The Wiley Role of RTTY in the WQ6X World

It is no secret that I prefer Cw contests over Ssb; because we use Q-Codes, there really is
no language barrier.  With Cw, there are no "accents" to contend with; atmospheric noise has
a less-debilitating effect, compared to Ssb.  In the last dozen years (thanks largely to N6GEO),
I've been exposed to the Wiley world of RTTY.  

Of course, a fond RTTY memory is the DX-pedition with N6GEO to St. Croix, where
we took 1st-place (for DX) in the 2014 ARRL RTTY RU contest.  Back in January 2020
I wrote a Blast-from-the-Past Blog about the RTTY Roundup (RU) event. 
[CLICK HERE] to read that Blog.

RTTY requires a more complex hardware arrangement than Cw or Ssb, which is probably
off-putting to some would-be upcoming RTTY operators.  However, once a proper hardware configuration is established, RTTY operations actually prove to be far more effective as a communication mode than even Cw.

N6CY + N6ERD + WQ6X (running remote) in 2020 RTTY RU

When running remote operations, internet disruptions or poor latency can easily sideline a Cw
or Ssb contest operation.  However, because the RTTY signals are decoded at the remote site,
when the internet connection settles back down, the QSO information is still there in the RTTY decoder window on the remote computer screen.  With Ssb and Cw, when a signal is lost, it is
LOST - requiring a repeat transmission of the previously sent information.

Bottom line - RTTY has become an important part of my operating world.
JT-65, FT4 and FT-8 do nothing for me.  Outside of RTTY contests, I like the idea that I can
enjoy a LENGTHY typed-in QSO with another station, even tho some of the usual information
(Name, QTH, radio, etc.) is often sent using macro buttons defined on the decoder screen.

If YOU run RTTY, like I run RTTY, then WE can RTTY along.

Radiosport Contesting as EM-Comm Training - Part 2

As you know, I have written ad-nauseum regarding my contention that radiosport exercises, properly run, can serve as training for for Emergency Communication (EM-Comm) operations; in both cases, the goal is NoT only to get the message thru, but to transmit the information accurately. 
[Click Here] to see a WQ6X contest Blog search on this topic.

In a recent Contest Blog Post, I published an inane letter to RadioWorld's Reader's Forum and my reply to that letter.  K1OIK, a licensed radio amateur trashes an enterprise he claims to be an integral part of.  He claims that 99% of all radio amateurs have no involvement with emergency assistance. 
Is Mr. Fisher included in that 99%?

Fisher claims that we transmit worthless information during radiosport contests, yet fails to identify WHICH contest(s) he is referring to; each contest GiG being slightly different from the others.  If you visit K1OIK's QRZ.Com page, you will see that he is hardly involved in emergency communication.  The only thing of value display on that pages is his GRAVE STONE.

To TRASH the entire amateur community (correction, only 99% of us) because we are not as perfect as he claims to be, should NoT be an indictment on the Quality or Sincerity of our emergency preparedness efforts.  Nowhere does he demonstrate that HE is active in any kind of emergency communication operations.

He chides us for not having an emergency power generator like most broadcast stations.  Mr. Fisher's accusation fails to take into account that broadcast stations have thousands (if not millions) of dollars in operating budgets to purchase and maintain such equipment, whereas most amateurs can barely afford their equipment.  Additionally, his hypocritical QRZ page makes no indication that he actually possesses such a generator for his own operations.

However consider this: due to a lack of proper information, much of the public would more-or-less agree with his fake news - they want to believe so bad, they will believe anything.  Contesters: defend your contest operations.  Remind the rest of the amateur community there is actually
"a method to our madness".

I am proud to operate radiosport; onsite as well as remotely.

What about YOU?

10 METERS: A Whirrrl'd Unto Itself

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I recently published a Blog about 160-meters being a world unto itself.  While finishing that write-up,
in my mind, I began contrasting 160-meters (largely a nighttime band) with 10-meters, which this Blog entry is about.  Aside from Daytime vs. Nighttime, the two bands are worlds apart.  Paraphrasing Edgar Allen Poe "everything we see and seem is but a dream within a dream".

Tuning thru both bands, they may SEEM Dead, but only because everyone is listening an no one is transmitting.  Find a CLEAR Frequency and call CQ; you may be surprised at who actually returns your call.  During this years' RTTY RU and ARRL Dx Cw contests, pointing the antennas toward South America and calling CQ on a seemingly dead 10-meters brought a FLOOD of PY/PT/YV/HK/ZP stations to the Log.

