BLAST from the Past: CQ W.W. RTTY Contest - Part 2

Seeing as how it has been 4 1/2 years since I wrote a Blast from the past Blog about the CQ W.W. RTTY, it makes sense to write up a Part 2 from 2020 to 2024.  ([CLICK HERE] to read Part 1.)

For Part 2 we have a look back to the following 5 Blog entries about this contest.

1. [X] 2020 - WQ6X Runs a Raucous but Riske' CQ W.W. RTTY Contest
2. [X] 2021 - WQ6X Works a WEIRD W.W. RTTY Contest
3. [X] 2022 - WQ6X Wanders thru a Wicked World-wide RTTY Contest
4. [X] 2023 - WQ6X Survives another CQ Weird Wide DX RTTY Contest
5. [X] 2024 - WQ6X wRangles a Remote QRP CQ W.W. RTTY Contest

1. WQ6X Runs a Raucous but Riske' CQ W.W. RTTY Contest
   
   
   While Solar Cycle 25 was in its initial throes of waking up from a lengthy Solar-Snooze,
   there were a number of surprisingly AWEsome band openings.  While WQ6X made an impressive 1250+ contacts, the multiplier count was a fraction of the number made by
   my competitors, hence, the 4th place standing.
   
   
2.  WQ6X Works a WEIRD W.W. RTTY Contest
   
   
   This RTTY contest suffered from a low SFI (80) reducing the openings (especially to EU) available.  In the end it became a RTTY training exercise.  I summed up the weekend by saying "Because this was my 1st CQ WW RTTY GiG from the Concord location in quite awhile, we could easily say Miss Addams, that this was indeed another weekend of learning.
   
   
   
3. WQ6X Wanders thru a Wicked World-wide RTTY Contest
   
   
   What a difference a YEAR makes.  The Solar Flux (SFI) has jumped to 145 (from last
   year's 80).  Also different is the addition of a Yaesu FT-2000 to the Concord equipment lineup.  Like the FT-1000mp, the FT-2000 runs 100-watt FULL-Duty RTTY, without the chassis feeling even a bit warm to the touch.  Unfortunately, the weekend was littered with BLUE Screens - it never happened before - never occurred after that weekend.  (WEIRD!)
   
   
   
4. WQ6X Survives another CQ Weird Wide DX RTTY Contest
   
   
   For the second year in a row, the Solar FLUX was certainly a PLUS for this worldwide contest weekend.  As a result, when it was all over, the decision was made to submit the log as SO(A) SB-10 LP - a low power, single band entry.  According to the 3830 Scores, WQ6X took a 2nd-place overall and 1st-place for USA/NA - who woulda thunk it?
   
   
   
5. WQ6X wRangles a Remote QRP CQ W.W. RTTY Contest

This contest operation was loaded with operator nonsense and a wild JUMP of the SFI from 172 (with solar storms) to 275 (nice and quiet).  When it was all over it would seem that WQ6X took 3rd-place worldwide and 1st-place for USA/NA - again, who woulda thunk it?

According to predictions by the "Experts", Solar Cycle 25 has finally PEAKED and is on its way down.  With 6 months to go before the next CQ W.W. RTTY GiG, in my opinion, virtually ANYTHING is possible.

Have YOU worked the CQ W.W. RTTY contest?

Is WQ6X in YOUR LoG?

WQ6X Weasels another QRP ARRL DX Ssb Contest

In preparation for this weekend's ARRL DX Phone contest, I have been working on Blast from the Past Blogs regarding the ARRL DX Contest GiGs, truly bringing back operating memories from the last dozen years.

This weekend's goals included reprising last year's Southwest Division win running QRP (of course).  These daze, unless given a specific reason to do otherwise, most of my contest activity (outside of the EB session) is run at the QRP power level.  The major exception is RTTY contests that don't have a QRP power entry - I dial back the power to 50-watts and run it remotely.  (When running RTTY from W7AYT's QTH, the Yaesu FT-2000 and FT-1000mp transceivers can run FULL Duty AFSK w/o getting warm.)

