View Full Version : CQWW contest
Got my first taste of a big contest today. All I can say is that it is a hoot!
I am small taters compared to most anyone else, but for a new guy to HF, this is a blast.
I had just over an hour before I had to come to work. In that hour I worked:
1 Austrailia (first Aussie for me)
2 Canada
3 Japan (couple new prefects)
1 Hawaii (first for that state)
1 Finland!!!! (First Europe contact!!!)
Like I said, small taters in the grand scheme of things, but reaching Finland was enough to get me excited for the next few days. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
I almost was tempted to call in sick and keep working the bands.
This is cool.
Don't you remember what it was like to be a newbie?
W9DDK
10-30-2004, 11:15 PM
I agree! With just 100watts making contacts with Bosnia, Italy, Germany, this is fun. Having been a general for just a year this is the most fun yet.. I know what people have been complaining about contesting and not being nice to people on frequency ( I was very considerate), but for the new guy this is fun.
I am running 100w as well.
I would have a few more DX on the list, but the big boys kept stepping on my signal. Fun challenge to see if you can get in between the kilowatts.
I may try and call CQ on 40 tonight when I get home. There has to be a demand for Zone 1 contacts.
n5tjd
10-31-2004, 03:03 AM
I've tried a few times, but only made contact with Germany and Curacao Isl. (Already have a QSL card from them). 50w into a 20m inverted V at 47ft just doesn't seem to cut it today.
If I ever won the lottery, the first things I'd buy would be a huge tower, a few large beams, and an amp.
AB0SI
10-31-2004, 03:36 AM
Mike:
Ya, isn't it great? I've only been a ham for three years, so I still have that newbie feeling. I'm not a "ral" contester, but it is fun to work some "new ones" and give out some points. Welcome to hamdom!
BTW, saw your picture here on QRZ. I think you will fine that copper or aluminum makes a better antenna than fish. <grin>
Paul AB0SI
Those were just 2 of the 38 fish I caught in one day. Did not reach my limit of 55, but I was too tired to continue fishing.
Cleaning and processing all those fish took much longer than it did to catch them.
More fishing trip photos can be seen here:
Fishing trip 2004 (http://www.wood-family.us/fishing.htm)
K9STH
10-31-2004, 03:57 AM
Severe thunderstorms last night and again tonight have made the noise level on 40 meters really bad. Hopefully they will die down like they did just before dawn today when the JA stations came in very well.
160 meters was so bad that the "S" meter on my Collins 75A4 went "bananas" even though the antenna was not connected to it. Every time there was a lightning display the "S" meter went crazy.
Glen, K9STH
KF0RT
10-31-2004, 11:35 AM
Great stuff. Isn't it amazing how a big contest can "force" a band opening?
The 15 meter pileup on XX9C yesterday afternoon was amazing too (I didn't even try, but it was fun listening).
73, Rob (KFØRT)
ai4ep
10-31-2004, 11:50 AM
I dont partipitate in such, but like to listen to others have their fun.
I DID hear some one using my call sign on 2 seperate frequencies, so some one out there is using my call illegally.
Problably saw it some where and copied it, so if you hear a call of mine, you will know it is a " illegal operator ".
But I personally do not do contests.
Quote[/b] (KD5WZB @ Oct. 30 2004,21:03)]I've tried a few times, but only made contact with Germany and Curacao Isl. (Already have a QSL card from them). 50w into a 20m inverted V at 47ft just doesn't seem to cut it today.
If I ever won the lottery, the first things I'd buy would be a huge tower, a few large beams, and an amp.
Lottery? All ya need is a $50 QRP kit, a cheapo power supply and a scrap piece of speaker wire thrown up in a tree. If you really want to get fancy, spend $20 or $30 more and put up a horizontal loop.a If you don't think you can work DX every day with 5w or less, you haven't tried. It's pretty cool using extra Rodriguez and Banaba Island QSLs as bookmarks in your ARRL antenna book.
On the other hand, your shack will look a lot cooler to your XYLs friends with the big KenYaeCom and amp than covered in loose components and stinking of solder smoke.
N0ZB
vk4xjb
10-31-2004, 12:24 PM
Quote[/b] (KF0RT @ Oct. 31 2004,21:35)]Great stuff. #Isn't it amazing how a big contest can "force" a band opening? #
Sure is. So much rf floating around that it kept 10m open for 15 hours today.
Quote[/b] (KL1RO @ Oct. 30 2004,17:07)]I almost was tempted to call in sick and keep working the bands.