With FT-2000 transceiver, there are 4 Voice Keyer memories to speak for you or send a CQ message on your behalf.  Contest operating software (such as WINTEST or N1MM+) can do the same thing and even repeat-loop until your press the escape key to escape out of the sequence.

In contrast to 160-meters with its 1/2 wavelength of 260 feet, a 1/2 wave on 10-meters is only
16.2 feet.  Needless to say, a -3element yagi on 10-meters is easy to achieve, whereas on 160, monstrous towers are required to accomplish anything close to the same thing.

While I go to bed with 80 & 160, I wake up to 15 & 10 meters.  During sunrise and sunset,
greyline opportunities become possible, fading away almost as quickly as it comes.

10-meters seems to exhibit a more-or-less North-to-South propagation characteristic. 
From my Northern and Southern California operating locations, it's not unusual for a plethora
of South American stations to pop in S9+ and then disappear just as quickly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having a 3-element Hy-Gain Long John yagi (at the Concord location) or rotatable stacked yagi
arrays (@WA6TQT in Anza) allows me to slowly "sweep the sky"; rotating the yagi(s), calling CQ, rotating another +/- 30-45 degrees and calling CQ again.  When I run out of South American stations, a further clockwise antenna rotation can result in a "skip across the pond" to Hawaii, New Zealand, and Australia.

As the solar flux continues to increase, 10-meters will remain open later in the day.  I fondly remember a Field Day event (the first event for W6SW atop Mt Able in South California), another operator (Peter) and I kept 10-meter Cw and Ssb (on alternate hours) alive, running frequencies
until well after 11:30pm (local time) when the band finally "went long" and faded into oblivion.

With the Solar Flux currently at 156 during recent days, I have high-hopes for a dramatic improvement
in 10-meter operating performance over coming weeks and the next few years, before we then begin
the inevitable sunspot cycle decline once again.

Do YOU every play around on 10-meters?

What anomalies have YOU encountered?

Stereo Cw: Advancing the Art of Equalization

I've written numerous Blogs on the concept of Stereo-Cw and Stereo-Ssb.  The original 73-Magazine concept used fixed-value R/C circuits to accomplish the split-ear technique.  I transformed this idea into a variable frequency approach using a pair of Autek QF-1A analog IC-audio filters; a more expensive, yet more readily flexible approach.

Another advantage to using the QF-1A's for stereo-CW is the built-in Aux. Notch Filter in addition
to the PEAK/LP filter circuits.  This is useful when I have an array of callers "spaced around" my listening Experience, with one Tuneup-Turkey (IDIOT) in the middle of it all.  The QF-1A's Aux.
Notch filter can eliminate the Turkey w/o affecting the Stereo-Cw balance.

While equalizers can do the same thing (on multiple frequencies even), using a single knob to
"swoop in" and notch an offending carrier is more effective.  With BOTH Autek QF-1A's and the equalizer inline, the equalizer can clean up the filter artifacts, while the notch filter knocks out
the Tuneup-Turkeys.

While writing Part-4 of the blog series on Mastering the Art of Experimentation, it occurred to me
that we can accomplish the Stereo-Cw/Ssb idea thru the use of a multi-band stereo equalizer unit.  Because it is so compact (as equalizer units go), I prefer the Radio Shaft 32-2059 15-band/ch unit.

Essentially, the Stereo-Cw method involves splitting the audio stream into 2 channels tuned above and below a center frequency (usually around 1000hz).  In general, lower-pitched signals appear
on one side of the listening Experience, while higher-pitched signals gravitate to the opposite side.

A downside of cascading several units on each channel is the possibility of so-called ground-loops between the units introducing all manner of hum artifacts in each channel.  Then again, by cascading the stereo equalizer AFTER all the filter units, individual artifact sounds can be effectively NOTCHED out by the individual frequency slider knobs related to that artifact signal.

Another advantage to introducing a stereo equalizer is that it gives me 30 more knobs to slide
around - you KNOW how I love to diddle knobs.

What about you? 
Have YOU ever utilized a stereo equalizer in your amateur radio setup?
How DiD it turn out?

