CQ WPX SSB '06 [Archive]

03-26-2006, 03:58 PM

Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ Mar. 26 2006,10:47)]Is it just me or are band conditions really sucking?
15 meters was pretty sucky yesterday from here. There was a very breif opening (less than an hour) to Europe mid-morning then not much of anything else until mid-afternoon. But in the afternoon I still got the usual paths to the Carribean, Central & South America and the openings to the Southwest and South US.

Things seem much better on 15m this morning to Europe.

Haven't heard a thing on 10 meters all weekend. Don't use 20 so can't comment about that.

This is just with a ground-mounted vertical. Probably could hear a lot more if I had a beam and tower.

KC9ECI

03-26-2006, 04:11 PM

I'm on ground mounted vert as well, running my normal QRP. I have never heard so many S-5 to S-9+ signals that I can't get back to. It was so bad I even went out to make sure my antenna was still pointing at the sky and that the coax was connected.

K6BTM

03-26-2006, 04:31 PM

Quote[/b] (ai4cb @ Mar. 26 2006,07:58)]Haven't heard a thing on 10 meters all weekend.
Hum... 10 M was open to South America here Fri. and Sat. Worked a few just for grins. Using ~ 100W and a Dipole. Most of them seemed to be the big gun contest stations. YMMV

KI4NGN

03-26-2006, 04:31 PM

I just have a random length wire, 100 watts, and this weekend on 20 and 40 I worked all over the country, into South America, and all over Europe, all during daylight hours from early morning into late afternoon.

Mike

KC9ECI

03-26-2006, 04:37 PM

I tend to avoid 20M as much as possible, except for the hour that it first opens and the hour after it's mostly closed. I usually concentrate on 10 and 15 and I can get anything anywhere this weekend. I'm fighting for every Q. I'm seriously thinking about just shutting down, grilling a chicken and trying to salvage the rest of the day doing something worth my time.

k4lem

03-26-2006, 04:49 PM

Big antennas got going on 40 as they do every contest.

My log:

HC1N- equador

OE1A- Austria

5B/ xxxx - Cyprus

Yw1CW

I2VRN- This guy huge signal 30 db over S9
Even megawatt BC stations sometimes do not range as high.

Many others also.. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

KC9ECI

03-26-2006, 04:56 PM

I shut down. I'm spinning the VFO on 40 looking for a ragchew in session to join and I keep passing by contester begging for contacts.

AG3Y

03-26-2006, 06:24 PM

Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ Mar. 26 2006,12:11)]I'm on ground mounted vert as well, running my normal QRP. I have never heard so many S-5 to S-9+ signals that I can't get back to. It was so bad I even went out to make sure my antenna was still pointing at the sky and that the coax was connected.
Same situation here. I didn't transmit once, since I do not work contests, but I heard many, many strong signals on 20 meters, whereas during the week it is hard to hear anything at all on the band!

Too bad no one was out there looking to exchange SSTV pictures, or have a nice ragchew, but I have been around the block enough times to realize that doing either of those activities during a major SSB contest would be an "exercise in futility".

Besides, my analog audio to CD project has me busy up to my armpits with tasks to do !

73, til later. Jim

K3UD

03-27-2006, 12:16 AM

I found great conditions on 20/40/80 and 160. Made contacts on 10 and 15 but although there were stations to be worked, there was light activity whenever I was on. Band conditions on 10 and 15 seemed to be good to the Carribean, Mexico and Central America and South America.

Plenty of activity for the contest though and worked quite a few on 160 meters.

73
George
K3UD

wg7x

03-27-2006, 12:19 AM

Well fellows,

It just goes to show you... you never know if the band is open or not if everyone is listening and no one is calling!

Lets see... I only worked two stations on ten meters this week-end, one on KH6 and the other in LU1 land. That's better than nothing I guess.

Fifteen was chock-full of DX and domestic station all day Saturday and Sunday. Best DX on fifteen was ZD8Z (Ascension Island).

Twenty meters was the usual zoo, with so many stations on that it was difficult, but not impossible to make a space. Best DX on twenty was 6W1RW, (Senegal). Another interesting note on twenty meters: Plenty of nets and Ragchews operating pretty normally. Jim, AG3Y's favourite frequency 14.230 was having a bit of a struggle, but SSTV noises were heard all week-end.

