W6ZIP Single-Op, Low-Power, Low-Profile Ham RadioSport

John, W6ZIP continues building his low-power, low-profile ham radio contest station. He signed with eQSL and Logbook of the World who are handling his QSL confirmations. John commented, "I really like the ease of the eQSL system."

DXCC and Worked All States (WAS) are on his goal list for the next solar cycle as well.

Weather conditions prevent further work on his feed line through the attic into the W6ZIP Ham RadioSport contest shack. He said, "I'm going to resolve that soon."

John is stoked, "Contest on, oh yeah, and work a multi for mom!!!"

Right on for John, W6ZIP in southern California whose working hard in his contest shack. It's shack lights and RadioSport action.

Reference:

John, W6ZIP (2007, December 1). Personal communication.

Signals From the RadioSport Blogosphere v.7

Around the RadioSport Blogosphere in 400-words or more. The thrill of victory and the fun of the operating chair. This is RadioSport.

Signals From the RadioSport Blogosphere.

• Scott, NE1RD's 100 Pound DXpedition goes into retirement after a great run. I'm wondering if Scott is thinking about another blog in the near future?
• Jeff, K3OQ's Adventures in Ham Radio met the long black leather jacket wearing, pointy boots with silver tips, black cowboy hat tipped low, sippin whiskey from a shot glass who hissed, "C'mon make my day." Mr. Murphy struck during CQWW CW.
• Munso, VK4HAM's Ham Radio and Blokes Stuff posted tantalizing photographs of the dangers of Field Day operations in Austrialia.
• Scot, K9JY's Ham Radio -- Amateur Radio Contesting just re-conditioned his page. Click on over for the new look at K9JY.
• Sardjana, YB2ECG's Life's too Short For Contesting chats about YE2A for JIDX 2007.
• Jeff, KE9V's Long Delayed Echoes runs an interesting and thought provoking post this morning. It's the best food-for-thought in the Blogosphere.
• M0SCG/MX0SCG Sands Contest Group discusses CQWW and visiting with friends. Always a good read.
• Scott, W4PA's Those Damn Contesters Have Ruined Ham Radio hits the RadioSport Blogosphere with an s9 plus signal this morning. Read about his insights during CQWW last weekend.
• Laurie, VK4VCC's Contesting & DXing chronicles his contest station construction. He's taking us from the first nail too the first QSO. I anticipate VK4VCC will populate your band maps in the future. He is looking for feeder suggestions. Go VK4VCC!
• Keith, W4KAZ's Amateur Radio From the "Cheap Seats" is the best coffee for thought in the Blogosphere. Grab a cup of W4KAZ's steaming joe.
• David, K2DBK's Ham Radio Blog speaks too the bandwidth crisis during a contest. No one is complaining when a DXpedition operates pre- and post-contest especially if they are a new counter. Read K2DBK.
• Steve, KC8QVO blogs about his Crappie Pole Pack Antenna, Center Loaded.

Checking my CQWW log, C6ATA on 40-meters but, it's like the Lord of the Ring's sequels, what happened during the contest?

Antennas of Interest.

• VE3EN's Solar Cycle 24.
• QSOnet Virtual Ionosphere For Amateur Radio.

That is wrap for this week.

Contest on.

Blog On

73 de Scot, KA3DRR

RadioSport Contesting -- The New Spectator Sport

Innovation, creativity, and imagination coupled with the power of the Internet is breaking new ground for RadioSport. I realized this afternoon that a new spectator sport is emerging that is RadioSport contesting.

A positive is happening as new blogs, new web cams, new audio streams are added. This is just the beginning for RadioSport.

Traditional informational sources are yielding to the interactive such as Live Amateur Radio Scores, audio streaming, real-time interviewing, RadioSport web cams, and blogging. The Internet world, not just contesters can see, hear, and read about RadioSport as a contest is happening.

This weekend, in my estimation, signaled a new wave of interaction and tremendous opportunity. Perhaps RadioSport is poised as one gateway within Ham Radio that again infuses our hobby across the age spectrum. The new tools of gaining individual interest in Ham Radio are Live Amateur Radio Scores, audio streaming, RadioSport web cams, and blogging.

We have an opportunity at increasing participation in contesting and Ham Radio despite the bottom of the solar cycle. As a suggestion, if one is operating a web-cam interact with the web cam, just like an athlete does in the Super Bowl or ESPN's X-Games. Post signs around the shack for example Just Operate, Go CQ, Work A Mult For Mom, Contest On, Multi-Multi Rules things like that.

The Internet world is now watching, reading, and listening.

I firmly believe that RadioSport contesting is emerging as the new spectator sport on the Internet.

Contest on.

2007 CQ World Wide CW Continued...

I fell asleep last night watching the Patriots and the Eagles. The game was not boring however I was toast after the contest. Kimberly commented, "You're snoring really loud."

But, I'm not snoring in Morse code, yet. I hit the rack early after a stellar weekend chasing DX with my Yaesu FT100 running 45-watts and doublet.

SP Grid (World Record Holders, DXpeditions, & World Wide Teams).

• E51A DXpedition.
• KH7X Oceania World Wide Record 2003.
• P40W QRP World Wide Record 2003.
• P49Y Andy, Northern California Contest Club Member.
• ZF1A Multi-Two World Wide Record 2006.
• 9Y4AA N6ZZ Memorial Team.

What a signal from the South Cook Island Team (E51A) on 15-meters. My FT100 s-meter registered s9 plus and the pile-up was thick. I listened as the operator methodically worked each station. I chose my frequency after a few minutes and called.

Success.

Lesson gained as a low-power, low-profile operator in a big time contest. First, ensure the call sign is copied correctly, nothing like all that work then bust the contact. Secondly, listen to the operator's technique in the pile-up for example, are they working up and down the frequency or picking out calls as the pile-up lessens. A few extra minutes before calling increased my odds of bagging the rhino throughout CQ World Wide CW.

Rick, NQ4I said it, "Timing is everything."

I need to get my log into CQ in a few minutes then upload my adif file into Logbook of the World.

Contest on.

2007 CQ World Wide CW Results

I really enjoyed this weekend especially 40-meters into the early morning hours on Saturday and Sunday. My sleep cycle is whacked. CQ World Wide CW 2007 lived up to its billing and provided hours of continuous fun. My searching and pouncing produced the following results --

RadioSport Fun.

• 8 new countries overall for DXCC.

KA3DRR Results.

Band (Raw Qs) Valid Qs (QSO Pts) Pts/Q (Cties) Zones
-------------------------------------------------------------------

10 -- -- -- ---- -- --
15 24, 23, 60, 2.50, 13, 9
20 30, 28, 78, 2.60, 8, 9
40 33, 30, 79, 2.39, 14, 8
80 4, 3, 8, 2.00, 3, 3
160 -- -- -- ---- -- --

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals 91, 84, 225, 2.47, 38, 29

Total Multiplier: 67
Final Score = 15,075

Operating Time = 6:58

My operating time did not include an additional 24-hours of spinning the dial on the Yaesu FT100. I heard plenty of stations such as BA4RF and B4B on 20-meters and the real surprise with its associated disappointment hearing 3X5A on 40-meters but the pile-up was thick. It was the one and only time I heard Africa throughout the contest.

More to follow this week.

Contest on.

2007 CQ World Wide DX CW | The Midnight Hour

There is nothing like a hot cup of coffee at 1100Z while the fog blankets my view of the Pacific. But that does not stop Morse code or RadioSport. The music on 40-meters this morning is right on. My best too all those BICs at the midnight hour.

Contest on.