[UK-CONTEST] UK-Contest Digest, Vol 102, Issue 9

[Steve White]

> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 5 Jun 2011 12:57:06 +0100
> From: Andy Cowley <andy.cowley at uwe.ac.uk>
> Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Objectives of NFD?
> To: "uk-contest at contesting.com" <uk-contest at contesting.com>
> Message-ID: <4DEB6F12.8030304 at uwe.ac.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="ISO-8859-1"
>
> On 04/06/11 20:00, uk-contest-request at contesting.com wrote:
>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Fri, 03 Jun 2011 20:49:59 +0100
>> From: "Dave Sergeant"<dave at davesergeant.com>
>> Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Objectives of NFD?
>> To: uk-contest at contesting.com
>> Message-ID:<4DE93AE7.29595.3136A6E at dave.davesergeant.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
>>
>> I have dug out the rules of the 1947 NFD, which was the first post war
>> event. (the first NFD took place in 1933, but the RadCom (Bulletin) CDs
>> only go from 1939). The rules state:
>>
>> "The primary object of NFD is to prepare ourselves and our stations for
>> any conditions of emergency that might arise - the offering of a trophy
>> being regarded only as an incentive for competition."
>>
>> In those days there was an A station on 160m and 80m with a 10W limit
>> and a B station on 40m and 20m with a 25W limit, both with a 45ft limit
>> on antenna height. And tents were compulsory.
>>
>> I have uploaded the rules (400kb pdf) to
>> http://www.btinternet.com/~dsergeant/nfd47.pdf
>>
>> 73 Dave G3YMC
>>
>
> The 1937 rules from the March T&R Bulletin are on-line at :-
>
> http://www.andycowley.com/RSGB-Bristol/nfd/index.html
>
> http://www.andycowley.com/RSGB-Bristol/nfd/nfdrules1.pdf
>
> http://www.andycowley.com/RSGB-Bristol/nfd/nfdrules2.pdf
>
> In the case of this discussion I would call attention to rule 23
> (on page 2).
>
> Operation was allowed from buildings as long as they are "not normally
> occupied". So barns, sheds etc. were permitted. There was no requirement
> to operate with a battery supply, although private and public mains
> were banned. The contest was 'multi-multi' in modern terms, on 4 bands:-
> top, 80, 40 and 20,at 2-4 sites, with separate 45 ft. high antennas for
> each band. 10W DC in on top and 80, 25W DC in on 40 and 20. A total of
> eight hours was allowed for erection of stations. Each station had a
> different call-sign, so up to 4 call-signs per entry. One entry per
> district so co-operation needed and many fewer entries.
>
> No mention of emergency conditions.
>
> A 'back to basics' section could use these rules more or less unchanged,
> with a few additions to specify home designed and constructed equipment
> and a ban on the use of any processors/computers at all - paper logging,
> no cluster, no skimmer, no keyers, no modern rigs! Whether to allow
> transistors is a point for discussion, as is the use of paddles rather
> than straight keys. Collar and tie and well polished shoes for all
> operators. Gentlemen may remove their jackets if conditions are very
> hot ;-).
>
> vy 73
>
> Andy
>
>
>

If we're trying to recreate 1947, how about the following?
1. Each operator must smoke continuously (pref a pipe).
2. Each operator must wear a home knitted cardigan (removal not permitted).
3. All trousers must be supported by braces and have turnups.
4. Lead-acid batteries shall have a voltage no greater than 6 volts.
5. A minimum pause between overs, to change between transmit and receive 
(and vice versa).
6. A safe place shall be provided for the inspector to park his bicycle.
7. Any other light-hearted nonsense we can think of.

;-)

Steve, G3ZVW

PS. It would be interesting to know who won and how many QSOs they made.