IARU 2015 M0BEW SOABLP CW
Contest : IARU HF Championship
Callsign : M0BEW
Mode : CW
Category : Single operator
Overlay : ---
Band(s) : ALL BANDS
Class : Low
Exchange : 27
Operating time : 06h 05m
BAND CW SSB HQ Z POINTS AVG
-------------------------------
160 5 0 0 3 17 3.40
80 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
40 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
20 154 0 9 15 528 3.43
15 162 0 12 13 530 3.27
10 11 0 6 3 21 1.91
-------------------------------
TOTAL 332 0 27 34 1096 3.30
===============================
FINAL SCORE: 66 856
Operators : M0BEW
Soapbox :
Usual battery powered field day setup.
Limited time operating during the Saturday afternoon.
Conditions really felt hard. Despite good RBN spots from 10m impossible to create any kind of run.
Tim M0BEW.
Wednesday, 24 June 2015
Monday, 22 June 2015
DXLOG CONTEST LOGGING SOFTWARE
DXLOG CONTEST LOGGING SOFTWARE.
I have used a number of different logging software over the years. I began with CT in the late 90's and moved over to Writelog in 2000. I used this exclusively for home operating till 2006. At this point I took a long break from contesting until returning to radio in 2013.
When coming back I looked at everything new that was now available and ended up going with Wintest. It seemed stable, lots of operators were happy with it, and had all the 1R and 2R options I needed. I tried it, liked the feel, and kept with it.
Recently I thought I'd take a look at DXLog. See screenshots for my setup.
I setup with a simple, basic, almost old school CT feel, but with everything needed visible. With a couple of shortcuts setup you can bring up cluster window and needed mult information.
Show mult window;
Show cluster window;
For a RTTY data seup it looks like this. (GRITTY is also supported.)
A nice, clean, no frills layout.
The few problems I had with Wintest, DXLog deals with fine.
Despite what I read about others experiences of Wintest performing solid I always had trouble getting Winkey to work reliably.
Unless I followed a specific sequence when loading up Wintest, Winkey would never initialize.
I would need to do the following, execute Wintest > Open the log > Type SETUP hit enter = Winkey detected. If I did anything to the log, e.g enter a qso, or dupe check etc before starting the setup Winkey would NEVER get detected, or more awkwardly if I had to change any thing mid contest with the comports it would break the cw, the whole process would have to be started again. Not ideal.
With DXLog once it had synced up, it just works, no matter when you re-initialize the comports. As it should. Very good.
Another issue Wintest had was with the DX cluser when connected to a busy node, such as RBN. The system would become sluggish and unresponsive, CW was erratic with pauses in messages etc. Completely unacceptable, only option was to switch the cluster off.
DXLog in this case runs smooth despite the bombardment of spots coming though.
Things you'll need to get running if your using the recorder.
MP3 codec.
Download libmp3lame.dll and copy it into DXLog.net installation folder.
File libmp3lame.dll can be downloaded from here -
http://www.rarewares.org/mp3-lame-libraries.php
So, on the whole I'm very impressed, I'm converted.
This will be my go-to software for logging for the future.
73
Tim M0BEW.
I have used a number of different logging software over the years. I began with CT in the late 90's and moved over to Writelog in 2000. I used this exclusively for home operating till 2006. At this point I took a long break from contesting until returning to radio in 2013.
When coming back I looked at everything new that was now available and ended up going with Wintest. It seemed stable, lots of operators were happy with it, and had all the 1R and 2R options I needed. I tried it, liked the feel, and kept with it.
Recently I thought I'd take a look at DXLog. See screenshots for my setup.
I setup with a simple, basic, almost old school CT feel, but with everything needed visible. With a couple of shortcuts setup you can bring up cluster window and needed mult information.
Show mult window;
Show cluster window;
For a RTTY data seup it looks like this. (GRITTY is also supported.)
A nice, clean, no frills layout.
Despite what I read about others experiences of Wintest performing solid I always had trouble getting Winkey to work reliably.
Unless I followed a specific sequence when loading up Wintest, Winkey would never initialize.
I would need to do the following, execute Wintest > Open the log > Type SETUP hit enter = Winkey detected. If I did anything to the log, e.g enter a qso, or dupe check etc before starting the setup Winkey would NEVER get detected, or more awkwardly if I had to change any thing mid contest with the comports it would break the cw, the whole process would have to be started again. Not ideal.
