RadioAmateurs de l'Eure: A Powerhouse of HF Contesting in Saint-Aubin-sur-Gaillon

SAINT-AUBIN-SUR-GAILLON, Eure — In the department of Eure (27), the RadioAmateurs de l'Eure, situated at 20, Rue du Montmerel, 27600 Saint Aubin sur Gaillon, represent a formidable presence within the French amateur radio community. Under the leadership of M. Yann Guilloux (F5UTN), who also serves as the primary contact via yann.guilloux27@gmail.com, this association is particularly notable for its robust technical setup and strong focus on radio contesting.

The association maintains an online presence at http://rae.r-e-f.org, providing a digital window into their activities. While no dedicated QSL manager is listed, the sheer scale of their operational capabilities suggests a high level of engagement with the global amateur radio network.

TM3R: A Force in Contesting

A key highlight of the RadioAmateurs de l'Eure's operations is their use of the special callsign TM3R during contests. This indicates a serious commitment to competitive amateur radio, where operators push the boundaries of their equipment and skills to achieve the highest number of contacts within defined timeframes. The dedication to contesting often translates into significant investment in sophisticated antenna systems and high-power amplifiers.

An Impressive Array of Equipment

Indeed, the club's antenna equipment list reads like a wish list for any serious HF operator, reflecting a meticulously engineered setup designed for optimal performance across multiple bands:

• 10m: 7-element yagi
• 15m: 6-element yagi + 5-element yagi
• 20m: 5-element yagi + 3-element yagi
• 40m/30m: 2-element yagi + vertical
• 80m: 2x vertical antennas
• 160m: Vertical antenna

For receiving signals, particularly on lower bands, they utilize an extensive array of directional receive antennas:

• 160m/200m: 8x beverage antennas
• 40m (Inband): 3x beverage antennas

The transmitting and receiving stations are equally impressive, featuring a lineup of high-performance transceivers and linear amplifiers:

• Transceivers: 5x FT1000MP + 1x FTDX101MP (Yaesu's top-tier rigs)
• Amplifiers: 2x OM4000A + OM2500 + EXPERT 2KFA (indicating substantial power output capabilities)

The presence of a SpiderBeam at 12m for "Inband station" suggests a sophisticated setup for multi-operator contesting, allowing simultaneous operation on different bands to maximize efficiency during competitive events.

This level of investment in equipment and the focused approach to contesting underscore the RadioAmateurs de l'Eure's ambition to be a leading force in the European amateur radio scene. Their operations serve as a powerful example of the technical dedication and collaborative spirit that define the pursuit of radio communication at its most competitive level.