Tag Archives: field day

PW QRP 144MHz Contest 2026 – Sunday 14th June 2026, 0900-1500UTC

Posted by on June 11, 2026 No comments

As usual, some of our members will be going up the hill to participate in the Practical Wireless 144MHz QRP Contest, taking place on Sunday 14th June 2026.

We will use the callsign GM4YEQ/P and be operating from our usual spot on the Yarrow Swire/Witchie Knowe IO85MM.

The contest runs from 0900-1500UTC (1000-1600 BST).
Members and visitors are welcome to come along and join in or assist, or just see what we do. Bring your own food/drink and suitable footwear for a grassy field. The rough road is suitable for vehicles to drive up to the site but there are deep puddles to avoid on the track. Keep dogs under control as there is usually livestock in the field.

We’ll mostly be tuning around or calling CQ on the SSB part of the band (144.150-144.397MHz) but will scan around the FM simplex part of the band for any local callers with handhelds (calling CQ on 145.500MHz in the contest is not allowed). The more contacts we get the better, even local contacts increase our score.

Exchange is signal report and serial number starting at 001 for the first contact, and 6-character Maidenhead Locator (or approximate location if not known).

Location: Yarrow Swire, off summit of C22 road between A708 (Yarrow) and B7009 (Ettrickbridge). Marked as Witchie Knowe on some maps. We will likely be set up between the crest of the rough road and the quarry.
Locator: IO85MM
Coordinates: 55.5215N , 2.9984W 360m (1180ft) ASL
NGR: NT370257 (WAB Square NT32) (NT 37058 25768)
Google Maps shortcut: 9C7VG2C2+JJJ
Closest Postcodes: TD7 5ND (Wester Kershope Farm on north side of the hill on the approach from Yarrow valley) or TD7 5JW (Area covering from our site southwards)
What3Words: /// juggles.police.chiefs (Switch to satellite view)
Google Maps: Witchie knowe

Click image to open full screen.

Directions:

From Yarrow Valley:

From East on A708 from Selkirk / Philiphaugh turn left just after Yarrow village onto the C22.
From West on A708 from Innerleithen / Gordon Arms / St Mary’s Loch turn right just before the sharp corner at Yarrow village, onto the C22.
The postcode provided leads to this farm. Do not turn off to this farm but continue on the C22 road to the top of the hill.
At the summit, cross the cattlegrid then immediately turn left up the rough track (on the south side of the dyke).

From Ettrick Valley

From West on the B7009 from Ettrick, turn left on to C22 then follow road to the top of the hill.
From East on the B7009 from Ettrickbridge turn right onto the C22 then follow road to the top of the hill.
At the summit turn right before the cattlegrid onto the rough track up the hill.