What CQP means to ME

"Officially", I have been involved w/CQP events since CQP-2000; my, final year using my former callsign: KX6H.  Joining up with W6KC, W6SW, W6JTB & K6JI as W6ML (Whiskey Six Mexico London - Whiskey Six Mammoth Lakes) from MONO county.

Joining up with the team making up W6ML introduced me to what a multi-OP collaboration (outside of Field Day) is all about.

Team W6ML won the HP Expedition class 4 years in a row (2000 - 2003), setting an all-time high score for MONO county in 2001, right after the 9-1-1 disaster.  

Beginning in 2004 I struck out on my own, using various 1x1 callsigns as: W6C, W6E, W6K, K6C, K6M, K6S,
K6T & K6U.

Running the 1st weekend in October, we get to enjoy more-or-less "perfect" weather (and this year) perfect Space-WX.  I like to think of CQP as the perfect practice exercise, for the Sweepstakes GiG that happen in November, and even the 160/10-meter events which follow in December.

For me, CQP is a near-variation of Field Day.  I look for any reason to run a camping-style portable operation.  For the 2010, 2012 & 2013 CQP events, N6GEO and I ran Field Day-style events from MODOC county.  The orange Coleman "Insta-Tent" was in use as late as last year.

While the known WQ6X call is often preferred for contests like the November Sweepstakes, using 1x1 callsigns seems to be more appropriate for CQP; hence the reason for not using "personal" callsigns.  For 2021, running CQP as the Amateur Radio Club of Alameda made using the K6QLF club callsign (Kilowatt SIX Quebec London Foxtrot) the correct thing to do.

Beginning with CQP-2022, a different approach was taken; namely, the idea of running a triple-OP operation:

• Putting in op-time remotely with team-NX6T, running from RIVE (Riverside) county,
  as usual taking the 2am operating shifts.
• Running a low power (LP) station from Contra Costa County as W6Q.
• Putting WQ6X on the air, also from Contra Costa County running QRP (5-watts).

Since CQP (OCT. 1st), QRP operations have figured into 4 other contest events, beginning with
a triple-OP Cw Sweepstakes, moving on to the CQ W.W. Cw contest, a triple-OP 10-Meter contest,
and ending with a brief QRP run in the Stew Perry Top Band Challenge (SP-160) GiG; all events showcasing the WQ6X callsign.

If it hadn't been for taking a 1st-place (for QRP) in the California QSO Party (CQP), I might well have never considered the QRP challenge.  Looking back to previous CQP events in the WQ6X Contest Blog, it seems that CQP operations often set the groundwork for enjoying new operating methods.

On a different note, CQP helps me keep a geographical awareness of the 58 counties which make
up the state of California.  Despite what outsiders may think, California is TRULY the Golden state.

And THAT is what CQP means to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

01-01-23 - UPDATE:
The 2022 CQP Results are already in:

• NX6T set a county record for RIVE (Riverside)
• WQ6X set a QRP county record for CCOS (Contra Costa)
• K6Q took 1st-place as SOALP for CCOS (Contra Costa)

 

SWL'ing: It's ALL about Learning How to Listen

Virtually everyone who possesses a valid amateur radio license began their involvement
w/radio by listening first.  In fact, in many European countries, one is required to begin as
a "licensed" SWL and are often issued a lengthy SWL-ID to get started.  My initial involvement
began by shortwave listening; first with a 1960's-era National NC-77X 5-tube Superhet, followed
by a loaner classic (85-lb) 1940-ish Hammarlund SP-210LX Super-PRO.  The power supply for
this receiver weighed-in at about 55 lbs. and sat on the floor behind the operating desk.

In the mid-60's most "significant" countries showcased one-or-more shortwave radio outlets. 
In this country there was plenty of non-broadcast activity on the so-called Longwave frequencies.  Virtually night-after-night you would find me behind the dials of the Super PRO, listening for powerhouse SW broadcasters, Longwave beacons and traffic, Coast Guard and Navy traffic,
ship-to-shore calls, and yes, even the so-called "numbers" stations.  The keyword here is LISTENING.  It was 3+ years later with my Novice license that I began to "talk back".

While the WQ6X contest Blog is largely about radiosport activities, in my opinion, shortwave
listening should still be a not-insignificant activity for serious contest operators.  Here are some
things I have written about SWL'ing:

• [X] - (08-19): Does Shortwave Radio have a Future?
  
• [X] - (09-19): WQ6X Turns Birthday into Training Weekend
• [X] - (09-21): Using Shortwave Listening as a Propagation Training Exercise
  
• [X] - (11-21): Why I still love the ICOM 7000: SWL'ing
• [X] - (11-22): Why UTE's are Alright with ME

In the 21st century, while the HF frequency spectrum is still 3 to 30 Mhz., except for
radio amateur use, the way in which the HF spectrum is used has changed dramatically. 
Here are some thoughts about the differences:

• Ship-to-shore usage been relegated to VHF/UHF and/or
  supplanted by the cellphone services.
• For the most part, Coast Guard and Navy operations no longer utilize Morse code for communications, altho (largely encrypted) digital-mode communication is still in widespread use (if you know where to look).
• Shortwave broadcasts are increasingly being moved to the internet, altho countries with little/poor internet access still rely on LW/MW/SW/FM radio broadcasts to keep in touch with the world.
• Clandestine SW broadcasts are still a way to bypass government-induced internet
  outages and "Fake News" broadcasts promulgated by state-sponsored broadcast stations.

