2nd 50MHz Backpackers contest of 1997 With the shortest 'best DX' at almost 1850 km, none of the entrants complained about the propagation conditions into Europe and the Mediterranean during this contest with excellent openings into Italy reported by many stations. Indeed, the main problem encountered by most people was finding UK stations to work! However, the weather was not so kind with S5 noise from static due to local thunderstorms reported by several stations. Congratulations to the Jersey ARS, GJ8RVT/P for winning the 10W multi-operator section, to the West Kent ARS, G1WKS/P for winning the 3W multi-operator section, to M0AFC/P for winning the 10W single operator section and to GW8ZRE/P for winning the 3W single operator section. Congratulation also to the runners-up in each section. Ian, G0FCT 10W Multi-operator Name Call Loc QSO Mult Points Total Best DX km Pwr Ant 1 Jersey ARS GJ8RVT/P IN89WF 94 47 108907 5118629 IW8PQ 1849 10 5el 2 G3XNI/P IO91KG 48 36 38294 1378584 IW9CER 1941 10 3el 3W Multi-operator Name Call Loc QSO Mult Points Total Best DX km Pwr Ant 1 West Kent ARS G1WKS/P JO01BH 40 36 32414 1166904 9H5EE 2058 3 5el 10W Single operator Name Call Loc QSO Mult Points Total Best DX km Pwr Ant 1 Castle CG M0AFC/P IO84SA 81 70 55363 3875410 IW9CEW 2217 10 5el 2 G0SOO/P IO91SE 56 46 45199 2079154 IW9DSW 1951 10 5el 3 G8JAY/P IO91AW 48 43 47314 2034502 9H5EE 2207 8 5el 4 GD7KHG/P IO74SF 27 30 35667 1070010 IW8PQ 2314 10 5el 5 Cockenzie+ Port Seton ARC MM1BGI/P IO85TX 27 23 20446 470258 IS0QDV 1936 10 7el 6 G8ORG/P IO83VE 28 29 15270 442830 IK8YTN/8 1927 10 HB9CV 3W Single operator Call Loc QSO Mult Points Total Best DX km Pwr Ant 1 GW8ZRE/P IO83JF 27 30 25695 770850 IW8PQ 2173 2.5 Whip 2 G4MD/P IO82TB 29 28 24597 688716 IW8PQ 2049 2.5 3el Call sign Equipment GJ8RVT/P IC706 G3XNI/P FT690+PA G1WKS/P IC505 M0AFC/P IC706 G0SOO/P TS690 G8JAY/P TS130+MUTEK TVTR GD7KHG/P TS680S MM1BGI/P IC706 G8ORG/P IC251E+transverter GW8ZRE/P FT690 G4MD/P FT690