This is a repost. The 1st one got botched up as I just started
using a new mail reader and don't know all the "ins and outs" yet.
CQ WORLD WIDE DX CONTEST -- 1995
Call: NS0B Country: United States
Mode: CW Category: Single Operator
BAND QSO QSO PTS PTS/QSO ZONES COUNTRIES
160 21 40 1.90 8 10
80 59 155 2.63 14 39
40 142 394 2.77 28 67
20 156 435 2.79 30 81
15 62 166 2.68 19 35
10 2 3 1.50 2 2
---------------------------------------------------
Totals 442 1193 2.70 101 234 => 399,655
Comments:
The low bands in this contest were phenomenal. Worked my 1st ever
Europeans on 160 from the "black hole" of central Missouri using
only slopers (no beverages, don't have the room). Lots of other
good stuff on 80 and 40 as well. This was a strictly part-time,
search & pounce operation due to various family conflicts, but a
real blast nonetheless. Hope to see some of the low banders on
next weekend in the ARRL 160 test.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Alan Braun MD, NS0B/V31EV *Internet: albraun@socketis.net *
* Jefferson City, MO *Packet: NS0B@N0LBA.#cemo.mo.usa.noam *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>From Bill Turner <wrt@eskimo.com> Thu Nov 30 05:29:18 1995
From: Bill Turner <wrt@eskimo.com> (Bill Turner)
Subject: The Contest Computer Part Deux
Message-ID: <199511300529.VAA18412@mail.eskimo.com>
At 09:50 PM 11/29/95 -0500, W3MM@aol.com wrote:
>WOW!!! I think that I awakened a sleeping giant or maybe I opened a
>55 gallon drum of worms. The response to the first post has been
>unbelievable. Well I had some hints for immediate info about:
> The Contest Keyboard
>
>My competition has a Secret Weapon that combined with his extraordinary
>contest operating skills, will surely allow him to club me to death.
>
>Those of you who follow computer adds in the major pc magazines have
>surely noticed the Gateway2000 systems that for the past 3 years or so
>have been shipped with the "Anykey" 124 key programmable keyboard.
-snip-
-------------------------------------------------------------
Dave's keyboard sounds great, but there is another way to accomplish the
same thing that won't cost you a dime. There is a freeware program called
KEYSWAP that allows you to reprogram any of the keys on your keyboard to be
anything else -- other keys, macros, text strings -- anything! I set mine
up to use some of the lesser used keys such as [ ] ; ' / . , - = \. You
just run KEYSWAP before loading your contest software, and when you're done
contesting, a simple command at the DOS prompt disables it. The
documentation with KEYSWAP is excellent, with a good walk-you-through-it
tutorial even.
KEYSWAP is available by ftp from oak.oakland.edu in the
SimTel/msdos/keyboard directory, with a filename of keyswp12.zip. There are
some other remapping programs there, but I prefer KEYSWAP to the others I
tested. I've run it under DOS directly, and in a DOS box under Windows 3.1
and Windows 95 with no problems.
Give it a try -- it works like a charm!
73, Bill W7LZP
wrt@eskimo.com
>From Steve Merchant <merchant@crl.com> Thu Nov 30 07:20:14 1995
From: Steve Merchant <merchant@crl.com> (Steve Merchant)
Subject: AG6D M/S CQWW CW Results <Medium>
Message-ID: <199511300720.AA25022@crl14.crl.com>
CQ WORLD WIDE DX CONTEST -- 1995
Call: AG6D Country: United States
Mode: CW Category: Multi Single
BAND QSO QSO PTS PTS/QSO ZONES COUNTRIES
160 11 21 1.91 9 9 66' Vert., JA-Carib. Bev.
80 199 534 2.68 26 46 80M2 @ 120', dipole @ 60'
40 673 1933 2.87 37 106 40M4 @ 130', 402CD @ 65'
20 619 1692 2.73 37 115 20M5 @ 90', 2-KT34XA, A4
15 192 525 2.73 28 60 15M6 @ 60', " " " "
10 7 14 2.00 6 6 " " " "
---------------------------------------------------
Totals 1701 4719 2.77 143 342 => 2,288,715
All reports sent were 59(9), unless otherwise noted.
Operator List: AG6D, K2MM, N4TQO, NF6S
Equipment Description: Stn 1: TS930, Henry 2KD Stn 2: FT990, LK-500ZC
CT v9.27
Soapbox: Conditions were better than we expected -- very high participation
and no serious noise problems. At times it was more than we could cope with
at competitive rates -- we needed another operator. We spent more time on the
JA/Carib. Beverage this time and it paid off. Worked NL7G on all bands, HC8N
on 5. Thanks everyone for the Q's.
Lowlites: there seemed to be an unusually large number of guys with their
feet jammed on <F4> this time -- an observation already made by WA0RJY. Sigh.
