zaterdag 3 mei 2014
donderdag 1 mei 2014
New ON-record in CQ WW DX CW
With 627 K points, I was able to beat the current ON record in the 2013 CQ Worldwide DX contest SOHP-10m-A CW category
Huray !
I makes me yet more happy because the 3el Steppir isn't optimal for the 10 meter band. The bad F/B ratio is not an obstacle to perform well in a big contest.
The new record is now :
Again a rather bad Q/multi rate, but Running mode is so much more funny than S&P, even in assisted mode.
The error rate of 2,2% - lower than the median error rate of 2,7% - is imo still too high. This costs me 5,3% of my final score.
Especially the wrong zone numbers hurt me. This is due to a lack of concentration and experience with N1MM.
The OG and LZ zone-errors may not occur because there is no doubt possible...
Another tricky one is the dit-disease :
dit : S59DCR correct S59DKR
dit : GM3YEU correct GM3YEH
dit : 6Y7P correct 6Y7W - country multi lost !
dit : UR3VR correct UR3UR
dit : UW5A correct UW5U
dit : KN3Y correct KN4Y
dit : IZ3IQW correct IZ3SQW
dit : DL6MRK correct DL6MFK
dit : DF3SS correct DF3IS
9 missed dit's = 0,5% call error rate
But others have the same problems. OT1A was copied :
OT-2-3-4-5-6A = 9x O-E-Y-1A = 3x
Huray !
I makes me yet more happy because the 3el Steppir isn't optimal for the 10 meter band. The bad F/B ratio is not an obstacle to perform well in a big contest.
The new record is now :
1653 QSO, 3604 Points, 38 Zones, 136 countries, Score 627096
Again a rather bad Q/multi rate, but Running mode is so much more funny than S&P, even in assisted mode.
The error rate of 2,2% - lower than the median error rate of 2,7% - is imo still too high. This costs me 5,3% of my final score.
Especially the wrong zone numbers hurt me. This is due to a lack of concentration and experience with N1MM.
28066 CW 2013-11-23 0645 OT1A 14 UA7G 17 correct 16 28077 CW 2013-11-23 0732 OT1A 14 R8OA 17 correct 18 28102 CW 2013-11-23 0953 OT1A 14 OG6N 14 correct 15 28102 CW 2013-11-23 0957 OT1A 14 LZ1NG 15 correct 20 28070 CW 2013-11-23 1754 OT1A 14 N7GVV 3 correct 4 28044 CW 2013-11-24 0943 OT1A 14 RD8O 17 correct 18 28042 CW 2013-11-24 1122 OT1A 14 R7LA 17 correct 16 28106 CW 2013-11-24 1427 OT1A 14 KV1E 5 correct 4 28052 CW 2013-11-24 1620 OT1A 14 N7FUL 3 correct 4
The OG and LZ zone-errors may not occur because there is no doubt possible...
Another tricky one is the dit-disease :
dit : S59DCR correct S59DKR
dit : GM3YEU correct GM3YEH
dit : 6Y7P correct 6Y7W - country multi lost !
dit : UR3VR correct UR3UR
dit : UW5A correct UW5U
dit : KN3Y correct KN4Y
dit : IZ3IQW correct IZ3SQW
dit : DL6MRK correct DL6MFK
dit : DF3SS correct DF3IS
9 missed dit's = 0,5% call error rate
But others have the same problems. OT1A was copied :
OT-2-3-4-5-6A = 9x O-E-Y-1A = 3x
zondag 20 april 2014
Dipole troubles @ OT1A
Troubles on 10Mhz !
I keep it in my calendar to do a big review of my outside equipment every two years. Normally this is summer stuff, but with the good weather of the moment and a free day on Friday I decided to do it now.
This gives me some extra time this summer to play on 10Mhz in order to achieve DXCC band 8. With only 32 countries confirmed it will be a big job...
Four things to do :
1- line up the dipole which has turned 45 degrees by the hard wind some months ago.
2- check the wiring of the Steppir and clean the fiber tubes (a lot of pigeon shit this year).
I also remarked the results of our hard working sun. Fibers are suffering the UV light.
Step 1 : the green painted fiber becomes grey.
Step 2 : all painting disappears and the main fiber becomes visible.
I do not estimate any risk on this process. If needed, fibers can be changed very easily.
The 12 wires of the 3 stepp-motor were in perfect condition.
This antenna is now working fine for about 7 years in all conditions without one single failure. Super FB !!
3- check the wiring of the Yaesu rotor. The needle doesn't follow, so maybe a bad connexion.
