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Activities Calendar

Please choose a year for the activities:
2021 2020 Older
To see reports and tables of results, visit the Activity Results page.  The free FISTS Log Converter program for Windows can be used to create entries for all the FISTS activities below.

Activities Calendar 2021

To see a list of dates and times for these and some other on-air activities, please visit the Upcoming Events web page. 

New!!! What 3 Words 2021
Mechanical Key Days 2021
Spring Word Search 2021
Ladder 2021

WHAT 3 WORDS 2021 (W3W)
DESCRIPTION An activity designed to encourage further familiarity with the What 3 Words locating app.  Qualifying QSO will be QSO wherein a W3W location is exchanged.  This can be the station location OR a stated location sent by the sender, e.g. Salisbury Cathedral, STOPS.YAPPY.MASS
DATES and
TIMES		 ONE hour periods commencing at the cardinal times of the clock (think radio room clock silence periods), 12, 3, 6, 9. Twice per 24hrs, so EIGHT x ONE hour operating periods per 24hrs.

00:01- 2359UTC first Friday, Saturday and Sunday in July, August and September 2021
July 2,3,4, August 6,7,8 and September 3,4,5.
FREQUENCIES The following rules apply only if you are sending in an entry:
  • You can use any amateur radio band in your licence except for 12m, 17m, 30m, 60m, and bands lower in frequency than 160m.
  • Please use FISTS Centre of Activity and UP frequencies keeping clear of QRP frequencies unless using QRP.
  • After you finish a QSO on 3.558 or 7.028 MHz, unless you replied to a CQ or tail-ended a QSO, you must QSY by at least 500 Hz for a minimum of 10 minutes.
EXCHANGE The minimum exchange is:
RST, Name, W3W locator OR W3W locator AND the stated place (see text), and FISTS member number (if applicable).
SCORING A station can be claimed once on each day.  Scoring:
PointsStation
1 Any station exchanging W3W.
LOGS Send in the your entries by the following dates:
July entry no later than 07 August.
August entry no later than 07 September.
September entry no later than 07 October.

Entries must include your callsign, name, and email address (if you have one).

Log formats:
  • You must put this in your log's 'Comment' (or similar) field: W3W followed by the W3W locator in double-quotes or the W3W locator and stated place in double-quotes.  E.g.
    W3W  "stops.yappy.mass  Salisbury  Cathedral"
    W3W  "gravel.grades.margin"
  • The free FISTS Log Converter program https://fists.co.uk/flc version 4.0.7 or later for Windows is recommended for creating and submitting logs quickly and easily.
  • Excel, Calc, CSV (comma-separated values), or TSV (tab-separated values) files.  The first row/record in the file must include these exact column names although they don't need to be in this order:
    QSO_Date, Call, Name, Freq, RST_Sent, RST_Rcvd, Time_On, FISTS, Mode, Points, Comment
    Examples:
    2021/07/02,G3ZOD,Gra,3.559,559,549,21:15,8385,CW,1,W3W  "gravel.grades.margin"
    2021/07/03,G4YVM/P,David,7.026,599,589,15:05,2219,CW,1,
    W3W  "stops.yappy.mass  Salisbury  Cathedral"
    'QSO_Date' and 'Time_On' are UTC.
    'Freq' is in MHz and must be a decimal number only, e.g. 7.027
    'Mode' must be CW
    'Points' can contain 1 or be left blank, e.g. 1
    'Comment' must include W3W followed by double-quotes surrounding the W3W locator or W3W locator and stated place.
  • ADIF files.  These can be ADI (text) files or ADX (XML) files and must include the fields named above.
  • Other file formats may be acceptable - please ask.
  • If you don't have access to email, you can use official FISTS Activity paper log sheets; please ask and we will post you a set.
The email address for questions and entries is .


