Simon, 2E0HTS blog rolled Nash, JN4VWH and I'm picking up the signal here at KA3DRR. Nash operates low-profile from Okayama City, Japan. Despite the surburban density, Nash, continues operating with style that is, low-profile using terrace mounted verticals. Outstanding!
Check out Nash, JN4VWH at http://jn4vwh.blogspot.com/ or in my multiplier section.
73 from the shack.
Shortpath.
Longpath.
That's our SHORTPATH and LONGPATH from the RadioSport Blogosphere.
73 from the shack.
I made several errors during the North American CW Sprint and the most notable were
Scot, K9JY's on-going series of 30 contesting tips suggested an after action report. The purpose is to improve one's performance and benefit from the lesson's learned.
I felt frustrated and slightly embarrassed as Sprint progressed because of the above mentioned preparation errors. Do not take anything for granted going into a RadioSport event. Preparation is everything. The intensity of competition is not the time to take corrective actions that are controllable.
My review suggested more preparation time going into the California QSO party (CQP). I need two-weeks instead of one in order to address the details such as labeling, configuring software, and testing the station.
Additionally, Scot suggested reviewing one's successes as well as errors for example, I followed the band plan and QSY'd to 40- and 80-meters at the appropriate times. Secondly, my log was submitted well in advance of the deadline and my center fed inverted-L doublet performed on three bands despite the terrain challenge to the north.
I plan on adding additional height to the north leg beginning with CQP. We have a tree with an excellent supporting 'v' between two branch systems. Let's see what happens?
My preparation solutions for this weekend are
There is more to follow as I continue preparing for CQP next weekend.
73 from the shack.
Reference:
Scot, K9JY (2007). Do an After Action Review. Retrieved on September 25, 2007 from http://k9jy.com/blog/2007/09/23/30-ham-radio-contest-tips-do-an-after-action-review/.
Just over the horizon, like next weekend, is the California QSO Party (CQP). It is my first since re-entering our RadioSport community and I'm stoked. Scot, K9JY is running 30 Ham Radio Contest Tips and, I would like to frame them as model serving as KA3DRR's foundation going into CQP.
We have a 60-day scheduling calendar for social events and early last month I posted CQP as suggested. It helps everyone in the household versus dropping the QSO Party into the conversation on Friday night.
The next step in the contest model is one or more goals. A goal helps me focus on planning followed by executing that plan. Additionally, within goals are objectives, consider an objective as a rung on the goal ladder. Objectives assist me in breaking down my contesting goal into smaller, manageable parts.
Rules are important and reviewing them prior to operation is crucial. Fundamentally, I'm limited to 24-hours of operation and a minimum of 15-minute 'off' time as a single-operator (S/O). Each successful cw -Q is worth 3-points and there are 58 multipliers as a 6-land station. Importantly, I must successfully log respective California stations or face a penalty/disqualification, remember review the rules well in advance.
My entry classification for CQP is S/O, low-power (L), and cw only. The 2006 result's indicated for San Luis Obispo County, 'no' L and 'no' L cw-only operator. This might change but it serves as a benchmark. I'm focusing only on San Luis Obispo County as a low-power, low-profile station. The top three L's in California excluding single-side band -Qs logged the following cw -Qs respectively; 686, 642, and 391. The average is 573.
My cw goal is 573 based on the average top L cw -Qs and a clean sweep 58 multipliers. I'm aiming high as an old Chief Master Sergeant in the Air Force said. Let's see what happens afterwards?! More so, I'll have a valid measurement going into 2008.
Furthermore, I'm chasing within the contest a signed, personalized certificate for achieving 100 -Qs or more and an official CQP tee-shirt with a nominal $12 fee. It's part of the cool factor when giving a tour of the low-power, low-profile shack.
KA3DRR CQP Goal(s).
Lastly, contest on your terms as suggested in Scot's model that is,
KA3DRR's RadioSport Contract.
73 from the shack.
Reference:
Will someone turn on the sunspots please? The buzz? It maybe one of the longest sunspot draughts since record keeping began. The projection for improvement goes into February of 2008. There is nothing like living history. On the other hand, one prognosticator suggested a record setting Cycle 24 when the sunspots finally turn on. Let's see what the evidence produces on bands like 15 and 10-meters. I wonder what 10-meters will be like? Maybe long path into Europe in the near future? I spent the weekend on chores that is, building a near-comprehensive blog tag at del.icio.us. Admittedly, the project possessed me and surprised others receiving KA3DRR really simple syndication (RSS). Please note in my tag cloud -- HAMBLOG -- currently, there are 59 or so active blogs from across the world representing diverse Amateur Radio interests. Most but not all provide an RSS feed. I like my daily Amateur Radio blogosphere conversation delivered in the form of RSS. In addition, I noted a substantial number of Amateur Radio related blogs laying around like old bones on the blogscape. Perhaps the fad faded and who remained are die-hard, passionate, and dedicated. In contrast, I'm preparing for the California QSO Party the first weekend in October. And I have a surprise, but, more on that later... 73 from the shack.
