HAM RADIO HAM RADIO CONTESTINGCONTESTINGHAM RADIO HAM RADIO
CONTESTINGCONTESTING
AN INTRODUCTIONAN INTRODUCTION
Jerry Spring, VE6CNUJerry Spring, VE6CNU
March 2007March 2007
Outline of Talk
• What is Contesting?• Who is doing it and why?• What equipment do I need?• Strategies and goals• Logging/Scoring• Details• Before, During and After• Personal experiences• Conclusions
What is it?
• To correctly exchange the required information with the greatest number of stations and multipliers, within the allocated time, and subject to the rules - thereby achieving the greatest score for your category and/or class.
What are the Trends?
*Source: Contesting.com
What are the Trends?
*Source: Contesting.com
What do I win?
• Physical Rewards– Plaques, Certificates, Bottles of Wine, etc.
• Recognition among peers– “Bragging Rights”– Call Sign in a Publication
• Personal Satisfaction– Improved skills, knowledge, character
Why do people do it?• Fun• Exciting to get in on the action• Work towards DXCC, WAS, etc.• Test out and optimize the station• Team spirit• Improve operating skills• Establish a new record• Maybe even to win?!
Is it for me?
• Contests range from several hours (sprints) to 48 hour marathons.
• Steep learning curve – lots to know
• Requires competitive personality• Try it and find out!
Should I try this from home?
• Clubs stations– Big power, antennas, fancy equipment– great places to learn and hone skills– What if I break it?
• Home stations – Total control– More restricted environment ($, antennas,
power)– More distractions
What equipment do I need?
• Modern Transceiver (preferred)• Decent antennas for contest bands• PC with logging software• Interface from PC to Transceiver (rig
control)• Accessories (headset with mic, foot
switch, paddle, ant. switch box, etc.)
Most Popular Gear
• Transceiver:– Icom 756 Pro, Yaesu FT-1000, KNWD TS-
950SDX• Amp: Various, electronically switched• Antennas:
– Monoband or triband stacked Yagis– Beverage for 160m (rx)
• Software:– TR-Log, N1MM, CT, Write-log, Wintest
Categories/Classes
• Single Op, Multi-Two, Multi-Multi• QRP (<5W), LP (<100W), HP (KW)• Single Band, All Band• Assisted, Unlimited• SO2R Issues
Strategies vs. Goals
• What do I want to accomplish?Example 1: Want to work new countries for
DXCC, so may work SOAB for a few hours on 10m, 15m, 20m.
Example 2: Have great antenna for 160m, so may work only single band 160m to maximize score.
Example 3: Can only work during the day, so may limit myself to single band 20m.
Logging and Scoring• Contest logging software tailored to contesting.
– Dup checking– Multipliers (worked and needed)– Rate– automated voice or cw keying– automatic scoring– bandmap (spotting)– rig control (instant QSY) – networking more than one radio– standard output files
• Good software improves efficiency and score!
Running Exercise
• CQ CONTEST CQ CONTEST DE VE6CNU– VE5ABC (ANSWERS)
• VE5ABC 59 Alpha Bravo (AB)– Roger Roger 59 Sierra Kilo (SK)
• QSL, GL in the Contest. VE6CNU QRZ?– W6ABC (ANSWERS)
• W6ABC 59 Alpha Bravo– Roger Roger 59 Charlie Alpha (CA)
• Roger Roger CU Later on 40m. CQ CONTEST CQ CONTEST DE VE6CNU
• ETC...
QSO
#1
QSO
#2
How Can I Practice?
http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=13437
Operating Techniques• Running
– Find clear frequency, call CQ, work as many stations as possible until rate drops off
– Big stations may run entire contest– May get run off, – They choose you, so may not work desired multipliers
• Search and Pounce – Start at bottom of band and call (work) stations while
tuning up the band.– May decrease rate, but allow for working for needed
multipliers– May lose run frequency
N1MM Log Display
Most Popular Contests• NAQP (Jan)• ARRL DX SSB/CW (Feb/Mar)• CQ WW WPX SSB/CW (Mar/May)• Field Day (June)• RAC (Dec/July)• CQP (Oct)• CQWW DX SSB/CW (Oct/Nov)• ARRL SS SSB/CW (Nov)
DETAILS, DETAILS...
