[UK-CONTEST] RRTC

[Roger G3SXW]

Dear UK-Contest,
I observed Russian Radio Team Contest as preparation for WRTC-2010. It was held just outside Moscow with 18 two-man teams, and was the 18th straight year that it has been held. Field Day style, all stations within a few miles of each other (but minimum separation of 500 metres) on flat grass-lands. Identical antennas: tribander and 40m Vee at 35 feet. Eight-hour multi-mode contest, changing call-sign and exchange each two hours. Full-time Referee monitoring each Team. The winner RW3QC/RN3QO made 1,532 QSOs, an average of over 190 per hour throughout.

Set-ups and operating were extremely impressive: two radios, two ops, often one CQ, the other S&P, with lock-out to prevent both TX at the same time. All the leading four teams used a filtering system allowing TX on one radio and RX on the other radio at the same time ***on the same antenna/coax***. Cor!

The log-checking data-base benefited from some 600 external logs e-mailed within four hours and the whole adjudication process was finished some eight hours after the end of the contest, with the award ceremonies the following morning.

It was an enjoyable weekend (language is a problem though). WRTC competitors next year will be well cared-for but will have some difficulty beating these super-slick Russian competitors!
73 de Roger/G3SXW.