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ARRL DX CW 2010

By TF4M On February 22, 2010 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

The weekend of February 20-21 will be a busy one for CW operators as the 2010 ARRL DX CW Contest takes center stage. First started in 1927 as the ARRL International Relay Party, the ARRL DX CW contest lays claim to the longest running contest in Amateur Radio. Stations from all around the world — from Australia to Zimbabwe — should be active for this great event that takes place on 160-10 meters (contest QSOs are not permitted on 60, 30, 17 or 12 meters).

Stations in the US and Canada work only DX stations — Alaska and Hawaii are considered DX for this contest — and DX stations only work the US and Canada. DX stations will be trying to make QSOs with all US states and Canadian provinces as they can. The contest exchange is simple: US and Canadian stations send a signal report and their state or province, while DX stations send a signal report and the amount of power they are transmitting with.

I operated in the Single Operator, Single Band 160 meters (SOSB/160) category and I made 376 contacts with 56 States/Provinces for a total score of 63,000 points.

Conditions were poor, as the 160m band has not recovered from the massive Aurora a few days earlier.

Despite the poor conditions all US States except South Dakota and Idaho were worked.

I used my K3 in diversity mode with the USA rhombic feeding one receiver and two phased Beverage antennas 400 meter long in the other receiver.

Most stations worked were very low signal levels, at the same time stations in EU were pounding in at times with the usual Key Clicks.

The K3 handles these conditions well and although hard, working the contest was a pleasure.

The high points of the contest was being called by VK6GX (Australia) and OA4TT (Chile) for a quick exchange of reports.

My score is higher than last year´s top EU score (ON4UN – 61,548 points) by a small margin, so I feel that I did well despite the tough conditions – the score is most certainly a TF record.

My score turned out to be good enough for 7th place World Wide.

It is possible to follow the scores on the DXWatch web site – SOSB/160 World – SOSB/160 EU.

I recorded the entire contest and you may listen to your QSO with me.

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The Arctic King Rocks!

By TF4M On February 2, 2010 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio, Visitors at TF4M

CQ 160 Contest – TF4X #2 in Europe, #3 World !

Yuri, K3BU operated TF4X in the CQ WW 160 meter contest in the Single Operator High Power category.

A solar flare about a week before the contest started caused worry that conditions would be poor. The band seemed to have recovered nicely, but the Aurora Index stayed high during most of the contest and it became clear that conditions were disturbed.

Iceland is greatly affected by any Auroral disturbance, much more so than neighboring countries and Yuri observed, for example, that my Great Beverage antennas showed almost no directivity during the contest. I know for a fact that they work very well, but during the weekend it seemed that signals appeared to come from all directions simultaneously. I understand this may be due to a high arrival angle during disturbed conditions.

Some juicy DX was worked, two KH6 stations for example, it is only recently that the historic first QSO with KH6 was made from my station – this is quite remarkable considering the disturbed conditions.

The raw score is as follows:

1643 QSOs

51 States/Provinces

80 Countries

Total Score = 1,317,729

At present TF4X has the second highest reported score in Europe and is #3 worldwide. This may of course change as and/or when other stations report their scores, but it is incredibly satisfying to see all my hard work being justified with such superior results.

Note: The final score was #2 EU and #3 WORLD ! ( NOTE: #3 among stations outside North America – two canadian stations were in places #2 and #4 putting TF4X in #5 overall. The reason for this is that North American scores are separate due to the scoring system)

Note: The Diploma has arrived. It puts TF4X in #6 Overall and #EU

It was quite illuminating to observe such an experienced operator running my station – at times I feared that my amplifier would literally melt, but it performed to my full satisfaction and there were no equipment/antenna issues whatsoever during the contest.

Yuri wrote in his comment to the 3830 Reflector:

Last minute adventure to the Aurora zone, taking up Thor’s invite.
Being rusty from dormant period, problems with equipment setup,
drivers, but got ready for the start.
Stories about Aurora wipeouts made it a big if.
Thanks to Thor and his magnificent station it ended up being fun and decent
score, even if coming short of beating the Eu record.
The background noise is probably the lowest in the world allowing to
hear lot more of the juicy stuff than working it.
Thanks for wonderful hospitality and station from Thor, TF4M and all the QSOs
and points. Lot of dirty clixing signals and rude behaviour by “CQ pirates”.
Will have more later.

Yuri, TF/K3BU

I used my PERSEUS SDR receiver to record the entire contest 1800-1900kHz. The recording obviously contains the entire contest effort of TF4X and in addition it contains the contest effort of everyone else heard at my location.