What Makes RTTY Different?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Throughout most of my "career" as a radiosport contester, I've focused mainly on Cw contests,
w/Ssb (and mixed) GiGs thrown in about 25% of the time.  Initially, RTTY never figured into my operations, largely because I lacked the proper hardware configuration(s) to make it all happen.  Aligning w/N6GEO (George) in 2010 quickly found me immersed in the RTTY (and to a lesser extent digital) world.  George has run many different RTTY operations over the years; both FSK and AFSK.

 

 

 

 

The secret to running RTTY contests successfully is a stable hardware configuration in conjunction with accurate character decoding; nothing is worse than RTTY hardware/software not properly synchronized.  When everything IS in order, I find RTTY contests to be very relaxing affairs. 
My WQ6X operations are conducted using tone frequencies around 900-hz.  While the RTTY
decoder ICON helps tune signals precisely, most of the time near-perfect copy can be attained audibly.  (I know people who claim they can read the RTTY tones, like one copies Cw - I can
ALMOST do that.)

Running RTTY remotely, perfect copy can be obtained even tho there are repeated dropouts in the internet signal.  Because all RTTY keying and decoding is performed on the remote end, the decoded text is still on the remote decoder screen when the connection resumes a second or two later.  With Cw/Ssb the information is lost, requiring a repeat of the information exchange.  Running Ssb remotely requires a pristine internet connection at all times, unless all phrases are spoken by way of Macros and/or .WAV/.MP3 files on the remote end.

Depending upon the transmitting hardware in use, running full-power full-duty RTTY may not be effectively possible.  With my ICOM 7000 backup radio, running the radio over 50-watts on RTTY makes the radio so HoT, you can [literally] fry an egg on top of the unit.  The previous ICOM-706,
got HoT at 50-watts; powering down to 30 watts was recommended.

When N6GEO and I ran the 2014 RTTY RU event as WP2/WQ6X (taking 1st-place for Dx), we ran
a 5-watt Flex-1500 mini-transceiver into a Tokyo Hy-Power HL-45B to about 42 watts, enough to drive a Alpha 89 amplifier to 149.49 watts.  150-watts was the Low Power (LP) limit in those days; today it is 100-watts max for low power.  Contrast that with the FT-2000 and FT-1000mp transceivers currently in use for WQ6X @W7AYT.  Both radios can run 100-watt full-duty - NO PROBLEM.

The current radio setup for WQ6X utilizes an AWEsome FT-2000, and excellent step up from the
now sidelined FT-1000mp.  When I get the hang of SO2-R, I may well give the two radio a try. 
Meanwhile, the FT-2000 into the Stereo-Cw setup is giving me new knobs to twiddle.

What about YOU?

Do you enjoy participating in RTTY radiosport GiGs?

If NoT.... you are truly missing out.

WQ6X Works another Wonky Weird Prefix (Ssb) Contest

This last weekend's WPX Ssb GiG certainly fit the definition of ad-HOC (whatever THAT is). 
Team-NX6T was unable to cobble together enough committed operators willing to GOPHER
It; I guess they're saving their energy for upcoming JIDX Cw contest mid-April.  With no remote operation happening from Anza, I took the opportunity to experiment throughout the weekend with
the various nuances of running the Yaesu FT-2000 in an Ssb radiosport contest.

I recently learned how to configure the N1MM+ software to trigger the voice keyer memories built-in
to the FT-2000.  The problem is was, only 5-seconds of the recording is actually maintained in each
V-Key memory (the operating manual promises 20-seconds).  For CQ'ing, I could either play a .WAV file from the PC or make the CQ  call <5 seconds in length (the voice keyer recordings) and have better audio quality, with a HEAVIER punch to it.

Band conditions all weekend were rather noisy and in my mind overall poor, giving me opportunities
to "catch up" on some sleep.  Saturday morning found us with a last-minute speaker cancellation
for the Amateur Radio Club of Alameda (ARCA) monthly meeting.  As club president I filled in the speaking slot with an ad-HOC presentation on why I feel radiosport activities qualify as emergency preparedness exercises.  (I guess my Toastmasters involved has really paid off.).

For background information, I referred to previous contest Blog posts on the subject:

1. [X] - Are Radiosport contests REALLY Emergency Preparedness exercises?
   
2. [X] - CQP as EM-Comm Training
   
3. [X] - NAQP: 10 Fantastic Hours of EM-Comm Training
4. [X] - General PREP for Radiosport
   
5. [X] - WQ6X Blog SEARCH: Emergency
   

With the presentation behind me, I proceeded to engage in my own emergency preparedness
training exercise.  Being a weird prefix contest, WQ6X should've been highly sought after.  In fact, only 20% of my CQ calls yielded any calling stations, even tho my signal was reportedly reasonably STRONG.  Most of the stations I called were openly grateful for WQ6 as a new prefix; other than WQ6I, there were no other WQ6 callsigns.

