VHF CONTESTING
One of my main interests in amateur radio is entering VHF contests, usually those run by the Radio Society of Great Britain VHF Contests Committee. Practical Wireless magazine run an annual 144MHz QRP contest every June.
Contests
The contests I usually try to enter each year are:
January 144 MHz CW (6 hours)
70 MHz Cumulatives (5 sessions of 2.5 hours)
March 144 / 432 MHz (24 hours)
May 432 MHz Trophy (8 hours)
144MHz (24 hours)
June Practical Wireless 144MHz QRP (8 hours)
July VHF National Field Day (24 hours)
August 70 MHz Trophy (6 hours)
September 144 MHz Trophy (24 hours)
October 1.3 GHz Trophy (8 hours)
432 MHz (24 hours)
November 144 MHz Marconi Memorial CW (24 hours)
Location
I almost inavariably operate from my portable location at Lauder Common (IO8NR).
Achievements
During the 2000 RSGB VHF Contest Season I won 6 certificates for winning or being runner up in my section:
70 MHz Trophy - Single Operator Open Section - Runner Up
432 MHz Trophy - Leading Station Under 25W
70 MHz Cumulatives - All Others Section - Runner Up
1st 70MHz Contest - Single Operator Open Section - Winner
1.3GHz Contest - Single Operator Open Section - Winner
144MHz May Contest - Single Operator Open Section - Runner Up
I also won the Frank Hall Memorial Trophy for being the leading Scottish station in the Practical Wireless contest for the second year running.
The RSGB Scottish Trophy currently adorns my mantlepiece. It was won for being the leading low power entry in the 1999 VHF National Field Day, a joint entry with Jim MM0BQI. In a few months I will have to hand it to Jim, who won the Trophy single-handed in the 2000 VHF NFD as I was away at the time.
Further Information
Practical Wireless 144MHz QRP Contest