TDXS IS A SPONSOR OF THE FOLLOWING CONTEST AWARD PLAQUES
- Texas QSO Party
- NAQP Plaque, M/2 CW
- ARRL International DX Contest Plaque, World Single Operator Combined Score – Low Power [C. Sharp, K5DX Memorial]
- ARRL International DX Contest Plaque, Europe Multi-operator Unlimited CW
CONTEST PARTICIPATION
This page is to encourage contest participation because getting members engaged in club activities is good for the well being and health of TDXS. Also, I want to see TDXS rank high in club aggregate score listings for major contests. This would make people feel better about TDXS, and improve TDXS's visibility in the national and international ham community. It would be great if TDXS's reputation as a DX contest club could open doors for us when asking vendors for door prizes or DXpedition help. Right now, we just want to focus on the spring contest season. In the fall we will revisit it. I would like to ask each TDXS member to do three things this spring: Report, Operate, and Collaborate.
Report
- For each contest you work, even if you just make a few Qs, please make sure that you report your results as follows.
- Send your log to the contest sponsor. With today's software, almost every logging program can output a Cabrillo formatted file quite easily. Then it is a simple matter to email it to the contest sponsor. Please be sure to indicate Texas DX Society as your club affiliation.
- Post you summary sheet, or at least your total score, to 3830. https://www.3830scores.com. You can browse the 3830 archives to view others scores http://lists.contesting.com/_3830/
- Post you summary sheet, or at least your total score, to the TDXS reflector. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [Or, just cc the TDXS reflector when posting to 3830.]
- Like they say "It doesn't count until the paper work is done."
Operate
Pick a contest for TDXS to focus on, encourage all members to make at least 100 QSOs and report scores toward an aggregate TDXS score. TDXS did this last year and had great participation. I've prepared a list of major spring contests from which we can choose. We would have to decide on mode; SSB or CW, or if enough interest RTTY or other mode. Then we would have to pick a contest. The Sprints are short 4 hour contests, that would be good for folks who can't devote a full weekend to a contest. WPX allows both domestic and DX contacts, if propagation is good we could work a lot of DX, if propagation is poor, there would still be a lot of domestic stations to work. The ARRL Intl DX contests are strictly DX QSO affairs. Considering that the TDXS Team Malta expedition will be participating in the ARRL Intl DX (SSB) contest, this might be a good one for the rest of the club to focus on also. A club DXpedition score can be included in the club aggregate score. Please email me with your vote for which contest to focus on. If I've left your favorite contest off the list please let me know that also. We will discuss at the February 9 TDXS meeting.
Collaborate
Pick a contest to operate a multi-single, or multi-multi. Remember how much fun we had at Field Day? This would be like that, except with out all of the antenna setup, and with out all of the hot weather. This will require a member to set forward and volunteer his shack for a multi-op, or possibly, a multi 2 transmitter, contest operation. Probably schedule 3 to 6 operators, per transmitter, over a 48 hour contest. Doesn't need to be a super station, but a beam and an amp would be nice. Again, we would have to decide on a mode and a contest. Any shack host volunteers?
HOW TO PICK A CONTEST, BY JOE STAPLES - W5ASP (SK)
At a recent TDXS meeting, veteran TDXS contester, Joe Staples - W5ASP, gave us his insight on how to get started or improve your results in HF contesting with a modest set-up. The following discussion topics gave newcomers and seasoned contesters alike some valuable pointers on how to pick a contest, best strategies, and operating techniques.
HOW TO PICK A CONTEST : WHICH, WHEN, and HOW
What Contests are there ? And When do they take place ?
How does one decide which contest to try, when is it going to be, and how to get the most fun out of being there.
The WA7BNM Contest Calendar, www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/, is probably the best and most up to date.
It currently lists 318 contests scheduled for 2004. Others will be added. That’s over 6 contests per weekend!
(Also check the TDXS Links page for more sources of contest schedules and rules.)
Let’s Reduce the Confusion Factor
Eliminate the RTTY, 6M & VHF/UHF … (I’m strictly an HF Contester.)
Leave out organizations, i.e. QCWA, Lions, FOC, FISTS, 10-10, QRP, Lighthouse, etc.
Ignore those events not open to the U.S., i.e. Bermuda, WAG, RSGB, etc.
This Reduces the Number to 88 HF Contests in Four Main Categories
Major DX: 16
W/VE: 11
State QSO Parties: 31
Foreign: 30
Let’s Make Some Assumptions …
You want to operate during contests
You don’t have multiple towers, stacked yagis, phased arrays, etc.
You have a conventional 100 watt transceiver and maybe a KW linear
You don’t/won’t operate around the clock for 48 hours.
You have a computer
So What Do You Need to Know ?
Know what contest is going to be on when you can/want to operate. That’s where the WA7BNM calendar comes in.
Know the rules. Use Google to find them on the Internet, or ask on the TDXS Reflector.
Know the who and where of the participants, i.e. DX, W/VE or both; Time/Band/Heading
What Do You Need to Get ?
Logging software (Use the FREE STUFF) - Visit the TDXS Links page for logging software links.
1. K1EA’s CT (now with CW paddle interface)
2. N1MM Logger (has integrated Telnet)
3. Don’t mess with the rest (e.g. TR’s by far the best for SO2R CW but difficult to learn.)
Propagation Software - Visit the TDXS Links page for propagation links.