 

While I had high hopes for 10-meters this weekend, overall, that was NoT to be.  Having a rotatable yagi is of little use when atmospheric noise levels are a quiet, yet persistent plague throughout the entire weekend.  

 

In addition, a not-insignificant batch of impulse noise filled the area.   Fortunately, the FT-2000
digital noise blanker easily removed it; something the old FT-1000mp's analog blanker could never accomplish.  Then again, the FT-2000's Digital Noise Reduction (DNR) circuits helped considerably
to make the atmospheric noise more bearable

 

Some of my favorite weird prefix calls this weekend included:

4A7A, W0MB, PJ4K, VP5P, TO3Z, PJ2T, ZZ7A, V47T, D4Z, NP4IW/KN6, WI0WA, KD2RD,
FM5BH, V31XX, AD5XD, K2SSS, XQ1KN and KP2M (Radio Reef, where we ran as WP2/WQ6X
to win the 2014 RTTY RU contest).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DiD YOU work the CQ WPX Ssb contest?

Is WQ6X in YOUR LoG?

WQ6X Runs an NAQP 160 SC RTTY Contest

The last weekend in February was one of those oddly configured radiosport contest weekends. 
It began w/the CQ-160 contest, enveloped the almost non-existent SCQP GiG, and onto the 12-hour NAQP RTTY event.  Any NCQP activity (if any) was never heard and certainly never made it to the spotting nets, or I would've gone looking for the spotted stations.

Arriving @W7AYT's QTH in Concord at 02:00z, the 160 GiG was already well in progress, altho looking in on NX6T operations in Anza, I could see that it was a slow-GO (and would be that way throughout the weekend).  Tuning the FT-2000 to the 8JK Cobra array didn't "feel right"; the power meter needle of the MFJ-949E tuner was banging against the pin, even tho the SWR could be tuned
out FLAT (1:1).

Despite a perfect match, no one (not even the locals) could hear WQ6X on 160, even tho many contacts were made on 160 during the recent CW 160 contest.  The onsite cheesy CH-250 vertical often radiates on 160, not this weekend, however.  After making 1 QSO I shut things down for sleep prior to my usual 2am to 5am remote-OP shift w/NX6T.

New antenna control software is being Beta-tested @WA6TQT requiring Dennis (N6KI) to give
me a briefing on how to bring the program back up should it crash or disappear.  Typical of beta
test software, the shortcut key enhancements (recently added to the software) DiD NoT work (at
least NoT for me, anyway) so I ignored all of that and did the best I could w/the S-E leg of the 160
tri-Square array not functioning; I guess we could call it a BI-Square, capable of N-E and due-West.  After 2.5 hours of OP-time, QSOs #114 to 144 made it to the log.  It wasn't until N6ERD relieved me that JA & UA0 made it to the log.

After a few hours' sleep I joined the ARCA radio club's online meeting; a presentation about
J-Pole antennas for VHF.  By the time the meeting concluded the SCQP was allegedly happening
and the NAQP RTTY was an hour into operation.  Being allowed on 10 operating hours in the NAQP, 1 off-hour was already behind me.

It's a shame that I get to spend such little time
on 10-meters, considering there is a Hy-Gain
3-element yagi (8.5 dbd) mounted at the EXACT correct height for a 10-meter yagi.  A recently  added azimuth world map (installed behind the clear plastic cover with compass-degree markings) gives pointing
at the intended area of the world a more intuitive feel.  This allowed me to start the NAQP on 10-meters and work our way down, which in fact happened.

For over 2 hours WQ6X called CQ NAQP, pointing the antenna to different quadrants: N-E, N, E, S-E, S-W, S-E and then back to N-E.  As a result, 87 QSOs ended up in the 10-meter log, what turned out to be the highest band-total of all 5 RTTY contest bands.  Suddenly 10-meters went quiet, necessitating a move down to 15-meters which was already on the way out;
altho JG7PSJ made it into the log before Asia faded into propagation oblivion.

 

"Back in the day", 20-meters used to be THE RTTY band; this year brought back some of that
action.  40-meters has been the substitute for 20-meters; this year being more-or-less a toss-up. 
On 20-meters during a RTTY contest, stations can be found as high in frequency as 14.140; on 40,
I worked stations on frequencies as high as 7.122.  

