[CCF] Vl: [CQ-Contest] Listening capabilities at CN8WW

[Timo]

----- Alkuperäinen viesti ----- 
Lähettäjä: Bernd Och <bernd.och@boc.de>
Vastaanottaja: <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Lähetetty: 9. marraskuuta 2000 10:18
Aihe: [CQ-Contest] Listening capabilities at CN8WW


> 
> Hello,
> 
> some people asked me about our LISTENING capabilities at CN8WW.
> Here is our station description:
> 
> a) Highbands [10/15/20m]
> -------------------------
> Transmitting on any of the antennas described in the 3830 message
> or on http://www.dl6fbl.de/cn8ww
> Receiving: Each operating position (=each band) was equipped with
> two Kenwood TS-850S, and there was an operator at each radio all
> the time. Only the main OP could transmit, the second TS-850S was
> muted when transmitting. The main OP could select whatever combi-
> nation of three yagis (StackMatch enabled). The second OP could
> select either this same antenna setup (through a 3dB separator in
> the RX line) - or a dedicated monoband quarterwave vertical.
> Each operator had his own computer and monitor. Both monitors
> were placed next to each other, so both operators could watch
> both screens.
> 
> At low rate times the second OP would tune the band to find inter-
> esting stuff. If interesting enough, he would transfer that frequency
> into the quick memory of the main transceiver and make the main OP
> work that station (by talking or fingerpointing). This scenery was
> also used to qualify incoming packet spots. Only if the multiplier was
> really there and audible, the main OP would leave his run frequency,
> losing just seconds...
> 
> But this was not the main reason for that setup. We had figured to
> work an average of 1.000 QSOs *MORE* per band than last year.
> Well, how? We decided that it would only work, when we could
> increase the QSO rate - even when a full pile-up was already running.
> You can speed up a running pileup just by copying more complete 
> callsigns in the same time. Last year we only had one radio per band,
> and from time to time a 2nd OP would sit by and listen to the pile-up 
> with a second headphone. We found out that in over 90% of all cases
> the 2nd OP would listen to exactly the same callsign as the main OP.
> So we figured, if we would present a DIFFERENT AUDIO SPECTRUM
> to the 2nd OP, he would listen to a different station as the main OP,
> and thus copying a second complete callsign at the same time
> (as the optimum).
> So we had a second radio this year, to enable the second OP to
> independently control/vary the VFO/RIT frequency. And so we had
> this separate vertical antenna. Both facts really produced the desired
> diversity effect: within a pile-up the second OP would easily copy a
> DIFFERENT callsign - much more often than last year...
> The second OP would type that callsign into HIS computer, and the
> main OP would see it on THAT screen. After finishing "his" QSO, he
> would instantly work the other station without a QRZ. After the QSO
> the 2nd OP would just press <ENTER> on his computer...
> 
> It worked:
>    10m:  6163  -->  7007 QSOs  (+844)
>    15m:  5022  -->  5808 QSOs  (+786)
>    20m:  5986  -->  6842 QSOs  (+856)
> And it could have been better, if the Aurora had not hit...
> 
> 
> 
> b) Lowbands [40/80/160m]
> --------------------------
> Transmitting on any of the antennas described in the 3830 message
> or on http://www.dl6fbl.de/cn8ww
> Receiving: Presenting a different audio spectrum to the second OP
> was also our goal on the lowbands. Almost 100% of the receiving was
> done on a Beverage system. We created a Beverage control box with
> six coax inputs for Beverages, and two coax outputs per band (40, 80
> and 160m). This box is placed, where all incoming coax will meet.
> Per output there is one small control box (a total of 6) to select any
> one of the six beverages. The logic inside the main box allows the
> independent use of any of the six beverages on any of the two
> receivers on any of the three bands.
> 
> The two operators sitting next to each other could easily arrange,
> which OP should listen on which frequency and to which direction.
> Any of the six lowband operators could select any of the beverages
> completely independent from the others.
> The setup enabled us to listen e.g. to EU and US at the same time
> without having to switch to and back. By this "separation" to two 
> different "ear sets" more complete callsigns could be copied and two
> completely different pile-ups could be run at the same time...
> 
> This will pay off even more in the CW portion, when the lowbands are
> much friendlier to the operators... We are looking forward to it!
> 
> I was also asked for a schematic of the beverage box. We cannot
> supply it now, because it's just scratch paper, but we hope to have
> something "nice" soon. But I cannot promise when... If you want to
> have it, just drop me a line anyway...
> 
> 73 Ben
> DL6FBL
> CN8WW
> 
> http://www.dl6fbl.de/cn8ww
> 
> 
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> 


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