WQ6X SQUEAKs Thru another NAQP RTTY Contest

Rather than play the remote QRP game, this year's July NAQP RTTY GiG was run Low Power
to test the new antenna system at W7AYT's QTH.  It also provided the opportunity to re-evaluate
the Stereo-RTTY method, recently written up in a recent Blog ([CLICK HERE] to read that).

While both goals were accomplished, despite super-fine Space-WX conditions, signal-levels
were extremely POOR throughout the 12 hours of the NAQP RTTY GiG.

For Single-OP operations, we are limited to operating only 10 out of the 12 contest hours,
raising the question of which two hours to NoT be transmitting (off times must be 30+ minutes). 
From this, four different approaches come to mind:

• Start at 20:00z (1pm PDT) and run the contest all the way thru, ending @06:00z.
• Start EXACTLY at 18:00z (11am PDT), eventually ending operations at 04:00z (9pm PDT).
• Begin @19:00z (NooN PDT) and end at 05:00z (10pm PDT).
• Some combination of the above, converting a slow-rate operating period into a 30-minute off-period, should we go more than 15-minutes w/o a QSO added to the log.

The above choices assume that band propagation is cooperating, which is wasn't for this NAQP event.  Surprisingly 20-meters was a complete no-Show in the WQ6X LoG.

It turns out, the 3-el 10-meter Long John yagi tunes very nicely on 15 & 20 meters as a rotatable dipole, thanks to the MFJ-993B Intellituner.  Hoping that the 20-meter situation was simply one of
a low M-U-F (Maximum Usable Frequency), an early appearance was made on 40-meters,
which didn't actually until nearly 03:00z.

At 05:00z 80-meters finally provided a handful of QSOs / MULTs.  At 05:30z (10:30pm PT), I joined Barbara (NK6Y) on the Redwood Radio Roundtable (3.849 MHz) for a brief ragchew made difficult by poor low-band propagation between Ben Lomond (NK6Y) and Concord (WQ6X).  We both ended up listening on the KFS web SDR (which is situated between both QTH locations) to improve readability.

With 20-minutes left, a couple of QSOs were added on 80-meters and then on 40-meters.  While the goal of 100 QSOs never quite materialized (96 was the final total), more important was running RTTY into the recently revamped antenna system in Concord.

DiD YOU work the NAQP RTTY Contest?

Is WQ6X in YOUR LoG?

WQ6X Talks About: HERE-KiTs and THERE-KiTs

Over recent months, John Bissel's WORKBENCH column with Radio World Magazine has been
sharing different readers ideas of what constitutes a useful "GO-BoX" for onsite upgrade and repair work.  In amateur radio, most Field Day and CERT operations utilize variations on the GO-Box theme.

As a traffic handler and radiosport operator, whenever possible, I always make thorough equipment checks a day or two prior to an upcoming event:  the equipment locally, as well as any station equipment I will be running remotely.  Even with all those precautions, "little" things can and
will go wrong that disrupt a smooth operating flow.

What at first looks to be a pile of junk or bunch of toys, is actually a carefully acquired set
of implements designed to further the response to the different things which routinely occur
during operating events.

Over the last couple of years, I have accumulated a useful pile of "trinkets" which adorn the
upper-left area of the clear plexiglass covered operating desk.  The largest most prominent item
is the 8 1/2" x 11" white tablet I wrote the notes for this Blog on.   

Throughout a radiosport contest weekend, various things occur during the operation that are often
"So bizarre" I am compelled to jot a bullet-item or even a paragraph regarding what just happened.  Frequently these blurbs evolve into contest blog segment pieces themselves or even an entire Blog series as happened recently with the Revised Radiosport Rules post ([CLICK HERE]) published
in June.  Underneath the BiG PaD is a smaller 5" x 8" pad for jotting down relevant callsigns and
frequencies during the seemingly near-chaotic operation in progress.

The majority of the "tools" in the above picture are more-or-less self-explanatory in their use,
although some may need more of an explanation.

