30/12/2025
Young Voices on the Air: The TVCG 2025 YOTA Triumph! 🎙️✨
In the world of Amateur Radio, "Contesting" is often seen as the Formula 1 of the hobby. It requires speed, precision, technical excellence, and endurance.
On December 29th, 2025, a new generation of operators proved that the future of the airwaves is in very capable hands. The Thames Valley Contest Group (TVCG)—a collaborative powerhouse formed by members of the Bracknell Amateur Radio Club (BARC) and the Reading and District Amateur Radio Club (RADARC)—took to the bands for the final YOTA (Youngsters On The Air) contest of the year.
🤝 The Power of Collaboration
The TVCG is a testament to what happens when local clubs pool their resources. While Bracknell and Reading have long-standing individual histories, the TVCG allows them to combine equipment, expertise, and, most importantly, their youth memberships.
By joining forces, these two historic clubs provided a platform for eight young operators to compete on a global stage.
📊 The Team Profile
Number of Operators: 8
Average Age: 14 years old
Experience Level: Majority were first-time contesters!
For many of these teens, radio has been a hobby of "rag-chewing" (casual conversation) or making their first HF contacts. Stepping into the high-pressure environment of a contest—where exchanges are rapid-fire and the noise floor is high—was a significant "level up" in their amateur radio journey.
📡 The Mission: YOTA 2025
The YOTA Contest is unique. It’s designed to encourage youth participation by awarding extra points for contacting stations run by operators under the age of 25.
The Strategy: Operating across the 10m, 20m, 40m, and 80m bands, the team navigated changing atmospheric conditions:
Daylight: Focused on 10m and 20m to take advantage of the sun.
Evening/Night: Transitioned to 40m and 80m as the "skip" distance opened up for continental Europe.
🏆 Technical Performance: 364 QSOs
The results were nothing short of spectacular. Over the course of the event, the TVCG logged 364 QSOs (contacts). What makes this truly impressive is the Multimode Approach:
SSB (Single Side Band): Traditional voice requiring clarity and a strong "contest voice."
CW (Morse Code): The gold standard. Putting their Morse skills to the test to cut through interference where voice might have failed.
💪 Challenges Overcome
Contesting isn't just about pressing a button. The team mastered:
The "Pile-up": Learning how to pick a single callsign out of a dozen stations shouting at once.
Fatigue: Maintaining focus over several hours of high-intensity operating.
Technical Troubleshooting: Managing SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) levels and keeping logging software synced.
"Watching a 12-year-old who has never entered a contest before suddenly find their rhythm and start knocking out three contacts a minute is what this hobby is all about," said one of the club mentors.
🌍 Why This Matters
The average age of an amateur radio operator is often cited as being over 60, but this team is changing that narrative. By bringing that average down to 14 for this event, TVCG is ensuring that the science of radio remains a vibrant, living pursuit.
These eight operators didn't just learn how to use a radio; they learned about ionospheric physics, international geography, and communication etiquette.
What’s Next? With the success of December 2025 under their belts, the group is already looking toward the 2026 season. Congratulations to the members of Bracknell and Reading & District clubs.
The airwaves are sounding a lot younger—and a lot better. 📻🏆