This is cool.
It only gets worse!
Stop now, while you still can!
n5tjd
10-31-2004, 02:50 PM
Quote[/b] (N0ZB @ Oct. 31 2004,05:03)]Quote[/b] (KD5WZB @ Oct. 30 2004,21:03)]I've tried a few times, but only made contact with Germany and Curacao Isl. (Already have a QSL card from them). 50w into a 20m inverted V at 47ft just doesn't seem to cut it today.
If I ever won the lottery, the first things I'd buy would be a huge tower, a few large beams, and an amp.
Lottery? #All ya need is a $50 QRP kit, a cheapo power supply and a scrap piece of speaker wire thrown up in a tree. #If you really want to get fancy, spend $20 or $30 more and put up a horizontal loop.a #If you don't think you can work DX every day with 5w or less, you haven't tried. #It's pretty cool using extra Rodriguez and Banaba Island QSLs as bookmarks in your ARRL antenna book.
On the other hand, your shack will look a lot cooler to your XYLs friends with the big KenYaeCom and amp than covered in loose components and stinking of solder smoke.
N0ZB
Oh I know you can work the world with 1w and a piece of spaghetti. My biggest problem is being crushed by the big stations. If I can get in during a moment of silence, I can usually make the contact. Last night I picked up several more stations and early this morning as well since a lot of other U.S. ops haven't fired up for the day yet.
My idea as far as the lottery is concerned... get a huge station up, and then do qrp when that is no longer fun. Of course, to win the lottery, you first have to buy tickets, and I don't. Just wishful dreaming.
Oh yeah, about hearing your own callsign... During the Texas QSO party, I kept hearing a guy using my call, and when he stopped using the S&P method and started calling CQ, I got a better listen. Turns out his call was KD5WZV, which sounds similar to KD5WZB when you don't use phonetics.
k0pvw
10-31-2004, 03:01 PM
Just worked 9A7A on 10meters coming in 59++++ to Kansas this morning.
Quote[/b] (KD5WZB @ Oct. 31 2004,06:50)]My biggest problem is being crushed by the big stations. If I can get in during a moment of silence, I can usually make the contact. Last night I picked up several more stations and early this morning as well since a lot of other U.S. ops haven't fired up for the day yet.
I don't think the presence of "big signal" stations really has that much to do with it. The guys with big signals that know how to operate are usually running Q's anyway.
The real key is listening to the op calling CQ. Check what he's listening for, and alter your operation accordingly. I know I done many first calls with flea power because I could tell what the contest station was listening for. Sometimes they listen slightly off frequency, sometimes they work the first call they hear,sometimes a suffix, etc.
If you can hear them, you can work them, and you don't need tons of power, just a little finesse...
Don't give up because you aren't running megapower. Contests are a great barometer for letting you know how well your antenna is radiating. It's actually more fun WITHOUT the amp!
WX7B
ad5st
10-31-2004, 08:04 PM
Quote[/b] (WX7B @ Oct. 31 2004,13:51)]Contests are a great barometer for letting you know how well your antenna is radiating.
Trying to operate 40 fone last night did just that -- it let me know that my foot-too-short 40M dipole strung across the backyard, perhaps 6 feet up at the feedpoint, did not radiate worth crap (which of course I knew and expected).
Of course, stations with KWs and beams, and the S9 noise don't help either.
n5tjd
10-31-2004, 08:22 PM
Quote[/b] (WX7B @ Oct. 31 2004,12:51)]Quote[/b] (KD5WZB @ Oct. 31 2004,06:50)]My biggest problem is being crushed by the big stations. If I can get in during a moment of silence, I can usually make the contact. Last night I picked up several more stations and early this morning as well since a lot of other U.S. ops haven't fired up for the day yet.
I don't think the presence of "big signal" stations really has that much to do with it. The guys with big signals that know how to operate are usually running Q's anyway.
The real key is listening to the op calling CQ. Check what he's listening for, and alter your operation accordingly. I know I done many first calls with flea power because I could tell what the contest station was listening for. Sometimes they listen slightly off frequency, sometimes they work the #first call they hear,sometimes a suffix, etc.
If you can hear them, you can work them, and you don't need tons of power, just a little finesse...
Don't give up because you aren't running megapower. Contests are a great barometer for letting you know how well your antenna is radiating. It's actually more fun WITHOUT the amp!