This consumes two hundred GB of data, please contact me if you are interested in specific time periods.

A new chapter in the History of Amateur Radio has been written.

[View with PicLens]

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A new level of performance reached

By TF4M On January 8, 2010 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

I have finally set up a Harris RF-350 with the associated KW remote controlled amplifer for use with my receive antenna system.

The DX Engineering Receive Antenna Interface for Transceivers is the unit that made this possible.

The only problem was finding a voltage on the Harris radio that would sink to ground under all circumstances of keying.

The solution was found in the Coupler connection on the back of the radio.

I connected a 10k pullup resistor to pin H which carries 13.8VDC and connected the other end of the resistor to pin B (Coupler Key). This pin goes low on transmit, and could equally well be used to key a small relay if that was desired, but I wanted electronic control of the DX Engineering box. Pin B in turn went to the Transmit Ground connection on the interface.

In addition, I power the interface itself from pin I, which also carries 13.8V.

Works beautifully.

It was very fitting that the first station I worked with the new setup – operating position C – was JA8NFV.

The Harris radio has filters the size of a amateur transceiver, with performance to match, what an incredible pleasure.

Since both the Harris RF-350K transceiver and the Harris 7224 KW LPA (Linear Power Amplifier) have RF Sample outputs, I set up scope monitoring of the system triggered by the CW keying.

Update: After using the Harris in battle I am a bit disappointed. The sequencing leaves a bit to be desired, this will be improved with a DX Engineering sequencer already ordered, and there seems to be a bit of filter blow-by on CW. I am hearing CW signals outside the filter passband. I will test another unit to see if this is a common problem, perhaps a bit of contact cleaner will clear this up. On SSB the Harris radios are unsurpassed.

Further analysis indicates that this problem might be caused by impedance mismatch with the headphones I have been using. With those headphones, volume is at almost maximum settings so this seems likely.

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Happy New Year in the Arctic

By TF4M On January 1, 2010 · 2 Comments · In Amateur Radio

The first QSO in the new year was with JD1BMH in Ogasawara.

The recording is made with almost 30dB of pre amplification from the JA Beverage.

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BA7IO was also heard with clear signals but I was unable to raise him.

BU2AQ in Taiwan was also worked for the second time and we exchanged HNYs.

I took some photos of my view, the first photo is towards the North, the Arctic King may be seen in the distance.

The second photo is taken towards the South.

A day in the life of the Arctic King

By TF4M On December 30, 2009 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

Yesterday I worked JD1BMH in Ogasawara for a new country and zone. This morning I was up early and was called by JD1BMH for a second QSO immediately followed by a QSO with JD1BLY – also in Ogasawara !

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Earlier I made a few QSOs with several JA stations:

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Eduardo, TI8II in Costa Rica was worked for a new country #134.

This afternoon after adding another 16dB of pre-amplification using a DX Engineering Receiver Preamplifier 0.3-35 MHz – DXE-RPA-1 to the already present 12dB pre-amplification in my Beverage antenna system, I tested the system on 160m.

The noise level at my location is so low at times that I can actually get away with almost 30dB of pre-amplification from the already high output of my Beverage antennas. Receiver protection is included by switching the extra preamplifier off automatically during transmissions using a The DX Engineering TVSU-1 Time Variable Sequencer Unit.

I am now experiencing a new smoothness in my station along with peace of mind.

Several weak JA stations were worked and it was revealed that they would not have been workable without the extra amplification.

My reception is no longer only crystal clear, now it is powerful and crystal clear.

It seems that the Arctic King is even more powerful than I thought.

VK6GX called and we exchanged 559 reports, a bit later HS0ZEE in Chiang Mai, Thailand was worked for #135 and Zone 26 and Ross, 9M2AX also called me with excellent signals.

It is all rather hard to believe. Audio files will be posted in the Online Audio page soon.

NOTE: 01 January 2010. The recording time stamps in the recording were corrupted for some reason. The entire file may be listened to here:

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or downloaded directly: -http://tf4m.com/audio/160M_28Dec-31Dec2009.mp3-

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First ever QSO with Ogasawara

By TF4M On December 28, 2009 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

This morning I got up early and called CQ on Top Band.

I was called by KH6ZM in Volcano, Hawaii and we had a QSO-twice !

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and later by JD1BMH in Chichi-Jima in the Ogasawara Islands.

We were unable to complete the QSO on the first try, but I called him a bit later when conditions had improved and we made the QSO solidly.

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This is the first ever QSO between Ogasawara and Iceland on Top Band.

JD1BMH sent me his recording of the QSO.

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Thanks for a new country #133 and WAZ – Zone 27!

