5th 144MHz Backpackers Contest of 2009

For once, most of the Backpackers enjoyed good band conditions and dry weather during the contest - but it did start raining in places after the contest had ended. Plenty of Continental DX was available with a best DX of 1005 km achieved by Rhys, GW4RWR/P

The standard of logging was poor with an average of 12% of points lost. Half of the entrants lost 4% or less of their score - well done! At the other end of the scale, five stations lost in excess of 22% of their score due to inaccurate recording of information. One very common mistake is not logging the call sign correctly - if the station sends /P at the end of their call sign this must be recorded in the log. Copying the correct locator also causes many problems with errors in recording the number and the last two letters the most common mistakes.

In the 10H section Rhys Thomas, GW4RWR/P was the winner with Paul Selwood, G8BGV/P in second place.

The 3B section was won by Tom Read, M1EYP/P, with Tony Jay, G8JAY/P as the runner-up.

Ian, G0FCT

Section 10H
Pos	Callsign	Locator	QSOs	Score	Multiplier	Total	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power (W)	Ant	Equipment
1*	GW4RWR/P	IO82HV	102	28,745	47	1,351,015	DL0GTH	1,005	10	9el Tonna	IC-202e
2*	G8BGV/P	JO01HP	99	27,585	45	1,241,325	DL0GTH	718	10	6 Ele DK7ZB	FT817 + Amp + Pre Amp
3	G4HUN/P	IO92XA	68	16,541	39	645,099	HB9EME	746	5	9 ele Tonna	FT817
4	GW8ZRE/P	IO83JF	71	17,304	33	571,032	DR9A	954	10	7 Element ZL Yagi	KENWOOD TR751E
5	G3RIR/P	IO92NP	57	13,461	34	457,674	HB9EME	836	10	9 ele	TS2000
6	G3BPK/P	IO83PN	51	10,216	27	275,832	DF0OL	807	10	12 element yagi	IC 746
7	G0HDV/P	IO93UK	75	12,949	21	271,929	F4ARU/P	438	10	12EL	IC 746
8	G8DOH/P	IO91EX	35	9,583	26	249,158	DK5DQ	621	8	8 ele Jaybeam	(TX) VMOS (RX) GaAs FET
9	M1REK/P	IO83WE	43	9,410	26	244,660	F4CQY/P	749	5	5el beam	Yaesu FT-817
10	M0BAO/P	IO80PT	28	7,117	19	135,223	DF0MU	707	10	13 ele yagi	ICOM IC7000
11	G8KYU/P	IO91TV	19	2,154	11	23,694	F4ARU/P	270	10	7 Element Yagi	FT-857D
Section 3B
Pos	Callsign	Locator	QSOs	Score	Multiplier	Total	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power (W)	Ant	Equipment
1*	M1EYP/P	IO83XD	70	11,703	33	386,199	F4CQY/P	742	2.5	SB3 (3Y)	FT-817
2*	G8JAY/P	IO81RU	56	11,803	31	365,893	DF0MU	674	2.5	9el Tonna	FT-817
3	G4XZL/P	IO80CN	32	11,689	31	362,359	EB1LA/P	806	3	6 Element DK7ZB yagi	FT-817
4	G4VRC/P	IO90OW	41	11,981	29	347,449	GM4ZUK/P	677	2.5	Homebrew 12ele	FT817
5	GW4IDF/P	IO81NV	46	11,320	25	283,000	DR9A	875	3	17el Tonna	Icom IC 202
6	G8HXE/P	IO83RP	47	9,571	27	258,417	DL0GTH	968	2.5	SOTA SB-5	FT817
7	M5ABH/P	IO93IE	38	9,179	25	229,475	F4CQY/P	709	2.5	3 ele sotabeam	FT817
8	M3XRU/P	IO91PF	30	7,757	26	201,682	HB9EME	718	2.5	9ELE TONNA	FT 290R
9	M0EAV/P	IO92XD	13	3,065	14	42,910	PI9A	449	2.5	7 element Homebrew Yagi	Yaesu FT-817ND
10	MW0DSZ/P	IO82KS	15	3,195	13	41,535	PI9A	633	2	Folded dipole & reflector	FT290R
11	G4CVC/P	JO01RI	11	2,575	13	33,475	DL0GTH	658	2.5	2M 2 ELEMENT HB9CV	FT817

Comments from the logs:

G3BPK/P

Good European DX early on, faded later. Weather worsened over the day Started to rain just as the contest was finishing. Still a good contest, though, 4 hours is just long enough

G4CVC/P

Lucky with conditions on my first Backpackers

G4HUN/P

Great to get plenty of continental DX. Not a huge amount of activity from G compared to normal, but great fun. Best contest this year! Weather fair - at least it didn't rain.

G4VRC/P

WX Overcast to start, then hot and sunny, then cold and windy, but stayed dry. Signals strong from GM to the South Downs,also DL. No one worked in my own square! Very enjoyable day. Thanks everyone.

G4XZL/P

Excellent propagation to Europe, managed finally to reach high power DL stations with fleapower! Also excellent tropo to EA, 59 reports received, with 59+ my end! EA1VHF also audible. Good fun and good weather!

G8BGV/P

Nice WX and Band Conditions. I think this is my highest ever score

G8DOH/P

Surprisingly good conditions for a windy day, N-S paths especially good

G8HXE/P

Some interesting DX around but most couldn't hear me. Not a great deal of UK activity for some reason.

GW4RWR/P

Finally some DX! 2hr walk thru' the Devil's Colon, rain held off until contest end. Fog and driving rain for the descent. Cherry picked the continentals then called CQ.

GW8ZRE/P

Good EU DX WORKED LX, F, ON, PA, DG but no EI or GI stations.

M1EYP/P

Lots of activity in the weekend contest. Stations workable in DL, F, ON and PA, and G, GW, GM, GD and GI. Mild and dry weather. Very enjoyable.

M3XRU/P

Dry,clear, intermittent clouds

M5ABH/P

Good time, wx ok, good condx lots of dx, some bit hard work with QRP