Forty meters from here was the usual. Lots of South and Central American stations on in the evening. Best DX here would be... Well it's hard to say. A mix of S.A. stuff. I have a lot of local noise on forty in the evenings, centered around 7250 every night. I think it is one of those AC plasma TV sets. Makes domestic QSO's a lot harder. OK and 6W were both heard here but not worked on forty.

Eighty meters was wide open stateside and DX too! Best DX here would have to be V31RV in Belize, on 100 watts and a dipole. Many similarities with forty in that most DX here is South and Central America.

I have to run 100 watts on eighty because of interference with the furnace, of all things...(!) but I ran about 1 KW on twenty and fifteen, and 100 watts on ten. My only antenna at this time is an eighty meter dipole fed with ladder line and tuner. Up about fifteen meters. (~45 feet).

All in all a most enjoyable week-end, even if I did not have a big station at my disposal like we did last year. I think I did OK for the tribander and wires category, even if all I have is the wires part!

73 Gary WG7X

w8cbc

03-27-2006, 12:21 AM

I heard some South America in 10 metres this afternoon.

Conditions are a bit off as the 3885 AM thing this noon was pretty unstable. No flares or magnetic storms so it may have been sporadic E - I heard some SSB activity at 50125kc a little later (the first signal I've ever heard in 6 metres around here) and it was between a 9 and a 7.

W3MIV

03-27-2006, 12:47 AM

I had only limited time to work the contest, and made only 223 total contacts, but they included every band except 160m which my wire will not work.

Ten and Fifteen were open mostly to the Caribbean and South/Central America; it was very, very quiet on both bands, and the signals were easily picked off, though few and far between.

Twenty was a real zoo, with as disparate a mix as you could want to work, but the noise levels were astronomical. First time I ever worked the Galapagos Islands, Morocco and Senegal.

I was astonished by some of the serials I received from a few stations -- 4xxx and 5xxx. I worked a total of 162 prefixes for a calculated score of 67,230. That won't even get me in the park!

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Still, in all, it was fun.

N6WK

03-27-2006, 12:50 AM

I found Conditions, were less then Ideal, But still had good Luck. I worked every band 160 thru 10. My high lights were being called by E21YDP in Thailand ,TU2CI in the Ivory Coast , and by EK0B in Armenia.
I had a Great Contest. I worked 323 stations and ended up with a score around 178,000.
Europe opened up Sunday Morning for a bit, and the Pacific was open on Saturday evening. Of Course, The Carribean was always in here, day or Night.
I got to try out my new Zig Zag long wire on 40 and It worked GREAT!
On 80, It would turn my Wifes TV on and Off inthe Bedroom, which she was NOT happy about, but unplugging it solved that problem http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

All in All, A FUN weekend.

Gordon
N6WK

KB3LIX

03-27-2006, 12:57 AM

Quote[/b] (wg7x @ Mar. 26 2006,19:19)]Well fellows,

It just goes to show you... you never know if the band is open or not if everyone is listening and no one is calling!

Lets see... I only worked two stations on ten meters this week-end, one on KH6 and the other in LU1 land. That's better than nothing I guess.

Fifteen was chock-full of DX and domestic station all day Saturday and Sunday. Best DX on fifteen was ZD8Z (Ascension Island).

Twenty meters was the usual zoo, with so many stations on that it was difficult, but not impossible to make a space. Best DX on twenty was 6W1RW, (Senegal). Another interesting note on twenty meters: Plenty of nets and Ragchews operating pretty normally. Jim, AG3Y's favourite frequency 14.230 was having a bit of a struggle, but SSTV noises were heard all week-end.

Forty meters from here was the usual. Lots of South and Central American stations on in the evening. Best DX here would be... Well it's hard to say. A mix of S.A. stuff. I have a lot of local noise on forty in the evenings, centered around 7250 every night. I think it is one of those AC plasma TV sets. Makes domestic QSO's a lot harder. OK and 6W were both heard here but not worked on forty.