MECHANICAL KEY DAYS 2021 (MKD)
DESCRIPTION Mechanical Key Days runs from May to December 2021.  You must send CQs and have QSOs using a straight ("up & down") key, a sideswiper (aka "cootie") key or a semi-automatic (aka "bug") key - no electronic keyers, keyboards, or other gizmos!  If in doubt about the eligibility of your key, please ask.  It does not matter what type of key your QSO partner uses.
DATES and
TIMES		 FIRST day of each month - 0001hrs to 2359hrs UTC.
01 May, 01 June, 01 July, 01 August, 01 September, 01 October, 01 November, & 01 December.
FREQUENCIES The following rules apply only if you are sending in an entry:
  • You can use any amateur radio band in your licence except for 12m, 17m, 30m, 60m, and bands lower in frequency than 160m.
  • Please use FISTS Centre of Activity and UP frequencies keeping clear of QRP frequencies unless using QRP.
  • After you finish a QSO on 3.558 or 7.028 MHz, unless you replied to a CQ or tail-ended a QSO, you must QSY by at least 500 Hz for a minimum of 10 minutes.
EXCHANGE The minimum exchange is:
RST, Name, QTH, and FISTS member number (if applicable).
SCORING A station can be claimed once on each day.  Scoring:
PointsStation
1Non-member.
3FISTS member (current or lapsed).
5FISTS-affiliated club station.
8FISTS HQ station (GX0IPX, GX3ZQS, MX5IPX, VK2FDU, ZL6FF, JL3YMV, KN0WCW).
LOGS Each month's entry must be received no later than 07 of that month and must include your callsign, name, and email address (if you have one).

Log formats:
  • You must put this in your log's 'Comment' (or similar) field: MKD
  • The free FISTS Log Converter program https://fists.co.uk/flc version 4.0.6 or later for Windows is recommended for creating and submitting logs quickly and easily.
  • Excel, Calc, CSV (comma-separated values), or TSV (tab-separated values) files.  The first row/record in the file must include these exact column names although they don't need to be in this order:
    QSO_Date, Call, Name, QTH, Freq, RST_Sent, RST_Rcvd, Time_On, FISTS, Mode, Points, Comment
    Example:
    2021/06/01,G4LHI,Peter,Huntingdon,7.026,599,559,17:05,2219,CW,2,MKD QSO
    'QSO_Date' and 'Time_On' are UTC.
    'Freq' is in MHz and must be a decimal number only, e.g. 7.027
    'Mode' must be CW
    'Points' can contain a number or be left blank, e.g. 3
    'Comment' must include MKD, e.g. Nice QSO MKD
  • ADIF files.  These can be ADI (text) files or ADX (XML) files and must include the fields named above.
  • Other file formats may be acceptable - please ask.
  • If you don't have access to email, you can use official FISTS Activity paper log sheets; please ask and we will post you a set.
The email address for questions and entries is .


SPRING WORD SEARCH 2021
DESCRIPTION The idea is for members to work sufficient stations to be able to use one letter of each callsign to spell
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
DATES and
TIMES		 Every day, 0001 hours April 1st 2021 - 2359 hours June 30th 2021.  All times Zulu.
BANDS Operation only on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m, & 2m bands.
RECOMMENDED
FREQUENCIES		 FISTS Centre of Activity frequencies AND UP PLEASE.
EXCHANGE There is no required exchange.

Why not say you're chasing the letters and which letter of theirs you're using?
GENERAL ANY STATION COUNTS.  FISTS OR NOT.  The aim is to use any letter of a callsign suffix to spell
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;

For example, in M0CDL/P the suffix letters are "CDL" and any one of them can be used as they all occur in the phrase.

There are two sections:
  • QRP (5 Watts or less)
  • Open (any power)
Entrants can use ANY letter from a suffix but they cannot use a callsign more than once under any circumstances EXCEPT that if you use a callsign for one section (say, QRP) then choose to enter the other section (Open) you CAN work the station a second time and use the callsign in the new section.  Note that it must be a new QSO on a different day though.  Under all other circumstances, even making multiple QSOs, does not permit reuse of the callsign at all.

Entrants may use QRP (5 Watts or less) or Open (any power).  Callsigns used in one section may be used in the other but they must be worked again.  Whilst QSOs of greater than 5 Watts cannot be counted in the QRP section, QSOs made using QRP can be counted in the Open section if desired.

For example, G4LHI counts as an H for HIGH but if I work him using 5 Watts I can count him in the QRP section OR the Open section BUT if I choose subsequently to enter the other section as well, I MUST work G4LHI AGAIN on a different day to get the H for the new section.

