC (IO75) only managed to get a station on the air for the last 4.5 hours of the contest because of the wind, rain and a low cloud base. GJ7DNI's team (IN89) reported Force 7 to 8 and rain and severe mast-testing, but still enjoyed themselves. Clifton ARS (JO01) managed to get their masts up with what they termed “only a minor tremble” but were subjected to a wet and windy pack up. If you ever get the chance, ask them to define “minor” - you will be surprised. Bolton Wireless Club (IO83) survived and even managed to schedule a thunderstorm to arrive both before and after the event. Sheffield ARC (IO93)  suffered terrible weather until the moment the antennas came down – when they were immediately bathed in sunshine. However, there were the odd oases: Wexford VHFG (IO62) suffered the wind and rain on Friday, then spent most of the weekend in cloud – right in the eye of the low pressure. Some oasis !  Much more fortunate were Aberdeen VHFG (IO86) who reported “Great weather – very hot and sunny on Friday & Saturday and not a breath of wind. Sunday brought a short shower. Great sun tan achieved.” Lowestoft & DARS + Pye ARC, in their first VHFNFD, found it all a fantastic experience with sunny weather – which helped to keep their team in good spirit.  “Grrrr. It wasn't like that here”, said the choir of voices elsewhere. Indeed, Goole R & ES “A” went further with the comment: “We must be mad, doing this for fun !”.

Registrations and Entries.

Table 1, below, indicates the number of stations registering and those submitting an entry subsequently. Of the 193 station logs submitted, not all came from Registered stations. There was a number of entries from individuals/groups who did not register and thus rendered themselves ineligible for any award which might recognise their success. There was also a number of no-shows through organisational, accident or weather-related happenings – most advising the Contest Committee in advance. This helped no end in ensuring that all logs dispatched were indeed received. We hope that this year's absentees will be able to make it in 2009. 37 station logs were received via the VHFCC Web Log process, rather than as files, from other logging programs, appended to emails. The number of entries continues to show a healthy growth. The dip in 2007 was primarily due to the absolutely foul weather which preceded, and continued through, that year's event. 50, 144 and 432 MHz continue as the “core” bands for many entrants - possibly because commercial equipment is more readily available. Nevertheless, 70 and 1296 MHz most certainly continue to hold their own.

Table 1. Band/Station data for 2008, 2007 and 2006

Year/Band	50 MHz	70 MHz	144 MHz	432 MHz	1296 MHz	Total
2008 Entered	48	30	52	43	20	193
2008 Regist'd	51	39	53	45	27	215
2007 Entered	37	29	44	33	17	160
2007 Regist'd	45	31	54	43	22	195
2006 Entered	38	29	48	43	21	179

Table 2, below, indicates group registration and subsequent entry on a Sectional basis. This suggests some stability, but in reality, several groups move from one section to another, on a tactical basis,  having reviewed their success or otherwise in previous years. Group composition is also not constant and, from a name and callsign study, it is evident that several new arrivals, combinations and splits have occurred since 2007.

Table 2. Section/Group data for 2008, 2007 and 2006

Year/Section	Open	Restricted	Low Power	Mix & Match	Total
2008 Entered	14	22	17	10	63
2008 Regist'd	19	20	11	10	60
2007 Entered	12	14	13	10	49
2007 Regist'd	17	17	16	13	63
2006 Entered	15	16	14	13	58

As is customary, several sites were inspected during the contest. The Inspectors wish to express their appreciation of the warmness with which they were received, not to mention that of the accommodation - given that wind. We mislaid no Inspectors this year.

We were pleased to see another entry from the Wexford VHF Group, buoyed with their success in the contest  last year. I am assured that they remembered to take the cranberry sauce this year to go with the traditional on-site oven-roasted turkey.

The Committee is very grateful  for check logs submitted by Dave G0DJA, Roger G3MEH, Bryn G4DEZ, Frank PE1EWR, Stuart G0KDS, Ray 2E0RFX, Philip G1TST, Martin G4GTH, Graeme G6CSY and Les G3VQO – operating from Malta as 9H3VQ, with 5W to a Joystick on 6m.

