WQ6X Wanders thru a Very Wonky, Weird & Very MESSY 5-contest Collage

This was another of those radiosport weekend collages that promised MUCHO and delivered POCO.
Accompanied by a flurry of Space-WX storms, other than the RTTY contest, not a lot of success was made.  Everything about April's first radiosport weekend was just a bit weird, yet again validating the utilization of the recently implemented F-12 [WEIRD] key.

For openers, all the events commenced @12:00z or later - for WQ6X still the "middle of the night".  Beginning 5am, opening the EA-RTTY contest on 40-meters, hoping for an Asian opening turned
out to be a waste of time. Moving to 20-meters found an opening via N-E.

For the 3 QSO Parties (LA, MS & MO) the hope was for some activation of their rare counties.  Space-WX induced poor propagation all-but negated any real success in the LA & MS GiGs.  Missouri, being geographically closer and along the N-E propagation curve, as well as a 2nd-run
on Sunday, made MOQP the premiere QSO party for the weekend.  What made this weekend different over previous operations was the decision to run every contest GiG QRP whenever
available in the contest rules.

Pulsing internet dropouts at the Concord QTH necessitated recording the F1-CQ, F3-TU and
F4-WQ6X tones in the corresponding K3 digital voice keyer (DVK) memory.  Then, even if the
internet drops during transmission, the radio (on the other end) actually doing the transmission
is not affected.  The downside of this method is the [ESC] key does not interrupt the xmission;
it takes the stop button on the K3 to accomplish that.

Unfortunately, the time wasted looking for LA and MS stations detracted significantly from the
already meager EA-RTTY score.  Of course, behind it all was the annoying intermittent appearance
of geomagnetic storms, often contributing to radio dropouts on 20, 15 and even 40-meters. 
The hoped-for 40-meter opening DiD occur on Sunday morning; however, the Cw/Digital
portion of the band was LITTERED w/Ssb signals, NoT RTTY.

The backdrop for the weekend was the HORRENDOUS solar storms littered throughout the weekend; some so severe the SFI number registered as ZERO.

When it was ALL over, they only thing I can really be certain of is that I switched different modes
a dozen different times and eventually submitted a bunch of LoG files, confirming the fact that
was indeed in action throughout this WEIRD radiosport weekend.

DiD YOU participate in this 1st weekend's radiosport GiGs?

Is WQ6X /QRP in YOUR LoGs?

WQ6X Wrangles another WPX (Weird Prefix) Ssb Contest

[The month of] March is often a 5-weekend month.  Either way, CQ's WPX (Weird Prefix)
contest wraps things up (radiosport-wise) for the month; just in time for April FooL's Day. 
In the BloG Entry PREVIOUS to this one, some of the benefits of WPX operation were detailed.
Being a worldwide contest, the BiG challenge was understanding each other's unique "English" dialects.  When running to South America (SA), I frequently resorted to repeating the serial number exchange numbers en Espanol.  

The backdrop to the weekend's 48-hour extravaganza was divergent Space-Wx activity. 
Condx.-wise, the contest opening was utterly AMA-Zing, slowly deteriorating into Sunday
afternoon's MASSIVE Geo-Magnetic storm.  (For awhile on Sunday, things got so chaotic
that the SFI (Solar Flux Index) was reporting in as "0" - HuH?

As in previous recent contests, 20-meters was a HO-Hummer - a DuD!  Then again, that is
just my perspective from Ramona.  Soapbox comments I read from stations across the USA
(and beyond) claimed 20-meters to be their "MoNeY$" band.

Sunday afternoon a well-known (to be unnamed - YOU Know who YOU are) TRASHED the idea
of my running QRP - calling it "STUPID!".  The CQ messages for WQ6X QRP-run events include
/QRP at to let EVERYBODY know that fact, hoping they will offer up some "Breathing Room"
when WQ6X is running a frequency to give operators a BADLY-needed multiplier, such as WQ6
or NX6.  NoW in all fairness to my critics, because the 5-watts is coupled into 3-el Stepp-IR and 
Shorty-40 Yagi's (@ 55' no less), the LOUDNESS of WQ6X's signals seem to betray the FACT
of QRP operation.