WX7B
I've worked about 4 new countries today, so I am happy. I have fun whether I get contacts or not, but sometimes it requires altering freq., timing the call, and interesting phonetics if the standard ones don't get through good enough.
So far, I seem to only really be getting out to western Europe and some of South America, I'd love to pick up something from the Pacific or Africa today.
I only have 20m and 40m at my disposal, and 20m is currently jam-packed full of contesters. That is my problem, everyone is 57-59 and right next to each other, so at any one freq, I am hearing 5 or more stations talking at the same time, throw in a few carriers, "hooooolaaaass", "aaauuuuddiiioos" and it is close to chaos. My only DSP is my brain and it is getting a workout today, still, it is tons of fun. Even if I don't work them, I am hearing several new countries.
Quote[/b] (KD5WZB @ Oct. 31 2004,08:50)]Oh I know you can work the world with 1w and a piece of spaghetti. My biggest problem is being crushed by the big stations. If I can get in during a moment of silence, I can usually make the contact. Last night I picked up several more stations and early this morning as well since a lot of other U.S. ops haven't fired up for the day yet.
Here's a joke on me for ya: The other day I was working a bunch of 20M QRP, having great fun as usual. I decided to go down and try for some DX and found 3B8MM on 14.019 with a huge pileup attacking. In my haste I forgot to turn up the juice on the ol' OmniVI. After about 10 or 15 tries, I finally got the contact in the log. Only then did I realize I was running 5W. Days like this make me a serious QRP junky.
WX7B's got it figured out. I think power is only about 10% of the equation. Listening a few minutes before sending and trying to figure out how the DX op is picking out stations to work gets 'em nearly every time while lots of big watters are running up the electric bill. A /QRP with the call gets their attention too.
My bug seems to get more sucess than using the keyer. I think DX ops get as tired of hearing all those endless jabs at the memory keyer as I do.
Gud luck and its all good!
Dave N0ZB
K9STH
10-31-2004, 11:57 PM
I got on 10 meters for about 15 minutes this afternoon with my HR-2510 that I usually run mobile (25 watts peak output). In those 15 minutes I worked 10 stations all in different countries.
I didn't even think of tuning one of the other rigs on 10 let alone a linear. However, the linear was definitely necessary on 40 both Friday night / Saturday morning and Saturday night / Sunday morning.
Glen, K9STH
KC9ECI
11-01-2004, 12:03 AM
Too bad 6 meters was as dead as could be here this weekend.
vk4xjb
11-01-2004, 12:06 AM
10 has been great the last couple of days. Then the band mysteriously died at 0000 utc.
On the up side the bands are free again for those that prefer ragchewing. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
n5tjd
11-01-2004, 12:49 AM
I have a Ten Tec Scout, and for those of you that are familiar with these radios, they use modules for each band. To change bands, you have to change modules, and they have 50w out.
I only have modules for 80m, 40m, and 20m. It sounds like I need to invest in at least one module for a higher band. I fought in the pileups more than I ever have through the day (maybe about 2 hours total)and made 10 contacts in 8 different countries. I had never heard of Liechtenstein till today. I also made a few contacts while my grandma was visting and she was very interested.
Overall, it was lots of fun. I think I need to buy or make a verticle. I'd like to see if it made any difference. Get more signal out at a lower angle for DX.
KG4ZQZ
11-01-2004, 01:12 AM
Quote[/b] (KD5WZB @ Oct. 30 2004,23:03)]I've tried a few times, but only made contact with Germany and Curacao Isl. (Already have a QSL card from them). 50w into a 20m inverted V at 47ft just doesn't seem to cut it today.
If I ever won the lottery, the first things I'd buy would be a huge tower, a few large beams, and an amp.
- NOOOOOO! 50W into your antenna is just fine!
- don't go the amp route!
- you have a much better antenna than i do, and the other weekend i worked several RUs, an OH4, an SM, SV, and many other Europeans... all using a crappy $5 wire dipole up 15 feet up a tree... and i was using an effective ERP of 25W (a tad, but not much better on 12M and 15M)...
- anyone can use an AMP, but it won't make your 'ears' any better... and you CAN break pileups when operating QRP...
- the idea is to communicate using the least amount of power...
- amps have good uses (net operator, emergency situations, etc.), but true skill comes from barefoot operation...
- IMHO...
