Signals from the RadioSport Blogosphere v.6

Momentum, growth, excitement, and fun populate this week's installment. I'm grateful and proud to be part of a larger community of Ham Radio blogging enthusiasts who are transforming content delivery and re-energizing our hobby.

Shortpath.

• Scot, K9JY's Ham Radio - Amateur Radio Contesting recently appeared on the American Radio Relay League's (ARRL) Surfin: It's contest time after producing 30 Contesting Tips in 30-days (ARRL, http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2007/10/12/1/). Also, check out his posting, Contesting to the fourth level, which synthesizes station configurations.
• Scott, NE1RD at 100 Pound DXpedition hit the club circuit with his blog and taking up the challenge of competing against another contester later this month. Also, an excellent photograph of his V4/St. Kitts station, gives one an idea of the task involved in planning, preparing, and testing prior to his departure.
• Jeff, K3OQ at Adventures in Radio by K3OQ operated in the CQ WW 2007 RTTY contest.
• Dale, KN4Q at KN4Q discussed his award chase while currently operating 100-watts into an attic dipole. He has 118 countries to his credit using a Level-4 configuration, outstanding!
• Jeff, KE9V at Long Delayed Echoes replaced his Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP) node and is back on the air. Recently, Jeff tackled important questions in relationship to the future of Ham Radio. His posting titled Mea Culpa - Setting it Straight is a great read.
• Scott, W4PA at Those Damn Contesters Have Ruined Ham Radio prepares for CQ WW SSB 2007 later this month. He's leaving for Aruba in 12 days and the race is on.

Longpath.

• Christian, DL6KAC at DL6KAC Ham Radio Blog recently returned from his vacation and operated XE1/DL6KAC. He reported buro QSLing when he arrives back home. Interesting note, given the change in currency and rising postal prices, is the traditional QSL card becoming an artifact?
• Andrew, VK4HAM at Ham Radio and Blokes Stuff updated the CQ WW DX SSB team composition for later this month. They are operating VK4TI.
• Laurie, VK4VCC at VK4VCC Contesting and DXing embedded VK3ER's 2007 Oceania DX SSB effort along with a few photographs of VK4WIL as well.
• The Sands Contest Group M0SCG/MX0SCG concluded their 80-meter single-sideband sprint early this month. Photographs of the Rochdale QRP Convention are posted.
• Sardjana, YB2ECG at Life's too short for Contesting operated the 2007 Oceania DX contest and the autumn running of the Eu Sprint as well. Catch his numbers and post contest reviews.

That's a wrap from the RadioSport blogosphere desk until next time, Contest On.

73 from the shack.

Preliminary NA Sprint CW Results (Sept 2007)

The preliminary NA Sprint CW results for September 2007 are posted at the National Contest Journal. Sprint pushed my operating skills to the maximum and rates as one of the best. Where did KA3DRR place as a Level-3 station (Scot, K9JY) whose antenna system comprises all-wire at less than optimal height and wavelength?

Breakdown.

One hundred and seventy one logs are on the preliminary list and W6YI operated by N6MJ who submitted 363 -Qs for a total score of 15,928 is number one, overall.

• There on 102 high-power (HP) logs, 62 low-power (LP) logs, and 7 QRP logs.
• When sorting LP only KA9FOX who submitted 263 -Qs for a total score of 11,572 is number one.
• For the QRP category, KC5R submitted 178 -Qs for a total score of 6,942 points is number one.

LP entrants comprised 36.2% of the total logs submitted whereas QRP entrants comprise 4.1% and 59.6% of the logs fell into the (HP) category.