Please email the Activities Manager, David G4YVM, with any questions:
POINTS Points for LETTERS IN PHRASE.  1 PER LETTER.

The winning three places will be based on the number of letters achieved and the start date and time of the final qualifying QSO.  IF THREE PEOPLE ALL GET ALL LETTERS, THE TIMES OF QSO WILL DECIDE THE WINNER.
LOGS You can send in your log at any time but no later than 7th July 2021 please.  If you send in more than one log, each log must contain the full list of QSOs and the most recent log supersedes earlier logs.  Include your callsign, name, and email address (if you have one).

Log formats:
  • The free FISTS Log Converter program https://fists.co.uk/flc version 4.0.5 or later for Windows is recommended for creating and submitting logs quickly and easily.
  • Excel, Calc, CSV (comma-separated values), or TSV (tab-separated values) files.  The first row/record in the file must include these exact column names although they don't need to be in this order:
    QSO_Date, Call, Freq, Time_On, Mode, TX_Pwr, Points, Comment

    Example (1): Choosing letters automatically (Open section only):
    2021/04/18,G4LHI,7.032,14:25,CW,100,1,
    2021/05/21,G3ZOD,3.562,10:05,CW,2.5,1,

    Example (2): Choosing letters yourself (any section):
    2021/04/18,G4LHI,7.032,14:25,2219,CW,100,1,WSOPEN  H
    2021/06/21,G3ZOD,3.562,10:05,CW,2.5,1,WSQRP  D
    • 'QSO_Date' and 'Time_On' are UTC.
    • 'Freq' is in MHz and must be a decimal number only, e.g. 7.032
    • 'Mode' must be CW
    • 'TX_Pwr' is your power and can be:
      - for the QRP section, a number not greater than 5, e.g. 2.5
      - for the Open section, blank or your power e.g. 100 
    • 'Points' can contain 1 or be left blank, e.g. 1
    • 'Comment' is optional:
      • To enter the Open section and choose letters automatically, do NOT include WSQRP or WSOPEN in 'Comment' in any QSO log entries.
      • To choose the letters yourself or enter the QRP section, you MUST include WSQRP (QRP section) or WSOPEN (Open section) followed by the letter being claimed, e.g. Nice QSO WSOPEN  W
      Note: if you have QSOs with one or more callsigns that contain more than one required letter in the callsign, you may achieve letters sooner if you choose them carefully yourself.
  • ADIF files.  These can be ADI (text) files or ADX (XML) files and must include the fields named above except where it says above that a field can be blank.
  • Other file formats may be acceptable - please ask.
  • If you don't have access to email, you can use official FISTS Activity paper log sheets; please ask and we will post you a set.
The email address for entries is .


LADDER 2021
DESCRIPTION The Ladder is a monthly activity with two, two-hour sessions on the 2nd and 4th Sunday in a month.  As with all FISTS Europe activities, it is a relaxed and sociable activity.

The results at the end of the year will list the leading three entries in two categories:
  • Entrants located anywhere.
  • Entrants located outside DXCC entity 223 (England).
(If operating from more than one DXCC entity, the location will be the one used most in the sessions.)
DATES and
TIMES		 Session times are 14:00-16:00 UTC and 18:00-20:00 UTC on the following Sundays:

10/24 January, 14/28 February, 14/28 March, 11/25 April, 09/23 May, 13/27 June, 11/25 July, 08/22 August, 12/26 September, 10/24 October, 14/28 November, 12/26 December.
FREQUENCIES The following rules apply only if you are sending in an entry:
  • You can use any amateur radio band in your licence except for 12m, 17m, 30m, 60m, and bands lower in frequency than 160m.
  • Keep at least 1 kHz away from QRP centre of activity frequencies unless running QRP.  (For 80m, 40m, and 20m, these are 3.560, 7.030, and 14.060 MHz.)
  • After you finish a QSO on 3.558 or 7.028 MHz, unless you replied to a CQ or tail-ended a QSO, you must QSY by at least 500 Hz for a minimum of 10 minutes.
EXCHANGE The minimum exchange is:
RST, Name, QTH, and FISTS member number (if applicable).
SCORING There are four 2-hour sessions in each month of which at most two can be claimed.  Within each claimed session, a station can be worked once; it follows that a station can earn points at most twice (once per claimed session).  Scoring:
PointsStation
1Non-member.
3FISTS member (current or lapsed).
5FISTS-affiliated club station.
8FISTS HQ station (GX0IPX, GX3ZQS, MX5IPX, VK2FDU, ZL6FF, JL3YMV, KN0WCW).
LOGS Send in your entry after the last session in a month.  Entries must be received no later than the 7th of the following month and must include your callsign, name, and email address (if you have one).

