WQ6X Wangles a WEIRD Weird Prefix RTTY Contest

I guess there is a [number of] reasons they call it the "Weird Prefix Contest". 
The 2024 rendition of this classic RTTY GiG is the first of three WPX contests;
followed by the Ssb GiG ending March and the Cw event on Memorial Day weekend.

Even if I had wanted to, running HF radio from W7AYT's QTH was NoT possible, thanks to the
wind-toppled antenna mast the weekend before.  The plan for the 2024 WPX RTTY GiG was to
replicate the previous weekend's approach to the XE-RTTY contest.

For both WPX and XE RTTY GiGs, the K3/0-Mini ran the K3 radio remotely and robustly in Ramona, while the local N1MM+ software controlled the radio thru the Virtual Com1 port on the RRC-1258 unit (which interfaces to the internet).  By way of a USB-to-Serial-Port cable plugged into the COM1 front panel port, the local N1MM+ software can run the K3 (on the other end) as if it were sitting on the desk in front of me.  Direct radio control is essential in order to produce "perfect" RTTY.

Lack of a RTTY interface card in Ramona was EASILY resolved using a 20-year-old RigExpert PLUS unit to generate/decode the required AFSK RTTY tones, thru the RRC box to the audio circuits on the Ramona end of the circuit.  NoT understanding how to control the P-T-T from the computer, turning on the VOX created a FLAWLESS auto-keying mechanism.

When it was all over it would seem that WQ6X managed an overall 7th-place (world-wide) and 4th-place for the USA.

DiD YOU run the WPX RTTY Contest?

Is WQ6X in YOUR LoG?

WQ6X Weasels a Weird Multi-remote Radiosport Weekend

The final weekend of February brings us a number of disparate radio sport events.
The goal for this 5-contest weekend was to run the events using QRP power where practical.
While there were numerous other events that weekend, the WQ6X agenda included:

• [X] - CQ Worldwide 160-Meter Ssb Contest (QRP)
  
• [X] - North American QSO Party (NAQP) RTTY Contest (QRP)
• [X] - The South Carolina QSO Party (SCQP) on Saturday (QRP)
• [X] - The North Carolina QSO Party (NCQP) on Sunday (QRP)
• [X] - World Wide Patagonia DX Contest (LP)
  

Because one of the main goals was to run 160 meters, the choice was made to run all
the events from the WA6TQT superstation in Anza; STN-1 for 160-meters and STN-2
for NAQP and the QSO parties while WA6TQT runs STN-1.

Making the CQ-160 Ssb GiG work running QRP is a WaY different challenge than running QRP-Cw on 160-meters.  Internet dropouts on my remote end of the connection, make it even more tricky, altho pre-recording the 4 voice keyer memories helped navigate the internet-dropout situations. 
When it was all over, overall, I was satisfied with the whopping 13-QSOs that actually made
it to the CQ-160 log - that contribution to a 5-contest weekend was not unimportant.

After several hours sleep, it was time to upgrade the K3/0-Mini arrangement by including a very
classic RiGExpert PLUS to modulate AFSK RTTY tones into the microphone jack of the K3/0-Mini. 
Because we are running RTTY from the CLIENT-side of the internet connection, the remote radio
is CAT-controlled locally thru Virtual-Com1 port on the front of the RRC-1258 internet interface box.

While everything is controlled locally, it is crucial to realize that the radio we are controlling
requires 2 working internet connections, as well as properly functional hardware and software
on both ends.  While getting everything setup correctly can be tricky, once the components are
all in synch, it's almost as GooD as actually being in the Anza op-chair.

During the 1st-two hours of the NAP GiG, I couldn't find the radiosport "Zen place" I always
 endeavor to slip into.  In order to put some of the use op-time to effective use, the switch was
made to Cw, looking for SC stations in the South Carolina QSO Party - at least, I can say I was
there - on Sunday, we switch to hunting North Carolinians.

