[UK-CONTEST] GB5HQ

[Douglas Maxwell]

Thank you for taking the time to write to me and explain the background of
the competition and of your station. From what you have said, I would agree
that their was nothing underhand or secret about the organisation behind
GB5HQ back in 2002. The problem is that to the aspiring contester and the
RSGB members in general, these teams now seem to spring out of nowhere, no
call for operators, no open discussion, no apparent fairness. I have
received a number of 'off and on reflector' e-mails as a result of my
posting, one from one of the biggest stations in Scotland, who was puzzled
at the selection process, having never been invited. Another was  from the
Manx Kippers (MD4K) contest team who have an exemplary contesting record and
have never been invited even after applying last year. There is obviously a
need for being more open when it comes round to selection time to ensure the
best British team possible. The correct place for this in my opinion is the
Radcom, where all RSGB members will see it and who knows, might inspire some
new members to get into contesting! The team work thing is certainly very
important, but I come at this from a different angle where GB5HQ is
concerned, we should all in the same team, this means amongst other things
an open selection process and in return more contacts for GB5HQ.

Douglas Maxwell
GM0ELP


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "johndunnington" <johndunnington at johndunnington.karoo.co.uk>
To: <douglas.maxwell at virgin.net>
Sent: Friday, June 16, 2006 1:34 AM
Subject: GB5HQ


> Hello Douglas
> I have followed the thread which you started in regard to the GB5HQ setup
> and selection process..
>
> There is nothing underhand and secret obout the organisation behind GB5HQ.
> For your information the idea was conceived during the WRTC-2002 event
held
> in Helsinki that a Team GB should setup and run a competitive group to
match
> the fast growing Eu and Rest of the World HQ Teams representing their
> respective National Societies. It so happened that the major part of those
> in Helsinki happen to be long established and excellent high profile
> contesters. However putting together a European beating let alone a World
> beating team means beating the best of the best since all National Groups
> have a choice of both operators and locations which suit propagation,
> contest environment, and team members. Team players are an important part
> and need to be not just top flight operators but prepared to spend lots of
> time and effort in the team cause not individual kudos. It may seem that
it
> all works on the day and takes a couple of hours setting it up but believe
> me the number of man hours and effort needed to keep it in top form is
> legend.
>
> The first pre-requisite was to find a team leader and Dave Lawley (G4BUO)
> took up this challenge. He approached those known in contest circles who
had
> suitable sites to enable a high profile, multi-op capability such that he
> could provide 10-160 SSB and CW locations who could then join together to
> provide a thing called GB5HQ and be team GB in the annual IARU Contest
held
> in early July each year. We represent RSGB only in that the HFCC is
involved
> and that we had to seek special permission from Ofcom (we have to do this
> each year) which enabled 12-stations all using the same call to be active.
> This was something never done before and there are strict rules imposed by
> Ofcom which we adhere to. I guess you could do Team GB-2 if you wanted to.
>
> Team and site selection was done by initial advertising to find sites and
by
> personal approach to those individuals who may wish to make their home
> locations available for the good of Team GB. In Daves own words "There are
> very few UK Amateurs who have the capability to match hardware and site
> performance when compared to most of Europe and USA". Doug remember this
was
> 2002/3 no broadband, not a lot of internet, and very little software to
run
> a remote multi-multi environment. Now we all run Routers and multi
computers
> each with their own rig etc etc. We have chat lines and private cluster to
> maximise the new technology which have changed our hobby in the past
> 5-years.
>
> Right from day one and throughout each of the following years the group
has
> built on the experiences both in computer technology, and RF Hardware to
> maximise the efforts on the day. We were fortunate that John G3WGV of
5-Star
> DX'rs fame had written "Starlog Software" for major Dxpeditions and was
> prepared to modify it to suit the group and host the central server since
> all of the client (band/mode) stations are linked now by broadband. All of
> this has had individual locations doing major investment both in RF
hardware
> and antennas not to mention the computer technology involved.
>
> I personally was asked to host the 80m CW location for both geographic and
> performance reasons. I was probably the first UK location to install a
full
> sized 4-square array with over 16000 ft of ground screen. Living within
> 2-miles of the Humber Estuary this is an ideal LF location (300 Countries
on
> 80m and 200+ on 160 confirm this). In the immediate area I have hosted
large
> multi-op efforts on CW since the early 1990's so was well qualified to do
> it. However the key part in my view was locally we have some of the best
CW
> ops in the country if not in Europe by way of G3VMW, G3AB, G3SJJ,
> G4BYG,G4OBK, G4RCG. Who all were enthusiastic to put it mildly. G4BYG and
> myself work throughout the year on antenna improvements and for the GB5HQ
> event we host both 80 and 10m CW so only the 80m 4-sq gets away without
> changes. All other antennas are removed and 4-over-4 Stack is put up for
> 10m, this year we have added a second tower and I have spent weeks
building
> a new 6-ele OWA Yagi to complement the stack. We will have 3-amplifiers
> driving the 10m antennas during out of phase operations and 2-when we use
> the stack in phase. A 4th amplifier drives the 80m antenna all other
> tranceivers are Tentec Orions and Yaesu FT1000MP as back up and SWL
> multiplier spotting for other team stations.
>
> Knowing you are in Hamilton I am surprised since we have always had a GM
> located station. Chris Tran organised this before he went to ZL and again
> this year he is involved from the Stirling Club Contest Site. Tom FDM was
> involved last year and again this year this is how Callum became involved.
> Each year my location has several visitors who take their turn not as
first
> line operators but assistants because when they see the complexity of the
> operation and the slick operation they usually are in shock but eventually
> they will take their turn but need to learn the software routines etc such
> that they do it in their sleep.
>
> It goes without saying all of the site locations have invested in lots of
> hardware but it is needed if we are to compete at the highest level.
> A pity you live so far away as you would be more than welcome to come
over.
> Our location is now an annual social event as well as a very serious
contest
> albeit just for 24-hrs.
>
> This year WRTC-2006 is taking place within the IARU Contest and I have to
> say largely as a result of GB5HQ activity and high profile general
> contesting Team GB is providing a number of referees to monitor WRTC
> competitors down in PY.  There has been a bit of a reshuffle as a result
but
> the replacements will perform well and not let the team down.
>
> You may be interested to know my operating is always in a support role
> keeping the stations running and operators fed and watered. I do take my
> turn during meal and other breaks. I take great pride in what we have done
> to date and so do the entire team.
>
> Hope it has not bored the pants off you Doug but apart from a short NCJ
> article very little has appeared in print.
> Please go to  http://www.gb5hq.com/
> and take a look at the 2003, 2004.2005 archive pages this will show you
the
> level of commitment,
>
>
> Want to know more? Contact Nigel G3TXF our Webmaster or Dave Lawley G4BUO
> (who will have read the reflector).or Justin G4TSH (HFCC Chair)
>
>
>
>
>
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