With DXLog once it had synced up, it just works, no matter when you re-initialize the comports. As it should. Very good.
Another issue Wintest had was with the DX cluser when connected to a busy node, such as RBN. The system would become sluggish and unresponsive, CW was erratic with pauses in messages etc. Completely unacceptable, only option was to switch the cluster off.
DXLog in this case runs smooth despite the bombardment of spots coming though.
Things you'll need to get running if your using the recorder.
MP3 codec.
Download libmp3lame.dll and copy it into DXLog.net installation folder.
File libmp3lame.dll can be downloaded from here -
http://www.rarewares.org/mp3-lame-libraries.php
So, on the whole I'm very impressed, I'm converted.
This will be my go-to software for logging for the future.
73
Tim M0BEW.
Sunday, 21 June 2015
VHF Contesting Optimize Your Station Experience! by Joel Harrison W5ZN
VHF Contesting Optimize Your Station Experience! by Joel Harrison W5ZN.
Thanks to the wealth of material supplied from WWROF.
Tim M0BEW.
Friday, 19 June 2015
RBN DATA RSGB 80M CLUB CHAMPS JUNE CW
RBN DATA RSGB 80M CLUB CHAMPS JUNE CW.
Below is the data I pulled off from last June's RSGB 80m Club Champs CW Contest.
I was interested to see how the my signal from a relatively simple system worked compared to previous 80m CC entrants that seem to do well.
For comparison I simply lifted the calls from the top ten entrants of the last session.
The system is 100w, 1/2w res dipole @ 30ft with ends at 10ft. Pictures speak a thousand words they say. See below.
This is not perfect data, however it does show the signal put into the main areas of interest. Unfortunately there weren't many UK RBN active on 80m that evening to get a good spread of UK reference.
Results.
It's amazing to see the vast difference of signal between stations throughout the session. Geography will certainly play a role in this.
As to be expected, I'm not topping the charts all over, however its still quite pleasing to see how such a simple system performs.
Just for fun I have included some spots from the ZL RBN, showing who was spotted from there at our sunset.
I will try to continue to do these reports through future sessions. It'll be interesting to see the differences through the year with different darkness hours.
73. Tim M0BEW.
Below is the data I pulled off from last June's RSGB 80m Club Champs CW Contest.
I was interested to see how the my signal from a relatively simple system worked compared to previous 80m CC entrants that seem to do well.
For comparison I simply lifted the calls from the top ten entrants of the last session.
The system is 100w, 1/2w res dipole @ 30ft with ends at 10ft. Pictures speak a thousand words they say. See below.
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This is not perfect data, however it does show the signal put into the main areas of interest. Unfortunately there weren't many UK RBN active on 80m that evening to get a good spread of UK reference.
Results.
It's amazing to see the vast difference of signal between stations throughout the session. Geography will certainly play a role in this.
As to be expected, I'm not topping the charts all over, however its still quite pleasing to see how such a simple system performs.
Just for fun I have included some spots from the ZL RBN, showing who was spotted from there at our sunset.
I will try to continue to do these reports through future sessions. It'll be interesting to see the differences through the year with different darkness hours.
73. Tim M0BEW.
Tuesday, 16 June 2015
DRCG WW RTTY 2015 M0BEW SOABLP
DRCG WW RTTY 2015 M0BEW SOABLP
Contest : DRCG World Wide RTTY
Callsign : M0BEW
Mode : RTTY
Category : Single operator
Overlay : ---
Band(s) : 20
Class : Low
Exchange : 14
Operating time : 00h 33m
BAND QSO C P DUP POINTS AVG
------------------------------
80 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
40 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
20 20 14 0 0 61 3.05
15 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
10 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
------------------------------
TOTAL 20 14 0 0 61 3.05
==============================
FINAL SCORE: 854
Operators : M0BEW
Soapbox :
A little tester of DXLog using RTTY.
Only caught last hour but the software seems solid. Very good.
Tim M0BEW
Contest : DRCG World Wide RTTY
Callsign : M0BEW
Mode : RTTY
Category : Single operator
Overlay : ---
Band(s) : 20
Class : Low
Exchange : 14
Operating time : 00h 33m
BAND QSO C P DUP POINTS AVG
------------------------------
80 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
40 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
20 20 14 0 0 61 3.05
15 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
10 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
------------------------------
TOTAL 20 14 0 0 61 3.05
==============================
FINAL SCORE: 854
Operators : M0BEW
Soapbox :
A little tester of DXLog using RTTY.
