Royal Signals Amateur Radio Society Tackle CQWW DX SSB Contest

Icom UK Amateur Radio Specialist, Chris Colclough G1VDP recently joined the Royal Signals Amateur Radio Society (RSARS) at their G2EC Contest Station, G4RS HQ in Blandford, Dorset for the demanding CQWW DX SSB Contest (25th - 26th October). Here he provides a fascinating insight into the planning, hard work and good old-fashioned fun of a major contest weekend where the team's use of Icom equipment helped them achieve an outstanding result.

The CQWW DX SSB contest is one of the biggest events in the Amateur radio calendar, a challenging 48-hour endurance test held annually on the last full weekend of October. The aim is to make contact with as many stations as possible across the HF bands (160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10M) in as many different countries and CQ Zones globally requiring peak performance from both operators and equipment.

The RSARS operates from The Cole Building at Blandford Camp, Blandford Forum, Dorset. Kindly donated by the garrison commander, this permanent station, steeped in military communication heritage is a hub for RSARS members and guests. Established in 1960 by General Whistler and Brigadier Eric Cole, the RSARS is dedicated to advancing communication skills among Royal Signals personnel and the wider military community.

Setting Up for 48 Hours of Contesting

The team's plan was clear: operate for the full 48 hours to maximise their score and improve on their previous excellent 2nd place UK finish in the CQWPX contest. The station was organised across the single-story building to allow for four concurrent operating positions which proved ideal for the five main operators and visitors throughout the weekend.

The equipment was impressive showcasing a clear preference for Icom:

• Operating Position 1 (Permanent Shack) - Icom IC-7610 and Icom IC-756 PRO III (the latter connected to an Ameritron AL-80B.

• Operating Position 2 (Main Area) - An Icom IC-7760, loaned by Icom UK, used with an Acom 1000 amplifier.

• Other Stations - Included Tom's IC-756 Pro III with a Amplifier, and Ady’s K4 (with an Acom 1000) and his Icom IC-7300 as a spare.

The antennas included:

• A 3-element tri-band Yagi (with a 10M parasitic element added for 4 elements on 10M).

• A 3-element tri-band Yagi for 15M and 20M.

• A doublet suspended between the two Versatowers.

• A home-made full-size 1/4 wave vertical for 80M.

• A highly successful 4-square antenna for 40M (which also worked well on 15M).

Chris noted that the Icom IC-7760 was used on 10M, 80M and 160M and everyone who used it commented on what a pleasure it was to use. This reflects the core reason for the team’s loyalty to Icom: the intuitive human interface means moving between models like the 7610 and 7760 was seamless. The radios are known for their reliability and excellent filtering, crucial for operating on the busy, crowded HF bands during a major contest. Even the IC-756 Pro3 "never missed a beat" on 40M which was operating at an extremely high level of activity.

The weekend was a tremendous success, not just in terms of technical performance and operational efficiency, but also in introducing new members to the excitement of contesting. The team's collective effort paid off:

Most impressively, the dedication and equipment choice resulted in an exceptional raw score placement:

The team's performance, particularly securing a 3rd place finish in England, demonstrates the power of preparation, teamwork and reliable, high-performing equipment. Plans are already underway for the CQWPX 2026 event to build on this fantastic result.

- Chris Colclough G1VDP

For those interested in finding out more about the Royal Signals Amateur Radio Society, including membership details, you can visit the RSARS website.

Or, to see Chris's website, click here: https://g1vdp.com/.

Lastly, this short video provides a quick look inside the G2EC Contest Station during the event: "Walkthrough of G2EC Contest Station at G4RS Royal Signals Station during CQWW DX SSB Contest!"

10/11/2025