An Upcoming Amateur Radio Event

First of all did all of you remember to wish your “Significant Others” a “Happy Valentines Day” and perhaps a little something special as well???  It would be hard to devote as much time as we do to our hobby without the blessing and support of our spouses….   Love ya babe….

Now back to radio….

The following email came to me while I was sitting up at the Chateau Montebello with the Canadian Ski Marathon and as they asked that I share it with you it seems only right that I do just that…

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To

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Robert -  VA3QV !

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I am President of  the CWJF Group , and we arestarting to disclose our CQMM DXCONTEST.

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I would greatly appreciate your cooperation, promoting one of  the 3 logos (attached) on your Page  / Site / Bulletin / Blog / Magazine / Facebook / Twitter and in  your country , as well as many other radioamateurs from Brazil and the world are already publishing.

,

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CWJF GROUP : www.cwjf.com.br

‘

73 , Ed -  PY4WAS

President of the  CWJF

,

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So there you have it folks….

Visit the website and if you like what you see participate in the contest…

73bob

A reminder about the North American QSO Party

Or as some call it the “NAQP”….

Starting today (Saturday Jan 21st) at 1800UTC for 12 hours (ends Sunday at 0600UTC) is the North American QSO Party

The complete rules can be found HERE  but for those who just want the condensed version here we go…

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Runs for a total time of 10 hours inside the 12 hours of contest time.  Your breaks must be at least 30 min in duration)

Maximum output power is 100w

Normal exchange would be Sig Report, Op Name and Province/State

Multipliers are US States and Canadian Provinces/Territories

Score is QSOs X Multis

If in doubt or for any questions please check the written rules rather than my “Coles Notes Version”

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Now for those who know me ….  Here are my goals and I bet some of you can guess what they will be….

 Have Fun-  It goes without saying that it has to be fun

Make Contacts-  Given the performance of my station over the last few events I am expecting to make contacts across Canada and “hoping” to make my 2nd contacts in VY0 and VY1. I would also hope to work at least 25 different states and with any luck they also would be the ones needed to complete my WAS.

According to the family schedule I should be able to devote about 8 hours to the contest so the goals (as long as the bands are cooperating) are obtainable and not out of reach.  The rig for todays event will be my Yaesu FT 450 and the antenna will be my S9 43 foot vertical (with the radials and balun/feedline buried under about 18 inches of snow) 

Not my backyard but it does show the lenght of the antenna

My EBAY headset worked good on VOX last time and I plan to use it again and I am hoping that I have cured my RFI issues between HRD and my Dell Laptop.  Having the computer and the radio talking make logging so much easier.  I have added chokes and grounds but so far no joy and so every now and again the computer just locks up and when I try to fix it I get a visit from the old blue screen of death… 

Hope to work you in the Party

73bob

Sweeps goals

As with every contest…  I don’t expect to win or place but I do expect to show…. 

For this contest I have the following goals and if they were met I would concider the contest a success:

#1 Have Fun- As I have said every time in the past this is a hobby and hobbies are supposed to be fun.  If it ain’t fun then why the &&^^%&*^ am I doing it…

#2 Complete my WAS- As this contest uses North American Geographic zones as the multipliers I am hoping to get the remaining 15 (or so) States needed to complete my WAS

#3 Make a contact in VY1-  In the 20 years I have been an amateur I have only heard a VY1 station (once).  I have worked every other Province/Territory in Canada except VY1.  I am hoping to complete Canada in the logbook this weekend.

#4 Get at least 40 multipliers in the log-  In the process of attaining my first three goals I would hope that I would also be able to put 40 of the 80 ARRL/RAC sections in the log.  I am not aiming for anything else but a “Clean Sweep” but being realistic ….. a 50% rate would not upset me.

Now this time you can laff along with me as I have configured HRD to put my log on line.  Every now and again if you feel like it you can look at the last 15 contacts in my log by using this link. 

If any of the goals are attained its a safe bet I will be yelling about it as it happens on my twitter account.

So have a great weekend and enjoy the hobby.  If you participate in the Sweeps good luck and if you don’t participate then I hope you are doing what you want to be…

73bob

RAC Canada Winter Contest is Status Quo

I have heard that the best way to see how you did is to compare it against how you did last time.

Given that comment lets look at this years RAC Canada Day Contest which was held back on July 1 2009

VA3QV Single Operator Low Power

Band             Contacts               Multis

2                            2                            1

6                            5                            1

10                          1                            1

15                          4                            1

20                          55                        10

40                         19                           5

80                          37                         4

160                        2                             1

Now according to my logging program the actuals are:

95 Canadian Contacts (not counting RAC stations)  10 points each

9    Rac Stations 20 points each

20  DX Stations (non Canadian) 2 points each

124 Total stations  worked

1170 total points

24 Provinces as multis

28080 as a grand total score…

Now lets take a look at todays score- Canada Winter Contest

VA3QV Single Operator Low Power

Band             Contacts               Multis

2                             5                              1

6                             3                              1

10                          1                               1

15                          10                            4

20                          29                           7

40                          19                            3

80                          54                           6

160                        7                             1

Now according to my logging program the actuals are:

102 Canadian Contacts (not counting RAC stations)  10 points each

3   Rac Stations 20 points each

22  DX Stations (non Canadian) 2 points each

124 Total stations  worked

1128 total points

24 Provinces as multis

27072 as a grand total score…

Now how close is that?