Log formats:
  • The free FISTS Log Converter program https://fists.co.uk/flc for Windows is recommended for creating and submitting logs quickly and easily.
  • Excel, Calc, CSV (comma-separated values), or TSV (tab-separated values) files.  The first row/record in the file must include these exact column names although they don't need to be in this order:
    QSO_Date, Call, Name, QTH, Freq, RST_Sent, RST_Rcvd, Time_On, FISTS, Mode, Points
    Example:
    2021/01/24,G4LHI,Peter,Huntingdon,7.027,599,559,14:25,2219,CW,3
    'QSO_Date' and 'Time_On' are UTC.
    'Freq' is in MHz and must be a decimal number only, e.g. 7.027
    'FISTS' must either be blank or contain a FISTS member number only, e.g. 8385
    'Mode' must be CW
    'Points' can contain a number or be left blank, e.g. 3
  • ADIF files.  These can be ADI (text) files or ADX (XML) files and must include the fields named above.
  • Other file formats may be acceptable - please ask.
  • If you don't have access to email, you can use official FISTS Activity paper log sheets; please ask and we will post you a set.
The email address for questions and entries is .


Activities Calendar 2020

To see a list of dates and times for these and some other on-air activities, please visit the Upcoming Events web page. 

New!!! Exchange Your Gifts 2020
Mechanical Key Days 2020 (MKD)
2m Chronophage 2020
Dunkirk Memorial 2020
Straight Key Week 2020 (SKW)
Word Search 2020
Ladder 2020
Low Bands Day Hopper 2020

MECHANICAL KEY DAYS 2020 (MKD)
DESCRIPTION Mechanical Key Days runs from Monday 16 - Sunday 22 November 2020.  You must send CQs and have QSOs using a straight ("up & down") key, a sideswiper (aka "cootie") key or a semi-automatic (aka "bug") key - no electronic keyers, keyboards, or other gizmos!  If in doubt about the eligibility of your key, please ask.  It does not matter what type of key your QSO partner uses.
DATES and
TIMES		 ONE hour periods commencing at the cardinal times of the clock (think radio room clock silence periods), 12, 3, 6, 9.  Twice per 24hrs, so EIGHT x ONE hour operating periods per 24hrs.

00:01 UTC Monday 16 November to 22:00 UTC Sunday 22 November.
FREQUENCIES The following rules apply only if you are sending in an entry:
  • You can use any amateur radio band in your licence except for 12m, 17m, 30m, 60m, and bands lower in frequency than 160m.
  • Keep at least 1 kHz away from QRP centre of activity frequencies unless running QRP.  (For 80m, 40m, and 20m, these are 3.560, 7.030, and 14.060 MHz.)
  • After you finish a QSO on 3.558 or 7.028 MHz, unless you replied to a CQ or tail-ended a QSO, you must QSY by at least 500 Hz for a minimum of 10 minutes.
EXCHANGE The minimum exchange is:
RST, Name, QTH, and FISTS member number (if applicable).
SCORING A station can be claimed once on each day.  Scoring:
PointsStation
1Non-member.
3FISTS member (current or lapsed).
5FISTS-affiliated club station.
8FISTS HQ station (GX0IPX, GX3ZQS, MX5IPX, VK2FDU, ZL6FF, JL3YMV, KN0WCW).
LOGS Send in your entry after the last day.  Entries must be received by 07 December 2020 and must include your callsign, name, and email address (if you have one).

