CQ WPX Contest - CW

-

I found two hours on Sunday 5/29 to participate in the annual CQ WPX Contest.  The exchange is a simple:  RST + Serial No.   Using AC Contest Log I was able to make 50 "search and pounce" contacts with keyboard macros, along with CW Skimmer to help with the decodes.   

The way it works is pretty straight forward.   When you hear a station calling CQ,  toss out your call sign and wait to be acknowledged.  Chances are the operator who is "running" the frequency will return someone else's call.  Either wait patiently for that contact to finish or move on and keep searching.  Listen for the op to send TU or call CQ TEST - that's how you know its safe to throw out your call again.  

Once you have been acknowledged just respond again with your call, RST and Serial number.   The operator will confirm with either a Roger (R) or a Thank You (TU) and begin calling CQ again.  Occasionally the operator may ask NR?  In this case just send your Serial Number again.  

Macro Setup in AC Contest Log is easy.   F8 key is assigned to my call WX7V.  F9 is WX7V * #.  F10 is # to make sure I can easily just the serial number again.  AC Log automatically increments SN after each contact is logged.  So using the wild cards * (RST) and # (SN) in your macro is fine business.  

Solar Cycle 25 has been great so far this year, but often punctuated with short periods (a few days) of terrible bands conditions due to solar flares, etc.   Still today I was able to work 19 DX including New Zealand, Japan, Hawaii and Alaska on CW, so no complaints here.  It was Ava's High School Graduation Weekend so I was lucky to get any time on the radio at all!  

I did not use the straight key during the contest but I "redeemed" myself immediately thereafter by completing 1 straight key POTA contact - gotta make sure I keep living right!

PS - the date below should be May 29th, 2022.   73 Chris de WX7V





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Remote CW with RKI 1.05 and Sparkfun FT231X breakout board

-
Image
I've created a workable solution for sending CW via a "straight key" to my remote Flexradio 6600 at the lake using RemoteKeyerInterface (RKI) and a simple Serial/USB circuit.   RKI is only available for Windows. RKI enables you to use paddles or a straight key to send CW through a remote Flex‑6000 transceiver.  After several iterations I've settled on a design using the Sparkfun FT-231x breakout board and RKI v1.05 that was originally posted by Gary KT7AZ on the RKI  groups.io forum .   However, to send CW reliably via a straight key - there were two main problems I had to solve. First,  I had to resolve the network latency and buffer bloat in my shack's network by setting up a router with Smart Queue Management.   The Ubiquity EdgeRouter  was recommended by a friend of mine (Larry N1FG) and has been working great.  I'm using the 4 port Edgerouter X which was only $50 at microcenter (open box special).  No more audio stutterin...
Read more

BENS BEST BENT WIRE

-
Image
Update 11/19/23 - Tribute for Bill Crane, SK 10/26/23: https://youtu.be/Znyqq9f93r0?si=bxPV0zVmGN7oWo_u ++ Update August 22, 2022.   I was able to find Bill Crane W9ZN on the air by looking for his spots on RBN .   Took me a while to see the pattern on when and where he's be on frequency, but not only did we make the QSO, we exchanged cards as well!  This is one of my favorite QSL cards that I've collected so far.  Thank You Bill!     73 Chris de WX7V ==================================== Last month I asked a members of the Straight Key Century Club  what was their favorite way to warm up before sending morse code.  I got a lot of input - from, "Just jump right in" to sending the Alphabet and the Numbers 0-9.   My favorite answer is to practice sending Bens Best Bent Wire, with the letters and numbers run together so that the code produced sounds similar to a march.  Apparently this was taught by the RAF,  merchan...
Read more

FTdx3000 - configuring external panadapter using SDRPlay RSP1A

-
Image
 The panadapter on the FTdx3000 is fine but not great.   I'm using SDRuno with the SDRPlay RSP1A  which is a significant upgrade!   Cost was minimal since I already had a RSP1a stored in a  drawer waiting for a problem to solve.   Hardware configuration is straight forward.  On the back of the FTdx3000, connect the IF OUT (RCA connector) to antenna input on the RSP1a.  I needed a cable with RCA to SMA adapter.  Plug in USB connections from the RSP1a to the computer, and another from the FTdx3000 radio to your computer. Download and install OmniRig from dxatlas.  Omnirig provides CAT control for the Yaesu radio - allowing you to automatically tune into any frequency by clicking signal in panadapter waterfall.   Find the SiliconLabs Enhanced Comm port (use Ports in Device Manager)- you need to use the same com port and speed settings in the omnirig and sdruno configurations. Start sdruno, click on settings - the...
Read more