Vridslösemagle April 2004
To the Nordic VUSHF contesters.
Almost through the
first year and a half of the common NAC Microwave/50 MHz Tuesday we have all
gained some experience.
First of all: The microwave contest has gained in popularity,
even in Denmark. That is indeed positive!
On the other
hand: 50 MHz activity has
definitely gone down - in Denmark at least. Some participants are complaining!
And it is not only due to the decreasing sunspot numbers! Rather due to the
competition from the microwaves! Not positive at all!
Not to mention
those who want to participate fully in both contests!
In the Danish VHF
committee we came up with an idea to solve this problem last year. And we
nearly made it!
On a meeting
between the Nordic VHF Managers in Vienna earlier this year we discussed the
NACs again and decided to try to open the discussion again. The aim is to have
opinions from the active contesters in order to make a decision during the open
VHF Managers meeting in Åland, in June.
The idea/proposal
is:
Basically we keep
the NACs where they are – except the 50 MHz contest.
Where to place it
then? - I will get back to that in a while.
First: Lets look at another problem arising: 70
MHz!
It is allowed in
more and more countries and among those: Denmark, the Faeroes and Greenland.
More will follow! Your country as well, perhaps?
Amateurs in OZ
have already voiced the idea to have a 70 MHz “NAC”.
(It can hardly be
a NAC with only one country, but anyway!!!!)
Then we do have yet another NAC: The 28/29 MHz activity
contest.
A Norwegian invention
copied by the Danes in 1996 and the Finns in 2003 and the Swedes in 2004.
The 28 MHz “NAC” is now
running on the first Thursday every month.
We can expect
increased interest for this activity contest once “everybody” is allowed on the
HF bands (without the CW certificate).
The three bands
28, 50 and 70 MHz have a lot in common due to the relative small frequency
difference while they also show differences in propagation.
It could be an
idea to consider a common contest weekday for the “low band NACs”. (Even though 28/29 MHz is
not a VHF band!)
On Tuesdays we
have a succession in frequency: 144, followed by 432, followed by
1296, followed by Microwaves = 2,3 GHz and up (+ 50 MHz).
The same principle
could be applied on the Thursdays:
28 MHz on the first Thursday every month,
50 MHz on the second Thursday every month,
70 MHz on the third Thursday every month.
The fourth Thursday
is then in store for future “NAC
extensions”.
Necessary
actions:
All Nordic countries are to relocate the 50 MHz activity contest to the second Thursday every month. (And we have to tell the UK, Italy and Poland about it too!)
Denmark will
possibly start a new 70 MHz activity contest on the third Thursday every month.
The rest of you will eventually follow - in due time.
If we decided upon
it in June, ib Åland it could be implemented in 2005.
Alternatively:
a) We could move
the Microwave NAC to the second Thursday.
(Would be more just (?) but spoil the
frequency-succession idea!)
b) We could leave
things as they are right now.
(The changes will come anyway –
though later - according to history!)
What is your
reaction to the idea?
Vy 73 de OZ7IS, Ivan.
VHF manager, EDR. is@ihk.dk