The Contest Computer 2.5 and 1/2
W3MM at aol.com
W3MM at aol.com
Mon Dec 4 03:45:56 EST 1995
Well I am back to continue the discussion. I stated that there is a work
around fix if you can not get a bios upgrade for your computer. Western
Digital has drivers that will fool your system bios into believing that your
new 1 gig hard drive is actually a 10 meg drive. Tony, WB2P, has installed
two 1 gig drives in his wife's computer and is using the previously mentioned
drivers. The bios thinks that it is supporting two 10 meg drives. This method
is acceptable for everyday applications such as the family drive but I do
not recomend it for the contest drive. Now here is why I do not recomend
this approach for the contest drive. The mentioned drivers are a TSR which
is continuously running and demand CPU attention and time. The contest
logging programs such as CT are sensitive about TSR's that are running.
So just to keep things simple in the Contest Drive set-up I want to eliminate
this potential problem.
Now I am going to get away from contest for a moment but everyone should
understand something about Windows. I stated that DOS cannot recognize
a drive larger than 540 meg. Well guess what. Windows 3.1 and Windows
for Work Groups 3.11 cannot either. Well No Worry Mate! Western Digital
has drivers for Windows that replace the native Windows drivers with drivers
that recognize big drives. Ok, what does this do? This allows you to turn
on 32 bit disk and 32 bit file access with large drives. This is the end of
the Windows discussion.
Well you did not think this stuff was complicated? There are the people
that don't know anything! And there are the people that don't suspect
anything! I am not trying to be smart here, it is just the way things
happen.
Ok: 1. I said do not run drivers to fool the bios so that you can use a big
drive. Reason: TSR is running all the time.
2. DO NOT run a disk compression program such as Stacker or
DOS Double Space, same reason as above.
3. DO NOT use RAM Doubler software. Same reason as above.
The above 3 DON'Ts apply directly to the contest drive. If you need more
RAM or a bigger drive, then buy it !
This is the most difficult post from my part because it forces each
individual
to evaluate the present contest computer. I will give you my opinion of
what to do as follows:
1. I have an 8088 0r 286 computer. DO NOT spend a dime on this
Configuration. Live with it or trash it!
2. I have a 386. Consider a hard drive upgrade and a possible increase
in the amount of RAM.
3. I have a 486 or better. Well you are probably there!!
Ok: That about covers a difficult subject. If there are a significant amount
of questions, I will make a post to all of you. The next post will deal with
the monitor and the video card. Believe me, these two guys can eat your
shorts.
VY 73 de Dave, W3MM w3mm at aol.com
>From w7ni at teleport.com (Stan Griffiths) Mon Dec 4 09:10:57 1995
From: w7ni at teleport.com (Stan Griffiths) (Stan Griffiths)
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 01:10:57 -0800
Subject: CAC Address?/160 DX window
Message-ID: <199512040910.BAA00997 at desiree.teleport.com>
>>re the people calling cq in the DX window: I entered into my
>>CT note file all the USA calls I heard calling CQ in the window,
>>with the time & exact frequency. I'd suggest that other
>>people entering the contest submit lists as well & perhaps there
>>will be something done.
>>* Alan Braun MD, NS0B/V31EV
>Al,
>Perhaps, the better idea would be to have the Contest Sponsor send a notice
>to the offender when they submit their log and inform them offically of the
>error.
>>From what I saw later in the Contest, the major offenders are the Big Gun
>stations
>who may feel they're above rules they don't agree with or are too important to
>be trifled with. I feel a ramped approach would be better overall.
>
>73, Bob - K8BL
The problem with contestents reporting heard violations is that they
generally have no way of knowing who they REALLY heard. If you wanted to
get your favorite rival disqualified, just drop into the DX window and call
CQ a bunch of times and sign his call. This "reporting scheme" won't work
without roving referees who can catch people "in the act".
Stan W7NI at teleport.com
>From Bill Fisher <bill at akorn.net> Mon Dec 4 13:05:56 1995
From: Bill Fisher <bill at akorn.net> (Bill Fisher)
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 08:05:56 -0500 (EST)
Subject: CAC Address?/160 DX window
Message-ID: <Pine.BSD/.3.91.951204075528.7449B-100000 at paris.akorn.net>
On Sun, 3 Dec 1995 frenaye at pcnet.com wrote:
> 160m Window: Not such a good turn of events...