Eighty meters was wide open stateside and DX too! Best DX here would have to be V31RV in Belize, on 100 watts and a dipole. Many similarities with forty in that most DX here is South and Central America.

I have to run 100 watts on eighty because of interference with the furnace, of all things...(!) but I ran about 1 KW on #twenty and fifteen, and 100 watts on ten. My only antenna at this time is an eighty meter dipole fed with ladder line and tuner. Up about fifteen meters. (~45 feet).

All in all a most enjoyable week-end, even if I did not have a big station at my disposal like we did last year. I think I did OK for the tribander and wires category, even if all I have is the wires part!

73 Gary WG7X
I didn't think the weekend was that bad, I worked

ZD8Z on 15, on Ascention Island.

HC8N on 15, 20, 40 & 80 from the Galapagos Islands.

Senegal on 15 & 40

and Hawaii on 15.........Don't laugh, I'm in Pennsylvania, and I do not hear Alaska or Hawaii that often.

15 seemed to open quite nicely, IMHO. (But remember, I don't know crap from crappola)

And, I have a boatload of callsigns that I don't have a clue where they are.

All on my $ 35.00 homemade inverted "V".

I can just imagine what I couldn't hear !

OOPs, Albert reminded me, I forgot Morocco.

KE5FRF

03-27-2006, 01:10 AM

Quote[/b] ]ZD8Z on 15, on Ascention Island.

HC8N on 15, 20, 40 & 80 from the Galapagos Islands.

Senegal on 15 & 40

and Hawaii on 15.........Don't laugh, I'm in Pennsylvania, and I do not hear Alaska or Hawaii that often.

My inverted V worked all those stations too, save Senegal. NH6JC was the Hawaii station I worked, but there might have been others.

Another good one I cought on 15 meters was ZX3S in the lower part of Brazil, about 4,000 miles, so I was happy to snag that one.

KC9ECI

03-27-2006, 01:14 AM

Lets see, Icom 703, Hustler 6-BTV, 15 hours of operating time, got me 109 prefixs, 263 QSO points, 109 multipliers for a score of 28,667. I'd have hit my revised goal of 30K if the XYL hadn't called me for supper. I revised my goal after I hit 20K.

Quote[/b] ]4A7 6W1 8P2 8P5 8P6 AA6 AB3 AD4 AD6 AD7 AN7 DR1 EA8 HC1 HC8 HK3 HR2 J6 K0 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 KD2 KE0 KF4 KG44 KH7 KI6 KJ4 KK4 KO6 KP2 KQ2 KT9 KV7 KW7 KZ7 LR2 LU1 LU2 LU4 N0 N2 N4 N5 N6 N7 NA4 NC7 NE1 NF4 NI7 NJ2 NJ4 NK5 NK7 NO6 NQ4 NR6 NT4 NT6 NU5 NX5 NX6 OA4 OH8 P40 PJ2 PR2 PS2 PX5 PY1 TG7 TM7 TO3 V31 VA3 VA7 VE1 VE3 VE5 VE6 VE7 VO1 VP5 VY2 W1 W5 W6 W7 WB2 WC6 WE4 WN1 WN6 WR3 WT4 WW5 WX3 WX5 XE1 XE2 YW4 ZF1 ZP5 ZX2

KB3LIX

03-27-2006, 02:27 AM

I never even considered figuring out a score, I just did the contest to see what I could work. Maybe that will be a project for sometime this week. I do not have any kind of contesting software, I just use a good 'ole
Excel spreadsheet. I use the sort functions to sort the info by band, then by callsign. Then I can use the Ctl-F function to check a callsign to see if it is a dupe.
Takes a lot of time, as I am quite ANAL about logging information. In a contest it is more simplified, just date, time, frequency (down to the .01 decimal place, call sign, number exchange and location IF I know where the prefix is from)
Then sort it out, color code it, and it's time to boogie.

Maybe it would be a good investment to get some type of logging software. Way too much typing.

KC9ECI

03-27-2006, 02:49 AM

Genlog is free. I use the N3FJP logging software, and it's well worth the money.

