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Stew Perry Top Band Distance Challenge 2010

By TF4M On December 19, 2010 · 3 Comments · In Amateur Radio

I enjoy taking part in the Stew Perry Topband Challenge ever since I took a serious interest in 160 meters.

This is the only radio event that rewards the stations who have gone to the trouble of building proper receiving antennas and who take the 160 meter band seriously. This is because the scoring system is based on the distance between stations, where longer distances give more points. Although the scoring also favours low power stations – I am of the opinion that low power stations should only compete among themselves, i.e. there should simply be three categories in the contest – High Power, Low Power and QRP, since it is utterly impossible to compete against the Low Power stations who get up to 4 times the number of points.

This event does not attract the “Weekend Warriors” that are so prevalent on the band in other large contests. They typically have no hearing ability, but usually they have very strong and sometimes broad signals sometimes with key clicks which make any effort by stations who have real hearing ability very difficult. This does not bother these stations since their hearing ability is so poor that they only ever hear the strongest signals. They also create space around their signals where no other station can operate, there are indeed suspicions that this may be done on purpose, since these stations show up year after year with their broad signals.

My Christmas message to those stations who show up on 160 meters with key clicks is this:

Go Away and don´t come back. You are not welcome here.

There is no technical excuse for this, this behaviour shows a complete disrespect for the band and to those who have paid their dues and have put forth the extreme amount of work required for working on 160 meters – the ultimate challenge in Amateur Radio.

Call: TF4M
Class: Single Op HP
QTH: HP85FP
Operating Time (hrs): 12.5

Summary:
Total: QSOs = 434 Total Score = 3,200

Comments:
Conditions were poor, the Aurora lay like a blanket across the arctic, but the
powerful Arctic King performed magnificently.

TFM 1397dx2

The Arctic King – the most powerful 160m antenna on this planet

I used a K3 mostly in diversity mode using another large vertical for rx with
an array of 4 bi-directional Beverage antennas up to 400m long.

Rule 6. I shut down my Skimmer Server during the contest and this young boy
enjoyed his radio without any human or technological assistance of any kind.

The band never really opened towards the US and I was only able to work a few
USA stations although I could hear (sense?) activity all across the band.

Despite the poor conditions 24 QSOs were made with JA which is normally a very
difficult path especially during Aurora. I was also called by KH2/N2NL.

JA0YUD was a solid 599 at 13:10Z and low tide!

Listen to our QSO and notice what it is like to enjoy Zero Noise level I am actually listening directly on my transmit antenna – the Arctic King during this contact.

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Heard KH6LC, CE1/K7CA and BW2/KU1CW but was unable to raise them.

The high point of the contest was being called by ZL4AS for my longest distance
QSO of 17774km for a record 36 point QSO and since ZL is nearly antipodal to TF,
I don’t think it is possible to have a longer QSO than this from my QTH on the
planet!

In addition to being nearly antipodal to TF, this QSO also involves a polar crossing, making this the Ultimate DX QSO.

To accomplish this contact from my location and in Auroral conditions to boot, is nothing less than miraculous.

Listen to our QSO:

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The contact with ZL4AS is the third contact in the history of radio communications between Iceland and New Zealand on 160 meters. The first two were made by me with ZL3IX and ZL3NW.

ZL4AS

I have posted the entire sound file in the Audio section of my web site – click on the link on the top bar.

Preliminary results are out. At this point (January 1. 2011) – TF4M is in 5th place Worldwide, 2nd place outside North America, 1st place Europe and I have the longest distance QSO (Best DX) of all categories – the QSO with ZL4AS 17774 km.

I may qualify for the Top Score EU High Power, Best DX (Longest QSO High Power), and the Aurora Borealis Awards.

The categories and award plaques may be seen here.

The results are out! TF4M and ZL4AS had the longest QSO in the event – 17,774 km and we qualified for the Longest DX award plaque.

TF4M was in 6th place WorldWide and had the top score in EU as well as the Top Score, > 60 Deg N Geomagnetic Latitude.

However, only one plaque can be won by any station in the Stew Perry event so the plaques for these categories were issued to the runners up.

I am the sponsor for the Longest QSO, High Power plaque, and I am very pleased to win it, since this is a very prestigious award.

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CQ WorldWide CW 2010

By TF4M On November 29, 2010 · 1 Comment · In Amateur Radio

The contest was a strictly Search & Pounce affair at TF4M, with the goal of searching for DX and adding new countries to my log, with an emphasis on 160 meters.

I made a few QSOs on all of the higher bands, including one contact on 10m with CR2X – the only station heard on that band over the weekend.

