AFFLIIATED SOCIETIES (AFS) SSB CONTEST, 2004.

The same three teams occupy the podium as did so last year, the only change being that, while all around them managed fewer QSOs than in 2003, the De Montfort University ARS 'A' team managed to find 30 more contacts between them and so relegate Lichfield 'B' to third position. Lichfield 'A' remain unassailable, however, and secure the Flight Refuelling ARS Trophy for another year.

In the individual listings, G3VHB receives the RSGB Lichfield Trophy as overall leader and G4XUM the certificate for the Runner-up. G8VHI/P (De Montfort University 'A') takes the certificate for third place, breaking the Lichfield stranglehold. M3CVN receives the award for the highest-placed Foundation Class entrant and 2E0VIN the award for highest-placed Intermediate Licence-holder. Congratulations also to M0TDG (operating G6UW) whose faultless log containing 202 QSOs really deserves better recognition than just these few words.

Entries were down about 5% this year - rather disappointing considering the number of new full licence-holders available to support their clubs. Only four M3s took part in this event compared with 18 in 2003. The fact that one of the references to the event in RadCom gave the wrong date may have contributed here, and apologies are tendered to those affected.

Log submission was generally good. Those arriving on paper were (thankfully) small both in number and size, helping to keep typing to a minimum. The others were mostly in Cabrillo or RSGB format, with the usual few in Excel, Word, Works, etc. Only one binary file proved to be unreadable and had to be returned. (Please note - any text file is preferable to a paper log!)
Nine Cabrillo logs were received where the data was corrupt, part of the Serial In field having been overwritten by the RS In field. When these were returned, eight were resubmitted satisfactorily in RSGB format, but in one case the original data was no longer available and the log had to be excluded.
The moral of this story is ... look at your files before you submit them!!!

My comments last year regarding the lack of SoapBox comments from competitors appear to have borne fruit. There were far too many this year to acknowledge them all here, but all have been noted and will be considered by the HFCC where appropriate.

Steve Knowles G3UFY.

Team:
* Flight Refuelling ARS Trophy
c Certificate of Merit

Individual:
* RSGB Lichfield Trophy
c Certificate of merit.

Checklogs received with thanks from G3VQO G4JQL M1GXL

SOAPBOX.

G0MBQ Why do stations gabble their call sign so quickly when CQ'ing at least three stations I never did de-cypher.

G0VDZ Best afs I have ever had

G0VYR I thought the band was quite reasonable at first with the usual splattering from the high powered stations.Later on the noise became horrendous.

G3GWB/P Several people mentioned the mix-up over the published date. This caused at least one of our club members to miss the contest.

G3IZD Some very badly adjusted radios giving broad splattery signals. This contest should have a 100W limit.

G3KKQ Mostly S & P. Found it hard to keep a channel. Plenty activity.

G3LHJ Begining of contest very hard going only big stations heard but last 2 hours much better - all good fun - cu next year.

G3SET Conditions fair to good except for dip at dusk. Band packed tight so noise level from adjacent stns was very high and tiring over 4 hrs. Good challenging contest.

G3TBK Always hard when band opens to EU. Good to work so many M3 and "Class B" licencees.

G3TXF Nice to work G1, G6, G7, and G8. For diehard HF'ers these new ex-VHF prefixes sound like some sort of DX!

G3XNI Having not been active on 80 metres for many years I was surprised to find so many G3 stations on air.

G4BUO Hoped-for increase in activity due to G8s etc didn't materialise.

G4CJY Enjoyed contest. Look forward to improving score in 2005.

G4PIQ/P Definitely taught me a thing or two. Even a madhouse like SSB AFS is not closed to the small guys.

G4WJS Expected more activity from new full licencees!

G6BOX Busy but brilliant fun

G7SOZ A first attempt at 80m. Good fun!

GM4AFF The usual shouting match. It's no fun not getting heard!

GW8IZR Enjoyed event, couldn't keep a frequency to run so just worked what I could hear.

M0DDT Need a wider band!

M0LKB Hard going with just short vertical antenna!

M0LXT My first AFS contest - great fun!

M0SAR My first HF contest in earnest. Good fun. Good condx. Length just right for me.

M0ZZO Dogged by Antenna problems in first hour. Had to climb mast in rain to cure. Good fun just the same and activity seems well up

M3CVN Had fun; conditions improved throuhout contest. Can't wait till next years' event!

M3JUH Quite happy with result and will try for a higher score next year.