80-meters as always, turns out to be another BiG disappointment.  For those of us on the Waste Coast, by the time 80-meters REALLY opens to the East coast, it's often past their 11pm QRT
and bedtime - Bummer DewD.

 

 

 

 

 

When it was all over, as much as I enjoyed the weekend, I was GLAD it was Over.

DiD YOU work 160-meters or play in the NAQP RTTY Contest?

Is NX6T or WQ6X in YOUR Log?

Waxing philosophical about Weird Prefix

(This was written on Friday, March 25th enroute to Alameda prior to the WPX contest.)
We are but hours away from commencement of yet another WPX (Weird Prefix) Ssb radiosport contest.  Sometime ago I wrote a Blast from the Past blog regarding this early spring event. 
As you may know I am NoT a big fan of single-sideband contests; especially worldwide affairs. 
While I can copy weird Cw w/o much difficulty, foreign accents often drive me bonkers - give me
Cw or RTTY GiGs, any day.

One of the CooL things about all 3 WPX contests (RTTY, Cw & Ssb) is the [so-called] weird prefixes that make their appearance; many created specifically for a given WPX contest.  Often I am surprised to note that these prefixes are actually within the IARU callsign allocations.  I like that WPX is a 48-hour GiG, offering me the opportunity to operate BOTH as NX6T and WQ6X, from which I get TWO weird prefix  operations from ONE operator and TWO contest entries for the 3830 Scores listing. 
As it turns out, for 2022, NX6T will not be making an appearance, giving me all 48 hours to run
WQ6X as I please.

When I review the WPX events from 2011 - 2013, I can hope for similar band openings to
those years back in Solar Cycle 24 during this year's event.  As the Solar Flux (SFI) increases,
we [hopefully] gain 10 & 15 meter band openings which mean a not-insignificant increase in repeat QSOs on multiple bands (multipliers happen only ONCE per weird prefix).   WPX GiGs produce the highest [multi-million] raw point scores of any major radiosport contest that I am aware of.

This WPX contest will be the first time I run WQ6X using FT-2000 with split-receive audio. 
The built-in voice keyer alone shall make a HUGE difference in how crisp things run.

What about YOU?

Do You ever participate in the Weird Prefix Ssb contest?

If you have a Weird Prefix - we NEED you!
GO FOR IT!

WQ6X FAKES another March multi-Contest Weekend

This last weekend was one of those ad-HOC seat-of-the-pants radiosport weekends, where technically, I had no real CLUE where I was headed throughout the weekend - I was just playing around, trying things out.  I've written ad-nauseum regarding the importance of reading the rules
before EVERY radiosport contest as they are all more-or-less different.  I shoulda re-read my
own Sept. 2020 Blog about reading the rules first.  ([CLICK HERE] to read that piece)

For the BARTG GiG, I failed to note the contest starting time as 02:00z (2 hours past the 00:00z
time applicable to so many radiosport events).  Arriving in Concord at 7:30pm (02:30z), I thought
I had missed the 15m/10m band openings at 00:00z; when in fact, the contest hadn't even started yet.  Conversely, thinking the contest was over at 5pm on Sunday, I turned down the radio and enjoyed a nearly 2-hour nap, awaking just in time to hear the final calling stations @01:55z.

Also this last weekend, the Russian DX contest (Cw & Ssb) began @12:00z; for whatever reason, participation was [not-surprisingly] significantly down from the event held last year (and before) at this time.  The VA QSO party was also happening during the weekend, with only a handful of VA stations hearable from the Concord location; in retrospect, I shoulda remoted in to the Anza station (WA6TQT) for better access to the east coast.  Of course as I always say: "Maybe next Year".

With the rapidly declining Solar Flux Index (SFI) during the weekend (down to 94), 10-meters
was all but a no-show.  Calling CQ while sweeping the Long John yagi produced only 2 calling stations - Bummer Dewd!

Friday and Saturday evenings were amazingly lacking in BARTG activity.  Asian stations on
40-meters were astonishingly absent; strange when you consider that the Russian "K" and "M" beacons could be heard in the SF East Bay by 06:00z.  Seeing how the E-Coasters had all gone
to bed by this time, it made sense for me to sleep as well, returning to 40-meters around 10:00z,
in time to work the rare couple of Asian stations and the E-Coasters just waking up.

