VHFNFD 1 - 2 July 2006

Over the first weekend in July, two sports events vied for attention on TV. The beach or pool also offered great appeal and there was a pressing need to put to the ultimate test all those plans to carry off an award in VHF NFD. For some, there was only one choice. Others managed to combine them all, along with the odd barbecue and family day out. In the ways of their choosing, we believe that most folk had a jolly good time.

The Weather. The last few days of June saw high pressure keeping the south and east of England dry, warm and sunny. In most other places in the UK, a waving cold front sent showery outbreaks of rain. As the first weekend of July approached, weather maps were studied and barometers tapped - hopefully. Not all this attention was motivated by wishes for super propagation and a good position in the results table. There is strong evidence to show that several entrants placed greater emphasis on packing the deckchairs, sunshades, portable TVs and wine/beer coolers, while leaving just sufficient space for the radio equipment. Most people's hopes were fulfilled in some way - not necessarily for the whole of the period. Saturday 1st, turned out sunny and warm or very hot in many parts with Heathrow Airport logging 32.3 degrees C in the shade. Overnight, in the south and south east of England, it became very cold with a stiff breeze, but they were very lucky compared with others. By Sunday 2nd, the south west, midlands and north west of England and most of Scotland, suffered torrential thundery downpours and large hailstones. Aberdeen VHF Group + North of Scotland Contest Group ( to be known in this article hereafter as Aberdeen VHFG + N of Scotland CG ! ), from IO86, were beset with thunder and lightning and were totally soaked during pack-up - taking three days thereafter to dry out. Rochdale & District, in IO83, were just at the spot where the highest precipitation rate in the UK was recorded (44mm in 12 hours) and had to abandon, at least, their 70 MHz station. In complete contrast, Lothians, in IO74, commented on the good weather and West Bromwich Central, in IO92, and Dorking & District, in IO91, found it very hot, dry and sunny. Rusty Radios, from JO02, on their first outing, found it so hot on the Sunday afternoon that it took them ages to pack up - with lots of pauses for cool drinks - just leaving just enough spare capacity for a pub visit later. Surrey, in IO91, sweltered for the first 9 hours, with their 70cm station housed in a gazebo bearing a St George's Cross - to the entertainment of passing motorists. But at 0200 under a clear sky, their singleton overnight operator was forced to transfer the entire station to their caravan only just before hypothermia set in. Many made no comment at all about the weather, so we can only guess that they were either content or so devastated by the experience that they were rendered speechless.

Entries and Registrations. The number of groups and individuals submitting an entry this year rose slightly to 62 compared with 59 in 2005. Pre-contest Site Registration numbers remained the same as in 2005 at 50. Presumably, they gained some flexibility in choosing which site, bands and sections to enter but sacrificed eligibility for Contest Awards - since their stations were thus not open for inspection by the VHF Contests Committee. Inspections were undertaken and showed nothing untoward. The lnspectors wish to express their gratitude for the warm welcome they received at all sites visited. Very few groups who registered did not submit an entry subsequently. There was some migration between sections compared with 2005. Several UK stations were active portable or fixed on one or two bands, for enjoyment - giving points away and/or equipment testing or enjoying their first taste of VHFNFD with an entry matched to their resources. Perhaps the experiences of some of those just out for the day will prompt an entry next year. The committee is grateful for the check logs from Jim and Dave, MM0BQI & GM4WLL, Roger G3MEH, Bryn G4DEZ and, of course, the stalwart supporter of RSGB contests from the Netherlands, Frank PE1EWR.

Band by Band commentary.

50 MHz. Sporadic E-layer (Es) propagation was the principal means of working the DX on this band, accompanied by a moderate enhancement of Tropospheric refraction (Tropo) to deliver the middling distances. Stations in and around the Mediterranean Sea appeared in many logs to deliver ODX of 2000 to 3500 km with contacts to Malta, Cyprus, the Balkan States, Greece, Bulgaria and Israel. Being both Mediterranean and African, Morocco was a nice surprise for some in the shape of 5F50IG - the latter's prefix puzzling quite a few ! So was Atlantic and African: the Canary Islands with EA8/DL6FAW. Topping the ODX list, however, was K4RX in USA State of Florida at 7131 km, worked by Windmill in the Open section, from JO01. Not all that less, at 6515 km, was VP2V/W7XU in British Virgin Islands, worked by Rochdale, in Restricted, from IO83. ODX in the Low Power section went to Sutton Coldfield, from IO92, in QSO with SV2GWY, at 2283 km. While these ODX-ers were no doubt pretty pleased by their accomplishments, most had to settle for something quite a bit less. For some, conditions, activity, and overall satisfaction did not appear on their "felt good about" list: Lothians in IO74 noted that Es was present most of the time, but they were plagued by an antenna fault. Colchester, from JO01, just commented wryly "Didn't seem to work for us!" Reigate & Crawley felt on the edge of the Es but a real opening proved elusive and they were disappointed at their final score. However not everyone felt bad. Dundee, from IO86, reported with elation and some emotion too: "No technical issues !" and the duo forming the White Noise Listening Society, from IO82, in their first outing, proclaimed: "A great weekend".

