contesting | Arctic Diamonds - TF4M

Currently viewing the tag: "contesting"

TF4M Contest Station

By TF4M On November 10, 2006 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

I have set up 4 operating positions as follows:

station 1

Station 1 has a Yaesu FT1000MP Mark V Field, Hal ST-8000 RTTY modem and an Emtron DX2-SP linear amplifier.

station 2

Station 2 has a Harris RT1446/RF-350K with an Emtron DX-3 linear amplifier.

station 3

Station 3 has a Yaesu FT1000MP Mark V, Frederick 1280A RTTY modem and is also set up for 6M.

station 4

Station 4 has a Harris RT1446/RF-350K.

I have now acquired 6 Harris RT1446/RF-350K radios, for a total of 8 stations.

The new station software at TF4M is WinTest , and each station is set up with two computers, one Run computer and one Partner computer.

Partner window : Very useful in multi-op environment, if you have 2 ops (or more) listening to the same frequency : The partner(s) can easily help his runner by entering call signs (or part of call signs) he hears. These calls appear in the Partner window on the run station’s screen.

All the computers are networked and Log synchronization is automatic : Based on a peer-to-peer model, opened logs can be synchronized between all stations on-the-fly, without a need of a central server. If new stations come in the network during a contest, their logs are automatically updated.

All antennas can be routed to Station 1, or separately to each position. I will soon have one more radio set up for operating position 5.

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

The 2006 CQ WW DX Contest

By TF4M On October 29, 2006 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

Phone: October 28-29

Starts 0000 GMT Saturday

Ends 2400 GMT Sunday

Category : Single Operator All Bands High Power

Operator: Thor, TF4M

BAND QSOs Points Countries Zones
___________________________________________________________

   40SSB         9           11        9       5
   20SSB     381           673        49        13
   15SSB     138           142        23        4
   10SSB       23             29        10        5
___________________________________________________________

Totals 551 855 91 27

Final Score = 100890 points.

Soapbox Comments
________________

The magnificent Aurora overhead and to the south made conditions very difficult.

Most stations were near the receiver noise floor and I was unable to make any contacts on 80 and 160. There was a surprise opening on 10M on Saturday night around 2300Z.

The 2006 CQ WW RTTY DX Contest

By TF4M On September 25, 2006 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

CALL: TF4M

The object of the contest is for amateurs around the world using RTTY to contact as many

amateurs in other parts of the world as possible during the contest period.

Multi-Op. Single Transmitter – All bands

   QSOs   Points   Zones   DX:   States   Multipliers   Score
80m:       21   44   6   15
40m:   293   630   11   50   13
20m:   765   1809   23   62   47
15m:   111   224   5   25
10m:       0
Total:   1190   2707   45   152   60   257   695699

Station Description: Yaesu FT1000MP Mark V Field, Emtron DX-2SP, Hal ST-8000
Antenna(s): Rhombics
Operators: Seli, TF3AO and Jon, TF3PPN

TF3AO and TF3PPN operating TF4M

80m Summary
Zones
14 15 16 18 20 33

Countries
DL EA8 EI G HA LA LY OH OK OM
S5 SP UA9 UR YO

States/Provinces

40m Summary
Zones
3 4 5 9 14 15 16 17 18 20 33

Countries
4X     5B     9A     CT3    DL     EA     EA8    EI     ER     ES
F      G      GM     GU     GW     HA     HB     I      K      LA
LX     LY     LZ     OE     OH     OH0    OK     OM     ON     OZ
P4     PA     S5     SM     SP     SV     SV9    T9     TK     UA
UA2    UA9    UN     UR     VE     YL     YO     YU     Z3     ZC4

States/Provinces
MA NH NJ NY MD PA GA NC VA OH IL NS
ON

20m Summary
Zones
3 4 5 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 24 25 28 33 37 40

