March 144/432 MHz 2009

Yet again this event produced some interesting weather to challenge the entrants but it was nothing like as severe as in 2008. That said, strong winds, horizontal rain, snow and freezing temperatures were reported. One entrant described the weather as "threatening but toothless"!

Conditions were described as average, flat, patchy, very poor and abysmal. In amongst these conditions, a number of QSOs in excess on 600 kMs were made; 130 on 144MHz and 33 on 432 MHz. Six entrants were lucky enough to find a private lift into IN52 on both bands with their best DX between 1100 and 1300 kMs. Many of the 432MHz QSOs were achieved by QSYing after successful 144MHz QSOs. Numerous comments were made about the low activity levels, particularly in the UK.

The numbers of QSOs made by the leading stations are similar to those achieved in 2008. Numbers of entries are up, but mainly in the fixed six hour section. The decline in numbers of large scale open entries continues.

The standard of logging among the higher placed stations continues to improve with many stations losing less than two percent of their claimed scores. Entrants are reminded that all elements of the exchange are checked, so if unsure - ask for a repeat.

Congratulations go to:

The Colchester Group, G0VHF/P who won both bands to win the open section;
Bryn, G4DEZ, who won the single operator section for the six year running;
The Reigate ARS, M2F who were the winners in the single operator others section;
Stewart, GM4AFF and John, G3XDY as joint winners of the six-hour single operator fixed section;
The Mid Lanark ARS, MM0GPZ/P who won the six-hour open section;
All other band winners and runners up, who together with stations marked (*), will receive certificates.
Roger Dixon, G4BVY