Log formats:
  • You must put this in your log's 'Comment' (or similar) field: MKD
  • The free FISTS Log Converter program https://fists.co.uk/flc for Windows is recommended for creating and submitting logs quickly and easily.
  • Excel, Calc, CSV (comma-separated values), or TSV (tab-separated values) files.  The first row/record in the file must include these exact column names although they don't need to be in this order:
    QSO_Date, Call, Name, QTH, Freq, RST_Sent, RST_Rcvd, Time_On, FISTS, Mode, Points, Comment
    Example:
    2020/06/07,G4LHI,Peter,Huntingdon,7.026,599,559,17:05,2219,CW,2,MKD QSO
    'QSO_Date' and 'Time_On' are UTC.
    'Freq' is in MHz and must be a decimal number only, e.g. 7.027
    'Mode' must be CW
    'Points' can contain a number or be left blank, e.g. 3
    'Comment' must include MKD, e.g. Nice QSO MKD
  • ADIF files.  These can be ADI (text) files or ADX (XML) files and must include the fields named above.
  • Other file formats may be acceptable - please ask.
  • If you don't have access to email, you can use official FISTS Activity paper log sheets; please ask and we will post you a set.
The email address for questions and entries is .


2M CHRONOPHAGE 2020
DESCRIPTION Those of you who know your Latin or your clocks will know the chronophage as a time eater (do Google Chronophage and if you can get to Cambridge, do so…it is well worth the trip! www.johnctaylor.com/the-chronophage).
DATES and
TIMES		 Sept 28th to Oct 25th.

Monday, Friday Saturday and Sunday.

1200, 1500, 1900 Z each day.
FREQUENCIES 2m ONLY, CW obviously.

Now this is contentious.  I would say calling on 144.050 but I know some FISTS would also say no, no, it's on 144.058.  SO... Calling on either 144.050 or 144.058, you take your pick.  I would like to be able to be hard and fast on this but that's just not possible.  Perhaps what I should say is… "call CQ and tune low to high"!  Now that takes us back!
LOGS and COMMENTS Logs and comments welcome to ...let's have some VHF fun.


DUNKIRK MEMORIAL 2020
DESCRIPTION During the period 18th May 0001z to 5th June 2359z, which date covers both the memorial event and the actual operation dates, this activity is to simply work as many stations around Dunkirk and Dover (the operation was run from Dover) as you can.

Remember it is FUN. Exchanges should be normal but more points will be awarded for stations within 50 miles of Dover or Dunkirk. Distances will be based on Locator distances.  Locators do NOT need to be exchanged but for stations in Belgium, England, France, & Netherlands, you MUST enter the locator of the station into your log to claim "within 50 miles" bonus points.  If you are not given the locator over the ear, it is often shown as the Grid Square in QRZ.com.  If it's not there, you can find it using the postal address from QRZ.com on this Maidenhead Grid Square Locator Map web page.

The scores are 1 point per qso, 3 points per qso within 50 miles of either Dunkirk or Dover castle, and 10 points for the Andover club special event callsign GB4DLS.  Locators for the two anchor points are:
   
Dunkirk JO11eb
Dover JO01pd
 
DATES and
TIMES		 18th May 0001z to 5th June 2359 UTC.
FREQUENCIES The following rules apply only if you are sending in an entry:
  • You can use any amateur radio band in your licence except for 12m, 17m, 30m, 60m, and bands lower in frequency than 160m.
  • Keep at least 1 kHz away from QRP centre of activity frequencies unless running QRP.  (For 80m, 40m, and 20m, these are 3.560, 7.030, and 14.060 MHz.)
EXCHANGE There is no minimum exchange.
SCORING You may claim only ONE QSO with any given operator during the activity,  i.e. all QSOs claimed must be unique callsigns.  Scoring:
PointsStation
1 Station located anywhere.
3 Station located 50 miles or less from JO11eb (Dunkirk) or JO01pd (Dover).
10 Special event station GB4DLS.
LOGS Send in your entry after the last day.  Entries must be received by 07 July 2020 and must include your callsign, name, and email address (if you have one).

