antenna systems, QRP power is NoT as BiG a handicap as you might at first expect.
This year I have already successfully run the RTTY RU and NAQP Cw events,
submitting relatively high-scoring logs in the S-O Assisted QRP categories.
Running Ssb contests running only 5-watts being w/it a unique set of challenges.
To be heard more clearly, I tend to run the radio's compression-levels higher than
I would running LP (there is no power amplifier in Ramona).
While the N1MM+software is capable of playing 12 .Wav files, the radio only has four voice
memories (usually controlled by the F1-CQ, F2-EXCHG, F3-TU & F4-CALLSIGN software
function keys). This leaves 8 function keys to play other .WAV files. Other logging programs
(such as DX-Log and WINTEST) give us two more function keys. For people who don't use
logging programs, I have been working on the WQ6X Voice-Player APP giving us 6 or 12
different .Wav file playouts in each Voice Player Group.
Fortunately, for the NAQP contests, we only send NAME and STATE (NoT even a 5-9 or 5-9-9)
which makes it easy to run the majority of the NAQP contest events with only four function keys.
We have been blessed recently with relatively disruption-free Space-WX. It continued thru the 06:00z (10pm) ending of the NAQP contest, with rain-induced atmospheric noise during the rest of Saturday evening.
From Ramona, it seems that 10-meters came alive from the beginning; only making it eastward
to Anza 30 minutes later. Reaching the 100-QSO mark on 10-meters (by 20:19z) - w/o Blinking,
I might add - it was time to make the slow trek down to 15 and 20 meters with a short stint on 40-meters, before wrapping up the 6-hours and putting in a 4-hour shift on STN-2 for NX6T.
the two hilltops is often quite dramatic during radiosport contests.
For NX6T, most of my operating time was spent running 20-meters while STN-1 kept 15-meters
open way beyond expectation. Eventually 20m frittered away, inducing the move down to an already explosive 40-meters. By way of stacked Yagi's and a 40m Stepp-IR, the Anza station is reasonably equipped. When 15m died for STN-1, I was relieved on 40-meters, sliding down to 75-meters, enjoying the instant band switching afforded by the onsite full-sized 4-Square Vertical Array.
Running volume QSOs N-E (with the stack) can be quickly transformed into picking off Caribbean multipliers by pointing S-E.
At 8pm (04:00z) back in the Ramona OP-chair, there was no 4-Square for 75-meters, only a 55' high Double Bazooka Inverted Vee. At least on 40-meters Ramona's 2-el Shorty-40 yagi can be rotated, with a noticeable increase/decrease in signal levels.
When it was all over, I GoT to sort out the STATs and submit the LoG. By Sundy afternoon, scanning the 3830 Score submissions, it was clear that NX6T made it to 7th-place overall (4th-place for USA)
in the Multi-2 LP category, while WQ6X''s 257 QSOs (33k points) accomplished a clearly-centered 2nd-place in the Single-OP Assisted QRP category.
What about YOU?
DiD YOU work the NAQP Ssb contest?
Is WQ6X or NX6T in YOUR LoG?
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