The online Contest Scoreboard was running on a 2nd monitor to keep me focused and energized during those moments when fatigue set in and it was desirous to retreat under the covers for
"Just 10-Minutes".

At 00:00z (5pm PDT) Sunday, it was "another one for the "LoG BooKs". 
However, as the old saying goes, "it ain't over until the paperwork (admin) is filed. 
For WQ6X operations this includes:

• Making various screenshots of the logging software ending screens,
  along with the contest STAT screens.
• Creating and filing a CABRILLO LoG file 
• Submitting the LoG to the contest sponsor.
• Posting a contest entry write-up on the 3830 Scores Website for WQ6X.

After the contest, I peruse the scribble-notes scribbled throughout the contest weekend. 
Some of the most unique Blog-segments originate from barely-readable scribbles made
during the chaos of  radiosport operations.  In this Blog entry, what stood out from my scribbles
was the numerous INVASIONS of our amateur frequencies by non -amateur operations. 
For years, I have Noted that this invasion USUALLY happen during specific contest weekends. 
On "minor" contest weekends, they are never heard.  Some notable WPX GiG intruders include:

• A Data "SCREECHER - 7.155.36 @ 12:30Z
• High Speed RTTY - 7144.62 @12:45z,
  Shifting to 7.141.67 @12:48z,
  Then to 7132.67 @12:53z
• Russian Military beacons - ~7.039 - altho they are useful for Asian propagation prediction.
• Cw "CODE GROUPS" - 14.179.25 - 16:00z - the same series of alphanumeric character strings for a little over 5 minutes and then GONE.  RoTaTinG the Stepp-IR yagi found
  the signal strength peak at around 300-degrees azimuth - essentially Eastern Russia (Kamchatsky, Magadan or Vladivostok) - GO Figure.
  WHY Do non-Amateur Russians use our amateur frequencies?

DiD YOU work the CQ WPX (Weird Prefix) Contest?

Is WQ6X in YOUR LoG?

WQ6X Pre-Assesses the Actual Benefits of the WPX Weird Prefix contest

As we come upon the 2024 CQ WPX (Weird Prefix) contest, I am found reflecting fondly over 

the myriad of WPX Ssb events I have been a part of during the last 13+ years.  Four years 

ago, I wrote a pair of "Blasts from the Past" Blogs on WPX, NoT to mention, individual WPX 

Blog comments before that.  ([CLICK HERE] to see some of these.)

Because I am often "recruited" to run the 2am to 6am radiosport operating shift @NX6T, running 

on 40 & 75 meters, I frequently encounter Billy-Bob, his brother Barney and their cousin Bozo just 

as they are brewing up their morning coffee and firing up on their daily ragchew frequency, which 

just happens to have been NX6T's run frequency for the last 2-hours.

When I politely remind them that the frequency is in use, Billy-Bob BARKs back
"We've been on this Frequency every morning for over 10 years now, and
YOU should KNOW THAT.  (Ed. and HoW would he know that?)

Therefore, the question is, if we're running 1.5kw of power and much of the spectrum is already 

wall-to-wall Ragchewers, Dx stations, and yes, contesters, should I PLOW-thru, continuing to 

RUN the Frequency ignoring these IDIOTS, or succumb to a bunch of BULLIES, find another 

"Clear" frequency and start over?  YOU TELL ME?!!

While I enjoy a good ragchew now and then (LooK for me with K3MAH and NK6Y @10:30pm
every Monday, Thursday and Saturday on 3.853 Mhz), radiosport events keep me emergency communication prepared.  I have often said that Field Day, State QSO Parties and the November Sweepstakes Ssb contest are often people's first exposure to amateur radio as an emergency preparedness training exercise.  Then, when they sit down behind behind the microphone 

and find their voice - something Magical happens.