• Eight in the 15k range (15,928 - 15,030) (8HP).
• Eight in the 14 k range (14,715 - 14,018) (8HP).
• Twelve in the 13k range (13,760 - 13,019) (12HP).
• Fifteen in the 12k range (12,980 - 12,169) (15HP).
• Fifteen in the 11k range (11,886 - 11,088) (11HP) (4LP)
• Sixteen in the 10k range (10,922 - 10,032) (13HP) (3LP).
• Twelve in the 9k range (9,954 - 9,020) (7 HP) (5LP).
• Twelve in the 8k range (8,880 - 8,064) (8HP)(4LP).
• Six in the 7k range (7,854 - 7,280) (2HP)(4LP).
• Nine in the 6k range (6,981 - 6,027) (4HP)(4LP)(1QRP).
• Eight in the 5k range (5,811 - 5,092) (3HP)(4LP)(1QRP) .
• Five in the 4k range (4,968 - 4,318) (2HP)(3LP).
• Twelve in the 3k range (3,944 - 3,008) (3HP)(6LP)(3QRP).
• Nine in the 2k range (2,976 - 2,070) (1HP)((8LP).
• Ten in the 1k range (1,988 - 1,150) (3HP)(5LP)(2QRP).
• Fourteen in the less than 1K range (738 - 16) (2HP)(12LP)

Fascinating distribution of station power to score, noting, the top of the Sprint HP pyramid ranged from 15,928 to 12,169 points (n = 43). The first LP station's broke into the scoring distribution within the 11k range lead by KA9FOX (n = 4). In addition, HP stations progressively drop as one descends the base of the Sprint pyramid. At the base one discovers the greatest number of LP stations (n = 12).

Hypothetically, there maybe a positive relationship between LP entrants (n = 12) in the less than 1K range and, station level -3 and -4 as well as entry-level to Sprint contesting.

KA3DRR.

• 158th out of 171 in the overall sort.
• 51st out of 62 in the LP sort.

In conclusion, when Sprint 2008 rolls around in February, I can gauge my performance against benchmarks while monitoring my Sprint skill development into the future.

73 from the shack.

Reference:

National Contest Journal (2007). September 2007 CW Sprint Preliminary Results. Retrieved on October 12, 2007 from http://www.ncjweb.com/sprintcwprelim.php.

Scot, K9JY (2007). Contesting to the fourth level. Retrieved on October 12, 2007 from http://k9jy.com/blog/2007/10/10/contesting-to-the-fourth-level-station/#comments.

2007 California QSO Party Debrief

Time to expand on the results of California QSO Party 2007 from last weekend. I had a blast operating as N6CQP and many thanks to the Northern California Contest Club (NCCC). It was a big hoot that rated 4-stars on the fun scale.

I achieved 27.8% of my overall 550 -Q goal for this year, earned a signed and personalized 100 -Q certificate, achieved the official CQP tee shirt for 100 or more -Qs, and worked 63% of the available multipliers (58). I called CQ approximately 1846 times throughout 20-hours of operation; the result 1 Q : 12 CQs as a low-power, low-profile station running 40-watts peak-envelope-power into a center fed inverted-L doublet at 30-feet. In addition, I QSY'd approximately 59-times and changed bands 10-times before the finish.

Most notable moments working VE5MX, KH6LC, KS4UD, and team mates in the Northern California Contest Club. I recall asking Jim, KS4UD to repeat his exchange as the Idaho multiplier took me by surprise. Thanks Jim for hanging tough. His antenna is a mini-G5RV.

My multiplier breakdown as follows TX (13), WA (12), AZ (7), CO (7), TN (7), FL (6), ALA (6), VA (6), PA (5), OR (4), OH (4), BC (4), WY (3), ONT (3), KS (3), OK (2), GA (2), MI (2), IN (2), NY (2), WV (2), CT (2), MD (2), and only one -Q in AB, MA, MT, NM, NJ, SK, HI, UT, LA, ID, MN, SC, and MO. I swept the following call areas 2-land, 6-land, and 8-land.

Propagation at 2136Z Saturday afternoon measured solar flux indice (SFI) 69, A-index (5), K-index (1), later Sunday morning SFI (69), A-index (4), K-index (2) then Sunday afternoon SFI (69), A-index (4) and, K-index (1). I did not work any stations on 15-meters. Perhaps that results falls under antenna and location. My propagation lesson revealed that maximum usable frequency (MUF) went long on 40- and 80-meters shortly after sunset Saturday evening.