I've found indeed two wires with corrosion. My plastic protection egg - vertically mounted - wasn't 100% water proof. Now I've mounted the egg horizontally (like my steppir egg).
This is the risk of having an extra connexion near the rotor. It helps a lot if trouble appears - the control cable can be checked end-to-end very quickly - but the risk for corrosion increases.
I keep it in my calendar to do a big review of my outside equipment every two years. Normally this is summer stuff, but with the good weather of the moment and a free day on Friday I decided to do it now.
This gives me some extra time this summer to play on 10Mhz in order to achieve DXCC band 8. With only 32 countries confirmed it will be a big job...
Four things to do :
1- line up the dipole which has turned 45 degrees by the hard wind some months ago.
2- check the wiring of the Steppir and clean the fiber tubes (a lot of pigeon shit this year).
I also remarked the results of our hard working sun. Fibers are suffering the UV light.
Step 1 : the green painted fiber becomes grey.
Step 2 : all painting disappears and the main fiber becomes visible.
I do not estimate any risk on this process. If needed, fibers can be changed very easily.
The 12 wires of the 3 stepp-motor were in perfect condition.
This antenna is now working fine for about 7 years in all conditions without one single failure. Super FB !!
3- check the wiring of the Yaesu rotor. The needle doesn't follow, so maybe a bad connexion.
I've found indeed two wires with corrosion. My plastic protection egg - vertically mounted - wasn't 100% water proof. Now I've mounted the egg horizontally (like my steppir egg).
This is the risk of having an extra connexion near the rotor. It helps a lot if trouble appears - the control cable can be checked end-to-end very quickly - but the risk for corrosion increases.
4- rebuild the 40m Optibeam dipole into the 30m version by replacing some tubes.
At this point Murphy joined the club. The changing was an easy job. In order to be sure, I did a dummy-load test and the antenna feed point to check the coax. No problems.
But once back on place in the air, the antenna gives me a full-scale swr... Damn !
Or there is a problem at the feedpoint, or there is a problem with a bad connexion between tubes. Anyway after all work I can't come out on 10 Mhz...
I will go for another solution i.e. making a vertical dipole. This will be easier on short term.
donderdag 3 april 2014
DX stress
It was an sms sent by Franki, OQ5M, that woke me up from winter-sleeping. CQ WPX passed this weekend, and again the shack stayed qrt. Too much to do, the final preparation for another running contest this weekend etc...
However, it was an alert to have a look at the dxcluster. VK9MT in the air. Mellish reef is one of the 6 expeditions to work this year ! It didn't notice that the dxpedition was started.
Ok, due to my lack of activity the antenna was still at 17m, so this couldn't be the problem. I quickly put up the tx and went to 24Mhz. The expected zoo was busy, of course without listening to the operator. I think the poor guy was so impressed that he went qrt. Even after 5 minutes folks were calling in the empty darkness.
My expectations came true : few minutes later a spot arrived on 18Mhz, also ssb (probably the same operator). A few calls later, Mellish Reef entered the OT1A log.
I noticed also a TX6G, but no country was indicated and with the garden calling even harder to be cleaned , I did not pay attention.
Back in town, far away from the shack, I looked up the strange TX call : Austral Isl.
My God, this was also a missing one ! And he should go qrt the next day, April 1st.
Big problem : next day was fully filled in with qrl. Only one big hour of free time at noon (with 25 minutes for a single trip to the shack, this meant about 20 minutes of operating time).
Some more stress : this dxpedition claimed a focus on rrty, while I do not play this mode.
I took the risk, went to home and Austral was active on 21Mhz ssb. Ouf !
Due to this stress I forgot my laptop and had to take the cluster via my poor gsm. Nothing bad, but another problem arrived : the Austral Islands were not indicated on my bearing map and I couldn't look up for extra information on the internet.
My intuition indicated around 0 degrees, short path. The station was there but with a weak signal.
Without listening (shame !) I took a split of 5 kHz and called. He immediately answered my call. This was my lucky day. Huray.
Anyway, once passed the 300 DXCC every new entity means a challenge and often there is no way to have a second change.
DX delivers stress !
However, it was an alert to have a look at the dxcluster. VK9MT in the air. Mellish reef is one of the 6 expeditions to work this year ! It didn't notice that the dxpedition was started.
Ok, due to my lack of activity the antenna was still at 17m, so this couldn't be the problem. I quickly put up the tx and went to 24Mhz. The expected zoo was busy, of course without listening to the operator. I think the poor guy was so impressed that he went qrt. Even after 5 minutes folks were calling in the empty darkness.
My expectations came true : few minutes later a spot arrived on 18Mhz, also ssb (probably the same operator). A few calls later, Mellish Reef entered the OT1A log.
