[UK-CONTEST] A different sort of 28MHz contest

[Steve Reed]

I remember the 28MHz cumulative contests with some fondness.  They were
instrumental in shaping my contest interests.

They ran until the early 1990s but were canned, if I recall correctly,
through lack of support (or at least a perceived lack of sufficient
numbers).  In their final configuration these contests ran twice a year
(spring and autumn), each contest was comprised of a number of evening
sessions over a period of several weeks.  The sessions were 1 hour on phone
and one hour on CW (no cross mode).  I think earlier incarnations of the
contest had separate phone and CW sessions.   All were single-op, no power
or equipment restrictions.  Scoring was 3 points per QSO and a 10 point
bonus for each UK county and each non-UK DXCC country worked.  Given the
time of day, it was unusual to work DX: most contacts were inter-G relying
on tropospheric propagation.  Well-sited and well-equipped stations could
work c 60 stations in 2 hours while some others found it difficult to work
anyone.  I did reasonably well with just a half-wave vertical.  

The contest ran in the days when there was generally more evening G activity
on ten: local nets, for example.  A random call on 28.500 - de facto calling
frequency - would often get a reply.  Not much chance of that these days.  I
am not sure current activity levels are sufficient to support a resurrected
28MHz cumulative contest - although I would try and support it should it
return.

Steve G0AEV


-----Original Message-----
From: UK-Contest [mailto:uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
Stewart Bryant
Sent: 11 October 2012 21:07
Cc: UK Contest; Chairman,RSGB Contest Committee
Subject: [UK-CONTEST] A different sort of 28MHz contest

Many many years ago we used to have an activity style SSB 28MHz contest for
a couple of hours in the summer evenings over a number of weeks.

These were attractive because almost everyone has a 28MHz SSB transceiver
and the antenna was small enough that pretty well anyone could put one up. I
can't remember, but there may have been a no-beam/100W restriction.

I remember at the time a lot of people found the event was of fun and talked
favorably about it.

Is there any interest in trying one of these contest series for a season (to
evaluate it), and would the CC be willing to put one on for us to try?

Stewart/G3YSX
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