N6WK

03-27-2006, 02:56 AM

I also use N3FJP's software,
It is the Best. I paid the $ 49 bucks and I get everything he Comes up with. I must add, he is Also a VERY nice guy along wth his Wife Kimberly.
You could NOT ask for better people to deal with.

Tell then N6WK sent you.. !
You will be VERY Happy if you Buy fron Scott !!!
Gordon
N6WK

KC9ECI

03-27-2006, 03:06 AM

And Kimberly will scare the daylights out of you the first time she yells 'DUPLICATE' at you during a contest.

VE3EN

03-27-2006, 03:15 AM

... found that conditions were really good on 20m.. worked Sri Lanka, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait etc.. heard 9M2, 9M6, 9V.. but EU piles very big..., 15 was good at times as well. working VK4, ZL, A35, TZ, . 10m opened up nicely to South America and Caribbean this afternoon..

finished with 92 DXCC worked this contest.. not too bad for 100 watts.

Whats weird.. i didnt even work a KL7 at all.. ah well.. still a great time this weekend.

Cheers, Kevin VE3GIB

ae6yd

03-27-2006, 03:28 AM

KC9ECI, I know how you feel. I'm temporarily stuck down at about 20W due to power supply issues, and I heard all sorts of S7, S9, S9+10 etc... who couldn't hear me. I wanted HC8N quite badly, he was S9+ into here, and half an hour of calling produced nothing.

Made a whopping 6 contacts. But, on the bright side, they're my first 6 contacts. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

KC9ECI

03-27-2006, 03:31 AM

Ya, but I'm a masochist, I do this by choice. I'm sure if I'd have fired up the 101 on 20M I'd have bagged a lot more QSO's. QRP is not for the faint of heart. I think next year I'm going to run just 1 watt. Maybe even just half a watt.

I got HC8N on 10, 15, and 20, but just could not catch them on 40. Maybe next year.

WA5KRP

03-27-2006, 03:32 AM

I was busy this weekend and only got to contest with the Radio Operators of South Texas Friday evening on until 2am Saturday. Got a bunch of Russian stations before 20 closed for the night and stayed busy as hell on 40M. Our club is not into hard core contesting. We go to the club house, slam beers, eat, and cut up a lot. Nonetheless, we wound up with 1300+ contacts.

The whole point was to have fun. We managed to fry two baluns on our 160M full-wave loop and just ran the ladder-line directly to the tuner. Worked fine - just fussy to tune up.

It was good to hear so many stations on the air. We operated as W5ROS. Didn't catch any QRZers on my shift.....I hoped to catch at least one of ya'll.

Hey Gordo -

What do you use for your 160M antenna? Just curious.

WA5KRP
Texas

ad5qb

03-27-2006, 03:46 AM

Did my usual search and pounce in between the weekend honey-dos. 100 watts to my dipole at 30 feet got me a few contacts, all on 15 meters. Mostly down to the Carribean and South/Central America, but did hear some Europeans and even got a couple of French and German contacts on my little pistol setup. Lotsa fun.

N6WK

03-27-2006, 03:50 AM

Quote[/b] (WA5KRP @ Mar. 27 2006,04:32)]Hey Gordo -

What do you use for your 160M antenna? Just curious.

WA5KRP
Texas
I just use a Long wire that is Zig-Zagged all over to take up space.
Not very Pretty, But it works !
It is only about 40 feet high at it's highest point. Of course, I have to run it through a Tuner, But that is NO problem either...

My 7 Element Yagi doesn't like it very much on 20 Meters, but the other bands don't seem to care that it's there... They are the NICE guys.
20, is still a bit Grumpy to the NEW guy in the Neighborhood !!
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

It is pretty close to the Yagi on part of the Zig, but NOT the ZAG...

Gordon

KC9ECI

03-27-2006, 11:11 AM

I got W5ROS at 21:19Z on 3/25/2006 on 20M

WA3KYY

03-27-2006, 03:06 PM

My results were similar to WQ7X only I did get 6W1RW on 20M http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ZD8Z was pounding in a 15M the whole weekend during daylight hours. He must have been 30 dB over S9 the majority of the time and was running US stations like gangbusters. He was giving out serial numbers in the 4600s by mid afternoon Sunday. I wouldn't be surprised to see he made over 5000 contacts total.