70 MHz. Most groups remarked on the absence of Es, but thought that Tropo was good - at least at the start of the contest until, for some, the big bangs in the sky signalled a big decline in their QSO rate. Dartmoor Convicts on Tour (to GW), from IO72, in the Open section, attributed two DX contacts to Meteor Scattering. They were delighted with their ODX to Slovenia S51DI at 1628 km ! South Birmingham, from IO82, in Restricted, remarked on an unexpected QSO with LX, but their ODX was with GM4SIV (on St Kilda) at 730 km. That station also gave Bracknell & Flight Refuelling, from IO80, in Open, their ODX at 872 km, but they were saddened that S5 was a gotaway. ODX for Shefford & District, from IO92, in the Low Power section was also with GM4SIV at 842 km. Singleton Operator, John Flowers, from IO81, was disappointed not to have made it with GM4SIV. His Low Power was just unable to span the distance in competition with higher powered stations. The new group, Rusty Radios, put in a very competitive entry from JO02 to lead the Low Power section on this band, bagging the most QSOs and almost the least logging errors. They also claim the first G-LX contact on 70 MHz - Luxembourg having only the previous day issued its first licences for the band. Opinions were very divided on activity levels. Some groups found activity higher than in several previous years. Others found the band quieter and, indeed, the poorest for years. They can all be right at the same time !

144 MHz. This band usually carries the greatest amount of VHF NFD traffic of each of the 5 bands available and it did again this year. Many stations reported very sporadic E layer and Tropo - providing contacts into Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the Czech Republic plus lots into the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France - the latter group called by some: "the near continent". Of course, that term depends very much on where you are located in the UK! A couple of stations reported some evidence of Meteor Scattering. Aberdeen VHFG + N of Scotland CG ! achieved Open section ODX of 1928 km with ED4URA. Restricted section and Overall ODX of 2246 km goes to Moray Firth, from IO87, in QSO with EB7CAV. Interesting to note that ODX in all three sections was attained by Scottish stations. Across the piece, opinions differ on whether activity was up or down in comparison with last year. On the one hand, Cockenzie & Port Seton, in IO84, noted good activity in the UK and beyond. Dundee, in IO86, were delighted with what their new site delivered. On the other hand, Cambridge & District, in JO02, found the going very slow and difficult and Newbury & District, in IO91, commented "Nothing outstanding this year". Does this suggest that everything was super in the top bit of the UK and poor in the rest ? In truth, neither activity level nor dx on its own ever delivers the goods - as the tables demonstrate.

432 MHz. Conditions were odd and surprises abounded. Signal strengths were enormous and constant at times. At other times, QSB could take signals from S9 plus to zero, and sometimes back again, in less than a second. Several stations noted a drop in the number of their QSOs compared to 2005, but ODX was advanced by almost 150km. An extended Tropo duct to the east and north east of Europe lasted for hours from about 2200 on the Saturday, drifting slowly from south to north of the UK. This gave many stations contacts into Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Latvia and Russia. Over the same period, stations in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany had all but faded out from UK receivers. By about 0530 on the Sunday, conditions had returned to the near normal but accompanied by mini-lifts into the French and Swiss Alps and again extended to the south east of Germany. Reigate and Crawley, from JO02, in the Open section, were rewarded with ODX of 1375 km with YL2GJW/A. In the Restricted section, Telford, from IO82, netted not only section ODX, but that for the band too, with 1518 km to RK2FWA/P. ODX for the Low Power section goes to The White Noise Listening Society, from IO82, with 1505 km also to RK2FWA/P. Colchester, from JO01, were delighted to have their top 10 QSOs exceeding 800km and Aberdeen VHFG + N of Scotland CG ! ,from IO86, described conditions as superb - until the lightning storm ! However, the delights of high activity and super dx were not gifted to all. Dundee, also from IO86, lamented a quiet band - as did Rochdale, from IO83. Although both pretty well up their respective section tables, South Birmingham, from IO82, believed their score to be 50% down on 2005 and Bracknell & Flight Refuelling from IO80 described the band as "quite quiet". Irrespective of all these things, CRG, alias Cam Hams, from JO02, described their first outing as "Excellent fun !". Reappearing after an absence of several years, Verulam, from IO91, agreed wholeheartedly. Who can argue with them ?

