RadCom April 2024, Vol. 100, No. 4

RSGB Matters www.rsgb.org April 2024 11 Changes to RSGB HF contests The RSGB HF Contest Committee has introduced a couple of rules to address changes in licence conditions that came into effect from 21 February. 1. UK&CD entrants are required to use a Regional Secondary Locator (RSL) where it is necessary to clarify the entity from which they are operating. From 21 February 2024, stations operating from England may optionally use the RSL “E”. If no RSL is used eg M0HDG, G6XX or GB4ABC, the station will be assumed to be in England. The use of a misleading RSL will disqualify the entry. 2. UK&CD entrants may append their callsign with one of the following: /A (Alternative Address), /P (Temporary Location), /M (Mobile) or /MM (Maritime Mobile) and this will comprise part of the call with which they enter. Other suffixes used by UK&CD stations, whether or not they are entrants, will be removed in adjudication and need not be logged. Power changes to specific contests AFS 80/40 – 400W becomes maximum legal power (from 2025) UK/EI DX – may be subject to change by the organising committee RSGB Field Day Contests (SSB only) – 400W max becomes maximum legal power Foundation licensees We are considering introducing a section for Foundation licensees in some of our contests now that the power limit is increased to 25W. We can’t technically change the 80m CC series at this point, as it has already started. But if significant numbers of Foundation licensees enter 80m CC contests in the 100W section (running 25W) we will have good reason to run a trial Foundation 25W section in the Autumn series. Rules for 2025 Prior to finalising the rules for 2025 we will consult widely on whether RSLs should remain mandatory in those of our contests for which the country in which the operator is situated has no bearing on the score. Nick Totterdell G4FAL, RSGB HF Contest Committee Chair HamCation 2024 The RSGB was delighted to attend HamCation 2024 in Florida in February. 74 new members joined the RSGB’s ranks after visiting our stand. The following amateurs signed the RSGB guest book at the event: K04ULV, G4ANN, KB2CUX, K8WSR, MW1BQO, K4EKK, WX4V, KQ4AFY, K4JC, AA6DQ, NT8B, N5AC, KX3G, AC0XP, N1LSO, KT4WX, AA3XV, KC2KD, KJ4ODU, 2E0AWX, W3FGD, N4MI, NW7TP, W4DBL, K2PH, WB2GRX, NH0AA, KJ7MDM, KC4TLC, KI4DUK, W3MTN, W9PQ, K8PY, N62UE, K2QA, KA4LTC, NE7LT, WD8NVN, WD4ORM, WQ8P, KQ4LTU, N2MFT, KB4BOB, G3YSX, KY4AX, KE4RKZ, KE4ORB, W4KFH, W9QY, KB4DAN, W3EEE, K9AO, KO4NOF, K3BQ, KB9AR, K0BBB, WE4S, WB0AOD, NJ7Y, KA9Q, KQ4MZA, AC1JL, K4KWW, N2MH, K9LRD, K24MRJ and NT4AL. GB, MW/2W changes – a reminder. This is a repeat message in case you missed it last month and for those preparing for special events during the year. Long-time sub-manager Davina, M0LXT has now retired. The new sub-manager for special event callsigns is Graham, G0NBI. Graham has retained two other groups and passed responsibility for the MW & 2W callsigns to GW sub-manager John, GW0RAD. This now means that for the first time in many years, all of Wales has a single manager. Full address and contact details for sending C5 collection envelopes are available on the RSGB website. Richard J Constantine, G3UGF Diverts In advance of proposed licence changes that will be introduced over the next two years, the Bureau is trying to get ahead of the curve. The yearbook informs members that cards must be collected from the callsign used, during the QSO. Club and personal callsigns cannot be directly diverted to another call held by the club manager, an individual, friend or family member. The only exception is an overseas call owned or operated by the member personally. This is nothing new. Forthcoming changes mean that we need to get ahead of the licence changes and insist members follow this instruction, in order that cards go to the right places. In particular we need to avoid, as far as possible, future cards being sent to callsigns that will no longer be valid. Members can help immediately by removing any and all ‘via’ information from their QRZ.com pages without delay. Where no QSL information has been given, senders frequently resort to sending cards with a ‘via’ to the person managing the web page. This is not always the same person. Please make your QSL instructions clear on the edit page at the top of your entry, as few view or read the whole page! QSL Matters Each month we try to bring you an interesting QSL card. In addition to those depicting the operator’s station, family or other hobbies, many have a fascinating backstory. Whatever it is, it catches our eye amongst the hundreds and thousands of cards passing through the system and this month’s card is no exception. Expecting some connection to animation or media or perhaps a screen grab from a film, we contacted Andy, DL6LA to find out more. We discovered that none of the foregoing applied. Andy created the ‘Haminion card’, complete with handheld portable radio and whacky antenna, himself on his computer. He did this simply to make whoever received it smile. It certainly brightened our day – there were big grins all round. Why not get inventive with your cards? As we often say, there’s much more to QSLing than just signal reports.