• The cosmetic brush allows a quick Swoosh away of crumbs and dust on the keyboard.
• The half-open paper clip is used to diddle reset buttons on the back of equipment units
  that occasionally need a last resort reset.
• A (double-female) audio connector block enables trying out an audio configuration or path that presents itself in a given situation.  It is supplanted by a USB-powered 4-channel mini mixer, offering more than JUST ground loop isolation.
• A Harbor Freight freebie flashlight, making for easier front panel adjustments under marginal lighting conditions (I HATE bright, overbearing lighting).
• 3 styles of screwdrivers for last minute whatever-adjustments.
• Tweezers and Forceps for picking up and holding little screws/nuts.
• A lighted dollar store magnifying lens.

Underneath the clear plexiglass are frequency lists, zone lists and Q-Code lists that may
be needed during a typical operating event.

Some things belong in BOTH the HERE-KiT and THERE-KiT.
In particular is a pair of OWN-Zone Wireless stereo headphones ("as seen on TV").
I can use one set (for up to 3-hours) while the other set is charging, or the 2nd-set can be
worn by a guest in the shack attempting to understand the insanity of radiosport operating.
I have evaluated numerous headset combinations, most of which turn out NoT to be stereo,
(required when running Stereo-CW, for example) - the main reason I still use OWNZONE.

My THERE-KiT is essentially a bag of cables, filters and other units that may be needed at
almost any location I happen to operate from.  Included in the THERE-Kit are the following:

• Install files for WQ6X Beacon Tracker & EASY-Button software as well as 
  SNAP-Shot screenshot software.
  
  
  
  
• 2-pair of OWN-Zone headphones as well as a WIRED stereo headset.
  
  
  
  
• a generic electret microphone with adapter cables to fit most transceivers.
  
  
  
  
• a CW Keying paddle with a pair of adapter plugs.
  
  
  
  
  
• a PL-600 SW receiver for checking propagation and RFI sources.
  
  
  
  
• a LEKATO JA-02 II Bluetooth stereo speaker unit (1 or 2).
  
  
  
  
• a USB-powered 4-channel audio mixing unit.
  
  
  
  
• a USB-drive for moving files on/off the operation computer.
• a set of 4-each A-A and A-A-A batteries.
• Several 1/8" stereo patch cables.
• an EASY Button.
  
  
  
  

Whether a HERE-KiT or THERE-KiT, the important thing is to think it through well in advance of when you might actually need it.  Then, as you learn from experience, you can update/upgrade the kits as the need arises.  KiTs are like an insurance policy - you hope you never need it and then are thankful in retrospect for having everything more-or-less easily at hand.

Have YOU put together a HERE-KiT and THERE-KiT?

If NoT, WHY KNoT?

WQ6X Leverages Stereo-CW for 2024 IARU HF Championship

Sitting on BART enroute to W7AYT's QTH, I was reflecting on the importance of using Stereo-CW
and in particular, ways to maximize its use when running pileups.  ([CLICK HERE] to read that.)  
While I have dual-OP'd the IARU HF Championship in recent years, having recently revamped the antenna configuration @W7AYT, the decision was made to run the IARU GiG as Single-OP (assisted) CW-only, affording the opportunity to utilize the Reverse Beacon Network (RBN) to evaluate and compare signal levels from the 8JK-Cobra array and the 3-el 10m Long John yagi (which works reasonably well as a "BuddiPole" on 30 thru 15 meters).  Running CW-only enabled making yet another investigation into the efficacy of running Stereo-CW.

The downside of this weekend came on Friday evening when the wireless keyboard was discovered to be non-operational.  I remembered there was a USB-cabled keyboard sitting forlornly on the shelf.  Plugging it in, I remembered why it got sidelined: the [SPACEBAR], FK4, FK6 "G" & "H" keys were non-functional, requiring those keys to be pressed on the laptop with the right hand, using the left-hand for the rest of the data entry.  While a trip to my Alameda office on Sunday brought in a replacement wireless keyboard, by then the IARU GiG had been over for nearly 8 hours.

As I mentioned in the 3830 Score submission, it seems that stations hear WQ6X (from W7AYT)
better than we hear them.  Numerous times I heard callers right at the noise floor, while it was
clear that WQ6X was reasonably strong on the other end.

While signals on the yagi were weaker than with the 8JK Cobras, the signal-to-noise (SNR) was dramatically superior.  Realizing this prompted the installation of a 2-position coax switch, switching the yagi between COAX-2 on the MFJ-993B auto tuner (for 10-meters) and the RX-Ant connector
on the Yaesu FT-2000 for other bands.  With considerably less background noise, picking out weak stations using the yagi on receive improved performance dramatically.

