AmateurRadio.com

Calling QRP CQ - Inconceivable

I tossed my mighty 5 watts call out at 1810 kHz not expecting much...

So how do you know if and where your signal is getting out ?

The Reverse Beacon Network

Map of the last 100 reports from Reverse Beacon stations of my call sign Color coded by band

It even includes a speedometer

My brief speed key session with N4HAY

Summary

Richard Carpenter, AA4OO, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from North Carolina, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

New LNV At WG2XKA

The low-noise vertical discussed here previously, has recently been implemented by at least three of the 630m experimental stations. John, WG2XKA / WA3ETD, along with Ken, WG2XXM / K5DNL and John, WG2XIQ / KB5NJD, have all constructed versions of this receiving antenna after reading about the details here.






John's antenna, pictured above, is described in more detail here, along with some nice pictures of his matching transformer.

All stations report good results with the antenna so it may be something you might want to consider if your present receiving antenna is a noise-collector.

For those interested in getting started on 630m, John (WG2XIQ), has a ton of inspiring information available on his website here as does John (WG2XKA) on his site here.

Steve McDonald, VE7SL, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from British Columbia, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].

See http://cq-datv.mobi/ebooks.php .

CQ-DATV is available for free download. I have not tried amateur TV but some remarkable results are being achieved by DATV in the 146-147MHz band. Like all things in our hobby, you can only do so much. I think the use of digital techniques has given amateur TV a new lease of life.

Roger Lapthorn, G3XBM, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Cambridge, England.

Here is this week’s space weather and geophysical report, issued 2015 Nov 30 0318 UTC.

Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 23 – 29 November 2015

Solar activity was at very low levels with the exception of 23 and 25 November. Region 2454 (N14, L=121, class/area Dai/150 on 23 Nov) produced a few C-class events, the largest a C8/1f at 23/0228 UTC. Between 24/1130-1530 UTC, SDO/AIA 193 and 304 imagery observed a 20 degree long eruption, centered near S10W00, along a NW to SE oriented filament channel. No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections were observed during the period.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached moderate levels on 23-27 November but decreased to normal levels on 28-29 November.

Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet levels from 23-26 November. Mostly quiet levels were observed with a few isolated unsettled periods on 27-29 November and a single active period observed during the 29/2100-2400 UTC synoptic period due to prolonged negative Bz and slightly elevated solar wind speed.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 30 November – 26 December 2015

Solar activity is expected to be at very low to low levels throughout the forecast period.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be normal to moderate levels for the majority of the period with the exception of 03-05 December, 08-09 December and 11-15 December following several recurrent coronal hole high speed streams (CH HSS).

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be unsettled to active on 30 November-02 December with minor storm periods expected on 01 December due to a recurrent positive polarity CH HSS. Quiet to unsettled levels are expected from 03-05 December. Isolated active periods are likely again on 06-07 December and 10 December as two subsequent positive polarity CH HSSs become geoeffective respectively. Quiet to unsettled conditions are expected to dominate the remainder of the forecast period.

Don’t forget to visit our live space weather and radio propagation web site, at: http://SunSpotWatch.com/

Live Aurora mapping is at http://aurora.sunspotwatch.com/

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Effective January 4th, 2016, I will be officially retired from the working world. A few key points contributed to my decision.

• I've been working 40 years and that's enough
• I've been married 40 years and that's, well, that's good
• Both of my sons have lost their hair
• My oldest grandson is 6' 2" tall

Mike Crownover, AD5A, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Texas, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

Effective January 4th, 2016, I will be officially retired from the working world. A few key points contributed to my decision.

• I've been working 40 years and that's enough
• I've been married 40 years and that's, well, that's good
• Both of my sons have lost their hair
• My oldest grandson is 6' 2" tall

Mike Crownover, AD5A, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Texas, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

The QRP setup

I had a great part time effort in the CQ WW CW contest, I was not concerned with score or putting in a major amount to time in the contest chair. The key goals in this contest was to see how my CW reading by ear was doing and when on the rig to stay with it for the time I committed too. The reading code by  ear was fine up to speeds in around 25 BUT with some stations they were flying at around 35-40 wpm and that is just to fast. My code reader MRP4066 handled the high speed code no problem this software is not free but I found it to be the best! I entered the contest as single op, QRP single band (15m) and I met the requirements as a "classic" operator  I added this overlay to my submission. My total QSO count was 33 a score of 3,128 points and 10 zones. At my QTH I did not hear the usual amount of European stations I have in the past. My operating time was during the day from late morning to until late afternoon. During the late morning I head mainly Caribbean, African and some European stations but not many. As the afternoon approached more South and Central American stations came it as Europe faded.
I did have some "Murphy" moments such as…….I was not able to get my MFJ mag loop to tune at all at the start of the contest. Very quickly I found it was a very loose PL-259 connected on the rear of the loop's control box. Then for some reason N1MM+ set my CQ zone as 5 and not 4 and I did not click into this until about 10 contacts into the contest. Finally on the K3 there is a "test" setting and I use it to check macros without transmitting. Then old age had me forget to turn off the test mode, this found me thinking I was calling stations but was transmitting 0 watts….. Now that's QRP!!
Since I am operating QRP and using small MFJ loop antenna on the balcony my operating style was as follows
- I Use my VFO B to save a strong DX station that at the time has a huge pileup going. This stops me from wasting time trying to break the pile. Better to come back when the crazy pileup is gone. This worked great when I came across a Senegal station.
- Even when a station is at an S2 level but is just calling and listening my 5 watts can and did many times make it through for a contact.
- I don't use a spotting network as I found most of these stations have a huge pileup but I do have an Elecraft P3.  Using some hardware and software my P3 is seen on a 19 inch monitor and I am able to point and click on signals. My K3 then moves to that signal this allows me to see the activity on the band and Search and pounce these stations.
- When possible stay with a band such as 15m were my MFJ loop does not need to be retuned at all across the whole CW portion.
- Stick with my 250hz Inrad 8 pole CW filter so I can get between tight signals and only hear the op I want to contact.
In my post I am going to go into detail about my software I am now using and finding to be great for contesting and general QSO's It's now time to grab some eats and relax.
Mike Weir, VE9KK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Brunswick, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].