NFD 2006 Report

A brief report on the how this years VHF NFD proceded.

Report on VHF NFD 2006
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This years NFD followed similar lines to the last two years. We were again teamed up with Bracknell ARS who provided 6mtrs and 70cms. This year it was decided that we would not run a 23cms station, due to shortage of manpower. So FRARS provided only the 2mtr and 4mtr stations. Bracknell club provided the 6mtr and 70cm stations, also the on site catering, which is extremely popular.
Ahead of the event, preparations had been made by John Fell and Tony Baker, to test the PAs, organise the masts/guys and antennas into appropriate piles and labelled bags. Friday afternoon, the Trailer mast was wheeled out and loaded up with the antennas and mast sections.
On the Saturday of the contest we met up at the clubhouse at 8:30am to load the trailer and cars, leaving at 9:15am on the dot and arrived at 10:15am.
The Bracknell club had held breakfast for us, so the first job on site, was to have a full cooked English and a cup of tea. Then on with the station assembly. The weather was dry, hot and only the lightest of breeze. Very atypical for a contest weekend.
First up was 2mtrs. This band runs for the full 24hrs, so we had to be ready for 3pm local time. The pole mast was assembled and the guys attached. As John and Tony did such a thorough job of preparing these, all went smoothly. The mast was raised, guys adjusted then lowered for the antennas to be attached. Once re-joisted for the second time and the top guys were staked out. There is then the group 'Grunt', as we all huddle around the mast base and lift the whole assembly to put the rotator underneath. Everything worked first time. By now, Julian G3YGF had arrived, after collecting the new club caravan. This was wheeled into place ready for the first snag of the day. I had forgotten to pick up the keys! Using a small screwdriver and a paperclip (and a few tricks that I'd prefer Dorset Constabulary did not know about!) it was unlocked and we began setting up the equipment. A little adjustment and swapping of HV PSUs and we generating about 350W into the coax. We joined the contest, on the allotted time of 3pm.
There were a few reports of distorted audio during the contest, this turned out to be AF drive levels, which was corrected by changing mike.
Progress was steady during the contest and we shut down for a while overnight, due to lack of operators. Bracknell had done the same, as 6mtrs only ran for the first 8 hours of the contest and 70cms had gone quiet. A little time was spent enjoying the clear skies and lack of light pollution, drinking beer and watching the shooting stars and satellite flashes above, before snatching a few hours sleep. We returned to the band again just after 4am until the end of the contest at 3pm on the Sunday. Things were slower on the Sunday, until the backpackers contest started. Conditions were absolutely flat for the duration of the contest, with no sign of propagation at all. John Fell was checking the barometric pressure regularly, hoping for some indication that things might improve, the pressure stayed constant.
When 2mtrs was running on the Saturday, we turned our attention to 4mtrs. This band was not due to start until Sunday morning, so setup was a leisurely affair. The white club tent was assembled easily and the trailer mast populated with antennas. Some of the connectors were in a bad way, so there were some on site repairs do be done. When completed, matching was checked and the mast was hoisted. It was also extended as far as the feeders would allow and a single set of top guys attached. The station was tested and all worked first time. An additional vertical antenna was also installed, which was for bagging the local FM only stations. I tested this antenna on my Philips FM1200 set, using 10W. A CQ call returned a report of S9 from Cardiff, also using a vertical whip.
4mtrs started on time and ran without problems. The band was busy all day and the total number of QSO's were higher than last year. The initial suggestions were that this was because of the extra FM contact that we bagged.
At 3pm we closed down all station and began to strike camp. Again, everything went smoothly and we were off site just after 5pm.
The whole event went far smoother than previous years. The heat did make for hard going during the physical work, but was preferable to working in the usual driving rain that contests attract. The catering laid on by the Bracknell club was superb and was really appreciated by all. Our new caravan made the setting up the 2mtr station, far easier. I was glad not to have to go through the 'Orange tent' fiasco again.
We will probably not score as high as the east coast stations, but I recon we will give them a good run for their money. Our 4mtr station was probably pretty optimal and the limited opportunity for overseas QSOs, we stand a good chance of rating very highly. I look forward to seeing the results.
After all the unloading was complete at the clubhouse, the talk, over a cup of tea, was how well things went and how much we had enjoyed it. So we must have been doing something right! So who's up for the 'UHF and Up' contest in October?
I was going to put some special thanks to people who went out of their way
to make this event happen, but as I compiled the list, I realised that it
included everyone. So Thank you all!
Jules

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