Call: TF4M
Operator(s): TF4M
Station: TF4M

Class: SOSB(A)/160 HP
QTH: HP85FP

Summary:
Band QSOs Zones Countries
——————————
160: 198 21 73
——————————
Total: 198 21 73 Total Score = 18,612

Comments:

Hunted for DX during the contest mainly on 160.
A full effort was out of the question as I am recovering from serious illness.
Conditions were poor the first night and abysmal the second night.
Quite happy with the result = 10 new ones on Top Band.
Highlight of the contest was working ZL8X on 160.
Using a K3 + KW into the most powerful 160m antenna on the planet – The Arctic
King. ( http://tf4m.com/archives/1824 )
Also very pleased to work VE2XAA/2 for Zone #39 on Top Band.

——————————————————————————-

Because of the poor conditions, it took me in some cases two hours of calling to raise some of the stations, especially in the Carribbean and South America. Others in the same area were raised on the first call. It makes me wonder if some of the Weekend Warriors are doing their homework? It is relatively easy to build a transmit antenna for Top Band, but for serious results it is necessary to have separate receive antennas.

I use an array of 4 bi-directional Beverage antennas up to 400 meters long to be able to hear the weak signals on Top Band.

All things considered, this was a very productive weekend although the Aurora made conditions somewhat difficult especially the second night of operation.

The only disappointment was that Zone 37 never appeared on Top Band.

UPDATE: DEC 16, 2011 The Certificate for 1st Place HIGH POWER CW SINGLE OP ASSISTED 160M = NEW ZONE RECORD received.

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TF3DX surveys the King

By TF4M On October 11, 2010 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

The designer of the Arctic King, Villi, TF3DX arrived to inspect and salute the King on Thursday along with his brother Gunnar.

In between measurements, we rummaged in my “junkbox” (several outbuildings) for High Voltage RF Capacitors and adjustable Inductors which will crown the King at a later date when 80m capability will be added.

Villi operated TF4X casually in the Oceania DX Contest – CW and in between consuming good food and wine, we also watched the stars and the Aurora and a historical First Ever QSO was made in this contest with KH6ZM in Hawaii on 160 meters.

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IARU 2010 by OH1RX

By TF4M On July 12, 2010 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio, Visitors at TF4M

Jouko, OH1RX who was on a Salmon fishing trip visited my area with his group and operated TF4X in the IARU contest.

Conditions were rather poor, but this was to be expected at this time of the year.

Antennas and equipment performed without incidents.

Jouko commented to the contest organizers:

“Great experience to work agn from ultima thule at Thors fantastic station. Bands are never kind to the ops above 64N, but his time it was a real uphill. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoyed couple of low band mults from TF!

CUL agn de Jouko OH1RX”

It was an honour to have such an accomplished contester operate my station.

I hope to see OH1RX again perhaps for a serious effort one day.

OH1RX wrote about the contest on his web site.

OH1RXTF4X 4

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Breaking News from the Top of the World

By TF4M On July 5, 2010 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

Helsinki
Finland

July 4, 2010

WRTC 2010: BREAKING NEWS FROM THE TOP OF THE WORLD

The Finnish WRTC 2002 gang in association with Radio Arcala, OH8X will
activate four (4) valuable DXCC countries and ITU zones in the IARU HF World
Championship, July 10-11, 2010 saluting those in the heat of the race in
Moscow and around the world. If you ask them gently, they may even QSY to
other bands.

Greenland, OX8XX
Martti, OH2BH; Ville, OH2MM and Pekka, OH2TA together with Jesper, OX3KQ
will be on all bands from Kangerlussuaq on the Greenland Arctic Circle.
Outside the contest, they will also be active with another station on 17M
and 30M. QSL via OH2BH.

Aland Islands, OH0X
Pertti, OH2PM stands ready to put another X-rated station on from the
renowned Brando contest QTH with good IARU scores to boot. Pertti may do
both modes just to be more visible and make a serious effort even on 10M.
QSL via OH2TA.

Iceland, TF4X
Jouko, OH1RX together with Thor, TF4M will put Thor’s lineup of rhombics on
with an eye and ear to Moscow alongside their salmon fishing. TF, OX and OH0
are a rare catch on the low bands as they stay in total daylight at this
time of year. QSL via G3SWH.

Azores, CQ8X
Francisco, CU2DX will put Radio Arcala’s westernmost outpost on SSB on all
bands. As he just became a new father, Francisco may handle several chores
at once. If you call him father Frank, he may move more easily. QSL via
OH2BH.

