ARRL DX CW contest

[CatSnoutSoup]

For new operators trying to improve their code skills this is a good time to get on 40m and work some of the big European multi operator stations.

They have large antenna arrays and can actually hear you on your low hanging wire and 100 watts, exchange is simple for this contest, and at this time of night into the second day of the contest they are crying for contacts and willing to work with slower speed operators.

I am listening right now to CR3DX repeatedly laying down CQ loudly with no takers on 7008.65 kHz

Contest rules here
ARRL DX

'73'

 

[UJay]

This is my first year not part of a multiop team for this one.

Conditions seem super on 20m for both mornings. Some are talking about a 10m opening, I did catch 15m bubbling a little.
Low bands efforts will win this one-

Made a few QSOs so far- Will get in there for the end of the contest where 'fresh meat' is welcome.

+1 on this as a very good CW practice contest since code readers could be used - exchanges do not change, and US only works DX.


Band QSOs Pts Cty Pt/Q
7 2 6 2 3.0
14 154 462 39 3.0
21 10 30 10 3.0
Total 166 498 51 3.0
Score: 25,398
1 Mult = 3.3 Q's

 

[UJay]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9T7yfta_gg


Realizing the chance to make a quick recording doesn't exist during team efforts, I recorded a few minutes of a 20 meter run high in the band.

Here is what I ended with;
Band QSOs Pts Cty Pt/Q
7 45 135 30 3.0
14 155 465 40 3.0
21 11 33 11 3.0
Total 211 633 81 3.0
Score: 51,273
1 Mult = 2.6 Q's

 

[CatSnoutSoup]

That time of year again folks!
Easiest international CW contest to participate in with a very simple exchange.

Just don't be like me, if I recall last year I forgot that the log submission window is 5 days now.
CQ were the ones that started this trend a few years ago because they thought some folks were being given too much time to massage their logs.

Honestly I probably only get on the air maybe 3 or 4 weekends a year anymore -- this is one of them.

'73'

 

[CatSnoutSoup]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9T7yfta_gg

Hey @w1ujay looking at the still image for the for the YouTube file it made me wonder what ever happened to the bankruptcy filing by Tokyo Hy-Power?

Did someone buy the line? What is the service parts situation now?

I have an AL-1500 with an Eimac 3CX1500A7 that I bought new and I hardly ever used it, actually sitting on a shelf since I rearranged the place last year.
I pretty much only work CW anymore and like I said on a few times a year so I am not that worried about amps. But I have thought in the past about selling that amp and buying a small solid state in the 600W range.
The ACOM 600S looks pretty sweet.

(Edit for Irony -- 45 minutes later and I can here ZM2B on 7032.7 khz but he can't hear my 100 watts, that's OK cuz the answer is always more antenna)

:emoji_tiger:

 

[UJay]

Have the THP off to the side now. (for sale!) I don't know about the business, but the amp sure does it's job-
I have the RF-Kit 2kw+ SS Amp, which is fun as hell.

Right now, the conditions are strange, and there were some of the most amazing low band conditions during the contest last weekend, our team put up out highest low-band score during ARRL CW. 80 and 160m were hopping. Chasing guys with 100w on top band is not something that I consider fun.

The CQWW 160 SSB is on this weekend, I did work ZF2 with 100w last night...

72 countries on 160m during the contest.

Summary:
Band QSOs Mults
-------------------
160: 156 72
80: 494 98
40: 1007 106
20: 1542 111
15: 579 94
10: 8 4
-------------------
Total: 3786 485 Total Score = 5,476,620