2008 CQ World Wide Contest, Thought's and Report's by 2E0HTS
CQ World Wide Contest Every year I look forward to using my HF Ham Radio Station during the World Wide CQ Contest. CQ WW is where World Wide participation makes it possible to work new DX locations and rare activations brought to life by enthusiastic radio amateurs from all nations spread around the globe. The Contest lasts all weekend, 48 hours in total.
This year's Contest brought some new Countries and call signs into the humble 2E0HTS station. In total I worked 15 Zones and 64 different Countries without trying too hard. I managed 131 different QSO's in between the constant searching up and down the bands, compared to most Station's I was only playing h.i Some Station's make Thousands of QSO's as we Ham's Know already! ;-)
I really enjoyed giving a few points away during the Contest and it was nice hearing some of the regular Contest Station's as well as the new ones of course!
One big Thank you to All Station's worked!
I did manage to get some of the World Wide CQ Contest on video later on in the Contest. Watch the video to see for yourself, the splatter and pile ups at my QTH using my Yaesu FT-767GX, Home brewed Delta Loop, G5RV and Hustler Vertical. CQ WW VIDEO
Here is my Log created by Winlog32 and converted for the internet by Louise M3TLL. Thanks to Louise for putting up with the roar of HF all weekend as well as all the encouragement and support. ;-)
Today's SSTV transmission received from NA1SS at 10.11utc with a 5/9+40 signal at 2E0HTS Simon's QTH.
I also heard Richard call out and I managed to get into the ISS and Richard came back, but it was very quick as half of Europe was calling at the same time. Hopefully I will get a better QSO next time. Thanks Richard and all at ARISS.
NA1SS Working Multiple Contacts and Sending SSTV Images Of The Earth
We have all been reading about the latest radio activity on board the ISS and many of us have been following the passes of the ISS, whilst waiting in anticipation to see if we can hear any interesting transmissions from the other side of the Ionosphere.
Today I got lucky and managed to not only receive a couple of Earth Shots from space, I also heard Richard Garriot (W5KWQ) working multiple contacts across Europe under the International Space Stations call sign, NA1SS.
Here MMSSTV Software is decoding the received ISS transmission A closer look at the received image of N.West Europe An image of the Atlantic Satscape Screen shot of the position of the ISS as it moves away. I used Yaesu the FT-847, the home brew IOIo beam, GS 250 rotator and MMSSTV to decode the images whilst tracking the ISS with Satscape. Incidentally I recently un-installed the Java version of Satscape and reverted to the previous version, as I found the Java version slowed down my connection speed an awful lot? My Computer is now running back at its normal speed (Broadband Connection) with the earlier Satscape program.
I will be listening out for the ISS as well as the usual bands, have a nice weekend.
The past few days have seen some good openings on HF for me especially on 20M, with QSOs being made from my Mobile Station as well as from inside the Shack.
Shawn N3TEE from Newark in the USA and myself 2E0HTS, have been exchanging emails ever since Shawn commented on one of my videos. We have been trying to make QSO on 20 and 40M over the last couple of evenings and tonight using PSK31 we finaly made the QSO!
Shawn N3TEE came through quite loud at times 57-599 running an Icom Rig but there was slight QSB. Nether the less, we managed a 10 min QSO and can now exchange QSL. N3TEE Shawn Click to Enlarge, Shawn N3TEE's Lap Top p.c screen in RX with myself 2E0HTS coming through in The USA. Click to Enlarge,Simon 2E0HTS's Screen with Shawn N3TEE coming in loud and clear. I used my FT-767, Nomic Rigblaster, 3800Dual Core Computer,40-50 Watts through a Full wave Delta LOOP Vertically polarised.
The Actual Transmission received and transmitted at N3TEE's QTH 2E0HTS 2E0HTS 2E0HTS DE N3TEE N3TEE N3TEE K
Callsign> de 2E0HTS 2E0HTS pse k
N3TEE N3TEE de 2E0HTS 2E0HTS pse k Qe |
O
!
2E0HTS DE N3TEE
Hi Simon how are you finally made it.. HI HI
I like this mode your about a 559 559 559
BTU 2E0HTS DE N3TEE BK
N3TEE n3TEE de 2E0HTS 2E0HTS
Hello Shawn, it is great to hear you in psk loud and clea et you about a 55 report at the moment how do you copy BTU N3TEE de 2E0HTS kt ott
I copy 100 %,
Thanks for the come back..
You might want to try WSJT software
It is very good for very weak signals
But not qso's only contacts.
Here is my brag file.