Because it's ALL about listening, if you listen around, you will still find
the following in the 3-30mhz. shortwave spectrum:

• Shortwave broadcasts in the main SW bands on: 120m,
  90m, 75m, 60m, 49m, 41m, 31m, 25m, 19m, 16m & 13m
• Marine WX and international airline communications
• Pirate stations in the 6.9mhz and 7.3mhz spectrum
• Government sponsored beacon stations
• Military Ssb traffic communications
• Time Standard stations
• Numbers stations

While it is true that the shortwave spectrum is a far cry from what it used to be,
it is ALSO true that the 3 - 30 mhz. spectrum is teaming with interesting things to listen
to - IF you take the time and have the patience to actually listen, day after day, night after night.

What about YOU?
When was the last time YOU listened around the shortwave spectrum?
What interesting things have YOU heard?

Sometimes Just Showing Up... (Part 2)

I believe it was Woody Allen who suggested that just showing up to an event is 50% of the goal. 

I have written about this topic many times, and in many ways:

• [X] (1-16) - The Importance of Submitting a Log for every contest
• [X] (5-13) - Sometimes just showing up accomplishes the Goal....
• [X] (8-15) - Is there Value in Documenting Contest Activity?
• [X] (6-19) - IT Ain't Over Until...

Each weekend of the year brings us a bevy of radiosport contests, on different bands and/or many different modes; sometimes (like Field Day and state QSO parties) an event may involve MANY bands and a bevy of modes during that radiosport weekend.  In the beginning I didn't spend much time with radiosport activities, thinking it was too complicated for me to figure out, the exception
being Field Day and the November Sweepstakes.

Beginning in the late 1990's WQ6X began jumping into various contest events just to see what it
was like.  Thinking that my score was hardly worthy of note, out of laziness, I rarely submitted a log, except maybe, for Sweepstakes participation.  As I have documented in the above Blogs, submitting
a log not only assists those orchestrating the contest, a number of times it turned out that WQ6X submitted a high score.  While other stations may have surpassed my score, either they did not submit a log or somehow got DQ'd (disqualified).

In recent years, I participated in over 100 events in a given year.  During many contests, I put in some number of hours with team-NX6T which left me with enough time for WQ6X to make an entry into the same event as some sort of a Single-OP operation.  Some ARRL events resulted in receiving a 1st-place certificate from the NX6T operation along with a 1st-place certificate for WQ6X.  Some years back, NX6T won a plaque for the Southwestern Division, while WQ6X won a plaque for the Pacific Division.

The above makes the assumption that dual operation is allowed in a given contest event. 
As it turns out, not all contest events allow dual-OP'ing.  The Japanese JIDX contest expressly
forbids dual operation submissions.  As it turns out, the JIDX Ssb contest runs the same weekend
as the WAE (Worked All Europe) RTTY contest, giving me something to go for in between stints
at NX6T looking for JA stations.

Bottom-line: if you are going to go to all the trouble of participating in a given radiosport, after the event concludes, spend an extra 20-minutes or so to post your score on the 3830 Scores website and submit the log to the contest host.  In most cases, the majority of contests now sport a website where you can upload your Cabrillo log file and be done with it.  At the very least, they will have an e-mail address you can attach a log file to, accomplishing essentially the same thing.

When was the last time YOU just SHOWED UP?

HoW DiD it all turn out?

WQ6X Wangles another Wonderfully ad-HOC Radiosport Weekend

The 3rd weekend in December brings us a handful of 24-hour radiosport contest events
from around the world, beginning with the OK Dx RTTY and Canadian Winter Contests and
ending with the Croatian Cw contest and Stew Perry 160-meter Top Band Challenge (TBC).

• [X] - OK Dx RTTY Contest
  
• [X] - RAC Winter Contest
  
• [X] - Croatian Cw Contest
  
• [X] - Stew Perry Top Band Challenge
  

Tuning around the bands with the FT-2000, virtually no RTTY was heard. 
While I heard plenty of RTTY remotely, the WA6TQT station has no capability
to do RTTY at this time.  That left 3 contests to run during approximately 38 hours.

Canadian contests have become a favorite the last several years.  My only wish is that they
were longer than 24 hours.  The RAC Winter GiG allows any station to contact any other station
for 2-points.  However, if that station happens to also be Canadian, that QSO is worth 10-points. 
If that Canadian also happens to be running an RAC station, (VY2RAC, VE2RAC, VE6RAC, etc.)
that QSO is worth 20-points.  With new multipliers on each band-mode, I made it a point to activate
all bands on 160 - 10 meters, except I was too lazy to setup the microphone audio for 160,80 & 40
on Friday evening.