I didn't get a chance to actually work the 'test, but I did have a lot of fun in the days prior catching the guys as they were readying their stations on 10m. I'm got a low-end station for 10m here, simple little HTX-10 and a hamstick in the car, but I managed to snag Alaska (KL7JGN), Brazil, Dominica, Turks & Caicos all on just 25 watts. The turks contact actually came about from my own CQ call, which I was shocked by. As we were signing off, I told him to take over the freq, and he immediately got piled up on. All in all, a great week on 10!
I was operating for about an hour this morning.
20 was full of contesters and I managed to pick up a couple more Japanese stations as well as a couple stateside guys. I am not sure which I will get first, WAS or WAJ. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
15 was pretty much dead while I was on. All I heard was another Alaska station and a Hawaii. 10 meters was nothing but static.
All in all this was a great weekend for me. I was not sure if I could reach EU stations with my antenna, but indeed I can. Got some practice in listening for a chance to get through as well. Was only on the air for about 3 hours total.
I could hear a few EU stations today but could not get through the pileups. Just as I was about to leave for work I heard an African station for the first time on phone. I tried like crazy to get through till I absolutely had to shut down and get to work.
A great experience to say the least. Can't wait for next weekend.
In reference to working DX with minimal hardware:
Over the weekend, I worked 40 countries during CQ WW and made all the contacts with my mobile rig, just hunting around for DX and not really trying that hard.
Overall, I have worked about 80 counties with this set up and that while not really concentrating on DX, just causal operation and a few contests here and there to hand out points and work some new countries.
This winter I do plan to start concentrating on DXCC, however, after chasing Five Band WAS.
Rig is a Yaesu FT 100D and the antenna is High Sierra Screwdriver, power 100 watts.
I broke several pile ups during CQ WW this weekend while operating from an overpass where you can park that is right on the Delaware River in Philadelphia, PA.
The overpass puts you about 30 feet in the air and close to the river bed and there are lots of other places that I go to when I want to operate from an above average location right nearby.
Sometimes I think a really good mobile set up will yield more on the air fun that a so-so fixed station with low antennas that are not really "in the clear" #as you can really get out in the open, near salt water, on a mountain, and so forth, by just driving there. #LOL.
Even rag chewing on 80 meter CW is routine for me while mobile sitting stationary on the Delaware River, 599 plus signal reports over single hop skip paths are not uncommon even on 80 meters and on longer paths with a cooperating band, I can almost always be heard easily, at least on CW.
I do have a very large size 8D deep cycle battery at 300 amp hours capacity so I can operate stationary for very long periods of time, but even just a few 60 amp hour marine deep cycle batteries in parallel should do all but the most hard-core mobile operator, you can charge them at home with a battery charger you can buy for around 60 bucks.
In my rig, I have "onboard charging" however, consisting of a 40 amp microprocessor controlled charger and a 3 KW generator mounted in the bed of my 2001 Toyota Tacoma. #
I don't use the generator much as I have commercial power in my parking space at the condo complex where I live in Center City Philadelphia, so it's not used that often and is mainly for camping trips, #operating portable, and other situations where commercial power is not readily available to charge the system.
The point is that if you have a car or truck, you can have a lot of fun with Ham Radio by going mobile and all the above hardware is not really necessary for the beginning mobilier or just someone who cannot for whatever reason get on the air from home.
I am only one contact short of Five Band WAS using only mobile equipment after I worked Hawaii on 80 meters during this weekend's CQ WW and that was on SSB, which was a big surprise.
Take your act on the road for some good DX and whatever else rings your bell!
Tim
N8LXR
KC7UP
11-01-2004, 04:11 AM
For those of you new to contesting, we create our own prop due to the extreme amount of RF floating in the tropsphere. It really was a great contest, I worked 158 countries.
Curt
Well, I had a BLAST this weekend working CQWW I worked 303 contacts. 183 multipliers and worked mostly 20 - 15 and 10 with 5 contacts on 40. the lower bands were way too noisy. I ended up with over 150,000 for points. I think pretty good for my 100 watts and my R7 vertical mounted to my Chimney @ 20 feet. I know I am not up with the "BIG GUNS" but I am proud never the less.
46 countries worked on 10, 51 countries on 15 and 18 countries on 20 with 5 worked on 40 . All in all, I think I did ok for My first CQWW contest. I think I will really be ready for Next year. Got to get more sleep before the Contest starts though! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
I agree, it pays to LISTEN to how the DX are operating before Calling. I learned that many let the Mayhiem die down before catching a call, so I learned to wait a few seconds before putting my call into the crowd. It sure paid Off.
n4dxq
11-01-2004, 12:46 PM
I also enjoyed the contest this weekend and was able to work a few countries that I hadn't before... The thing that bugs me a bit are the signal reports that I was getting - I kept getting 59s all over the place. At first I though I was doing a great job getting out, but after a while it dawned on me that everyone was getting 59s. It got to a point that I was embarrassed to give out 55s when I was getting 59s in return. Either I'm getting amazing propagation from my 10 foot high dipole and 100 Watts or the signal reports that I'm getting are bogus. In any event, I must say, I really enjoyed the contest - can't wait for the next.
