G2EC RSARS Contesting Group

Contesting News and Updates

G2EC CQ WPX SSB Contest 28 / 29 March

Cole Block, the home of G2EC is not configured for contesting ordinarily so a lot of work lay ahead before 00:01 Saturday 28 March.

Tom G2NV, Anthony G4AAV and Ady G6AD were on site Wednesday afternoon to start building antennas for the contest.

Much of the antenna farm is field day style for this contest. We bought with us a 40m four square with raised radials, an 80m 1/4 wave vertical with ground radials, an INNOV XR6C 14 element yagi and a G3TXQ hexbeam.

The weather was against us and it was not safe to do any work at height on Wednesday, so we assembled the hexbeam on the ground in the relative shelter of some bushes. The wind blew and we even had a little snow. Eventually we called it a day and retreated inside.

Then work started on the four operating positions and data network until we called it a night late on Wednesday evening.

Thursday’s weather was much better. After a hearty breakfast in the Officer’s Mess we arrived at Cole Block at 07:30 to find Martin, 2E0HVE station manager of Cole Block had already luffed over the two P60 towers ready to fit the XR6C and hexbeam. On Thursday we were joined by Chris G1VDP, Stuart M0TTQ and Alex M7DPA. Chris had bought with him an ICOM IC-7760 and IC-7610 generously loaned to RSARS by ICOM UK for the contest. We are grateful for their support.

By Friday afternoon Eddie M8EVM had arrived and we completed the antenna farm.

Contest Day Start

We started the contest with 3 operators in the shack. G2NV, M8EVM and M7DPA working on the 80m and 40m positions simultaneously with a 3rd person as backup and on tea making duty. Around 05:00 fresh operators arrived in the shack and we started working on 20m as well. Just after 07:00 Saturday morning we added 15m as the 80m and 40m bands began to play out. We made our first 10m QSO around 08:30.

This was the pattern for the weekend. We were joined by Ingy M0MHJ and Mark G0GGX over the weekend who helped and gave encouragement.

It felt like band conditions were average over the weekend. The higher bands played well but the North American openings felt later than usual.
Asia was workable but no big signals. Europe was ever present and strong.

I am proud of our contest team. Despite this being the first time at G2EC for some of us, and a first time doing a multi multi style contest for 3 of our
team, everyone did their bit. We achieved a significant improvement on last year’s score.

In addition to the excellent commitment of our RSARS members who travelled to Blandford to help out I must also thank Richard G0ZEP for arranging accommodation for the team in the Officer’s Mess. The rest and food definitely contributed to our performance.

Also, a big thank you to Martin 2E0HVE who seemed to be ever present the whole time. We couldn’t have asked for a better station manager.

Not everything went smoothly (does it ever?) but lessons were learnt for next time.

Looking back, we have concerns that the 40m four square did not give a good return on the effort it took to build.

We need to consider other options. The hexbeam was a temporary fix until a tribander can be acquired for the north tower.

The XR6C played well and will be pressed into service on the planned remote station in time.

Unfortunately, we discovered one of the director elements from the XR6C impaled in the grass under the south tower on Monday morning! I have no idea how long it was there.

The tear down was quick and efficiently executed thanks to many hands.
Martin 2E0HVE returned the station to its normal configuration and we all went our separate ways.

Until next time… 73 de Ady G6AD

Team Captain G2EC