Special thanks to AG6D who once again got caught up in the fun of it and took
large portions of the operating chores and real time antenna work, despite his
earier protestations to the contrary. <Ain't radio fun?>
Club Affiliation: Northern Calif. Contest Club
73, Steve N4TQO
merchant@crl.com
>From Walt Kornienko <k2wk@crystal.palace.net> Thu Nov 30 07:50:46 1995
From: Walt Kornienko <k2wk@crystal.palace.net> (Walt Kornienko)
Subject: Programmable Keyboards
Message-ID: <199511300750.CAA27742@crystal.palace.net>
Well Dave, the cat is out of the bag. Now that you divulged our secret
weapon, YCCC will be on their way to beating us in the next major
contest.
Incidentally, I still have an RF problem on 40M with the new keyboard.
It seems that when I press the F4 (send own call) while S&Ping it also
send the contents of F5 (other call). This is blatantly the wrong
order of events than what is desired. I have no clue as to why this
happens. But, I bet if I attach or disconnect another radio or some other
gizmo the problem will disappear. Ground loops are loads of fun to debug.
I'm making the suppliers of Ferrite Toroids very rich. I must have a
dozen of them on every kind of cable. Thats only in the shack all my
phones, TV/Cable Co. coax, etc. have some form of ferrite on every
lead that enters the device.
I set up my left hand side a bit differently tha Dave. Here's
what it looks like and reasoning behind the choices I made.
Note that the keys are arranged in pairs. So F1 & F2 are next to
each other. F11 & F12 are in a group all to themselves at the very
top, judt to the left of the "normal" F1-F12 keys.
So, the left set of function keys, going from top to bottom, we
have the following configuration:
F11 - CT's Alt F9, CW speed -2wpm (same as W3MM's)
F12 - CT's Alt F10, CW speed +2wpm (same as W3MM's)
F1 - CT F1, the infamous "CQ button"
F2 - Short CQ
F3 - INSERT
F4 - QSL/TU makes sense that while running these
two keys should be together.
F5 - My call, CT's F4
F6 - The sent report (599 05), CT's F2. When S&Ping you will use
these two keys the most, so they should be close together.
F7 - Page Up, works in conjunction with Cnrl-rigth arrow (see below)
F8 - Page Down. These two allow you to scroll thru the Packet Spotting
window. Mostly used by SOA M/S & M/M entrants. SO guys should
have no need for these, right?
F9 - Cntrl right-arrow
F10 - Alt F4, return to run frequency.
I just purchased 100 shares of Gateway 2000 stock. So have at it
guys & gals and get some of these nifty keyboards <8)
*****************************************************************
* *
* 73 de Walt Kornienko - K2WK (FRC) *
* K2WK@crystal.palace.net or K2WK@N2ERH.NJ.NOAM *
* *
*****************************************************************
>From Ingemar.Fogelberg@cec.comm.se (Ingemar Fogelberg) Thu Nov 30 09:15:46
>1995
From: Ingemar.Fogelberg@cec.comm.se (Ingemar Fogelberg) (Ingemar Fogelberg)
Subject: UR CALL PSE
Message-ID: <199511300915.KAA00826@nic.comm.se>
Can't resist any longer to get into this thread...
If you listen to G3SXW when he is handling a pile you will hear
what to do:
1. Send your call at the end of every QSO. Rythm is the word! This does also
apply to your keying speed. What's the reason to send call at 60 wpm ? The
little new pistol will never call you. And it is frustrating to see the rate
go low because of frequent "PSE UR CALL, QRS " etc.
2. Give clear instructions to the pile to avoid confusion.
3. Give QSL info frequently of you are a rare one.
Actually G3SXW has made a list his "rules" of how to handle a pile. Perhaps
he can share it with us here on the net.
73 de Ingo SM0AJV (Operated SL0CB during CQWW CW)
>From Martin Arno" <AMA@mikrolog.fi Thu Nov 30 11:17:02 1995
From: Martin Arno" <AMA@mikrolog.fi (Martin Arno)
Subject: FT-990S "Contest warhorse mods"
Message-ID: <MAILQUEUE-101.951130111702.480@tekniikka.mikrolog.fi>
I have had Ft-990 since end of 1991 and it was the first one here in
Finland.
Before i had an FT-1000 (also very early model) and after few
measurements i was sure that FT-990;s pll was much cleaner than
1000,s
Next Cq-contest i operated 15m ( OH7AB multi/multi class) and find
out that it was very hard to copy weak Japanese stn early morning
,because other statoins in our club overloaded the frontend from 990
I tried attenuator and it helped but 20 db was too much attenuation
(20db attenuator is one thing too what i just cant understand in rigs
HI!)
I had my toolbox with and after we changed operator ,i fixed
attenuator to 12db (R1139 470 ohm to 120 ohm RF-unit )
This mod is ok in many rigs but i was not still satisfied.
Before contest i installed 500Hz 455Kc chrystal-filter in 250
Hz optional filter place and that is much better idea than 250Hz
now passband is sharper.
For ssb i installed 2.4Kc XF-C 455Kc filter upside down just over
optional 2.0KC 8.2MC filterplace with short coaxialcables connected
to 455KC ceramical filter place (remove first this Cb-filter and
burry it so deep as you can that you never find it again!!)
