Topband: Use of Remote Receivers During 160 Meter Contests

Sun Mar 15 17:54:24 EDT 2015

use of remote receivers should be allowed but only in its own class.

many of us have worked hard and long to make our present locations into a presentable 160 meter contest site. it would be absolutely unfair to have to compete with remote receivers.

why not use "WEBSDR.ORG" and be done with it? 

larry, n7dd
DXCC honor roll #1 (mixed, phone)
WAZ 160 meters 

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark van Wijk, PA5MW <pa5mw at home.nl>
To: John Crovelli <w2gd at hotmail.com>; topband <topband at contesting.com>
Sent: Sun, Mar 15, 2015 9:48 pm
Subject: Re: Topband: Use of Remote Receivers During 160 Meter Contests

I have contributed in the past to some of the Remote RX discussions and at some
point felt all was said.
But I let me ‘wrap up’ some of them and based on
general topics, vent my opinion here.

FUN
That is what this hobby is about,
right?
This is more focusing on the psychic level and can be had at any kind of
station and/or level of achievement.
It does require you to do a reality check,
verify which kind of personal or shared result you like best, and how to
leverage reasonable goals.
Opposed to the need for peer recognition, demand
respect (WTF is that in a hobby??) or crush the top 3 opponents, whatever it
takes.

Contesting since ‘87, has convinced me and my Hamradio friends; “it’s
all about enjoying the path”. But you knew that already, right?

ENDING IN THE
TOP 10 IN CONTESTING
Contesting is a superb mix between casual participants,
enjoying the numerous possibilities of a contest, giving some points, scoring
that rare one. And then there is the top level who compete at Olympic level and
have similar focus and dedication.
Like at serious sports levels; you need some
talent, but MUCH more years of practice, learning by doing....a lot.
The
achievement comes from what you personally put into it.
Not taking any
“shortcut”.

THIS HOBBY IS ABOUT TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENT, INNOVATION
Damned well
it is!
It does not matter whether you are an XXL topband competitor owning a big
station, or you participate from a tiny home-QTH in the city, like me.
>From end
of March till October  you do need to review, analyze, plan, investigate,
experiment week by week, to get to a better result next time.
At my new QTH,
starting with 3 different small RX antennas, the first time I ended up somewhere
in the #40’s  during CQWW-160-CW. The next time after a lot of experiments,
using other RX antennas (because local noise raised 8-15dB), diversity RX with
another special designed antenna and zillion changes in and around my shack, I
ended #13. This took me lots of design&work, which was monthly organized in a
planning file (XLS available on request).

Same for our club-station. At
numerous occasions the team built and tested antennas. Tried the new antennas
during other available contests. Rebuilt the whole shack again and again, took
it to the next level in contesting. Both incremental and major station
improvements are needed to get you and the team forward. At many levels we would
educate ourselves to sharpen both our knowledge and operator qualities.
At the
University of Technology in Eindhoven (PI4TUE) we enjoyed our antennas being
>220ft AGL at a gigantic roof. But the QTH also proved to be a serious noise
challenge on the lowbands. It took 8 (!) years of experimenting to have a well
working Lowband RX antenna. 
Did we need a “shortcut” at that? Hell no! 
PI4TUE
was active in contesting for some 23 years. The large, high building was
recently closed. That allows us for finding new opportunities in the future next
to remembering the many happy hours of designing, building and
contesting.

Innovation, thinking out of the box, experimenting, incremental
improvements at all possible disciplines at your station is a must.

There
should not be a shortcut, just because it’s an easy way out.

REMOTE RX
STATIONS BEING A NOVEL TECHNICAL CHALLENGE.
Yes by all means.
In fact, we OWN
one for some 6 years now. We have been using it during many experiments at home
to compare our city antennas against the very quiet remote rx site. But during a
contest we refuse the “shortcut” and travel the 60 miles and build a TX antenna
on the site as well. 
Just today we built a fieldday-style contest station at
that site, preparing for the ladies of PI4YLC for their next weekends’ RDXC
participation. 

That is a leveled effort solution.
Opposed to an internet
shortcut.

THE NOISE CHALLENGED CITY DWELLERS
That is me too. I measure
background noise for 4 years now and have seen it rising from minimal 8 to 15dB,
depending on the direction. Noise cancellation (NCC-1 available) does help only
few dB because of the many noise sources and directions. 
I understand that some
have no option here and will build a remote rx site to accommodate their needs.
That is ok at your every day’s QSO, DX’ing, working that rare one etc..
Everyone’s own choice. But NOT for a game like competitive contesting. 

Giving
in to the new shortcut because...they demand it?
Please re-think about what
exactly are the true initial goals for this game you want to change so
drastically for some who say they cannot come to play. Put them in a separate
category if you really must.

NO TO REMOTE RX  IN CONTESTING
For contesting,
using a remote rx is NOT an option. 
It will add many unrealistic advantages,
like inband/duplex receiving. Something which is already available but requiring
advanced station design and filtering. And then there is many opportunities of
possible abuse using remote RX sites during a contest. Such can not be
detected

It is OK having built successfully mastered a remote Rx site.
But
please, during a contest (only), walk the extra mile and take your butt to the
remote location as well.
If you can manage building such a remote station, a TX
antenna will be possible too.  

73 Mark, PA5MW

From: John Crovelli

Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2015 8:03 PM
To: Mark van Wijk, PA5MW ;
topband at contesting.com 
Subject: RE: Topband: Use of Remote Receivers During 160
Meter Contests

Mark, 

Unless others speak up, N2NT is inclined to change the
rules and allow remote RX systems.

So the time is NOW  to make your thoughts
known on the reflector.

73,

John 

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