Gary Sutcliffe, W9XTSMC Fest 2013Copyright © 2013 Gary C. Sutcliffe

How Do I Do better in Contests?

Topics to be covered todayContest selection Antenna improvementsShack improvementsPlanning and goal settingOperating tips

W9XT

Pick Contests You Like The MostDomestic or DX

Domestic: Sweepstakes, Field Day, State QSO PartiesDX: ARRL, CQ World Wide, Worked All EuropeBoth: ARRL 160 & 10M, IARU, WPX

Phone, CW or RTTYMany contests have separate mode events

Short, Medium or LongShort: Sprints, NA QSO Party, some state QSO PartiesMedium: Sweepstakes, IARU, FDLong: DX contests, WPX

W9XT

Match Your Antennas & ContestMatch

Pick contests that match your antennasOr optimize your antennas for your favorite contest(s)

Consider becoming a single band expertEasier & less expensive to put up an excellent antenna

system on one band than competitive antennas on manyDeep knowledge of the band will be a competitive

advantage

W9XT

What Bands Play Best for You?Depends on:

Antennas availableLocal terrainWho you want to contact

Both antenna gain and take off angle are importantTake off angle may be more important than gain

W9XT

80M Example – Dipole @ 60’

W9XT

Max Gain at about 60 degrees

EZNEC Plot

Down about 15dB @ 5°

80M Example - Vertical

W9XT

Max gain ~25°

Down ~5dB @ 5°

EZNEC Plot

W9XT

SUMMARY 5 MODES FREQ = 3.5 MHZ UT = 7.0 (VOACAP) Most REL Mode: 3.F2 4.F2 4. E 5.F2 5. E 3.F2 TIME DEL. 27.61 28.04 27.01 28.59 27.21 27.61 ANGLE 5.26 10.37 2.61 14.89 6.01 5.26 VIR. HITE 270.06 270.0 125.30 272.09 136.20 270.06 ABSORB 14.97 11.84 16.32 9.59 14.52 FS. LOSS 121.81 121.95 121.62 122.11 121.6 SNR 4.48 -4.20 -1152. -11.95 -1298 4.48 PROB 1.00 0.99 0.00 0.96 0.00 1.00

Calculated for Oct. 30, 2009

W9XT

SUMMARY 8 MODES FREQ = 3.5 MHZ UT = 21.0 (VOACAP) Most REL Mode 1. E 1. E 1.F2 2. E 2. E 2.F2 3.F2 3. E 1.F2 TIME DEL. 2.33 2.97 3.12 2.74 2.86 4.12 5.50 3.37 3.12 ANGLE 14.65 38.69 41.72 34.39 37.67 55.91 65.18 47.81 41.72 VIR. HITE 97.1 287.4 320.7 118.2 133.3 258.1 250.3 125.7 320.7ABSORB 21.68 10.18 9.60 11.17 10.39 7.81 7.15 8.68 FS. LOSS 100.3 102.4 102.8 101.7 102.1 105.2 107.7 103.5SNR 61.79 55.01 63.20 42.62 35.54 51.49 36.90 -38.30 63.20PROB 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.58 0.58 1.00 1.00 0.02 1.00

Calculated for Oct. 30, 2009

10M Yagi Example

W9XT

EZNEC Plot

Best AntennaIts not just about gainMatching take off angle to signal can have huge effectAngle of arriving signal from a given transmitter will vary

Time of daySeasonSunspot number

You rotate your beam towards the other station – think of take off angle of aiming in the third dimension

W9XT

Optimize Antennas to the Contest Design antennas to perform to target population areasHave multiple antennas per band

Cover different conditionsCover different directionsCover different distancesMaximize flexibility

In generalLow take off angle antennas best for DX contestsHigh take off angle antennas best for domestic contests

W9XT

W9XT AntennasLow Band RX: 350’ Bevs to Europe & JA, K9AY Array160M: Dipole at 60’, putting up Inverted L (fall 2013)80M: Dipole at 45’ + Vertical (shunt fed tower)40M: Dipole at 40’ + 2 El Yagi at 60’10-15-20 : TH7 @50’ + A3 @ 65’ + A3 @ 35’ (fixed on

Europe) Tribanders can be fed 1, 2 or all 3 in any combination

W9XT

W9XT Field Day Setup – 40 CWDipole at 30’ with reflector at 7’

High take off angle for stations within ~600 milesSloper Dipole

Slopes toward SE during day, move to SW at nightLower take off angle and a bit of gain

Uses phasing networkCQ on both antennasSelect best antenna when weak ones callLose 3 dB with 2 ants, but more than make up on TO angle

Typically make about 1000 40M CW QSOs each year.

