2007 CQ World Wide DX CW | Half Time Report with Rick, NQ4I

Tonight might be one of Ham Radio's finest hours. It's winter and one turns toward the operating chair while CQ World Wide CW fills bandwidth. Enjoy the contest, add a new country or two, and hear the music that is Morse code.

I spoke with Rick, NQ4I this afternoon as CQ World Wide CW gained momentum going into the second half. We chatted about current conditions, the team of NQ4I operators plying the ionosphere, and all the fun that is RadioSport contesting.

Rick said, "He who calls CQ gets rewarded."

Conditions are down in comparison to the 2006 but, the low-bands like 160-, 80-, and 40-meters are performing beyond expectations according to Rick, NQ4I.

He commented, "A sterling performance on 40-meters as we are approaching the possibility of a clean sweep of multipliers."

Rick was quite pleased with long-path conditions as the team worked Bernd, VK2IA whose operating from Cocos (Keeling) Island. It was an accomplishment for the team in Griffin, Georgia. Rick mentioned that Bernd is a great contester and DXer as well.

The biggest surprise thus far? XW1B in Laos called within the first 30-minutes of the contest. Their traditional bell ringing got an extra ring for that one.

When questioned about Win-Test partnering Rick said, "It is working well on 40- and 20-meters and two sets of ears really speeds up the rate. One call is always waiting in the Que. Partnering is the next step in contesting."

Rick expanded, "It is my goal to make it a four station race rather than a top three."

If CQ World Wide CW is your first contest consider as part of one's contesting skill development, "Get together with your buddies and set up a field day operation or a multi-single effort. It helps sharpen your skill set and if your making 1,000 or more contest QSOs, your ready for the next level."

When asked about how the contest is shaping up, "We would like to see conditions improve going into Sunday."

Conclusion.

One gets the sense of great pride Rick has for the hard work that each member of the team puts in during a contest like CQ World Wide or any other. He brings 40-years of contesting experience into the mix at NQ4I. Team work is the motto in Griffin.

Lastly, if your wondering about Multi-Multi munchies, the team is looking forward to pizzas this evening.

• "The team's favorite snacks during CQ World Wide CW are Chips Ahoy soft chocolate cookies, Oreos, contesting cake, and Mom's pecan pie." NQ4I

Live Amateur Radio Scores | 2007 CQ World Wide DX CW

K1TTT claims second position from W2FU in the clash of Multi-Multi Titans. NQ4I continues building their substantial margin of -Qs and mults. Meanwhile the contest machine Randy, K5ZD draws near the 2 Mpts as Single-Operator (S/O) High Power.

Whose who in the the S/O Low-Power? VE1RGB maintains an almost iron grip on first position while WB8JUI fights on. Watch the score on these Centurions.

6V7D closing in on 1,000 -Qs operating QRP.

Back to the game.

Contest on.

CQ World Wide DX 2007 -- Oh Dark Thirty

My first World Wide from California, wow. This maybe the bottom of the cycle but I'm having fun searching and pouncing at "Oh dark thirty". It is so quiet not even Radio Dawg is stirring.

NQ4I remains in the lead within the Multi-Multi category at Live Amateur Radio Scores. On the other hand, W2FU is now in second position while K1TTT falls to third.

Single-Operator (S/P) Low Power (LP) KJ7UN (10th), KN3A (9th), and W7TMT (8th) position on the live scoreboard.

6V7D Single-Operator QRP reporting 364Kpts and 646 -Qs in the log.

Contest on.

Live Amateur Radio Scores: CQ World Wide CW 2007

The early lead goes to Team NQ4I with K1TTT trailing at this moment. KB1H is third and KD1EU holding fourth position. Unknown Titan Superstations add to the competitive edge.

Multi-Multi Titans.

• NQ4I, 129 Kpts.
• K1TTT, 61 Kpts.
• KB1H, 59 Kpts.

