Contests

I am not a 'contest-addict', but like to give some points to friends and sometimes actively participate ...

Practical Wireless' 2m QRP contest - 2007

I had the ambition to participate in a UK VHF contest from a nice spot along the French coastline, about 170m above sea level.

After some research, ascertained that UK VHF contest are unfortunately open only to RSGB members.

However, our local radio club member ON4ADI (Pol) advised us to participate in the 'Practical Wireless' contest, which is open to all. 

It is a QRP-contest on 2m aimed at newcomers to amateur radio contests , max power out = 3w PEP, and running together with the UK backpacker's contest.

More info on http://www.contest.org.uk/

  

 

A small terrain study with 'RadioMobile' showed that our spot, located off the cliffs between Cap Griz-Nez and Cap Blanc-Nez, was indeed suitable towards the UK. 

We used following equipments :

  • Antenna : Tonna 9 ele, on glassfibre mast at 6m
  • Masthead mounted preamplifier, BF981
  • Transceiver IC-910H, limited to 3w out
  • Voice keyer
  • Narrow band passfilter (used to avoid possible overload by Marine VHF stations)
  • Powered by car battery, charged by small 800w generator
  • Logging with laptop, MixW32 (no DX-cluster !)

See our 'shack' below , gracefully put at disposal by team member and friend ON4CEZ Danny  !

  
The results :  4th in our class (single op)
 
Pos Callsign Score QSOs Squs Loc Ant. asl,m Tx/Rx
1 G3ZXZ/P 4293 159 27 IO94  2 x 11 ele 400 TR9130
2 G4ARI/P 3591 133 27 IO92  14 ele yagi 237 FT817
3 GW8ZRE/P 3562 137 26 IO83  7 el ZL Spec 561 TR751E
4 F/OT3T 3354 129 26 JO00  9 ele Yagi 170 IC910H

ODX (= best distance) worked :
              EI2IP in IO61CX = 674,8 km (with 3w !)

  
 

 

    

The 'BMA' contest

    
This contest is linked with the BELGIAN MILLS AWARD, and organised in order to have water- or windmills activated for the award which is looking to promote their historical value.

For more info, see http://www.ktk.be/BMA/

The goal is to activate a mill by running 'portable' in it's close vicinity on HF (40 and 80m) of VHF (2m) and attempt to contacts as many other mills or participating stations from different belgian provinces.

During the 2007 edition of BMA contest I have activated together with my son Sébastien ON3EQ on HF as OT3T the windmill 'DE WIEKE' located in our town of Oostkamp - BMA reference WIM-8091. This was a first time activation ever !

Special thanks to the municipality of Oostkamp and Marc ON8MD for allowing us to set up our station during the contest !

See our special QSL here ! 		 


The mill is located in the centre of town, and the surroundings are not free at all (houses, apartment buildings etc) so we had to use very compact HF antenna's and noticed a quite high background QRM level. Despite this handicap, we could log 103 stations and achieved a honorable 4th place on 24 participants.

As antenna used a homebrew 40/80m trapped inverted-V supported by glassfibre mast.		  
The windmill DE WIEKE was originally built in 1842. It was running as a grain and oil mill during the 19th and 20th centuries, and operated by the family BRAET (father and son), who played an important role in the association of windmill owners in these days. 

In 1920 the wings were removed, in 1999 it was acquired by the municipality of Oostkamp who completely refurbished it and transformed it into a nice meeting place for socio-cultural activities, like exhibitions, concerts etc.

Address : Brugsestraat 11, 8020 Oostkamp.		  
   

The 'IOTA' contest

   
'IOTA' stands for Islands On The Air, and the contest is focused on the  communication with Islands. Off course, not on every island there is a HAM radio operator, so it is a sport to 'activate' an island by temporarily setting up a station during the contest, which takes place every year the last weekend of july. More info on http://www.rsgbiota.org , the RSGB IOTA Website.

So in July 2007 decided to activate ILE DE BATZ or IOTA reference EU-105, together with my friend Roland ON5QK.




Île-de-Batz is located alongside the North coast of Finistère / Bretagne (F), just in front of ROSCOFF, about 5 kms from the mainland. The name in local language (le Breton) is 'ENEZ VAZ'. The island is about 3.5 x 1.5 km, inhabited by about 700 people. The only connection to the continent is by boat, there are only a couple of cars and traveling is by walking, bicycle or horse. The climate is very mild due to presence of the Gulfstream, you find a lot of sub-tropical vegetation. The island is referenced under IOTA EU-105. The last known activation was in year 2000. According to IOTA rules, it is considered as DX-pedition, because it can only be reached by boat

Our special thanks to M. Guy Cabioch, Maire of l'Île-de-Batz, for the support, and our guesthouse TIMABRO for allowing us to operate without disturbing other visitors...

Participated  as F/ OT3T in the  12 hrs single OP unassisted SSB HP class, as DX-pedition, and QRV on 20 and 40m only. !




RESULTS:  see the IOTA site  for more info

We have ended as the overall first of all 15 entered 12hrs DX-peditions operating in SSB, irrespective of being assisted or not and power level with a score of 309.270 points, 54 DXCC entities contacted and 54 IOTA references.

A very nice results, despite the fact that we had a breakdown of about 30 minutes (melted trap !) and for Roland it was his very first contest.... and working through several pileups ! We have tried all we could to reach a DX-cluster, but this was out of reach from our remote location. Sure this would have improved our score significantly for chasing other IOTA references.

EQUIPMENTS: 

Transceiver: Icom  IC-7400 / PA:  Acom-1010 / Antenna: inverted-V 6m AGL 20/40 trapped homebrew. Logging with excellent SDI software !


WHAT'S NEXT ?

Plans exist for a new DX-pedition to other IOTA reference in 2009 !

 


(link to www.ile-de-batz.org)


More to follow ....