Only caught last hour but the software seems solid. Very good.
Tim M0BEW
WWSA CW 2015 M0BEW SOABLP
WWSA CW 2015 M0BEW SOABLP
Contest : WWSA CW
Callsign : M0BEW
Mode : CW
Category : Single operator
Overlay : ---
Band(s) : ALL BANDS
Class : Low
Grid square : IO82VL
Operating time : 01h 32m
BAND QSO Z C DUP POINTS AVG
-------------------------------
80 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
40 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
20 38 6 21 0 44 1.16
15 18 6 13 0 20 1.11
10 7 3 6 0 13 1.86
-------------------------------
TOTAL 63 15 40 0 77 1.22
===============================
FINAL SCORE: 4 235
Operators : M0BEW
Soapbox :
Oped from the usual field location.
Only a short session.
Activity didn't appear too high on in the last hours Sunday. Might have been higher on the Saturday, who knows.
Tested DXLog for the first time. Very impressed. Seemed solid.
Tim M0BEW.
Contest : WWSA CW
Callsign : M0BEW
Mode : CW
Category : Single operator
Overlay : ---
Band(s) : ALL BANDS
Class : Low
Grid square : IO82VL
Operating time : 01h 32m
BAND QSO Z C DUP POINTS AVG
-------------------------------
80 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
40 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
20 38 6 21 0 44 1.16
15 18 6 13 0 20 1.11
10 7 3 6 0 13 1.86
-------------------------------
TOTAL 63 15 40 0 77 1.22
===============================
FINAL SCORE: 4 235
Operators : M0BEW
Soapbox :
Oped from the usual field location.
Only a short session.
Activity didn't appear too high on in the last hours Sunday. Might have been higher on the Saturday, who knows.
Tested DXLog for the first time. Very impressed. Seemed solid.
Tim M0BEW.
Monday, 15 June 2015
CTU Contest University sessions 2015
CTU Contest University sessions 2015.
Icom America have uploaded the sessions from 2015 CTU @ Dayton.
CTU - Session 1 - Play by the Rules - Your Most Important Skill - N0AX
CTU - Session 2 - CW and RTTY Skimmers and the Rev Beacon Network - N6TV
CTU - Session 3 - Ten Ways to Increase Your Contest Score - K1DG
CTU - Session 4 - Enhancing Contest Station Audio - K9EID
CTU - Session 5 - Eyeball Sprint Contest "LIVE" - K1DG
CTU - Session 6 - Radio Contesting's Future, How Can You Help - K3LR
CTU - Session 7 - PopVote - Ten Ways to Increase Your Contest Score - K1DG
CTU - Session 8 - CQ Worldwide Contests - K5ZD
CTU - Session 9 - Contesting Hints & Kinks Q&A - W3LPL
CTU - Session 10 - Contesting Radio Performance - NC0B
Many thanks for making this media available.
73.
Tim M0BEW.
Icom America have uploaded the sessions from 2015 CTU @ Dayton.
CTU - Session 1 - Play by the Rules - Your Most Important Skill - N0AX
CTU - Session 2 - CW and RTTY Skimmers and the Rev Beacon Network - N6TV
CTU - Session 3 - Ten Ways to Increase Your Contest Score - K1DG
CTU - Session 4 - Enhancing Contest Station Audio - K9EID
CTU - Session 5 - Eyeball Sprint Contest "LIVE" - K1DG
CTU - Session 6 - Radio Contesting's Future, How Can You Help - K3LR
CTU - Session 7 - PopVote - Ten Ways to Increase Your Contest Score - K1DG
CTU - Session 8 - CQ Worldwide Contests - K5ZD
CTU - Session 9 - Contesting Hints & Kinks Q&A - W3LPL
CTU - Session 10 - Contesting Radio Performance - NC0B
Many thanks for making this media available.
73.
Tim M0BEW.