144 MHz
Section O
Pos	Callsign	Locator	QSOs	Score	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Ant	Group
1 *	G0VHF/P	JO01PU	372	125,231	SK7MW	868	400	3 * 8 ele	Colchester CG of Colchester RA
2 *	G3MDG/P	IO91RQ	109	23,332	EE1URO	1,172	180	2 * 9 ele	Chesham and Dars
3	G4FUR/P	IO91XH	97	22,124	EE1URO	1,157	200	17 ele + Vertical	Coulsdon ATS
Section SF
Pos	Callsign	Locator	QSOs	Score	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Ant	Group
1 *	G4DEZ	JO03AE	261	89,596	DK0ES	846	400	4 * 12ele
2 *	G8HGN	JO01FO	76	25,890	EE1URO	1,203	50	2 * 15ele
3	M5BFL	IO91OO	119	25,609	EE1URO	1,155	250	11 ele	Chesham & DARS
4 *	2E0NEY	IO81VK	75	13,866	DK5DQ	660	50	17 ele
5 *	G4RYV	IO91OI	29	5,801	GM4AFF	617	10	9 ele
6	G3BNE	JO01BJ	23	5,305	F6KSL	503	30	9 ele	Cray Valley RS
7	G0LGS	IO81WV	23	5,026	PA0WMX	561	100	9 ele	Govt Comm ARC
8	M5ADF	IO91TO	28	4,167	MM0GPZ/P	488	25	21 ele LPY
9	G3HRH	IO91HA	14	2,949	PI9CM	543	400	2 * 10ele
10 *	M3ZWW	JO01ED	18	2,884	PI9CM	422	5	13 ele	West Kent ARS
11	G8IBL	IO91QE	11	2,409	PI9CM	488	100	9 ele
12	M0GGO	JO01PD	12	2,214	DF2VJ	450	50	5 ele
13	G3UFY	IO91WJ	10	1,690	EE1URO	1,161	50	9 ele	Addiscombe ARC
14	G3CKR	IO83SJ	10	1,402	GM4AFF	380	25	13 ele	Warrington CG
15	G1EVR	IO83TN	6	806	ON4WY	454	50	11 ele	Bolton Wireless Club
16	M0CES	IO93RE	10	653	MM0GPZ/P	335	20	Vertical	RAF Waddington ARC
17	2E0JWJ	IO81VG	6	396	M9T	139	10	Vertical
18	G7WAP	IO93RF	5	56	G4DEZ	40	40	Whip
Section 6O
Pos	Callsign	Locator	QSOs	Score	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Ant	Group
1 *	MM0GPZ/P	IO85AK	81	26,041	OQ4U	775	400	12 ele	Mid Lanark ARS
2 *	M0BAO/P	IO80LV	71	15,404	DJ8UV	717	180	13 ele
3	G4WFR/P	IO91GI	94	15,326	DL0BO	601	100	9 ele
4	M9T	IO80AQ	57	14,827	F6KSL	720	100	10 ele	Moors Contest Group A
5	M0ICK/P	IO83RO	20	3,199	ON4WY	466	50	6 ele
6	G0BWC	IO83SN	23	2,087	GM4AFF	362	10	9 ele	Bolton Wireless Club
7	G1ONE/P	IO83RO	14	1,082	GM4AFF	357	2.5	3 ele	Bolton Wireless club
Section SO
Pos	Callsign	Locator	QSOs	Score	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Ant	Group
1 *	M2F	IO91SG	180	45,251	EE1URO	1,136	400	2 * 14	Reigate ATS
2 *	2E0XLG/P	IO84WC	117	20,212	DF0MU	667	50	8/8 ele	Craven ARG
Section 6S
Pos	Callsign	Locator	QSOs	Score	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Ant	Group
1 *	GM4AFF	IO86ST	73	33,302	DF0MU	819	400	17ele
2 *	G4FOH	JO02BA	70	13,599	GM4AFF	559	75	8ele
3	G0AJJ	JO02QT	47	12,659	F6KSL	567	50	17 ele	Bittern DX Group
4	M0NUT	IO91JO	50	5,872	PA0WMX	497	100	12 ele
5	G8ZRE	IO83NE	30	5,799	OQ4U	588	80	8 ele
6	G1KHX	IO81MI	29	5,669	PA0WMX	619	80	9 ele
7	G8LZE	IO91SO	25	4,608	F6KSL	549	100	12 ele
8	G6UBM	JO01CE	28	4,253	MM0GPZ/P	548	100	13 ele	West Kent ARS
9	G4PDS	IO80KR	12	3,974	F6KSL	666	100	3 ele
10	G4LBH	IO91TV	20	3,369	F6KSL	565	50	9 ele
11	G4XPE	IO92GU	14	2,632	OQ4U	487	25	10 ele
12	M0HAK	IO91OI	19	2,201	OQ4U	399	50	5el
13	G4GTH	IO90BV	8	2,166	F6KSL	592	90	9 ele	Christchurch ARS
14 *	M3WDS	IO81WV	8	2,124	GM4AFF	548	10	9 ele
15	G7SKR	IO83RI	29	1,839	M2F	272	100	5 ele
16	GW3ATZ	IO83LE	16	1,771	G0VHF/P	329	50	6 ele
17	M0RHS	IO80UT	8	1,467	ON4WY	370	100	9 ele	Christchurch ARS
18	G6CSY	JO01BJ	13	1,359	OQ4U	336	5	5 ele
19	G0VOF	IO83SS	7	1,308	GM4AFF	339	50	5 ele
20 *	2E0RFX	IO83WO	12	1,252	G0VHF/P	302	10	6 ele	The Simpson ARS
21	G0LMV	IO93RF	12	1,012	MM0GPZ/P	331	100	Vertical
22	G3VQO	IO91UB	5	339	G4WFR/P	88	50	Vertical	Horsham ARC
23	G7HNO	IO93OB	5	322	G0VHF/P	195	3	Vertical	RAF Waddington ARC
24	M6TYC	IO93RE	4	105	M6ZAC	83	5	Whip	RAF Waddington ARC
25	M6CMG	IO93RE	3	11	G7WAP	5	10	Vertical	RAF Waddington ARC