1. W6EL Propagation Program
2. W1AW Propagation Bulletins (ARRL Web Site)
3.. GeoClock - Grey Line Maps & Long Path headings
Operating Techniques
Always start on the highest frequency band that's open
Search and Pounce (S&P) … pause and CQ on any open frequency (a lot of multipliers will
answer stations calling CQ Contest, but will not necessarily call CQ themselves!). … resume S&P
Tune Hi/Low … then Low/High on second pass … more stations come and go on the low end of the band
Stay out of big pileups early. They’ll be there & easier to work later in the contest.
Watch for rare ones late the second day.
Use the propagation aids, listen long path, know who might be on when
Learn to work Split on 40 meters
THE “REALITY”
Sun Spot Cycle 23 peaked 3 years ago
Three (3) years till the actual minimum & another 3 years before things get better
40/80 activity will boom … be ready
You can make it work to your advantage
SOLAR CYCLES
The Contests … Which and How
Major DX Contests
CQ World Wide DX
CQWW has the greatest participation, is the most highly regarded, i.e. the World Series of Contesting
DX only (VE does count), but don't forget to work US stations for Zone multiplier credit if needed.
Category Options
1. Serious – Single Operator/Single Band, Low Power, Assisted
2. Fun Only – AB, Assisted, any power, seek Band/Mults
3. Multi
CQ WPX
Good DX participation
Work everyone – any Prefix worked is as good as any another for points
Options
1. Unique – TB/Wires (1 Tribander & 1 wire antenna); don’t be fooled … lots of sneaky, big guns looking for easy win
2. Serious – SO/SB, Assisted, Low Power (Focus on W/VE & Low Bands)
3. Most Fun – AB, Assisted (Gather Prefixes)
4. Multi
ARRL DX
Good (not Great) DX participation
Best done as a DX station
Options
1. Serious – VY0
2. Fun – AB, Assisted, (gather Band/Country Qs)
IARU HF World Championship
24 Hours … Starts Saturday morning
New Low Power category (No Single Band category)
WRTC type operation becoming “the thing”
Good participation … in spite of date. (Will become more demanding once 15 is gone … but less competition)
Options
1. Serious – Zone 2/3
2. Most Fun - WRTC Style (tribander/wire/LP)
3. Lazy – ITU Headquarters Stations (by Band/Country)
Worked All Europe (WAE)
Unique - QTCs
All Band only
Too long
Actually only the CW portion is fun
Others
All Asia
Can be interesting … if bands are open
Often W5 has slight advantage over East Coast
RSGB IOTA
Many Categories … something for everyone
OK for chasing Islands needed
160 Meter & 10 Meter
Dealer’s Choice
Ten Meter is history except for SA & few transequatorial QSO's
Top Band – Any kind of wire with power can be fun Friday night
Foreign/Single Country DX Contests
Canadian – RAC’s Canada Day and Winter contests easiest to do
European – F, ON, PA, I, HB have reasonable activity depending on conditions
Russian – Can be quite active; lots of geographical area
JIDX – Depends entirely on propagation; reasonably active
Scandinavian – Use to be fun when there was good high latitude propagation. At least check it out.
Pros
Modest pace … few pileups … S&P only
Excellent opportunity to build CW skills
Good way to acquire call recognition ability – same Ops on during the “biggies”
Learn propagation by band/time/heading
Not much domestic competition
Minimum time required – easier to schedule Operating time
Cons
Declining Sun Spot cycle will make things more “iffy”
Limited Band/Mode Qs
Final results slow in coming out … Access to claimed scores better now with 3830 & Dink
Very little peer recognition
State QSO Parties
“You have to know ‘em to love ‘em”, i.e. you won’t know until you try !
Best
- CQP – probably the biggest and best – SSB w/ some CW
58 Counties (they are all on during the contest)
- Texas & Florida – Have been quite busy in recent years with good mobile activity.
- Washington – once quite active, but slipping
- Pennsylvania - Pretty much an “in-state” event
- MARC – Gotta be there to find out who’s where; can be great.
Others
I’d rather do the “Lighthouse” thingee
Domestic W/VE Contests
ARRL Sweepstakes – THE BEST!
a. For everyone with a radio & wires
b. Until you’ve gone after a SS Sweep you haven’t contested
c. Any time for any length of time
d. Be there on Sunday afternoon … we need you!
NCJ
North American QSO Party
a. Probably the easiest and most fun contest going.
b. Only ten hours … starts at noon … work everyone on all bands
c. Team competition
d. Minimum equipment needed
SPRINT
a. CW – Strictly for the “swift”
b. Phone – Try it, you’ll be surprised how much fun it can be
1. Four hours (evening) … three bands (20/40/80)
2. QSY Rule
3. For starters: Listen, find a spot Hi/Low & CQ, QSO, find a spot Low/Hi & CQ again, bounce.
4. Change bands only when it’s about empty
5. Submit the score … you won’t be last !
AND A LAST REMINDER…
WPX, IARU, 10 & 160 Meter and RAC contests can be operated as “domestic” contests.
All W/VE QSO's count … as well as their Multipliers.
We don’t need no stinkin’ sunspots!