W9XT

W9XT Field Day Setup – 40 CW 2012 & 2013

Dipole at 30’High take off angle for stations within ~600 miles

NVIS Dipole @ 7’Very high take off angle for stations within 250 miles

Inverted LLow take off angle for west coastElevated, tuned radials for easy set up

Phasing: Dipole and either NVIS or Inverted L

W9XT

FD at Ozaukee Radio Club – W9LO

W9XT

40M CW Station

Coax Phasing Network Simple to build

Coax Switch3 Coax Tees2 X ¼ wavelength 70 ohm1 X ¼ wavelength 50 ohm

Transmitter always sees 50 ohms with 1 or both antennas

Single band only

W9XT

More details at www.w9xt.com

Phasing Network

W9XT

Inexpensive Antenna Improvements:The more the better!Low Band RX: K9AY, Beverage, Beverage on

groundVertical or Inverted L: low take off angle on

low bandsLow Dipole or NVIS: High angle take offSloper Dipole: Gain in desired direction, anglePower splitters

Beam multiple directionsInstant direction switchingPull out weak stations with best antenna

W9XT

Optimize Shack for EfficiencyPlace most used equipment in easiest reach

Keyboard, radio, mouse, CW paddles in best positionsRotor, Antenna switch next best positionsAmplifier, PC can be further away

Always wear headphonesHear weaker signalsCut background noise – noise will increase fatigue

Use microphone headset with foot switch for phoneMic does not take table spaceMic always in proper placeDoes not tie up a hand

W9XT

Additional Efficiency TipsPut SWR bridge/watt meter in direct view

Immediately see problem or wrong antenna selectedAmp mistuned, off line, wrong band

ComputerMonitor & Keyboard at proper height

AutomateKeep log program and radio in syncAutomatic selection of antennas

W9XT

Optimize Shack for ComfortGood lightingGood ventilationComfortable chair (switch between 2)Table at correct height

W9XT

Cheap Secret Weapon for ComfortSimple foot rest

Takes pressure off legsKeeps feet off cold floorKeeps foot switch in

place

W9XT

Planning For the Next ContestKeep notes on every contest, review before the next

What went wellWhat went poorlyPropagation conditionsBest & worst timesStation changes since last contestSpecial or unusual openings & contactsThings to do differently next time

W9XT

Make a What-If Spread Sheet Use to set goalsSee effects of

Getting a few hours sleep at slow times

Chasing low band mults at sunrise

Putting emphasis on certain bands

Different operating strategies

2007 ARRL DX CW Goals

Band QSOs DX160 30 1880 110 5540 220 8720 300 9015 175 5510 25 12

Total 860 317

Score 817,860

W9XT

Other Planning AidsMake a Band Plan

Listing of bands to be on each hour of the contestGood general guide, but adapt to opportunities

QSO & multiplier totals by hourGoal for hour + cumulative totalsBase on previous effortsGood motivator and indicator of falling behind

W9XT

3 Most Important Things While Operating

RateRateRate

W9XT

Always watch the rate meter!

Keeping the rate: CQ a lotCQ whenever possibleAn average CQ rate is usually better than a good S&P rateMore than half of stations in contest never CQCQing seems slower than S&P – watch rate meterSmaller stations

Try CQs higher in bandCQ 2nd day in DX contests, Sunday afternoon in

SweepstakesDon’t waste time in frequency fights

W9XT

Watch the rate meter!When rate is below what it should be:

Stop CQing and start S&P (Search and Pounce)Stop S&Ping and start CQChange bandsTake a break if contest has mandatory off times

W9XT

Know the Value of MultipliersMany logging programs give value of a mult

Relative to number of QSOsRelative to number of minutes (based on current rate)

Don’t waste time in big pile ups for rare multsConsider coming back laterDon’t leave a good CQ run to chase packet spots

W9XT

You won’t make the PGA Tour after your first 18 holes, and

you won’t be a world class contester by just doing FD

Every sport requires practiceLearn to copy and log quickly without errorsLearn propagationGet a feel for when things are going well or notKnow when to switch bands, when to CQ, etc.Learn to copy through QRM & QRNLearn how to crack pile upsLearn how to manage a high rate CQ run

W9XT

SummarySelect contests that match your interests and stationAntenna take off angle may be more important than gainMultiple antennas (even inexpensive) = great flexibilityOptimize station for efficiency and comfortPlan an operating strategyKeep the rate up, CQ whenever you canBe smart about chasing multipliersAll the contesting tips in the world won’t help without

practice

W9XT

ResourcesNCJ - Contest Magazine published by ARRLContesting.com – Contesting web siteCQ-Contest - mailing list dedicated to contestingSociety of Midwest Contesters – regional contest clubwww.unifiedmicro.com – Contesting accessories

W9XT

This program will be put on www.w9xt.com