Running RTTY Remotely WQ6X Sparks an affair w/Ashley@A-I

In recent weeks, much of my remote operating has been via WA6TQT's Radio Ranch atop the hill
in Anza California due the KN6NBT station in Ramona experiencing weird internet latency problems. 
For the weekend's EA RTTY contest, I had been working on proper cabling to accomplish running RTTY from m end of the connection, with no stable results.  Then, the "DuH" hit me upside the head.

To make traveling lighter, I recently repurposed a Windoze-10 Toshiba TECRA Z-50 computer. 
The goal was to discover a cable free way to run RTTY using a Remote Rig RRC-1258 box with
this laptop.  Then it occurred to me that "Ashley @A-I" can guide me to make this a reality. 
Ashley is a euphemism for Google's GEMINI A-I system.  The inquiry that started it all was:

"Troubleshoot controlling an RRC-1258 box with a K3/0-Mini using the N1MM+ logging
software under Windows 10".

While it took 90+ minutes of back and forth between Ashley and the K3/0-Mini installation,
eventually we managed to produce reliable RTTY from the Anza setup at 05:00z (more than
1/2 way into the RTTY contest).  Earlier in the afternoon during the troubleshooting, I heard
(and missed) a juicy 15-meter opening to JA - Bummer DewD!  Also on the "miss list" were
LAQP, MSQP and the Polish SP-DX contest.

The last 7-hours of the EA RTTY contest made for a BiG disappointment.  Finding no activity
on 80-meters (altho WQ6X was spotted all over the RBN system), focus was largely on 40-meters
with an occasional switch to 20-meters to work weak EU stations there and then come back to 40.

The original idea was to run QRP, based on being able to utilize the stacked yagi's on 10 and 15 meters.  Because I missed the daytime openings, the power level was set to 69-watts and run into
a pair of stacked yagi's on 20 and 40 meters, along with a 4-Square Vertical array for 80-meters.

RBN stats made it clear that WQ6X was being heard across the USA and into EA (Spain).  Unfortunately, lack of activity after 07:30z made for a dearth of actual RTTY activity. 
When it was finally over @12:00z a whopping 38 QSOs made it into the log - Bummer DewD.

At LEAST I can say "I WuZ THERE!"

What about YOU?  WuZ YOU there?

WuZ WQ6X in YOUR LoG?

ContemPlating a CollaGe of RadioSport Reminisces

In recent years I have amassed nearly 120+ events each year (140 for 2o25).  Accomplishing
that goal requires participating in 12 - 15 radiosport events (on average) every month.  Some months that number comes easily and other times it gets upended - as happened on this year's April 11th/12th contest weekend.

For WQ6X there are 3 main "Styles" of contest events

• CW (my Favorite)
• RTTY (a learned Favorite)
• SSB (my Least Favorite)

I rate the Ssb contests as least favorite based on the difficulty of getting the voice message thru amidst deep-fading and nasty solar-WX anomalies.  On a given contest weekend there can be
events all three of the above operating styles.  State QSO parties are mixed-mode and some even support a RTTY/Digital category.  In the franticness of the activity, it becomes relatively easy to be confused about which mode you are running in that given moment.  Fortunately, most logging programs make it relatively easy to figure out which mode you are in: KEY, MIC, KYBD.

In multi-mode contests (such as State QSO parties and FD) if the radio sports a dual VFO
(VFO-A / VFO-B) or even better, dual-receive (such as the FT-2000, IC-7610, ORION-II or
the K3/K4 series), you can run one VFO/Rx on CW and the other VFO/Rx on Ssb.

During a Field Day (FD) event some years ago, I ran the event with a classic Yaesu 100-watt
FT-1000mp transceiver - working Cw in the left ear, while Searching and Pouncing (S&P) Ssb
stations in the right ear.  The "accuracy" of this unique operation was somewhat not-insignificantly influenced by a couple of CANs of Foster's Lager.

Now remember, to operate responsibly, each event should be followed up with the score posted on the 3830 Scores website and a copy of your log submitted to the contest sponsor.  Submitting a log greatly assists the contest committee to adjudicate the winners properly.  In the past, I have submitted
2-to-5 QSO logs.

While I recommend testing station equipment on the weekdays between contest weekend periods, sometimes it is multi-contest multi-mode operating that enables us to identify deficiencies in the operating setup.

While I rarely announce contest plans in advance of a given contest weekend, in many cases,
if you are familiar with my operating habits, you can predict hearing my callsign in specific
contest events, such as Sweepstakes (SS), NAQP GiGs and the Weird Prefix (WPX) contests.

Additionally, participating in a wide variety of radiosport events helps improve what I call
"Callsign Recognition".  I recently wrote a Blog about this ([CLICK HERE] to read it.)

WQ6X offers REMEDIES for Reasons Why YOU Should NoT Call Me

Frustration over the 2nd contest weekend brought back memories regarding why much of the time, stations should NoT call me.  ([CLICK HERE] to see what I have previously written on this subject.