1296 MHz. Quite a number of groups report conditions similar to those on 432 MHz, with extended Tropo to Scandinavia for many hours from 2200 and a blackout of stations from the Netherlands and Germany over the same period. Warrington, from IO93, thought conditions even better than in 2005. No wonder, with their Low Power entry giving them ODX for the band at 1439 km with RK2FWA/P. Danish stations, OZ6OL, OZ9EDR/P and OZ5ESB/P appear in several logs and were there for the picking for a very long time. Sweden, in the shape of SM6HYG and SM7DTE gave ODX respectively, in the Open section, to Colchester, from JO01, at 962 km and to Reigate & Crawley, from JO02, at 913km. Interestingly, the latter group reported patchy conditions, with radar QRM, and bemoaned a lack of French stations. In Restricted, South Birmingham, from IO82, logged DF0OL, to give them their ODX at 730km. The number of groups choosing to operate a 1296 MHz station has held firm at 17 for the last three years. Although, perhaps, a minority choice of band in the UK, activity in the near, and not so near, continent together with fixed stations from the UK, continues to fill UK portable logs with substantial numbers of QSOs - so be there next year. We love you.

Logging accuracy. As in previous years, logging standards varied considerably between groups. One might suppose some connection, but analysis reveals no relationship between numbers of contacts and numbers of errors. On occasions, operators may feel a driving need to keep up the QSO rate; but there really is no benefit to be gained if those hard earned points are lost by errored copying and logging. It is not a time-waster to ask for a repeat. A simple post-contest feasibility check can often identify mis-loggings and is highly recommended. Keep any scrap paper used for notes until you are satisfied with the log. Some almost-real examples of LOC errors follow: There are no F stations in IO97**. Admittedly, there are not many GMs there either, but the locator is more likely to be IN97**, surely. Several hundred points sacrificed! Similarly, there are no Gs in IO76** and certainly not with a calculated distance of only 12 km from the GM claimant in that square ! Only 12 points down the drain, but you get the point, no doubt. Just one more, for luck: There may be several Polish nationals in Namibia and Angola - JH square, but none of them are likely to sign with an SP prefix. Maybe wobbly fingers on the keyboard or a manuscript transcription error, but JN instead of JH might have rescued 800 points from the bin - not to mention the disappointment of losing the 8000 claimed! Better luck or better precision next year, maybe ? But it is only fun, after all !

Results and Awards. Two things are striking about the overall results this year. First, is the very small separation between the leaders in all sections. Second, is the wide spread of locations of those occupying the upper positions in the table. This year it is very evident that a station does not need to be close to the south east corner of the UK to do very well in VHFNFD. Hopefully this will serve as encouragement to those who have hitherto believed that they could not make a competitive entry.

Starting with the Open section: Colchester GG repeat their achievement of last year at the top of this section and take the Surrey Trophy. In second place lies Aberdeen VHFG + Nth of Scotland CG ! , leaping up from 9^th last year, also gaining the Tartan Trophy as highest placed Scottish entry in the section - pushing Windmill CG into third, followed then by Crawley ARC and Reigate ATS in fourth.

In the Restricted section, South Birmingham RS come first, moving up from 2^nd last year and taking the Martlesham Trophy. Newbury & DARS take the runner-up slot followed, some way behind, by the North Beds Gentlemen and Lagan Valley. The Cockenzie Quaich is awarded to Mid-Lanark ARS as highest placed Scottish entry in the section.

In the Low Power section, top slot is taken by De Montfort University ARS 'A' Team. This De Montfort moved away from the Restricted section, having won that for 3 years on the trot. The Arthur Watts Trophy is handed on to them from second placed Warrington CG - last year's section winner. The Scottish Trophy as highest placed Scottish entry in this section, goes to GM3TAL, G3SHK and G3RWF.

Moving to the combination of pre-entry mind-game and operating skill of the Mix & Match section: Telford & DARS pulled it off yet again - repeating their multi-year achievement of first place over Surrey RCC CG , and taking the G5BY trophy but, this year, with a very much narrowed gap between them. While these two are busy eyeing each other, no doubt Rochdale & DARS, Shefford & DARS and Rusty Radios CG will all be working out how to tip them off the top.

Certificates will be awarded to winners and runners-up in all sections. Congratulations to these and to all participants on behalf of:

Band Adjudicators & Scrutineers: Peter Bowyer G4MJS, Peter Lindsay G4CLA, John MacLean MM0CCC, Bob Edgar G0KYS, Roger Dixon G4BVY, Ian Pawson G0FCT . Overall Adjudicator: Andy Cook G4PIQ. Commentary: John Simkins G8IYS.