[UK-CONTEST] 144MHz Trophy - lack of UK activity

[Rob Harrison]

Hi,

Ok I stand corrected on SSB FD. It is specifically mentioned in the VHF 
Trophy rules.

Dave, I did look on the RSGB contest site for mention of it being 
co-ordinated, prior to posting,but couldn't find it. I've looked again and 
still can't.  http://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2011/rssbfd.shtml.

We're highly unlikely to work Namibia or Asia on 144 tropo' are we!  HF will 
always have more entrants, per contest, than VHF, due to the sheer numbers 
of HF operators around the world and the ability to work them. That's not 
really an argument for saying HF should take precedence over VHF or vice 
versa.

The serious contesters will want the maximum amount of stations on the bands 
be they VHF or HF ops. Some will be both and won't want the contests to 
clash. Problem is they are co-ordinated which would need the agreement of 
all participating societies in changing the date of one or other. My point 
is two contests on one weekend will always dilute the entries for both. I'm 
not saying one or the other should move, as long as it's a separate weekend 
that's fine.

Interest in VHF/UHF/SHF is still big in Europe, it just the UK that's got 
the malaise.

73 Bob G8HGN

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Chipperfield" <robert at syxis.co.uk>
To: "Rob Harrison" <robharrison at g8hgn.freeserve.co.uk>
Cc: "Stewart GM4AFF" <stewart at gm4aff.net>; <uk-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 3:54 PM
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] 144MHz Trophy - lack of UK activity


>
> Hi all,
>
> First-off, SSB FD is co-ordinated with IARU Region 1 FD.
>
> Secondly, we found it was actually rather nice to have both events running 
> concurrently at the same site: it meant that those who had previously only 
> experienced HF contesting were able to try their hand on 2m, and vice 
> versa.
>
> I realise that an absolutely top-scoring entry will probably only want to 
> concentrate on one of the contests, but for those who are less 
> experienced, merging the two contests into one weekend is rather useful in 
> terms of man-power: it means we only need to get a team of people to lend 
> a hand raising masts etc. for one weekend rather than two!
>
> Cheers,
> Rob, M0VFC (G3PYE/P & G6PYE/P - report to follow!)
>
> On 07/09/2011 15:44, Rob Harrison wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> Simple answer move SSB FD, the Trophy is a IARU co-ordinated event so all 
>> of
>> Europe is on the air that weekend. I'm assuming FD is not co-ordinated
>> outside the UK.
>>
>> I've never understood the logic of having seperate VHF&  HF contests over
>> the same weekend, some people find it difficult to get any time at all, 
>> let
>> alone 24 hours, and then to have two conflicting contests on the same
>> weekend is just plain daft.
>>
>> I did the Trophy in two 3 hours stints Saturday evening, virtually all 
>> S&P,
>> only worked one G, one GD and two GM's, all the rest from Europe. Like 
>> John,
>> no propogation to EA either, heard 5P5T for long spells, but couldn't 
>> raise
>> them.
>>
>> Yes the UKAC's are generating great volumes of activity, but this is 
>> plainly
>> not transferring to major VHF/UHF contesting, in fact it appears the 
>> reverse
>> is happening, in the UK. Supporting your local club for 2 or so hours on 
>> a
>> week night, from home, is deemed acceptable, weekend activity it appears
>> not.
>>
>> I wasn't on last night, gales and a conflicting football match on TV
>> conspired to keep me away from the rig. Pre-rule changes I might have 
>> come
>> on.
>>
>> Bob G8HGN
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Stewart GM4AFF"<stewart at gm4aff.net>
>> To:<uk-contest at contesting.com>
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 11:43 AM
>> Subject: [UK-CONTEST] 144MHz Trophy - lack of UK activity
>>
>>
>>> UK activity in the 144MHz Trophy last weekend was very low. Yet activity
>>> last night in the 144MHz UKAC was very high. So there are a large number
>>> of
>>> people who are interested in 144MHz contesting.  I believe this is 
>>> because
>>> a
>>> lot of contesters are being sucked into operating or helping out with
>>> their
>>> local club's SSB Field Day entry,  and therefore not taking part in the
>>> 144MHZ Trophy. This is evidenced by the lack of reports for the Trophy 
>>> on
>>> this list. It's a pity because the 144MHz Trophy is a major annual 
>>> event,
>>> with huge central Eu support. SSB Field Day seems to be gaining in
>>> popularity, relatively speaking. One can do quite well in SSB Field Day
>>> with
>>> relatively little effort, whereas a 144MHz Trophy entry requires
>>> considerable effort for a serious portable entry, which is a shame when
>>> there's less people to work every year.
>>>
>>> I realise that there are clubs who combine both events. I don't have a
>>> solution - just thinking out loud. It is true that the SSB Field Day 
>>> event
>>> is a better draw for clubs, and those who are new to the hobby. I just
>>> happen to like the Trophy event and as my main Trophy customers are UK
>>> stations, I'm losing out! It would be nice to run DL's all day on 2m, 
>>> but
>>> it's not going to happen in IO86!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 73
>>>
>>> Stewart
>>>
>>> GM4AFF
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> UK-Contest mailing list
>>> UK-Contest at contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/uk-contest
>>>
>>
>>
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