Posts Tagged ‘Contesting’
I’m having fun!
August 16th, 2013 | 
Author: I know that band conditions aren’t the best. And I also know that this Sunspot Cycle 24 maximum, as compared to other sunspot cycle maximums has been kinda “meh”. But you know what? I’m having fun despite the band conditions!
You can sit around and pee and moan about “How this sure wasn’t like the cycle we had back in ’57 when you could work the world with a 1/2 Watt and a wet string!”, or you can get on the air and choose to operate. I choose the latter.
Today was another successful lunchtime QRP session. The KX3 and Buddistick successfully netted S564EB, which is a special event station commemorating the European Basketball Championships in Slovenia. A little later, still on 17 Meters, I bagged IS0GQX, Bruno in Sardinia for that country on a new band.
When the sunspot cycle does finally dwindle to weeks and months of little or zero spots, I’m sure that this “not so great” maximum is going to look mighty fine from the rear view mirror. As long as it lasts, I am going to keep at it. 5 Watts to a Buddistick plopped on top of my Jeep – every QSO amazes me!
Now, to another matter. The period for submitting log entries for the Skeeter Hunt is entering the halfway mark. Next Sunday, August 25th at 11:59 PM EDT, is the absolute final deadline for log submissions. So far, I’ve received 55 log summaries. That’s about 1/3 of the people who signed up for Skeeter numbers. In fact, I’ve received two log summaries from Non-Skeeters! So if you participated, please send me a log summary.
For some VERY preliminary results, you can go to – http://www.qsl.net/w2lj/index%20page%205
If you submitted a log and you don’t see your numbers next to your call, then I didn’t get them. Please send them again! Soapbox comments and photos will appear after next Sunday.
So far here are some standings:
Top 5 finishers:
KX9X
N5GW
KX0R
NK9G
N0SS – who is also top multi op finisher so far.
Top multi op, multi transmitter is WQ4RP (so far).
Top mixed (SSB and CW) – W9LR
Top SSB – a tie between KK4NWC and KC5FM.
Hope to see your numbers soon!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP – When you care to send the very least!
High noise level
I was fighting a high ambient noise level tonight, while participating in the monthly NAQCC Sprint. Not as terrible as it was a few years ago, when 40 Meters was so bad that I had to abandon the 40 Meter Fox Hunts, but bad enough to be annoying.
With the goofy damp weather we have been having, I think the local QRN was due more to atmospherics, than anything else. I’ll have to see how the band conditions are over the next few days.
In any event, I racked up 22 QSOs during the during the Sprint, almost evenly divided between 40 and 20 Meters. It ended up being 10 QSOs on 20 Meters and 12 on 40 Meters. Not my best effort, by any means, but not abysmal, either.
I was happy to work Jim W1PID at the very end, but was disappointed that I was not able to get a QSO in with my two NJ buddies, Don W2JEK, or Charles W2SH. They were both sitting on frequencies, running mini pileups, and I could just not break through.
Just goes to show you ….. sometimes you get the bear, and sometimes the bear gets you.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP – When you care to send the very least!
2nd annual Skeeter hunt contest
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| The operating chair |
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| Storm clouds |
The weather turned out to be great it did not rain but the storm clouds over head kept it cool and the sun off me. I operated from Riverside park which is a great park about 5 minutes from my QTH. Funny thing I never had anyone come up to me wondering what I was doing! In the past this has happened and it gave me a chance to explain ham radio. Something new in the contest this year is operating SSB, I did not take advantage of this and stayed CW and just single band.
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| A look towards the river |
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| Another shot of the river. |
The dreaded “Conflict”
As you all know from my near constant and annoying yammering since last August, the 2013 NJQRP Skeeter Hunt is tomorrow. This is a huge event for me, and it gives me a lot of joy to not only operate in it, but to manage it as well. It is my sincere wish that all of you who have chosen to participate this year enjoy yourselves and have the best of times. You folks are the life blood of the QRP hobby, and without all of you, this niche of Amateur Radio would not be thriving like it is – and thriving it is!
Unfortunately, I will only be able to join with you all for a limited amount of time at the beginning and at the end of the contest. A few months ago, without paying attention to the date, I agreed to volunteer at the St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen in Plainfield from 2:00 to 4:00 PM (the middle two hours of the hunt) tomorrow afternoon. When I discovered the conflict, I have to admit that my first reaction was the human one, I thought of trying to find a substitute, or possibly make an excuse and just back out all together.
But as important as the Skeeter Hunt and Amateur Radio are to me (and they are VERY important!) some things are more important. The people that are served, who are down on their luck, depend on this facility for a decent meal. And even though my presence isn’t mandatory for the kitchen to open or run, it wouldn’t be right to blow off a commitment to people who are in need. Besides, the Amateur’s Code reminds us that the Radio Amateur must be “Balanced – Radio is an avocation, never interfering with duties owed to family, job, school or community.” In the end, I had to ask myself, “What’s more important, my fellow man or my hobby?” I think you’d all agree with me as to the answer.