Logging, Rules and Signal Quality.

The adjudicators report that logging standards overall were not particularly good, but this is not unusual for VHF NFD. This Contest differs from others, since it is often the only contest entered by a group in a whole year and, also, because many operators may be taking part for their first time. Nevertheless, to avoid all that communal effort going straight down the drain, there is much to be gained by taking just a few simple steps. One fairly easy one is to have a second pair of eyes check over the log after the event and before submission. Better than that is to provide mentoring during operation or a check logger - if group resources will stretch to that. This should head off many on-line errors. Even better, but additional to the previous two, is prior participation from home in one of the regular Activity Contests.

Errors made were the customary ones: transposed letters of a callsign; added or missed /P; incorrect serial numbers and some incorrect and/or quite bizarre locators – which a quick glance at a  Locator and/or Prefix map would have revealed. A couple of logs were received which recorded every entry “59” bothways, irrespective of what was sent or received. Beware of logging programmes which default to 59 ,despite being differently inputted. Another log was found to be wholly devoid of times of contacts.

Finally, on this topic: For VHF NFD or any other contest, we thoroughly recommend, before taking part, that intending entrants read the Rules. This is not what 'Fred' remembers from the past, nor what the gossip on a casual contest reflector says, but the Rules available by following the link:  www.vhfcc.org/rules.

It is a not-unreasonable expectation, and indeed a licence requirement, that stations emit signals of reasonable quality. It is a rule that any entrant alerted on-air to the emission of a deficient signal will log that report and take steps to identify the cause, eliminate it and note that in the log too. If there are doubts afterwards, it is sensible to ask several stations, local and distant, to give a qualitative report. Entrants are cautioned not to dismiss, without action, a critical report simply because some other station(s) are heard receiving the same comment from the same source.

Band Reports

50 MHz.  Countries worked include: UK, Republic of Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Slovenia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, mainland Spain, Mallorca and Canary Is, Gibraltar, Monaco, mainland Italy, Sardinia , mainland Greece, Crete, Malta, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Ukraine, mainland Portugal, Sao Miguel Island of the Azores, Algeria and, finally, Canada in the shape of the 2008 Sable Island 6m Dxpedition. To save you reaching for your world atlases: Sable Island (French: île de Sable) is a small island situated 180 km southeast of mainland Nova Scotia in the Atlantic Ocean.  Except for the period June 25 to July 12 2008, while the population was supplemented by the DXpedition, the island is home to around 5 people. So far as I can determine there were only two  VHF NFD Groups who managed to work the Sable Island station CY0X  in FN93 (IOTA NA063).

Usually the most exciting of bands, conditions fell somewhat short of hopes, if not expectations, this year. Extended Tropospheric (TE) propagation was  most certainly present together with single-hop Sporadic E (Es). These modes gave contacts in quite fair numbers out to the limits of Europe, plus Algeria (in the rare shape of 7X16RF) and Canary Is and Azores which are all in the continent of Africa, with maximum distances at about 3000 km. There are only two logged contacts beyond this, probably by multi-hop Es, at around 4,500 km - one in Open section and one in Restricted. This compares with ODX last year of around 7000 km in all three sections.

50 MHz is a band of opportunity. Being there at the right time is wonderful. If you are not, then less so.  Either good luck or good planning, including having multi-mode operators to hand, led to Clifton ARS (JO01) discovering the CY0X Dxpedition running contacts on CW for some time before contest start. So, bang on 1400 UTC, that was the first in the log. Clifton ARS also noted that after the contest closed,  PJ6 (no doubt this was PJ6/K2KW on Saba Is), TO5E: St Barthelemy Is and 3 KP4s: Puerto Rico appeared in an opening to the Caribbean. Hard world ain't it ? Havering & DARC (JO01) noted good Es to the east on Saturday evening. Telford & DARS (IO82) noted the Es but netted nothing outside of Europe. They were a little distracted, perhaps, by the rain-spray showering their laptop and PA and trying to find the fault in their auto CQer. Mid-Cheshire ARS (IO83) remarked that they had struggled to work a weak Scottish station and within a few seconds an Icelandic station blew out their eardrums. This was TF3ARI -  who gave them 1631 points. They didn't bother to mention that they worked LA1PHA worth another 1685 points during the recovery period. Sheffield ARC (IO93) wondered what had happened to the propagation and had to check that they had not connected a dummy load in lieu of the antenna.