Already licensed amateurs may be accustomed to casual ragchewing or even traffic net procedure, however when they listen in on something as seemingly frantic sounding as a WPX run frequency,
they are often taken by surprise - they'll say something like "I could NEVER do that".  I've lost count 

of how many of today's top-notch contest operators used to think that.

Being a WEIRD Prefix Contest, whether you Run a RUN frequency or just listen-in, you will gain 

an operational ability to recognize the myriad of different callsign prefixes from around the world.  While you might not be up to operating the WPX contest, have you considered taking a SWL approach?  Download and install a contest logging program; my favorite is N1MM+ which is
FREE and (amongst other things) allows declaring MACROS for all 12 Function Keys.  

Create a contest LoG entry in the software for the WPX Ssb contest.  You can either click on 

the TeLNeT-fed Bandmap spots, or you can tune around the bands manually looking for RUN 

stations.  Finding a run station, listen for the stations they are working.  Each station YOU actually 

hear, enter their Exchange information into the logging program as if YOU had actually worked them.

After awhile, what began as fumbling data entry will shift into you being fully capable of running 

a frequency: even tho you are just listening, you are learning how to enter contact information 

into contest logging software.  You may discover the urge to ACTUALLY operate the contest.  

In that case create a NEW LoG Entry and start over.

When you type in a callsign, programs like N1MM+ will immediately display that station's country 

of origin.  By the end of the WPX weekend, you will experience a callsign familiarity and appreciation for each country's ITU-assigned block of callsign prefixes.

Many countries and radio clubs around the world issue special callsigns JUST FOR the Ssb 

and Cw WPX contests.  For the ARRL's 2014 centennial year, stations around the USA signed various variations of W1AW (I was a part of NX6T's operation as W1AW/6 on 15-meters in the 

ARRL Dx contest).  The ARRL itself was assigned W100AW for their routine operations.

Happening amidst a reasonably high Solar Flux Index, the 2024 WPX Ssb and Cw events are loaded with potential.  If the turnout for the WPX RTTY contest last month is any indication, the Ssb (and later Cw) GiGs should FILL the HF bands with an ENORMOUS amount of radiosport activity - whether Billy-Bob and Barney like it or NoT.

Do YOU participate in the CQ WPX events?

Have you ever worked the NX6 (NX6T) or WQ6 (WQ6X) prefixes during WPX GiGs?

For WQ6X - Ssb SPRINT is ALL About Space-WX

From one point of view this Blog post could contain nothing more than the opening picture - after all,
it is said that a picture is work 1k words.  However, as I write this, even more storms are ongoing.  More Space-WX reports may be added to this write-up before it is released for publication.
An additional viewpoint is to express my GRATITUDE that this NasTy space weather NONSENSE happened THIS weekend (essentially a non-contest weekend), with a hopeful High-SFI (w/Low A/K) for next weekend's WPX (Weird Prefix) Ssb Contest.

Dismal band conditions found me not particularly excited about running a SPRINT contest; even tho
it is "Only" 4-hours long, it can be as exhaustive as a non-STOP 8-hour shift.  Starting of course on 20-meters, the band was littered with signals, the majority of which were "knee-deep" in atmospheric noise.

The above 3830 Score Submission says it all really.
It would appear that just showing up and screwing around, WQ6X has managed a 1st-place for QRP.  What REALLY matters is that the 4-hour SPRINT served as a "practice exercise" for the upcoming WPX Ssb GiG next weekend.

As promised, there are further Solar-Storm updates.  K-INDEX = 8???  wOw!!

 

DiD YOU play in this weekend's Ssb SPRINT Radiosport Contest?

Is WQ6X in YOUR LoG?

WQ6X Works an UNWEILDY BARTG Radiosport Weekend

wOw!  It's a GooD Thaing I revamped the F-12 "WEIRD" Button as it was used heavily to
resolve the onslaught of RTTY Rambuncousness.  Unique to the March BARTG RTTY contest
is its unique starting time: 02:00z.  As it turned out, the 1st-actual contact didn't occur until 06:35z.
Also unique to the BARTG GiG is the requirement that we send the Time-of-Day (in 24-hour format) as part of the overall EXCHANGE.

