[RTTY] W1ZT SARTG & QRM

[George Johnson]

                     SARTG WW RTTY Contest

Call: W1ZT
Operator(s): W1ZT
Station: W1ZT

Class: SOAB HP
QTH: MA
Operating Time (hrs): 3

Summary:
  Band  QSOs  Pts   Mults
-------------------------
    80:
    40:
    20:   78  1015    38
    15:   34   460    20
    10:
-------------------------
Total:  112  1475    58  Total Score = 85,550

Club: Yankee Clipper Contest Club

Comments:

Conditions on Sunday were fair and low noise but signal levels from the same
areas varied considerably.  But it was nice to see some good QSO totals so 
there
was good activity.  Limited time always limits my QSO total...  but thanks 
for all
the Qs.

I have been reading the interesting comments from some of the European 
contesters and, as AA5AU mentioned, I cannot confirm the reception of so 
many bad signals.  My activity was limited to the last period on Sunday and 
I was concentrating on European signals on both 20m and 15m.  There was a 
big difference in signal strengths from time to time that I associated with 
large differences in station power and antennas.  In this part of the solar 
cycle I would encourage anyone to continue to improve their antenna systems 
within the limits of their local situation.  It makes a big difference at 
the other end of the path.

I also noted considerable crowding of signals close together and the 
corresponding "busted" QSO activity that comes with the QRM and poorly 
timed calling.  While these signals were weaker here and not causing 
anything but QRM and busted contacts, the strength in Europe must have been 
quite loud.  Narrow receive filters will not remove intermod and other 
distortion products from the passband as AA5AU noted in his message.  The 
attenuator or other front end filtering is needed in these conditions.  I 
recently ran across an article on "roofing filtering" that may be of interest.

http://www.qth.com/inrad/roofing-filters.pdf

However, there are bad audio AFSK signals on the bands that have strong 
harmonics and distortion.  And there is too much intentional crowding for 
"competitive" purposes as an operating style.  We all see that in the DX 
pileups as well as the contests.  The most practical relief in these 
conditions is to spread out and continue to improve our ability to hear 
weak signals.  We will all face weaker signal paths for some years and we 
will all contest in fewer bands until the next solar cycle raises the 
MUF.  I look forward to finding more people above 14100 as time 
progresses...  don't forget to avoid the NCDXF beacons at 14100 !!

73 to all, George .. W1ZT