For WQ6X it's: Filters, Filters and MORE Filters - Part 2

When I looked at the publication data of Part 1 (Sept. 08, 2023), the most noticeable thing in the
lead photo is how much the same external filter configuration units have found new locations on
the operating table, and in some cases are positioned differently in the WQ6X Stereo Audio lines.

Then again, some units found an immediate home in the audio line 5+ years ago and have remained 
in that position - case in point being the Radio Shaft stereo equalizer.  Because we only need to hear
a "small" frequency range (~600hz to ~3000hz), the equalizer deemphasizes all frequencies outside of that range, BEFORE sending the resultant audio to the splitter for redirection to the various filter
audio lines.

One of the secrets to all of the above filter combinations are the Input mixer and the Output mixer units.  The 4-channel input mixer receives its power via a basic USB connection (for the power only). The Rockville output mixer blends the different types of filter outputs into a common stereo output
for the stereo amplifier block, receiving its power from a common SAMLEX 20a power supply. 
An A-B-C-D switch directs the output to wireless headphones, or one of 3 different speaker sets,
most importantly a pair of LEKATO JA-o2 mini guitar amp speakers (8).

The other units play different roles in the assistance of recovering sound intelligibility, altho individual units can occasionally contribute artifact to the output, at which time the mixer output for that device can be reduced.  A description of these individual units makes for better understanding of the system as a whole:

1. It ALL begins feed the output of the input mixer to a classic Radio Shaft 15-channel stereo equalizer (Model 32-2059).  While virtually any equalizer device can be utilized, I like the
   RS 2059 unit because it can either be rack mounted or used as a place to put other units,
   as in this configuration with the individual QF-1A filter and LEKATO speaker combinations.
   The Audio Passband for amateur radio is ideally set from ~400hz to more-or-less ~1600hz. 
   Setting the equalizer sliders to accomplish this also offers an immediate visual indication
   of the initial passband.
   
   
2. The original Stereo Cw article implemented a pair of fixed bandpass filters (800hz and 1200hz)
   to create the "stereo" effect.  Experimenting with different filters over the years, the vintage
   Autek QF-1A analog OP-amp filters allow using ANY pair of frequencies for the stereo effect.  Should fatigue set in from a particular setting, the individual settings can be altered to create
   a similar but different effect.  This is even more useful for peaking the individual tones during RTTY operation.
   
   
3. My first real exposure to external audio filters came by way of a pair of MFJ 752 filter units purchased at different times - a "C" model and a "B" model now setup for the Left and Right channels respectively.  The "B" model was modified to include a 2 setting (180hz and 80hz) repurposed MFJ Cw filter, which makes up for the the Sub receiver's lack of Cw filters in the FT-1000mp and FT-2000 Yaesu transceivers.  Currently, the MFJ filters with wider bandwidths have more application during Ssb contests.
   
   
4. At different times, I acquired a JPS NIR-12, and later a JPS NIR-10 external DSP filters.
   Currently, these filters run in cascade mode on the Right channel of the audio, providing DSP
   filtering for the Sub-receiver of the Yaesu transceivers which lack DSP for those receive lines.  The downside of these filters is that that their processing speed actually introduces about 120
   ms of audio delay, creating a sort-of echo when using stereo reception.  This was resolved by adding an external audio-delay device to the left channel, allowing the two outputs to properly synchronize.
   
   
5. I picked up an MFJ-784 "programmable" DSP unit at one point which currently processes the left audio line Channel 3 of the output mixer.  The MFJ-784 contains a crude form of DNR and several flavors of notch filtering.  For the most part, it simply gives me more knobs to twiddle.
   