While propagation to Europe was generally POOR, noticeably missing were Russian stations,
altho a handful of R0 & UA0 stations made it into the logs.  Because of the war situation in Ukraine, the BARTG rules page sported the following disclaimer:

Amateur radio is, by tradition, non-political.
However, the recent actions of the Russian Federation and
their military have made it impossible to maintain this position.

Hence, in line with the action taken by other amateur
radio organisation, for contests administered by BARTG and
until further notice, all contest logs received from stations in
the Russian Federation or Belarus will be treated as check logs.

Note that ALL stations are allowed to participate, altho their logs will not be considered for operating awards.  The war situation may also explain the lack of European participation in the Russian DX contest.

While it is rare that political situations invade radiosport activities, remember that 2 weekends back the Ukrainian RTTY contest was CANCELLED completely; I guess they had more pressing matters to deal with than looking for multipliers in a radiosport competition.  While we may have issues with our elected officials, at LEAST, we're not being BOMBed everyday; altho some people DO get Bombed on a regular basis.

Overall, while I accomplished significantly little this last radiosport weekend, it was a perfect weekend (overall).  I enjoyed 2 days away from my Alameda office and got to play around with the FT-2000 and the latest incarnation of the WQ6X Stereo Cw filter arrangement.  

My confused operation last weekend reflects the rampant political confusion happening all around the world.  Somehow, radiosport events keep on happening; we dance and twist or operations around all the nonsense.

REMEMBER: Radiosport is Emergency Preparedness.
We will be communication-ready in the event that "they" screw something up.

What about YOU?
Do YOU still engage in radiosport events?

If NoT, WHY KnoT?

Stereo-CW: Enhancing Your FAVorite Radio receiver

I've written numerous BLOG Entries on the topic of (and variations on) Stereo-Cw.  Last year I wrote
a little piece describing the filters BEHIND the Stereo-Cw technique ([CLICK HERE] to read that.)  Recently, it occurred to me that many readers may have concluded that because I am running
Stereo-Cw using high-end Yaesu transceivers (an FT-1000mp and an FT-2000), a super-duper
radio is necessary to enjoy the merits of this method.

Because the Stereo-Cw  method is accomplished using external audio filter units, in fact, virtually ANY receiver (even a 2-tube regenerative receiver) can benefit by sending it's audio output to these filters.  Then again, receivers with better selectivity will keep adjacent-channel QRM (essentially artifact) out of the input to the separate filters that split the audio into the Left and Right ear. 
Stereo-Cw would seem to deliver its BEST performance when the input filters get their audio
AFTER all IF / AF selectivity circuits have "shaped" the listening passband.

Then again, the PEAK function built into filters like the Autek QF-1 can bring a modicum of selectivity to less-expensive/older receiving equipment (similar to the way that the Heathkit QF-1 brought selectivity to the I-F of cheaply-designed Sw receivers).

Because Stereo-Cw is accomplished simply by splitting and shaping the audio passband, for me,
a question arises about Pre/Post equalization of the audio.  It may be prudent to put an equalizer BEFORE the stereo-Cw facility.  The equalizer can be adjusted to eliminate specific frequencies
in the passband before they get "mixed" with the input audio (resulting in audio-artifact). 
Essentially, an equalizer is a multi-frequency NOTCH Filter, useful for receivers w/o one.

Putting a dual-channel equalizer on the output enables us to do a final cleanup of the audio before it reaches our ears.  My equalizer of choice is the Radio Shack 32-2059 unit, a Dual 15 Band unit that offers full spectrum audio enhancement.  It is an amazingly inexpensive low-profile unit that is quite aesthetically attractive; the position-able sliders provide an at-a-glance graphical representation of
the audio passband.

While upgrading to better receiving equipment is AN answer to our receive WOAHs, a properly designed Stereo-Cw system can be switched to the output of virtually any receiver or transceiver.  When properly adjusted, every receiver circuit including SDR (Software Defined Receiver) units
can be taken to the next level.

In my station configuration, a downside to using the JPS NIR Dsp units in the right channel audio
is that a 130ms delay is introduced which can result in a sort of Left-to-Right "echo" effect.  Using 1990's Dsp chip technology, the 130ms delay is a feature that can't be remedied.  It would therefore seem that the operational answer is to add a switchable time-delay circuit to the left channel which matches the already existing delay in the right channel.

Stay Tuned while I look into adding this design to the interface cabling currently in use.

