Gary Sutcliffe, W9XTSMC Fest 2013Copyright © 2013 Gary C. Sutcliffe
How Do I Do better in Contests?
Topics to be covered todayContest selection Antenna improvementsShack improvementsPlanning and goal settingOperating tips
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Pick Contests You Like The MostDomestic or DX
Domestic: Sweepstakes, Field Day, State QSO PartiesDX: ARRL, CQ World Wide, Worked All EuropeBoth: ARRL 160 & 10M, IARU, WPX
Phone, CW or RTTYMany contests have separate mode events
Short, Medium or LongShort: Sprints, NA QSO Party, some state QSO PartiesMedium: Sweepstakes, IARU, FDLong: DX contests, WPX
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Match Your Antennas & ContestMatch
Pick contests that match your antennasOr optimize your antennas for your favorite contest(s)
Consider becoming a single band expertEasier & less expensive to put up an excellent antenna
system on one band than competitive antennas on manyDeep knowledge of the band will be a competitive
advantage
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What Bands Play Best for You?Depends on:
Antennas availableLocal terrainWho you want to contact
Both antenna gain and take off angle are importantTake off angle may be more important than gain
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80M Example – Dipole @ 60’
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Max Gain at about 60 degrees
EZNEC Plot
Down about 15dB @ 5°
80M Example - Vertical
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Max gain ~25°
Down ~5dB @ 5°
EZNEC Plot
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SUMMARY 5 MODES FREQ = 3.5 MHZ UT = 7.0 (VOACAP) Most REL Mode: 3.F2 4.F2 4. E 5.F2 5. E 3.F2 TIME DEL. 27.61 28.04 27.01 28.59 27.21 27.61 ANGLE 5.26 10.37 2.61 14.89 6.01 5.26 VIR. HITE 270.06 270.0 125.30 272.09 136.20 270.06 ABSORB 14.97 11.84 16.32 9.59 14.52 FS. LOSS 121.81 121.95 121.62 122.11 121.6 SNR 4.48 -4.20 -1152. -11.95 -1298 4.48 PROB 1.00 0.99 0.00 0.96 0.00 1.00
Calculated for Oct. 30, 2009
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SUMMARY 8 MODES FREQ = 3.5 MHZ UT = 21.0 (VOACAP) Most REL Mode 1. E 1. E 1.F2 2. E 2. E 2.F2 3.F2 3. E 1.F2 TIME DEL. 2.33 2.97 3.12 2.74 2.86 4.12 5.50 3.37 3.12 ANGLE 14.65 38.69 41.72 34.39 37.67 55.91 65.18 47.81 41.72 VIR. HITE 97.1 287.4 320.7 118.2 133.3 258.1 250.3 125.7 320.7ABSORB 21.68 10.18 9.60 11.17 10.39 7.81 7.15 8.68 FS. LOSS 100.3 102.4 102.8 101.7 102.1 105.2 107.7 103.5SNR 61.79 55.01 63.20 42.62 35.54 51.49 36.90 -38.30 63.20PROB 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.58 0.58 1.00 1.00 0.02 1.00
Calculated for Oct. 30, 2009
10M Yagi Example
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EZNEC Plot
Best AntennaIts not just about gainMatching take off angle to signal can have huge effectAngle of arriving signal from a given transmitter will vary
Time of daySeasonSunspot number
You rotate your beam towards the other station – think of take off angle of aiming in the third dimension
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Optimize Antennas to the Contest Design antennas to perform to target population areasHave multiple antennas per band
Cover different conditionsCover different directionsCover different distancesMaximize flexibility
In generalLow take off angle antennas best for DX contestsHigh take off angle antennas best for domestic contests
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W9XT AntennasLow Band RX: 350’ Bevs to Europe & JA, K9AY Array160M: Dipole at 60’, putting up Inverted L (fall 2013)80M: Dipole at 45’ + Vertical (shunt fed tower)40M: Dipole at 40’ + 2 El Yagi at 60’10-15-20 : TH7 @50’ + A3 @ 65’ + A3 @ 35’ (fixed on
Europe) Tribanders can be fed 1, 2 or all 3 in any combination
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W9XT Field Day Setup – 40 CWDipole at 30’ with reflector at 7’
High take off angle for stations within ~600 milesSloper Dipole
Slopes toward SE during day, move to SW at nightLower take off angle and a bit of gain
Uses phasing networkCQ on both antennasSelect best antenna when weak ones callLose 3 dB with 2 ants, but more than make up on TO angle
Typically make about 1000 40M CW QSOs each year.
