Our ionosphere is quiet and my thoughts are ready. CQ WorldWide DX CW 2008 scorched and sizzled my contest log. I walked out of the shackadelic with a sense of accomplishment and a continued desire to improve my station. Hearing operators deep within the Asian zone cluster such as XW, BY, 9M6, and UW0 inspired me. We are at the threshold of Cycle 24 and there is lots of high frequency (HF) fun in the near future.
What worked?
My station is search and pounce (SP) that is scanning spectrum space for as many workable stations as possible. Then communicate with those stations. And I intend on building out along the DXpedition model with the goal of improving SP capabilities. The light bulb finally illuminated my situation.
What really worked was a personalized band map as I tuned downward from the top of the CW band to the bottom. I repeated this pattern, over and over, through the contest. The call sign of the station was marked on the band map and I continued scanning downward. I compressed N1MM's map where call signs were only visible because just above in the same box, one could easily monitor the frequency. I needed to see the station's call sign quickly not the frequency.
Furthermore, once the call sign is entered on the map, a timer began, I called this spot decay and 10-minutes or more is really short. A needed Q can vanish in less time. The criteria for my personalized band map was more than three calls as well.
LowPower, LowProfile SP Technique.
- Reduce size of N1MM band map just large enough for the call sign.
- Tune downward from top of the CW band to the one's legal bottom of band.
- If station is unresponsive after third call then self-spot.
- Continue spinning the dial to bottom of the band.
- Cycle to the top of the band and click downward on spotted stations while paying attention to spot decay.
- Repeat steps as necessary.
I also mentioned the use of tools like
DXAnywhere (
link) and
CW Skimmer Reverse Beacon Project (
link). DXAnywhere provides statistical data such as telnet spotting activity per call sign. And CW Skimmer Reverse Beacon Project, for me, is the best propagation tool available. I incorporated both RadioSport resources into my strategy.
For example,
DXAnywhere developed an aggregate picture of overall telnet activity in graphical form. I could spot surges on respective bands and
CW Skimmer Reverse Beacon Project validated in visual form as well. One saw an immediate shift in activity as propagation dipped and peaked on respective bands. However I did note a significant number of beacons east of the Mississippi.
Perhaps clubs and individual operators who are west of the CW Skimmer Beacon divide may consider joining the network?
Internet RadioSport Resources.- DXAnywhere graphically analyzed telnet spots per call sign or as an aggregate of all bands.
- CW Skimmer Reverse Beacon Project confirmed immediate band openings to specific Q-market locations eg. South America (15m) or Asia (20m or 40m).
Forty meters won the best band award. This spectrum space was crucial both in terms of remaining motivated and pushing my Q-count upward. However another resource really made the difference.
Live Amateur Radio Contest Scores (
link) provided additional competitive voltage. Why so? I just wanted to beat the operator in bracket number five. And I needed more than a stiff cup of coffee at 4 o'clock in the morning as well.
My second year operating in CQ WorldWide DX CW was remarkable. Especially hearing and working S9 Zone 25 Japan. I was surprised when their signals pushed the s-meter on the FT100, in fact, my location near the beach helped considerably. Likewise, those King Henry Six stations in the Hawaiian Island chain are a pleasure to work and log. Mahalo!
Contest on.
One hundred and sixty meters is the realm of the monster wavelength. Who dares to operate on this band? Or why am I taken by 160m and the challenge this spectrum space presents?