I now need QSOs with Zones #2, 26 and 37 to complete WAZ on Top Band.

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Ears of Steel – Stew Perry Topband Distance Challenge 2009

By TF4M On December 27, 2009 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

I operated for 14 hours in the Stew Perry Distance Challenge and made around 400 contacts.

Conditions were poor with some Auroral activity. Despite the poor conditions, I made a few juicy DX contacts, notably CE1/K7CA for a new country and Zone 12, VK6DXI for the longest distance worked – 15.800km, and KH6LC in Hawaii.

Several QSOs were made with Japan, but the US was noticeably absent. Only a handful of US stations were worked, despite conditions allowing contacts to be made to the West Coast.

All QSOs may be listened to on the Online Audio page.

I observe with dismay, the low quality signals that descend on 160 meters during contest weekends. Key Clicks are rampant and several stations made it hard to operate near them due to their dirty transmitters.

Generally it is a pleasure to operate on 160 meters and I may have to reconsider my contest participation, as this is simply not enjoyable.

I am using a Yaesu FT1000MP MK V with key click modifications in place and the radio is fitted with an INRAD roofing filter and a 200Hz CW filter in the 455kHz IF cascaded with the stock 250 Hz filter in the 8MHz IF.

I receive with an array of 8 Beverage antennas, coupled through a K9AY preamplifier with excellent overload characteristics.

I used a very nice feature of the Win-Test contest logging software that is called Targets Tracking which enables real time comparison of last years rates compared with the current rates on an hourly basis.

My effort earned me a beautiful award for the Top Score North of 60° Geomagnetic Latitude.

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JT1CO worked on Top Band

By TF4M On December 9, 2009 · 1 Comment · In Amateur Radio

When I turned on my radio today, JT1CO in ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia was booming on 160 meters.

As I waited for the amplifier to warm up, I recorded his signals and he was worked easily for a new country and Zone 23.

I now believe it may be possible to get WAZ (Worked All Zones) from TF on 160 meters.

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It is quite likely that this is the first time Mongolia is worked on Top Band from Iceland.

FIRST !! Top Band QSO with Hawaii from Iceland.

By TF4M On December 9, 2009 · 13 Comments · In Amateur Radio

The night of 09 December was spectacular. I began the operation with the thought of working on my WAS (Worked All States) award for 160 and as the terminator moved across the US, stations from the western part of the US became audible.

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After a small break, I decided to continue and see if I could get a West Coast US station in the log so I continued on the band.

I think I probably worked all 50 states during this session, I was called by many W6 and W7 stations and several KL7 stations were also logged.

The highlight of the session was being called by KH7C in Hawaii, followed later by KH7XS and KH6AT.

These are the first QSOs in history between Hawaii and Iceland on Top Band and I was really not expecting this to be possible, but the Arctic King and my large Beverage antennas, coupled with a zero-noise location made this possible.

It is also entirely likely that the West Coast USA QSOs made last night are the first in history from TF.

Note: N6ND informs me that some stations in California have worked TF3CW in January 2008.

Note: TF3SG informs me that he worked CA and BC on 160m SSB last January.

I have uploaded the log to LOTW.

I recorded the entire session:

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What an incredible pleasure !

The QSO with KH7C:

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The QSO with KH7XS:

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The QSO with KH6AT:

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All my audio files may be downloaded from my web site.

Cluster spots showed the excitement.