Overall, maximum distances were well down on 2007. Activity was likewise depressed  and band-points were close to 50% down in all sections.

In Open section, Windmill Contest Group (JO01) pulled CY0X from the bag on the Saturday evening, on CW, and it gained them a 569 report, not to mention ODX for the Band and Open Section at 4517 km. In the Restricted Section, this delight fell too into the hands of Clifton ARS (JO01), as their very first contact (!). This was also on CW with a 559 incoming report and ODX of 4490 km - worth nearly 9% of Clifton's score on this band. ODX in the Low power Section fell to Loch Fyne Kippers (IO75) at a somewhat lesser distance of  2295 km in QSO with YT2L in KN03 Central Serbia.

70 MHz.  Countries worked by TE, out to about 400 km include: UK, Republic of Ireland and Luxembourg, JO30.  Further afield, probably by single-hop Es, out to about 2000 km, countries worked were mainland Italy, around Rome JN61 and north west from there into Tuscany JN52, 53, 54,  plus Sicily JM 67;  Portugal, Algarve IM57; Slovenia JN76 and Croatia JN86.  Stations in the south of England, and perhaps anywhere else, who did not beam in the broad arc SSW to SE missed out on some interesting contacts and quite a lot of attendant points. This is a fascinating band, offering more constancy, maybe, in propagation terms than 50 MHz, but challenging in  keeping tabs on frequency allocations and what is likely to pop up on which heading. 

South Birmingham RS (IO82) opined that winners on this band would turn out to be those who worked several stations via Es, but it was unlikely to be them !  Whether correct in out-turn, or not, making one or more contacts near the 2000 km target was certainly the  determinant of major players, this year.  Mid-Lanark ARS (IO74) reported that running 25 Watts to a home-brew 6 element yagi provided good entertainment – not to mention a QSO with CT1HZE at the end.  Wexford VHFG (IO62) experienced high local noise levels last year, so undertook a small, but beneficial physical shift of their station – netting all the goodies in 9A Croatia, S5 Slovenia , I mainland Italy,  IT9 Sicily and CT Portugal.  Telford & DARS (IO82) also enjoyed the brief Es which opened paths to these more distant localities, but  questioned, why we did not organise VHFNFD in the UK summer, rather than in July !  Lothians RS (IO74) noted that the TE was quite good and that there was some Es about. They also commented on reception being marred somewhat by sizzling noises. They attributed this to: rain static, rain on the roof and GM4HWO frying bacon. 

Overall, distances worked  were up on 2007. Activity was up too and band-points scored were broadly comparable – except for the stunning performances of Wexford VHFG, leading the Open Section and Lothians RS, leading Restricted Section.

In Open section, ODX goes to Wexford DX Group for their contact with Sicilian station IT9DLN in JM67 at 2257km, but leading UK-based ODX goes to Rochdale & DARS for their contact with CT1HZE in IM57 Algarve at 1892 km. Restricted Section ODX goes to Lothians RS for their contact with (yes) CT1HZE at 1989 km. ODX in Low power Section goes to Loch Fyne Kippers for  their contact (right again) with CT1HZE at 2080 km.

144 MHz.  Countries worked include: UK, Republic of Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Spain, Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia – but no Luxembourg, I think.

Contacts by TE out to 500 km appeared in most logs, but anything by Es beyond 800 km was not very common. An exceptional path arose on a roughly south easterly heading from the UK into the Balkans - giving contacts around 1700 km, stopping off on the way at Switzerland at about half that distance. Es, Duct or double hop – what say you ? 