Space-WX condx. were AWEsome the entire weekend; almost TOO GooD.  From Anza, signal locations were actually the REVERSE of what is normally expected - signals from Europe often sounded like they were next door, while close-in stations had a "flutter" (as if they had travelled
a polar route).

It would seem that "Intentional QRM" came in the form of careless Ssb.  While attempting to run
a frequency in the 9ACW contest, 7031.31 was suddenly surrounded by a cluster of Ssb stations, presumably Indonesian sounding, altho 04:33z is a little early for propagation to Asia on 40-meters.  

Earlier in the day while looking for Canadian stations on 20-meter Ssb, I came across some rock music playing in the background behind VE6AO's run frequency.  I expect that kind of nonsense
on 75-meter Ssb in the evening, not 20-meters during the last 45 minutes of the RAC contest.

Like the OK-RTTY contest, I nearly didn't find time for the Croation 9ACW contest.  Tuning around
40-meters after the RAC contest, numerous EU spots were spotted, which quickly became signals which I could hear and eventually work.  In between runs in the Stew Perry 160 contest, WQ6X managed 69 Cw QSOs, allowing the submission of an SOA-40 log; ironically, exactly 69 QSOs
made it to the SP-160 log.

Looking at past Top Band Challenge scores, it seemed that there was a dearth of QRP entries.  Having access to a full-size (albeit "crippled") tri-square array delivered the 5-watt signal as far as: KL7/VE7/VE6, K1/K3/K4, and even PJ2/ZF9 & KH6 - NoT bad for running QRP power.  Of course, it required a clear run-frequency to make that happen, requiring that I switch run frequencies frequently.

Because each of the 3 contests were dramatically different, the real challenge was to leverage the
WA6TQT antenna system to deliver maximum performance running low power (100-watts) and QRP power (5-watts), demonstrating the importance of using highly efficient signal radiators.  With a dipole or vertical, it would require over 800+ watts to accomplish what was accomplished with 5 & 100 watts.

When it was all over, it would seem that WQ6X was top score for W6 in all 3 contest events.
In the RAC GiG it would seem that WQ6X took 2nd-place for the USA.  When you consider
that I was ad-HOC'ing things all the way, I am pleased with the ending results.

DiD YOU work the RAC, 9ACW or SP-160 contests?

Is WQ6X in YOUR Log?

WQ6X reprises K6T for a 10-Meter triple-OP Operation

Prior to this last weekend's ARRL 10-meter contest, I spent some time reflecting on the 10-meter contest operations I have run over the last 10 years.  This led to putting together a couple of Blogs about different ways to run this Iconic 10-meter contest:

• [X] - Triple-Thots about Triple-OP'ing the Ten-Meter Contest
• [X] - BLAST from the Past:  ARRL 10-meter contest

This 10-meter contest offered up the opportunity to accomplish a handful of goals
over a 48-hour radiosport period.  Among these goals were:

• Reprise use of the "K6T" callsign: "Kilowatt SIX Tango".
• Operate K6T mixed-mode @ 100-watts - taking 1st-place for at LEAST EB section.
• Run WQ6X as a QRP Entry- taking 1st-place for at LEAST EB section.
• Run Cw and Ssb shifts for NX6T - contributing to a M/S Low Power win
  for S-West Division.
• Properly leverage the Autek QF-1A audio filters, not only for Stereo-Cw,
  but for Stereo Ssb as well.

Completely oblivious to the M/S record set by N6GEO & WQ6X (in 2014), I put in several 1-hour
shifts (1st on Cw, the mostly Ssb) for the remote NX6T operation from our low power location in Ramona - [Southern] California.  K6T began the contest locally on Friday evening.  After an hour running Cw, K6T found a latent pipeline opening to W0, W9 & W8 before the 10-meter band frittered away around 06:20z.  Both Saturday/Sunday mornings found me opening 10-meters for NX6T on Ssb - K4RB ran the Cw hours in between my Ssb shifts.

Both days, in between shifts @NX6T, operating time was divided between running frequencies w/occasional S&P as K6T, interspersed w/5-watt S&P'ing as WQ6X.  Running frequencies as WQ6X yielded very few responses to those calls, except on Sunday afternoon, when callers were becoming desperate.  For this 4th WQ6X QRP contest-run, I have been amazed at the geographical reach of a mere 5-watts; then again, 10-meters amidst an SFI of 145+ makes it relatively easier to accomplish. 
We can only muse over what 10-meters will be like with an SFI of 175+ (next year?).

Running assisted encourages the use of virtually any and all available online assistance, including Contest Scoreboard, Reverse Beacon Network (RBN), DX Maps and NCDXF beacon tracking. 

The E. coast operators experienced mediocre access to Europe, while on the Left coast we experienced a mediocre shot into Asia.  In addition to Saturday's opening to JA in the East Bay, on Sunday we had a brief shot at: BD4, HL2, VR2 & 9V7.  The real surprise
was working EA9 & EA8 late Sunday morning.

Running Ssb in the 10-meter contest
is a world unto itself.  While Space-WX disturbances were minimal, there was lots of quick-fading.  Atop that was a local noise-source virtually dead-east
of the 3-element Long John yagi.  

