A Beginner’s Guide to Ham- Radio Contesting by R. Dean Straw, N6BV Senior Assistant Technical...
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Transcript of A Beginner’s Guide to Ham- Radio Contesting by R. Dean Straw, N6BV Senior Assistant Technical...
![Page 1: A Beginner’s Guide to Ham- Radio Contesting by R. Dean Straw, N6BV Senior Assistant Technical Editor, ARRL MDARC, October 17, 2003.](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062307/551a7d8a5503466b3a8b45f4/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
A Beginner’s Guide to Ham- Radio Contesting
by R. Dean Straw, N6BV
Senior Assistant Technical Editor, ARRL
MDARC, October 17, 2003
![Page 2: A Beginner’s Guide to Ham- Radio Contesting by R. Dean Straw, N6BV Senior Assistant Technical Editor, ARRL MDARC, October 17, 2003.](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062307/551a7d8a5503466b3a8b45f4/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
We’ll Explore the “Five W’s” and “One H” in Contesting
• Who contests?• What is a contest?• When are the contests? • Where can you contest?• Why contest? • How do you contest?
Field Day at W6PIY
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What is a Contest?
“An Amateur Radio contest is an operating event, held over a predefined time period where the goal is…to enjoy yourself.” — The ARRL Operating Manual, 6th Edition.
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Who Contests?Contesters come in all sizes, shapes,
ages and forms!
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But Why Contest?Why spend an entire weekend, 48 hours, shouting into a microphone, talking with a hoarse voice to thousands of other people around the world?
(Maybe that’s a clue!)
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Why We Contest• To increase operator proficiency. Contesters are highly trained operators who can communicate during emergencies. Their big signals often can get through when smaller stations can’t.
Here’s a little test copying calls in a CW pileup:
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Why We Contest• To advance the state-of-the-art. Contesters developed packet protocols and leading-edge logging software. Contester have been in the forefront of antenna design and have driven contest-quality radio design.
• For new countries, zones or states.
• For certificates and plaques.
• We contest because contesting is FUN!
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N6BV, ARRL Sweepstakes Phone, November 2001
The competitive urge is strong in all human endeavors. Running rate is great fun!
First hour: 174 QSOs.
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What Kinds of Contests are There?
There are four general contest categories:
• Domestic contests• DX contests• VHF/UHF contests• Speciality
WJ2O and WA6O at N6RO
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Domestic Contests
• ARRL Sweepstakes• Various State “QSO Parties” (like the California QSO Party!)• Field Day (officially not a “contest” but many contesters started out in Field Day)
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DX Contests Most Popular International DX Contests:
• ARRL International DX, SSB (Mar.) & CW (Feb.)
• CQ Worldwide DX, SSB (Oct.) & CW (Nov.)
• CQ WPX (Prefix), SSB (Mar.) & CW (May)
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VHF/UHF and Speciality Contests
• ARRL Jan. VHF Sweepstakes• ARRL Jun. VHF QSO Party• ARRL Sep. VHF QSO Party• ARRL & CQ 160-m contests• ARRL 10-m Contest• Worked All Europe contests• All Asia contests
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Field Day!
Many contesters started out learning the ropes at Field Day.
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When are the Contests?• You can find a contest almost every weekend. • Try the state QSO parties for practice. The California QSO Party (CQP) is very popular.• DX contests are held in the fall/winter.See the Contest Corral column in QST or K1AR’s Contesting column in CQ magazine for contest calendars.
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Where Can You Contest?
Most hams contest from their home QTHs, but some go to exotic DX locations to operate contests.
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Coche Island 4M7X
1999 4M7X Dxpedition to Coche Island, Venezuela
Margarita Island
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4M7X DxpeditionCQ Worldwide DX Contest
CW, November 1999
First hour on 20 meters: 199 QSOs
Again, running rate gives a great adrenaline shot!
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High-Band Shack at 4M7X
15 M10 M
15 Mult
20 M
Our Creed!
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How to Contest
• Know the rules— See Contest Corral in QST• Know the exchange (often, a signal report and your state, zone or a serial number: such as “59 California” or “59001,” or “59 03,” etc.)• Your category (single or multi-operator, high/low power, assisted/unassisted, all-band/single-band, etc.)
The Basics
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AnotherExample of a DX Contest: 1990 K1AR Multi-Single
CQ Worldwide Phone
Start of contest on 20 meters.Antennas: 4/4/4 on 120’ tower on a magnificent hill in Massachusetts.
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How to Contest• Experience comes from doing. Listen for a while and then jump in and try!
• Give your complete call (no “last two” please!)
• Realize that there always will be QRM.
• Keep a “dupe sheet” or use a logging program.
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How to Contest
• Know your station’s limitations (these will
determine whether you “S&P” or can “run”
stations by calling CQ).• He with “iron pants” is the winner. You’ve got
to sit in the chair!• Be fast and efficient — and accurate.
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What kind of radio do you need to start out contesting?
• On HF: a basic transceiver, 100 W, 80-10 meters coverage. This can be an “oldie but goody” -- TS-520, TS-830, IC-735, FT-101, etc. (Some folks call these “boat anchors.”)
• On VHF/UHF: a multi-mode transceiver, perhaps 25 - 100 W -- TS-690, IC-706, etc.
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What kind of antenna do you need to start contesting?
• On HF, even a simple dipole will get you started. A triband Yagi will really put you in the hunt. (The monster 20-meter stacked Yagis at N6RO in the background are not typical!)
• On VHF/UHF, a simple ground plane will work but a small Yagi will work better.
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Contest Clubs• Contest clubs are a tremendous resource for new contesters.• You can find an experienced contesting Elmer to guide and help you.
• Club members can help in many areas, not just help teach contesting. (Got RFI? Need information on antennas, rigs?)
• Check out the Northern California Contest Club, http://www.nccc.cc/.
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Contest Logging Programs are Great!
• They automatically find “dupes.”
• They identify multipliers.
• They can control packet input/output and can put your radio on a packet spot frequency -- automatically.
• Running a rate of 400+ per hour is easy (well, sorta)! Here’s a screen shot of CT (“Contest”), a DOS program.
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W4SO at 4M7X
Just remember: Contests are supposed to be FUN, as well
as an excellent training ground for operators. Jump in and give contesting a try!
And remember, Nov. 1 & 15 are Sweepstakes weekends!