Adventures with K8DV!

Adventures with K8DV!

March 9, 2017 Dave Vest, K8DV

Dave Vest First Licensed in 1978 President Milford Amateur Radio Club DX ing and Contesting over 35 years DXCC, WAS, WAC, VUCC Card Checker for ARRL Q Letter Manager for 8 th Area QSL Bureau 9 Band DXCC 7 Band WAS (12 and 17) TPA (Triple Play Award ARRL LoTW) #63 DXCC Totals Mixed 332 CW 309 Phone 282 Digital 226 Challenge (band slots) 1798 5 time M/M winner Ohio QSO Party (K8DV) 5 time M/S winner Kentucky QSO Party (K4Y) 4 time M/M winner Indiana QSO Party (W9I) K8DV - A Lifetime Of Ham Radio

The views represented on this presentation are those of my own, and in no way are they the final word on ham radio contesting, but based solely on my experiences.

What is contesting? Why contest? What is and isn t required. Types of operators and contests. Components of the sport. (Rules, QSOs, Logs, etc ) Resources where to find more info.

An Amateur Radio contest is an operating event, held over a predefined time period where the goal is to enjoy yourself. The ARRL Operating Manual, 6th Edition. Contests are what YOU make them.

Fun Excitement of the chase Start fresh every weekend with new goal Variety of events Every contest is unique Even year to year contests change

Fulfillment Personal Accomplishment Reaching a goal Learning and improving capabilities You (operating skills) Station Awards WAC DXCC WAZ WAS WPX Helping Ham Radio Use it or lose it

Friends Regular contesters make friends world wide Common lingo and interests Gatherings at conventions/club Recognition (in person/on air) Bragging rights Team K8DV Ohio QSO Party New M/M Record

K8DV 2008 ARRL Phone SS Section Winner Multi-Single Get on the air Make contacts Use proper exchange Submit log

Basics Radio Antenna Mic or Key Logging (computer preferred) W9I - Lots of small stations makes for most activity

Super Station Tall tower(s) with big beams Legal limit power Expensive logging software K3LR Superstation One QSO with YOUR station is worth the same points MAYBE MORE

Competitors Strive to improve Study scores and plan strategies Take care in selecting equipment Use technology where appropriate Can become a mission, sickness of sorts CQ Contest!

Casual Everyone else US (Largest group) Chasing awards Just happened to turn on the radio Just handing out points Sometimes convert to competitors Without casual ops, contests would be boring for competitors

Contest Haters Dang, another contest Rag chewers Nets of all types Out of the blue contester I don t do contest, but now I do, Casual Contester

Sponsored Magazines Organizations (ARRL, CQ, RAC, RSGB, DARC, etc) Clubs or other groups. Contest for just about any interest Multiple Bands: HF, VHF, UHF Single Band: 160m, 10m, 10Ghz Mode: CW, SSB, RTTY, PSK, SSTV Location: County, State, Country, World Individual and/or Groups

Contests within contests Team competition such as NAQP (North America QSO Party) Groups of 5 Single operator stations add up scores Club Competition Various size definitions for categories, large/medium/small Big rivalries between large clubs (YCCC, PVRC, FRC, NCCC, SMC, MRRC) Local rivalries (Bill WS6K vs. Denny KC8RPV)

Published by sponsor in magazine or web site. Short summaries in other magazines, usually good enough for casual ops. Competitors have to study the full rules for the details. Always read as they can change from year to year

Times Start and end times Power Classifications HP High Power, LP Low Power, QRP Really Low Power Operator And Radio Classifications SO Single Operator, MS-MM Multi-Operator Exchange The required information to be sent between stations in a contest. Scoring (QSOs x Multipliers) Multipliers can be states, counties, countries, grids, zones, etc

Key Points Keep it short, minimum chit chat (be human) Send call once (maybe twice), exchange once Remove extra data please copy, my number is, etc If the station you call says your call correctly no need to repeat Proper phonetics CW cut numbers can be ugly (I use only T=0 and N=9) RTTY not that different from CW Don t use LAST 2, give complete calls

Paper still used but not as fun Computer logging (NICE) Accurate time Track mode/band changes On/Off time calculated automatically Duping and scoring real time TX from keyboard (SSB, CW, RTTY) Takes some practice to log direct to the computer Contest specific log

Radios More buttons not always better. Think about how you will see the buttons after several hours. (2:00AM) Whatever you have! Accessories (Nice to have but not required) Headset with boom mic! (Number One Thing for SSB Contesting) CW Keyer, Voice Keyer, both can be done from a computer or often built into newer radios. Computer Logging software Computer interface (Most MARC members use SignaLink) Sound cards are extremely flexible.