Still, I can’t begin to tell you how much I want to be on the air for the entire event, but this year, that’s just not possible. So for as much as I can manage to squeeze in out of the first and final hours, Skeeter #13 will be in the basement shack, handing out as many contacts as possible. And believe me, I am going to squeeze in every possible last nano-second that I can, so keep your ears peeled for W2LJ.
Now, with all that said and done, I have a huge favor to ask of all of you who are participating. Along with your log summaries and soapbox comments (and photos … please, plenty of photos!) please let me know what changes if any, you would like to see for next year’s Skeeter Hunt. We added SSB this year – digital modes, next year perhaps? Would you like to see that? Different time of the day, i.e. a later start? Anything that you would like to see modified will be taken under thoughtful consideration.
For those of you who are not participating for one reason or another, but just might in the future, I’d be very happy to read your comments and suggestions, too. Just send an e-mail titled “Skeeter Hunt Suggestions” to either [email protected] or [email protected].
Once again, thanks for participating and for making the NJQRP Skeeter Hunt the success that it is – signups for Skeeter numbers exceeded last year’s requests! And a very special thanks to the NJQRP for sponsoring this event – with out them, this wouldn’t be possible.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP – When you care to send the very least!
Great weather and contesting.
One observation I made before surrendering to the great weather outside was in Ontario our section is no longer ON. This changed a short time ago when the province was divided into 4 sections Ontario North (ONN), Ontario East (ONE), Ontario south (ONS) and finally greater Toronto area (GTA) In the contest I would attempt to send ONS but most of the time I could only get to ON....my "S" was interrupted with TU.
This is really was not the fault of the contester as I found N1MM auto filled my section as ON and not ONS. Not sure if my N1MM is up to date and that change has been made but it was tough getting the ONS across during the contest. My contest effort stopped about an hour into the it. I made 17 contacts but the weather was calling my name. I figured the good weather days are going to become limited and soon the snow and cold weather will be here.....then lots of time to spend on the radio.
This coming weekend is the Skeeter hunt contest. This is the second running of the contest. I found it was a nice way to spend 4 hours of your Sunday afternoon. You are encouraged to get out into the out of doors for this contest. This year if you can operate beside a body of water you get bonus points!! I have scouted out two locations close to home were water (river) is....have to make my mind up as to where I will be heading. I had a look at the long range forecast today and Sunday is looking great!
A new QRP Sprint – but with a twist (QRO entries welcome!)
This was announced by Jim W4QO from the North Georgia QRP Club:
OK, the Bumble Bee has flown away; the Skeeter Hunt is just around the corner. Now it’s time to start thinking about the Peanut Power Sprint.
Sponsored by the North GA QRP Club (NoGaQrP), this sprint will be held on Sept. 29, 2013 from 4PM to 6PM EDT (Sept. 29 – 2000z to 2200z). Full rules are on the NoGaQrP website – nogaqrp.org Check Peanut Pete!
The club is making this one different from most other QRP contests.
1. It is open to all amateurs at any power level. This is to attract some new folks to QRP while running their comfortable power – QRO is welcome and there is a category for that. This is a FUN event. Not cut-throat!
2. It is a short sprint lasting only two hours; not tying up the entire afternoon. Although brief, run reasonable CW speeds for all to copy.
3. It starts late in the day (right after close of TX QSO party!) which will mean those on the west coast will begin at 1PM PDT, later than most.
4. There are categories for all situations – the prestigious category is the Peanut Power category – 1w CW or less, 2W PEP SSB or less – operating from the field! This is the GOOBER CLASS!
5. Plaques will be award for 5 category winners (minimum 3 entries).
6. Sprint will allow SSB as well as CW contacts.
7. Multipliers count each band/each mode. Work GA ( or any SPC) on 3 bands and 2 modes each = 6 multiplier. Puts emphasis on switching bands and modes during the event.
8. This will encourage activity on the 3 permitted bands – 40,20, and 15M. There are suggested frequencies for each band/mode. Notice we are encouraging the now almost dead part of 40M – 7060 khz and up.
9. Logs are not required – simply a score – however, category winners will be asked to submit their logs for verification.
10. Work stations holding a Peanut Power Number (PPN) for 7 points. Stations worked who do not hold a PPN yield 3 points. Yes, QRO stations can request and receive a PPN. You do not declare your category until you send in your entry.
To request a PPN, send an email to NoGaNuT JiM at w4qo@… Numbers over 120 may NOT be requested. See the current list via the website. Include the word PEANUT in the title please.
73 and may the best PeAnUt win!
Thanks Jim and thank you NoGAnauts for sponsoring this! Yours truly is Peanut # 70.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP – When you care to send the very least!
Contest wall paper…….