My best DX was CN2R on 75M which is a real stretch for my 100W to a G5RV antenna 20 feet off the ground.

It was also a pleasure to work more Region 1 stations simplex in the range 7.15-7.20 than I did split. There were even some who were working above 7.2, I sure hope they were legal. It will be really nice when the whole world gets 7.1-7.2 and we don't have to fight the broadcasters any longer.

73,
Mike WA3KYY

WA5VQM

03-27-2006, 03:47 PM

I got started late, worked Spain on 40M and thought "didn't I do this just a couple of weeks ago?" and spent the rest of the weekend doing other things.

Maybe when the CW part rolls around I'll be more in the mood.

73, Mark

wg7x

03-27-2006, 04:20 PM

Well fellows,

Looks like everyone had a good time, and that's what it all about.

I had no idea that W5ROS was manned by WA5KRP... I heard them and called them a couple of times, but did not make the Q. Seemed like every time I heard them, the signal was clear but a little weak and being clobbered by the big guns.

Sorry guys! If I had known it was a QRZ type there I might have tried a bit harder. I also heard KD5OWO, Steve working 'em out there.

CU guys later!

73 Gary

kj5t

03-27-2006, 05:32 PM

The bands didn't seem to be the greatest, very noisy. I made alittle over 240 contacts (242 if I remember correctly) and I had just about 51,300 points with the mults counted in. This was close to 100 more contacts than last year, and over 25K more points than last year. Most of my contacts were on 20, but on 20 mostly I was only hearing U.S. Stations with a few VE, EU, SA, and Carib. stations. Sunday afternoon I went over to 15 and wroked some VE, NA, SA, Carib., and EU stations. I went down to 10 meters for a bit Sunday afternoon but only managed to get 1 SA station. On 40 before the contest ended I worked a few NA and DR1A.

I had fun, and I am looking forward to improving my score again next March!

ae6yd

03-27-2006, 05:36 PM

KRP, I worked W5ROS at 0550 Zulu on the 26th, down on 40 meters. Sorry to have missed you.

K3STX

03-27-2006, 09:53 PM

For me two highlights:

1. Calling CQ on 15 meters on Sunday around 1900 UTC with very very few takers (I was sick of S&P on 20). Out of the blue a weak station calls, it is 5B/AJ2O from Cyprus, who informed me I was dead on the frequency of another USA station who was LOUD over there (I didn't even hear the US station). I QSY'd.

2. Working Mike, WA3KYY, but it actually took a while to translate the Kilo Yankee Yankee in my mind to Mike's call!! We usually do this on CW, it was wierd hearing his voice.

paul

ab8ma

03-27-2006, 10:08 PM

Quote[/b] (VE3GIB @ Mar. 27 2006,03:15)]... found that conditions were really good on 20m.. worked Sri Lanka, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait etc.. heard 9M2, 9M6, 9V.. but EU piles very big..., 15 was good at times as well. working VK4, ZL, A35, TZ, . 10m opened up nicely to South America and Caribbean this afternoon..

finished with 92 DXCC worked this contest.. not too bad for 100 watts.

Whats weird.. i didnt even work a KL7 at all.. ah well.. still a great time this weekend.

Cheers, Kevin VE3GIB
Way to go, Kevin.

This past wpx weekend I just enjoyed the maylem. I gave points to many stations from whom I have received cards from previous wpx contests.

One station said to me "Thanks for the multiplier.". Cannot figure that one out. He had my call right. Who would need Michigan?

wg7x

03-27-2006, 10:15 PM

AB8MA sez:Quote[/b] ]Cannot figure that one out. He had my call right. Who would need Michigan?

You're kidding, roght?

It was a PREFIX contest. He did not care where you lived, only that you had a new PREFIX.

Not too many AB8's on the band I guess, just like the WG7's

CUL

Gary http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

ab8ma

03-27-2006, 10:28 PM

Quote[/b] (wg7x @ Mar. 27 2006,22:15)]AB8MA sez:Quote[/b] ]Cannot figure that one out. He had my call right. Who would need Michigan?

You're kidding, roght?

