[CQ-Contest] Listening capabilities at CN8WW

[Bernd Och]

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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