I sat back in my operating chair at 1202Z with a tall mug of java. Propagation on 40- and 80-meters went short and I enjoyed working California counties into sunrise.

Through the weekend four species of birds flew in and out of view notably red tail hawks and seagulls. One bi-plane buzzed the beach with big red letters on the fuselage -- RIDES. A brush fire broke out near the Oceano Dunes requiring the aid of California Department of Fire aircraft. What's contesting in California without a brush fire? Additionally, Radio Dawg kept me company laying on her blanket next to the operating chair as N6CQP propagated across the ionosphere.

Overall, CQP 2007 leaves me wanting more in 2008, hope to see you in the contest log.

73 from the shack.

RadioSport Blogosphere Interview: Dave, G4BUO and Eu Sprint

Sprint pushes one's operating skill from code speed to copying, from completing each non-duplicate contact with its distinctive exchange then moving up and down the band; if you Sprint then running is second nature.

The European RadioSport community concluded their October single-sideband Sprint. The stats since 1994 are 4257 entries with 51.1% of those entries in the CW category totaling 343000 QSOs. Sprint is big in Europe.

I would like to thank Dave, G4BUO who discussed aspects of Eu Sprint in our recent interview.

• "I love the agility and skill required for sprint contesting..." Dave

Tell us about the principle idea behind Eu Sprint?

Paolo, I2UIY had visited the USA and entered the NA CW Sprint. He really enjoyed it and wanted to start a contest along similar lines but aimed at European contesters.

Who is the Eu Sprint Gang?

The 'gang' are Paolo I2UIY, Dave G4BUO, Karel OK2FD and Hrle 9A6XX. An earlier member of the gang was Ben, DL6RAI but he stepped down to spend more time organising the WAE contests.

Why points only and no multipliers?

Every contest doesn't have to have multipliers! We felt that a country multiplier might give an unfair advantage to stations in rarer Eu countries.

Why the collaboration between the EU Sprint Gang and the World Wide Young Contester's organization?

WWYCers have been great supporters of the sprints and we are very grateful for their support. Hrle provides our link with WWYC.

Is Eu Sprint popular among young, entry-level RadioSport operators?

Yes, thanks largely to the efforts of WWYC.

Are there many operator's running less than 100-watts into wire antenna systems?

There are many entrants using wire antennas. I think many of them try to run 100w, especially since we started annotating the results for 100w stations. There are also some QRP entrants but, in these days of no sunspots, not many!

Any suggestions for entry-level contesters who are interested in participating?

Listen to the format of the exchange, which is different depending on whether you are CQing or calling someone else. Get your head around it, then have a go and remember to send in your log!

What does the future look like for Eu Sprint?

I don't know. We haven't reached the critical mass of activity to make the Eu sprints as fast and furious as their NA counterparts. I love the agility and skill required for sprint contesting but it doesn't seem to be attracting quite enough Eu operators. Maybe they just like to sit on a frequency and push F1 all the time, but for me that's not all there is to contesting.

Do you see a collaborative Sprint International sponsored by contesting organizations in the foreseeable future?

Maybe. Timing is important, but when the sunspots come back it may be more achievable.

73 from the shack.

Reference:

EU Sprint Contests http://www.eusprint.com/index.php?page=100&lang=g.

WorldWide Young Contesters http://www.wwyc.net/.

2007 California QSO Party Results

CQP 2007

Call: N6CQP
Operator(s): KA3DRR
Station: KA3DRR
Class: SO LP
QTH: SLUI
Operating Time (hrs): 20

Band CW/QSOs Mults
-------------------------
160: 0 0
80: 29 0
40: 45 8
20: 82 29
15: 0 0
10: 0 0
-------------------------

Total: 153 37 Total Score = 16,983

Long CQs = 939
Short CQs = 907
Total CQs = 1846

Changed frequencies 59-times not including band changes.

Good night and good luck.

73 from the shack.