[SCCC] IARU HF - N7DA

[Drew Arnett]

low power unassisted from home QTH
Raw Score: 148 Qpts x 18 Mults = 2,664 (52 QSOs) per log submission server
20m:  16 Qs 9 mults
40m:  36 Qs 8 mults

KX-3 is out for repair.  I know this is a fun event, so I grabbed my
old, long unused SoftRock RXTX 6.3.  Setup Quisk (SDR SW) and tlf
(logging) and pywinkeyerdaemon (USB/net keyer bridge).  Don't have a
20m antenna up right now, so used a shorty 40m vertical.  Used a QRP
tuner and made a couple of guys suffer copying me on 20m in the
afternoon at 1 W.  Then realized this should drive a KXPA100 to a
decent output power.  Have a PTT output jack, but hadn't wired it to
the PCB.  A clip lead later and I was in business.  The KXPA tuner
loaded the antenna fine for 20m.  (Hate to think of what the pattern
and efficiency must be like, let alone QTH!)

Had used the Elecraft panadapter to get good S&P rate during Field Day
of about 50 or 60.  This contest, I got more practice at S&P.  I think
I prefer the tuning knob, but with a zoomed waterfall, single point &
click isn't too horrible with the filter cranked down on a busy band.
Need to find SW setting for the scroll wheel, though, as it needs just
a bit more tuning resolution.

Was fun to hear all the DX at 10pm on 20m and to work some of it.
(This is the bottom of the sunspot cycle, right?)  40m was productive
after that (and from peeking had gotten very busy before I moved
there!)  Once I worked that out, 80m sounded good, but wasn't able to
get the KXPA tuner to load the antenna.  (VSWR isn't great at the top
of 80 and gets worse towards the bottom.  Need to adjust the base
loading coil and/or improve the tuner situation.)

Despite the interesting TX situation, the SoftRock RX sure does a
great job despite how simple the HW is.

Not much of a score, but some good time spent fooling around with some
gear, practicing waterfall S&P, and code practice.

Best regards,

Drew
n7da