432 MHz
Section O
Pos	Callsign	Locator	QSOs	Score	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Ant	Group
1 *	G0VHF/P	JO01PU	158	56,071	DF0YY	771	400	4 * 21 ele	Colchester CG of Colchester RA
2 *	G0XDI	IO91RQ	71	17,606	EE1URO	1,172	100	19 ele	Chesham & DARS Club
3	M1FUR/P	IO91XH	47	4,082	DF0MU	513	50	2 * 19 ele + Vertical	Coulsdon ATS
Section SF
Pos	Callsign	Locator	QSOs	Score	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Ant	Group
1 *	G0JJG	JO02LE	32	10,288	EE1URO	1,276	300	17 ele
2 *	G4DEZ	JO03AE	30	6,916	DK2OY/P	649	400	4 x 28ele
3	G8HGN	JO01FO	21	6,275	EE1URO	1,203	50	2 * 21 ele
4	M5BFL	IO91OO	33	5,228	EE1URO	1,155	70	21ele	Chesham & DARS
5 *	2E0NEY	IO81VK	15	1,788	PA6NL	441	50	21 ele
6	G3HRH	IO91HA	5	902	PA6NL	396	300	4 * 11 ele
7	G0LGS	IO81WV	6	810	G0VHF/P	235	75	9 ele	Govt Comm ARC
8	G3BNE	JO01BJ	6	663	PA6NL	284	30	9 ele	Cray Valley RS
9 *	G3CKR	IO83SJ	6	632	G0VHF/P	306	10	21ele	Warrington CG
10	M5ADF	IO91TO	8	317	G0VHF/P	119	25	21 LPY
11	2E0JWJ	IO81VG	1	19	2E0NEY	19	5	Vertical
12	G1EVR	IO83TN	1	12	G1ONE/P	12	50	11 ele	Bolton Wireless Club
Section 6O
Pos	Callsign	Locator	QSOs	Score	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Ant	Group
1 *	MM0GPZ/P	IO85AK	10	1,827	G0VHF/P	528	70	28 ele	Mid Lanark ARS
2 *	G0BWC	IO83SN	19	1,563	PA6NL	477	40	19 ele	Bolton Wireless Club
3	G4WFR/P	IO91GI	18	1,538	G0VHF/P	198	50	3 ele
4	G1ONE/P	IO83RO	14	1,379	PA6NL	484	40	10 ele	Bolton Wireless Club
Section SO
Pos	Callsign	Locator	QSOs	Score	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Ant	Group
1 *	M2F	IO91SG	73	16,269	EE1URO	1,136	400	2 * 28 ele	Reigate ATS
Section 6S
Pos	Callsign	Locator	QSOs	Score	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Ant	Group
1 *	G3XDY	JO02OB	46	16,858	EE1URO	1,275	250	28 ele
2 *	G3YDY	JO01FQ	29	8,902	DR3M	658	100	19 ele
3	G1KHX	IO81MI	10	1,866	PA6NL	494	100	19 ele
4	GW3ATZ	IO83LE	9	1,315	PA6NL	503	50	12 ele
5	G8LZE	IO91SO	12	1,058	PA6NL	318	50	48 ele
6	G4LBH	IO91TV	13	966	PA6NL	309	100	19 ele
7	G6UBM	JO01CE	10	781	2E0NEY	171	75	18 ele	West Kent ARS
8	G8ZRE	IO83NE	7	465	M2F	270	20	17 ele
9	G7SKR	IO83RI	5	108	G1ONE/P	28	20	Vertical
10	M0CES	IO93RE	2	40	G4DEZ	39	20	Vertical	RAF Waddington ARC
11	G3VQO	IO91UB	1	33	M1FUR/P	33	50	Vertical	Horsham ARC

