This year, I made the decision not to participate in the Summer Field Day.

Instead, I used the time to help upgrade and improve the Field Day van, with the goal of having it fully operational and ready to return to a future contest once things are clearer.

In the meantime, below is the email I’ve sent to the Contest Committee regarding the upcoming John Moyle Field Day (JMFD). I’m sharing it here not to stir controversy, but to encourage constructive discussion. If you have your own thoughts or feedback, I encourage you to respectfully share them with the Committee as well — engagement and consultation are how we improve contests for everyone.

Email: [email protected]. Further Contact details may be found below:

https://www.wia.org.au/joinwia/wia/volunteers

https://www.wia.org.au/joinwia/wia/board

Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2026 at 11:31
Subject: JMFD Rules Change – Removal of Microwave Bands

Dear JMFD Contest Committee,

I am writing to formally outline my disappointment regarding the removal of microwave bands (anything above 70 cm) from the John Moyle Field Day (JMFD).

You may have already read my recent article discussing broader contest rule changes, including Summer Field Day and JMFD:
https://hamradiodx.net/my-thoughts-on-the-recent-changes-to-wia-contests/

For the purposes of this email, my comments relate specifically to the JMFD.

At present, the reasoning for the removal of bands above 70 cm has not been clearly articulated. Given the significance of this change, I believe it would have been prudent for the Contest Committee to consult with the community before publishing revised rules that materially impact participation.

I note the explanation published on the JMFD Field Day page on the WIA website:

“Starting in 2026 the contest log checking process has moved to vklogchecker dot com. With the move the contest committee needed to revise and update the rules to be suitable for electronic log checking.”

Based on this, I can only assume that the decision is related to logging software compatibility, potentially restricting logging to N1MM only following the deprecation of VK Contest Logger (VKCL). While I understand that VKCL is deprecated and reportedly incompatible with VK Contest Log Checker, I also note that VKCL remains usable for the VHF/UHF Field Day contest as per the rules for that contest, which raises further questions around consistency.

While recognising the challenges involved, I believe the removal of microwave bands is not the appropriate solution. Instead, viable alternatives should be explored.

One potential option is Wavelog (https://www.wavelog.org/), which appears beginner-friendly, supports self-hosting, and already incorporates several VK contests (including the JMFD).

I would be interested to know whether the Contest Committee has evaluated Wavelog, whether it is compatible with VK Contest Log Checker, or whether the Committee would be open to testing a submitted dummy log from this platform.

You can login and use this on the demo site here: https://demo.wavelog.org/user/login

I also read a Facebook post by Grant Willis VK5GR proposing a late rules amendment that would reinstate VHF and above as a separate contest running alongside the HF event, with independent logging.

While this may appear workable in the short term, it presents practical issues. Many operators, including myself, regularly move between HF, VHF, UHF, and SHF during contests to minimise dead air time. Closing and reopening logging software, or operating multiple instances or separate computers, is impractical for most participants and risks increasing confusion rather than reducing it.

As outlined in my article, I strongly support the reinstatement of bands above 70 cm in the JMFD. Contesting exists to encourage activity. Excluding a significant and highly active segment of the contesting community—particularly microwave operators, many of whom are already operating portable and in the field—runs counter to the spirit and stated purpose of the JMFD.

I respectfully ask the Contest Committee to reconsider this decision, engage in broader consultation, and provide clearer guidance on the technical constraints that led to this change.

I look forward to your response and to continued constructive discussion.

Kind regards

Hayden VK7HH