1.3GHz & 2.3GHz Trophy Contests 2008

The entry level for these contests which run during the IARU UHF contest is at the same as last year. Conditions were very poor with severe weather conditions causing serious problems with antenna systems which also contributed to the low activity.

Congratulations go to John Quarmby, G3XDY for winning the single operator fixed section on both bands and for being the only SF entry on 2.3GHz. Congratulations also to the Five Bells Contest Group who win the VHF Contest Committee Cup taking the lead from previous winners Colchester CG on 1.3GHz & for also winning the G6ZR Memorial Trophy for their first place on 2.3GHz

Richard Cooper G4WFR

1.3GHz Open Section
Pos	Callsign	Locator	QSOs	Score	Total	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Ant	Equipment	Group
1*	G5B	IO92WS	41	12,674	12,674	DL0GTH	788	300	8x23Y	IC-1275E	Five Bells Contest Group
2*	M1CRO/P	JO01PU	34	9,520	9,520	DK6AS	651	100	8x23Y	TS-2000	Colchester Contest Group Of Colchester RA
3	G3CKR/P	IO93AD	21	4,694	4,694	DR5A	643	300	2.75m Dish	IC-1271	Warrington Contest Group (Reserve Green Caravan Team)
4	G4RFR/P	IO80UV	22	4,357	4,357	PA0WMX	578	150	8x37Y	IC-910	Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society
1.3GHz Single Operator Fixed Section
Pos	Callsign	Locator	QSOs	Score	Total	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Ant	Equipment
1*	G3XDY	JO02OB	32	9,347	9,347	DK6AS	654	200	8x23Y	K3+Tvtr
2*	GM4CXM	IO75TW	7	2,920	2,920	G4RFR/P	578	150	4x44Y	FT-736R
3	G0JJG	JO02LE	9	1,662	1,662	DR5A	420	30	23Y	IC-201+Tvtr
4*	G3YJR	IO93FJ	9	1,657	1,657	PA6NL	414	10	44Y	FT-817+Tvtr
5	G4DEZ	JO03AE	5	745	745	PA6NL	307	100	4x23Y	IC-910
2.3GHz Open Section
Pos	Callsign	Locator	QSOs	Score	Total	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Ant	Equipment	Group
1*	G5B	IO92WS	11	2,795	2,795	DL0V	508	40	1.5m Dish	FT-225RD+Tvtr	Five Bells Contest Group
2*	G4RFR/P	IO80UV	11	1,722	1,722	G4DDK	278	60	2.0m Dish	FT-221+Tvtr	Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society
3	G3CKR/P	IO93AD	5	852	852	G4RFR/P	252	150	2.4m Dish	TS-780+Tvtr	Warrington Contest Group (Reserve Green Caravan Team)
2.3GHz Single Operator Fixed Section
Pos	Callsign	Locator	QSOs	Score	Total	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Ant	Equipment
1*	G3XDY	JO02OB	12	2,789	2,789	DL0V	416	120	0.8m Dish	K2+Tvtr
Checklog gratefully received from G3MEH
* denotes certificate winners

Comments from the logs

G0JJG

More wind and rain

G3CKR/P

23cm: Very severe weather, lost 2 hrs due to having to take dish down as feed was broke. SSB preamp blew, lost another rig. Problems! Problems! Very difficult to point dish in correct direction and also hear the stations. 13cm: 1st time on band for some years and trying some new kit out. Had major problems with intensity of wind and ability to keep dish in one direction. Very difficult and could only operate for a few hours as had to try also to keep 23cm station in one piece. Very steep learning curve but we will hopefully be prepared for next May!

G3XDY

23cm: Poor tropo and aircraft reflections few and far between on long paths. Gale force winds made antenna pointing difficult. 13cm: Dreadful conditions and low activity made this hard work.

G3YJR

Little heard here from Europe, tho DF0HS/P popped up from time to time.

G4DEZ

Never known such bad conditions and extremely low activity from UK

G4RFR/P

Equipment worked, bands were useable, but the the awful wx put off many of the UK stations.

G5B

23cm: Dire - very windy. We started to get reports from Eu of being heard & couldn't hear anything this end. Decided problem was with wind so paused, removed top 8 antennas and raised tower again - Great signals from there on - amazed at what we were able to work. Even a little Dx. 13cm: Also Dire - stopped near beginning of contest to ADD more guys to tower in an attempt to hold it steady - wind was taking, lifting and trying to bend the trailer mount. Absolutely awful conditions. Nice to work a handful of German stations under these conditions Thanks ALL.

M1CRO/P

Exit one Preamp around 18:00.