It occurred to me that the above Blogs have said all there really is to say on the subject of
Why You Should NoT Call Me.  This last weekend brought us the OP's S/E of Anza who
called in after my CQ JA NX6T NX6T call.  They heard me sending my Zone, so they 
sent me THEIR Zone. 

My opening question is of course "DO YOU KNOW WHAT CQ JA Means?"......
Instead of circling endless in that logic pool, allow me to offer some simple preventative
 remedies to the above circle.

For starters, when you hear a CQ call (Ex: CQ NA, CQ JA, CQ EU) do you understand what
they mean?  If NoT then you should NoT call in.  The correct action is to look up the CQ call
on the internet and follow the links to the rules for the event.

That Right - it all begins with RTFR - Read The Contest Rules.  From the rules, you will know
who to call and who not to call.  Make note how many points you get for contacting stations in/out
of your country/continent

Overall things to consider include:

• Devise a band plan 
  --- Upper bands in the daytime
  --- Lower bands after sunset
  --- 20-meters and Greyline are unique unto themselves.
• If antennas are rotatable, set them to the proper azimuth heading.

If you like calling CQ, appropriate to the event, you can devise an appropriate CQ call:

• CQ GA  WQ6X/6   WQ6X/CA
  Transl: I am looking for stations in GA.
  WQ6X is in California - the 6th Call area.
  WQ6X is NoT in GA - he is LOOKing for GA.

NoW - when you call CQ, be prepared for Billy-Bob and his brother Barney to wanna
join in the fun - whatever THAT is.  Remember this: Just because you should not call ME,
doesn't necessarily mean that you should not call others.

When nothing else seems to work, consider pointing antennas in a long path (LP) direction relative
to the QTH areas you are looking for.  I've lost count of the number of times I turn the stacked yagi arrays to VK/ZL only to have OH & SM stations call in - LOUD and CLEAR!

In summary, it ALL begins with:

• Visit the WA7BNM Contest Calendar - click on a contest to your liking
  
• Visit that contest website and RTFR - read the rules of that specific event.
• Write a participation plan.  Be prepared to alter the plan details as
  the event progresses.
• After the contest, submit your log and post your score to the
  3830 Scores website.

Radiosport involvement can be a high-energy, high-functioning activity when
we have Read the Rules and organized a specific plan to make it happen throughout
the contest weekend.

StaY TuNeD for Further Thoughts on this unique topic.

WQ6X Waxes Operationally on WHY I LiKe Function Keys

While penning a Blog entry for the recently run All Asian (A-A) Cw contest, I got to musing
over the innovative way in which I utilize the TWELVE (12) function key definitions under the
N1MM+ software.   Other software APPs give us only SIX.  The easiest way to describe all this is
to first document the key definitions that were used during the 2o25 Field Day event and then make additional comments behind what was done as needed.

1. F1- CQ FD, CQ FD {MYCALL} {MYCALL
2. F2- EXCH, 2A EB  EB
3. F3- TU K6QLF, TU {MYCALL}{CLEARRIT}
4. F4- {MYCALL}, {MYCALL}
5. F5- HiS Callsign, !
6. F6- NR?, NR?
7. F7- 2A, 2A
8. F8- AGN?, AGN?
9. F9- SEC?, SEC?
10. F10- EB, EB
11. F11- QRL QSY, QRL QSY
12. F12- WEIRD, W E I R D

Notice that each key provides us a unique capability.  Now the above are key definitions for running CW.  For Ssb, F1 - F4 are changed to play out the pre-recorded memories built-in to the transceiver. 
The F6 - F12 key functions are accomplished by playing .WAV files over the microphone audio line. 
The memories and .WAV files are of course prepared in advance.  

By using OPON for every operator, a different set of .WAV files can be played, although
technically, the 4-channels of  radio memories need to be re-recorded for each operator.

If unique information is being sent in the contest exchange (Ex; 5-9 CA), we can run that
contest  by way of S&P (Search and Pounce) without ever saying anything (in an Ssb contest)
or even mentioning the other station's callsign.  In CW I can run a frequency with the above setup. 
Pressing F5 sends the other station's callsign.  In Ssb, I have to say the callsign over the
microphone. Everything else can be played out with the function keys.

The bottom line, because we are already using computers to log contests, it makes sense
to let the software conduct the repetitive tasks for us, saving our voice or the need to send
things manually with the Cw paddle.

Do YOU use computer software to log your contest activity?

If NoT, why NoT?

If so, what are YOUR unique ideas on this matter?

Further Investigations into those ubiquitous Russian Military Beacons

Over the last 9 years, I have written extensively about the ubiquitous Russian military beacons.  Recently, using those beacons during numerous radiosport contests, it occurred to me that due to recent Russian military escalations, we are overdue for an update on the status of these beacons,
at least the Eastern Asian ones.  ([CLICK HERE] to read some of those Blogs.)

