October 2005 UHF/SHF Contest Results

So often now it seems that the October weather gets the better of this contest, as happened this year. The weather was lousy, and conditions generally matched the weather, with not even much benefit from much rain scatter for the higher bands. Nevertheless entries to the Open section this year have recovered somewhat, , but we are a few down in Single Operator Fixed station participation.

The date for this contest is tied to the rest of Europe, and this is one of the four major IARU Region 1 co-ordinated contests which gives us no real scope for moving the dates. However - the upside of this is that excellent DX is available to be worked and there is evidence of this in the band tables. Equipment continues to improve - especially on some of the middle bands, and, with a good number of stations now running 100W or more on 13cm, the DX worked on this band is starting to look just like the lower frequencies. For example, G3XDY's best DX at 684 km is great under flat conditions, but he just failed to complete a QSO with DF0YY in Berlin at 774km. Also, look at what's happening on the highest bands with the South Birmingham RS making a record 4 QSOs on 47 GHz.

This year, by taking out and winning more bands, the Colchester CG have turned the tables on the South Birmingham RS by winning the Open section. It was also great to see the Bracknell and Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Clubs out and active on many bands. In the Single Operator Fixed Section, John Quarmby, G3XDY was dominant as usual, having the top UK score on all 5 from 6 bands and he will be hoping to repeat a top placing in Europe, leaving a two band entry from Bryn Llewellyn, G4DEZ in second place.

Andy Cook, G4PIQ.