First 70MHz 2006

This year saw increased activity levels with 98 stations from EI, G, GD, GI, GM, GW and S5 active during the event. Only one entrant worked over half of the stations active. Although conditions were generally described as poor to average, there were many contacts over 400 kMs and 10 QSOs over 500 kMs.

The weather conditions did not favour the portable stations with rain, hail, snow and strong cold winds being reported. As one entrant stated "The WX forecast was reasonable but unfortunately the WX itself didn't realise this!"

Congratulations go to the Northern Lights, GD0EMG, and Bryn, G4DEZ, for their section wins. These stations together with the runners up Trev, G2KF/P, and Stewart, GM4AFF, will receive certificates.

Roger Dixon, G4BVY

Section O
Pos	Callsign	QSOs	Score	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Antenna
1 *	GD0EMG	55	17,347	S51DI	1,673	160	2 * 8 ele
2 *	G2KF/P	40	9,854	GM4AFF	702	160	8 ele + 4 ele
3	G4RFR	56	9,842	GM4AFF	673	150	2 * 12 ele
4	GW4EVX/P	25	4,414	GM4AFF	402	80	3 ele
5	G6GVI/P	25	3,704	G2KF/P	361	25	2 ele
6	G0SRC/P	29	3,655	G6HIE	265	10	3 ele
7	G4VRC/P	13	1,654	GD0EMG	427	10	5 ele
8	G4ADV	8	1,054	G8SRL	389	25	2 * 7 ele
Section SF
Pos	Callsign	QSOs	Score	ODX Call	ODX Kms	Power	Antenna
1 *	G4DEZ	43	10,229	G3YJX	450	150	8 ele
2 *	GM4AFF	22	9,417	G2KF/P	702	140	8 ele
3	G3MEH	46	7,281	GM4AFF	574	160	2 * 5 ele
4	G3JYP	25	6,188	G2KF/P	462	120	8 ele quagi
5	G8SRL	29	5,662	GD0EMG	475	100	7 ele
6	G0ODQ	33	5,074	GM4AFF	580	150	5 ele
7	G3IKR	34	4,949	GM0USI/P	442	160	4 ele
8	G3XPU	23	3,548	GM4AFF	482	50	3 ele
9	G4SJH	21	2,058	GD0EMG	407	65	6 ele
10	G3RHH	14	1,966	GD0EMG	429	50	4 ele
11	GM4DIJ	7	1,007	G4DEZ	374	60	4 ele

Comments from the logs: G0SRC/P

Good fun with snow, hail and sun.

G2KF/P

Slow start but very windy. Missed a few but many thanks.

G3IKR

Not Good!! More, deeper QSB than usual.

G3JYP

Snowing again! Not as much as last contest. Conditions about average.

G3MEH

Poor conditions but reasonable activity. Missed out on a GM4? just too weak to copy on CW.

G3RHH

Poor propagation, fair level of activity.

G4ADV

A bit of a struggle with only 25w

G4DEZ

Deep QSB low activity no DX (should have used JT6M) but considered that not to be very fair! Heard OZ calling me but too weak!

G4VRC/P

Deep QSB. Sunny before contest. Overcast and cold during. Sunny after. My first contacts on 70MHz. Hope to do better next time.

G6GVI/P

I started the event from the home QTH, but having made no QSOs in 25 minutes, I decided to brave the elements and head for the hills. Up on Winter Hill, there were two hail showers, but also some warm sunshine. A passing aircraft helped me to exchange with GM4AFF, whose signal came up past S9 briefly. It was good to hear one of the IC-E90s in operation, getting out well with just a set-top helical, over a 71km path.

G8SRL

Conditions were not very good with best propagation to the West. There was also a lot of QSB with the resultant failure to complete some QSOs. There was also a shortage of stations.

GM4AFF

Poor to average. Lots of QSB

GM4DIJ

Deep QSB. No new calls heard after 1 1/2 hours. Gotaway GI4KSO, G8XVJ

GW4EVX/P

Atrocious WX when arrived at site so started contest 50 mins late. Average conditions and usual level of activity. The WX forecast was reasonable but unfortunately the WX itself didn't realise this! Rain, hail and very cold wind when arrived at the site so was 50mins late starting - not that it makes much difference in a 3hr four metre contest!