It's too early to make a call on anything but watch the -Qs and mults roll. The Low-power category is shaping up like this VE1RGB jumping out in front of the pack with N6RV on RGB's high-frequency heels.

Single-Operator (S/O) Low-Power Centurions.

• VE1RGB, 7 Kpts.
• N6RV, 6 Kpts.
• WB8JUI, 4 Kpts.

The S/O High-Power Gladiators are on the ionospheric field still fresh in the operating chair. It is guts and glory.

S/O High-Power Gladiators.

• K5ZD, 43 Kpts.
• N4TB, 17 Kpts.
• KE1FO, 4 Kpts.

I'm back to CQ World Wide CW, contest on.

2007 CQ World Wide DX CW | Goals, Live Audio Streaming, Web Cams, & Blogs

I'm stoked and looking forward to CQ World Wide CW this weekend. The overarching goal is maximum RadioSport fun while my butt is in the chair (BIC). DX-Central spot report sizzles like bacon in a hot fryin' pan. DX bloggers are posting hot bacon bits. Anticipated live audio streaming from the contest machine Randy, K5ZD and Jon, KL2A operating 9K2HN in Kuwait City.

Dudes, if this is not enough pork then follow RadioSport scores at Live Amateur Radio Scores and follow the battle of the Titan Superstations (Multi-Multi) like NQ4I and K3LR and K1TTT as they compete for top-slot honors in the BoX.

Need one more piece of bacon in the RadioSport iron pan then follow shack lights and action at K1TTT shack cams for extra sizzle effects.

CQ World Wide CW 2007 is totally on!

Recently, I repositioned my Yaesu FT100 and MFJ-949E antenna tuner for ergonomic purposes. My transceiver is located opposite of the antenna tuner with the power supply on the floor. Transceiver and tuner are separated by a distance of 24-inches. My computer screen dominates my operating position much like a stadium's giant television screen.

Internet Interactive Events during CQ World Wide CW.

• Randy, K5ZD live streaming audio.
• Jon, KL2A operating 9K2HN live streaming audio.
• Live Amateur Radio Scores.
• K1TTT Multi-Multi interactive shack cams.

CQ World Wide CW Blogs.

• C6A Bahama -- Team Vertical 2007.
• J75, C6AQW by WQ5W.
• E51MMM & E51NNN South Cook Island.

I'm pulling out my Outbacker Joey quarter-wave, helically-wound vertical for 10-meters. I hope Helios cooperates and shares one sunspot this weekend just one, please. Ten meters is the who-knows-what-can-happen band at this time. I'm limited to 20-watts peak envelope power with the Outbacker Joey. I'm positioning the vertical 8-feet above earth ground and 4-quarter wave lengths of wire will comprise my counterpoise system.

Goals for KA3DRR.

• Work 100 DX stations utilizing 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10-meters.
• Search & pounce (SP) as a contest skill exercise.
• Listen as a contest skill exercise.
• Add 5 new countries to KA3DRR's DX tally.
• Add 5 new zones.
• Work as many DXpeditions as possible.
• Work as many Record Holders and Teams as possible.

The thrill of victory and the fun of the operating chair is RadioSport contesting. Send KA3DRR good RadioSport vibrations as I compete against my posted goals.

The clock is running and I need to deploy my low-profile antenna(s) at the condo contest station. See you in the log and all the best to everyone during CQ World Wide CW 2007!

Pump up the fun.

Contest on.

Technical Aspects of NQ4I Going Into CQ World Wide CW 2007

There are many technical aspects in RadioSport contesting and Rick, NQ4I answered a few questions about his superstation in Griffin, Georgia.

• "...If its operating for the weekend to fill up the band countries, or to sharpen the CW skills, or an all out attack on a single band record or operating with the guys for the weekend..there is something to do thats fun...get in and have some fun..." NQ4I

What features did you find that single out the Yaesu FT1000 series as the lead transceiver at the superstation?

