RSGB Construction Competition

There are just six weeks left until the deadline for entries for the RSGB Construction Competition. The Society has received entries already so don't miss out! If you're new to amateur radio there is a special category for you, so why not enter? The four categories are Beginners, Construction Excellence, Innovation, and Software and there is a prize for the winner of each section.

Closing date is 1 March 2022.

Full details are on the RSGB website - http://www.rsgb.org/construction-competition

Fox Mike Hotel Portable Operations Challenge is Now Open Source

The Steering Committee determined that after two years of offering the POC (Portable Operations Challenge) with about 18 entrants each year that it could not continue to put the resources into it. However, the Steering Committee continues to have faith in the concept and ideas embodied in the POC as a means to change amateur radio contesting for the betterment of all.

Any group is welcomed to take the approach, methods and rules and use them as-is or with changes as desired. The POC should be retained although the endorsing body might add their brand as was the case with using this website’s brand, Fox Mike Hotel.

The theory and operationalisation of the Portable Operations Challenge is detailed in the article by Frank K4FMH in the National Contesting Journal in the Sept/Oct issue, 2021. NCJ is free as a digital download to all ARRL members.

Good contacts and 73 to everyone who participated in the Fox Mike Hotel Portable Operations Challenge in 2020 and 2021!

Portable Operations Challenge - https://foxmikehotel.com/challenge/

New Low Power Limit for ARRL HF Contests

The ARRL has set a new standard for what counts as low power for ARRL-sponsored HF contests. The new limit is 100 W, which is down from the 150 W limit that has been permitted in some events, including the ARRL November Sweepstakes.

With the exception of the ARRL Field Day, this change goes into effect on 1 January 2022, for all ARRL-sponsored HF contests, as well as the IARU HF World Championship in July 2022.

This change has been implemented to standardize low-power categories within the contesting community. However, on a more practical level, the typical modern HF transceiver has a maximum power output of 100 W