Eventually WQ6X found the radiosport-groove, running frequencies in 10m, 15m & 20m, with some judicious S&P hunting in between.  While sometimes difficult to hold a run frequency running QRP, once in the clear, calling stations dutifully lined-up for their chance to work the illusive WQ6X. 
Upper band condx. were not as plentiful as the previous WPX RTTY contest, returning
20-meters to its rightful status of being the PREMIERE RTTY band.

For 20 (and eventually) 40 meters, running stacked Yagi's pointing in different directions yielded
a lot of azimuth coverage.  To peak a signal, once the callsign is determined, a switch can be made
to the yagi-stack favoring that azimuth direction, on the basis that the transmit signal will also be slightly enhanced.  For 80-meters, a 4-Square phased vertical array give us N-W, N-E, S-E & S-W directions with a more-or-less 90-degree beam-width.  Gain as well as front-to-back is what you get when running four properly-phased ~66-foot vertical elements.  In phased configurations, previously-noisy vertical elements become even more lower-angle and extremely quiet (relatively speaking).

By the time I finally got into the groove of switching between 40 & 80 meters, we were down
to the final 15-minutes of the NAQP RTTY GiG.  (Many operators choose the final-2 contest
hours as their required 2-hour off-time period, resulting in a frustrating QSO-rate reduction.  

Shortly after the contest I met up w/ragchew friends on our regular 3.853 frequency as part
of our Monday-Thursday-Saturday meeting of the Redwood Radio Roundtable (w/100-ft trees
in all directions).   We welcome visitors to join us on any of those evenings 1030pm PDT.

Afterward the Roundtable, a quick run on 160-meters put less-than a handful of QSOs
in the log, effectively ending the CQ 160-Ssb contest for WQ6X.

After a lengthy sleep it was time to go hunting for NC (North Carolina) stations.  Because I tend
to run these events "assisted" (i.e. using internet spots), it is easier to find desirable QP stations,
altho incorrectly spotted stations are always an issue.  Regardless of the spots, it is up to actually correctly copying the callsign that eventually puts each station in the log.  Eventually, 32 QRP-QSOs made it into the WQ6X NCQP contest log.

What about YOU?  DiD YOU participate in any of the above radiosport events?

Is WQ6X in YOUR LoG?

BLASTS from the PAST: Stereo CW and it's many Variants.

It seems like DECADES ago that I published the 1st Blog on the [then] newly discovered (for me anyway) Stereo-CW concept.  Since then I have made a number of improvements to the filtering methods and even found ways to implement the "stereo" concept using Ssb and RTTY modes.  Sharing the concept with some amateurs on75-meters, it occurred to me that having easy access
to the various Blogs on these topics can make for useful research information.

• [X] - WQ6X SOUND PROCESSING: Stereo-CW - it's EASIER than You Think (Mar/2018)
• [X] - Some Further Thoughts regarding Stereo CW (Apr/2019)
• [X] - How Stereo-Cw becomes Stereo-Ssb (Mar/2021)
• [X] - Stereo-Cw: The Filters behind the Filtering (Sep 2021)
• [X] - Stereo-CW: Learning to Navigate PILE-Ups (Sep 2021)
• [X] - Stereo-CW: Enhancing Your FAVorite Radio receiver (Mar 2022)
• [X] - Stereo Cw: Advancing the Art of Equalization (Mar 2022)
• [X] - Stereo-RTTY: Is It Possible? (What can We Do with it?) (May 2022)
• [X] - Stereo-RTTY: How can We Leverage It? (May 2022)
• [X] - Stereo Ssb: It's STILL Easier than you Think (Oct 2022)
• [X] - Stereo-SSB: Turns out There's More To It (Dec 2022)
• [X] - Stereo-Ssb Revisited (Yet Again) (Mar 2023)
• [X] - Stereo-CW Revisited (Yet Again) (Apr 2023)
• [X] - STEREO Stereo-Cw: It All begins with a Concept (Aug 2023)
• [X] - For WQ6X: Stereo-SSB creates Quite a Saucy sensation
           for a Sensational Sweepstakes (Nov 2023)

If the above Blog entries are not enough to give you a bunch of things to THINGK about,
then I dunno what to tell ya'.  I'm still learning new things about the "Stereo" techniques.