Outside of a minor change with the 6m antenna going from vertical in July to horizontal in December and a few less radials on the HF antenna not much else changed.

The FT 847 was the radio of choice then as it was now…Same Auto tuner and balun.  The antennas basically were the same…  So how do I improve on my score for the next time?  I don’t think I can…

At  least not without help from others… We need more participants along with better band conditions.  Now there is not much we can do about the bands but if more people got out and participated then we might get a few extra multis and more people would have more fun.

This year I spent about 14 hours on the contest.  I could of spent a bit more but there were some minor family commitments which needed to be done especially if I wanted to eat for the rest of the week.  Groceries come before DX or at least thats what Liz is telling me.

So now lets look at the goals… as I mentioned before the contest started…

“Have Fun (a given…  if its not fun then why do it???)”

Well it was fun.  I wish I could of devoted more time to it but then again we did talk about the grocery thing.  On the brighter side of things the time I did spend was great.

Then I said

“Work all the 13 multipiliers ( so far I have worked all but one of the Canadian Territories (VY1… I am still looking for you…) It would be really fantastic IF I could manage at least one contact coast to coast and the North as well.”

This one could need a bit of work.  I was able to contact stations in all the 10 Canadian Provinces but this time I had no luck in VE8 (John was operating J6/VE8EV from St Lucia) and I heard no one from the land of VY1 or VY0.  To be honest I have never contacted the Yukon yet and it took a DXPediton to VY0 to finally get them in the log

Next time for sure (or so I say now…)

Try and improve on my one good score…  2003 Canada Winter Contest and I was operating QRP with my VA3RCS Callsign (before I had VA3QV) and things were going great.

This did not get done but at least I got the same average score I got last contest.  I really wish I could remember what I did so different in 2003 that got me the great score I have been trying to match ever since.  I was QRP for that contest and I have barely made 1/2 of that today running QRO so I guess its a band condition thing as I seem to remember working across Canada (VO1 to VE7) that year on 80m and 40m but thats about it…

That and without nagging about it the participation thing as well.

My local contacts were very poor.  5 contacts on 2m and 3 contacts on 6m.  Just about every new rig these days comes with 6m so there is no excuse for that.  You have the radio…Turn it on and get an antenna for 6m.

How will you know theres an opening on 6 if you never use the band?

In addition to the 14 hours in the contesters chair I also spent about 3 hours in the NTS chair and made my daily skeds with the usual stations and nets that I meet with on a regular  basis to keep the traffic smoothly flowing in and out of the Ontario Phone Net.

So in closing YES I did have fun… I got to hide in the shack for 14 hours and play radio.  I talked to lots of Canadians and a few new hams who have that great enthuasism that I used to have.  I still enjoy it…  My blood pressure just stays lower or is that the meds ???

The next friendly entry level contest would be the Ontario QSO Party which is held the third week in April…  Assuming the Maple Tree makes it through the winter thats the one I put it all together for.  I actually got some paper for the high score last year that says …

“Single Operator SSB City of Ottawa”

I think because every one else who competed from Ottawa was operating CW or QRP, but it was nice to get the 1st place certificate.

But as a wise old DXer told me once…  If you don’t sumit your score … you can’t win…

73bob

QRO is the way to go…

… for this contest anyway…

Well the antennas have been put up… The SWR has been checked and going by what the band conditons seem to be RIGHT NOW AT 1630 EST/2130UTC

I have decided to keep the FT 847 set up and operate as Single Operator Low Power with the 100W of the 847 and try and give out some contacts and have fun Playing radio.

Checking into the Ontario Phone Net on 3.742 at 1600 with the radio dialed back to 5w just did not cut it so the 817 stays on the bench for this one…

So its a Jpole on 2m, a dipole on 6m the W3EDP with help from a tuner on the rest and lets get ready to PLAY RADIO!!!!!!!

I’m going to take a break for supper then get ready for the 1900 EST or 0000UTC Start of the RAC Canada Winter Contest.

73bob

Still TOO cold…

Its Friday at 10am est-  The RAC Canada Winter Contest starts in 10 hours and the temp is -2 deg F.