For this weekend, the Anza remote station was already pre-committed, altho Ramona remote
station ("Cliffside") was available (minus 160m which is not used in RTTY contests anyway). 
Neither Anza or Ramona have on-site RTTY soundcard capabilities, requiring I bring in a
(previously retired) RigExpert PLUS soundcard interface, keying the radio by way of the
K3's VOX facility.  

Altho the RigExpert uses what looks to be a convoluted morass of audio/com-port cables,
there is actually a method-to-its-madness, allowing AFSK RTTY to be run remotely on virtually
ANY remotely-run radio operation, with some caveats.  Pulsing internet dropouts in Concord,
make RTTY-running a unique challenge. 

 
To resolve this unique situation somewhat, CQ (F1) and TU (F3) message tones were pre-recorded
into the K3's DVK memories.  While that handled much of internet-disconnection problem, the DVK playback audio-quality is not nearly as "CRISP" as that played directly in real-time by the RigExpert PLUS.

With the already existing morass of cables in the Concord QTH's radio installation, the WQ6X
remote RTTY approach is just more of the same.  With all this in place, a relatively-low Solar
Flux Index (SFI) conspired to keep signal levels weak and band openings shorter than normal.  Fortunately, BARTG is a 48-hour contest, offering multi-opportunities for each band; as it turned
out, it certainly was needed.

The backdrop for this weekend was the multi-mode Russian DX contest and the ill-fated VA QSO Party.  Carefully reading the rules for the Russian GiG, it was noted that the QRP category was only available for multi-mode operations.  Somehow, an Ssb contact would need to make it into the log
at some point in the 24-hour contest - which happened on 20-m in the evening with a ZL2 Ssb QSO.  S57EA made only 2-Ssb QSOs on 20-Meters.  WQ6X took 4th place overall and 1st-place for NA.
For the BARTG event, WQ6X took 2nd-place for NA behind K2YG and 4th-place overall.

With all the above behind me, there was NoThing else left to do than post the scores
on the 3830 Scores Website and eventually submit the logs.

DiD YOU work any of the above events?

Is WQ6X in YOUR LoG?

WQ6X Works an 8-Contest Octogan Weekend

What a totally and completely BIZARRE radiosport weekend - running a number of
disparate radiosport events happening throughout a nearly 48-hour operating period. 
Everything from 160 - 10 meters - Cw, Ssb & RTTY - 4-hour to 12 & 24-hour GiGs. 
In past years, only 4 or 5 events were manageable.

In preparation for writing this, I looked back to last year's write-up and ended up doing
a Blast-from-the-Past style retrospective. 

• ([CLICK HERE]) for the 2023 Blog entry
• ([CLICK HERE]) for the 2022 Blog entry
• ([CLICK HERE]) for the 2021 Blog entry
• ([CLICK HERE]) for the 2020 Blog entry
• ([CLICK HERE]) for the 2019 Blog entry
• ([CLICK HERE]) for the 2018 Blog entry
• ([CLICK HERE]) for the 2017 Blog entry
• ([CLICK HERE]) for the 2016 Blog entry - as NX6T - 1st place M/S

Demonstrating the Stereo-Radio concept - for YOUR Satisfaction

I've written ad-nauseum about exploiting the use of stereo-audio in amateur radio operations.
The most recent Blog posts in the stereo audio genre include:

• [X] - Using Stereo Ssb in Worldwide DX Contests
• [X] - BLASTS from the PAST: Stereo CW and it's many Variants.

I originally discovered that using two adjustable audio filters (one for each ear) in contrast with the
fixed-filter approach documented in the original 73-magazine article on the concept of "Stereo Cw", transformed the original idea into a method for enhancing not only Cw reception, but Ssb and RTTY reception as well.

As documented in previous blogs on the stereo concept, a number of different audio filter units were evaluated for use in a dual-filter configuration, including: MFJ-752's & JPS NIR Dsp filters.  It was finally determined that a pair of classic analog Autek QF-1A filters (one for each ear) provided the most optimum improvement to the listening experience.