GiViT a try and lemme know what YOU discover.

Reminicising RTTY Running Realistically

Back when running RTTY involved the use of clunky radioteletype machines, it all seemed
WaY too complicated for me to make that happen, leaving me to leave RTTY-running to others. 
Fast-forward the clock 40+ years, custom computer software simplifying the process considerably,
that even I can make it all work.

Essentially, I am indebted to George (N6GEO) for introducing me to the world of RTTY
radiosport events, way back in 2010.  Over the years, I have worked nearly all of the
available GiGs.  For me, the more popular RTTY GiGs include: 

• [X] - RTTY RU - The 1st radiosport event of the New Year.
• [X] - XE RTTY - Takes us into February RTTY Contests.
• [X] - WPX RTTY - Introduces fast-paced contesting operations.
• [X] - NAQP RTTY - Teaches RTTY & QSO Party principles.
• [X] - BARTG RTTY - Introduces a different exchange-style.
• [X] - SARTG RTTY - With THREE separate operating periods.
• [X] - MAKROTHEN RTTY - Introducing 8, 16 & 24-hour protocols.
• [X] - EA RTTY - a Classic Spanish RTTY GiG.
• [X] - IG RTTY - another Euro-centric RTTY GiG.
• [X] - SP-DX RTTY - another Euro-centric RTTY GiG
• [X] - VOLTA RTTY - a 24-hour Extravaganza.
• [X] - CQ W.W.  RTTY - a 48-hour Marathon.
• [X] - WAE RTTY - a training exercise in QTC traffic handling.
• [X] -OK DX RTTY - The final RTTY GiG of the year.

As you can see, there are 14 RTTY GiGs scheduled throughout the year.

Do YOU operate in any of the above RTTY contests?

Is WQ6X in any of YOUR LoGs?

WQ6X Works a Weird Dual-Remote ARRL Dx Contest

wOw!  What Can I SaY?

Every radiosport weekend I look for opportunities to run GiGs from multiple callsign entries. 
For the 2024 ARRL Dx Cw contest, I setup KN6NBT' Ramona station to run WQ6X @ QRP Power throughout the weekend.  Midway thru the event, I created a separate log for K6QLF (the Alameda club's callsign) and put 2-Dozen QSOs in that log during a demonstration of remote radio operating
for ARCA - The Amateur Radio Club of Alameda; later that afternoon, I added another 26-QSO's running the K3/0-Mini from my Alameda office.  This added a 2nd log to WQ6X's 3830 Contest
Score List.

Various (unfortunately necessary) logistics kept me out of the operator chair until finally @ 03:51z. 
WQ6X opened the Dx contest on 40-Meters.  Running QRP, at first it seemed that while Numerous EU stations could be heard in Ramona, they couldn't hear WQ6X's QRP Signal on the other end.  Approximately an hour into operating, EU Propagation became 2-WaY resulting in 87-QSOs in the
log by midnight before taking a 2-hour sleep break.  An early 40-Meter opening to JA made things interesting and then quickly fizzled.

At 10:24z (2am), I awoke to a beautiful JA and Asia PIPELINE.  WQ6X settled in on 7020.20
and added 42 QSOs to the LoG.  After another sleep break, 15-QSOs were added to the log
in 25 minutes, followed by one more sleep break.  

Before heading over to the Oakland Yacht harbor (in Alameda) to give the remote demonstration,
a check of the high bands was made, ensuring that the Stepp-IR yagi is still running as ToP-NoTch
as it always does. At first, 20-Meters was a frustrating exercise spent on 20-Meters with sporadic results, similar to Friday evening.  Switching to 15-Meters found the band quite lively. 
Eventually, 4-QSOs were added to the WQ6X LoG on 15-Meters.

Arriving at the Yacht Club and setting up, 15-meters was even MORE Alive , encouraging
K6QLF to not only put 24 QSOs in the K6QLF LoG, but also call "CQ Dx Test K6QLF - K6QLF". 
For the demonstration, I ran the power-level up to 95-w, giving the the Reverse Beacon Network
(RBN) statistics a chance to report on who was hearing our call from Ramona (Southern) California.