It took a combination of the FT-2000's I-F dual-notch facility, and the Aux. notch knobs on both

QF-1A's to make some voices intelligible.

For the 10-meter contest, Cw has some major advantages:

• Easier to copy signals (versus Ssb).
• Function keys are more easily macro-driven
• Each QSO is worth 4-points (instead of 2).
• Full Stereo-Cw implementation.

While Stereo-Ssb made an important contribution to intelligibility, there's nothing quite like
Stereo-Cw to make running Cw frequencies more enjoyable.

While 10-meter contests are largely daytime events, we experience our share of WEIRD QRM. 
While different from the JUNK we often experience on the narrow 40-meter Ssb spectrum, it is annoying, nonetheless.

• Saturday 18:17z: 28304.63 - LOUD bursts of RTTY.
• 04:30z: 28424.93 - an annoying All-Day Woodpecker signal - with yagi pointed more-or-less Northeast.
• Sunday 17:15z: 28032.32 - another Woodpecker signal - with yagi pointed more-or-less Southeast.
• 19:59z: 28368.92 - FAX / SSTV signal

Overall, this was the most extraordinary 10-meter contest we have seen in about 7 long years. 
Now that the event is way behind us, the 3830 Scores website listings indicate the following:

• K6T (running mixed-unlimited low power), took 1st-place for EB section, W6 (California) and maybe even PAC (Pacific) Division.
• WQ6X (running mixed-unlimited QRP), took 1st-place for EB section and 2nd-place  for W6 (California) and PAC Division.
• NX6T took 1st-place for multi-Single (low power), setting a new record (to beat the record set by N6GEO and WQ6X back in 2014) and probably took the Southwest Division plaque.

DiD YOU work the 2022 ARRL 10-meter contest?

Is WQ6X, K6T or NX6T in YOUR LoG?

BLAST from the Past: ARRL 10-meter contest

Wednesday evening, I came up with the novel idea of running my 3rd triple-OP radiosport GiG in as many months.  Reviewing what this contest was all about, I discovered that as part of the 2019 Blog post on the ARRL 10-meter GiG, a semi-Blast-from-the-Past blog was already put together.  During the last 3+ years, the sunspot cycle has been at a low point, making 10-meter GiGs quite a challenge.

This is what I have written ab out the ARRLO10-meter contest thus far:

• [X] - 2019: ARRL 10-Meter Contest: It Don't Get any Weirder
• [X] - 2020: WQ6X Wangles a weirdly Wild 10-meter contest
• [X] - 2021: WQ6X Fenagles another 10-meter contest WeeKend
• [X] - 2022: Triple-Thots about Triple-OP'ing the Ten-Meter Contest

In looking back, it is amazing how many times I've used the "K6T" callsign, especially for the 10-meter contest ("T" = Ten Meters); and later, how many dual-OP operations happened during this December contest event.

As it turns out, N6GEO & WQ6X set an ARRL 10-meter contest record during the 2014 GiG. 
As it also turns out, 2014 surpassed records that we set in 2012 and 2013.  The question now
is whether or not that record will hold up as NX6T takes on a low power multi-OP operation from
our "Cliffside" operation in Ramona.  Because there is now power amplifier in operation at Cliffside,
we will have to take our low power operation to the next level.

Will NX6T succeed?  Will WQ6X and K6T set some new records for 2022?

Stray tuned to find out the results.

Are YOU planning to join us all on 10-Meters?

Stereo-SSB: Turns out There's More To It

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've been playing with stereo audio for many years; Stereo-CW (and even Stereo-RTTY)
is a Given, a no-Brainer.  While I've written extensively on the Stereo-Cw concept ([CLICK HERE]), there seemed to have been fewer ideas/uses for Stereo-Ssb - until this last weekend's ARRL
10-meter mixed-mode contest.

• [X] - How Stereo-Cw becomes Stereo-Ssb
  
• [X] - Stereo Ssb: It's STILL Easier than you Think
• [X] - Stereo-RTTY: Is It Possible? (What can We Do with it?)
• [X] - Stereo-RTTY: How can We Leverage It
   

As always, using Stereo-Cw revolutionizes Cw-mode contesting. 
Because the ARRL-10 GiG is a worldwide contest different accents and dialects
make Ssb copy tricky, at best; nearly impossible, at worst.  This is where Stereo-SSB
comes to the rescue.

As I write this, the ARRL contest is over.  In its place, I am listening to QSOs in the 75-meter
DX Window using the K3FEF Web SDR.

I mentioned in a previous Blog that the Aux. Notch Freq. knob on each QF-1A unit offers the
ability to notch-out a specific "SPRITZ" inside of the peaked passband for each Left/Right ear.  

While the FT-2000 is equipped with an effective IF-based dual manual notch facility, when receiving split-VFO audio, those notch filters (as well as the ANF auto-notch) only apply to signals in the left ear.  It is for this reason that a Rockville mixer box has been implemented, offering up the ability to "patch-in" the NIR-10 & NIR-12 DSP units for the right ear, somewhat equivalent to the DSP facilities built-in to the FT-2000 and the older FT-1000mp.