Overall
Section O
1 *	G0VHF/P	JO01PU	1,000	1,000	2,000	Colchester CG of Colchester RA
2 *	G3MDG/P	IO91RQ	186	314	500	Chesham and Dars
3	G4FUR/P	IO91XH	177	73	249	Coulsdon ATS
Section SF
1 *	G4DEZ	JO03AE	1,000	672	1,672
2 *	G0JJG	JO02LE		1,000	1,000
3	G8HGN	JO01FO	289	610	899
4	M5BFL	IO91OO	286	508	794	Chesham & DARS
5	2E0NEY	IO81VK	155	174	329
6	G4RYV	IO91OI	65		65
7	G3BNE	JO01BJ	59	64	124	Cray Valley RS
8	G0LGS	IO81WV	56	79	135	Govt Comm ARC
9	G3HRH	IO91HA		88	88
10	M5ADF	IO91TO	47	31	77
11	G3HRH	IO91HA	33		33
12	M3ZWW	JO01ED	32		32	West Kent ARS
13	G8IBL	IO91QE	27		27
14	M0GGO	JO01PD	25		25
15	G3UFY	IO91WJ	19		19	Addiscombe ARC
16	G3CKR	IO83SJ	16	61	77	Warrington CG
17	G1EVR	IO83TN	9	1	10	Bolton Wireless Club
18	M0CES	IO93RE	7		7	RAF Waddington ARC
19	2E0JWJ	IO81VG	4	2	6
20	G7WAP	IO93RF	1		1
Section SO
1 *	M2F	IO91SG	1,000	1,000	2,000	Reigate ATS
2	2E0XLG/P	IO84WC	447		447	Craven ARG
Section 6O
1 *	MM0GPZ/P	IO85AK	1,000	1,000	2,000	Mid Lanark ARS
2 *	G4WFR/P	IO91GI	589	842	1,430
3	G0BWC	IO83SN	80	856	936	Bolton Wireless Club
4	G1ONE/P	IO83RO	42	755	796	Bolton Wireless club
5	M0BAO/P	IO80LV	592		592
6	M9T	IO80AQ	569		569	Moors Contest Group A
7	M0ICK/P	IO83RO	123		123
Section 6S
1 = *	GM4AFF	IO86ST	1,000		1,000
1= *	G3XDY	JO02OB		1,000	1,000
3	G3YDY	JO01FQ		528	528
4	G4FOH	JO02BA	408		408
5	G0AJJ	JO02QT	380		380	Bittern DX Group
6	G1KHX	IO81MI	170	111	281
7	G8ZRE	IO83NE	174	28	202
8	G8LZE	IO91SO	138	63	201
9	M0NUT	IO91JO	176		176
10	G6UBM	JO01CE	128	46	174	West Kent ARS
11	G4LBH	IO91TV	101	57	158
12	GW3ATZ	IO83LE	53	78	131
13	G4PDS	IO80KR	119		119
14	G4XPE	IO92GU	79		79
15	M0HAK	IO91OI	66		66
16	G4GTH	IO90BV	65		65	Christchurch ARS
17	M3WDS	IO81WV	64		64
18	G7SKR	IO83RI	55	6	62
19	M0RHS	IO80UT	44		44	Christchurch ARS
20	G6CSY	JO01BJ	41		41
21	G0VOF	IO83SS	39		39
22	2E0RFX	IO83WO	38		38	The Simpson ARS
23	G0LMV	IO93RF	30		30
24	G3VQO	IO91UB	10	2	12	Horsham ARC
25	G7HNO	IO93OB	10		10	RAF Waddington ARC
26	M6TYC	IO93RE	3		3	RAF Waddington ARC
27	M0CES	IO93RE		2	2	RAF Waddington ARC
28	M6CMG	IO93RE	1		1	RAF Waddington ARC

Comments from the logs:

2E0RFX

144: Not good, Very windy and some static rain mixed in with snow, glad I was not /P.

2E0XLG/P

Very wet , Very windy , Lots of snow later.

G0BWC

432: Windy, with some rain and sleet, and the occasional sunny spell!

G0JJG

Lots of things broke - including 144 log and 2m amp and rotator. Gave up on 2m as equipment had clearly plotted to defeat me! Surprised to work IN52 in what otherwise seemed average conditions.

G0LGS

144: Not very busy, just giving away a few points 432: Very quiet, Just giving away a few points

G0VHF/P

144: Condx variable. WX threatening but toothless. European activity good. The relatively broad beamwidth of the novelty array perhaps reduced our long-DX effectiveness. 432: Conditions fair, activity good (when we could get the Europeans to turn West). Top 10 each over 600km.