CONTEST:
NAQP ARRL DX CW WW WPX
FIELD DAY
RAC CQP CQ WW DX
SS
EXCHANGE Name, St/Prov
RS(T), ST/Prov,Pwr
RS(T), serial no
Class, section
RS(T), Prov (SN)
SN, ST/Prov or County
RS(T), Zone
SN, Prec, Call Sign, Check, Section
PTS 1/QSO 3/DX 3or6/DX 2or4/NA 1=VE
2/CW2/DIG1/SSB
VE=10 RAC=20OTHER=2
3/CW 2/SSB
3/DX 2/NA VE=0
2/QSO
MULTS St/Prov each band
DXCC ENTITIES
#PFX in each band
QRP=5 <150W=2
UP TO 13x2 PER BAND
58 COUNTIESOR ST/PROV
40 ZONES, DXCC ENTITIES
80 SECTIONS (ST+PROV)
TOTAL MULTS
6 Bands,63/BAND
6 Bands,Σ DXCCENTITIES / BAND
6 Bands, Unlimited
“All Bands but WARC”,Extra Bonus Points
8 bands X 26 Possible
8 Bands X 58 Counties
6 BANDS, TOTAL ZONES + COUNTRIES
Count each section only once, regardless of band
HRS 10 SO 12 MO
48 36 SO 48 MO
27 MAX 24 24 SO 30 MO
48 24 SO 30 MO
Others...
• Top Band Challenge (Stu Perry)– 160m, points based on grid squares
(distance)• Worked All Europe
– Added fun of passing QTCs• Digital (RTTY, PSK31, etc.)• VHF/UHF
Realities of contesting from AB
• Good News: Not much competition for AB awards.
• Bad News: Most contests not winnable due to significantly worse propagation at higher latitudes (MUF), being land-locked, and geographic position vis-a-vis Europe.
Before it Begins• Know the rules (points and multipliers)• Review last year’s results (check 3830?)• Review propagation forecasts (run Hamcap?)• Plan a strategy before the contest starts• Set your PC’s clock to the right time zone and WWV time• Check out all hardware/software functioning properly
(test)• Update Partials Database in logging software)
• Record DVK messages (SSB contests)• Prepare food and drink• Prepare a “Plan B” in case of malfunction• Get a good night’s sleep
During Contest
• Keep notes – times on/off, mistakes• Check other bands periodically (10m?)• “Rate is Everything”
– When to Run vs. when to S&P?– Work “dupes”– Use partials database– Know the prefixes
• Use DVK or programmed CW from PC• Eat/drink to keep up strength, mental focus
After Contest• Back up your files• Review notes and logs (edit as necessary)• Submit your log and verify received ok by robot• Optional:
– Submit scores and comments to 3830 reflector– Import QSOs into main logging program– Submit QSOs to eQSL/LOTW– QSL to “new ones”
• Review strategy and note “learnings” for next time
• If really serious, review UBN reports
Don’ts:
• Forget to take care of basic needs– Eat, Drink, washroom break, stretch
• Give up too easily. Keep the Velcro® on your pants.
• Stop trying new things.• Forget it’s just a contest!
Personal Experience
• Try to improve station each year
– 2004: Butternut HF9V antenna with old TS-530S rig, manual logging.
– 2005: 40’ Tower with TH3 triband yagi, FT1000MP rig, rig control, N1MM logging.
– 2006: Replace TH3 with TH6 tribander, added 40m/80m inverted vee, shunt-fed tower for 80m.
– 2007 Plans: Add 2 more sections onto tower (56’), add 160m sloper antenna.
Conclusions
• The popularity of HF contesting continues to grow.
• Contesting is hard work but promotes knowledge, technique, efficiency and sacrifice.
• Never too late to start.• A great way to add to DXCC or
other awards