Based on RBN-reported signal levels, it would seem that running the 3-element 10m yagi on
20 & 15 meters transformed the yagi from a broadside array to more-or-less an end-fire pattern. 
The secret was to rotate the yagi for the strongest signal during Search and Pounce (S&P) operations.

DiD YOU work the 24-hour IARU HF Championship radiosport contest?

Is WQ6X in YOUR LoG?

Stereo-RTTY Revisited (Yet Again)

It could be said that the "Stereo Radio" concept is actually BEST EXPRESSED when running
a RTTY CONTEST.  Having recently upgraded the antenna system @W7AYT's QTH in the SF
East Bay (Grid-Square: CM87xx), the decision was made to run the 2024 summer NAQP RTTY contest from this configuration while fully leveraging the Stereo-Audio setup that is a prominent
part of the operation there.  The IARU HF Championship gave the Stereo-CW method a thorough test.  Two Blogs emerged from that operation:

• [X] - Using Stereo-CW When Running Pile-UPs
• [X] - WQ6X Leverages Stereo-CW for 2024 IARU HF Championship
  

My filter combination of choice for nearly 10 years has been a pair of old-school Autek QF-1A SSB/CW/AM analog audio filters.  Using the PEAK Filter, Stereo-CW and Stereo-RTTY are
easily accommodated.  The LowPass (and sometimes HighPass) filters are the Secret to
running Stereo-SSB - [CLICK HERE] to read more about Stereo-SSB.

As a function of the FREQUENCY knobs on the Autek QF-1A filters, we can PEAK
the  individual MARK/SPACE tones, specifically for each ear, which determines the
[so-called] "position" of each tone in the listening experience.
With the SELECTIVITY knobs we can fine-tune the amplitude of each tone individually. 
The Aux. Notch filters can be used to null any offending carriers or noises in each ear
individually.

Once everything is properly setup, spend some time tuning around the different bands and modes.  The aural-spatial effects are subtly AMAZING.  Properly done, tuning a signal towards zero-beat shifts the signal from the left side to the right (or right-side to the left-side) of the listening experience.  

With weak signals, using RiT can reposition that signal in the listening experience
to match the Stereo-CW filter frequency settings for that moment in time. 
Correctly done, the signal peaks and literally "jumps out" of the RX-Passband.

Do YOU Play around in RTTY Contests?

Has the idea of running Stereo-RTTY ever occurred to you?

Using Stereo-CW When Running Pile-UPs

Due to the franticness and volume of calling stations, navigating a pile-up can be a perplexing affair, whether you are a calling station, or the station being sought after.  Judicious use of the RiT/XiT controls can certainly make a difference.  However, when the different stations are barely 25-Hz
apart, they can sound like more-or-less unintelligent jumble - enter Stereo-CW.

SEARCH the WQ6X contest Blog and you will discover much has been written about the subject.  While the concept of running pileups using Stereo-CW is hardly a new idea, the nuances behind
making it al work could use further clarification.

Essentially, the idea is to split a single receive audio stream into Left/Right channels tuned above/below a more-or-less center frequency.  Depending on the individual filter settings, lower-pitched signals can favor one ear while higher-pitched signals favor the other.  Because I favor using CW-reverse (tuning from low-frequency to high), the correct setting is for the left ear set to favor high frequencies and the right ear to favor low frequencies.

Properly done, tuning a signal towards zero-beat shifts the signal from the left side to the right side
of the listening experience.  With weak signals, using RiT can reposition that signal in the listening experience to match the Stereo-CW filter frequency settings for that moment in time.

The FREQUENCY knob in each filter determines WHERE in the listening experience a specific signal will appear.  The SELECTIVITY knob in each filter enables balancing the LOUDNESS between the two ears.  Using QF-1 filters brings an additional NOTCH filter to remove carriers or other junk in the passband, while leaving the Stereo-CW effect intact.