Hucknall Rolls Royce ARC  (IO93) considered conditions to be rather flat. Trowbridge & DARC (IO81) found the going hard, but Telford & DARS (IO82) thought conditions good at times. Maybe the latter's needful running repairs on antenna matching were at work for the other times. Aberdeen VHFG (IO86) found the conditions good to Scandinavia and to northern Germany, but poor to the south. West Bromwich Central (IO92) reported upon another fantastic weekend. I often wonder what it takes to upset this happy band of folk. Mid-Cheshire ARS (IO83) commented that 2m was very hard work this year. They found the Es to be very sporadic indeed. 

Comments across the piece are rather mournful but, overall, distances worked are very comparable with 2007 and, except perhaps for the Low Power Section, activity and band-points gained are very similar. However, the 465 admitted QSOs (495 claimed) by Crawley ARS & Reigate ATS, at the top of Open section, is a remarkable achievement.

Open Section ODX and that for the band goes to Rochdale & DARS (IO83) for their contact with OM3VSZ in KN08 eastern Slovakia at 1725 km. Not all that far short was the Colchester RA contact with YT0A in KN04 Belgrade, Serbia at 1632 km. Restricted Section ODX was secured by Moray Firth ARS (IO87) for their contact with OZ1ALS in JO45 south Denmark at 853 km. ODX in Low Power Section goes to Warrington Contest Group for their contact with HB9STY in JN36 between Lacs Leman and Neuchatel,  Switzerland at 926 km.

70cm. Countries worked include UK, Republic of Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany and Denmark.

Aberdeen VHFG (IO86) found a nice opening to Denmark, but thought activity levels to be not very good.  Havering & DARC (JO01) agreed about low activity. Hucknall Rolls Royce ARC (IO93) thought conditions were awful.   NE Surrey CG (IO91) thought conditions were marginally better than in 2007, but maybe their judgment was coloured by the lack of technical hitches this year – except for the mast-top connection to the rotator coming adrift 20 minutes before the start !  Windmill CG (JO01) were convinced paths were open, but observed that there still appeared to be little activity.  Mid-Lanark ARS (IO74) had high hopes of their good QTH and of their 100W to 2 x 28 eles, but found it impossible to raise anyone with CQs and secured many of their contacts only by requesting QSYs from 2m.

Overall, there was general under-excitement about performances on this band.

The period midnight to 0800 on Sunday seems to have been particularly bad for activity. Even the auto CQer of PA6NL decided not to bother after several hours of silence and the usual dawn-riser, with a will to give away a few points, stayed late in bed.  However, distances worked are very comparable with 2007 and ODX is up to 10% greater in Open and Restricted Sections.  Activity and band-points gained are about 10% down at the very top in comparison with 2007, but much fuller in the upper order of both Open and Restricted sections. 

Open section ODX goes to two stations, tied for the first time I can remember. One is Aberdeen VHFG (IO86) for their contact with OZ9EDR in JO65 near Copenhagen,  Denmark at 837 km. The other is Colchester RA (JO01) for their contact with F1USF/P in JN14 Cevennes, France also at 837 km. Restricted Section ODX, and that for the band,  goes to Moray Firth ARS (IO87) for their contact with OZ1ALS in JO45 south Denmark at 853 km. In Low Power Section, ODX goes to Mid-Sussex ARS (IO90) for their contact with Aberdeen VHFG in IO86 at 691 km, narrowly beating Loch Fyne Kippers (IO75) for their contact with Crawley ARS & Reigate ATS in JO01 at 681 km.

23cm. Countries worked include UK, Republic of Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany and Denmark. 

Goole R&ES “B” (IO93) commented that their dish antenna came in handy later – as a boat. Sheffield ARC (also IO93) believed that conditions were the poorest they had ever experienced and found UK activity low. They also wish to encourage groups to include a CW operator for weak signal work. South Birmingham (IO82) agreed that conditions and activity were the poorest for years. Telford & DARS (IO82) reported that their long yagi had been bent round on itself by the wind and asked whether this constituted circular polarisation.  Moray Firth ARS (IO87) summed their experience with one word : “Awful”. Aberdeen VHF Group (IO86), on the other hand, found a nice opening to Denmark on Saturday evening, but with only 7 QSOs in total, maybe the sunshine had an affect on their spirits.