Friday, 12 June 2015
RSGB 80M CLUB CHAMPS 2015 JUN CW M0BEW
RSGB 80M CLUB CHAMPS 2015 JUN CW M0BEW
Contest : RSGB 80 meter Club Competition
Callsign : M0BEW
Mode : CW
Category : Single Operator (SO)
Overlay : ---
Band(s) : Single band (SB) 80 m
Class : Low Power (LP)
Zone/State/... : DX
Locator : IO82VL
Operating time : 1h29
BAND QSO DUP POINTS AVG
------------------------------
80 134 1 134 1.00
------------------------------
TOTAL 134 1 134 1.00
==============================
TOTAL SCORE : 134
Dupes are not included in QSO counts neither avg calculations
Operators : M0BEW
Soapbox :
Operated from the field at IO82VL.
Fun little session. Tested a relatively low dipole. SE/NW. Feed point @ 30ft and ends @ 10ft.
My idea was to put a signal on the band for 90 minutes using a typical G system and see how it fared, checking the RBN data against the 80m CC regulars.
Interesting data.
Tim M0BEW.
Contest : RSGB 80 meter Club Competition
Callsign : M0BEW
Mode : CW
Category : Single Operator (SO)
Overlay : ---
Band(s) : Single band (SB) 80 m
Class : Low Power (LP)
Zone/State/... : DX
Locator : IO82VL
Operating time : 1h29
BAND QSO DUP POINTS AVG
------------------------------
80 134 1 134 1.00
------------------------------
TOTAL 134 1 134 1.00
==============================
TOTAL SCORE : 134
Dupes are not included in QSO counts neither avg calculations
Operators : M0BEW
Soapbox :
Operated from the field at IO82VL.
Fun little session. Tested a relatively low dipole. SE/NW. Feed point @ 30ft and ends @ 10ft.
My idea was to put a signal on the band for 90 minutes using a typical G system and see how it fared, checking the RBN data against the 80m CC regulars.
Interesting data.
Tim M0BEW.
Wednesday, 10 June 2015
MW6V(M0BEW) CQWPXCW 2015 SOABLP
MW6V(M0BEW) CQWPXCW 2015 SOABLP.
WPX coincided with a holiday this year so I operated from the holiday cottage in Gwbert Ceredigion.
Tremendous QTH with the house being located right on the coastline overlooking the sea. Nothing serious, a casual affair.
Ran with Wintest, a TS480 and a simple linked dipole.
My activity was on and off throughout the Sunday only as we traveled out on the Saturday.
Being at an unfamiliar location its sometimes hard to gauge the conditions, and with how well this location played towards the west made things even more confusing. However, things did feel pretty good.
Upon setting up the station it was clear there was a local noise.
A wide band qrm destroyed the upper HF bands. Very disappointing, in any case it wasn't 24/7 and even went quiet for a sporadic hour or two so things were fine.
Contest : CQ World Wide WPX Contest
Callsign : MW6V
Mode : CW
Category : Single Operator (SO)
Overlay : ---
Band(s) : All bands (AB)
Class : Low Power (LP)
Zone/State/... :
Locator : IO72PC
Operating time : 16h27
BAND QSO DUP PFX POINTS AVG
-----------------------------------
160 0 0 0 0 0.00
80 0 0 0 0 0.00
40 0 0 0 0 0.00
20 877 1 517 1534 1.78
15 30 0 14 60 2.00
10 0 0 0 0 0.00
-----------------------------------
TOTAL 907 1 531 1594 1.78
===================================
TOTAL SCORE : 846 414
It was great to part of WPX 2015 and a pleasure to operate from such an idyllic location, and give away the MW6V mult.
Thanks for the qsos.
Tim M0BEW.
WPX coincided with a holiday this year so I operated from the holiday cottage in Gwbert Ceredigion.
Tremendous QTH with the house being located right on the coastline overlooking the sea. Nothing serious, a casual affair.
Ran with Wintest, a TS480 and a simple linked dipole.
 |
| Sunset @ MW6V. |
 | |
| Operating position. |
 |
| Living area. |
My activity was on and off throughout the Sunday only as we traveled out on the Saturday.
Being at an unfamiliar location its sometimes hard to gauge the conditions, and with how well this location played towards the west made things even more confusing. However, things did feel pretty good.
Upon setting up the station it was clear there was a local noise.
A wide band qrm destroyed the upper HF bands. Very disappointing, in any case it wasn't 24/7 and even went quiet for a sporadic hour or two so things were fine.
