2 Meter FM
Simplex Challenge Contest
Records & History
The idea for the Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge first came up in
the Fall of 2010, as WSSM members began discussing ways to encourage
local hams to get on simplex for the purposes of testing our personal
stations, general communications, and emergency preparedness. Someone
suggested, "Why not make it a friendly competition?" And so, the 2
Meter FM Simplex Challenge was born. We realized that a contest
designed exclusively for 2 Meter FM had other benefits as well - It was
an ideal way to introduce new hams to radiosport, and could also help
us to collect important data about the simplex coverage throughout the
State of Maine.
We began by drafting a set of rules that we thought would make it fair
for stations of any power level and also wanted to encourage mobile
operating by making each town visited count as a multiplier. The idea
is to work as many stations in as many towns, cities, or townships as
possible, within a four hour time period. The rules were kept simple,
and exchanges were kept to a minimum.
Once the rules were created, the next challenge was to promote the
contest and hope other organizations, especially ARES groups, ARC's,
and contest clubs would embrace it and encourage participation. We
created a website and started an email campaign, and within days of its
announcement, hundreds of hams throughout Maine and New England were
talking about it.
Below, you'll find the latest records, compiled after four years of
the Simplex Challenge. Who knows - with a little time at the mic, some
hard work, and a little luck too, maybe you'll find your name on this
list in the future!
Top Scores in Each Category
CATEGORY
Overall
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Mobile
Mobile
Mobile
Mobile |
POWER
LEVEL
Any
Low*
QRP
Medium
High
Low*
QRP
Medium
High |
CALL
SIGN
K1GJY / KB1HNZ
KD1O NG1P
KD1O
N1JD
W1CPS
W1CJS
K1GJY / KB1HNZ
KB1HNZ |
NAME
Stefania
& Tim Watson
Stephen Curry Bill Richardson
Stephen
Curry
John Donahue
Charles Shepard
Cindy
Shepard
Stefania
& Tim Watson
Tim Watson |
FINAL
SCORE
15,738
4,260 1,742
14,345
1,320
780
1,449
15,738
384 |
YEAR
2017
2012 2020
2016
2011
2012
2016
2017
2013 |
*
Category dropped in 2012 and replaced by QRP.
Previous
category records:
CATEGORY
Overall
Overall Fixed Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Mobile
Mobile
|
POWER
LEVEL
Any
Any QRP QRP
Medium
Medium
QRP
Medium
|
CALL
SIGN
KD1O
KD1O KB1YYC KB1YYC
KD1O
KD1O
W1CPS / W1CJS
KB1HNZ
|
NAME
Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry Dakota Dumont Dakota Dumont
Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry
Charles & Cindy Shepard
Tim Watson
|
FINAL
SCORE
14,345
6,136 504 434
6,136
14,345
1,218
6,080
|
YEAR
2016
2013 2016 2014
2013
2016
2014
2015
|
Most
Overall QSO's: 164, by K1GJY and KB1HNZ (2022)
Near / previous records in this category: 163, by KB1HNZ (2016)
152, by KB1HNZ (2015)
141, by KB1HNZ (2014)
119, by K1GJY (2019) 118, by KB1HNZ (2019)
107, by WA1IOG (2023)
104, by KD1O (2013)
92, by W1WMG (2018)
Most Overall Cities Worked: 122, by KB1HNZ & K1GJY
(2017)
Near / previous records in this category:
95,
by KD1O (2016)
59,
by KD1O (2013)
Most
Club Points: 38,517, by the Wireless
Society of Southern Maine (2017)
Near / previous records in this
category:
27,585,
by the Wireless Society of Southern Maine (2016)
25,875, by
the Wireless Society of Southern Maine (2014)
11,333, by the Pine State Amateur Radio Club (2023)
Closest
Finishes:
Closest between 1st and 2nd:
Overall:
Difference: Tie between Stefania Watson K1GJY, and Tim Watson KB1HNZ
(2022)
Difference: Tie between Stefania Watson K1GJY, and Tim Watson KB1HNZ
(2017)
Near / previous records in this
category:
Difference:
Separated by 1 QSO, equal multipliers - Tim Watson KB1HNZ over
Sebastian Ames, operating as WS1SM (2014) Difference: Separated by 1 QSO, 2 bonus points, equal multipliers - Stefania Watson K1GJY over Tim Watson KB1HNZ (2019)
Category (Medium Mobile):
Difference: Tie between Stefania Watson
K1GJY, and Tim Watson KB1HNZ (2017)
Near / previous records in this
category:
Difference: Separated by 1 QSO, equal multipliers - Tim Watson KB1HNZ over Stefania Watson K1GJY (2021)Difference:
Separated by 1 QSO, and 1 multiplier - Tim Watson KB1HNZ over Stefania
Watson K1GJY (2016) Difference: Separated by 2 QSOs - Tim Watson KB1HNZ over Stefania Watson K1GJY (2020)
Category (QRP Mobile):
Difference: Tie between Charlie Shepard
W1CPS, and Cindy Shepard W1CJS (2018)Difference: Tie between Dakota Dumont KB1YYC, and John Horton KC1LSO (2021)
Difference: Tie between Dakota Dumont KB1YYC, and John Horton KC1LSO (2023)
Closest between 1st and 3rd:
Overall:
Difference: Separated by 2 QSOs, equal multipliers - Tim Watson KB1HNZ
over Sebastian Ames, operating as WS1SM, and David Wood KB1FGF (2014)
In
the Summer
of 2012, the WSSM announced a new challenge for contesters - Make 100
or more QSO's during the Simplex Challenge, and qualify for and become
a member of the 2 Meter Century Club. In its first year of existence,
Stephen Curry, KD1O, became the first to join this exclusive club.
|
2 Meter Century Club
Rules:
This
award is issued by the Wireless Society Of Southern Maine to any
station who has submitted evidence for having made 2-way communication
with at least 100 other amateur stations during the annual 2
Meter FM Simplex Challenge. |
Award
winners:
KD1O,
Stephen Curry, Knox, ME (2013, 2016)
KB1HNZ, Tim Watson, Saco, ME (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022)
W1WMG, Thom Watson, Gorham, ME (2014, 2015)
WS1SM, op. by Sebastian Ames, Scarborough, ME (2014)
KB1FGF, Dave Wood, Scarborough, ME (2014)
K1GJY, Stefania Watson, Saco, ME (2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022)
WA1IOG, Wesley Linscott, Bangor, ME (2023)
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