2020 PW 144MHz QRP Fun Contest Results
Colin Redwood G6MXL has the results of the June 2020 2m QRP Fun Contest.
Colin Redwood G6MXL has the results of the June 2020 2m QRP Fun Contest.
2020 saw 42 entrants submit logs in the 36th Practical Wireless 144MHz QRP Fun contest held on Sunday June 14th 2020. This year due to the coronavirus pandemic all stations entered as single operators from fixed locations, depriving many entrants of the use of their favourite portable locations. Despite this, many stations did surprisingly well with low power. Several regulars submitted checklogs.
Government restrictions associated with the world-wide pandemic that is Covid-19 resulted in a very strange contest this year. The combination of being confined to fixed operation, often from a poor location, propagation and weather made for a rather tough and frustrating contest for many entrants. Not only was the number of entries down this year (only one from Wales and the rest from England and Scotland), the number of contacts and squares worked were down as was to be expected.
The entrants made a total of 525 valid contacts with stations in 19 different squares, Fig. 1.
2020 Winners
The overall winner, leading English station is the Ossett Amateur Radio Operators M0ORO, operated by J. Brown from Ossett (IO93EQ). He used an Icom IC-911 transceiver and an 11-element Yagi antenna.
In second place is Geoff Newstead (Burton On Trent ARS) G8EKG, operating from Stapenhill (IO92ES). He used a Flex 5000 transceiver and a Cushcraft Antenna
The leading Scottish station is Martin Mrawczyk 2M0KAU, operating from Dundee (IO86ML).
The leading Welsh station is Tom Brady GW8HEB, operating from Welshpool (IO82KP).
Full details of the results can be found in the tables in this article. As usual certificates will be sent to all the leading stations above and the leading station in each square.
Checklogs were received from Andrew Lancaster G0JCC, Steven Clements G1YBB, Roger Piper G3MEH Robin Thompson G3TKF.
Home QTH
Being limited to fixed station operating presented a challenge to some, but not all. Those who already had a 144MHz station setup at home enjoyed the convenience of operating from home. One station commented, “After a leisurely breakfast and quick look at the Sunday papers I was ready to hit the radio on switch and start making contacts in the contest”. Others had to set up a 2m station at home especially for the contest.
Several stations concluded that their home locations are poor for VHF contesting. Dave Tarbatt G7KSR said that, “After four hours shouting CQ using a 5-element ZL-Special at 25ft on a temporary push-up mast in the back garden, I think it’s safe to conclude that my home QTH is poor for VHF contesting. Four QSOs really does not a contest make!” David Smith GM0KCN lives in a valley at river level with hills all around. He wasn’t expecting to make many contacts but, “I did think that one single contact was a lot worse than I anticipated”.
Even with a good QTH, some had QRM to deal with. Martyn Wright G4RLF has recently been suffering with a local faulty solar panel inverter, so despite having a good QTH, contacts are difficult, with about a 20dB noise floor.
No Midges
There were some benefits from staying at home. Ron G0BNC, says, “I missed going out portable on the hills and getting a suntan, but did not miss the midges using my blood as their dinner. I used to enjoy the contest in the early 80s when I would often stop for a chat as it is the taking part with me, not the winning. I had a few stops to chat for a few minutes, which was good because some were good contesters normally with 59 reports and gone. The contacts were very slow coming, and I am glad I was using my voice caller, or I would not have a voice left. Only one contact in my 1325 afternoon session, and G4UXC said I was the only station he had heard”.
Equipment
Entrants were determined to participate with whatever equipment they had to hand. A wide range of equipment was deployed, ranging from state-of-the-art multi-band SDR transceivers to single-band transceivers of the 1980s and earlier. Several entrants resurrected some older transceivers. Ross Wilkinson G6GVI says he got his “old IC-202 back in action, after repairing its dial-knob”. Martyn Wright G4RLF says that his Liner 2 overheated at times and stopped transmitting, Fig. 2. He has modified it to improve the sprogs and it now boasts a GASFET RF and mixer stage. Others used some old antennas, including two stations using Jaybeam antennas, which must be roughly 30 years old.
Thunderstorms
A couple of stations felt that in addition to poor conditions in general, thunderstorms were probably responsible for the lack of stations working.
Back in Touch
The contest enabled some entrants to make contacts with friends they hadn’t heard on the air for some time. Ross
got in touch with Terry
First Contest
The PW 144MHz QRP contest has always welcomed newcomers to contesting, so it was good to see some new calls amongst entrants. Billy Starkey M7AJT passed his Foundation exam in September 2019, and this was his first contest. Billy is a member of the Cornish Radio Amateur Club.
KST
Several entrants commented on the use of the ON4KST chat facility during the contest. The contest rules are designed to encourage the greatest possible participation, particularly among newcomers to contesting using simple gear. Therefore, use of the ON4KST chat facility is not permitted. I received suggestions that stations may have logged on to the ON4KST chat facility, without actually entering into a chat, thus enabling them to see information from other stations on the band. The rules for future PW 144MHz QRP contests will clearly prohibit this practice.
Date forYour Diary
Several entrants hoped that things would be back to normal in 2021. Government regulations permitting, it is certainly my aim to revert to normal operation. The provisional date for the 2021 PW 144MHz QRP Contest is Sunday June 13th 2021. Hopefully, the usual format, including multioperator portable operation, will be possible along with 5W power limit. As usual the event will be arranged to run alongside the RSGB 144MHz Backpackers contest for the benefit of entrants to both contests. Keep an eye on Practical Wireless and the PW Contest website at: