Summerfest 2004 Austin, Texas Aug 7, 2004

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Summerfest 2004Austin, TexasAug 7, 2004

• Introduction to
• DXing and Contesting

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Big Gun or Little Pistol
No matter the caliber, nothing compares to the
thrill of tickling somebodys radio on the other
side of the world!
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What Well Cover - DX

• Basics of DXing
• Cool tips for finding and working DX
• Station requirements Resources for DXing like a
  Big Gun
• Logging and QSLing
• Going for the Gold
• DX awards to impress your friends!

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What Well Cover - Contesting

• What kind of ham enters a contest?
• Whats the object?
• Getting started in contesting
• The variety of contest types
• How to win a contest
• Online contesting resources

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Getting Started in DXing

• Gale Zeiler WBøYEA

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DX - Where Is It?

• All Bands (160-6m)
• Including the 30, 17 and 12m WARC bands
• Mostly the low end of the band
• All Modes (CW, SSB, Digital)
• Daily/Weekly Nets
• List Nets
• Contests
• DXpeditions
• DX Packet Cluster Real Time Spotting

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Best Conditions For DXing

• Function of 11 year sunspot cycle
• Going into trough of current cycle Poor
  Conditions
• WWV, Internet propagation forecasts (free)
• Seasonal Conditions Season vs. Band
• Winter 160 20m
• Spring 40 - 6
• Summer 20 - 6
• Fall 40 - 10
• Time Of Day
• Early morning (11-1600Z) 80-20m
• Mid-morning to mid-afternoon (16-2200Z) 20-10
• Late afternoon to Sunset (22-0300Z) 20-10
• Night time to Early Morning (03-1000Z) 160-40

For DXing on 160 and 80 think Dawn/Dusk!
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Station Requirements

• HF Transceiver
• Decent receiver (sensitive selective)
• Split-Frequency transmit capability important
• QRP to Legal Limit
• Computer logging software (preferable)
• Antennas
• More is always better, but you can start modestly
  and do very well

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Can you see the antennas in this photo?
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Take a closer look!
CTDXCCer W5EK has worked 262 countries from a
deep valley location in NW Austin in less than 18
months with stealth dipoles 100 watts!
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Good DX Etiquette Operating Split

• Listen carefully before you call a DX station on
  his frequency
• Rare DX stations often work SPLIT
• DX station announces Up
• Calling stations transmit up (usually 2-5 Khz)
• Everybody else can hear him without QRMing him
• 40 Meter SSB
• DX stations cant operate above 7.100 Mhz
• Listen for DX station to indicate listening
  frequency (QSX) in US phone band

ALWAYS LISTEN ON YOUR XMIT FREQUENCY BEFORE
CALLING!!
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Finding DX the Old-Fashioned Way

• Listen, listen, listen
• But listen strategically
• on the right bands at the right times
• Collaborate with a buddy
• Hey Joe, OD5NH is on 14.192!

Some of the worlds top DXers do it the
old-fashioned way, like CTDXCCs own Marv
Bloomquist, N5AW.
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The new-fangled way DX Clusters

• DX Clusters
• Hams all over the world reporting sightings of DX
  stations (or YOU!)
• Real-time
• Exact frequency
• Beam heading
• Packet radio Internet-based

Working DX using packet clusters is like
shooting fish in a barrel. - Anonymous DXCC
Honor Roller Like taking a shower with my
clothes on, but it feels good. - W5ZL
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DX Cluster Demo
DX Monitor software download at
http//www.benlo.com/dxmon.html
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DXing Resources

• DX Packet Clusters (local nodes/Internet)
• Propagation forecasts
• ARRL
• QSL.net
• Local club members/E-mail reflectors, websites
• Internet newsletters
• 425 DX News
• Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin
• Daily DX
• ARRL DX
• Magazines QST, CQ, 10/10 International
• Directories IOTA, etc.

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Going for the Gold

• Susan King K5DU

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Why bother?

• You have a goal
• Logging and QSLing is how you know youve met
  your goal
• Its how you prove to others that youve met your
  goal
• I have RTTY DXCC, nyah, nyah.

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Logging

• Do it, even though FCC requirements have eased
• Be accurate time, date, call, band, mode, grid,
  IOTA, etc.
• Use UTC, Zulu, Coordinated Universal Time
• Get a map, atlas - learn geography

Companion programs like MS Encarta are a great
way to understand the DX op and the environment!
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How to log

• Lose the pencil and paper
• Dont be afraid of geekiness
• Any PC is good enough if it runs the right
  software

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Computer logging software

• QSOs can be entered online as you operate or
  offline later
• Must output Cabrillo (kah-bree-oh) or ADIF format
• Should output reports in ARRL format. DX4WIN is
  good, Excel is difficult

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Logging Software (contd)

• Standalone or interfaced to rig
• Windows-based logging software (examples)
• N1MM (Free) www.n1mm.com
• DX4WIN (90) www.dx4win.com
• N3FJP (19) www.n3fjp.com
• Most programs allow printing QSL strips and
  mailing labels direct from log!
• Better programs provide direct LoTW interface for
  upload and download!

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Printing QSL Labels

• Ensures your QSLs match your log
• Choose label text large enough to easily read.
  Some software prints labels this size
• Be kind to QSL managers!

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Back up your log files!
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QSL cards

• The Good
• The Bda
• The UgLy

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The good
Simple, everything on one side, all required
information
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The bad
Bophuthatswana is not a recognized DXCC entity
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The UgLy
No comment required!
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Before you send the QSL

• Find out where to send it
• Internet Resources
• QRZ Dot Com
• www.qrz.com
• QSL Pathfinder www.qsl.net/pathfinder/WebClient
• Find out how to send it
• How does the person want it
• Send dollars, IRCs, SASE

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Three main ways

• Bureau
• Direct or via the stations QSL manager
• Logbook of the World (LoTW)

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Bureau

• Outbound
• Send cards to a central place
• Wait, maybe years, for cards to come
• Make sure country has a bureau
• Inbound
• Have envelopes or money on deposit with your
  bureau
• Keep up to date with your sorter
• Offer to help your sorter

You can check status of your cards/envelopes at
the W5 QSL bureau at www.okdxa.org/buro/index.html

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Direct or via a QSL manager

• Determine best path direct or mgr.
• Enclose an SASE if US (SAE foreign)
• Dont make it look like
• Send enough money (usually 1-2), postage is
  expensive in many places
• Send IRCs, one unit of cheapest international
  postage
• Make an international friend

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Logbook of The World Paperless QSLing

• Send an e-mail log (Cabrillo or ADIF) to LoTW
• LoTW is an online database of QSO information
• Provided by the ARRL
• Not as complicated to use as it looks

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How LoTW works

1. You prove that you really are K5DU
2. You send in a log
3. Someone else sends in a log
4. The logs are compared
5. If K5DU and HS2ABC worked each other at the same
   time, band, and mode - theres a match.

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Confirmed QSOs
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Getting DXCC credit

• Use your friendly neighborhood card checker
• Send cards and forms to ARRL
• Use LoTW

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Applying for Awards with LoTW

• DXCC credit available now
• More awards to come
• Follow the simple 5-page directions
• Not everyone uses it

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Other Awards

• Many countries, clubs, etc. give awards
• Look in ham magazines
• Listen online
• Do what makes you happy
• Do something that makes the world a better place

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Getting Started in Contesting

• Gary Schmidt W5ZL

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Contesting
Even though you may be just a Pup, you can still
have fun contesting with the Big Dawgs!
Special thanks to Carl K9LA, NCJ Editor
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Why enter a contest?

• The Casual Contester
• A desire to just have some fun, improve
  operating skills, and work new countries, states,
  counties, etc. from the smorgasbord of
  participating stations
• The Feisty Contester
• A desire to compete
• The Committed Contester
• Able to leap tall buildings with a single bound
• Able to master the art of sleep deprivation

Ken WM5R in action
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Benefits of Contesting

• Its just FUN
• Gets the competitive juices flowing
• Improves operating skills
• Excellent preparation for emergency operations
• An excellent use of our allocated spectrum
• Remember Use it or lose it.

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Do I Have to Have a Contest Station?