If the idea of running a pile-up by way of Stereo-CW seems a bit intimidating, get some practice first.  Tune the bands looking for a semi-rare station running a sizeable pile-up.  Put VFO-B on the DX stations' run frequency.  Set VFO-A to the MIDDLE of the calling frequency area.  Using RIT or the tuning knob tune thru the calling-window and notice where the different stations appear and how
they shift position in your listening experience as you tune thru the window.  At some point you
should encounter an "AHA!" experience.  Now is the time to try things with YOU as the run station.

Stereo-CW is being shown to have a dozen different applications, most specifically in radiosport contests.  Isn't it time for YOU to put a pair of adjustable filters in YOUR audio line?

WQ6X Meanders thru another Marconi Memorial Fiasco

After yet another DuD Marconi Memorial contest I used the search engine built-in
to this Blog to see what I've said about it before.  ([CLICK HERE] to see that search.)

That search came up with the following Blog posts:

• [X] - (July 3, 20) - BLAST from the Past: Memories of Marconi Memorial
• [X] - (July 5, 20) - WQ6X Dual-OPs the DL-Dx RTTY & Marconi Cw Contests
• [X] - (July 11, 22) -WQ6X Meanders thru the 2022 Marconi Memorial Contest

 I don't recall if I missed last year's Marconi GiG because I was actually doing something more important at the time, or if it was just pure radiosport apathy on my part.  Either way, I began the
2024 operating period with "high hopes and strong expectations", which other than RBN signal reports, the operating time spent calling CQ was of little value.

I wrote the 3830Score Soapbox entry, short and sweet:

I wish there were more hopeful things to say, but there aren't.
While stations on the east coast had QSO numbers in the several hundreds,
somehow, that JUST does not happen on the Left Coast (specif. California).
There seemed to be no activity from either the 7th or the "0" call areas.

Oh well - I submitted a log anyway (I always submit a log).  Maybe I can take
another 5th place for USA, like was done in the 2018 Marconi Memorial GiG.

DiD YOU work the Marconi Memorial CW Contest?

What was YOUR Experience?

WQ6X LeVeRages Canadian RAC Contest for Station Configuration TesTing...

It has actually been a long time since a radiosport contest has been run from WQ6X's
portable setup @W7AYT's QTH in the East Bay (EB) Section.  With Field Day [already] long
behind me, the Canada Day RAC contest was the Perfect Opportunity for test-running the recently revamped Long John 3-El 10-meter yagi, not only on 10-meters, but 30, 20 & 15 as well.

On 10-meters the yagi worked more-or-less as expected from 3-element yagi, altho I was
still pleasantly surprised when KH6 stations called in off the back of the beam,  I never DID
work KH6 head-on  (it takes too long to rotate the yagi), which is one of the geographical advantages
of a station QTH being relatively close to the pond known as the Pacific Ocean.

Running 15 & 20 meters, the yagi seemed to perform like an oversized Buddi-Pole (w/o the mid-way loading coils), altho based on RBN SPoTs, it seemed to radiate as an end-fire array - with the yagi pointed 45-degrees azimuth, the SPoTs were had from TI7 (Costa Rica) and KP3 (Puerto Rico),
while LU8QT (loud and CLEAR) easily made it into the LoG; altho in Canadian contests, DX is
only worth 2-Points, while VE/VA QSOs are worth 10/20-Points.

Using the RBN Stats (with a 3-minute time-window) enabled rotating the antenna and checking
signal levels from different azimuths.  The actual signal-levels are often quite surprising.

After several weekends of testing, I have come to the overall conclusion that the Concord QTH is indeed a receive vortex.  

Based on RBN STATs and contest results, it would seem that stations all over the USA and Canada can hear WQ6X from W7AYT's QTH better than we can hear other signals potentially calling in.  I'm not sure whether to be elated or not.

The upcoming NAQP contest trio will help sort out the question as to whether the 3-el Buddi-Pole really does radiate end-fire, or whether there is also some sort of Broadside-array effects as well.

Being a haphazard array of wires, the 8jK Cobra dipoles seem to be heard everywhere.

Next year, I might again run WQ6X QRP remote for the RAC Canada ay contest.

For this year, just verifying the efficacy of the new antenna system was worth it all.  The upcoming weekend's Marconi Memorial contest will offer another test of the revamped antenna system.

DiD YOU work the RAC Canada Day GiG?
How many 10/20 point Canadians DiD you snag?

Is WQ6X in YOUR LoG?