> I just can't believe all of the radio policeman that have come out of the
> woodwork. Must be the wintertime blues.
I heard one of these idiot police-op's telling N2NU to QSY out of the
window. N2NU was calling a DX station. After a couple of go arounds
N2NU finally decided to send the DX station's callsign and then DE N2NU.
I thought..."Well that was good idea, that should get rid of the idiot."
Bzzzzt. The guy telling N2NU to get out of the window was disrupting the
window more than N2NU (who was calling DX!!!!).
On an even more (personally) humoruous note... Our local (SE) DX cluster
contest-cop was CQing in the DX window. I couldn't pass up the chance to
give him a dose of his own self-rightous medicine... I told him he was in the
window and he responded "so what, I'm not sending in my log and ur not
signing your call." I responded "so what, they'll never catch me.".
Ooops... guess I'm caught.
73
Bill, KM9P
>From JOHN GOLOMB <GOLOMB at LAKEHURST.NAVY.MIL> Mon Dec 4 13:03:44 1995
From: JOHN GOLOMB <GOLOMB at LAKEHURST.NAVY.MIL> (JOHN GOLOMB)
Date: Mon, 04 Dec 1995 08:03:44 -0500
Subject: KE2PF 160 S/O low pwr
Message-ID: <s0c2acca.028 at LAKEHURST.NAVY.MIL>
My messages to the contest reflector are getting bounced for some
reason, so I've asked John KZ2S to foward this for me:
KE2PF ARRL 160 score
Single op, Unassisted, LOW POWER
14 hours of operation
QSO's: 795 Sections: 62 Countries: 11 score: 118,917 points, paper
logging
Rig: Kenwood TS930 second spotting radio: kenwood ts820
Antenna: inverted L, draped over a tree, about 55' vertical, the rest
horizontal. Several radials, none over 90' long
Due to my wife's work schedule I was unable to operate S/O HP from
N2RM, so I threw up an inverted L (actually just added to my existing
40m vertical). My location is a US Coast Guard leased house, in a
shore community. My property is about a 50' by 100' lot with a
couple 60' trees.
All I can say is "location was everything!". The house is less
than 300 yards from the Delaware Bay, and I look directly at salt
water from NW thru west to south. 20 miles of saltwater before the
next land, Delaware, and there is nothing in that state to block a
signal!! I have many neigbors, only feet away, but they are summer
residents only and I was able to sneak a few radials through their
back yards. All the local utilities are buried, and it is a super
quiet location. The house isn't wired for 220, and I'm not allowed
to rewire anything, so Im limited to low power (I don't own an amp
anyway). My only regret: I couldn't put in a full effort. I even
had some Europeans call me the second night.
I guess Ill definitely give it a go in the CQWW 160 contest from
here again (low power). See you all in January for the QSO party...
Happy Holidays,
Dave KE2PF
KE2PF at MCIMAIL.COM
>From De Syam <syam at Glue.umd.edu> Mon Dec 4 13:18:58 1995
From: De Syam <syam at Glue.umd.edu> (De Syam)
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 08:18:58 -0500 (EST)
Subject: ARRL 160 Meter Contest: K3ZO Results & Comments
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.951204081014.873B-100000 at espresso.eng.umd.edu>
This was not a full-time effort as the XYL arrived back from a trip to
Thailand Saturday morning and I had to pick her up and spend time getting
her up to speed on what had been going on around here in her absence.
Nevertheless conditions were good so I spent as much time in the contest
as I could spare.
It seems as though reducing the DX window to 5 KHz. has had the desired
effect of clearing it out. I called several DX stations there to open
the contest when I first got on at 0430Z the first night, and I didn't
hear any W/VE CQ'ing in the window. As I checked it later from time to
time I heard only one K4 (weak) CQ'ing in it so it was no bother.
My results: 717 QSO's 67 W/VE multipliers 23 DX countries 138,510 pts.