"The FT-1000 D is possibly one of the greatest transceivers that Yaesu made, and it really is the most radio bang for the $ of any on the market...the radio is essentially "bullet-proof"...we use 2 stations on each band and each station has an amplifier that's 1500 watts..the antennas are 500-800 feet apart, but there is no ...I repeat no other method of protecting the receiver front-ends ...the rigs have performed flawlessly for the past 3-4 years since we converted over to Yaesu...I also have the same respect for the "plain vanilla" FT-1000MP...it too is bullet proof and after installing INRAD CW and narrow SSB filters, roofing filters, W8JI key click mods, it makes one of the best contest radios in my opinion...the FT-1000D comes with almost every filter slot filled..we upgrade each radio with INRAD roofing filters, W8JI keying mods and W8JI AGC mods...For me it is a matter of obtaining the most radio for the $$ that I spend..."

Can you tell us about your antenna systems on 40, 80, and 160?

"Our 40 Meter stations have a really nice complement of antennas...the Run station has a 3 over 3 stack of Telrex 40m yagis at 155 ft over 85 feet...the top antenna rotates and the bottom is fixed on EU...(EU represents 70% of our qso totals)..the Mult station has a 4 element KLM 40m yagi at 105 ft on a ring rotor...both stations have access to beverages to Europe, South America, Japan, and VK-ZL..they beverages are 370 feet long and are distributed to each station with a K9AY distribution system.

The 80m stations have the following antennas...the Run station has a 3 element vertical system that utilizes broadside radiation...its nearly 800 feet back in the woods and is located in a very quiet location...also available to the Run station is an 80m KLM rotatable dipole at 155 feet and is fixed to provide JA and South America directions...The Mult station has a 4 Square made of rohn 25 towers that are 64 feet high...both Run and Mult have access to beverages that are 880 feet long to NE, SE,SW and NW....

The 160 meter station has 2 element full sized verticals that are wire, that is dropped from the guy wires of the 185 foot tower...they are spaced 1/4 wave lengths apart and are fed with a Comtek switch box to give us 4 directional capability...the 160 meter station has access to the 880 feet beverages through the K9AY distribution system...."

Twenty-meters might well shape up as 'the band' during CQ World Wide DX this weekend. What type of antennas are used on this band?

"The Run station has a 5 over 5 stack that is fully rotable at 155 feet and 105 feet...also available is a 5 element yagi at 55 feet fixed on South America...there are 5 switching possibilities for these antennas...The Mult station has 2 antennas available...an 8 element Monster yagi on an 86 foot boom at 185 feet, and a single 4 element yagi at 100 feet..."

Why Win-Test contesting software at NQ4I?

"We had been a long time CT user for many, many years...the main problem with CT is that is has a broadcast protocol and qso's would get lost in the network...especially true when you had 15 or 16 computers networked in DOS...I almost switched over to Win-Test two years ago, both the initial expense of getting Windows compatible machines in the place of the old DOS computers made it very non cost effective...with the availability of hand-me-down computers, we got the first six machines ready last May, and kicked off Win-Test with the CQWW WPX CW test...the system functioned flawlessly for the full 48 hours and we were hooked from then on...it just was necessary to get the remainder of the machines Windows compatible ( we are all Windows XP ) . Our network consists of 17 computers in the shack to fully offer coverages at every position...as we expand the Partner mode capability in the coming years, I can see adding a few more to have available enough for Partner mode at each station...."

What equipment, antenna, and software recommendations do you have for an operator considering RadioSport contesting?

"This is a great question, because...no matter what equipment, no matter what antenna, Contesting offers something for all...if its operating for the weekend to fill up the band countries, or to sharpen the CW skills, or an all out attack on a single band record or operating with the guys for the weekend..there is something to do thats fun.....get in and have some fun...see ya in the pile-ups"...de Rick NQ4I

Team NQ4I CQ World Wide CW 2007.
Team Captain Charlie, K1XX.