Countries
4X     9A     9M6    BY     CN     CT3    CU     DL     EA     EA8
EI     ER     ES     EY     F      FM     G      GM     GU     GW
HA     HB     HB0    HC8    HZ     I      IT9    JA     K      KP4
LA     LX     LY     LZ     OE     OH     OH0    OK     OM     ON
OZ     P4     PA     PY     R1FJ   S5     SM     SP     SV     SV5
T9     TF     UA     UA9    UN     UR     VE     YB     YL     YO
YU     Z3

States/Provinces
CT   MA   ME   NH   RI   VT   NJ   NY   DE   MD   PA   AL
FL   GA   KY   NC   SC   TN   VA   AR   LA   MS   OK   TX
CA   AZ   MT   OR   UT   WA   MI   OH   WV   IL   IN   WI
CO   IA   MN   MO   NE   ND   NS   QC   ON   AB   BC

15m Summary
Zones
14 15 16 20 39

Countries
4X     9A     CT     DL     EA     ER     EU     F      FR     HA
HB     I      IS     LZ     OE     OK     OM     S5     SP     SV
T9     UA     UR     YO     YU

Hourly QSO Rate

TF4M replacing the EU Rhombic Balun

The Balun on the EU Rhombic overheated during the contest and had to be replaced with a more robust unit. (photo TF3AO)

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

Scandinavian Activity Contest CW 2006

By TF4M On September 17, 2006 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

The aims of the contest are to promote amateur radio activity within Scandinavia as well as to encourage amateur radio communications between Scandinavian and non-Scandinavian amateur radio stations. Non-Scandinavian stations will try to work as many Scandinavian stations as possible.

Callsign Used : TF4M
Operator : TF4M

Category : SOAB High Power

BAND Raw QSOs Valid QSOs Points Countries
______________________________________________________

   80CW        16           16          35        10
   40CW      110         110        247        32
   20CW      409         409        996        57
   15CW        44         44          90        16
______________________________________________________

Totals 579 579 1368 115

Final Score = 157320 points.

Operating time: approximately 6 Hours

WPX SSB 2006

By TF4M On April 23, 2006 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

CQ WPX SUMMARY SHEET

Contest Dates : 25-Mar-06, 25-Mar-0, 26-Mar-06

Callsign Used : TF4M
Operator : TF4M

Category : SOSB 20M High

BAND Raw QSOs Valid QSOs Points Prefixes
_____________________________________________________

20SSB 336 336 526 246
_____________________________________________________

Totals 336 336 526 246

Final Score = 129396 points.

ARRL International DX Contest – CW

By TF4M On April 3, 2006 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

Objective:

US and Canadian amateurs work as many amateur stations in as many DXCC countries of the world as possible on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands.

Foreign amateurs work as many US and Canadian stations in as many of the 48 contiguous states and provinces as possible.

Contest Period: 48 hours. Starts 0000 UTC Saturday; ends 2400 UTC Sunday.

I entered the contest as Single Op, Single Band, 20M, High Power

QSOs   902
Points    2574
Mults      54

Final Score = 138996 points.

I used a Harris RF-350K/RT-1446 with the USA Rhombic.

Contest Calendar

By TF4M On April 3, 2006 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

The following is taken from the The SM3CER Contest Calendar and reproduced with permission.

Please consult the SM3CER website if you are interested in operating contests not listed here.

*?* = The date is not confirmed

I have reserved some of the larger contests for the TF Group.

Please contact me if you wish to operate any of these contests as these reservations may not be confirmed.

Each enquiry will be dealt with on a first come, first served basis.

