Monday 11 February 2019

M0DXR’s Pre-Contest Bulletin: ARRL DX CW 2019

M0DXR’s Pre-Contest Bulletin: ARRL DX CW 2019.
Issue #1

M0DXR’s
Pre-Contest Bulletin:
Promoting a network of UK contest operators
        
ARRL DX CW 2019 00:00 16thFeb - 24:00 17th Feb 2019
by Mark Haynes M0DXR

IN THIS ISSUE

The ARRL DX CW Contest is one of the most popular 48 hour events of the year. Taking place on the 3rd weekend of February each year, North American stations will be QRV for stations outside North America to complete QSOs on all six of the HF contest bands from 160m-10m. 

K3LR, one of the large multi multi stations in the USA
There is usually a good presence of activity from the UK. Perhaps it is due to our relatively favourable position in terms of our geographical position in western Europe that brings operators on the bands. The UK will generally experience better band conditions to North America than more eastern Europe, however it is always a struggle to compete against those well positioned in southern Europe such as Spain, Portugal and the Azores. As such, it may be possible to do relatively well at a European continental level.
There will be stations active from the UK in the Single Operator categories as well as Multi Operator ones too. Single Operator entries tend to be desirable given that 48 hours of propagation to the USA and VE may not occur, thus providing time to sleep without detrimenting ones score.

Contest Rules
The formal rules of the ARRL DX CW Contest can be found here: http://www.arrl.org/arrl-dx 
 
Date/Time
The contest takes place from 00:00 on 16th February and ends at 24:00 on 17th February.

Who’s On from the UK?

Single Op All Band
Jamie, M0SDV plans to be active using his home call in the
Single Operator All Band High Power category from the QTH of G0DWV in Norfolk. Chris has an impressive station, and Jamie will be looking to utilize the station’s big antennas. He will enter ‘Unassisted’.

Don, G3BJ will be active also Single Operator All Band High Power Unassisted using the stations usual contest call G5W. From the beautiful Shropshire countryside, this QTH proves itself time after time to work very well for Don and a good sloping path to the west, ideal for ARRL. 

Mike G3VYI looks to add to this category by putting in around 18 hours of operating. No doubt Mike will put out his usual good signal from his Farnham QTH.

Lee G0MTN reports he will try to get on the air for a few hours as a single operator in the high power category. Hopefully he will find some time amongst busy family life to work as many of those juicy mults as possible and get some real rate from his home QTH.

Steve M0BPQ will be on from the south east (grid JO01AP) as single operator high power, maybe assisted. Steve also has family commitments so operating times are not known at the moment – but hopefully he’ll get enough time to put in a decent score.

Allan GM4ZUK can’t possibly miss this one as, along with CQ 160, this is one of his favourites! Using the call GM4Z, Allan will operate from his home station in the single op all band high power (unassisted). He will have father duties over the weekend – but hopes to get on, especially at night on 80 and 160 when the kids are asleep!

In the lower power section of single operator all band, Paul, G4PVM will run 100w and be assisted. He will fun a Flex 6500 with a Hexbeam and dipoles for 40/80 at 15m. From his QTH in Chelmsford, lets see how Paul can do. Being in the UK, perhaps he can do well on a European level!

Hoping for kind conditions, probably more than anyone, is Bill GM4UBJ. He will be QRV as GM4M in the single operator all band QRP category. I’m sure many will show respect to Bill and others that run QRP as it can become rather frustrating at times to battle on the bands amongst high power stations. Good luck, Bill!

Multi Multi!
One UK operator has reported a planned multi operator multi transmitter entry. Iain, M0PCB will be one of the team members at NR4M. Whilst not in the UK, it is great to know that there will be at least one Brit on the other side of the pond hoping to work as many of the UK entrants as possible. NR4M is a huge station located in Virginia. Multiple towers with stacked arrays can guarantee very large signals from this station. Maybe Iain will say ‘hi’ to some of the UK stations he works from NR4M. Please report how you get on, Iain!
Below is a view of the NR4M shack.
Single Op Single Band
It seems the single band preference seems to be 20m with the below operators planning an entry in this category:

Jim, G3RTE will try single band 20m high power from his home QTH in Potters Bar using the call G6AY. Jim runs dipoles and its remarkable how he puts out such a remarkable signal – so, expect good numbers from this entry! Jim will use a K3 and KPA500 amplifier and if the weather is favourable he will be able to get the dipole up to 55ft. His aim is ‘Worked All States’.

Clive, GM3POI reports he will be QRV using his contest call GM3X. From the Orkney Islands, Clive needs no introduction to the contesting world and we can expect a good entry. Big signals emerge from GM3POI on pretty much every band with 20m being no exception. But will being so far north leave room for more southerly participants or will it help grab a top spot…?

Dick, GU4CHY plans a small effort with a single band 20m entry. In addition to being a good operator, Dick can enjoy being a rare multiplier for those North Americans. Being further south also, we can expect a good report from this station. 

Good luck…
It is so refreshing to hear of so many pre contest announcements for this years ARRL DX CW event. If you are not reported, please try to be QRV to get a mention in the ‘post contest report’. Send your comments and pictures to mark.haynes@yahoo.co.uk 
73!

M0DXR’S PRE-CONTEST BULLETIN: PROMOTING A NETWORK OF UK CONTEST OPERATORS

Tim M0BEW.

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