16 Oct 2008 19:14:29z
2E0HTS 2E0HTS DE N3TEE N3TEE
Your RST: 559 559 559 My Name: Shawn Shawn My QTH: Newark, Delaware, USA Grid Locator: FM29do
The equipment is as follows: Rig: ICOM-706MKIIG RF Power: 25 watts Antenna: 40m Homebrew Ground Plane up 10 ft/3m Computer: Laptop/HP Pavilion AMD Turion64 Interface: Buck Rascal Software: Digipan 2.0
Operator:
Created in the Netherlands, born in the USA Age: 39 Year Old Ham Since: September 1997
QSL via Bureau, LOTW or Direct (See www.QRZ.com
2E0HTS 2E0HTS DE N3TEE N3TEE BK
N3TEE N3TEE de 2E0HTS eiE0HTS
Ok Shawn great copy your re7-599
I'm running PSK31 Deluxe vX ou just townloaded it last night it seemyytod so far.
P at autgite to work you I will be pe otinoeblog entry regarding our QuO o
I am using - oeed FT-767 and 50 e Watts into a home brew DEts eop for 20 G NAND moaete.a…IL
Ok Sha eG2 e U
Lx3TEE de 2E0HTS kuh p ER
Ok Simom,
I am starting to loose your signal I send you a screen capture of this qso.
But we made the contact!!
The other day had a contact with north dakoda
I was -24 Db below the noise when he received my signal on JT65
Great software.
BTU 2E0HTS DE N3TEE BK
N3TmQt ose,oawfa bittn ÙSB on tt e
T . But I got most of it e o
O3nd your eiSL cnra
! Please email bour address IIlo
T N3TEE N3TEE de m e9e I S
My sU e-- rA pow r 0, t-a e =PSK31 DelubiV4.0
Ide
E a Loop, 6BTV, G5RV, IOIo, locator = IO93CU and web www.ham=ediooperator.blogspot.compi r ToeiE de 2E0HTS Ke e (be
I am looseing your signal not very good cpy now.
I will email you.
BTU 2E0HTS DE N3TEE BK
N3TEE N3TEE de 2E0HTS 2uTS
Tegrnuewn TNX for th qSO it is a pleasure AI hope we make it agn soon
73 all the best and tnx ag
Ne£TEE d l2E0HTS SC e i.e.,i.e. E
Thanks again Simon I get out your blog.
73 2E0HTS DE N3TEE Have a nice Day and thank you for the nice QSO SK
CWID: de N3TEE
Bye Bye Î wn Good ONE ne3TEE de 2E0HT
Tnx to Shawn and everyone else I have been working using PSK31 Deluxe v4.0 and listen out for 2E0HTS in the very near future on the PSK bands.
Latest Satellite confirmed QSL cards<As usual the radio's have been in use during the evenings after a days work and I have been working various Bands and Modes making some good QSOs.
I also made a number of QSO's into the USA via Echolink. During one of the QSO's I tried to arrange a PSK sched with N3TEE-Shawn, but with one or two QSB issues we still have to make the QSO. Echolink can be a very useful tool for arranging radio contacts with DX Stations.
I also received two nice QSL Cards sent direct to me confirming Satellite Contacts from AO-51 and VO-52. The Cards were from IK3VZS-Vinicio and EA3AGH-Jose, Thanks Guys my QSL cards have been posted and should be with you soon!
With the propagation offering some reasonable evening openings and my Amateur satellite addiction still maintaining a good hold over my radio operations, I had to get back on HF and give my FT-767 a good airing off.h.i. So I have tried to do what us Men are not supposed to be able too do which is multi-tasking. I did this in the form of sending PSK on HF via the FT-767, and at the same time I tracked and worked a few Satellites . It worked out well with the one Microphone to work with in my hand, whilst using my Nomic Rig blaster in a semi automatic mode interfaced to my P.C. ( How many of us Hams have tried returning with an over holding the wrong microphone? h.i Me for one!
Here is the Waterfall in full flow as I receive lots of big signals from around the Globe using WinPSKse. Here My most recent log entry's are showing various methods of making QSOs with some nice DX being worked at the same time. click on Log to Enlarge WinLog32 Thanks to all of you that have been emailing me telling me about your Satellite antenna's, Home brew projects and general radio news. Please continue to communicate with myself, all emails, information, advice and idea's are appreciated.
New Hardware Installation Gives Improved Performance
Computers have been running many amateur radio programs since the birth of the P.C. I have always tried to keep reasonably up to date with most software and recently decided to give my Intel Dual Core 3800 some new hardware which was to be some more Ram memory and a HD Graphics adaptor.
I compared the required hardware on the net where I got a good insight into the specifications available as well as the costs. Once I new what I wanted, I set off to my local shop and came away with both. 1 gig of ram memory(DDR) this was to compliment the existing memory, now doubling up to give 2 gigabytes of ram memory. The graphics adaptor is a NVDIA 9600 GT 512 Megabytes HD card, I fitted it and with both items installed correctly the computer should give excellent performance.
With the new hardware installed i decided to back up my logs/data and then I formatted the C: drive completely wiping it clean ready for a fresh install.
The re-installation takes some time but is well worth it once all software/drivers are updated giving fast and reliable performance for a long time, whilst running all my favorite radio programs.
Here the mother board is exposed displaying the dual core processor(3800), the creative sound card used for all radio software and the ram hidden under the harnesses. The NVIDIA GT 9600 512MB Card before the installation.