A major secret to making Stereo-SSB effective is to adjust both filters to emphasize each ear properly.
Then, using the RIT control, individual calling stations can be more-or-less "centered" in the audio passband.

Have you ever played around with the concept of Stereo-SSB?
If SO, what kind of results DiD you get?
IF NoT, WHY Knot?

Triple-Thots about Triple-OP'ing the Ten-Meter Contest

Throughout 2022, I've been on a crusade, looking out for additional ways to "up" the "contests worked" statistics for WQ6X at the 3830 Scores website.  While the possibility of triple-OP'ing
existed w/the Yaesu FT-1000mp, it wasn't until an FT-2000 transceiver was added to the portable
setup in Concord that I began to play around w/the idea of running contest operations as a QRP entry.

To make the 2022-CQP event more interesting, I orchestrated my first triple operation running 

operations as: NX6T, K6Q & WQ6X.  I've written a number of Blogs thus far on the subject of
QRP and triple-OP'ing, including:

• [X] - CQP 2022: NX6T, K6Q & WQ6X
• [X] - SINGLE-OP - 2 STATIONS
• [X] - November Sweepstakes Cw: NX6T, W6Q & WQ6X
• [X] - November Sweepstakes Ssb - No Triple-OP: NX6T & WQ6X
• [X] - Dual-OP'ing Radiosport GiGs as QRP
• [X] - Dual-OP'ing CQ WW as NX6T & WQ6X (QRP)

At the "core" of this year's triple-OP operations has been running WQ6X at QRP power (5-watts).  Initially, I was quite skeptical about running QRP from the marginal antenna setup in the receive-vortex location in the SF East Bay (EB) section.

For the CQP operation, I began the QRP-portion of the triple-OP operation on 10-meter Cw, which offered up use of a properly-heighted rotatable Hy-Gain 3-element "Long John" yagi.  

The reach of the FT-2000 dialed down to its 5-watt minimum was truly astonishing.  Working OM2VL on
40-meters @05:00z w/100-watts is an extraordinary feat
in itself, however, OM2VL at 01:20z running only 5-watts is truly a MIRACLE.

For the Ssb Sweepstakes a conscious decision was made to NoT run at QRP-power.  Running Cw at 5-watts is quite a challenge unto itself.  The time to run a QRP Ssb event will be in January/February when we come back around
to the NAQP events (Cw, Ssb & RTTY). 

 
Being a domestic contest, NAQP will make an excellent
time to make a 5-watt operation into another winner.

Having said all of this brings us back to 10-meters for the upcoming single-band ARRL 10-meter contest GiG.  Last week was the single-band 160-meter contest, at the lower end of the HF spectrum.  This weekend brings us to the TOP of the HF spectrum with 10-meters.  Luckily,
as I write this on Wednesday, the solar flux is around ~150 and the A/K indices are reasonably
low - perfect for a 10-meter event.  Then again, in the next 3 daze, space-WX disruptions can
easily erupt out of nowhere.

Similar to November's CQ Worldwide Cw contest, the ARRL 10-meter GiG gives us one more shot at worldwide activity on 10-meters before the winter doldrums set in.  For 2022, look for me to again run low power as K6T, a callsign I have used before in 10-meter contests.  Then, depending on previous score submissions, look for WQ6X to either run a CW only QRP operation, or take it to the next level and run a mixed (Cw & Ssb) QRP operation.

What about you?  

Will you be running the ARRL 10-meter contest?

Do you have the courage to run QRP?

This year, LooK for NX6T, K6T & WQ6X

Next week, I'll let you know how it all turned out.

Learning to Learn Propagation Details thru last-contest Log Entries

If you want to know where/how well your signal was reaching, you need look no further than the CABRILLO file you submitted after the contest event was over.  Years ago, I wrote an inheritable
APP called the JIDX Tracker, offering a spreadsheet-like view of WHICH prefectures were worked
and on what bands.  This APP was adapted to track IARU Zones during the annual IARU contest,
as well as California counties in the state QSO party - CQP.  It could also be adapted to track CQ Zones, States/Provinces and ARRL sections (for Sweepstakes and FD events).

Another useful source of data for shaping our understanding of what propagation was like during a given time frame is the RBN (Reverse Beacon Network).  During radiosport events, I tailor CQ calls
on Cw and RTTY to insure the RBN systems include WQ6X amongst their system data.  Checking that data during the contest helps me determine where to position a yagi (or yagi-stack if I am using one), theoretically maximizing my listenership, just like a broadcast station does.

It often occurs to me that the RBN receivers easily decode my CQ's, and yet no "manned" stations were actually on that band, to actually work me. 

 Just the opposite also occurs - stations will call
in from one or more areas and yet, no RBN activity is reported in those areas.  

Actual propagation (versus theoretical propagation) is often very WEIRD.

Remember this: In the days of increasing SFI, sudden and massive solar storms can disrupt our geomagnetic ionosphere w/o notice. 

Then, for the next few hours, we transmit into a dramatically changed ionospheric refraction system.   It is this variable that often "levels the playing field"; sometimes locations which seem better geographically can actually end up overall "getting the worst of it", when it comes to Space-WX.  

