2m and 70cm activity contest results

Both the 2m and 70cm activity contest results, run every month on Tuesday evenings and organised by the RSGB, have been published. 

These show very credible scores in the low power (AL) sections, considering I usually stay on for under an hour and just use a 2m big-wheel omni antenna. No beams or rotators here!

See the RSGB contest website for details.

RSGB contest rule change - Dec 5th 2020

It is almost impossible to keep up with rule changes due to Covid-19 in different parts of the UK. The RSGB is taking a pragmatic approach. Basically, follow local rules for Covid.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/cv19.shtml

70cm activity contest results

Most definitely I am not a contest person!  However, I usually take part in the RSGB organised activity contests each month on 2m and 70cm on Tuesday evenings. Usually most activity in these friendly contests is on SSB and after a short while I give up because of my poor voice. 

Results for the November 70cm UKAC activity contest have just been published and I remain about a third of the way down the low power section. Seeing I only use 10W and the 2m (not 70cm!) big-wheel omni and rarely stay on for more than an hour of the contest, this is fine.

2m activity contest tonight

The next leg of the 2m UKAC acitivy contest starts tonight at 1900z for 2.5 hours. I usually use 10W and the big-wheel omni antenna and stay on for about an hour as my voice is poor.

Unlike many contests, this is good humoured. Although I usually submit a log and enter the contest, there is no compulsion to do so. Many just come on as there is plenty of 2m SSB activity.

UPDATE 2050z:  In all, 9 stations worked tonight. I stayed on one hour.

Practical Wireless QRP contest this Sunday

This is this Sunday, June 14th. As portables are unlikely to be on, for this year only the power allowed has been increased to 10W. I believe you can operate for any 4 hour period in the contest hours. Rules are in the June 2020 copy of PW. I expect they are on the web too. If I remember, I intend to come on for a little while. Quite often I am away and miss this. Not this year!

2m activity contest

The results for the June 2m activity contest have just been published by the RSGB. 

This friendly contest is arranged on all VHF bands every month. I have a go in the 2m and 70cm contests with 10W and my 2m big-wheel omni antenna used on both bands.  Usually I stay on for less than an hour because of my poor voice. It is mostly SSB. 

My position in the low power section has gone up. If I stayed on longer, I could work far more stations. I do not take this, or any, contest seriously.

70cm activity contest

Starting at 2000z is the RSGB organised activity contest on 70cm (UKAC). As my voice is poor, I use 10W and I have no suitable antennas (I use my 2m big-wheel omni) my time is usually well below an hour. Activity levels are far better than normal on 70cm SSB and there is no compulsion to submit a log. I usually do even though I rarely work a great many stations.

Overall, it is fun. To me, this is how contests should be.  Scoring is simple and there are multipliers for new grid squares.

UPDATE 2115z: Despite my QRP and 2m omni antenna, I managed 7 QSOs in this contest. No great DX worked, but great fun for about 40 minutes.

70cm SSB stations worked this evening

70cm activity contest tonight from 2000z

Although I am not really equipped for 70cm SSB, I shall have a go again using the 2m big-wheel and 10W SSB. Because of my poor voice I usually stop after about 40 minutes.

The band can be quite active, although with strong winds and rain, I expect some /P stations will stay at home! Often I manage over 100km on 70cm with this less than optimum set-up. If taking part, have fun. If you are really keen, the contest lasts 2.5 hours I think. My log is usually submitted by 2130z!

UPDATE 2100z: Well tonight with the high winds and rain, conditions were dreadful. After just 2 contacts I gave up and returned to 160m FT8 RX.

2m UKAC activity contest this evening

Starting at 2000z tonight is the December leg of the 2m activity contest. Normally activity levels on SSB are high. Although I just use QRP and stop on for less than an hour, I frequently manage more than 200km.

UPDATE 2126z: In the end with my 10W SSB 7 QSOs with best DX 243km in the Dales. After about 50 minutes I had to stop because of my poor voice. There were plenty more stations to work.

Stations worked with QRP on 2m SSB

this evening in the activity contest

2m UKAC (activity contest) tonight at 2000z

As usual, there is an SSB (mainly) contest this evening. I usually run QRP and stop on for under a hour, although the contest lasts for 2.5 hours. Although I usually submit a log, I really come on just for the fun. This is a friendly contest and activity levels are normally high.