It was a PREFIX contest. He did not care where you lived, only that you had a new PREFIX.

Not too many AB8's on the band I guess, just like the WG7's

CUL

Gary # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
Well, you learn something every day. Thanks for the info. AB8 is special - how 'bout that!

Starting to go to my head now. When's the next contest? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

k0cmh

03-27-2006, 10:37 PM

On two ocassions this weekend, both on 20 meters, I could hear two stations on the same freq. So I had some fun and during a pause, threw out my call. Both stations answered and boy were they confused when I gave out 2 serial numbers. It took awhile to get them to understand that I could hear both of them, they both could hear me, but they couldn't hear eachother. It was humorus.

Made my goal of 100 contacts this time. Only worked an hour or two at a time. Mostly on 20, but caught a part of the opening on 15 and it was nice -- quiet and lots of space between signals. I missed the 10 meter openings, guess it was dead all the times I checked it.

Had three contacts on 40 meters, which was not very productive when I tried it.

Best contest for me so far.

KB3LIX

03-27-2006, 10:42 PM

Quote[/b] (WA5KRP @ Mar. 26 2006,22:32)]I was busy this weekend and only got to contest with the Radio Operators of South Texas Friday evening on until 2am Saturday. #Got a bunch of Russian stations before 20 closed for the night and stayed busy as hell on 40M. #Our club is not into hard core contesting. #We go to the club house, slam beers, eat, and cut up a lot. #Nonetheless, we wound up with 1300+ contacts.

The whole point was to have fun. #We managed to fry two baluns on our 160M full-wave loop and just ran the ladder-line directly to the tuner. #Worked fine - just fussy to tune up.

It was good to hear so many stations on the air. #We operated as W5ROS. #Didn't catch any QRZers on my shift.....I hoped to catch at least one of ya'll. #

Hey Gordo -

What do you use for your 160M antenna? #Just curious.

WA5KRP
Texas
According to my log,
I worked W5ROS at 0352 est, 0852z March 26 on 3773.00 kHz. I was contact # 853.

That's the only entry for W5ROS.

I have heard MANY great comments about N3JFP software, including the bit about Kimberly shouting "Duplicate"

I just might have to crack open the vault door and get a copy.

W3MIV

03-27-2006, 11:51 PM

Quote[/b] (KB3LIX @ Mar. 27 2006,17:42)]I just might have to crack open the vault door and get a copy.
You will never regret the money you spend for Scott's software. It makes working a contest easy and sure, and it makes getting the log ready to submit easy too.

Trust me, get the CD so you have it all -- it is money well spent, and Scott is easily available in those rare instances when you may need a little help.

A really good logging system makes a big difference in the sheer enjoyment of a contest, no matter how irritating the bozos on the bands at any given moment.

W3MIV

03-27-2006, 11:54 PM

Quote[/b] (k0cmh @ Mar. 27 2006,17:37)]On two ocassions this weekend, both on 20 meters, I could hear two stations on the same freq. #So I had some fun and during a pause, threw out my call. #Both stations answered and boy were they confused when I gave out 2 serial numbers. #It took awhile to get them to understand that I could hear both of them, they both could hear me, but they couldn't hear eachother.
I had the same experience, probably with the same two stations.

KB3LIX

03-28-2006, 12:19 AM

Just for the HALIBUT, I figured up the points for the contest.
Iffin I'm figuring correctly,

690 QSO Points X
171 Unique Prefixes =

117,990 points.

After checking all the prefixes, I found 2 more goodies:
Azerbaijan on 40m and Pakistan on 15m.
I gotta memorize the prefix chart, but the chart has quite a few prefixes missing. I guess that is part of the challenge, things constantly changing.

W3MIV

03-28-2006, 12:28 AM

Quote[/b] (KB3LIX @ Mar. 27 2006,19:19)]Just for the HALIBUT....
Spoken like a true Irishman.