Log formats:
  • The free FISTS Log Converter program https://fists.co.uk/flc version 4.0.0 or later for Windows is recommended for creating and submitting logs quickly and easily.
  • Excel, Calc, CSV (comma-separated values), or TSV (tab-separated values) files.  The first row/record in the file must include these exact column names although they don't need to be in this order:
    QSO_Date, Call, Freq, Time_On, Gridsquare,Mode, Points
    Example:
    2020/05/19,2E0DLR,3.525,16:59,JO01nb,CW,3
    'QSO_Date' and 'Time_On' are UTC.
    'Freq' is in MHz and must be a decimal number only, e.g. 7.027
    'Gridsquare' can be a locator with at least 6 characters -or- left blank for stations other than those in Belgium, England, France, & Netherlands.  E.g. JO01nb
    'Mode' must be CW
    'Points' can contain a number or be left blank, e.g. 3 
  • ADIF files.  These can be ADI (text) files or ADX (XML) files and must include the fields named above.
  • Other file formats may be acceptable - please ask.
  • If you don't have access to email, you can use official FISTS Activity paper log sheets; please ask and we will post you a set.
The email address for questions and entries is .


STRAIGHT KEY WEEK 2020 (SKW)
DESCRIPTION Straight Key Week runs for 7 days in July.  You must send CQs and have QSOs using a straight ("up & down") key or a sideswiper (aka "cootie") key; no semi-automatic (aka "bug") keys or electronic keyers.  If in doubt about the eligibility of your key, please ask.  It does not matter what type of key your QSO partner uses.
DATES and
TIMES		 ONE hour periods commencing at the cardinal times of the clock (think radio room clock silence periods), 12, 3, 6, 9.  Twice per 24hrs, so EIGHT x ONE hour operating periods per 24hrs.

00:01 UTC Wednesday 01 July to 22:00 UTC Tuesday 07 July.
FREQUENCIES The following rules apply only if you are sending in an entry:
  • You can use any amateur radio band in your licence except for 12m, 17m, 30m, 60m, and bands lower in frequency than 160m.
  • Keep at least 1 kHz away from QRP centre of activity frequencies unless running QRP.  (For 80m, 40m, and 20m, these are 3.560, 7.030, and 14.060 MHz.)
  • After you finish a QSO on 3.558 or 7.028 MHz, unless you replied to a CQ or tail-ended a QSO, you must QSY by at least 500 Hz for a minimum of 10 minutes.
EXCHANGE The minimum exchange is:
RST, Name, QTH, and FISTS member number (if applicable).
SCORING You may claim only ONE QSO with any given operator per day,  i.e. all QSOs claimed each day must be unique callsigns.  Scoring:
PointsStation
1Non-member.
3FISTS member (current or lapsed).
5FISTS-affiliated club station.
8FISTS HQ station (GX0IPX, GX3ZQS, MX5IPX, VK2FDU, ZL6FF, JL3YMV, KN0WCW).
LOGS Send in your entry after the last day.  Entries must be received by 07 August 2020 and must include your callsign, name, and email address (if you have one).

Log formats:
  • You must put this in your log's 'Comment' (or similar) field: SKW
  • The free FISTS Log Converter program https://fists.co.uk/flc version 4.0.0 or later for Windows is recommended for creating and submitting logs quickly and easily.
  • Excel, Calc, CSV (comma-separated values), or TSV (tab-separated values) files.  The first row/record in the file must include these exact column names although they don't need to be in this order:
    QSO_Date, Call, Name, QTH, Freq, RST_Sent, RST_Rcvd, Time_On, FISTS, Mode, Points, Comment
    Example:
    2020/07/03,G4LHI,Peter,Huntingdon,7.026,599,559,17:05,2219,CW,2,SKW QSO
    'QSO_Date' and 'Time_On' are UTC.
    'Freq' is in MHz and must be a decimal number only, e.g. 7.027
    'Mode' must be CW
    'Points' can contain a number or be left blank, e.g. 3
    'Comment' must include SKW, e.g. Nice QSO SKW
  • ADIF files.  These can be ADI (text) files or ADX (XML) files and must include the fields named above.
  • Other file formats may be acceptable - please ask.
  • If you don't have access to email, you can use official FISTS Activity paper log sheets; please ask and we will post you a set.
The email address for questions and entries is .


