2nd 70MHz Contest 2009

Last year I was pleased to report a 33% increase on the 2007 entry level. Well, 2009 is even better with the highest entry level ever for this contest and a 40% increase on last year. Conditions were variable but it appears that there was some slight North/South tropo, with Allan GM4ZUK/P reporting excellent conditions & those at the East side of England were reporting a flat band. Logging standards were very good with 46% of entrants having, as far as could be checked, error free logs. Several reasonably high serial numbers had been recorded in logs given out by stations not entering, let's hope that next year they too can submit an entry and make the results table even larger. Some great scores this year & some of the highest for 10 years thanks to this band becoming more popular. 112 different stations were active in this years contest. Equipment was reliable with just one close casualty, Clive GM4VVX/P braved the wet weather way up in the Highlands of Scotland but all his equipment got soaked before the contest even started resulting in a poor antenna match & low power. Congratulations go to certificate winners as below:

Winner Open - Allan Duncan GM4ZUK/P
Runner-Up Open - Nick Gregory GM0HIK/P
Winner Single Operator Fixed - Bryn Llewellyn G4DEZ
Runner-Up Single Operator Fixed - John Hall G0ODQ
Leading Fixed Station Running 25W Or Less To a Single Antenna - David Dix G8LZE

Richard G4WFR

Open Section
Pos	Callsign	Locator	QSOs	Score	Total	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Ant	Equipment
1*	GM4ZUK/P	IO86RW	39	17,381	17,381	G4ADV/P	758	70	8Y	Elecraft K3 + Elecraft XV70 Transverter
2*	GM0HIK/P	IO65VO	43	16,019	16,019	G7RAU	634	100	7Y	TS2000 + XV70 Transverter
3	G4RFR	IO90AS	63	14,079	14,079	GM4VVX/P	825	150	12Y	IC746 + Meon Transverter + PA
4	GW4EVX/P	IO83JA	51	10,626	10,626	GM4ZUK/P	438	25	3Y	FT817 + Transverter
5	G8CUL	IO91JO	54	9,507	9,507	GM4ZUK/P	600	75	6Y	TS940S + Transvrter + PA
6	M1AVV/P	IO84KF	42	9,064	9,064	G0JBA	437	40	5Y	FT847
7	G4VRC/P	IO90OW	34	6,398	6,398	GM4ZUK/P	677	10	5Y	FT817 + Spectrum Transverter
8	G4ADV/P	IO70JH	16	5,443	5,443	GM4ZUK/P	758	150	7Y	IC746 + Spectrum Transverter + PA
9	M0COP/P	IO82NN	25	4,752	4,752	GM0HIK/P	402	10	Dipole	FT857 + Transverter
10	G0PQF/P	JO02HT	19	4,750	4,750	GM0HIK/P	542	25	3Y	IC706 + Transverter
11	G4PRS/P	IO80WP	21	4,513	4,513	GM4ZUK/P	701	25	5Y	DX-70 + Transverter
12	GM4VVX/P	IO78UB	8	2,610	2,610	GW4RWR	546	15	6Y	FT101 + Transverter
Single Operator Fixed Section
Pos	Callsign	Locator	QSOs	Score	Total	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Ant	Equipment
1*	G4DEZ	JO03AE	56	12,815	12,815	GM0HIK/P	486	150	8Y	FT847 + TE PA + MH Preamp
2*	G0ODQ	IO91MR	51	9,548	9,548	GM4ZUK/P	589	150	5Y	FT1000 + WPO Transverter + PA
3	G3TCU	IO91QE	50	9,052	9,052	GM4ZUK/P	652	160	6Y	IC7000 + HB Transverter + PA
4	GW4RWR	IO83HE	40	8,572	8,572	GM4VVX/P	546	160	5Y	FT707 + Meon Transverter
5	G3LVP	IO81WV	44	7,832	7,832	GM4ZUK/P	562	160	6Y	TS850 HB Transverter + 4CX250B PA
6	G3TCT	IO81QC	37	7,814	7,814	GM4ZUK/P	649	160	6Y	Elecraft K3 + HB Transverter + HB PA
7	G0JBA	JO01KD	33	6,700	6,700	GD0TEP	491	90	7Y	IC756 PRO3 + Transverter
8	G4SJH	IO91PI	28	3,137	3,137	M1AVV/P	359	150	5Y	Homebrew
9*	G8LZE	IO91SO	22	2,959	2,959	GM0HIK/P	585	20	5Y	TS2000 + HB Transverter
10	GM4IGS	IO75QM	14	2,811	2,811	G4RFR	558	25	6Y	FT847 + Transverter
11	G4PDS	IO80KR	16	2,752	2,752	G4DEZ	349	20	4Y	FT817 + Transverter
12	G8ONK	IO83MR	13	2,363	2,363	GM4ZUK/P	358	20	4Y	FT897
13	G3NKS	IO81WV	17	2,304	2,304	GM4ZUK/P	562	15	4Y	FT847
14	G4CZB	IO92MF	11	1,161	1,161	G4RFR	177	25	3Y	FT847 + PA
15	G8HGN	JO01FO	8	1,116	1,116	GW4EVX/P	295	10	HB9CV	FT847
16	G0LGS	IO81WV	5	365	365	GW4EVX/P	146	10	Dipole	FT847
* denotes certificate winner