G0XDI

432: Very Very poor conditions and activity. Some reasonable DL QSOs to be found. Very short opening to EA.

G1KHX

Very wet and windy at times very slow going.

G1ONE/P

432: Windy. Early rain and drizzle cleared, and conditions improved over the first three hours.

G3BNE

Fade out Sat evening. Better Sunday

G3HRH

144: Not all that busy. Some near-EU DX 432: Disappointingly low activity. All contacts made as follow-up to 144 QSOs

G3MDG/P

144: Hard Going on 2m. Thanks to all who came back to our call.

G3VQO

144: Deep QSB on all signals

G3XDY

432: Mostly average conditions, but enlivened by EE1URO to provide some nice DX.

G3YDY

432: Some reasonable DX to be had. UK Activity terrible. Thank goodness for the Europeans.

G4DEZ

144: Conditions very poor worse than in 2008 432: Not much time spent on 70cms and conditions bad!

G4FOH

144: Conditions patchy with a lot of QSB but still able to spring the occasional surprise! An enjoyable event. Thanks to the adjudicators for all their work on our behalf.

G4FUR/P

Windy then sunshine then windy with hail! Oh, very cold too!

G4LBH

144: Variable

G4RYV

144: Deep QSB at times, conditions sometimes difficult, patience required to get through.

G4WFR

144: Testing from new site. Horizontal snow & sleet & almost 1 hour of S9+20 rain static but still had a great time.

G4XPE

144: Abysmal conditions with sudden deep long lasting QSB. 432: No activity heard on this band

G6CSY

144: Deep QSB at times

G6UBM

144: Quiet but some good DX 432: Quiet but some good dx

G7HNO

Dull grey weather - QSB on band

G7SKR

144: Poor conditions and poor aerial. Didn't quite manage the European DX that was heard

G8HGN

144: Some DX to east & tropo' to EA, but otherwise lower activity 432: Some DX at times but low activity generally

G8LZE

144: Got tactics wrong but better than visiting the MIL. 432: Put aerial on mast outside - was it worth it?

G8ZRE

144: QSB low activity but good strength QSos to S/E and near Europe. 432: Worked all I could hear on 432Mhz

GM4AFF

144: Average condx.

GW3ATZ

144: Very low activity. Just 3 hours. Conditions average 432: Just 3 hours Sunday morning. Very low activity. Conditions average.

M0GHZ

Started at 8:50 and was very slow but built up later. Not good condx apparently but 2 or 3 incredibly strong ON's and F's make you realise what can be achieved. I QSYed a lot to 70cm's and in the process lost quite a few Q's on 2m. All good fun and thx for QSO's.

M0NUT

144: Variable conditions not many on

M1FUR/P

Windy then sunshine then windy with hail!

M2F

144: Fairly average with comparatively low UK activity. Brief duct to EA 432: Poor but one duct to EA

M3WDS

Giving away a few points.

M3ZWW

144: Only worked an hour or so over the 2 days conditions vy poor down here. Think I will operate with my 2e0 call in next contest up the wick to 50w and use the big stack. Tnx to all 20 of you for the points.

M5ADF

432: Very Flat

M5BFL

144: Fairly flat with very short opening to IN52, but only one station worked on both bands. Not much UK activity. 432: Flat except one quick opening to EA

M6TYC

Wet and windy, fear my mag mount is now atop my dog pen. I'm hoping the coax connection between them has taken in water.

M9T

144: Conditions average. Activity good for the first hour, but then it died off completely. Had antenna but no radio for 70cm, so just single band entry

MM0GPZ/P

144: Started at 8:50 and was very slow but built up later. Not good condx apparently but 2 or 3 incredibly strong ON's and F's make you realise what can be achieved. I QSYed a lot to 70cm's and in the process lost quite a few Q's on 2m. All good fun and thx for QSO's. 432: Almost all points gained by QSYing from 2m after a QSO. Only about 50% success rate.