Bob
K3STX
11-01-2004, 03:45 PM
Don't bother to give "real" signal reports in the contest. Everyone using logging programs gets the default "59" filled in on the screen. If you give me a "55", I will have to go back and edit the information. Not the end of the world, but EVERYONE knows the signal report is not a real signal report. I use it to get the cadence of the guys voice.
Having said that, I think this might have been my first (and last) phone contest in 25 years. I LOVE CW contesting, and thought I would give it a go on phone for a few hours. I did not like it at all. It had nothing to do with conditions, I just didn't like it very much. I guess I could get used to it, but why? CW contesting is a completely different beast, and (in my perhaps incorrect) opinion getting through seemed to depend more on brute force than finesse. I don't think this is sour grapes, I managed 35 counties and 15 zones on both 20 and 10 meters using nothing but a dipole (that's all I really operated on). But it was not particularly satisfying (as compared to the CW contest).
paul
WA3KYY
11-01-2004, 03:50 PM
Quote[/b] (K9STH @ Oct. 31 2004,16:57)]I got on 10 meters for about 15 minutes this afternoon with my HR-2510 that I usually run mobile (25 watts peak output). #In those 15 minutes I worked 10 stations all in different countries.
I didn't even think of tuning one of the other rigs on 10 let alone a linear. #However, the linear was definitely necessary on 40 both Friday night / Saturday morning and Saturday night / Sunday morning.
Glen, K9STH
Don't know about that Glen. I made all my 40M contacts with 100W to a doublet up 25 feet. Not exactly the best for 40M DX. Timing was more the key than raw power. Only went after new ones on 40 and got all but MD4K. I think his receiver was broken. Even the KWs were having trouble raising him. He was 20 over on multiple bands using at max 400W but could not hear dozens of stations calling. Maybe he just had horrrid QRM since I have worked them easily with the same setup I was using this weekend.
Mike
WA3KYY
K9STH
11-01-2004, 06:19 PM
Fortunately for you, Mike, you are well over half-way to Europe than I am and that is almost all "over water". Plus you don't have to "go through" anywhere near as many stations to get there. The same for much of the DX.
From the Dallas, Texas, area it is over 1500 miles until we hit water any direction except south. It is like we have to go through all of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, a good part of the 4th, part of the 5th, part of the 8th, and part of the 9th districts before we get a "shot" to Europe, eastern Asia, and Africa. We have the same distance to water when we go for western Asia and Oceania and have to go through the western part of the 5th district, the 6th district, and the western part of the 7th. The only things that we get a good "shot at" is the Carribbean and South America.
With all of the stations being closer it definitely takes some power during the contest on 80 and 40 meters. On the higher frequency bands it is often possible to work DX stations without any problems running 100 watts to a good antenna. On 10 meters, especially with a good antenna, running considerably less power results in many contacts. In fact, I have run the HR-2510 mobile during DX contests (my antenna is a Larsen NMO-27K which has a negative 3 dB gain) and have worked many stations with just a little over 10 watts e.r.p.
When I do work other bands during the contest I do run the linear. Frankly, when I am running all bands I usually am trying to place high and I don't want to wait around to work a station. Also, when one runs a "bit" of power to a good antenna system it is possible to start "running" DX stations which definitely adds to your score. When I am looking for multipliers then I don't want to have to wait around until many other stations work the DX.
There have been times in the past when I didn't have a linear and did not have the antenna system that I have now. Although it certainly was fun working the contest my signal was definitely not sufficient to place very high in any of them. These days I usually stick to the lower frequency bands. However, like yesterday when I turned on the HR-2510 and heard all sorts of things coming through I just had to get on for a few minutes with the low power. My old HyGain DB-1015 yagi is only 3 elements. But, it has always done a very good job from this location. I could have moved my higher powered station up to 10 meters and run the linear. I know that I wouldn't have had to call more than once or twice. But, I still got through with the 25 watts peak from the HR-2510 in less than 10 calls on all of the stations that I worked.
Glen, K9STH