Following the IARU weekend, and sailing out from the port of Reykjavik,
Iceland, you may catch Martti, OH2BH and Leena, OH2BE cruising in Greenland
waters, zigzagging among the icebergs for a period of eleven days. You can
follow OH10X/MM, 14235 kHz, en route to the Maritime DX Forum in Halifax,
Canada aboard an old-time steamer M/S Kristina

Regina on her last journey before retiring with fond memories of the 1960′s
Steamship Era.

((( 73 )))
Jarmo OH2BN

ARRL DX CW 2010

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

From the ARRL WEB:

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.

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CQ WW 160 – TF4X

By TF4M On January 17, 2010 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

Siggi, TF3CW was going to activate TF4X in the CQ WW 160 meter contest, but unforeseen circumstances caused him to cancel.

Yuri, K3BU, has stepped in and will operate the station in the Single Operator High Power category.

I sincerely hope that there will be no sun spots and no Aurora.

This may be the last chance in our life time to enjoy these fantastic conditions on Top Band.

I also hope the activity will reflect this – it would be so very cool if Yuri was able to work All 40 Zones in the contest !

It is interesting to note that I have followed the Tesla Radio Club project for years and several times I have been on the verge of writing to Yuri to invite him to my station !

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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CQ WorldWide DX Contest 2009 – CW

By TF4M On November 30, 2009 · 5 Comments · In Amateur Radio

2009 CQWW CW Contest: 0000 UTC, November 28 through 2359 UTC, November 29.

Three operators arrived from Reykjavik to operate the contest. Yngvi – TF3Y, Kiddi – TF3KX and Oddur – TF3OO along with a Sveinbjörn – a Gourmet Chef who had planned the feast for weeks.

Conditions were rather poor, not a single sun spot during the weekend made conditions on HF rather poor and in addition there was some Auroral activity affecting the lower bands.

Despite this 4525 contacts were made in 48 hours of operation.

You may listen to the activity from TF4X:

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The menu was fantastic. On Friday we had Tom Ka soup with Halibut followed by Real-Vanilla ice cream and cake, on Saturday the menu was Pigeon breast, Elk meat with carrots boiled in orange juice and Sunday we had icelandic mountain lamb fille, with baby tomatoes braised in olive oil and Maple Syrup garnished with fresh Timian.

The Arctic King awed us with the performance – 1270 QSOs were made on Top Band and this was only matched by 20M where 1306 QSOs were made using an array of Rhombic antennas.

We used Win-Test contest logging software which performed flawlessly on 5 computers during the entire contest.

We used a feature of the software called Targets Tracking, which showed us real-time graphs on the screen of our progress compared to last year´s effort. Right from the beginning things were going much better than last year and this was very inspiring throughout the 48 hours.

This graph shows the over-all difference on an hourly basis compared to the effort of 2008.

This graph shows the hourly over-all rates compared to 2008. 2008 in grey, 2009 in violet.

This picture shows the zones worked on all bands.

The Icelandic record in the Multi/Single Category was set by TF3IRA in 1980 at the height of the Sun Spot Cycle.

That record stood at 2,169,760 points. They made 3004 QSOs and they worked 85 zones and 231 countries to accomplish this.

We beat the 29 year old record handsomely as can be seen in the summary.

It is interesting to note that Yngvi, TF3Y and Kiddi, TF3KX were operators when both records were set.

Highlights of the operation was working a Pile-up of JA stations on 160 meters – this is the first time in history that JA/TF QSOs are made on Top Band during this contest.

KH6 (Hawaii) was worked on 80 meters for the fourth time in TF history that I am aware of. Prior to this, only Boggi – TF3TF (SK), Yngvi – TF3Y and Gudmi-TF3SG have worked Hawaii on 80 meters.

It was interesting to note some extremely strong poor signals that obliterated parts of the bands along with some strong EU stations that seemed to be completely deaf. It took me 46 minutes of constant calling to raise one of these stations on the low bands. It is absolutely necessary to have separate receive antennas for the low bands (160/80) to be able to operate there with any kind of efficiency.

A very successful weekend is behind us and a what a good omen of things to come.

Our SoapBox comment to 3830 was as follows:

Comments:

This was the first CQ WW with TF4X being active. TF4X is a
special call issued to the TF4M station. The latest addition, the
phenomenal Arctic King 160m antenna took us by surprise. Almost as
many QSO’s on 160 as on 20. Numerous new Beverages and zero noise
level on RX. The strength of the station is displayed by low band
performance. First time JA pileup for us from TF on 160m in CQ WW.
Propagation was relatively good as we had little Aurora and definitely
better on the Saturday. According to the raw score the 29 year old M/S
record from TF was broken by 1.1 million points.

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