N5GH 1822.0 TF4M GOOD SIGNAL IN MS TONIGHT! 0535 09 Dec Iceland

W6UQZ-@ 1821.9 TF4M call corr – thumbs! 0535 09 Dec Iceland

N5GH 1822.0 TX4M GOOD SIGNAL IN MS TONIGHT! 0535 09 Dec Not Found

W6UQZ-@ 1821.9 TF4A Grt ears! TNX new one! 0531 09 Dec Iceland

K6SRZ 1822.0 TF4M tnx #121 top band 0514 09 Dec Iceland

K7LAY-@ 1822.0 TF4M 3 hrs paid off 0451 09 Dec Iceland

WO1N 1821.9 TF4M Good Ears… 0432 09 Dec Iceland

K5WK 1821.9 TF4M going strong 0411 09 Dec Iceland

NL7Y-@ 1822.0 TF4M S9 in AK – Amazing 0341 09 Dec Iceland

K4SV 1822.0 TF4M Nice sig QRM by caller SPLIT? 0333 09 Dec Iceland

W2WC-@ 1821.3 TF4M 0329 09 Dec Iceland

W2TN 1822.0 TF4M Great sigs 0324 09 Dec Iceland

WM3O 1822.0 TF4M tnx for qrming me 0308 09 Dec Iceland

KS9W 1822.0 TF4M 0258 09 Dec Iceland

N7RT 1820.5 TF4M New #222 on 160 0208 09 Dec Iceland

W0BKR 1820.4 TF4M (UP AND DWN) 0202 09 Dec Iceland

W0FLS 1820.5 TF4M just darn loud 0147 09 Dec Iceland

W1YIF 1820.5 TF4M Tnx new one!!!! 0140 09 Dec Iceland

W0SEI-@ 1820.0 TF4M HUGE SIG…..TNX 0136 09 Dec Iceland

W4QN 1820.5 TF4M 0131 09 Dec Iceland

W4SVO 1820.4 TF4M 0118 09 Dec Iceland

N6ND 1820.5 TF4M QSX 1820.67 Tnx new one on 160 0118 09 Dec Iceland

K9US 1820.7 TF4M very stong tonight 0052 09 Dec Iceland

K0PY 1820.5 TF4M 0044 09 Dec Iceland

ZS1REC-@ 1820.5 TF4M Thanks new one! 0024 09 Dec Iceland

HI3TEJ-@ 1820.5 TF4M Tnxs fer new one 0017 09 Dec Iceland

ZS1REC 1820.5 TF4M 0002 09 Dec Iceland

K0HA 1820.5 TF4M . 2344 08 Dec Iceland

N5GH 1822.0 TF4M GOOD SIGNAL IN MS TONIGHT! 0535 09 Dec Iceland

W6UQZ-@ 1821.9 TF4M call corr – thumbs! 0535 09 Dec Iceland

N5GH 1822.0 TX4M GOOD SIGNAL IN MS TONIGHT! 0535 09 Dec Not Found

W6UQZ-@ 1821.9 TF4A Grt ears! TNX new one! 0531 09 Dec Iceland

K6SRZ 1822.0 TF4M tnx #121 top band 0514 09 Dec Iceland

K7LAY-@ 1822.0 TF4M 3 hrs paid off 0451 09 Dec Iceland

WO1N 1821.9 TF4M Good Ears… 0432 09 Dec Iceland

K5WK 1821.9 TF4M going strong 0411 09 Dec Iceland

NL7Y-@ 1822.0 TF4M S9 in AK – Amazing 0341 09 Dec Iceland

K4SV 1822.0 TF4M Nice sig QRM by caller SPLIT? 0333 09 Dec Iceland

W2WC-@ 1821.3 TF4M 0329 09 Dec Iceland

W2TN 1822.0 TF4M Great sigs 0324 09 Dec Iceland

WM3O 1822.0 TF4M tnx for qrming me 0308 09 Dec Iceland

KS9W 1822.0 TF4M 0258 09 Dec Iceland

N7RT 1820.5 TF4M New #222 on 160 0208 09 Dec Iceland

W0BKR 1820.4 TF4M (UP AND DWN) 0202 09 Dec Iceland

W0FLS 1820.5 TF4M just darn loud 0147 09 Dec Iceland

W1YIF 1820.5 TF4M Tnx new one!!!! 0140 09 Dec Iceland

W0SEI-@ 1820.0 TF4M HUGE SIG…..TNX 0136 09 Dec Iceland

W4QN 1820.5 TF4M 0131 09 Dec Iceland

W4SVO 1820.4 TF4M 0118 09 Dec Iceland

N6ND 1820.5 TF4M QSX 1820.67 Tnx new one on 160 0118 09 Dec Iceland

K9US 1820.7 TF4M very stong tonight 0052 09 Dec Iceland

K0PY 1820.5 TF4M 0044 09 Dec Iceland

ZS1REC-@ 1820.5 TF4M Thanks new one! 0024 09 Dec Iceland

HI3TEJ-@ 1820.5 TF4M Tnxs fer new one 0017 09 Dec Iceland

ZS1REC 1820.5 TF4M 0002 09 Dec Iceland

K0HA 1820.5 TF4M . 2344 08 Dec Iceland

Beverage System upgraded

By TF4M On November 14, 2009 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

I finished building two new single wire Beverage antennas today which fill in some gaps in the coverage.

The Beverage Antennas at TF4M are as follows:

1: 0° = 320m

2: 14° = 170m

3: 60° = 225m

4: 100° = 300m

5: 132° = 380m

6: 143° = 350m

7: 194° = 170m

8: 280° = 300m

9: 312° = 380m

10: 323° = 350m

8 of these are fed into the K9AY RAS 8×2 Matrix antenna switch, which then feeds the receive antennas to two radios in any combination. Works extremely well.