UPDATE 2125z: 8 QSOs with 10W SSB and the big-wheel with best DX Isle of Man. I only stayed on for 35 minutes because of my poor voice.

Stations worked this evening with 

2m QRP and the big-wheel omni antenna.

70cm activity contest this evening

Starting at 1900z (8pm UK clock time) is the May leg of the RSGB's 70cm UKAC activity contest. SSB activity is better than usual and even 5W to a 2m halo usually gets me QSOs up to over 100km.

70cm UKAC results for the year

The results of the 70cm activity contests for the whole year (2018) have been published.

According to the results I came 109th out of 180 in the AL section. Considering I use 5W to a 2m halo fed via very lossy RG58 coax, I am quite pleased. I usually stay on for about 30 minutes only as my voice is poor.

2m activity contest

The 2m leg of the UKAC activity contest was this evening. I nearly missed it, only seeing the email reminder at 2045z. In all, 4 stations worked - not many, but better than forgetting! Best DX was (again) G4CLA (105km). As usual I run 5W SSB to my big-wheel omni.

Stations worked with 5W and omni 

antenna on 2m SSB this evening

2m contest

There is a contest currently on 2m (MGM). I am monitoring FT8 RX with the big-wheel omni antenna.

Best DX was DF6PW (633km). Currently 6 countries spotted this morning. At the moment, nothing special: these sort of distances are possible every day by aircraft reflection on 2m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1540z: I think the contest ended at 1400z. Busy on 2m FT8, but perhaps not much different to a normal "flat" day?

UPDATE 2107z: Still on 2m FT8 and still spotting good DX, presumably via aircraft.

70cm UKAC activity contest last night

Once a month the RSGB holds a 70cm activity contest. I made no contacts! Not even one!  I had my brother staying, so was on for even less time than normal, but it was very quiet here with very few stations heard. In the end I gave up and went back to 160m FT8 RX.

2m activity contest this evening (UKAC)

If you are in Europe, the RSGB organised UKAC 2m session for November takes place this evening at 8pm UK clock time (2000z). Even if you do not enter the contest then activity is usually good, so plenty of stations to try and work. I normally go on for the first 30-60 minutes running 5W to the omni antenna.

UPDATE 2140z: 7 contacts with the best 116km with 5W and the omni antenna. Not great, but fun. As usual , very restricted on-air time because of poor voice.

Stations worked on 2m in UKAC this evening

2m UKAC contest results

The results of the 2m UKAC activity contest for October have been published. Apparently my position has improved. Seeing I use 5W to an omni and usually stay on for less than 60 minutes, I am quite pleased. I do not take contests too seriously.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contest=144MHz%20UKAC&year=2018

70cm activity contest (UKAC)

Tonight is the 70cm leg of the RSGB's activity contest starting at 1900z. It lasts for 2.5 hours. As usual, I shall be on briefly using 5W SSB to my 2m halo. Despite this being a poor 70cm antenna, it matches well and I usually make a few contacts. My voice usually asks me to stop after about 30-45 minutes, HI.

UPDATE 2002z: Just a single QSO with G4CLA (105km). Heard a few others but I could not hang around.

2m UKAC RSGB activity contest

In the October leg of the 2m UKAC RSGB activity contest, I made 6 QSOs in the short time I was on. Best DX was G6DOD/P (216km) on the Isle of Wight. As usual I was using 5W and the big-wheel omni antenna.

2m activity contest this evening

The October leg of the 2m activity contest (UKAC) organised by the RSGB starts at 1900z this evening. I usually enter and send a log in, although I rarely stay on long because of my poor voice. 30-60 minutes and I am done in!

I run 5W to my big-wheel omni antenna. These days, I seem to work (or get spotted) far further with 2m FT8, which does not strain my voice. Most contests I work out to about 200km on SSB. My best is much further.

As I have said many times before, this is a very friendly contest with lots of activity. If you don't want to, there is no compulsion to send in a log. It is a great chance to work a few new stations and squares. As I usually work fewer than 10 stations it is quick to transcribe my logs.

UPDATE 2040z: I was late on tonight and could not stop on long. 6 stations worked in 5 squares with 5W and the omni antenna. I have yet to work out the best DX.