I guess it all comes down to Experimentation.  Stereo-Cw began as an on-going experiment.

What about YOU?  What audio experimentation have you played around with?

WQ6X Wangles a Wild 7 (make that 6) Contest Weekend

While wrapping things up at my office in Alameda, I took a look at the WA7BNM Contest Calendar and noticed that there are seven (7) radiosport contest GiGs happening this weekend, beginning with the SA-10 contest, the SP-160 GiG, the Tesla Memorial Cw contest, and the 4-hour NA Sprint RTTY GiG; along with OKQP, IDQP and WIQP state QSO parties.  wOw!

Also on the calendar was the YB Dx RTTY contest.  Every year, I look for it and can't find it. 
Maybe it's like Sweepstakes for Indonesians - a domestic (and only domestically heard) contest event.  The same thing happened with the Tesla Memorial contest.  No one ever seems to show
up for the Tesla GiG. Last year, WQ6X actually put a [shocking] 15 QSOs in the log for that event.

On Tuesday (Mar 8) I whimsically pieced together a plan for how this last weekend should, radiosport-wise.  While the main contest elements were present, a number of external factors "conspired" to give me an intellectually - challenged radiosport workout.  For openers, littered throughout the weekend were a number of disparate (but nonetheless frustrating) solar storms; the worst was saved for last, AFTER the contest weekend events were behind us.

Receiving operating approval to run STN-2 @ the WA6TQT Super-site didn't come thru until NooN
on Saturday.  While I would have like to run low power into the 10-meter yagi stacks there, instead, WQ6X run the SA-10 contest live from W7AYT's QTH in Concord.  For 160 later, I was more-or-less all set.

With a Solar Flux Index (SFI) of around 123, 10-meters was certainly open.  The SA-10 GiG being
a South American based contest, the 3-element Long John yagi was pointed Southeast (S/E) most
of the time.  While calling CQ, I would occasionally sweep the yagi due north to grab the (0-point) Zone multipliers.  Running assisted found spots for VK/ZL/KH6 on the bandmap; sweeping the yagi
to the Southwest picked them up quite easily.  Somehow, they popped just above the atmospheric noise created by one of the weekend's solar storms.

In the SA-10 contest SA prefix multipliers are important, as are the zone multipliers from countries around the world.  A lot of those stations don't seem to call CQ so running a frequency is the only
way to pick them up.  While the main focus was the SA-10 GiG, in the daytime I tuned around
looking for calls in the Tesla memorial contest (TMC) - there were none; at least not in W6, or even throughout the USA.  TMC quickly lost my focus, altho I listen to every station as I tune thru them.  The BiG disappointment on Saturday were the QSO parties (altho the OKQP & WIQP parties were reasonably active Sunday afternoon).

The NA Sprint RTTY contest began @23:00z.  Because no one was up to joining me on an SCCC team, I used the 1st hour of the Sprint time to complete the SA-10 contest, knowing that 10-meters will likely be over for the day.  In place of 10-meters of course, the next stop was a move down to the Stew Perry SP-160 contest after the Sprint GiG was over.

I was originally considering running the 160 contest as a Low Power (LP) entry.  At the last minute
the decision was made to run 1400 watts instead.  With the Space-WX things the way they were,
in retrospect it was the correct decision.

After all the radiosport events were safely completed, we were presented with yet another
solar storm.  It didn't seem to have much impact on 75-meter operations Sunday evening,
altho later it DiD put a damper on my usual late-evening shortwave listening period - Bummer Dewd!

Overall, this radiosport weekend put 5 contests on the 3830 list for WQ6X.  Considering all the variables to contend with, I am amazed it was possible to make them all happen during the weekend.

What about YOU?

DiD YOU work any radiosport GiGs last weekend?

Is WQ6X in YOUR Log?

WQ6X Squeezes in Another ARRL Dx Ssb Contest GiG

This last weekend was "Touch and Go" regarding the ARRL Dx Phone Contest.  In years past,
I have run the DX contest events solo, even once remotely from Stateline Nevada.  This year thinking nobody would mind, N6KI gave me the go-ahead to single-OP the Dx contest if nobody else wanted to operate.  A group email from Dennis elicited several thumbs-UP responses to operate as a team and VOILA! - we had a 5-person remote operating team to run as a Multi-OP Single-Transmitter (Multi-Single) event.