I was quite pleased to work JH1RES at 1208Z the second day, the first
time I have ever worked Japan from here on 160 during any contest. Also
heard JA7NI and JA0MVW but no joy with them.
Very 73,
Fred Laun, K3ZO
>From Dravland, Todd" <ToddD at dci.state.sd.us Mon Dec 4 15:59:00 1995
From: Dravland, Todd" <ToddD at dci.state.sd.us (Dravland, Todd)
Date: Mon, 04 Dec 95 07:59:00 PST
Subject: W0SD 160m
Message-ID: <30C31D3B at sdmailgw.state.sd.us>
Posted for W0SD:
Multi Operator: W0SD, K0TPF, NS0N, W7XU/0
1071 Q's x 80 = 174,000
TS950SDX
HF2500 ==> Now with smoked transformer!
DIPOLE @ 100FT
VERTICAL in SWAMP
With the exception of Barry, NS0N, a first contest in years for the other
ops. They had fun and are looking foward to more of the multi-op
contesting. 73
todd, wd0t
toddd at dci.state.sd.us
>From lvn at fox.cen.com (Larry Novak) Mon Dec 4 14:06:17 1995
From: lvn at fox.cen.com (Larry Novak) (Larry Novak)
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 95 9:06:17 EST
Subject: K3TLX ARRL 160 Score
Message-ID: <9512041406.AA03034 at cen.com>
Operator: K3TLX
Category: Single Op, High Power
402 Q's x ( 56 domestic + 10 dx) = 55,836
Operating Time: 12 hours
Equipment: TS-930 with AL-80A (500w); Inverted L.
Highlight: Having CU3CS answer my CQ.
Lowlight: Missing NE after he sent "?LX" and the thundering herd (none
of whom had either an L or an X in their calls) continued unabated. The
NE station just went QRT shortly afterwards. This kind of behavior is
becoming more and more common and is really a pain in the posterior. I
wish these people would understand the difference between aggressive
operating and just plain crude and rude.
Conditions to the west coast were not nearly as good as last year (even
N6DX was not easy!). Conditions to Europe, however, seemed better. Some
day I'd really like to try this contest full-time - it's great fun.
Mults heard but not worked: EB, ID, NE, SF, WWA
73, Larry
--
+=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+
| Larry Novak \-\-\ email: lnovak at cen.com |
| Century Computing, Inc. | Tel: (301) 953-3330 |
| 8101 Sandy Spring Road | Tel (@NRL): (202) 404-7682 |
| Suite 200 | Fax: (301) 953-2368 |
| Laurel, MD 20707 | Amateur Radio: K3TLX, C6AHE |
| http://www.cen.com/ | |
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>From Ingemar.Fogelberg at cec.comm.se (Ingemar Fogelberg) Mon Dec 4 14:10:55 1995
From: Ingemar.Fogelberg at cec.comm.se (Ingemar Fogelberg) (Ingemar Fogelberg)
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 15:10:55 +0100
Subject: CQWW95CW SL0CB score + comments
Message-ID: <199512041410.PAA11450 at nic.comm.se>
CQWW 1995 CW
Call: SL0CB
Class: Single OP/Single Band 20/High Power/Unassited
Operator: SM0AJV
QSO QSO-POINTS ZONES COUNTRIES TOTAL SUM
545 1178 32 93 => 146 072
Comments:
There was some planning to join the M/S with SL0CB but we got
trouble with antenna on 15m. So it went out to be a part
time effort in SO/20m High Power Unassisted by me, 'Ingo', SM0AJV.
Started on Saturday at 11z, got on the air too late for Far East
openings. Started to play around... got some trouble with keystrokes in
CT since I'm more used to TRLOG.
Nice condx openings both south and west, but no JA:s at all. Found some
African stations calling CQ with no takers. Must be frustrating for TU2MA
et al not having a hughe pile up!!
Lots of stations having problem with the SL prefix (IL, HL, 5L, DL, EL etc).
Had to QRT and go home in the evening to
help XYL get the children into bed. Got back late on saturday night,
found the band closed. Worked 3 QSO in one hour!
Back home for some sleep. My 2,5 daughter, Hanna, thought otherwise... she made
lots of real local QRM at 0100Z!!