While making the drive to W7AYT's QTH in Concord, another ham put the station in receive-mode
to up his code-speed.  We hope to add him to the operating roster this year.  From Concord, the rest of the 48-hour ARRL Dx Contest running as WQ6X @QRP Power was when/where the action actually happened.

Saturday afternoon, arriving in Concord, the K3/0-Mini was configured into the famous WQ6X
Stereo-Cw filter configuration.  When running "Run" frequencies at QRP-power, using Stereo-Cw creates a near 145-degree aural-spatial listening experience.

Depending on the frequency settings of the individual QF-1A filters, higher-pitched signals can either manifest on the Left-side or Right side of the listening experience; tuning THRU a signal shifts it from one side of the listening experience to the other - almost as if the sound is actually travelling "through" your head.  (This BTW is how binaural-beats work.)

I purposely prefer using the N1MM+ logging software to run the radio(s) as it provides a FULL 12 function keys (F1 - F12) to auto-send an array of different operational messages.  Because things have become so WEIRD lately, function key 12 (F-12) has been configured to send "W E I R D". 
With the space characters it even SOUNDS weird when sent over the air, emphasizing the point.

A typical use of the F-12 ("Weird") key happens when a DX station calls CQ again and again. 
All along, I (and possibly others) call him with no reply.  After 3-calls, out of frustration I send his callsign followed by mine (Ex: DX1DX de WQ6X WQ6X).  When met with continued silence, I fill-in that silence with the F-12 Key.  Often, 10-seconds later he is back (blindly) calling CQ, even if I have now claimed the frequency with my OWN CQ.  Now, if he starts CQ'ing, either he is NoT listening before transmitting, he is otherwise inept, his receiver and/or antenna; Or, he just does NoT care.

In retrospect, it amazes me how quickly the actual DX Cw contest happened after having published
a BLAST from the PAST Blog Entry about the ARRL Dx Contests overall.  I will include this same link 
for the up-coming Blog write-up on the up-coming ARRL Ssb contest.

DiD YOU work the ARRL Dx CW Contest?

Is WQ6X in YOUR LoG?

WQ6X Wangles a Weird Dual-Remote Radiosport Weekend

February's 6-contest radiosport weekend was 180-degrees out of synch from start to finish.  The backdrop for it all were the winter rainstorms ravaging Northern and Southern California at different times and in different ways, with its attendant collateral damage.  Thursday evening power outages prevented proper testing the unique remote RTTY operation.  In alphabetical order, the weekend's activities included:

• [X] - The BCQP
• [X] - The EU Dx contest
• [X] - The MNQP
• [X] - The 4-hour CW Sprint Contest
• [X] - The 30-hour XE-RTTY contest.

Being the LAZY type, I often detest duplication of efforts, especially when
it comes to blog posting.  For this multi-contest weekend, it seems easier
to screen-shot the 3830 score submission soapbox comments and go from there.

DiD YOU work any of the above contests?

 

Is WQ6X in YOUR LoGs?

WQ6X Works a Weird Dual-Remote Radiosport WeeKend

The month of February opens with a number of quicky radiosport events, beginning with the
first of the QSO Parties for the year.  While hanging out at W7AYT's Concord QTH, I found time
to run most of the offerings.  The radiosport menu for that weekend included the following events:

• [X] - The British Columbia QSO Party (BCQP)
• [X] - The Minnesota QSO Party (MNQP)
• [X] - The Vermont QSO Party (VTQP)
• [X] - The EU Dx Contest (EUDX)
• [X] - The NA-Sprint (4-hour) CW GiG
• [X] - The XE-RTTY Contest

XYZZY

Being the LAZY sort.... sometimes I find it just as satisfying to use 3830-Score soapbox comments
to explain how everything actually turned out - after the fact.

So, there you have it - a FULL contest weekend, with a little-of-this and a little-of-that.

DiD YOU work the Feb. 3rd 6+ contest weekend?

Is WQ6X in YOUR LoG.