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IARU Region 1 SSB Field Day 2002
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7th-8th September 2002, Park Farm, TL 521 451.
In 2002 we put together a winning formula. For the first time we started using the Dx Cluster. Spots from an internet-connected PC at Mark's QTH in Saffron Walden, 6.2km away, were fed to the site on a 1200 Baud datalink on 70.425MHz. Special software was written by Simon G4EAG, to interface between the internet connection and a TNC.
The spotting station, housed in Colin's caravan, was networked to the run station with a WiFi link across the field. The separation between the run & spotting stations was about 150m.
The antennas at the spotting station were a Carolina Windom and a vertical with the remote filter box. The setup allowed in-band spotting. It worked very well, but perhaps even too well. It was noticable that some signals heard at the spotting station were inaudible on the Run station.
The weather was fine. Propagation was a lot poorer than in 2001. The contest went very smoothly and the packet link to Saffron Walden worked perfectly.
We logged with Writelog, and made 468 QSOs, 19,303 QSO points and 119 multipliers for a final score of 223,125 achieving 1st place narrowly beating the Wisbech AR & EC.
The scores for 2002 were a close-run race, the results table is shown below.
SSBFD02 Final scores announced on the RSGB members only website 26/2/2003
Group Call QSOs Mults Final Score
1 Granta CG M0CAM/P 468 119 223125
2 Wisbech AR & EC M5ARC/P 541 109 214862
3 Echelford ARS G3UES/P 546 102 212807
4 Stratford upon Avon & DRS G0SOA/P 473 111 207900
5 Addiscombe ARC G4ALE/P 381 103 155142
6 RAF ARS G8FC/P 401 84 139944
7 KLADC GM0ADX/P 391 78 112936
8 Itchen Valley ARC G0IVR/P 318 86 106080
9 Chesham & Maidenhead ARS G3MDG/P 349 91 105060
10 Havering & DARC G4HRC/P 371 77 104192
11 Stockport RS G6UQ/P 318 78 98406
12 Kidderminster & DRS G0KRC/P 255 61 60990
13 South Essex ARS G4RSE/P 241 58 40095
14 Cockenzie & Port Seton ARC MM0CPS/P 146 48 28106
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The Run station. |
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Receiving the G3PSH Memorial Trophy from Dr. Bob Whelan at the HF Convention in Manchester on 1st Nov 2003. (L-R) Mark G4AXX, Andy G4KNO, Bob G3PJT & Simon G4EAG. |
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The Spotter software. |
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The winning certificate from the RSGB. |
For the record here's the history of the winners of the (John Coffey) G3PSH Memorial Trophy:
1990 Gravesend Radio Society GX3GRS/P
1991 Gravesend Radio Society G3GRS/P
1992 Gravesend Radio Society G3GRS/P
1993 Plymouth Radio Society G3PRC/P
1994 Plymouth Radio Society G3PRC/P
1995 Plymouth Radio Society G3PRC/P
1996 Stratford Upon Avon Radio Society G0SOA/P
1997 Stratford Upon Avon Radio Society G0SOA/P
1998 Stratford Upon Avon Radio Society G0SOA/P
1999 Gravesend Radio Society G3GRS/P
2000 Windmill Contest Group G3GRS/P
2001 Gravesend Radio Society G3GRS/P
2002 Granta Contest Group M0CAM/P