We can talk ABOUT stereo audio ad-nauseum.  However, when you actually experience it during live operation, you will experience an [indescribable] a-Hah realization.  To experience the full impact of the stereo audio concept, find a RUN frequency (either your own or that of a station working a pile-up).  For purposes of this discussion, I will be referring to the control knobs on the Autek QF-1A filter.

on CW:

• Choose/Lock a run frequency.
• While "studying" the effect(s) of adjusting the QF-1A Selectivity/Frequency
  controls for different spatial-audio experiences, notice how it makes you feel.
• NoTiCe "where" the stations seem to "appear", "inside" of your listening experience.
• Using the R-I-T (Clarifier) control, notice how you can "shift" a signal's location
  "in your head".
• Notice how certain Left/Right filter settings seem to cause certain signals to
  JUMP OUT in relation to signals at other audio frequencies.

on SSB:

• Choose/Lock a 'listening" frequency.
• Use either VFO-B or the R-I-T (Clarifier) for tuning stations in, noticing how
  the other stations/voices shift-around "inside" of the listening experience.
• The Selectivity/Frequency knobs enable you to slightly shift the audio passband
  offering improved intelligibility of difficult voice accents, reducing the number/frequency
  of "REPEATS".

SPEAKERS vs. HEADPHONES
The picture heading up this Blog post shows the use of a pair of LEKATO speakers, which are of course stereo speakers.  A custom-designed cable separates the Left/Right audio to each speaker pair.  The further apart the speakers are, the greater the stereo-separation effect.

THE ACTUAL LISTENING EXPERIENCE
Begin the listening session using identical knob positions with both filters.  Notice that the signals (voices or code) seem to be monaural - more-or-less in the middle of your experience.  Then, shift
one filter's FREQUENCY Knob higher in frequency and the other one lower in frequency.  (If you have hearing losses, switching the high/lows from left to right can compensate for those losses, improving intelligibility.)

It should be pointed out that being essentially a filtering-process, the use of stereo audio may inadvertently introduce what is known as artifact - false signals generated as a result of combining left/right signals in unique combinations.

While this Blog mainly details the use of stereo audio for Ssb and Cw use, in a RTTY environment, the filter adjustment should be more along the lines of enhancing the MARK/SPACE decode process.  When a station calls in off-frequency, as you tune them in (lining up with the "goal posts"), you will experience a shift of the signal to the "center" of your listening experience, similar to using a "center-channel" in conventional stereo audio.

Have YOU ever played around with the stereo audio in Amateur Radio?

What has been YOUR experience?

WQ6X Works a WOBBLY QRP ARRL Dx Ssb Contest

What a difference a mere two weekends apart can make for the ARRL Dx Cw and Ssb radiosport GiGs; the Cw weekend, was robust and relatively noise-quiet, while the March Ssb event was quite modest and increasingly noise-prone.

Last November, I penned back-to-back Blog entries detailing why I love 48-hour contests
(in general) and the ARRL/CQ Dx contest GiGs (in particular).

This is what I originally wrote in November:

• [X] - WQ6X: Why I Like 48-Hour Contests
  
• [X] - BLAST's from the PAST 2.0: WQ6X in ARRL DX Contests
  These were followed by the write-up for the ARRL Dx Cw Contest.
  
• [X] - WQ6X Works a Weird Dual-Remote ARRL Dx Contest
  

To better understand what all happened during the ARRL Ssb GiG, look no further than the submission made to the 3830 Scores website.  [CLICK HERE] for to see the text below:

As mentioned above, the BiG Challenge for this sideband GiG was the "holes" in the voice waveforms caused by atmospheric noise-absorption.  As I mentioned in the recent Blog on Stereo Ssb ([CLICK HERE] to View), it seemed that all-too-often the K3's DSP-NR facility introduced significant voice-quality compromising artifact, whereas the Autek QF-1A filters (behind my use of the Stereo-Ssb process) introduces virtually NO artifact compromises.