I still have to get that 6m dipole set up in preparation for the contest and I am dreading climbing an aluminun ladder to hold on to a metal mast with bare hands cause I cant use a set of vice grips with gloves on…  I have gotten used to having feeling in my fingers and most likely before I get the job finished my hands will be frozen on to the mast…

This makes me wonder how those hardy Northerners from VE8, VY0 and VY1 do things in the winter…

One such Amateur who I have blogged about many times in the past John VE8EV has finally got it right…  He has headed south for the contest and if you check out his blog you can get more information.

Anyway I have a lot of things to do today before the contest both radio wise and family wise as we are getting close to Christmas and there is LOTS of last minure stuff do do…

The sked for the day includes:

1345- 2nd region Net on 3.925

1600- Ontario Phone Net on 3.742

1700- NY State Public Operations Net on 3.925

1830- 2nd Region Net on 1.928

1900- 24 hours of CQ Contest

And in between those times comes a trip to the Grocery Store for supplies and a trip to the mall to finish up the Christmas Shopping….

Will my hands defrost in time for the Contest?

Will I find the time to get everything done?

Will the bands cooperate?

Will you find me on the bands and get VA3QV in your log?

73bob

2009 RAC Canada Winter Contest

In December each year, Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) sponsors the Canada Winter Contest. Amateurs all over the world are invited to participate.
Contest Period: 0000 UTC to 2359 UTC December 19, 2009.

2009 RAC Canada Winter Contest
Bands and Modes: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6 and 2 meters, CW and
phone (SSB, FM, AM, etc.)
Suggested Frequencies: CW – 25 kHz up from the band edge and
for SSB – 1850, 3775, 7075, 7225, 14175, 21250, 28500 kHz. Check
for CW activity on the half-hour.
Exchange: Stations in Canada send RS(T) and province or territory.
VEØ’s and stations outside Canada send RS(T) and a serial number.
QSOs: Contacts with stations in Canada or VEØ’s are worth 10
points. Contacts with stations outside Canada are worth 2 points.
Contacts with RAC official stations are worth 20 points.

RAC official stations are: VA2RAC, VA3RAC, VE1RAC, VE4RAC, VE5RAC, VE6RAC, VE7RAC, VE8RAC, VE9RAC, VO1RAC, VO2RAC, VY0RAC, VY1RAC and VY2RAC.

You may work any station once on each of the two modes, on each of the eight contest bands.
It is prohibited to make CW contacts in the conventional phone
sub-bands and phone contacts in the conventional CW sub-bands.
Contacts or soliciting QSOs through a repeater during the contest
period is not allowed.
Multipliers: Thirteen in total, Canada’s 10 provinces and three
territories.

Each multiplier may be counted once on each mode on
each of the eight contest bands.

The multipliers, with their postal abbreviations and prefixes are:

Nova Scotia [NS] (VE1, VA1, CY9, CYØ);

Quebec [QC] (VE2, VA2);

Ontario [ON] (VE3, VA3);

Manitoba [MB] (VE4, VA4);

Saskatchewan [SK] (VE5, VA5);

Alberta [AB] (VE6, VA6);

British Columbia [BC] (VE7, VA7);

Northwest Territories [NT]  (VE8);

New Brunswick [NB] (VE9);

Newfoundland and Labrador [NL](VO1, VO2);

Nunavut [NU] (VY0);

Yukon [YT] (VY1);

Prince Edward Island [PE] (VY2).

Certain special Canadian prefixes in use at  the time of the contest may also apply; however there may be no more  than 13 multipliers on each band/mode. Please use the multiplier abbreviations, in square brackets, noted above.
Final Score: The total QSO points from all bands multiplied by the
total number of multipliers from all bands.
Categories: The following 9 categories are eligible for plaque’s or
certificates as detailed in the Awards section of the rules.
• Single Operator All Bands High Power (>100 watts) – Radioworld
• Single Operator All Bands Low Power (max. 100 watts output)
– Contest Club Ontario
• Single Operator QRP (max. 5 watt output) All Bands & Single
Band** – QRP Canada
• Single Operator All Bands CW only, any authorized power –
Maritime Contest Club
• Single Operator All Bands PH only, any authorized power
– Saskatchewan Contest Club
• Single Operator Single Band, any authorized power***
– Elkel Products
• Multi-Operator Single Transmitter High Power (>100 watts)*
– Alfa Radio
• Multi-Operator Single Transmitter Low Power (max. 100 watts
output)* – Tony Allsop VE3FTA Memorial by the Mississauga ARC
• Multi-Operator Multi-Transmitter, any authorized power – Radioworld
For the Canada Winter Contest a special trophy is awarded for the
highest Single Operator (no power classification) Foreign Entrant –Jorge Bozzo LU8DQ Memorial by Alan Goodacre, VE3HX.
Special thanks to our sponsors for their support of the RAC contests.

In my opinion this Contest and the RAC Canada Day Contest are the best two contests around.  They are laid back but still fun.  Big Guns and Pop Guns all can have a great time.  Listen for VA3QV out there for as much time as I stay awake for.