• Plenty of Big Gun contest stations
• Multiple radios
• Multiple towers
• Serious station automation
• Also plenty of normal stations

You dont have to be a Big Gun to have Big Fun
contesting!
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How to Win a Contest

• Work a lot of stations
• Work as many multipliers as possible
• Work smart
• Make good band change decisions
• Use efficient operating techniques
• Dont waste time or words (similar to emergency
  operations)
• Know when to Run and when to Search Pounce
• Know when to take a break

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Many different types beginner to expert

• SSB, CW, RTTY
• DX
• ARRL, CQWW, IARU, WPX, foreign hosted, etc.
• National
• Field Day, Sweepstakes, NAQP, VHF/UHF, State QSO
  Parties, etc.
• Specialty
• Sprints, FOC Marathon, SOC, SKN, etc.

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A Contest for All Seasons/Tastes
Beginner to Expert
ARRL RTTY
ARRL SKN
Jan
ARRL VHF
ARRL DX
Sprint
CQ WPX
ARRL Field Day
NAQP
ARRL VHF
IARU HF World Championships
State QSO Parties (Many)
ARRL UHF
NAQP
Sprint
CQ WW DX
TQP
ARRL Sweepstakes
ARRL 160
ARRL 10
Dec
Click on contest for more info
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Multiple categories
. . . designed to let you compete on a level
playing field

• ? Single operator
• ? Assisted/unassisted
• ? Power
• ? QRP, low, high
• Single band and/or mode (some contests)
• ? Multi-op, single transmitter
• Multi-op, multi-transmitter

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When are contests run?

• ? Usually on weekends
• Starting/ending times vary by contest
• Durations as short as 4 hours
• As long as 48 hours
• Max operating hours also vary
• ? Good on-line contest calendar
  www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/

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Online Contesting Resources

• ARRL
• www.arrl.org
• ARRL Rate Sheet newsletter http//www.arrl.org/co
  ntests/rate-sheet/
• Contesting.com
• www.contesting.com
• National Contest Journal
• www.ncjweb.com
• Central Texas DX Contest Club
• www.ctdxcc.org

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Best contests to get your feet wet

• ? Field Day
• ? Straight Key Night
• State QSO Parties
• Many to choose from
• Our own (Texas QSO Party every September!)

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Whats Reqd to Get Started?

• ? A radio and antennas
• ? A logging system
• ? Pencil paper
• o Tried and true, but hard to keep track of dupes
• ? Computer based logging software
• o Many options from freeware to networked
• ? DOS-based TR Log (60-75) www.trlog.com
• ? Windows-based
• ? N1MM (free) www.n1mm.com
• ? Writelog (75) www.writelog.com
• ? N3FJP (39-49) www.n3fjp.com
• o Can even trigger pre-recorded voice, CW, or
  RTTY exchanges

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Advanced OperationInterfacing Your Radio

• Serial, USB and Parallel Options
• Why do it?
• Logging automation less work for you higher
  QSO rates
• Date/time
• Freq/mode
• Contest exchange
• Integrated point-and-shoot DX cluster operation
• Trigger transmitted exchanges

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How do I report my results?

• Officially
• Snail mail
• Email
• Cabrillo file generated by most computerized
  logging programs (may be reqd to be declared a
  winner)
• Unofficially
• 3830
• On the air
• http//www.hornucopia.com/3830score/
• At the Club

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What Can I Win?

• Trophies, plaques, certificates
• Goodies
• Example WA State QSO Party Salmon Run category
  winners receive smoked salmon
• QSOs toward non-contest awards
• ? The awe and respect of your fellow competitors
  (aka bragging rights)

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The Texas QSO Party

• A great place to get started in contesting!
• And youve come to the right place to learn about
  it!

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Want to learn more about DXing and Contesting?

• Attend a CTDXCC meeting
• Fourth Monday of every month
• See website for time and place
• www.ctdxcc.org

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Credits
Created by Gary Schmidt W5ZL Gale Zeiler
WB0YEA Susan King K5DU
Other Clubs are welcome to use the contents of
this presentation with acknowledgement of Central
Texas DX and Contest Club