HAM RADIO HAM RADIO CONTESTINGCONTESTINGHAM RADIO HAM RADIO

CONTESTINGCONTESTING

AN INTRODUCTIONAN INTRODUCTION

Jerry Spring, VE6CNUJerry Spring, VE6CNU

March 2007March 2007

Outline of Talk

• What is Contesting?• Who is doing it and why?• What equipment do I need?• Strategies and goals• Logging/Scoring• Details• Before, During and After• Personal experiences• Conclusions

What is it?

• To correctly exchange the required information with the greatest number of stations and multipliers, within the allocated time, and subject to the rules - thereby achieving the greatest score for your category and/or class.

What are the Trends?

*Source: Contesting.com

What are the Trends?

*Source: Contesting.com

What do I win?

• Physical Rewards– Plaques, Certificates, Bottles of Wine, etc.

• Recognition among peers– “Bragging Rights”– Call Sign in a Publication

• Personal Satisfaction– Improved skills, knowledge, character

Why do people do it?• Fun• Exciting to get in on the action• Work towards DXCC, WAS, etc.• Test out and optimize the station• Team spirit• Improve operating skills• Establish a new record• Maybe even to win?!

Is it for me?

• Contests range from several hours (sprints) to 48 hour marathons.

• Steep learning curve – lots to know

• Requires competitive personality• Try it and find out!

Should I try this from home?

• Clubs stations– Big power, antennas, fancy equipment– great places to learn and hone skills– What if I break it?

• Home stations – Total control– More restricted environment ($, antennas,

power)– More distractions

What equipment do I need?

• Modern Transceiver (preferred)• Decent antennas for contest bands• PC with logging software• Interface from PC to Transceiver (rig

control)• Accessories (headset with mic, foot

switch, paddle, ant. switch box, etc.)

Most Popular Gear

• Transceiver:– Icom 756 Pro, Yaesu FT-1000, KNWD TS-

950SDX• Amp: Various, electronically switched• Antennas:

– Monoband or triband stacked Yagis– Beverage for 160m (rx)

• Software:– TR-Log, N1MM, CT, Write-log, Wintest

Categories/Classes

• Single Op, Multi-Two, Multi-Multi• QRP (<5W), LP (<100W), HP (KW)• Single Band, All Band• Assisted, Unlimited• SO2R Issues

Strategies vs. Goals

• What do I want to accomplish?Example 1: Want to work new countries for

DXCC, so may work SOAB for a few hours on 10m, 15m, 20m.

Example 2: Have great antenna for 160m, so may work only single band 160m to maximize score.

Example 3: Can only work during the day, so may limit myself to single band 20m.

Logging and Scoring• Contest logging software tailored to contesting.

– Dup checking– Multipliers (worked and needed)– Rate– automated voice or cw keying– automatic scoring– bandmap (spotting)– rig control (instant QSY) – networking more than one radio– standard output files

• Good software improves efficiency and score!

Running Exercise

• CQ CONTEST CQ CONTEST DE VE6CNU– VE5ABC (ANSWERS)

• VE5ABC 59 Alpha Bravo (AB)– Roger Roger 59 Sierra Kilo (SK)

• QSL, GL in the Contest. VE6CNU QRZ?– W6ABC (ANSWERS)

• W6ABC 59 Alpha Bravo– Roger Roger 59 Charlie Alpha (CA)

• Roger Roger CU Later on 40m. CQ CONTEST CQ CONTEST DE VE6CNU

• ETC...

QSO

#1

QSO

#2

How Can I Practice?

http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=13437

Operating Techniques• Running

– Find clear frequency, call CQ, work as many stations as possible until rate drops off

– Big stations may run entire contest– May get run off, – They choose you, so may not work desired multipliers

• Search and Pounce – Start at bottom of band and call (work) stations while

tuning up the band.– May decrease rate, but allow for working for needed

multipliers– May lose run frequency

N1MM Log Display

Most Popular Contests• NAQP (Jan)• ARRL DX SSB/CW (Feb/Mar)• CQ WW WPX SSB/CW (Mar/May)• Field Day (June)• RAC (Dec/July)• CQP (Oct)• CQWW DX SSB/CW (Oct/Nov)• ARRL SS SSB/CW (Nov)

DETAILS, DETAILS...