I noticed also a TX6G, but no country was indicated and with the garden calling even harder to be cleaned , I did not pay attention.
Back in town, far away from the shack, I looked up the strange TX call : Austral Isl.
My God, this was also a missing one ! And he should go qrt the next day, April 1st.
Big problem : next day was fully filled in with qrl. Only one big hour of free time at noon (with 25 minutes for a single trip to the shack, this meant about 20 minutes of operating time).
Some more stress : this dxpedition claimed a focus on rrty, while I do not play this mode.
I took the risk, went to home and Austral was active on 21Mhz ssb. Ouf !
Due to this stress I forgot my laptop and had to take the cluster via my poor gsm. Nothing bad, but another problem arrived : the Austral Islands were not indicated on my bearing map and I couldn't look up for extra information on the internet.
My intuition indicated around 0 degrees, short path. The station was there but with a weak signal.
Without listening (shame !) I took a split of 5 kHz and called. He immediately answered my call. This was my lucky day. Huray.
Anyway, once passed the 300 DXCC every new entity means a challenge and often there is no way to have a second change.
DX delivers stress !
zondag 26 januari 2014
Amsterdam Island in the log !
Only one hour after the expedition start, Amsterdam Island is in my log on ... 12m.
Normally, I never try to catch a expedition on the first day, but this time I was in the shack and tried a few times.
So 2 planned QSY's this week from QRL-qth to shack has become obsolete.
I need them just once for DXCC 301. I'm not motivated to survive the lid fests on the other bands.
Normally, I never try to catch a expedition on the first day, but this time I was in the shack and tried a few times.
So 2 planned QSY's this week from QRL-qth to shack has become obsolete.
I need them just once for DXCC 301. I'm not motivated to survive the lid fests on the other bands.
zaterdag 25 januari 2014
My Steppir gets 100 Khz shorter !
Bizar :
I turned on my Steppir, powered up the ampli and remarked a reflected power of about 50W.
This isn't normal, I never had returning power.
Playing with the frequency adjustment, it shows that the SWR is nil at frequency minus 100Khz.
So I have to longer my antenna to achieve the old swr rating.
I first suspected one of the control cables, but this doesn't make sense : the Steppir reacts on a normal way.
Looking through the window, the problem became clear : my 40m dipole, about 1m perpendicular under my Steppir has moved about 30 degrees. Something must have suffered the hard winds of the last weeks.
This new situation creates a capacity for the Steppir and shortens the yagi !
It's time for a yearly review of the antenna system !
And I've to tilt the tower and replace the 40m dipole by the 30m version.
Anyway, I made 50 QSO's in the uba-contest (completely forgotten that it's the last weekend of January and certainly not in a contest mood) to give some points.
I remarked a quite good activity on 24 Mhz, especially to the Carribean and African area. So I quit the SSB contest and went to S&P on 12 meters to collect some new countries.
Today my 12 meter DXCC is virtually achieved with 9 new countries this afternoon.
It's time for 30m !
And let's pray for a good Amsterdam Isl. expedition.
I turned on my Steppir, powered up the ampli and remarked a reflected power of about 50W.
This isn't normal, I never had returning power.
Playing with the frequency adjustment, it shows that the SWR is nil at frequency minus 100Khz.
So I have to longer my antenna to achieve the old swr rating.
I first suspected one of the control cables, but this doesn't make sense : the Steppir reacts on a normal way.
Looking through the window, the problem became clear : my 40m dipole, about 1m perpendicular under my Steppir has moved about 30 degrees. Something must have suffered the hard winds of the last weeks.
This new situation creates a capacity for the Steppir and shortens the yagi !
It's time for a yearly review of the antenna system !
And I've to tilt the tower and replace the 40m dipole by the 30m version.
Anyway, I made 50 QSO's in the uba-contest (completely forgotten that it's the last weekend of January and certainly not in a contest mood) to give some points.
I remarked a quite good activity on 24 Mhz, especially to the Carribean and African area. So I quit the SSB contest and went to S&P on 12 meters to collect some new countries.
Today my 12 meter DXCC is virtually achieved with 9 new countries this afternoon.
It's time for 30m !
And let's pray for a good Amsterdam Isl. expedition.
zondag 12 januari 2014
This was 2013, let's start 2014
Oh boy, allready12 days gone in 2014. Time is going too fast.
Time to take a look at 2013.
With 3760 Qso's made from home, this wasn't a top year (4th place in 18 years) on activity level. Only 19 days with at least one qso in the log.
2013 was the year of the first RTTY and PSK contacts. Until now, I'm not convinced. CW rules !
