One debate that surfaces from time to time in contest circles is the need for a 24 hour class in major contests, as some argue that the 48 hour limit for single operators is too much. If you like a contest of shorter duration with stations all over the world, then get your radios and antennas ready for the 2012 IARU HF Championships.
The IARU contest has changed dramatically over the years, as it used to be one of those contests that was 48 hours long – now it has blossomed into a contest that has seen strong growth in the number of logs, even with tough propagation in recent years.
The IARU test has also turned into one of the most popular contests each year in Europe, and that is obvious when you make a simple sweep across the internet, as a number of videos pop up from the 2011 running.
For example, you can get a review of how things went at OP0HQ in 2011:
If you like big operations, then you can take a peek at how things went at EF8HQ, which turned in the top score for any HQ operation in 2011:
Maybe you want to look at a smaller group in the Multi-Op section – then check out Team 4O3A from Montenegro:
Or there was the setup of the portable station for HB9EGA, done with time-lapse photography:
As with anything on the internet, there’s always something funny, and that was true at IO1HQ, as IR1Y decided to use his trumpet to shake up the troops:
Also from Italy, IO8HQ came up with their own video as well:
Meanwhile in Poland, Team SN7H added their own fun to You Tube as well:
So as you get your radios and antennas ready for IARU 2012, maybe you might want to think about testing out the video camera as well, because a video on the internet might attract some people to ham radio contesting – and it might bring forward a few ideas and a few laughs along the way.
The 2012 IARU HF World Championship begins at 1200z on July 14 and ends at 1200z on July 15. The rules can be found on the ARRL web site.
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