Paul WW2PT | AmateurRadio.com

WebSDR

March 12th, 2010 |

My bud Ulis K3LU just turned me onto the WebSDR project. Spent a little time this morning listening to W4MQ’s station, which is set up for 160m, 40m, and 20m. Very impressive — I’ve steered clear of online remote receivers in the past because they were typically a single radio controlled by a single user at a time (or, worse, by multiple users continuously changing frequency and mode, making it little more than an exercise in hi-tech uselessness). But this is different — a true server that lets multiple people listen at the same time on whatever band/frequency/mode they want, completely independent of one another. Way cool.

WebSDR

March 12th, 2010 |

Author: Paul WW2PT

My bud Ulis K3LU just turned me onto the WebSDR project. Spent a little time this morning listening to W4MQ’s station, which is set up for 160m, 40m, and 20m. Very impressive — I’ve steered clear of online remote receivers in the past because they were typically a single radio controlled by a single user at a time (or, worse, by multiple users continuously changing frequency and mode, making it little more than an exercise in hi-tech uselessness). But this is different — a true server that lets multiple people listen at the same time on whatever band/frequency/mode they want, completely independent of one another. Way cool.

NCJ: What’s the Best Contest Rig?

March 9th, 2010 |

Author: Paul WW2PT

The March/April 2010 National Contest Journal arrived yesterday, torn and tattered as always (thanks again, US Postal Service!), and with it the results of K3MD’s informal poll of top contesters asking, “What’s the best contest rig?” It’s by no means a scientific survey, nor all-inclusive, but many of the Big Guns you’d expect participated.

No surprise to see the K3 and IC-7800 at the head of the pack. What does surprise me, though, is the absence of even a single mention of the Flex 5000 — can’t figure this out. Contesters, of all operators, rely so heavily on computers and software, and the Flex is clearly ready for prime-time. It’s fairly equal to the K3 and 7800 in terms of receiver performance. It just seems like a natural fit. Is it simply because it lacks a tuning dial? Is full PC control too new a trick for these old dogs to learn? Would love to hear theories as to why none of these top contesters have jumped on the SDR bandwagon.

Also surprised to see the Orion get only passing mention (and not in a good way, either). Wasn’t that the last “greatest-thing-since-sliced-bread” transceiver just a few years ago?

All that said, I’m happy to see the K3 get the attention it deserves from the radiosport community. Contesters at this level are fickle creatures; you can’t pin the fanboy label on them. Price is rarely an issue, considering the equipment on the inside of the shack typically costs a fraction of what is spent on antenna systems. They’re not swayed by fancy front panels or clever marketing. If the radio works better than what they last used, they keep it; if something else better comes along later, they’ll switch again. It will be interesting to see in ten years or so whether the K3 has the longevity among contesters that, say, the FT-1000D has enjoyed. My prediction: Yes (but then, I’m just an Elecraft fanboy and, worse still, a poseur-wannabee contester). Only time will tell; the zeitgeist changes direction in a hurry, and the DSP and SDR technology is advancing rapidly, so something new could come along next week to knock the K3 off its pedestal.

NCJ: What’s the Best Contest Rig?

March 9th, 2010 |

Author: Paul WW2PT

The March/April 2010 National Contest Journal arrived yesterday, torn and tattered as always (thanks again, US Postal Service!), and with it the results of K3MD’s informal poll of top contesters asking, “What’s the best contest rig?” It’s by no means a scientific survey, nor all-inclusive, but many of the Big Guns you’d expect participated.

No surprise to see the K3 and IC-7800 at the head of the pack. What does surprise me, though, is the absence of even a single mention of the Flex 5000 — can’t figure this out. Contesters, of all operators, rely so heavily on computers and software, and the Flex is clearly ready for prime-time. It’s fairly equal to the K3 and 7800 in terms of receiver performance. It just seems like a natural fit. Is it simply because it lacks a tuning dial? Is full PC control too new a trick for these old dogs to learn? Would love to hear theories as to why none of these top contesters have jumped on the SDR bandwagon.

Also surprised to see the Orion get only passing mention (and not in a good way, either). Wasn’t that the last “greatest-thing-since-sliced-bread” transceiver just a few years ago?