XV2PS

03-28-2006, 02:11 AM

Pffff, I do not know where or when you are on the air. I have worked probably over a hundred US stations in 3 years, but could never grab any of the qrz.com folk. Also this week-end, I did over 10 US stations, but none of you. Even have been calling CQ US during the contest with full power. I worked even much longer paths (such HC8N other side of earth, a PY station,...). But no qrz.com folk. :rock:

kf6rdn

03-28-2006, 02:31 AM

I felt the bands were good on Sunday, I only had about a 1/2 to work, although I was running around in the car, 17 was stronger then usual, so I fugured what the hell, popped up to 10 and heard alot. Got home, worked a couple, then had to leave again. I think one was the LU station.

I could have worked alot more if I could figure out how to log stuff and drive at the same time! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Short of simply recording everything and transcribing it later.

Worked a couple of 5 stations I'll have to see if one was the 'ROS when I get home.

N6WK

03-28-2006, 03:25 AM

Quote[/b] (W3MIV @ Mar. 28 2006,00:51)]Quote[/b] (KB3LIX @ Mar. 27 2006,17:42)]I just might have to crack open the vault door and get a copy.
You will never regret the money you spend for Scott's software. It makes working a contest easy and sure, and it makes getting the log ready to submit easy too.

Trust me, get the CD so you have it all -- it is money well spent, and Scott is easily available in those rare instances when you may need a little help.

A really good logging system makes a big difference in the sheer enjoyment of a contest, no matter how irritating the bozos on the bands at any given moment.
Albert,
That is Something You and I can Agree On!

Scott is back to you in Momemts,
if You ever have a problem ( which is almpost NEVER).
Best $49 bucks I have EVER spent.
I'll support Scott's Software forever. Scott and Kimberly have been VERY good to me

Gordon
N6WK

KB3LIX

03-28-2006, 03:33 AM

I will get a chance to use the N3JFP software at this years Field Day exercise. Last year, we used paper logs and that was a pure PITA.
This year, we will be using 'JFP in a networked situation, we are going to try to do a wireless LAN for the group. About 5 LAN stations if I'm adding them up correctly.
Should be interesting.

ae6yd

03-28-2006, 08:07 AM

Quote[/b] (XV2PS @ Mar. 27 2006,18:11)]Pffff, I do not know where or when you are on the air. I have worked probably over a hundred US stations in 3 years, but could never grab any of the qrz.com folk. Also this week-end, I did over 10 US stations, but none of you. Even have been calling CQ US during the contest with full power. I worked even much longer paths (such HC8N other side of earth, a PY station,...). But no qrz.com folk. :rock:
According to your sig, you're calling CQ US around 1200 UTC. That's 0400 local here (California). I'm in bed 99% of the time at 0400 local time.

KC9ECI

03-28-2006, 11:24 AM

Quote[/b] (KB3LIX @ Mar. 27 2006,22:33)]I will get a chance to use the N3JFP software at this years Field Day exercise. Last year, we used paper logs and that was a pure PITA.
This year, we will be using 'JFP in a networked situation, we are going to try to do a wireless LAN for the group. About 5 LAN stations if I'm adding them up correctly.
Should be interesting.
We did that here last year and it worked fantastic. You'll wonder how you managed without it afterwards.

K9STH

03-28-2006, 05:15 PM

One thing that I noticed was that a number of the DX stations on 40 meters were having all sorts of problems receiving. They would "call out" a frequency up in the U.S. portion of the band, then call CQ a couple of times, then say something like they had to find another frequency on which to listen. Then call CQ a couple of times, say that they had to find another frequency, and so on. Those stations just were not working that many stateside stations.

One thing that can be said for the WPX is that it is a "free for all" in the fact that you can work anyone, anywhere, for points, multipliers, etc.

Glen, K9STH

WA3KYY

03-28-2006, 05:18 PM

Quote[/b] (KF6CZG @ Mar. 28 2006,03:07)]Quote[/b] (XV2PS @ Mar. 27 2006,18:11)]Pffff, I do not know where or when you are on the air. I have worked probably over a hundred US stations in 3 years, but could never grab any of the qrz.com folk. Also this week-end, I did over 10 US stations, but none of you. Even have been calling CQ US during the contest with full power. I worked even much longer paths (such HC8N other side of earth, a PY station,...). But no qrz.com folk. :rock:
According to your sig, you're calling CQ US around 1200 UTC. That's 0400 local here (California). I'm in bed 99% of the time at 0400 local time.
But that's good for us right coasties if we can get up that early on a Saturday morning (7:00am, soon 8:00am). For a few more weeks that will be just an hour or so past grayline but should still be good on 20M.