Contest : CQ World Wide WPX Contest
Callsign : MW6V
Mode : CW
Category : Single Operator (SO)
Overlay : ---
Band(s) : All bands (AB)
Class : Low Power (LP)
Zone/State/... :
Locator : IO72PC
Operating time : 16h27
BAND QSO DUP PFX POINTS AVG
-----------------------------------
160 0 0 0 0 0.00
80 0 0 0 0 0.00
40 0 0 0 0 0.00
20 877 1 517 1534 1.78
15 30 0 14 60 2.00
10 0 0 0 0 0.00
-----------------------------------
TOTAL 907 1 531 1594 1.78
===================================
TOTAL SCORE : 846 414
It was great to part of WPX 2015 and a pleasure to operate from such an idyllic location, and give away the MW6V mult.
Thanks for the qsos.
Tim M0BEW.
Friday, 5 June 2015
CQ WPX CW 2015 MW6V(M0BEW) SOABLP
CQ WPX CW 2015 MW6V(M0BEW) SOABLP
Contest : CQ World Wide WPX Contest
Callsign : MW6V
Mode : CW
Category : Single Operator (SO)
Overlay : ---
Band(s) : All bands (AB)
Class : Low Power (LP)
Zone/State/... :
Locator : IO72PC
Operating time : 16h27
BAND QSO DUP PFX POINTS AVG
-----------------------------------
160 0 0 0 0 0.00
80 0 0 0 0 0.00
40 0 0 0 0 0.00
20 877 1 517 1534 1.78
15 30 0 14 60 2.00
10 0 0 0 0 0.00
-----------------------------------
TOTAL 907 1 531 1594 1.78
===================================
TOTAL SCORE : 846 414
Dupes are not included in QSO counts neither avg calculations
Operators : M0BEW
Soapbox :
WPX coincided with a holiday this year so I operated from the holiday cottage in Gwbert Ceredigion.
Tremendous QTH with the house being located right on the coastline overlooking the sea. Nothing serious, a casual affair.
Ran with Wintest, a TS480 and a simple linked dipole.
My activity was on and off throughout the Sunday only as we traveled out on the Saturday.
Being at an unfamiliar location its sometimes hard to gauge the conditions, and with how well this location played towards the west made things even more confusing. However, things did feel pretty good.
Upon setting up the station it was clear there was a local noise.
A wide band qrm destroyed the upper HF bands. Very disappointing, in any case it wasn't 24/7 and even went quiet for a sporadic hour or two so things were fine.
It was great to part of WPX 2015 and a pleasure to operate from such an idyllic location, and give away the MW6V mult.
Thanks for the qsos.
Tim M0BEW.
Contest : CQ World Wide WPX Contest
Callsign : MW6V
Mode : CW
Category : Single Operator (SO)
Overlay : ---
Band(s) : All bands (AB)
Class : Low Power (LP)
Zone/State/... :
Locator : IO72PC
Operating time : 16h27
BAND QSO DUP PFX POINTS AVG
-----------------------------------
160 0 0 0 0 0.00
80 0 0 0 0 0.00
40 0 0 0 0 0.00
20 877 1 517 1534 1.78
15 30 0 14 60 2.00
10 0 0 0 0 0.00
-----------------------------------
TOTAL 907 1 531 1594 1.78
===================================
TOTAL SCORE : 846 414
Dupes are not included in QSO counts neither avg calculations
Operators : M0BEW
Soapbox :
WPX coincided with a holiday this year so I operated from the holiday cottage in Gwbert Ceredigion.
Tremendous QTH with the house being located right on the coastline overlooking the sea. Nothing serious, a casual affair.
Ran with Wintest, a TS480 and a simple linked dipole.
My activity was on and off throughout the Sunday only as we traveled out on the Saturday.
Being at an unfamiliar location its sometimes hard to gauge the conditions, and with how well this location played towards the west made things even more confusing. However, things did feel pretty good.
Upon setting up the station it was clear there was a local noise.
A wide band qrm destroyed the upper HF bands. Very disappointing, in any case it wasn't 24/7 and even went quiet for a sporadic hour or two so things were fine.
It was great to part of WPX 2015 and a pleasure to operate from such an idyllic location, and give away the MW6V mult.
Thanks for the qsos.
Tim M0BEW.
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