The RSGB HF Contest Committee (HFCC) has just completed a survey, which was open to all, to help determine its strategy during the Covid-19 pandemic. Questions focused on two issues:
- How best to proceed with its ‘flagship’ IOTA Contest in 2020
- Is there a mandate for introducing a temporary HF contest series to provide some entertainment and support to our members and others who are currently staying at home
The committee had 656 survey respondents of whom just less than half are regular RSGB HF contest participants. The results will be useful in helping the HFCC plan for the next few months.
IOTA Contest
- 374 respondents would normally take part in the IOTA Contest in July
- A significant majority would prefer the contest to be retained in 2020 given the option that we run the contest for Single Operators using their home stations only
- Some respondents asked us to allow remote operation of existing island or world stations – from any location. This is something that the HFCC will consider as a special case for 2020
Hope QSO Party – starting 6 April
- 375 of those who have responded would like to participate in a series of short “QSO party” style weekday contests which would be run on a temporary basis
- As a result, a six-week contest series was launched on Monday 6 April. This series is open to all entrants and not restricted to RSGB members. International participation is encouraged with the scoring being on an “Anyone works Anyone” basis
- The series rules are online and are based directly on the preferences shown in the survey
- All the series events are on the RSGB HF Contest Calendar
- Please enter as many or as few events as you wish – you may like to concentrate on one mode or to try all four modes
- Please spread the word both in the UK and outside it
Source:RSGB
Antenna
80M Antenna with HOA Constraints
Welcome to the 400th Ask Dave video! Ken, VE7ZY, is having trouble with an 80m dipole mounted very closely to the roof flashing. He is seeking other a... Read more
Can I Put One End of a Dipole Next to my VHF Antenna?
Nick, KC3PWJ, has a flagpole and also a pole that holds up his VHF/UHF discone. He’d like to string a 20m dipole between the two poles, but is w... Read more
Wideband Antennas for SDR Radios
Flip, W4FLP, asked about options for wideband antennas for the popular RSP-DX software defined radio from SDRPlay. We cover three that should work fin... Read more
Bushcomm Horizon Multi-Band Loop Antennas LOOP-20
Antenna, Loop, Magnetic, 20-10M, 125 W PEP, Each Magnetic- loop antennas have existed almost since radio began. The recent resurgence of interest in t... Read more
Chameleon EmComm II Amateur Ham Radio Antenna Review
A slightly different form of hybrid is the Chameleon Emcomm II.The Emcomm II is a portable antenna, which can also be very good to use as a base stati... Read more
VHF
Wouxun REVEALS the KG-UV8H Dual Band 8-watt HT Radio
Brand new from Wouxun is the KG-UV8H Handheld, which features a different screen than earlier models, an 8-watt output power, and a 3200mAH battery. L... Read more
Amateur Radio Gets a Partial Reprieve on 3.5 GHz
Pending future FCC action, amateur radio secondary use of the 3.3 – 3.45 GHz band segment may continue indefinitely. The FCC, as part of a lengthy... Read more
Dump the UV-5R and Get the GT-5R
“For years the Baofeng UV-5R has been maligned as non-compliant with FCC regulations and a real spreader of spurious emissions. Further, it woul... Read more
Best Handheld Ham Radio Under $150 – 2021
“In early 2021, these are my recommendations of the Best Handheld Ham Radios under $150.” Read more
ANYTONE AT-779UV – Dual Band Mini Mobile Radio
The Anytone AT-779UV Dual band Mobile radio is a compact rugged 25 watt mobile radio Factory pre-programmed with the Moonraker code plug including all... Read more
Review
Comparing the Elecraft KX2 and the Icom IC-705. Which should I buy?
Comparing the Elecraft KX2 and the Icom IC-705. Which should I buy? Read more
TOP 10 ACCESSORIES FOR IC-705
This week Jonathan goes through his top 10 must-have accessories for the IC-705! Read more
Traditional Amateur Radio Contesting Faces a Demographic Cliff
Frank Howell, K4FMH, followed up his two-part National Contest Journal (NCJ) series, “The Demographics of Contesting,” with a post to his Social Circu... Read more
Yaesu FTDX-10 Menu and Feature Overview with W9FFF Ham Radio Dude
New from Yaesu, the FTDX-10 HF Transceiver – today I’ve invited Sean, W9FFF, from the Ham Radio Dude channel to go though all of the menu... Read more
Renewing Your Amateur Radio License thru FCC Universal Licensing System
Renewing Your Amateur Radio License thru FCC Universal Licensing System Read more
Digital Modes
FT8DMC 3rd Anniversary-Activity Days 2020
To commemorate our 3rd anniversary, special event stations will be on air during the FT8DMC Activity Days from 1. to 31. July 2020. All stations will... Read more
K1JT , JOE TAYLOR HINTS AT POSSIBLE NEW MODE!
In a post to the WSJT-X email group today, Joe Taylor K1JT hinted at some ongoing experimentation of a new digital mode with sub-modes. His post was a... Read more
WWSA GACW Contest Rules.
WWSA GACW I – Dates Second weekend of June of every year. From Saturday 15.00 UTC until Sunday 15.00 UTC. 24 hours period. II – Goal To co... Read more