[CQ-Contest] DR1A seeking assistance for antenna test

[Pete Smith]

Hi Bernd - don't forget a new resource for tests 
of this sort - the Reverse Beacon Network at 
<http://www.reversebeacon.net>.  For example, at 
this moment we have IK0XBX, K4TD, N4ZR, N6NC, 
NZ1U and VE2WU listening on 20 meters.  While I 
can't guarantee that all those stations will be 
listening on July 4, they may be, as may others 
from locations as diverse as BY, PY, OY, VK and UA6.

All you need to do is transmit on 20M CW (or any 
band at any time when a Reverse Beacon is 
monitoring).  Send TEST, followed by DR1A's call 
at least four times and ending with TEST, while 
watching the main page at the Reverse Beacon web 
site.  This is necessary because CW Skimmers on 
the network are configured only to spot stations 
that it perceives to be calling CQ, or otherwise 
likely still to be on the frequency when you go looking.

If your signal is heard, within a minute you'll 
see spots posted giving the received signal to 
noise ratio as computed by CW Skimmer.  Switch 
antennas and transmit again, wait for the spots, and compare the results.

Here's a sample of spots my reverse beacon made 
on 20M in just 4 minutes last weekend:

DE      DX      QRG     CQ?     SNR     CW wpm  date/time

N4ZR    PA3JD   14035.1 CQ      9 dB    15 wpm  2307z 13 Jun
N4ZR    HK1AA   14018.1 CQ      22 dB   21 wpm  2305z 13 Jun
N4ZR    PA0BWL  14045.6 CQ      14 dB   27 wpm  2304z 13 Jun
N4ZR    DL9LM   14020.1 CQ      10 dB   25 wpm  2304z 13 Jun
N4ZR    KA1EFO  14042.6 CQ      9 dB    18 wpm  2303z 13 Jun
N4ZR    EA6UN   14032.8 CQ      29 dB   27 wpm  2303z 13 Jun
N4ZR    OZ1GML  14038.0 CQ      27 dB   28 wpm  2303z 13 Jun
N4ZR    OK3AA   14011.0 CQ      11 dB   23 wpm  2303z 13 Jun
N4ZR    EA5FQ   14033.0 CQ      23 dB   32 wpm  2303z 13 Jun
N4ZR    CU3HQ   14016.8 CQ      24 dB   32 wpm  2303z 13 Jun

Real-time "This is antenna A, this is antenna B" 
comparisons with another station are fun on SSB, 
but using reverse beacons has the great advantage 
of requiring no prearrangement.  You can do these 
tests at any time of the day or night, on any 
band where there are reverse beacons listening.

Give it a try!

73, Pete N4ZR
New Articles Daily - the Contesting Compendium at http://wiki.contesting.com
The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com
The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net



   At 10:59 AM 6/15/2009, Bernd Och wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>
>
>as you may know we are currently rebuilding our 
>DR1A contest station. We have completed some 
>antenna projects and would like to do some 
>comparative testing. If you are available on 
>Saturday, July 4, from 21:00z thru 21:15z (Yes, 
>I know, which day that is... :-), and have a 
>radio/antenna for 14 MHz, please drop me a line:
>
>
>bernd.fd at gmx.de
>
>
>and I will send some more details.
>
>
>
>Thanks,
>
>
>
>73 Ben
>
>DL6FBL
>
>
>
>http://www.dr1a.com
>
>
>
>
>
>Freundliche Grüße
>
>Bernd Och
>Dipl.-Ing.
>WCT (WatchGuard Certified Trainer)
>WCSP (WatchGuard Certified System Professional)
>MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer)
>
>[Tel] 0661/9440-201
>[Fax] 0661/9440-100
>[Mobile] 0171/3831200
>__________________________________________________________
>Firmensitz: BOC Computersysteme GmbH * Chr.-Wirth-Str. 18 * D-36043 Fulda
>Geschäftsführer: Dipl.-Ing. Bernd Och, Thomas Heppe
>Amtsgericht/Handelsregister: Fulda 5 HRB 1290 - USt.-ID-Nr. DE811737681
>
>
>
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