Similar to speech contests in Toastmasters, before major radiosport competition events, I look
at previous years score results, study the all-time high score records and even consult previous
WQ6X Contest Blog posts about the upcoming events (and sometimes related contest topics and weekends).
For this year's 10-meter contest, there were 5 specific goals:
- Run as WQ6X QRP from Ramona, using CW-only, setting a Southwest Division Record.
- Run as W6R (Whiskey SiX Radio), setting yet another Southwest Division record.
- Put Cw hours in the OP chair for NX6T as a part of the team, winning Southwest
Division for the Multi-OP Single-Xmtr category. - Put contacts in the log as W7AYT to win SOU QRP (Phone-only) for East Bay
(EB) while chasing the illusive PAC Division record for QRP-Ssb. - Thoroughly leverage the Stereo-Cw and Stereo-Ssb modalities using the recently
revamped audio configuration(s) for WQ6X's portable setup at W7AYT's Concord QTH.
The 10-meter contest begins at 00:00z (UTC) which is 4pm on the Left Coast (Pacific Time).
After a few "false start" hiccups, WQ6X ran the Ramona radio remotely from my office in Alameda. By 03:30z there was nothing left to hear (in Ramona), altho spying on N6CY at the helm of NX6T,
it was clear that their superb antenna farm enabled them to hear stations we can only dream of
in Ramona - amazing when you consider the two locations are only 66 miles apart; altho Anza's elevation (3,921') is nearly 3x that of Ramona (1,427'), not to mention stacked arrays for 40m thru
10m (versus a 2-el Shorty-40 and 3-el Steep-IR @55').
After a few "false start" hiccups, WQ6X ran the Ramona radio remotely from my office in Alameda. By 03:30z there was nothing left to hear (in Ramona), altho spying on N6CY at the helm of NX6T,
it was clear that their superb antenna farm enabled them to hear stations we can only dream of
in Ramona - amazing when you consider the two locations are only 66 miles apart; altho Anza's elevation (3,921') is nearly 3x that of Ramona (1,427'), not to mention stacked arrays for 40m thru
10m (versus a 2-el Shorty-40 and 3-el Steep-IR @55').
Saturday morning EU, the Caribbean and SA were wide open. After putting 171 QSOs in the Cw log,
it was time to switch logs to run as W6R on Ssb. Not surprisingly, the 1x1 callsign confused many stations, altho the JA OPs are used to me using 1x1 callsigns and overall, they loved W6R.
Here are some of the Spaobox comments posted about the remote operation from Ramona.
Being a mixed-mode contest, running Stereo-Cw was somewhat different from running Stereo-Ssb.
Either way, audio from the K3/0 Mini, is sent to an audio mixer, which redirects to an audio splitter, which splits the audio into 3 different filtered audio lines, which run to a Rockville 4-channel mixer, emptying into a 15-watt stereo amplifier. Output from the amp can be sent to either OwnZone wireless headphones or a pair of LEKATO speaker boxes, specially wired for Stereo radio audio.
The vintage Autek QF1-A filters is the secret behind the esoteric stereo mechanism.
Either way, audio from the K3/0 Mini, is sent to an audio mixer, which redirects to an audio splitter, which splits the audio into 3 different filtered audio lines, which run to a Rockville 4-channel mixer, emptying into a 15-watt stereo amplifier. Output from the amp can be sent to either OwnZone wireless headphones or a pair of LEKATO speaker boxes, specially wired for Stereo radio audio.
The vintage Autek QF1-A filters is the secret behind the esoteric stereo mechanism.
[CLICK HERE] to read the various BLOG Entries on the Stereo Audio concept.
When it was all over it would seem that WQ6X took 3rd-place overall and set a Southwest Division division record. W6R took 2nd-place overall and also set a Southwest Division record. W7AYT took
a 3rd-place and set a record for East Bay (EB) section. Unfortunately, the PAC Division SOU QRP record is still out of reach - as they say, wait til next year.
a 3rd-place and set a record for East Bay (EB) section. Unfortunately, the PAC Division SOU QRP record is still out of reach - as they say, wait til next year.
From Orange (ORG) section, NX6T took 23rd place overall for the crowded Multi-Single HP category.
For USA and Canada, NX6T took 7th-place, while enjoying 1st-place wins for ORG section and Southwest Division. While no multi-op records were set, it was nevertheless an impressive operation.
For USA and Canada, NX6T took 7th-place, while enjoying 1st-place wins for ORG section and Southwest Division. While no multi-op records were set, it was nevertheless an impressive operation.
DiD YOU work the ARRL 10-Meter Contest?
IS WQ6X, W6R, W7AYT or NX6T in YOUR LoG?
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