All that said, I’m happy to see the K3 get the attention it deserves from the radiosport community. Contesters at this level are fickle creatures; you can’t pin the fanboy label on them. Price is rarely an issue, considering the equipment on the inside of the shack typically costs a fraction of what is spent on antenna systems. They’re not swayed by fancy front panels or clever marketing. If the radio works better than what they last used, they keep it; if something else better comes along later, they’ll switch again. It will be interesting to see in ten years or so whether the K3 has the longevity among contesters that, say, the FT-1000D has enjoyed. My prediction: Yes (but then, I’m just an Elecraft fanboy and, worse still, a poseur-wannabee contester). Only time will tell; the zeitgeist changes direction in a hurry, and the DSP and SDR technology is advancing rapidly, so something new could come along next week to knock the K3 off its pedestal.

February 2010 Wrap-Up

February 28th, 2010 |

Author: Paul WW2PT

Other than the NAQP-RTTY test I was mostly QRT for the entire month due to more pressing concerns unrelated to amateur radio.

DXCC: Picked up one new one each on 40m (Alaska) and 17m (Croatia), and two new ones on 15m (Cuba and Alaska).

WAS: Finally worked KL7 on 40m, only ND now holding out on me for WAS on that band; and 7 new states on 15m — all thanks to NAQP-RTTY

WAZ: Working KL7 in the NAQP test gave me Zone 1 on 15m and 40m.

Stats through 28-Feb-2010:

	All	80m	40m	30m	20m	17m	15m	Ph	CW	Dig
DXCC	80	2	43	10	66	13	22	52	5	62
WAS	50	28	49	7	48	19	19	43	1	50
WAZ	26	3	21	8	23	9	9	22	5	22

February 2010 Wrap-Up

February 28th, 2010 |

Author: Paul WW2PT

Other than the NAQP-RTTY test I was mostly QRT for the entire month due to more pressing concerns unrelated to amateur radio.

DXCC: Picked up one new one each on 40m (Alaska) and 17m (Croatia), and two new ones on 15m (Cuba and Alaska).

WAS: Finally worked KL7 on 40m, only ND now holding out on me for WAS on that band; and 7 new states on 15m — all thanks to NAQP-RTTY

WAZ: Working KL7 in the NAQP test gave me Zone 1 on 15m and 40m.

Stats through 28-Feb-2010:

	All	80m	40m	30m	20m	17m	15m	Ph	CW	Dig
DXCC	80	2	43	10	66	13	22	52	5	62
WAS	50	28	49	7	48	19	19	43	1	50
WAZ	26	3	21	8	23	9	9	22	5	22

NAQP RTTY – Feb 2010

February 28th, 2010 |

Author: Paul WW2PT

QRV 8 hours (though with several breaks), mostly search & pounce but had a few runs. Had to QRT at 0400, my brain was starting to fade. In hindsight I wish I stuck it out for another dozen QSOs or so; had I done so I would have beaten my score from the NAQP SSB test in January. But I came close…

Started on 20m at 1800, then switched to 15m at 1915 and worked just about all stations I could hear — nice to see 15m coming back to life! After an 1.5 hour break for lunch I spent another hour on 20m before switching to 40m at 2300 and staying there for the remainder, taking a few short breaks along the way.

Really wanted to try 80m again after the good time I had during MAQP SSB. But the Tarheel just doesn’t tune up very well down there, and I’m reluctant to try pushing 100W at 100% duty cycle into a poorly matched antenna.

Worked K1SFA, KL7AC, VX6AO, WØYK, and W6YX for the hat trick on all three bands; 28 other stations were worked on two bands. In the end, 6 new states on RTTY (AK, IA, LA, MI, MS and VT); 1 new state on 40m (AK); and 7 new states on 15m (AK, CA, ID, NV, NY, UT and VT). Had a Cuban station call me during one of my runs on 15m, it was the only DX worked in the contest.

Summary:

QSOs: 160
US States: 35
VE Provinces: 5
Total Mults: 71
Score: 11,360 pts.

Band-by Band Breakdown:

15m: 34 QSOs, 10 states, 2 provinces
20m: 42 QSOs, 22 states, 2 provinces
40m: 84 QSOs, 30 states, 5 provinces

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