Of course the OJ0V expedition (preparation, qsy, qsl-work afterwards) with 17.000 Q's is not taken into account.
The DXCC counter reached 300. WAZ is now ok on 20/15/10, WAS ok on 15 and 10m.
I planned to be active on 12m to obtain my DXCC.
The progress was very good, but I'm at 95 confirmed countries and not at 100. Still 5 to go in 2014.
I worked every big expedition available but missed Temotu province this year.
A new contest era has started : not the 48hours-all-band activity as before, but a dedicated single band assisted operation. This worked very fine. Top results in the ARRL CW and CQWW CW contest and good balance activity-family during the contest weekend and not the need for sleep in the week after the contest.
To be continued in 2014.
I ended 2013 with a surprising visit of 2 policemen from our national control institute (like FCC).
Everything went fine, so no problems...
Plans for 2014, activity-year 19: I foresee a rather sabatical year on ham-radio level.
Now that WRTC dreams are delayed for a couple of years...
It will be my last heavy-QRL year with the move of second QRL-site (after the move of site 1 this year). Finally, after 6 years of too busy qrl, the future looks very bright with more free time than ever before.
Something that will take most of my free time in 2014 : I'm running in a new category this year, i.e. being the youngest Veteran. This also motivates to run good times during the almost weekly competition during the weekend.
Anyway I hope to be certainly active in at least 5 (CW) contests.
6 DX-expeditions to work this year for new DXCC: Amsterdam Island, Mellish reef, Austral Isl, San Andres, Nauru and Tromelin.
I foresee another few days of activity on 12m to have 100 countries.
I also foresee the start on 30m (only 31 countries confirmed) with my 30m dipole in stead of the 40m dipole.
On 20m I need North Dakota and Idaho to have my 20m WAS. Single band contesting will probably be focussed on 20m.
By the end of 2014 I hope to have at least 305 DXCC-mixed mode, WAS and WAZ on 20/15/10, a 12m DXCC award and about 80 countries on 30m band.
2015 will be a special ham year for me : 20 years on the air !
In the mean time, the 2 el 40m yagi will stay in the box and I'm looking forward to see the price and the performance of the new Ultrabeam 80m dipole.
Time to take a look at 2013.
With 3760 Qso's made from home, this wasn't a top year (4th place in 18 years) on activity level. Only 19 days with at least one qso in the log.
2013 was the year of the first RTTY and PSK contacts. Until now, I'm not convinced. CW rules !
Of course the OJ0V expedition (preparation, qsy, qsl-work afterwards) with 17.000 Q's is not taken into account.
The DXCC counter reached 300. WAZ is now ok on 20/15/10, WAS ok on 15 and 10m.
I planned to be active on 12m to obtain my DXCC.
The progress was very good, but I'm at 95 confirmed countries and not at 100. Still 5 to go in 2014.
I worked every big expedition available but missed Temotu province this year.
A new contest era has started : not the 48hours-all-band activity as before, but a dedicated single band assisted operation. This worked very fine. Top results in the ARRL CW and CQWW CW contest and good balance activity-family during the contest weekend and not the need for sleep in the week after the contest.
To be continued in 2014.
I ended 2013 with a surprising visit of 2 policemen from our national control institute (like FCC).
Everything went fine, so no problems...
Plans for 2014, activity-year 19: I foresee a rather sabatical year on ham-radio level.
Now that WRTC dreams are delayed for a couple of years...
It will be my last heavy-QRL year with the move of second QRL-site (after the move of site 1 this year). Finally, after 6 years of too busy qrl, the future looks very bright with more free time than ever before.
Something that will take most of my free time in 2014 : I'm running in a new category this year, i.e. being the youngest Veteran. This also motivates to run good times during the almost weekly competition during the weekend.
Anyway I hope to be certainly active in at least 5 (CW) contests.
6 DX-expeditions to work this year for new DXCC: Amsterdam Island, Mellish reef, Austral Isl, San Andres, Nauru and Tromelin.
I foresee another few days of activity on 12m to have 100 countries.
I also foresee the start on 30m (only 31 countries confirmed) with my 30m dipole in stead of the 40m dipole.
On 20m I need North Dakota and Idaho to have my 20m WAS. Single band contesting will probably be focussed on 20m.
By the end of 2014 I hope to have at least 305 DXCC-mixed mode, WAS and WAZ on 20/15/10, a 12m DXCC award and about 80 countries on 30m band.
2015 will be a special ham year for me : 20 years on the air !
In the mean time, the 2 el 40m yagi will stay in the box and I'm looking forward to see the price and the performance of the new Ultrabeam 80m dipole.
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