ARLA/CLUSTER: Resultados do 2º Concurso RaDAR - Rapid Deployable Amateur Radio stations and antennas.

[João Gonçalves Costa]

Results of 2nd RaDAR contest

The event, held in South Africa on Saturday 6 November, was aimed at promoting the use of Rapid Deployable Amateur Radio stations and antennas, preferably without relying on normal mains power.

Seventy three call signs were logged during the contest. 

Band conditions for long distance communication were not good. From logs received to date, most activity took place on 40 m as well as a few LEO FM satellite contacts and one PSK contact on 20 m. All ZS divisions were active. 

The rain and other circumstances made it difficult to be active for the full six hours. Darkness only set in towards the very end, much unlike the winter contest.

Only six logs were submitted and the results are as follows:

X1: All home stations using normal antennas and mains power:
Theunis, ZS2EC, (QRP) 25 points;

X2: All home stations not relying on their normal antennas or mains power:
No entry;

X3 : Portable operation i.e. away from a normal home station; not relying on mains power. (This includes all mobile stations.):
Christo, ZR6LJK, (QRP) 75 points;
Derek, ZS2J, (QRP) 66 points.

X4: True RaDAR portable operations not relying on existing antennas or mains power:
No entry.

X5: True RaDAR portable operations, as above, and using QRP. Output power limited to 5 watt PEP.
Stephen, ZS6SKY, (QRP) 125 points;
Eddie, ZS6BNE, (QRP) 100 points;
Pierre, ZS6BB, (QRP) 75 points.

Contacts were made using digital modes by Christo, ZR6LJK, and via Satellite by Eddie, ZS6BNE, and Stephen, ZS6SKY, which each scored a bonus 5 points for their first contact.

It appears that many participants enjoy taking part in this dynamic contest, more for the fun of it than for the competitive aspect. The scoring method has been revised for future contests and has been updated in the SARL "Blue book" (the Competition Manual).

The South African Radio League