This was actually quite evident during the 2022 ARRL 160-meter contest.  Stations on the East
coast and in the New England who usually experience a "pipeline" to Europe, came up short. 
Likewise, stations on the West coast who are used to an Asian pipeline were also disappointed. 
The disastrous effects of horrible space-WX don't discriminate - it's all just an atmospheric thing.

Before every contest event, it is useful to look back to the same event 1,2 and even 3 years
ago as a point of comparison to predict this year's likely performance.  Then again, these are just predictions - space-WX, operator participation and equipment performance can all have a dramatic impact on how our individual performance will actually turn out.

It is for ALL these reasons that I view radiosport contesting as training exercises for emergency preparedness.  Some of the BEST ways to learn about the REAL world, is to experience it all at
the level of a game - which ultimately is what radiosport contesting is about.

Do YOU ever review old logs and Blogs before a radio contest event?

What things have YOU learned?

WQ6X Survives another 160-meter (barely) dual-OP Operation

The first two contest weekends in December bring us a pair of single-band ARRL radiosport contests: beginning with 160-meters (this last weekend) and moving onto 10-meters (this coming weekend),
just in time to synchronize with what hopefully will be a rising Solar Flux Index (SFI) along with low space-WX disturbances.

For the 160 GiG, the solar flux was low, which, as I understand it, is supposed to auger in favor
of better 160-meter band conditions.  Unfortunately, signal-absorption was a HUGE problem. 
I've written about 160-meters being a world unto itself

• [X] - 160 METERS: A Whirrrl'd Unto Itself - Part 1
• [X] - 160 METERS: A Whirrrl'd Unto Itself - Part 2
• [X] - WQ6X Muses Wonderfully over the Wonderful Differences
            between 160 & 10 Meters
• [X] - WQ6X Walks a Weird ARRL 160 Contest (2021)

While this was a thorough test of remote access to our Anza station (WA6TQT), it was even
more a retread test-run of the original Stereo-Cw concept, which I have written so much about. 
([CLICK HERE] to see some of the relevant blog entries on this topic).

Band condition-wise, not only was propagation a fraction of what we experienced from last year,
per soapbox comments, this FACT was evident for virtually ALL of the multi-OP operations around
the country; so at least, we don't need to wonder what WE could've done better - overall it was the atmosphere, not our radio/antenna systems.  Running Single-OP as WQ6X, it was quite a struggle
to put a WHOPPING 31-QSOs into the log.

While the NX6T operation managed to snag 80 out of the 84 ARRL sections,
MY question is, where on EARTH were all the stations in W. Texas (WTX) section?

The remaining sections to work were all those illusive Canadians (NL, NT & PE).

DiD YOU work the ARRL-160 contest?

Is NX6T or WQ6X in YOUR LoG?

Maximizing the Art of Experimentation: Part 4: Equalizers Equalize Equally

I have said before that today's solid-state transceivers are so complex, the only thing we can
homebrew anymore are improvements to what Goes INTO the radio (by way of the antenna system) and what comes out at the audio-end: by way of audio enhancers (the MFJ-752 line) and DSP units (MFJ-784 for the Left-Ear and a cascaded JPS NIR-10 --> NIR-12 DSP units for the Right-Ear).

The next phase of this setup is to wire-in a multi-pole rotary switches supported by a set of toggle switches enabling the option of selecting:

1. QF-1A's In/Out of circuit, either BE-4 or AFTER the audio chain.
2. A reversible cascade arrangement of MFJ-752C --> MFJ-784 DSP.
3. An MFJ-752B reversible with a reversible NIR-10/NIR-12 DSP units.
4. Swap-able Left-Channel <---> Right-Channel, either BE-4 or After
   the audio chain.
5. EQUALIZER In-Line - Left-Switch and/or Right-Switch.
6. Momentary-Contact and PB switches in series ([MUTE]).

The MAIN focus of this blog entry is to re-examine the world of stereo audio equalizer units. 
While there are multi-dozens of equalizer variations, some BiG and some Small (tho most Bigger
than I would like) I stumbled onto an extremely compact Radio Shaft equalizer; arguably the BEST general-purpose equalizer ever made, with 15-bands of equalization for each channel (15 X 2 = 30).

Now depending on who to believe, the equalizer should either be inserted BE-4 the array of audio filters and DSP's, or, to clean things up AFTER all of the audio processing has been introduced its artifact(s).  You may remember the QST DR's answer to my question ([CLICK HERE]).  In fact, the
Dr. never really answered my question; choosing instead to educate me with background data from which to deduce the answer myself by understanding the fundamentals underlying my inquiry;
hence the need for a comprehensive audio switching arrangement.

There are custom equalization units designed specifically for amateur radio use. 
However, while they may be physically smaller, I have found the Radio Shaft unit to be more
flexible, more comprehensive, more aesthetically pleasing and physically more adaptable to
the operating environments I use it in.  With a electrical placement switch, it can be inserted
BE-4 or AFTER the stereo audio lines, or, bypassed altogether, giving an excellent point of
comparison.

What about YOU?

Do YOU make use of audio equalization?

How does it work for you?

