[3830] WAE RTTY VE7FO Single Op LP

[jimsmith at shaw.ca]

                    WAE DX Contest, RTTY

Call: VE7FO
Operator(s): VE7FO
Station: VE7FO

Class: Single Op LP
QTH: BC
Operating Time (hrs): 9

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Pts  QTCs  Mults
------------------------------
   80:    1         0      4
   40:    5         0      9
   20:   59        30     32
   15:   47        20     18
   10:   19        40     16
------------------------------
Total:  131  221   90     79  Total Score = 17,459

Club: British Columbia DX Club

Comments:

This was supposed to be a semi-serious effort as well as a test of improvements
to the station to make RTTY operation more convenient.

As I use the computer for software DVP with TRLog and software TNC with
WriteLog, whenever I want to change from one to the other I have to pull the
computer out of it's niche, bend over the 30" tower, fiddle with cables to the
sound card which is in the bottom slot and push the computer back in while
holding all the cables out of the way so it can slide in.  This is why I don't
chase much DX on RTTY.

Another RTTY issue has been trying to set the receive level into the souncard. 
I use RITTY with WL and the only way I know to set the input level to RITTY is
to start it in DOS, set the level, exit RITTY and DOS then run WL configured to
interface with RITTY.  At this point, the only way to set RITTY receive level is
to fiddle with the Windows Volume Controls which means more windows open when
there isn't enough real estate for the ones I want.  Why do I want to change the
input level?  I believe that if you don't have the level set properly weak
signal performance will suffer.

To solve these problems I bought a patch panel with 48 1/4" jacks on it and a
mixer.  I now have MkV audio and packet I/O, mixer I/O, Sound Card I/O, PK 232
I/O, 75A-4 Out and stereo Spkr/Amp In, all appearing on the patch panel.  22
jacks and I'm not finished.  The mixer is a simple Radio Shack 4 ch in and 2 out
unit.  The audio cabling is all Beldfoil with continuous shield.  None of that
braided stuff letting RF in for me.

PREPARATION:

Well, you can imagine how smug I felt when I changed the patch cords on the
panel to switch the sound card from DVP use to RTTY.  OK let's set up RITTY and
WriteLog.  Last time I used it was in BARTG last Feb when I made a stunning 13
Qs.  More than enough time to forget how to use WL.  

Start by getting receive side working.  A couple of false starts but soon have
RITTY printing to screen.  Mixer provides lots of level adjustment.  It was
really nice to be able to troubleshoot by patching the Spkr/Amp into the various
points on the patch panel to confirm presence or absence of signal.

Now the transmit side.  After a bunch of fiddling and finally realizing that I
hadn't run one of the connections to the patch panel (Spkr/Amp led me to this
one) I got RF out when sending AFSK to the MkV.  But wait, why is the output
power going up and down?  Listen on the MkV monitor and hear this strange
whooshing noise along with some AFSK.  Listen on the 75A-4.  Same sound.  Wierd.
 I remember now that I had some issues with DVP with the new patch panel in
place.  Find the old cable I used to use to connect the MkV to the computer for
RTTY, pull the computer out, bend over the top of it, pull the new cable out of
the sound card and plug the old one in.  Don't feel smug anymore.  Problem goes
away.  

Haven't finished station setup so audio cables to patch panel run right
alongside coax for a couple of feet.  Pull all cables out of back of patch panel
(fortunately connections are made by 1/4" plugs into the back of the panel
rather than by solder tags), move the panel and cables well away from the coax,
plug everything in and try again.  Problem stays away.  Hurray.

So, RITTY is working, now to tackle WriteLog.  First item is to program F Key
messages.  Should I try to figure them out myself?  WAE is almost half over at
this point so go to AA5AU's web site and use Don's suggestions.  Was going to
get the PK-232 going as well for TNC diversiy but no time.  Play around a bit to
refamiliarize myself with WL to try to reduce my lid coefficient to 0.5 or so
and jump in.  Forgot to check out how WL deals with QTCs.

WHAT HAPPENED:

10 seemed dead so tried 15.  First Q at 0008 of Day 2.  Was called away for a
little while.  Next Q at 0129.
0157  6 Qs including VR2BG and ZL2AMI.  Stop for supper.  
0253  Back at it.  Work 8N1OGA and switch to 20
0402  15 Qs  Worked JA, UP6 and PS7 on 20.  Wierd.  Switched to 40
0459  20 Qs  Worked VE7ASK.  I gave him #18.  He gave me #186.  Sigh.  Worked
AD6WL.  Switched to 80
0502  21 Qs.  Worked AD6WL.  Switched to 20
0627  35 Qs.  Mostly Eu and 8N1OGA.  Managed to accept QTC from OH2 and RO4. 
Went to bed
1818  Back at it on 10.  No Eu heard except DL5WW who accepted my first attempt
at sending QTC.  Work AD6WL again and switch to 15.  Don't know why I seem to
switch bands each time immediately after working him.  "This band ain't big
enough for the two of us?"  
2045  79 Qs.  Pretty well all US.  Worked AD6WL again but didn't switch bands
immediately this time.  Switch to 10.  Get QTC from ZL2AMI.  For some reason
WriteLog won't let me send him QTC.  Probably cockpit error.  Just reread the
rules.  WL was right.  Switch to 20
2305  114 Qs.  Worked VE7ASK.  I gave him #104.  He gave me #239.  Gained a
little on him but not enough to be excited.  Worked AD6WL for the 5th time. 
Actually had the rate meter up to 60 for a brief while near the end but getting
anxious about all the QTC I'm sitting on and nobody on this band to pass them
to.  Switch to 15.
2311  116 Qs.  Two signals on the band, ZX2B who took 10 QTC and W9ILY.  Switch
to 10.
2359  131 Qs.  Dumped 30 QTC on JAs and VR2BG who very patiently winkled them
out of the QRM.  Thanks Brett.  Listened for another 5 minutes as the contest
sputtered to a halt.

SUMMARY:

Not much DX.   

Year  Op time  Qs   QTC  Mults Score
2001   4 hrs    43  30   26    1,898
2002   8.5 hrs 131  90   79   17,459

Hmm... about 2x the hours.  About 3x each of the numbers.  Some improvement
here.

It did provide info on the station.  The patch panel will be back in its proper
place once I reroute audio and coax cables.  Next RTTY will have the PK-232
running as well.  Who knows, Maybe RITTY on one of the sound card channels, the
built into WL RTTYWrite on the other and the PK-232 on a 2nd Rx?  I'll be so
busy I won't be a threat to anyone!

Thanks for the Qs and your patience while I fumbled with the F keys and QTC
stuff.

See you in the next one

Jim Smith	VE7FO


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