Setting up for my First RTTY Contest

Posted on by February 23, 2014

I’m planning to make my first attempt to enter a RTTY contest during the NAQP RTTY contest later this month.  Since I have never operated RTTY  I have a lot of preparation to do before the contest.  I’ve been reading up on general RTTY operation and RTTY contesting.  I’ve decided the easiest way to get on the air will be to use AFSK (Audio Frequency Shift Keying) rather than true FSK (Frequency Shift Keying).  From what I have read, most of the serious RTTY contesters use FSK rather than AFSK because transceivers having true FSK offer better filter options than when operating AFSK using LSB mode. Since, to operate FSK I would have to setup an additional interface to my transceiver I decided to take the easy route for my first RTTY contest because I really don’t want to take the time build a FSK interface to my transceiver right now.  If I find I enjoy RTTY contesting I’ll probably go the next step and setup an FSK interface between my computer and the ICOM 756 Pro III.  I decided the quickest way to setup for AFSK is to use my the SignalLink USB interface which I have for operating PSK-31.

Tigertronics SignalLink USB

Tigertronics SignalLink USB

Last night I repeated the setup of the SignalLink USB just to make sure I have the levels correctly set on my computer.  After that I reduced the power on my transceiver and did some initial RTTY testing using a dummy load.  Everything seemed to be working OK so in the next few days I’m going to see if I can actually make a RTTY contact!  However before I do that I will spend some time tuning in RTTY signals to get the hang of quickly zeroing into the correct frequency.  I will also be watching the flow of RTTY QSOs so that I have a good feel for the proper procedures before I attempt to make my first RTTY QSO.    I plan to also read through the ARRL Operators Manual just be make sure I don’t make any stupid mistakes on my first attempt.

After I have made an RTTY contact or two I will need to setup N1MM to work with the SignalLink and MTTY.  I found an excellent website that goes through the complete setup of N1MM for RTTY contesting.

Here is a link to the website:  http://www.rttycontesting.com/n1mm/n1mm-quickstart-index.html.

As soon as I make my first RTTY contacts I’ll add a post describing my experiences.  I’ll also post my experiences setting up N1MM for RTTY.

73,

Fred, KC9QQ

Want to Work More DX ?

Posted on by February 4, 2014
Complete DX'er by Bob Locher, W9KNI

Complete DX’er by Bob Locher, W9KNI

 

If you haven’t read Bob Locher’s “The Complete DX’er”  I highly recommend you read it if want to improve your success working DX.  Like many hams my ham radio activities were put on hold for many years because of career and family.  After I retired in 2008 I decided to setup my thirty old transceiver, a Kenwood TS-520 and see if ham radio was as exciting as it had been when I first got my license.  With a lot of help from my wife, we were able to string a 40/20/15 trapped dipole between two of our large yellow poplar trees.  Then, after spending some time re-learning how to tune the TS-520 I was on the air again.

At first I spent a lot of time tuning around the bands and making SSB contacts with hams around the US.  I decided it might be fun to try working the ARRL Sweepstakes like I had done as a Novice.  Since my CW skills had deteriorated over the years I figured I would start with the SSB Sweepstakes.  Working lots of stations in the sweepstakes was a real thrill.  I didn’t get a clean sweep by a long shot but I managed to work nearly as many states that weekend than I had during all of my years as a ham.

After working Sweepstakes I was hooked and wanted to try participating in the upcoming ARRL DX Contest. During the ARRL SSB DX Contest I was able to work over 40 DXCC entities; including Iceland and the Galapagos Islands.  For me,  working DX stations was a real thrill.  I decided it was time to upgrade my station and my skills.  My first purchase was Bob Locher’s The Complete DX’er.

In this book, Bob passes on his years of experience chasing DX by letting you sit in the shack with him as he works DX.  In each chapter he demonstrates specific skills that help him nab the rare ones with his Elecraft K2-10 and Skyhawk beam.  One of the key skills he teaches in this book is the importance of slowly tuning the band listening for DX stations.  He emphasizes how important it is to work the DX before they are spotted on the DX Clusters because they are much easier to work before the rest of the competition arrives; especially with a modest station.  He also explains the dynamics of a pile-up and how to increase your success rate by spending most of your time listening instead of just throwing your call into the pool with all of the other stations.  The pile up techniques Bob teaches have helped me work a lot of DX running QRP while the kilowatt stations were still beating each other up in the pileup.  It is amazing how often you can get the DX station on one or two calls if you call him just above the frequency he was listening on during his previous QSO.  This technique doesn’t always work, but it sure is thrilling when it does–which is quite often.

Even if your not a aspiring DX’er I think you will still enjoy reading Bob’s book, but if you are interested in working more DX, The Complete DX’er  will help you develop the skills to work more DX..  I find myself going back and re-reading portions of the book because even as my skills have improved I still pick up new things with each reading.

73,

Fred, KC9QQ

DX Code of Conduct

Posted on by February 4, 2014

As I listen to some of the high profile Dx-peditions I amazed by the bad behavior that I hear in the pile-ups.  I know that all of us have probably called on a DX frequency once or twice because we hit the wrong button on our transceiver or did not know the station was working split but what I’ve heard in the past two to three years goes well beyond the common errors of inexperienced DXers.  Some of the things I’ve heard include:

  1. Deliberate jamming of the DX stations frequency
  2. Calling CQ on the DX stations frequency
  3. Sending their call sign continuously in the pile-up
  4. Continuing to send their call sign while the DX station is working another station, and of course our favorite
  5. The policemen sending UP, UP, LID, LID and sometimes even answering the caller as if they are the DX station all while the DX station is trying work stations.

I’m sure most of you could add to this list.

I know in every large group their are probably going to be a few bad apples which even a code of conduct will not cure.  However, for the rest of us the DX Code of Conduct provides a list of “good” operating practices which will not only improve our DXing success but will make it much more enjoyable working DX.

73,

Fred, KC9QQ

DX Code Of Conduct

DXCode_Logo_small

  • I will listen, and listen, and then listen again before calling.
  • I will only call if I can copy the DX station properly.
  • I will not trust the DX cluster and will be sure of the DX station’s call sign before calling.
  • I will not interfere with the DX station nor anyone calling and will never tune up on the DX frequency or in the QSX slot.
  • I will wait for the DX station to end a contact before I call.
  • I will always send my full call sign.
  • I will call and then listen for a reasonable interval. I will not call continuously.
  • I will not transmit when the DX operator calls another call sign, not mine.
  • I will not transmit when the DX operator queries a call sign not like mine.
  • I will not transmit when the DX station requests geographic areas other than mine.
  • When the DX operator calls me, I will not repeat my call sign unless I think he has copied it incorrectly.
  • I will be thankful if and when I do make a contact.
  • I will respect my fellow hams and conduct myself so as to earn their respect.