WORD SEARCH 2020
DESCRIPTION The idea is for members to work sufficient FISTS members to be able to use one letter of each callsign to spell
'FOR GOD'S SAKE SEND US ASSISTANCE!'. DE SS TREVEAL.
DATES and
TIMES		 Every day, 0001 hours August 1st 2020 - 2359 hours October 31st 2020.  All times Zulu.
BANDS Operation only on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m, & 2m bands.
RECOMMENDED
FREQUENCIES		 FISTS Centre of Activity frequencies.
EXCHANGE The minimum exchange is:
FISTS member number.

Why not say you're chasing the letters and which letter of theirs you're using?
GENERAL ONLY FISTS members count.  The aim is to use any letter of a callsign suffix to spell
'FOR GOD'S SAKE SEND US ASSISTANCE!'. DE SS TREVEAL.
For example, in M0CDL/P the suffix letters are "CDL" and any of them can be used as they all occur in the phrase.

There are two sections:
  • QRP (5 Watts or less)
  • Open (any power)
Entrants can use ANY letter from a FISTS suffix but they cannot use a callsign more than once under any circumstances EXCEPT that if you use a callsign for one section (say, QRP) then choose to enter the other section (Open) you CAN work the station a second time and use the callsign in the new section.  Note that it must be a new QSO on a different day though.  Under all other circumstances, even making multiple QSOs, does not permit reuse of the callsign at all.

Entrants may use QRP (5 Watts or less) or Open (any power).  Callsigns used in one section may be used in the other but they must be worked again.  Whilst QSOs of greater than 5 Watts cannot be counted in the QRP section, QSOs made using QRP can be counted in the Open section if desired.

For example, G4LHI counts as an H for WHAT but if I work him using 5 Watts I can count him in the QRP section OR the Open section BUT if I choose subsequently to enter the other section as well, I MUST work G4LHI AGAIN on a different day to get the H for the new section.

Please email the Activities Manager, David G4YVM, with any questions:
POINTS Points for FISTS:FISTS only.

The winning three places will be based on the number of letters achieved and the start date and time of the final qualifying QSO.
LOGS You can send in your log at any time but no later than 7th November 2020 please.  If you send in more than one log, each log must contain the full list of QSOs and the most recent log supersedes earlier logs.  Include your callsign, name, and email address (if you have one).

Log formats:
  • The free FISTS Log Converter program https://fists.co.uk/flc version 4.0.0 or later for Windows is recommended for creating and submitting logs quickly and easily.
  • Excel, Calc, CSV (comma-separated values), or TSV (tab-separated values) files.  The first row/record in the file must include these exact column names although they don't need to be in this order:
    QSO_Date, Call, Freq, Time_On, FISTS, Mode, TX_Pwr, Points, Comment

    Example (1): Choosing letters automatically (Open section only):
    2020/08/18,G4LHI,7.027,14:25,2219,CW,100,1,
    2020/09/21,G3ZOD,3.554,10:05,8385,CW,2.5,1,

    Example (2): Choosing letters yourself (any section):
    2020/08/18,G4LHI,7.027,14:25,2219,CW,100,1,WSOPEN  H
    2020/09/21,G3ZOD,3.554,10:05,8385,CW,2.5,1,WSQRP  D
    • 'QSO_Date' and 'Time_On' are UTC.
    • 'Freq' is in MHz and must be a decimal number only, e.g. 7.027
    • 'FISTS' must contain a FISTS member number only, e.g. 8385
    • 'Mode' must be CW
    • 'TX_Pwr' is your power and can be:
      - for the QRP section, a number not greater than 5, e.g. 2.5
      - for the Open section, blank or your power e.g. 100 
    • 'Points' can contain 1 or be left blank, e.g. 1
    • 'Comment' is optional:
      • To enter the Open section and choose letters automatically, do NOT include WSQRP or WSOPEN in 'Comment' in any QSO log entries.
      • To choose the letters yourself or enter the QRP section, you MUST include WSQRP (QRP section) or WSOPEN (Open section) followed by the letter being claimed, e.g. Nice QSO WSOPEN  W
      Note: if you have QSOs with one or more callsigns that contain more than one required letter in the callsign, you may achieve letters sooner if you choose them carefully yourself.
  • ADIF files.  These can be ADI (text) files or ADX (XML) files and must include the fields named above except where it says above that a field can be blank.
  • Other file formats may be acceptable - please ask.
  • If you don't have access to email, you can use official FISTS Activity paper log sheets; please ask and we will post you a set.
The email address for entries is .