Anyway she got me up at 0600Z on Sunday morning so I got back to SL0CB
for some JA:s. Band was open to all directions. Had to leave 11Z for
family. But in the last CQ before closing down I got a weak 3W coming back.
Had lots of fun! Looking forward to a more serious effort next time.
TRCVR: IC-765
PA: TL-922
ANT: Hy-Gain Explorer @ 18m
SW: CT
Food: Sandwiches, cold pizza, carbonated water, tea
QRM: Neighbours little dog trying to be hostile! But Real Contester
ain't afraid of dogs only real LOW RATE. :o)
On-time: 10 hours
73 de Ingo / SM0AJV
>From Pete Smith <n4zr at ix.netcom.com> Mon Dec 4 14:32:25 1995
From: Pete Smith <n4zr at ix.netcom.com> (Pete Smith)
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 06:32:25 -0800
Subject: W3MM's contest computer series
Message-ID: <199512041432.GAA22057 at ix2.ix.netcom.com>
Congrats to Dave on a very useful series.
Let me add one note on the use of Double-Space/Stacker etc. Even if you
only have one computer and need a drive expander to go on using a relatively
small drive, there is still hope. At least in the case of Double-space
(comes with DOS 6), you can run programs and store data on the "host drive,"
which is uncompressed. In my case, for example, there is about 30 MB left
on the "I:" drive outside of the huge file that contains the compressed "C:"
drive. After I had trouble with CW sending using TRLog on the C: drive, I
moved it to I: where it works fine, because the compression routine is not
energized when writing directly to the I: drive. This approach is
sanctioned in the DOS 6 manual, by the way, for programs that aren't happy
on the compressed drive.
73,
Pete N4ZR (n4zr at ix.netcom.com)
>From K. Caruso x226-6935 <caruso at netcad.ENET.dec.com> Mon Dec 4 14:38:16 1995
From: K. Caruso x226-6935 <caruso at netcad.ENET.dec.com> (K. Caruso x226-6935 <caruso at netcad.ENET.dec.com>)
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 95 09:38:16 EST
Subject: WO1N ARRL 160 test
Message-ID: <9512041438.AA29891 at us1rmc.bb.dec.com>
Call: WO1N Country: United States
Mode: CW Category: Single Operator
Section: EMA Power: Low Power
QSO QSO PTS PTS/QSO SECTIONS COUNTRIES
Totals 287 583 2.03 44 3 = 27,401
Hours Operated: 13.1
Equipment Description: Yaesu FT757GXII, Inverted L at 55'
Club Affiliation: YCCC
OK, I lied to Billy at the League, I said I was going to load up the
lawn chairs for this years 160 test, but didn't. Instead I added more
radials to the Inverted L I put up last year.
I was looking forward to this one, even had the station ready to go
several days in advance. At the last minute, I drove to the candy store
to pick up one of the DSP59+ boxes. As a result, I missed the start.
I hope the rest of you thought conditions weren't great on Friday night.
They were much better on Saturday. Although I heard several Europeans both
nights, John (ON4UN) was the only one that could pull me out. This contrasts
to last years CQ160 CW test where I had a dozen or so Europeans. I'm hoping
I haven't made the antenna *worse* by adding radials.
The DSP box worked great. No, I didn't use it all the time, but it could
pull out completely uncopiable signals at times. Here's my cleaned up
notes summary of the test:
39 160 0120 I3VHO no ears but gud sig at 0120
65 160 0332 Heard K1TWF work ON4UN at 0330
80 160 0421 Static crashes building as evening wears on....
125 160 0603 NC0P big signal at 0600
178 160 0059 VP2V/K3LR, I hope to handle pileups like him when I grow up
183 160 0119 KG8CW, must be on repeat mode all day!
194 160 0219 New Mexico second night, bands a little better
249 160 0426 K9KU ur welcome, stole my freq, least I had presence of mind
to wrk him. Life is bad ;-(
250 160 0428 Then N4XR steals it from him...Life is good ;-)
262 160 1014 WB2DLA score another one for the dsp59
Really enjoyed it again. Pretty impressive, most everyone honored the DX
window. Good job guys.
CU agn next year...Ken - WO1N
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