November 2006

11-12 Sat 0700 – Sun 1300 Japan International DX Contest – Phone

25-26 Sat 0000 – Sun 2400 *?* CQ WW DX Contest – CW
reserved – TF Group

December 2006

1- 3 Fri 2200 – Sun 1600 ARRL 160 Meter Contest – CW

9-10 Sat 0000 – Sun 2359 ARRL 10 meter Contest – CW/Phone

January 2007

27-28 Sat 0000 – Sun 2359 *?* CQ 160-Meter Contest – CW

February 2007

10-11 Sat 0000 – Sun 2359 *?* CQ World-Wide RTTY WPX Contest – RTTY

17-18 Sat 0000 – Sun 2400 ARRL International DX Contest – CW

March 2007

3- 4 Sat 0000 – Sun 2400 ARRL International DX Contest – SSB

17-18 Sat 1200 – Sun 1200 Russian DX Contest – CW/SSB

24-25 Sat 0000 – Sun 2359 *?* CQ WW WPX Contest – SSB

2005 CQ Worldwide DX Contest CW

By TF4M On April 3, 2006 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

This contest is held every year in the last full weekend of November. The objective is for Radio Amateurs around the world to contact other Radio Amateurs in as many countries and zones as possible in a 48 hour period.

Call: TF4M

Operator(s): TF4M,TF3DC, TF3KX,TF3UA,TF3YH,N1RR

Class: M/2 HP (Multi Operator, Two Transmitter, High Power)

QTH: Otradalur

Operating Time (hrs): 47

Summary:

Band QSOs Zones Countries

160: 501 14 64

80: 983 21 89

40: 1086 25 97

20: 1102 28 95

15: 468 16 58

10: 0 0 0

Total: 4140 104 403 Total Score = 3,284,853

Club: Yankee Clipper Contest Club

Comments:

Otradalur, Iceland near Bildudalur, in N.W. Iceland

First Multi-Op / 2 station from TF4M

FT1000MP’s & Emtron DX2SP and DX-3

US/EU Rhombic @ 80ft 350ft each leg

JA/SA Rhombic @ 50ft 210ft each leg

EU Rhombic @ 50ft 210ft each leg

N.A. Vee beam @ 80ft sloping to 5ft ~700ft each leg

Asia Vee beam @ 80ft sloping to 5ft ~700ft each leg

2005 CQ Worldwide DX Contest, SSB

By TF4M On April 3, 2006 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio, Visitors at TF4M

This contest is held every year in the last full weekend of October. The objective is for Radio Amateurs around the world to contact other Radio Amateurs in as many countries and zones as possible in a 48 hour period.

Call: TF/N0HJZ

Operator(s): N0HJZ

Station: TF/N0HJZ

Class: SOAB(A) HP (Single Operator All Band (Assisted) High Power)

QTH: Iceland

Operating Time (hrs): 29

Summary:

Band QSOs Zones Countries

160: 17 5 10

80: 229 11 46

40: 509 16 55

20: 1,572 26 80

15: 1,157 14 58

10: 2 2 2

Total: 3486 74 251 Total Score = 2,030,275

Club: Minnesota Wireless Association

Comments:

I need to thank Thor, TF4M, for hosting my contest operation. Thor is an incredible host who is building up a world-class operation in northwest Iceland.

Thor has three rhombics, one to EU, one to US and one to JA. They performed flawless on 15 & 20. On 40M, I think conditions and some aurora kept me from maximizing a bigger a score. Thor is working on new ideas for 80 & 160 antennas.

Please check out Thor’s location on QTH.com. Thor is looking to have other people operate his station. Check with Thor for details. You will not be disappointed with the radio operation!

Thanks to everyone that worked me. The pile-ups on 15 & 20 were some of the biggest I’ve ever handled. Lots of fun! Anyone have a semi-rare location for me next year?

Rich N0HJZ

Rich has written a nice article about his visit to TF4M.

2005 CQWW WPX Contest, CW

By TF4M On April 3, 2006 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

The objective of this contest is for Radio Amateurs around the world to contact other Radio Amateurs in other parts of the world as possible in a 48 hour period.

Call: TF4M

Operator(s): TF4M

Station: TF4M

Class: SOAB HP (Single Operator, All Band, High Power)

QTH: Otradalur

Operating Time (hrs): 14

Summary:

Band QSOs

160: 0

80: 0

40: 63

20: 925

15: 70

10: 0

Total: 1058

Prefixes = 516

Total Score = 1,042,320