Comments from the logs:

G0JBA

Signals Generally normal or weaker than normal. Lots of noise at times.

G0LGS

Just giving away a few points with 10W, dipole and deaf FT-847.

G0PQF/P

Conditions seemed fairly flat but was pleased with GM's and the GI. Several stations heard but not worked.

G3LVP

Worked more than the same contest last year. Despite high pressure conditions seemed average No E's.

G3NKS

First 4m contest entry from new QTH - moved 3 years ago! I miss my 6 ele at 40ft! Conditions variable as usual.

G3TCT

Good condx at last! Very pleased to work GM4ZUK, GM0HIK and GI4SNA, and just needed another dB to work GM4JR.

G3TCU

Activity was quite good and there was clearly some tropo lift on some paths but it was very patchy.

G4ADV/P

We worked all the stations we could hear. What can we do to improve the receive side? The GB3ANG beacon was as strong as I have heard it - S7!

G4CZB

Only able to do the first hour and a quarter. worked everyone I heard.

G4DEZ

No DX except IO65.

G4PDS

Great WX but lots of local noise

G4RFR

Conditions good to the north but with QSB. Thanks to all who contacted us

G4SJH

Good activity, just missed G0HIK/P hrd 5 mins before the end.

G4VRC/P

Some good contacts across the whole of the UK from the South Downs. Nice to work GM0HIK/P,GM4ZUK/P & GI4SNA but GM4JR could not hear me. WX blew hot and cold. Thanks everyone for a good contest.

G8HGN

Tropo' not as good as last time, but reasonable for my set up.

G8LZE

Conditions here flater than a pancake with a puncture. Hard work.

GM0HIK/P

Nice to have a go from GM Vy nice WX too but too many midges

GM4IGS

Condition fair, improving during the last hour. Some strong MS pings on the higher powered stations. Hope to get the yagi up to 40' and run a bit more power.

GM4VVX/P

Cloud at mast-top height with drizzle. All radio gear soaked before start. SWR 3 to 1. Only got 5w out on ssb & 10 - 13w on key. No EU dx so more beaming north Hi Hi. Sorry to make so many struggle for the points. TNX

GM4ZUK/P

Excellent tropo condx - unusual on 4m. WX very windy with showers. Activity on 4m is definately on the rise.

GW4EVX/P

Beautiful wx, good conditions and good level of activity.

GW4RWR

Perfect late summer's day and a gentlemanly band. Thanks to all for contacts.