[CQ-Contest] 160 Beacon Hunt Results

Fri Jan 7 07:57:02 PST 2011

Comments about the DX window are interesting. If you believe the ARRL (a 
stretch for some)
the DX window moved to 1830-1835 for CW several years ago (2001 I think). 
There was a
big flap at the time because the ARRL was "enforcing" it for their 160 
contest at the time. Prior
to that time the DX window was 1820-1825 I think (memory is getting hazy).

There is a document on the ARRL web site showing the IARU Region 2 band plan 
with 1830-1840
as "CW priority for intercontinental operation (DX Window)" and 1840-1850 as 
"SSB priority for
intercontinental operation (DX Window)". The document is dated October 8, 
2010.
http://www.arrl.org/files/media/News/R2_LF-MF-HF_Bandplan_2010.pdf

73, Larry  W6NWS
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Mackanos - K2DB" <k2db at k2db.com>
To: <RDXA at mailman.qth.net>
Cc: <w2lb at rochester.rr.com>; <cq-contest at contesting.com>; <n2yhq at yahoo.com>; 
<n8yg at yahoo.com>; <ag2m at arrl.net>; <wnydxa at yahoofroups.com>; 
<cwops at yahoogroups.com>; <wd8dsb at aol.com>
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2011 9:10 AM
Subject: [CQ-Contest] 160 Beacon Hunt Results

