Our club took part in the CQ World Wide VHF Contest on the 50MHz band on 16–17 July. A few days before the contest, preparations began and we packed the equipment we would be taking along. This year we decided to operate on both days and camp at the location. For the location we chose a well-known excursion spot and peak above the city, about a 20tak-minute drive from the club, at an elevation of approx. 350m — Planinarski Dom Šibovi - P. D. Kozara.
Since the contest started somewhat later this year, at 18:00UTC, we arrived at the location in the afternoon and had enough time to set up and test all the equipment so that everything would be ready for the start of the contest. Part of the team set up the antenna system and prepared the radios, while the other part was in charge of pitching the tents for the overnight stay. Just before the start of the contest we saw that the conditions and propagation were not particularly good, but that was to be expected in the evening hours. We expected some bigger openings on the band the next day. We ended the night with 20tak completed contacts, and part of the team went to rest and get ready for an early start in the morning hours, while one part stayed throughout the night to monitor activity and managed to log a few more nice contacts in the LOG. We continued on Sunday in the early morning hours; although the conditions and propagation were still not what we had expected, we managed to make contacts on CW and tried SSB, but there were no bigger openings and we were unable to make any further contacts. We decided to also activate the DIGI mode - FT8, with which we had considerably more success given the then-current poor propagation. A kotlić was also prepared for all participants, taken care of by our member Dejan. Let us add that some of the new members who are preparing to take the exam and obtain a licence also came to the contest, because they wanted to see what it is like to take part in a contest. At the end of the day the impressions were great, we were all satisfied in some way — not exactly with the conditions and the results achieved, but it was great to socialise, share knowledge and experience with the new members who are very interested in this hobby, and to show them all the charms of amateur radio. We wish everyone the best possible placement in the contest itself, but also as many young and curious members as possible.