At the time of writing I will either be operating Single Operator Low Power or Single Operator QRP depending on the band conditons at the start of the contest.

If the band looks good I will take the FT 847 out of line and put the FT 817 in the main operating postition.  If the bands look bad then its 100W and the 847.

Yaesu FT817 above left     and    Yaesu FT 847  above right

I will definately be operating 10,15,20,40,80.160 (SSB voice) along with 2FM, 2SSB, 6FM, 6SSB in a vertical polarized configuration.  I don’t think I will have the time to get the Horizontal 2m and 6m antennas up due to family commitments between now and then so…

Hope to hear you and work you during the contest.  Even if you know you won’t win (like myself) get out there and talk to Canadians and have a blast…

73bob

CQ WW HF SSB Contest this weekend

Now this works out fantastic…  What better way to test out my new and improved W3EDP Antenna than spend some time on HF on the weekend and give out plenty of contacts in the contest.

Click on the CQ Logo to go to the website with the rules and info

And the same with any contest…. I know I don’t have “A snowballs chance in heck” on winning but the event will be successful if I can obtain the following goals:

Work all of Canada

So far I have been able to work all of Canada with the exception of the Yukon (VY1) but I have worked VE7 British Columbia (just below) KL7 Alaska (Just west) VE8 North West Territories (just east) so I know my signals are getting into the area so with any luck with the band conditions and a few amateurs on the air in VY1 I might just get lucky.

Work at least 25 states

In any contest that includes North America I think giving my proximity to the USA I should be able to work approximately 25 of the lower 48 states with little difficulty.  Normally I can work all I can hear so if the band cooperates I should have little trouble doing this/

Work at least 3 continents

North America, South America and Europe are normally givens… Africa is a possibility anything else would be fantastic

Have Fun

Normally also a given…  This is a hobby and hobbys are supposed to be fun…  I enter this contest with the knowledge that I am not going to win…  that I am going to make a contact with someone that will win… and therefore my purpose in being in the contest is to give out contacts, test out my radio gear, meet as many of my goals as I can and mostly to have fun.

If I can’t have fun then its time to have a great radio sale and take up a new hobby…

Lets see how many time I can say

<your call> this VA3QV- Please copy 5/9 – 4    73 good luck

And even more important see if I can say it to YOU!!!

73bob

Getting ready for the CANADA DAY Contest

Now that we have gotten past Field Day its time for us to start to think about the

RAC Canada Day Contest

This contest as implied is run by our National Group the Radio Amateurs of Canada and runs from 0000hrs UTC on July 1st to 2359:99 hrs UTC.

In real time this means the contest starts on the Tuesday evening (if like me you are in the EASTERN Time zone)  and runs till Wednesday evening so remember the difference between UTC Time and your local time zone.

This is a very easy and laid back contest and along with the RAC Canada Winter Contest is the best way for Canadians to work Canadians.

You can find a very easy to use logging program and the rules for the contest itself by by following the hotlinks in these lines.

Normally for this contest I try and operate from home but in the QRP Catagory with my LDG QRP Tuner and my Yaesu FT 817 but the final equipment decision will be made on Tuesday evening just before the start of the contest.  If the bands seem good then it will be QRP and if the bands seem rough then it will be the FT 847  instead.

My normal goals for all contests will apply here…

(1) HAVE FUN AND MAKE LOTS OF CONTACTS

(2) Try and work all the Canadian Callsign Districts.  Seeing that I made my first Alaskian contact this year in Field Day this proves that working into the north (VE8 and VY0) are possiable with my meager antennas.

In the time that I was able to participate (approx 10 hours) I was able to work 7 provinces including all the Maritimes with the exception or Labrador.

(3) Work as many US States as I can.  I feel that in any North American Contest I should be able to work at least 50% of the lower 48 states.  In the approximate 10 hours that I was able to operate in Field Day 2009 I did manage 20 states so that goal is not out of line.

(4) DID I MENTION TO HAVE FUN???

Anyway due to a prior commitment I will be missing the first few hours of the contest so you won’t hear me at the start but you do stand a good chance to hear me on the low bands (40, 80 and 160) starting around 2330 EASTERN when I get home.  I plan to try and make some late night contacts before pulling the plug for a few hours nap.  Hopefully I will be able to operate for most of the daytime hours till the conclusion of the contest.

My unofficial results (brags or excuses) should be posted here just after the contest with a final follow up a day or so later.

Like I said its a great way for Canadians to work Canadians and also as DX Stations get points for working us its also nice to be at the receiving end of a pile up…  It gives you a nice feeling to hear CQ CANADA…CQ CANADA

Will you get one of these for a Canada Day contact?

Now everyone get your gear ready and lets play some radio and have some fun…

73bob