• Mark, W4SVO a.k.a. Mister Low Bands (160-meters).
• Dennis, K2SX and Gary, N5BI (80-meters).
• Jim, VE7ZO, Richard, AA4BI, and Jim, W4PRO (40-meters).
• Charlie, K1XX, Marty, W1MD, Dick, K2UFT, and Mark, K0EJ (20-Meters).
• Rick, K4TD and Doug, KY4V (15-meters).
• Jay, N4OX (10-meters).
• Rick, NQ4I fill-in.

Contest on.

RadioSport Blogosphere Interview: Rick, NQ4I

The clock is running at Live Amateur Radio Scores as the world of RadioSport takes to the ionospheric field to compete in CQ World Wide DX 2007. According to the clock, a contester has approximately 3 days, 21 hours, 49 minutes, and 42 seconds before shack lights and action.

Who will take Box honors going into CQ World Wide DX CW in 2007? There are many contenders, some preparing at this moment, for one of the toughest RadioSport contests thus far.

I would like to thank Rick, NQ4I for taking time out from his busy schedule to answer a few questions. Recently, the team in Griffin, Georgia competed in CQ World Wide DX SSB and scored 9.5 Mpts with 5,094 -Qs in the log. They worked a total of 156 zones and 581 countries on six bands from 160 - to 10-meters.

NQ4I is a Multi-Multi High Power station. Rick's operation among others is the apex of RadioSport competition. This is Level-1 the land of the Titans.

Vince Lombardi said this, "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfilment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle-victorious." (p 5, para 9)

Have you wondered what it takes to join a Multi-Multi team like NQ4I?

Interview with Rick, NQ4I.

What type of skills are essential for a successful Multi-Multi operation?

"A Good Multi-Multi Op is some one in my opinion who is capable of being a serious single op contester...either on a single band or an all band contestant...He will know what is required to make his contribution worthy of a M-M entry...he will be capable of running as well as making mult qso's...he will already know how to spot stations, he will have the inane ability to know when its time to run or time to mult..."

Can you tell us about the team selection process at NQ4I?

"I look for a person who has ability as well as skills to get along well with the others in the group...I look primarily for a non-smoker...some one who is willing to make the sacrifice that a weekend of contesting entails...some-one who is both easy going with others, but with a sense of urgency when it comes to contesting..."

What operating criteria is used to make band assignments at the station?

"I use tw criteria...first is the op a real run op or a great mult op, and then I run all choices by VE7ZO who is the station Chief Op...he and I study the list of potential op's and decide where they will best help the effort...naturally there are some op's who prefer low bands and some who are not as good on the low bands...W4SVO is a real good example of a low band op who is head and shoulders above most others..he is "bull-dog" tenacious in chasing the low bands qso's..."

Does an operator immediately sit in the run chair during any given contest?

"It kinda depends on his contest skills, his contest accomplishments, and the station needs...if K1AR were to offer to come down for a weekend, he would definitely get a hot seat in the 20m run station...hi"

How important is team work to a Multi-Multi like NQ4I?

"This is where it all comes together...some of my team members have been contesting with me for 20+ years...we are always looking for new talent....staffing for a serious M-M is a never ending job...somebody will have a conflict and it will mean we need to find a qualified op to take his place....as we continue to place better in the contests, better op's are attracted to make the jump to come on over...."

Conclusion.

Serious single operator either single-band or all-band, running -Qs or or making mult -Qs, know how to spot, intuit between running Qs or time to mult--those are successful ingredients of a RadioSport contester according to Rick, NQ4I.

Think about it this week while developing CQ World Wide DX CW goals. The land of the Titans is just over the horizon and might well be worth the journey.

The clock is running.

Contest on.

Reference:

Live Amateur Radio Scores Retrieved on November 19, 2007 from http://www.getscores.org/.

Lombardi, V (n.d.). The Official Web Site of Vince Lombardi. Retrieved on November 19, 2007 from http://www.vincelombardi.com/about/quotes5.htm. (page 5, para 9)

Rick, NQ4I (2007, November 19) Personal Communication.