LADDER 2020
DESCRIPTION The Ladder is a monthly activity with two, two-hour sessions on the 2nd and 4th Sunday in a month.  As with all FISTS Europe activities, it is a relaxed and sociable activity.

The results at the end of the year will list the leading three entries in two categories:
  • Entrants located anywhere.
  • Entrants located outside DXCC entity 223 (England).
(If operating from more than one DXCC entity, the location will be the one used most in the sessions.)
DATES and
TIMES		 Session times are 14:00-16:00 UTC and 18:00-20:00 UTC on the following Sundays:

12/26 January, 09/23 February, 08/22 March, 12/26 April, 10/24 May, 14/28 June, 12/26 July, 09/23 August, 13/27 September, 11/25 October, 08/22 November, 13/27 December.
FREQUENCIES The following rules apply only if you are sending in an entry:
  • You can use any amateur radio band in your licence except for 12m, 17m, 30m, 60m, and bands lower in frequency than 160m.
  • Keep at least 1 kHz away from QRP centre of activity frequencies unless running QRP.  (For 80m, 40m, and 20m, these are 3.560, 7.030, and 14.060 MHz.)
  • After you finish a QSO on 3.558 or 7.028 MHz, unless you replied to a CQ or tail-ended a QSO, you must QSY by at least 500 Hz for a minimum of 10 minutes.
EXCHANGE The minimum exchange is:
RST, Name, QTH, and FISTS member number (if applicable).
SCORING There are four 2-hour sessions in each month of which at most two can be claimed.  Within each claimed session, a station can be worked once; it follows that a station can earn points at most twice (once per claimed session).  Scoring:
PointsStation
1Non-member.
3FISTS member (current or lapsed).
5FISTS-affiliated club station.
8FISTS HQ station (GX0IPX, GX3ZQS, MX5IPX, VK2FDU, ZL6FF, JL3YMV, KN0WCW).
LOGS Send in your entry after the last session in a month.  Entries must be received no later than the 7th of the following month and must include your callsign, name, and email address (if you have one).

Log formats:
  • The free FISTS Log Converter program https://fists.co.uk/flc for Windows is recommended for creating and submitting logs quickly and easily.
  • Excel, Calc, CSV (comma-separated values), or TSV (tab-separated values) files.  The first row/record in the file must include these exact column names although they don't need to be in this order:
    QSO_Date, Call, Name, QTH, Freq, RST_Sent, RST_Rcvd, Time_On, FISTS, Mode, Points
    Example:
    2020/01/08,G4LHI,Peter,Huntingdon,7.027,599,559,14:25,2219,CW,3
    'QSO_Date' and 'Time_On' are UTC.
    'Freq' is in MHz and must be a decimal number only, e.g. 7.027
    'FISTS' must either be blank or contain a FISTS member number only, e.g. 8385
    'Mode' must be CW
    'Points' can contain a number or be left blank, e.g. 3
  • ADIF files.  These can be ADI (text) files or ADX (XML) files and must include the fields named above.
  • Other file formats may be acceptable - please ask.
  • If you don't have access to email, you can use official FISTS Activity paper log sheets; please ask and we will post you a set.
The email address for questions and entries is .


LOW BANDS DAY HOPPER 2020
DESCRIPTION The idea is absolutely NOT a contest but a means of enabling us to meet each other on air.
BANDS Operation only on 160,80,40 and 2m bands.
NOTE band restrictions for this one!
DATES and TIMES Friday 17th January, Saturday 25th.

Sunday February 2nd, Monday 10th, Tuesday 18th, Wednesday 26th.

Thursday 5th March, Friday 13th, Saturday 21st, Sunday 29th.

Three periods per day 08-0900, 13-1400, 18-1900 Zulu.
FREQUENCIES FISTS CoA.

Perhaps call "CQ FISTS".
GENERAL Members can submit reports of numbers worked, soap-box comments etc. etc. as a "Round-up news" at the end of the session (by end Apr 2020 please) to

Please email David G4YVM with any questions:



Details of earlier activities are available on the Activities Calendar Archive web page.
Back to Activities & Awards page