In my thinking, there are two groups of Russian beacons: those based in North/Central Europe
and the beacon trio operating in Eastern Asia ("F", "M" & "K").  I first heard the EU beacons on the University enTwente Dutch SDR.  In doing research for this new Blog entry, it made sense to return
to that SDR during the EU evening/nighttime hours to discover which ones could be heard.

On the Asian end of things, while I frequently rely on the Eastern Asia beacons
("F" (Vladivostok), "M" (Magadan) and "K" (Kamchatsky)), frequently for whatever
reason, one or more of those beacons appear on the west coast to be AWOL.
To investigate that situation, a search was made to find web SDR in and around
Asia solely for the purpose of listening for this trio of beacons.

For some time, only the [relatively LOUD] "K" beacon could be heard in California. 
Recently, the "F" beacon could be weakly heard, altho the "M" seemed dormant. 
Having bookmarked over a dozen Asian-based web SDR sites, late in the morning
(evening in Asia) I cycled thru the SDR list noting which beacons were being heard
when / where at times when the bands should be open to those areas.

As it turns out, all 3 Asian beacons are active, altho the "F" and "M" beacons are clearly
running on reduced power (compared to past years) or there are antenna problems (or both). 
Being geographically closer to California, the "K" beacon is always reasonably LOUD. 
The fact that we have difficulty hearing "F" and "M" beacons may have less to do with lack
of propagation, then it does with the beacon installations themselves.

Tuning around, it was noticed that the "A" & "P" beacons seem to be off the air.  Near those frequencies an "I" beacon and "L" beacon were heard. The "I" beacon was very weak, while
the faster "L" beacon was relatively strong.  The PRIYOM.org website is where I first discovered
these beacons.  At this time. it would seem that the "I" and "L" beacons are not yet documented.

Now that the operational status of the Asian beacons have been [relatively] confirmed, attention
can be given to Europe - the missing "A" and "P" beacons and the arrival of the "I" & "L" beacons.
Then again while writing this Blog entry, listening one the 10.871 frequency, the "A" beacon was heard, albeit barely - very weak.

This brings us to a final conclusion.  While signal levels from each of the individual beacons are certainly affected by atmospheric propagation (the main reason we listen for them), remember that these beacons are what I call self-autonomous - a human being initiates their operation and then comes back every few years to check out the hardware.

With the Japanese JIDX Cw contest coming up on April 11th, closer attention/scrutiny will be given to the East Asian beacons ("K", "F" and "M").  Awhile back, with the assistance of the Gemini A-I facility, I unearthed the mysteries regarding the "DW" (Desert Whooper) beacon. 
([CLICK HERE] to read that.)

Whether we pay attention or not, the HF radio spectrum is LITTERED with propagation beacons
that we radio amateurs (especially radiosport contesters) can take advantage of.

Have YOU ever listened to the above mentioned propagation beacons?

What Discoveries have YOU made?

Creating an Audio Odyssey via Analog and Digital

It is no secret that I like to knob twiddle; adjusting controls enables me to maintain the illusion that

I can have some sort of influence over transmitted and received signals.  When it comes to received signals, there is always the desperate hope of being able to reduce/notch minute (but nonetheless annoying) bits of noise or carrier remnants.

Before owning my first radio w/some sort of DSP filtering (the classic Yaesu FT-1000mp), a JPS
NIR-12 external DSP unit was brought into my operating configurations for it and the ICOM 7000.
Later, because the FT-1000mp possesses only minimal filtering in the Sub-RX, inserting the NIR-12 into the R-channel audio line provides DNF (Digital Notch Filtering) and passband contouring for BOTH ears. Eventually, a JPS NIR-10 was cascaded into the right channel after the NIR-12.

Next up, a pair of MFJ-752 (Signal Enhancer II) units made the scene.  I inserted the 752-C into
the left channel audio.  For the right channel, a modified 752B was added.  The 752-B modification
was the addition of an old MFJ CW-1 filter board, providing 180 / 80 HZ Cw filtering.  

Even later, an MFJ-784 was picked up, offering even more knobs and buttons to play around with.
The MFJ-784 is unique in that the settings can be saved in a sort of local memory - a crude sort of
e-prom.

The REAL breakthrough came when I discovered the vintage Autek QF-1A analog filters. 
Front-ending it with a classic Radio Shaft 16-band stereo equalizer, shaping the desired passband BEFORE sending the audio to the QF1-A filters.  Cutting off the extraneous frequencies before/after
the desired receive passband reduces the possibility of harmonic overload.

Along the way, a passive mixer unit brings audio from the different radios into one input line,
splitting the audio amongst the various filter units.  The output of the units is then blended into
selectable audio using a classic Rockville 4-channel stereo mixer box.

As you can see, the above filter combinations offer a plethora of knobs to twiddle.

Do YOU make use of external audio filter units?

What Discoveries have YOU made?