   
6. All of the filter and DSP devices eventually send their audio to the appropriate channel
   of a classic Rockville 8-channel mixer, allowing a blend of the various filter effects, which
   can easily be turned to 0 should they not contribute to audio intelligibility.  This mixer has no built-in output amplification, requiring some sort of output amplification in order to properly drive the speakers, or even the wireless headphones.
   
   
7. Over the years, experimentation has been done with different forms of audio amplification
   for this multi-filter arrangement.  Some approaches have ended up in overloading feedback,
   while others have required a jumble of wires to make it all work.  The current solution is a $23 10-watt per-channel amplifier purchased on e-Bay.  The challenge with this setup is keeping hum-creating ground loops out of the final result.
   
   
8. While it is possible to switch in one of three speaker arrangements, the current favorite is a pair of LEKATO mini guitar amp speakers.  A pair is used by shorting both speaker channels
   of each unit and feeding them with the left/right amplifier channels.  Like the input mixer,
   these speakers are powered by way of a USB hub, providing the required 5V needed
   to produce adequate audio.

While this current audio filter arrangement seems to synchronize symphonically, it has come
to fruition over 15 years of cut-and-try of the various filter units, eventually landing themselves into
this reasonably practical arrangement.  Then again, at any time, I reserve the right to rip the cables out and restring the audio into a completely different configuration.  The above scribble sheet crudely documents how it currently flows.

Do YOU use any form of external audio filtering?

What unique ideas have YOU created?

WQ6X Wings yet another QRP ARRL DX Cw Contest

While the 2025 ARRL DX Cw contest was well planned in advance, it is also true that I winged the entire affair, especially when you consider the dramatically changing Space-WX throughout the contest weekend.  This Blog post is being written using an equivalent "winging it" style.  For openers, lets use the 3830Scores website post for WQ6X's participation and continue from there.

The above picture appears under the heading of "When in Doubt CHEAT! (but w/in the Rules).
Rather than have you go digging for a magnifying glass, here are a few thoughts which more-or-less summarize the 3830Score soapbox comments.

Thie ARRL DX contests are radiosport operations which begin promptly at 4PM PST (00:00z) and
end 48-hours later - again at 00:00z.  Overall, this gives every geographical area 2 to 3 opportunities each operating day on each of the 6 HF bands, from 160 to 10 meters (and yes, I know 160-meters
is actually MF not HF).  Running QRP power again this year, the decision of when to run frequencies (versus S&P) starts out with a "suggested" list and quickly gets amended and reamended as the event progresses.  

Bizarre Space-WX anomalies can KILL the high[er] bands, forcing us to take refuge on 20-meters
and even 40-meters.  This happened TWICE during the event, Friday evening and then again late Saturday afternoon.  Sometimes it's weak signal levels and fading that lowers the MUF, and other times it is the geomagnetic noise which seems to reduce as we move down in frequency.   Using
the K3's DNR circuits can help, however they often introduce artifact which can make signal copy once again more difficult.  Luckily, CW signals are variations of ON/OFF, often punching thru,
thanks to the DNR.

At 23:00z WQ6X began running frequencies on 10 and 15 meters.  The run would last for around
30-minutes when some IDIOT barges in 50-hz away (oblivious to me) and calls CQ.  Finding a new frequency, I would get another 30-minutes - Ad-repeatum.

While I often want to sleep in on Sunday, for this weekend I was up "early" and caught a beautiful 10-meter (and later 15-meter) opening to Europe.  For those stations half-way across the country, that is a BiG HO-HuM.  However, for us W6 stations (and especially in the Southwest) that is quite an accomplishment.

When it was all over, it would seem that most of the operating goals were achieved; most specifically, taking a 1st-place for BOTH the SDG section and the Southwest Division.  In the process, it would seem that WQ6X took 4th-place overall - NoT bad for another ad-Hoc radiosport exercise.

DiD YOU work the ARRL DX Cw contest?

For USA/VE stations, how many countries made it to your log?

For DX stations, is WQ6X in YOUR LoG?