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Late this afternoon I noticed that the ROS website had been updated with a new frequency suggestion for 20m 1 baud operation of 14.105, so I decided to have one more try.

For a while I seemed to have the frequency to myself. However I posted that I was calling there on the K3UK digital sked page. Shortly after, WB2YDS posted that he copied my CQ. I didn’t copy anything from him, but I called again and the second time I got his report, though not perfect copy as the meter in the ROS program showed he was 30db down in the noise.

I sent a report, which I know via the sked page he received, but unfortunately a few seconds after he started KB1PVH started calling CQ and the program started decoding his CQ call instead. With two stations on the frequency it was hopeless, and soon after that Olga called me for dinner and that was that.

Normally an almost-QSO wouldn’t rate a mention, except that I was using 5W from the FT-817 to a dipole, and WB2YDS was also running 5W to a long wire. I don’t think I have ever worked across the Atlantic QRP to QRP before, and indeed I still haven’t, but I nearly did, which shows what the ROS 1 baud mode is capable of if you are lucky enough to have a clear frequency for the duration of the contact.

Unfortunately the software has a number of issues that need to be addressed before it can be considered suitable for general use, one of which is the ability to lock on to the replies to you and ignore anyone else who comes up on the frequency.

Another problem is that ROS is still a mode without a home, and at 2.2KHz wide it needs quite a big home and no-one seems to want to make it welcome. There have already been complaints that by settling on 14.101MHz it is disrupting a long established packet network, and while I’m typing this someone seems to be jamming the 40m frequency 7.053MHz with some sort of digital idle signal.

As I said in an earlier post, the issues involved in releasing something like this to the ham populace at large haven’t been thought through. Perhaps there needs to be an overseeing body like the IARU that decrees what modes can be used and where, so there can be no arguments. It’s a pity that the use of a mode with such promise is being thwarted by so many difficulties, but practical reality often stops you doing what you want to do and ham radio is not immune to this.

Many people have blogged about their activities over the weekend during the ARRL DX CW contest. I had planned to spend some time making some Stateside contacts, to see how many different states I could work and perhaps make enough contacts to be worth submitting an entry, even though I had no intention to win anything. Alas it was not to be. After just over an hour on Saturday afternoon, during which I had made 17 contacts on 15m, Olga learned that her sister in Ukraine was in intensive care in hospital. It would have been inappropriate to carry on making contacts on the radio, even if I had still felt like it after receiving that news. So that was the end of my participation in the ARRL contest.

Olga felt she would have to go urgently to Ukraine to see her sister, which made me depressed and anxious. Kharkov isn’t the easiest place to get to from here, even without snow both here and there making the journey more difficult. However on Sunday Olga received some better news about her sister, including the advice that there was little she could do if she went now and it would be better to wait until she was out of hospital before visiting. I’m still depressed at the thought of being without my wife and soulmate for a bit, but at least I will have more time to get used to the idea before it happens.

My interest in the contest didn’t recover after this, but I did read about a couple of new pieces of digital radio software which I tried out and wrote about yesterday. Both of these programs are very interesting, and I think I shall have more to say about them in the near future.

Another new digimode has made its presence on the airwaves. Called ROS, it uses spread spectrum techniques in a bandwidth 2.2kHz wide and offers a choice of two symbol rates, 16 baud and 1 baud. The latter will be of great interest to QRP operators as it is claimed to allow communication at signal levels of 35db below noise, which is better even than WSPR. ROS is an interactive mode, so you can type what you want and have a real QSO, unlike WSPR and the other JT modes that can only send a limited number of fixed messages. What’s more it isn’t an all-or-nothing mode like the JT modes, so you can receive a message that’s part garbage and use your own intelligence to correct the errors if possible.

An interesting feature of ROS is that the software will automatically send an emailed reception report to any transmitting station that includes his email address in his transmission. Quite how it achieves this I don’t know, since I don’t have an email client set up on my shack computer (I do all my email through Gmail.) So I was quite surprised after receiving my first ROS signal from G3ZJO running 1 watt on 40m to see him send “HI” to me on his next over (as you can see in the screengrab.)

