The Club participates in amateur radio contests organised by the RSGB .
HF National Field Day is done from a site local to Bracknell which is very
convenient for members. In both 1998 and 1999 we won the low power section of HF
National Field Day. In 2000 we won the 160m band NFD certificate and came third place
in VHF National Field Day (mix and match section).
For NFD 2002 we entered the low power section using a K2
transceiver. A most enjoyable weekend was had, and we were second place in our
section.
NFD 2003 followed on from our experience in 2002 and a report
of this event has also been prepared. We were again in second place!
NFD2004 continued this theme and yet again we were second!
NFD2005 (4th/5th June) was again at our Longhill Park site with a similar
set-up. A report is now available - we beat our last year's
total with 385 QSOs and 1807 points
We were unable to do NFD in 2006, but in 2007 were again at Longhill Park. Read the report here.
VHF contests are either done from a local site (pictured) or from our site near
Cerne Abbas in Dorset. VHF NFD is the major contest of the year and takes place
at the beginning of July.
VHF NFD 2003 was a combined entry between ourselves and Flight Refuelling ARS.
See the reports and pictures here and here. We were 6th. in this contest,
see the results.
VHF NFD in 2004 was also a joint effort with Flight Refuelling ARS. The weekend went very well and was thoroughly
enjoyed by those who took part. A report has being prepared and can be found on the
FRARS
website. We were 4th place in the Open Section, see the results.
VHF NFD 2005 continued this theme. We were 5th place in the Open Section,
see the results.
For VHF NFD 2006 the club again joined forces with Flight Refuelling from the
Cerne Abbas site, with Bracknell providing the 4m and 70cm stations. A short report is
available on the FRARS Website. We came 6th place in the Open section, see the results.
The club was down in Dorset on July 7th/8th 2007 for another combined entry with FRAS
in VHF NFD. See the report and the results.
The RSGB 80m Club Championships
Members of the club participate in the Club Championship contests. These are
short contests of 2 hour duration on weekday evenings between February and July. In
2004 the club did well in the CW legs, and although being 20th overall in a field of 60
clubs were well up in the QRP CW entries. In 2005 we were 19th out of a field of 73
clubs. In 2006 we were 20th out of a field of 74. In 2008 we fell to 29th out of a
field of 66. These contests are an excellent opportunity for those new to contesting to
participate. There are sessions for SSB, CW and data modes, the dates of the
2008 contests are as follows:
CW sessions Feb 21st, March 12th, April 7th, May 22nd, June 11th, July 7th,
2000-2130 local.
SSB sessions Feb 4th, March 20th, April 16th, May 5th, June 19th, July 16th
2000-2130 local.
Data sessions Feb 13th, March 3rd, April 24th, May 14th, June 2nd, July 24th,
2000-2130 local.
See the rules and results on the RSGB
HF Contest Committee website.
Dave G3YMC is a keen operator in these and other contests, and is shown here in
his shack during a CQWW WPX contest.
The Club also participates in the AFS (Affiliated Societies) contest in January
- CW January 13th, SSB January 19th 2008.