The 15M times though, 0000Z-0200Z, are a little past dark here on the east coast right now but will become grayline as we move from spring into summer.

I'll have to make a point to listen once I get the Moseley mini beam up (hopefully this weekend).

73,
Mike WA3KYY

NN3W

03-29-2006, 01:31 AM

Quote[/b] (XV2PS @ Mar. 27 2006,19:11)]Pffff, I do not know where or when you are on the air. I have worked probably over a hundred US stations in 3 years, but could never grab any of the qrz.com folk. Also this week-end, I did over 10 US stations, but none of you. Even have been calling CQ US during the contest with full power. I worked even much longer paths (such HC8N other side of earth, a PY station,...). But no qrz.com folk. :rock:
Name the time and place Pierre. I'll be there (although 20 and 40 are best from this part of 4-land).

73 Rich

XV2PS

03-29-2006, 01:50 AM

CZG wake up earlier or go to sleep later http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
I will be on this Staurday before and after 1200Z. I will post it on qrz.com when and where I am. But best works on the day path from my Sunday 0000Z. With this poor propagation, 20M and night path is bit hard...

WA5KRP

03-29-2006, 02:28 AM

Quote[/b] (XV2PS @ Mar. 28 2006,19:50)]CZG wake up earlier or go to sleep later http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
I will be on this Staurday before and after 1200Z. I will post it on qrz.com when and where I am. But best works on the day path from my Sunday 0000Z. With this poor propagation, 20M and night path is bit hard...
Let us know the frequency and time Saturday. I'll take a shot at it.

WA5KRP
Texas

KB3LIX

03-29-2006, 02:46 AM

Pierre,

I have the chance of a snowball in hell of either hearing or being heard in Vietnam, but I'll give it a shot too.
Name the freq and time.

XV2PS

03-29-2006, 03:14 AM

When I am on, I will put back my old topic on, then you know I am on:

http://www.qrz.com/ib-bin....and+air (http://www.qrz.com/ib-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=7;t=91365;hl=currently+and+ who+and+air)

AL7GA

03-29-2006, 03:45 AM

Did anyone figure out where the KG44WW call was from and why, if it was legitimate he was operating outside the US phone band???

KC9ECI

03-29-2006, 04:19 AM

KG44WW is Guantanamo Bay. It was a special prefix for the WPX contest and N4BAA is the QSL manager.

KB3LIX

03-29-2006, 04:20 AM

I could be wrong, but I think it was KG4WW, Bill from Guantanamo Bay Cuba. Apparently he was able to get a special call for WPX, and operating from Gitmo, he would have been able to transmit outside the US bands because he was south of some specific latitude.
I don't have part 97 in front of me to check.

SEVERAL people will correct me if I am wrong.

cu2jt

03-29-2006, 11:05 AM

I had great ambitions for the WPX contest and planned to work 40m single band but after listening on 40 for about one hour without finding a singe cycle to pull out a CQ, I changed my plans and went to 20m only to find that band in the same shape. Splatter, a lot of "again??" and absolutely no chance to find a frequency clear enough to read any replies.

I knew I should be the only CU2 in the contest and thus, a good multiplier but SSB contest sucks from an European perspective. Too many over-powered stations with too much mic-gain makes reception virtually impossible.

So, I decided to call it a day and gave up after 100 contacts.

With my 600 watts output and a half wave vertical on 20m I should be able to do better than that but in that bedlam, you need to produce a S9 signal to be heard.

Another thing you US guys should be aware of: If you work EU on 40m in a contest, make sure that the guy in the other end understands that you are working him. There are not many clean spots on 7150 - 7300 KHz which means that several EU stations can be monitoring the same frequency. So, if you call someone on his listening frequency, mention his call sign just to avoid confusion.

And, guys: PLEASE PLEASE try to make the Europeans stay within the band plan. Do not use sub 7040 frequencis for reply. Give the CW/PSK guys a break.

There will be a CW contest soon and I will be better off.