July 2013 VHF National Field Day

In the UK VHF NFD is aimed mainly at portable stations, but fixed stations can enter "sweeper" sections so long as they only use search & pounce and do not call CQ, so I didn't call CQ on the bands below 13cm. Conditions from the off were superb for this one. I got on the bands about 3 hours in, the first station worked was TM7G in IN93 on 70cm. After a few locals on 23cm, it was time to run the bands up to 10GHz with regulars like PI4Z, DF0MU and PA6NL. After a few more locals on 70cm, TM7G was worked on 23/13cm with good signals, but 3cm did not go (they had some azimuth pointing problem I believe). Loud signals were received on 70cm from GW2OP/p (IO71) and EI9E/P (IO62). Next up was LA0BY/P on 70 then 23cm, followed by EA2DR/1 on 23cm then 70cm. Then back to a UK mix, followed by EI9E/P at a genuine 59 on 1.3GHz - the loudest EI ever heard here on 23cm. The next DX was OZ1ALS in JO44 worked on 23/13cm, then the best DX of the contest EA2AGZ (IN91) on 23cm at 59, followed by a quick exchange on 2m to get him to QSY onto 70cm for an easy 59 QSO there too. These contacts are all time new squares on 432/1296MHz. After working DK2ZF/P (JO43) on 23/13 but not 3cm, I did contact DK7QX (JO42) on 3cm. SK7MW on 23cm and a run through the bands with PI4GN were followed by a few more G portables to round off the evening. Sunday started bright and early at 05:00z, after a few DLs it was time for some DX to OZ, with OZ5W on 70/23/13cm, followed by OK2A on 23cm/70cm, and shortly after SN7L was found calling on 70cm. After a few Germans, the focus shifted to a multiband test with DL0GTH. This worked on all bands except 6cm, where I could hear them but not the other way. During this test I heard DL4BBU with a very loud signal on 6cm, and worked him for his first G contact on the band. The next contact of note was OK1KUO in JO80FF on 23cm CW, weak but readable here. Several multiband QSOs into France followed, and then OL4K on 70/23cm. The band was by now (12:30z) opening to SM7, with SM7ECM easily worked on 23cm-6cm, followed by SM7DTE (IO75) on 23/13/9cm. Signals were heard on 6cm, but local digital interference on that beam heading was just too much to copy his signals. After the end of the contest I was very pleased to work EA1BLA/P in IN53 for my first EA on 13cm. VHF NFD 2013 was a memorable contest, with several new squares worked on all bands from 70cm-6cm. I do continue to suspect that 3cm performance is below par, and hope to investigate this before the October contest.

73

John G3XDY

Results:

Band (MHz)

QSOs

Claimed Score

Best DX

Locator

Distance (km)

432

41

19055

EA2AGZ

IN91DV

1152

1296

45

24837

EA2AGZ

IN91DV

1152

2320

17

8998

TM7G

IN93HG

997

3400

11

5129

SM7DTE

JO75CN

937

5760

10

3780

SM7ECM

JO65NQ

878

10368

13

4571

DL0GTH

JO50JP

684

 

 

 

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