WQ6X works another dual-OP CQ WW Contest

This CQ W.W. Cw contest seemed destined to be like the rest until a series of blue screens indirectly changed all that.  In preparation for writing this Blog entry, I tossed together another "Blast from the Past" Blog about this worldwide Cw contest.  ([CLICK HERE] to read that).

Until 2019, I normally ran the CQ WW Cw contest some variant of single-OP.  For this year, I put in
a request to run the CQ W.W. as QRP from our Anza location in Southern California, only to discover that Axel (KI6RRN) was set to run the site as SO2R remotely (from Alaska, no less).  Dennis (N6KI) gave me the go ahead to run from our newer setup in Ramona (not far from the Anza station "as the crow flies"), colloquially known as Cliffside.

 

I spent Thanksgiving daytime rewiring the stereo Cw audio.  While setting up the K3/0 for remote access a series of Windoze-7 "Blue Screens" made their presence, after which it was discovered
that the K3/0 no longer had internet access.  The plan was to resolve that problem on Friday afternoon in time for the contest's 00:00z (4pm in California) starting time.

 

In the "11th hour", N6KI texted me and said we should run a multi-single operation for a resounding 1st-place.  While that took me by surprise, all it really meant I need to change things around a bit.  What was to be a QRP operation w/ GooD location and antennas, became a QRP operation w/not-so-GooD location and antennas.  The way I run radiosport events is to make whatever radio setup
I have available into a successful operation nonetheless.

While other operators put NX6T on the air initially, Cliff (KN6NBT) took over the Windoze-7 system here to troubleshoot the sudden lack of remote access to the K3/0.  Somehow, the blue screens corrupted a network sharing setting, disrupting internet access.  With that fixed, a log was setup
on the N1MM+ software enabling WQ6X to run the CQ W.W. GiG as a QRP station.

I ran the 1am/2am shift on Saturday/Sunday mornings for NX6T, leaving me with most of the daytime hours for running QRP Dx for the first time; the previous two QRP runs were in domestic contests (CQP and Sweepstakes).  Similar to recent contest weekends, 10-meters has been THE band
from this location; so good that I ALMOST submitted the log as a Single-OP 10-meter entry. 
Both afternoons produced an opening to JA, not to mention South America.

While I ran frequencies throughout the weekend, to pickup multipliers, S&P was required. 
To make it thru some of the bigger pileups, timing was EVERYTHING.  Slipping in the WQ6X
callsign during a quiet moment on received a surprising reply.

During the middle of the night shifts from NX6T, Sunday morning brought in some intentional
RTTY QRM, right atop my calling frequency of 7012.12. Luckily, when I changed frequency,
it didn't follow me.  Listening on 7.039 heard both the "K" and "M" Russian military beacons
indicating clear openings to Asia.  Also notable was the AWOL (for months) "F" beacon. 
I've written about these beacons many times.  ([CLICK HERE] to read the latest in the series.)

To keep track of my results as the contest went on, I turned to the online scoreboard and the Reverse Beacon Network.  Not surprising, the RBN only listed a few spots for WQ6X.  Running 100-watts, the list of RBN spots is quite lengthy.  Nevertheless, the above screens made running a QRP operation more exciting.

When it was all over, it would seem that NX6T took 8th-place overall, 5th-place for USA and 1st-place for the W6 call area.  Similarly, WQ6X running QRP also took 8th-place overall, 4th-place for USA and 1st-place for W6 - GO Figure.

While the CQ W.W. weekend did not run as expected, it turned out to be an interesting challenge
and vindicated running QRP power even with marginal antennas and a marginal location.

DiD YOU run the CQ W.W. Cw Contest?

Is NX6T or WQ6X in YOUR LoG?

Toastmasters Leadership Training and Radiosport

(Note: This was actually written on 18-July 2022, re-discovered just after finishing the previous blog on this same subject.)

When I joined Toastmasters, it was all about [the] speaking and speaking improvement. 
When I began serious radiosport (around 1996), then, it was all about [the] operating
and discovering new/different events to be a part of contest operations.

In both activities, I put little attention on what it takes to run a multi-people event. 
Toastmastering a meeting as well as participating in and sponsoring a speech contest
presented me with a direct look at what it takes to put a contest together.  I have since chaired
many contest events and have been a competitor in every available event for the last 8 years
(excepting the ones, I have organized).

In radiosport, before 1996 I randomly played around in radiosport contests and routinely
joined the W6SW Field Day group, largely ass their 20-M Cw OP; altho I also found time
to run Ssb on the lower bands in the evening, after many of the operators headed for their
sleeping bags.  

In 1996, I began operating the November Sweepstakes GiGs from a portable setup I cobbled
together every year from the Ojai valley (the biggest difficulty being the QTH being located in
a valley).  Running a filter-less Kenwood TS-50 radio into a 22' high Alpha Delta DX-CC dipole,
the radio's front-end was constantly plagued by N6VR (directly above me atop the hill) with his
pair of FT-1000mp's amps and monstrous yagi-array.  (Ironically, years later, I eventually purchased
one of his FT-1000mp's and now run it as a backup rig in my Alameda setup.)