>I want to thank all of you who took the time to listen and report back to 
>me
> about
>
> the temporary beacon that I put on the air yesterday morning and turned 
> off
> this morning at 1400 Z.
>
> Here is the info on the beacon:
>
> It was remotely controlled from my office in Fairport, NY via the 
> internet,
> logmein.com free
>
> Remote software, and Skype for me to hear the audio.
>
> Rig: Icom 746Pro, set remotely with TRX-Manager Software to 0 watts output
> (apparently
>
> it still put out something!)
>
> Frequency 1822.28 (before I got "FLAMED") for being in the DX Window then
> QSY'd to 1845.0
>
> (As the front digital dial indicates)
>
> Antenna: 160 Meter Dipole/Vee, center supported at 52 feet on crank up 
> tower
> at top of a ridge.
>
> One end droops down, to approximately 10 feet other end goes Out over the
> ridge and is
>
> approximately 85-90 feet above the ground.)
>
> Location: FN24FL in NNY approximately 45 miles NE of Watertown, NY. St.
>
> Lawrence River is About 20 miles due north of the QTH.
>
> Speed: 16 WPM
>
> Message: VVV DE K2DB/B FN24FL CWOPS 686 VVV DE K2DB/B FN24FL CWOPS 686 
> VVV,
> a five
>
> Second delay and it repeated.
>
>
>
> Results:
>
> K2FX - Signal S-2 with QSB. Ontario NY
>
> N8OPW/8 - Nothing heard in OH because of my S8-S9 noise floor 1621Z
>
> W2FU - Now, that's hard to copy here..but it's there
>
> AI2N - I can tell you are there with the NE Flag but readability is zero.
>
> VE3GNA - 539 at 1856Z
>
> K4MSG - Listening earlier, NIL HRD.........  ??
>
> N3IQ - 1822.3 KHz beacon is weak but readable in FM19kj
>
> W2LK - 599 on my inverted L in Rifton, NY
>
> AG2M - in noise (s7) here so I get bits and pieces
>
> K4MSG - 2155Z  JAN  6  2010   339/469  DEEP  QSB
>
> N1BUG - damn thing is S9+ here on 1822.27. you just labeled yourself a LID
> with many people. (DX Window complaint)
>
> W1HIS - weak; it was below my received noise. 329 BTW, while typing this,
> between about 2206 and 2209Z, I have heard a few (three or four?) 
> deliberate
> jammers.  The last one was sending "LID".
>
> VE3GNA - 20 db over S9 here on 1822.3.
>
> N2ZN - Ur about 579 on NE beverage
>
> W4ZV - You were S5-7 1822.28 at 2239z in New London, NC Suggested I move 
> due
> to DX area of band
>
> AB8UL - why put a beacon in the dx window are you a idiot (we exchanged
> emails)
>
> KR2Q - too easy...run less power! S7 on my K3 in FN20RU  at 22:58z  rx
> BW=250hz
>
> K2RNY - heard 2313 on 1822.31 S5 on N/S OCF Dipole at 40'
>
> W2VO - Took the time to call me on the phone and politely discuss me being
> in the DX window - Thanks Ron
>
> K2DB - Not knowing I was in the DX window, I  moved the beacon to 1845 at
> 2315Z Thanks to W2VO for the nice polite phone call.
>
> AB8UL - thank you Paul and i apologize for the idiot statement it was not
> appropriate and should not have been said
>
> K2XX - 160M beacon is putting out a great signal around 1822 Khz.
>
> K2MP - Ur 559 on the GAP Voyager, 599+15 dB on the Inv L.  Can't believe I
> actually used to use the GAP on 160
>
> KC4D - RST 559 with Slow QSB to 439 from grid FM07IK (Central VA) at 2333Z
> on 1845.00 KHz
>
> N8YG - at noise level and up to s8 to s9 at 23:50 GMT Brockport NY
>
> K2CAN - It's S7-8 on the vertical and S4-5 on the wire in Bristol, NY 
> FN12gs
> at 2350z
>
> W1HIS - As weak as you were earlier you could have passed for DX down 
> here!
> :-)
>
> W2YJ - 160 beacon signal heard steady S9 to 10 over and almost 20 over at
> times in Marilla NY
>
> WB2AIV - FN02ox at 0142Z on 1845.  Running S4-7 on HF9V 160m vertical w/ 
> S3
> -4 noise floor.  Was S3-4 on 80m windom
>
> KR3E - Copied at 0158z on 1.845.02 RST 339 with QSB:
>
> K8FC - By the way, your zero watts were killing me on my NE beverage
> tonight... :-)
>
> W0UO - .  Just in and out of the noise this evening. On 1845.0 at 0225 Jan 
> 7
> EM12er just west of Ft Worth, TX
>
> W5ZO - I heard you esp in Amarillo Texas at 1.845
>
> WB2AIV - at 0410 faded to just above the noise (S 3 - 5) on the vertical.
>
> K9FN - email query about beacon on 160
>
> W1HIS - Wow!  Now, at 0419Z, your beacon's signal is pushing my S-meter to
> S6 !
>
> WD8DSB - Signal strength was peaking S7
>
> K9CT - S0 to S1 on NE Beverage just Q4 copy.
>
> W4ZV - You were S6. on 1845.00 at 1208z in New London, NC.
>
> W8RA - Your beacon at at 1.845 MHZ 599 in MI at 11:55Z 1/01/2010
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> The purpose of this 2 day event, 1 day on 80 meters and 1 day on 160 
> meters
> was to inform several newcomers
>
> to our hobby in the Rochester NY area (a few old timers too) about the
> effects of propagation changes and
>
> the use of low power being effective for ham radio communications. It was
> also to show, that a good, modest
>
> antenna system will provide good dependable results.
>
> It appears that the theory has been proven to be correct. Using very low
> power, the beacon has been heard in
>
> many areas of the country.
>
> Other things have also been learned during this exercise, including the 
> fact
> that not all of us have attended the
>
> Dale Carnegie course on how to win friends and influence people. (enough
> said there); several negative spots on
>
> the cluster from AA1K and AB8UL, and even someone bootlegging K2DB/B and
> self spotting me (can you believe it?)
>
> Thanks to all who contributed and e-mailed me (even the negative ones) as 
> I
> have learned a lot with this little
>
> Experiment, and even picked up a few new ham friends along the way, that 
> in
> itself is worth the time and effort.
>
> So, in conclusion,
>
> HAVE FUN and remember it is only a HOBBY !
>
> 73 and best DX, Ragchewing, or whatever your forte is
>
>
>
> Paul K2DB   CWOPS 686
>
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