Over the weekend, various time commitments required careful orchestrations in order to make it all work.  A side-glancing solar storm hit add noise disruptions midway thru the contest.  When I multi-OP with NX6T, I usually operate the "dinner shift" (7 to 10pm) and the 2am to whenever in the middle of the night.  For this GiG I ran 5 to 8pm on Saturday and the 10am to 1pm shift both days, giving me OP-time on the high bands as well as the low bands in the evening.

After insuring the FT-2000 was Ssb contest ready
(a set of DVK message were recorded, negating the need for making a custom set of .Wav/.MP3 files), a handful of QSOs were made on 20 before
it closed and then on down to 40.  Getting sleep for the 2am shift was more important than putting
1/2-dozen QSOs into
the WQ6X log.

 

At the WA6TQT site a
new pair of antenna control screens is being BETA-tested; we were the test guppies this weekend. 

 

 

Unlike last weekend, no software malfunctions occurred (at least NoT on my shifts).   As a software developer, while I might have designed the screens a bit differently, at least the operating features were (more-or-less) consistent across both screens.  The biggest "stumble" was remembering
which screen (the antenna APPs or WINTEST itself) actually had focus.  

 

The REAL test occurred around NOON on Saturday when in the middle of running a frequency and 10-meters,
the yagi stack developed an infinite SWR problem, necessitating a move down to 15-meters, picking up where
I left off.  Someone onsite resolved
the problem rather quickly, altho by
then my noon-time shift was over. 
All of the yagi stacks were back in operation just in time for a mid-level solar storm to flare-UP.  

 

Propagation per-se' was not affected by the storm, however noise-levels noticeably increased.

The BiG surprise this weekend was 10 and 15 .  Having a perfect-height 3-element Long John yagi
in Concord has given me all manner of excuses to meters to spend considerable time on 10-meters.  For NX6T, 10-meters delivered lengthy openings to South America, JA and Oceania.  Running as WQ6X, 10-meters produced more QSOs than any other single band.  Both stations experienced
a noticeable drop in 20-meter QSOs over previous year - with an increasing SFI, GO Figure.

In addition to the "NR" issue, I have a number of other BEEFs related to this contest event, beginning with I will call the "language barrier".  Like international aircraft communications, amateur radiosport contests are largely conducting using smatterings of the English language.  Because of all this,
it behooves ALL non English-speaking operators to PRACTICE speaking the various phrases
necessary to communicate at LEAST their callsign (say it SLOW-ly) and a correct contest
exchange (again, say it SLOW-ly).

Along those lines, in a VOICE-based contest,
it is ESSENTIAL to be EXACTLY on frequency. 
While I have a Clarifier control built into the radio,
I should only RARELY have to use it; you save us
ALL not-insignificant amounts of time if I DON'T
have to tune you in. 

Asian stations in particular seem to be notoriously
off-frequency.  With their Asian accent, when they
are High in frequency (on LSB) or Low in frequency
(on USB), their voice sounds MUFFLED, making intelligibility nearly impossible.

The REAL answer is NoT for me to tune you in,
the REAL answer is for you to be ON FREQUENCY every time.  I wrote up this BEEF several years ago.

For some weird reason during BOTH the NX6T and WQ6X operations the "6" in the callsign was frequently being heard as a "3".  Now in my Experience, in no way does a "3" sound like "6" or "6" sound like a "3".  This problem required me to repeat "6 Tango - 6 Tango" (or "6 X-Ray - 6 X-Ray") "California, Charlie Alpha". Right there I have also given my state, and yet, they still ask for my "NR".  HuH?  Either they are really NoT listening, or, they don't understand English (or they're DRUNK).

To reduce my frustration-level regarding the above points, I remind myself that radiosport GiGs
are actually training exercises. Running Dual-OP from Concord offers the opportunity to give the modest antenna setup in Concord a good run.  The 8JK Cobra dipole array seems to tune most bands reasonably well.  Until recently, I have not been very happy with the signal levels when
using the Cobra array.  About a month ago, rechecking the feed wires to the termination resistors,
I must have jiggled something (in a good way) as I'm now receiving significantly better signal reports.

When it was all over with, it would seem that NX6T took 10th place overall, 7th place for USA, 2nd place for the Southwest, and 1st place for California; NoT bad for just screwing around.  WQ6X did
not qualify for anything other than a pat on the back for having showed up on the air at all.

DiD YOU work the 2022 ARRL Dx contest?

Is NX6T or WQ6X in YOUR Log?