(Sorry about my nasty word in TS-870 article, i wash my mouth HI)
With these filters i guaratee that somebody else goes to the corner
than you :-) ;-) Now you will have real sharp razor
Last mods i made to thre frontend,because there was something wrong
(too much garbage on 40m)
I tried with many diodes and notised that original ones somehow
generated "ghosts" to the band ,,Finally i got good ones from Yoichi
JP1NWZ ,,Type is MI 204 (Yaesu part no G2090457 ) and they really
improved 2nd order IMD more than 6db!!!
Fex. our local beacon OH2TEN on 10m found in few places on 21
MHz band and it just disappeared after mod YEAH!
Change next diodes from RF-unit:
D1020,22,24,26,28,31,32,33,36,37,39,41,43,45 to MI204
Newer models since 2-3 year are allready shipped with new diodes and
you can check it self if there is old type 1SS83 in ,,they have green
color ring as cathode labeled
Same mod is need to old FT-1000 too!!
Now last mod to frontend
>From diagram you can see that first mixer is same as in FT-1000!!
It is very very good mixer (4x 2sk125 fets Q1007,8,1026,27) and
strong signal handling is excellent.
Now if we bypass preamp. 1009,10 we have nearly same signalhandling
as in ft-1000 with IPO-on!!
I just made IPO-swith simple with mechanical relay FBR221D012 (Yaesu
part nr.M1190006)
It bypasses preamp when i press ATT-on and gainloss is abt 8-9 db
what is just OK original attenuator is not in use because THIS RIG
REALLY DOESNT NEED ANY ATTENUATOR AFTER THIS MODS!
Comparing with FT-1000 i say that this was my choice!
In OH7AB station we have nexr antennas:
160m inv.v with slopers abt 36 m height
80m quarter wave GP top over hill and more then 100 radials full size
40m 3el-Yagi up 36m in own tower
20m stacked 5 over 5 yagis up 42m in own tower
15m stacked 6 over 6 Yagis up 36m in own tower too
10 m 6el yagi up 24m in own tower
and some multiplier yagis more ...
This station is enough good to test rigs and i do not have any reason
to do more mods to my FT990S it is good still and probably it is goig to
stay many years more by me.
If somebody needs more information , i can fax too..
Arno OH7XM
>From KI8W <ki8w@freenet.grfn.org> Wed Nov 29 17:06:07 1995
From: KI8W <ki8w@freenet.grfn.org> (KI8W)
Subject: Cut Numbers
Message-ID: <9511301208.AA25567@grfn.org>
-- [ From: KI8W * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --
Is it wrong to log ENN E or ENN N in your log? That is what was
sent, so is that also legal to log? Does it go both ways?
de Barry/KI8W
>From Thomas Carlsson <74364.2660@compuserve.com> Thu Nov 30 12:51:38 1995
From: Thomas Carlsson <74364.2660@compuserve.com> (Thomas Carlsson)
Subject: CQ WW CW 7Z1AB
Message-ID: <951130125137_74364.2660_HHG25-1@CompuServe.COM>
Results from 7Z1AB Operator SM5CCT
SO AB QRP
QSO 213, Pts 564, Z 45, Cty 113, Tot 89,112
73
Thomas SM0CXU
>From Pete Smith <n4zr@ix.netcom.com> Thu Nov 30 13:37:40 1995
From: Pete Smith <n4zr@ix.netcom.com> (Pete Smith)
Subject: 160 Magic
Message-ID: <199511301337.FAA11757@ix9.ix.netcom.com>
At 03:33 PM 11/29/95 -0500, Tony K1KP wrote:
>
>Joe VO1NA writes:
>
>> It's a band [160] where CW really shines and the conditions keep all
>> but the dedicated and determined operators away.
>
>This is one of the most encouraging things I've heard about ham radio in
>the last two years. Once the New Zealanders convince the next WARC (or the
>one after that) to eliminate the Code Requirement, The HF bands will
>be totally covered with no-code lids using HF like car phones and CBs.
>The hope is that maybe, because of propagation effects, 160 will remain
>as a band where good code ops can go to enjoy whats left of the hobby.
>
>HF rigs will be available for $199 - like CD players. Of course, who
>will want one then?
>
>-Tony, K1KP, fisher@an.hp.com
>
Gee, I hope you're wrong... My assumption is that people who want a CB will
stick to the VHF/UHF allocations, because propagation and antenna
requirements make HF *just too hard*. This analogy may be off base, but I
see us as the sailboaters in a world where most folks use motorboats or take
the Staten Island Ferry - we choose to do it the hard way (use the
ionosphere) because we like to. As for contesters ... does that make us
sailboat racers?
I suspect that the next twenty years will see a wholesale freeing-up of HF
frequencies as cost-effective satellite radio broadcasting becomes a
reality. Wouldn't it be neat to have half a megahertz at 3.5 and 7 MHz,
plus expanded bands at 10, 18 and 24 MHz, just in time for the next sunspot
cycle (or maybe the one after that, for the pessimists)?
73,
Pete N4ZR (n4zr@ix.netcom.com)
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