This was important as the atmospheric noise-levels gradually increased as Sunday
progressed towards the final 4pm (PDT) end of a LoNG 48-hour DX contest.

When it was all over, my hopes for a 1st-place (overall) was DASHED by VE3WG who clearly surpassed the hard-earned WQ6X score; possibly having an Ontario QTH made the difference. 
Then again, 1st-place for USA is something to sincerely acknowledge - I am doing that here.

(Should I make a move to Ontario to enjoy better QRP conditions?) 
Then again, it's ALL up to results of the scored log submissions.

DiD YOU participate in the 2024 ARRL DX Ssb contest?

Is WQ6X in YOUR LoG?

Using Stereo Ssb in Worldwide DX Contests

I recently published a compendium Blog on the Stereo-Audio concept.  What began as Stereo-Cw quickly evolved into Stereo-RTTY and eventually Stereo-Ssb.  The Stereo-Ssb world is quite unique.  The Blogs written on this sub-subject include:

• [X] - How Stereo-Cw becomes Stereo-Ssb (Mar/2021)
• [X] - Stereo Ssb: It's STILL Easier than you Think (Oct 2022)
• [X] - Stereo-SSB: Turns out There's More To It (Dec 2022)
• [X] - Stereo-Ssb Revisited (Yet Again) (Mar 2023)
• [X] - For WQ6X: Stereo-SSB creates Quite a Saucy sensation
           for a Sensational Sweepstakes (Nov 2023)

For the 2024 ARRL Dx Ssb contest, complicated Space-WX conditions contributed to experimenting with using Stereo-Ssb to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, transforming jumbled speech patterns into something more intelligible.

Running remote to the WA6TQT and KN6NBT stations means I am using an Elecraft K3/0-Mini to access the fully configured K3 radios on the remote end of the radio connection.  While the dynamic range specifications of the K3 may be numerically superior to other transceivers, the Shift/Width controls, the DSP DNR and auto-notch facilities (in my opinion) leave a LoT to be desired.  

From my operating experience the FT-2000's Shift/Width manual-notch/Contour controls are far more effective that the K3 facilities, and, are way-more ergonomically pleasing - if it ain't pleasing, we don't use it.  Back-ending DSP reception by way of analog Stereo-Ssb stereo techniques make up for the perceived audio inadequacies of the Elecraft design.

Using the QF-1A Frequency knobs to effectively alter the "shape" of the audio passband helps
eliminate the offending signal components, while peaking the more-desirable voice characteristics. 
With the individual Frequency knobs, we can actually "move" (i.e. "emphasize") a component of the voice, shifting its significance, which enhances our experience of it all.

Of course, Stereo-Ssb in a dual-RX (FT-2000) environment becomes even MORE interesting. 

Because I sometimes run a frequency with one VFO and S&P using the other, having adjustable filters (the QF-1A's) in-line makes what was once confusing cacophony much less cacophonic.

It was quickly realized that L -- R ear settings which work for one operating frequency and specific voice characteristics don't work for others.  Another realization is that while some audio frequencies are peaked by the process, Stereo-Ssb is largely a SUBTRACTIVE process, eliminating things that we don't like, which often induces its own artifact components (as the K3 does).

In WQ6X stereo-audio configurations, to overcome amplitude-drop when cascading different audio filters I have been experimenting with various stereo audio amplifier boards and commercial audio amplifier units following the last filter in each audio line to overcome those amplitude losses. 
This may also be an appropriate place to insert a stereo audio equalizer - just prior to the final amplification, reducing any audio filter-induced artifact(s).  

For a more visual indication of the Stereo-Ssb effects, an oscilloscope or audio spectrum analyzer can provide additional insight (feedback) to our overall aural-experience.  For the March 2024 ARRL Dx Ssb contest, the Stereo-Ssb filtering actually provided more effective noise-reduction (w/virtually
no artifact) than the K3's built-in DSP-NR facility.

Have YOU ever experimented w/Stereo-Ssb in amateur radio?

If NoT, whut are you WAITing for?

If so, what kind of results DiD You achieve?