Invicta Contest And Coffee Drinking Group is a group of like minded Radio Amateurs that come together to operate VHF and HF contests.

It was Formed Originally to enter the RSGB VHF National Field Day contest as a offshoot of Maidstone YMCA ARS, But we now operate as a completely separate group with members from several Kent clubs. We now have RSGB affiliation in our own name. This year we plan to expand our contesting activities. The Group holds the Callsigns M5IC and G8TRF, M5IC is a new callsign issued to the Group, G8TRF Formally belonged to Maidstone ARS, it was handed back when Maidstone ARS had there historic G3WM call re-issused, which we have contested under before M5IC was issued. We were recently notified G8TRF had come off the reserve list, we decided to ask OFCOM for the call as there is becoming a practice of old Callsigns being cherrypicked by new licence holders, We did not wish this to happen and by Us holding the call we can preserve it's History. We also now hold M0JKX, but this will likely only ever be used when testing equipment or training operators.

You do not need to belong to any Club but to comply with RSGB rules members must belong to the Contest Group to operate VHFNFD and September HF SSB
For the March, May and September 2m Contests Operators must be RSGB members in there own name, We know everyone doesnt want to join the RSGB, but thats the rules. *(Note New Foundation and Intermediate Holders may operate under the Beyond Exams Scheme without being RSGB Members)

We welcome new members with or without Contest experience, and at any level of Licence.

As we Operate under a Club Call sign any level of Licence Holder or those on a Foundation training course can operate under supervision.(But as previously stated for March,May and September Contests you must be a RSGB member to operate or log) *See above note. Invicta Contest Group are Part of the RSGB Beyond Exams Scheme and contest experience with us can be claimed on the Scheme.

We plan to operate 2m, 70cms, 4m, 6m and 23cms Stations in the VHFNFD Contest. We also plan to enter the March, May and September Contests, Also the Low power contests as well. 


We have contested in the Past from Capel Battery nr Folkestone, Hope Hill scout campsite nr Meopham and Manston Airfield.
We also sometimes use Bredhurst Clubs Shack


The objectives of the group are to try and get as many contacts as possible, with the vein hope of getting somewhere decent up the points table.
To consume huge amounts of coffee to stay awake during the contest, 70cm's and 23cm's operators may also require jump starts from time to time. .
For this year we also plan not to drop anything, bend anything, or get anything full of water.
We dont take our selves too seriously, It would be nice to get a decent score this year, it's achievable with the kit we have and the site.
So please come and join us this year, If everything goes wrong and you cant find us on site try the Nearest Pub

Ps. If you name happens to be Ian, you will fit in nicely, as just happens to be the most common name in the Group