Overall, distances worked, activity and band- points gained were comparable with those of 2007. Just like last year, the leaders of each Section were well ahead of their respective fields. Comments about poor conditions and activity have persisted for several years, yet ODX remains comparable with that obtained on 432 MHz. It really does seem to be a matter of getting more stations on the air to reinstate a smiley-faced view of this band.

Open section ODX was obtained by Colchester RA (JO01) for their contact with DM7A in JO61 Dresden, Germany at 829 km. Restricted ODX was bagged by Trowbridge & DARS (IO81) for their contact with DK5QN in JO42 near Bielefeld, Germany at 749 km. In Low Power Section, ODX went to Warrington CG (IO93) for their contact with DR5A in JO30 southern Eifel, Germany.

Overall results and Awards

Open Section. First place is awarded to Colchester Radio Amateurs with an overall score of 3738 points and top band-scores on 70 MHz and 1296 MHz. They have now held top-spot for five years running and retain the Surrey Trophy. They are congratulated   for what constitutes a remarkable record of achievement.

Immediately below Colchester RA in the table, lying in # position is Wexford VHF Group. As explained last year, VHF NFD Rule 4 states that “Any RSGB member or group of members may enter. Only groups operating from the British Isles (excluding the Irish Republic) will be eligible for awards, although a certificate for the leading overseas entry will be awarded.” Reaffirming the decision taken in 2007, when Wexford CG first submitted an entry,  the Contest Committee determined that all scores for each Band and section should be normalised against the highest scoring UK-operating station – the latter being normalised to 1000 points. Wexford CG's splendid achievement on 70 MHz is recognised by allocating a normalised score to them of 2087 points on that band and a total overall score of 3419. The Contest Committee is delighted to award to them, for a second year running, a Certificate for Leading Overseas Entry.

In Runner-up slot lies Windmill CG, for the second year running, with an overall score of 2626 points. The Tartan Trophy is retained by Cockenzie & Port Seton ARC as the highest-placed Scottish entry for the second year running.

Restricted Section. First place is awarded to Lothians RS, who were Runners-up last year, with an overall score of 3476 points and top band-scores on 70 MHz and 144 MHz. Not only do they receive the Martlesham Trophy, but also retain the Cockenzie Quaich as highest placed Scottish entry in this section.

In runner-up place lies North East Surrey CG - formed this year from 4 clubs which lie in fairly close proximity to each other: Addiscombe ARC,  Coulsdon ATS, Surrey RCC and Wimbledon & DARS. This new combination was clearly successful in gaining them 2927 points overall, a top band-score on 432 MHz and 2^nd place on 144 MHz. Lying not far behind them in 3^rd place is Cray Valley RS with 2776 points overall and a top band-score on 50 MHz.

Low Power Section. First place is awarded to Warrington CG, for the second year running, achieving the top band-score on all three of their selected bands: 70 MHz, 144 MHz and 1296 MHz and thus an overall score of 3000 points. They retain the Arthur Watts Trophy for a second year. In Runner-up place lies De Montfort University ARS with an overall score of 2573 points and a top band-score on 432 MHz. In 2007, De Montfort won the Mix & Match Section and won the LP section the year before. What will they choose for 2009 ? Loch Fyne Kippers retain the Scottish trophy for the third year running as the highest placed Scottish entry in this section.

Mix & Match Section. First place is awarded to newcomers Trowbridge & DARC,  achieving top band-score on 1296 MHz in Restricted Section and an overall score of 2529 points. They are congratulated for bursting upon this scene so effectively and carrying away the G5BY Trophy.  Not far behind though, in Runner-up place, lies Telford & DARS, with an overall score of 2471 points. Telford occupied the same spot last year after a long string of years at the top of this table.  What will next year bring ?

Certificates. In addition to the Awards mentioned above, Certificates will be awarded to winners and runners-up in all Sections and additionally to Wexford VHF Group as the leading overseas entry. Congratulations to these and all participants on behalf of:

Band and Overall Adjudicators: Roger Dixon G4BVY, Bob Edgar G0KYS, Pete Lindsay G4CLA and Ian Pawson G0FCT. Commentary: John Simkins G8IYS