[UK-CONTEST] GB5HQ RSGB Headquarters

[Dave Lawley]

Many of you will be aware that there are plans to move the RSGB
HQ station GB5HQ up to the big league in this year's IARU
Contest which takes place this coming weekend.

The headquarters section allows simultaneous operation on
all twelve band/modes, from separate locations, and this
year GB5HQ will operate from ten sites around the country,
from Scotland to Cornwall and Wales to East Anglia. Much 
work has been put into setting up and testing Internet 
connectivity using Writelog, so that all stations can share
log information in real-time.

We have a web site  www.gb5hq.com, where you can see
pictures of some of the stations that will be involved, and also
find out about the award programme that we are introducing.
There are four levels of award Bronze, Silver, Gold and
Platinum for working GB5HQ in 2003 on a minimum of 3, 6,
9 or all twelve band/modes. If you work us on one slot and
want to know where else we are on the bands, just ask the
operator, who should have a display of all the other active
band/mode stations, thanks to Writelog.

In recent years the German HQ station DA0HQ has dominated
the headquarters section of the contest. From data available
on the Internet, it seems that last year out of 19,163 QSOs made
by DA0HQ, 8,161 were with DLs, and these appear to come 
from an amazing 2,080 different DL stations. My personal
view is that it is not in the spirit of the contest to work only your
own HQ station, but while you're making some QSOs this 
weekend, make sure to work GB5HQ on as many band/modes
as you can. We need your help!

The distribution of the stations all around the country should 
make it equally hard for everyone to attain the Platinum
level, but it is possible! The 160m station is sharing duties 
between phone and CW so if you hear them on one mode,
they will QSY to the other mode on request. Below is the list
of the stations, locations and operators. We hope to see as
many of you as possible in the contest!

Dave G4BUO
GB5HQ Coordinator


10m SSB  Newport, South Wales
  Tim G4VXE, Roger GW5NF

10m CW & 80m CW  Brough, Humberside
  John G3LZQ, Andy G3AB, Vic G4BYG, Chris G3SJJ, Phil G4OBK

15m SSB  Essex/Cambridge border
  Mark G4AXX Andy G4KNO Steve G4JVG Simon G4EAG

15m CW  North Devon
  Nigel G3TXF Ian G3WVG Roger G3SXW

20m SSB Martlesham, Suffolk
  Andy G4PIQ Jason G7OCD Bob G4BAH

20m CW  Invergordon, Ross-shire
  Chris GM3WOJ  Gavin GM0GAV Cris GM4FAM

40m SSB  Bristol
  Alan G3XSV Matt M0MAT Robin G3TKF

40m CW  Bury St Edmunds
  Fred G4BWP Lionel G5LP

80m SSB  Milton Keynes
  Fraser G4BJM Lee G0MTN Tim M0BEW

160m CW+SSB Callington, Cornwall
  Jan G0IVZ Justin G4TSH