This is yet another program that only recognizes the “default” sound card so I am once again receiving using the HB-1A transceiver and am unable to transmit using the mode.

The weak signal capabilities will no doubt make this mode of interest to the QRP fraternity as well as VHF operators working EME and troposcatter. I think the ability to receive an emailed reception report is also rather cool, and a bit more personal than seeing your signal spotted on a website.

However I do wonder what will happen once the massed hordes start using it on HF and begin cranking the power up to try to work further afield. There isn’t enough space on the HF digital mode bands for many simultaneous contacts to take place using a 2.2kHz wide mode.

I’m now listening on 14.101.0 MHz USB so if you try this new program and put your email address in your message you might get a report from me.

Brockman and Cox (1977) stated, “A record 2060 logs were received for this years event, up 6% over last year.”

I’m curious if RadioSport Clubs through the 70s had an important role in local event activity and technological innovation? The Potomac Valley Radio Club (PVRC) and the Frankford Radio Club (FRC) fiercely competed against each other for the top slot in the Club Box according to Brockman and Cox (1977).

I arrive at my bullet point that clubs have a significant role in the hobby in terms of motivating activity in addition to promoting the advancement of radio as an art.

A quick look at the Top Three Club Box scores from 1976 suggest RadioSport Club influence on activity and its aggregated score for example PVRC (n = 58.7 million), FRC (n = 40.3 million), and Northeast Contest Club (n = 26.1 million). In comparison, the 2007 Top Three Club Box scores are FRC (n = 266.9 million), Yankee Clipper Contest Club (n = 260.5 million), and PVRC (n = 139.6 million).

What type of change drove RadioSport club scores above the quarter million point mark?

I submit RadioSport clubs and modest stations significantly contribute to the overall success of the game. A club has enough resources to generate interest and execute that interest into activity. Whereas modest station operators even when competing for a personal best score are more than willing to go an extra mile when contributing to the success of one’s club.

There are variations to this theme and clubs could harness attitude in addition to willingness of modest stations in terms of activity. One may consider inter club competitions while promoting success through its newsletter and/or website.

For example, why not publish with photograph and narrative, the top three modest station winners?

The photograph of WA6NVR operating VP2MNR really defined the meaningfulness of a modest station in the game of RadioSport; simple yet effective.

Believe in your signal!

Reference: Brockman, L. N6AR, Cox, B. K3EST (September, 1977). CQ Magazine: 1976 CQ World Wide DX Contest: C.W. Results. pp. 42 – 47, 87 – 88, 90.

Single Operator.

• W9RE | 238 Qs | 40 Mults | 4hrs | 9,440 Points [SMC #1].
• N4PN | 147 Qs | 43 Mults | 4hrs | 6,321 Points [Phreezing Sprinters].
• KU5B (@NX5M) | 169 Qs | 34 Mults | 4hrs | 5,915 Points [Phreezing Sprinters].

n = 19 scores submitted for this category.

A tough weekend for sideband sprinters with a multitude of events competing for one’s attention. Mike, W9RE piloted his station to a first place finish while leading The Society of Midwest Contesters to another banner week. I recommend visiting his website and take time to study his station configuration especially Mike’s antenna systems and/or station layout; meticulous craftsmanship.

Believe in your signal!

Single Operator All Band | CW.

• PA3ARM | 894 Qs | 154 Mults | 20hrs | 137,676 Points.
• UT8L (UY5LQ) | 217 Qs | 43 Mults | 17hrs | 9,331 Points [Ukrainian Contest Club].
• VE9DX | 149 Qs | 48 Mults | 7,152 Points.

n = 10 scores submitted in this category.

Practice, practice, practice and believe in your signal going into the ARRL International DX CW event this weekend. Congratulations UT8L for leading the Ukrainian Contest Club to its Top Three finish and best RadioSport results going into the future from the shackadelic on the beach.

Believe in your signal!