Antennas More is not always better Beam is nice but most are using multiband dipoles or verticals NO WARC Bands! Makes selection a bit simpler. N8DWN Inside dipoles K4Y Mutiband inverted vee AA8HH Flagpole vertical

Hunt and Pounce (H&P) Listen and type in exchange before making contact Give your complete call once (phonetics help) No extra delays, once he gives exchange go right back with your info Don t repeat your call with exchange unless there was an error Use basic English Standard Phonetics Tune to next station and repeat

RUN Call CQ, keep consistence with speed and tone Use basic English Standard Phonetics Only send call or exchange once Send repeats once Listen and log at the same time Keep chit-chat to a minimum but OK to say HI When running you control the pace Most important: HAVE FUN

(RUN) CQ NAQP, this is Kilo Eight Delta Victor (H&P) Whiskey Sugar Six Kilo (RUN) Whiskey Sugar Six Kilo Dave Ohio (H&P) Thanks Dave, Bill Ohio (RUN) QSL, Kilo Eight Delta Victor, Contest As Heard In NAQP SSB Contest North America QSO Party

K4Y Kentucky QSO Party 2014 on 40 meters

What is your goal? Working new states, counties, countries To make 10, 50, 100 or more contacts Try a new mode, maybe RTTY Learning your new radio Trying out your new privileges

Wallpaper Plaques, trophies, pins Personal satisfaction

Contesting can be FUN! Great way to work toward new awards! Great way to test skills and equipment Learn a new mode Meet new friends

Ham Radio Casual Contesting Pups have fun too, contesting with the Big Dogs!

Websites Real time website (http://www.getscores.org) 3830 (http://www.contesting.com) ARRL (http://www.arrl.org) CQ (http://www.cq.com) N3FJP (http://www.n3fjp.com) N1MM (n1mm.hamdocs.com) Contest calendar (http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html) MARC (http://www.w8mrc.com) MARC W8MRC Repeater/Helpdesk (Bill and Denny) 147.345 real time help On air testing before contest Can help you get setup or just answer questions as needed Please don t wait until the day of the contest

Month Contest Notes ===== ================== ====================================== Jan RTTY Roundup First full weekend, never on Jan 1. NAQP SSB Third full weekend. Feb CQ WPX RTTY Second full weekend. NAQP RTTY Starts on last Saturday. Mar ARRL DX SSB First full weekend. CQ WPX SSB Last full weekend. Apr Rookie Roundup SSB Third Sunday. Jun Museum Ships Weekend First full weekend. Field Day Fourth full weekend. Jul 13 Colonies Around the 4th. IARU HF Championship NAQP RTTY Second full weekend. Third full weekend. Aug NAQP SSB Third full weekend. Rookie Roundup RTTY Ohio QSO Party Third Sunday. Fourth Saturday. Sep Ohio Parks OTA First Saturday after Labor Day. Route 66 On The Air CQ WW RTTY Starts first Saturday after Labor Day, runs 1 week. Last full weekend Oct CQ WW SSB Last full weekend. Nov Sweepstakes Third full weekend. Dec 10-meter SSB Second full weekend. Bill WS6K MARC Casual Contest Coordinator Something for everyone, lots of fun to be had

MARC members heard saying W8VCI I will never work a contest he is now making a few QSOs. AE8S I don t work contest Tried RTTY and got hooked. W8UF Got me interested by stressing CASUAL AC8VK Thought I needed a beam and amp, but now rethinking Give it a try for 30 minutes or 10 contacts and then decide