CONTEST:

NAQP ARRL DX CW WW WPX

FIELD DAY

RAC CQP CQ WW DX

SS

EXCHANGE Name, St/Prov

RS(T), ST/Prov,Pwr

RS(T), serial no

Class, section

RS(T), Prov (SN)

SN, ST/Prov or County

RS(T), Zone

SN, Prec, Call Sign, Check, Section

PTS 1/QSO 3/DX 3or6/DX 2or4/NA 1=VE

2/CW2/DIG1/SSB

VE=10 RAC=20OTHER=2

3/CW 2/SSB

3/DX 2/NA VE=0

2/QSO

MULTS St/Prov each band

DXCC ENTITIES

#PFX in each band

QRP=5 <150W=2

UP TO 13x2 PER BAND

58 COUNTIESOR ST/PROV

40 ZONES, DXCC ENTITIES

80 SECTIONS (ST+PROV)

TOTAL MULTS

6 Bands,63/BAND

6 Bands,Σ DXCCENTITIES / BAND

6 Bands, Unlimited

“All Bands but WARC”,Extra Bonus Points

8 bands X 26 Possible

8 Bands X 58 Counties

6 BANDS, TOTAL ZONES + COUNTRIES

Count each section only once, regardless of band

HRS 10 SO 12 MO

48 36 SO 48 MO

27 MAX 24 24 SO 30 MO

48 24 SO 30 MO

Others...

• Top Band Challenge (Stu Perry)– 160m, points based on grid squares

(distance)• Worked All Europe

– Added fun of passing QTCs• Digital (RTTY, PSK31, etc.)• VHF/UHF

Realities of contesting from AB

• Good News: Not much competition for AB awards.

• Bad News: Most contests not winnable due to significantly worse propagation at higher latitudes (MUF), being land-locked, and geographic position vis-a-vis Europe.

Before it Begins• Know the rules (points and multipliers)• Review last year’s results (check 3830?)• Review propagation forecasts (run Hamcap?)• Plan a strategy before the contest starts• Set your PC’s clock to the right time zone and WWV time• Check out all hardware/software functioning properly

(test)• Update Partials Database in logging software)

• Record DVK messages (SSB contests)• Prepare food and drink• Prepare a “Plan B” in case of malfunction• Get a good night’s sleep

During Contest

• Keep notes – times on/off, mistakes• Check other bands periodically (10m?)• “Rate is Everything”

– When to Run vs. when to S&P?– Work “dupes”– Use partials database– Know the prefixes

• Use DVK or programmed CW from PC• Eat/drink to keep up strength, mental focus

After Contest• Back up your files• Review notes and logs (edit as necessary)• Submit your log and verify received ok by robot• Optional:

– Submit scores and comments to 3830 reflector– Import QSOs into main logging program– Submit QSOs to eQSL/LOTW– QSL to “new ones”

• Review strategy and note “learnings” for next time

• If really serious, review UBN reports

Don’ts:

• Forget to take care of basic needs– Eat, Drink, washroom break, stretch

• Give up too easily. Keep the Velcro® on your pants.

• Stop trying new things.• Forget it’s just a contest!

Personal Experience

• Try to improve station each year

– 2004: Butternut HF9V antenna with old TS-530S rig, manual logging.

– 2005: 40’ Tower with TH3 triband yagi, FT1000MP rig, rig control, N1MM logging.

– 2006: Replace TH3 with TH6 tribander, added 40m/80m inverted vee, shunt-fed tower for 80m.

– 2007 Plans: Add 2 more sections onto tower (56’), add 160m sloper antenna.

Conclusions

• The popularity of HF contesting continues to grow.

• Contesting is hard work but promotes knowledge, technique, efficiency and sacrifice.

• Never too late to start.• A great way to add to DXCC or

other awards