In 2000, I spent the next 4 years joining W6ML (W6KC, W6SW & W6JTP) as a multi-multi CQP Expedition operation from a cabin in Mammoth Lakes (MONO County).  It was with team-W6ML
that I received a taste of what happens behind-the-scenes of a multi-OP operation, helping set up radio stations and hang wire antennas from trees.  Years later, I joined up w/team-NX6T in Fallbrook (beginning with the 2009 Ssb Sweepstakes). Later, I began assisting with antenna work.  It wasn't until years later that Dennis (N6KI) would include me in team planning discussions.

Joining up w/N6GEO for 6 different CQP operations, we just naturally split up the duties required
to make each unique operation work.  I took on the organization tasks of registering a special event callsign, taking PiCs, submitting the CQP log and stats and writing up the results for this WQ6X Contest Blog.

When I joined up with the Amateur Radio Club of Alameda (ARCA), with each passing year,
I took on increasing responsibilities for organizing radiosport events, beginning w/CQP 2021 and
this year's K6QLF Field Day event near the beach in Alameda.  How DiD I learn all this?  I simply used the WB6ACU (Joe Walsh) method of acting like I know what I am doing, encouraging those around me to join me in making it all happen.

Some people prefer to organize events rather than be a part of the competition.  I love to compete, and am grateful for people who enjoy doing what it takes to make a tip-top operation possible, which makes it possible for me to focus on performance delivery, confident there will be no surprises, during any given operation.

Competitive events require participants as well as organizers.  Exposure to BOTH sides of the
activity adds to the excitement overall.  In BOTH radiosport and Toastmasters we learn leadership empirically.  Elmers (in radiosport) and Mentors (in Toastmasters) encourage us to figure it all out, furthering a game that has gone on for decades and will continue on for decades long after we are
all gone.

Have YOU ever been a part of organizing radiosport and/or Toastmasters events?

What lessons have YOU learned?

 

Some Thots on dual-OP'ing as QRP

I have mistakenly held the notion that a successful run QRP operation requires access to a super antenna system to make it work.  While having access to superstation antennas, such as the multi-antenna arrays found @WA6TQT in Anza truly DO make a QRP-station difference, it turns out, even the relatively simple antenna system in use at W7AYT's QTH can produce unbelievably satisfactory results.

Additionally, there is a myth that dialing back your transceiver power to 5-watts will allow you to tune the antenna w/o causing interference to other stations.  If you're looking to insure nobody hears you, then by definition, running a QRP operation is pointless, because remember, you want no one to hear you - Make up your mind.

I discovered this discovery while triple-OP'ing the recently held California QSO Party (CQP),
and a month later triple-OP'ing the November Sweepstakes Cw contest.  When you look at things from the DB (decibel) viewpoint, as I understand it, the difference between 5 watts and 100 watts
is approximately 13 dB, or about an only ~2 S-unit difference in signal strength. 

I guess on THAT basis I should not be so surprised to receive a call from OM2VL on 40-meters (@01:30z) while running only 5-watts.  For that QSO I was running a CH-250 vertical (with radials), which altho it may not be super-efficient, it produces such a low-angle of signal radiation that bopping into Europe (even on 5-watts) is I guess, a no-brainer.

With the current sunspot cycle moving into the upper realms, working the world on 5-watts becomes incredibly easy.  In 2014 when I was working stations as WP2/WQ6X, one afternoon while running an Ssb frequency (on 17-meters) I put out a listen specifically for any QRP stations and received a call from a station in North Caroling running 5-watts to an attic antenna in his condo.  While it is true that creating a clear frequency was necessary to allow the QSO to happen, that is simply proof that when running QRP, TIMING is everything.

For CQP 2022, I ran my 1st TRULY triple-OP operation, remoting in to NX6T from Anza (Riverside County) and running as K6Q at 100-watts from Contra Costa County, while interspersing those operations with running WQ6X at 5-watts.  Working OM2VL on 20-meters using an 8JK-Cobra
sloper (even with only 5 watts) is not really a BiG accomplishment.  However, working OM2VL
before sunset from the SF bay area using only the CH-250 vertical - THAT is an accomplishment.

The end result of this operation was not only a pair of 1st-place finishes for K6Q and WQ6X, both operations set a county record for Contra Costa County, with K6Q toppling the county record I set
as K6T back in 2016.  No county record had previously been set for QRP, hopefully giving WQ6X
yet another 1st-place win by default.

For the 2022 November Sweepstakes Cw GiG, the goal was to create another triple-OP by
joining NX6T remotely and running as W6Q @100-watts, while finding time to put WQ6X on
the air @5-watts.   Because CQP and Sweepstakes are largely domestic contest events, similar results should accrue.  While I had my sights set on setting 2-records for November Sweepstakes,
the QRP record was just missed, not because of a weak signal, but due to spending too much time running as W6Q at 100-watts; altho WQ6X DiD score a 1st-place for East Bay (EB) section.

The bottom line is that done carefully, running events at QRP power can indeed produce worldwide communications under the right band conditions and favorable space-WX.

Have you ever run a contest with QRP power?

How DiD it all turn out for you?