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W9XT Field Day Setup – 40 CW 2012 & 2013
Dipole at 30’High take off angle for stations within ~600 miles
NVIS Dipole @ 7’Very high take off angle for stations within 250 miles
Inverted LLow take off angle for west coastElevated, tuned radials for easy set up
Phasing: Dipole and either NVIS or Inverted L
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FD at Ozaukee Radio Club – W9LO
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40M CW Station
Coax Phasing Network Simple to build
Coax Switch3 Coax Tees2 X ¼ wavelength 70 ohm1 X ¼ wavelength 50 ohm
Transmitter always sees 50 ohms with 1 or both antennas
Single band only
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More details at www.w9xt.com
Phasing Network
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Inexpensive Antenna Improvements:The more the better!Low Band RX: K9AY, Beverage, Beverage on
groundVertical or Inverted L: low take off angle on
low bandsLow Dipole or NVIS: High angle take offSloper Dipole: Gain in desired direction, anglePower splitters
Beam multiple directionsInstant direction switchingPull out weak stations with best antenna
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Optimize Shack for EfficiencyPlace most used equipment in easiest reach
Keyboard, radio, mouse, CW paddles in best positionsRotor, Antenna switch next best positionsAmplifier, PC can be further away
Always wear headphonesHear weaker signalsCut background noise – noise will increase fatigue
Use microphone headset with foot switch for phoneMic does not take table spaceMic always in proper placeDoes not tie up a hand
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Additional Efficiency TipsPut SWR bridge/watt meter in direct view
Immediately see problem or wrong antenna selectedAmp mistuned, off line, wrong band
ComputerMonitor & Keyboard at proper height
AutomateKeep log program and radio in syncAutomatic selection of antennas
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Optimize Shack for ComfortGood lightingGood ventilationComfortable chair (switch between 2)Table at correct height
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Cheap Secret Weapon for ComfortSimple foot rest
Takes pressure off legsKeeps feet off cold floorKeeps foot switch in
place
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Planning For the Next ContestKeep notes on every contest, review before the next
What went wellWhat went poorlyPropagation conditionsBest & worst timesStation changes since last contestSpecial or unusual openings & contactsThings to do differently next time
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Make a What-If Spread Sheet Use to set goalsSee effects of
Getting a few hours sleep at slow times
Chasing low band mults at sunrise
Putting emphasis on certain bands
Different operating strategies
2007 ARRL DX CW Goals
Band QSOs DX160 30 1880 110 5540 220 8720 300 9015 175 5510 25 12
Total 860 317
Score 817,860
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Other Planning AidsMake a Band Plan
Listing of bands to be on each hour of the contestGood general guide, but adapt to opportunities
QSO & multiplier totals by hourGoal for hour + cumulative totalsBase on previous effortsGood motivator and indicator of falling behind
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3 Most Important Things While Operating
RateRateRate
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Always watch the rate meter!
Keeping the rate: CQ a lotCQ whenever possibleAn average CQ rate is usually better than a good S&P rateMore than half of stations in contest never CQCQing seems slower than S&P – watch rate meterSmaller stations
Try CQs higher in bandCQ 2nd day in DX contests, Sunday afternoon in
SweepstakesDon’t waste time in frequency fights
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Watch the rate meter!When rate is below what it should be:
Stop CQing and start S&P (Search and Pounce)Stop S&Ping and start CQChange bandsTake a break if contest has mandatory off times
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Know the Value of MultipliersMany logging programs give value of a mult
Relative to number of QSOsRelative to number of minutes (based on current rate)
Don’t waste time in big pile ups for rare multsConsider coming back laterDon’t leave a good CQ run to chase packet spots
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You won’t make the PGA Tour after your first 18 holes, and
you won’t be a world class contester by just doing FD
Every sport requires practiceLearn to copy and log quickly without errorsLearn propagationGet a feel for when things are going well or notKnow when to switch bands, when to CQ, etc.Learn to copy through QRM & QRNLearn how to crack pile upsLearn how to manage a high rate CQ run
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SummarySelect contests that match your interests and stationAntenna take off angle may be more important than gainMultiple antennas (even inexpensive) = great flexibilityOptimize station for efficiency and comfortPlan an operating strategyKeep the rate up, CQ whenever you canBe smart about chasing multipliersAll the contesting tips in the world won’t help without
practice
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ResourcesNCJ - Contest Magazine published by ARRLContesting.com – Contesting web siteCQ-Contest - mailing list dedicated to contestingSociety of Midwest Contesters – regional contest clubwww.unifiedmicro.com – Contesting accessories
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This program will be put on www.w9xt.com