What Is Really Simple Syndication (RSS)?

I asked myself this question, "What is really simple syndication (RSS)?"

After all, each morning I read RSS feeds in my aggregator covering a range of topics including sources within Ham Radio's blogosphere. Currently, there are 46 Ham Radio blogs on my reading list delivering RSS feeds into my windows operating system. It is much like having magazine subscriptions for free.

The process is straightforward as long as the website includes an RSS favcon. I click on the RSS favcon in my browser, a window pops up asking add to your RSS favorites, and click. The RSS feed goes into a menu next to my book marked favorites. Source is ready for delivery without the hassle of spam filters.

Note my orange RSS favcon next to subscriptions de KA3DRR. This morning I wanted to take my zero understanding of RSS to 1 and share my research.

Approximately 1.6 million hits on the string, "What is really simple syndication?" according to Google.

What Is Really Simple Syndication (RSS)?

Threlfall (2005) explained RSS as --

• RSS distributes information across the Internet using simple technology. Syndication, on the other hand, gets your information onto the web, to your readers or subscribers, in an instant.
• Threlfall explained the advantage of RSS for readers and subscribers -- RSS streamlines communication and readers/subscribers can opt-in and opt-out (n.d.).
• Further advantage of RSS feed is versatility from browser to software based readers as well as different operating systems such as windows and mac according to Threlfall.

WiseGEEK (n.d.) explained RSS as --

• Really simple syndication uses an XML code that scours a website and/or blog for updates. The XML code acting like an antenna then broadcasts one's update through a feed.
• The receiver is an aggregator, a feed reader. It behaves like an interface. One just needs to shop for the best and typically free interface to receive RSS.
• The advantage of RSS according to WiseGEEK is RSS feeds are preferred unlike newsletters because RSS updates instantaneously, never held up by a spam filter, and people realize its convenience.

In Contrast.

Kantor (2007) noted the following regarding RSS --

• It is designed to show what is new based on the source i.e. KA3DRR and not on the content such as this article.
• RSS code is constructed to work with the macro world (Source) and not the micro (Content).
• Kantor takes us beyond RSS suggesting in the future a version of RSS will autonomously seek out sites of interest based on content instead of source. One simply enters e-scatter or contesting and RSS delivers stories based on one's interest. It is granulization of the Internet macro world.

Conclusion.

The advantage of RSS for a blog author is instantaneous delivery of one's content to readers and subscribers, streamlining of communication, and its versatility and/or utility for one's audience because it bypasses spam filters (Threlfall 2005; Threlfall n.d.; WiseGEEK, n.d.).

The advantage for a reader and/or subscriber is the ease of opting-in or opting-out, the convenience of instantaneous delivery into one's aggregator or receiver, RSS is free, and most if not all aggregators are free as well (Threlfall 2005; Threlfall n.d.; WiseGEEK n.d.).

Currently, I'm shifting my multiplier blog links over to RSS feeds, thus providing an added layer of convenience for the reader. They can choose content rather than source. Kantor (2007) suggested the future might well be content delivery and the granulization of the Internet.

Reference:

Kantor, A. (2006, July 27). Really Simple Syndication needs to add some complexity. USA Today. Retrieved on November 18, 2007 from http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/andrewkantor/2006-07-27-rss_x.htm.

Threlfall, C (2005, September 13). RSS (Really Simple Syndication) Explained in Plain English. EzineArticles. Retrieved on November 18, 2007 from http://ezinearticles.com/?RSS-(Real-Simple-Syndication)-Explained-in-Plain-English&id=71174.

ThrelFall, C. (n.d.). RSS...And the 10 MOST Powerful Reasons WHY You Should Be Using It. EzineArticles. Retrieved on November 18, 2007 from http://www.internetwondersezine.com/article_15.html.

WiseGEEK (n.d.). What is RSS (Really Simple Syndication). WiseGEEK. Retrieved on November 18, 2007 from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-rss.htm.