CQ 160-Meter CW Contest

Jan 28, 2200Z to Jan 30, 2200Z
Rules: http://www.cq160.com/rules.htm
Logs: https://www.cq160.com/logcheck/

 

Don't Forget...... CQ 160 - Jan 28

 

Awesome - even though I don't have anything decent for 160 tx, I just got my W6LVP experimenters active loop kit. So good timing.

Maybe if I don't get called away, I can submit a checklog at least.

Looking forward to it.

 

You know, this got me thinking.

What about a "reverse-checklist" so that rx-only amateurs and perhaps even swl'ers can participate in some way?

Ie, whatever software the CQ contest guys use to collate it all for those who transmit, can be reversed to make sure that so-called rx only participants who submit checklogs is accurate, and can strive for some sort of ranking?

It's not meant to get your name in lights, but to serve as a fun way to improve your station, try things out, sit on top of a mountain in your underwear - but for whatever reason you cannot transmit and see where you rank in the standings.

I always wondered if an rx-only category could work - but to avoid someone just making things up, the sponsoring contest software could "check the checklist guys ... "

 

Just realized that without any sort of exchange, this would be meaningless other than a personal goal. I'm still going to stock up on monster-drink and do it anyway.

The only way for this to be useful would be to make it useful to the two-way participants somehow.

For instance, when things start to thin-out for the 2-way participants, and they go 20 minutes without a response, they may be interested to know after the contest that 30 rx-only types heard them well in a dx-location! They would have to query a post-contest rx-only database of submitted checklogs I guess...

I should talk this out with a contester to see if there is any way to incorporate an rx-only category and see if it would be something useful or not....

 

SWL found!

Although I couldn't find any swl rules, when I did a test run of N3FJP software, when filling in the fields for the Cabrillo conversion, one of the drop down categories for a transmitter is "swl".

Although as an swl in a single-op category, I wonder if I'm restricted to just 30 hours? I guess I'll play by that rule for now.

Whether my data will be useful to someone - who knows. Will submit anyway. gotta' catch some ZZzzzsss...

 

Round two when the band opens tonight and I wake up. What a blast!

For me just copying calls is not enough - to add a bit more involvement, I gotta' also copy the state/region, since those are not always what you think they are.

And in the small time it takes to go from the call > rst > state exchange, a lot can happen. More challenging and implies hanging in there with the station rooting for them to succesfully complete a contact with the other station so you can log 'em too.

I didn't know listening / logging 160m ALL night long was on my bucket list!

So many small fun details as you are chasing these guys around. Totally worth it falling over after 12 hours. And wanting to do it again! Keep up the great work gang..

 

I wish I could EVER stay up all night anymore! Just before dawn here, trying to work AK and SD..the last two I need for a sweep of the states in ONE contest! Never accomplished that before though I try every year.

So close...but yet so far...

 

Oh man, so much fun. Caffeine, snacks, and plenty of 30 minute breaks now and then really helped.

Even though I wasn't transmitting, keeping a log, watching for dupes, only validating those I could copy the *entire* exchange, not just the callsign kept it challenging fun.

Kind of went like this in my head for the hard ones:

"hey, there's that station I couldn't hear, but now he ran downfield to a clear spot!"
"Somebody pick this guy up, he's out in the open so I can log him!"
"Oh no, the big guns are moving in and my filter walls are rumbling...."
"Cmon dude, pop your call, pop your call !!"
"Cmon man, pick up the pace or someone you can't hear is going to jump in.."
"Crap, the big guns on either side are getting stronger and propagation for you is weaker.."
"Question marks! Yes, yes, someone is trying! "
"Cmon man, work it out, he's on your backside, he's on your backside!!"
"I heard you switch antennas earlier, so I know you got them ... work it out, work it out!"
"Ah, geez I'm as narrow as I can go, and the bricks on my filters are totally crumbling.."
"Question marks again ... then .... then .. EXCHANGE !!"

SCORE!! That one can now go into the log.

Now I know why it's called a sport. Weird to be part of it as rx-only, but the whole logging, dupe-checking, spinning and grinning with the vfo. Wow, that kept me up all night with a smile on my face.

Thanks to all the participants. What a great two nights.