ARRL 10-m contest

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ARRL 10-m contest

wayne burdick
Administrator
Hi all,

I only had an hour or so of contest time, but the band was in great shape and I worked everyone I called in both SSB and CW mode (35 QSOs in 19 states).

Just to make it more challenging, I kept power set to 5.0 watts, and used my 6-meter antenna exclusively (not a typo--yes, this was on 10 meters). It's a pair of 6-meter hamsticks forming a dipole, supported by a push-up mast at about 20'. It's fed with LMR400 coax, then connected to the K3, which has a KAT3 ATU. The ATU can tune this antenna on 20-6 meters. While it certainly isn't very efficient on bands below 6 meters, it was good enough to have some fun in the contest.

I was using the latest K3 firmware (rev. 5.01), which has excellent QSK audio characteristics as reported by those using this  field-test release.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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Re: ARRL 10-m contest

George Winship, NC5G
Hi Wayne and all,

I also didn't have much time for the contest either,but here is what I did.

I have an old mobile hustler set up mounted on an old truck brake rotor that I use with my KX3 in the house. Didn't have a 10 meter coil, so took the hustler off and screwed a 102 inch whip on the brake rotor. It is a good match on 10. I also made 35 contacts, 12 countries and the rest stateside and Canada. There were 15
SSB and 20 CW contacts with Australia being the longest distance. Lots of fun. Guess I cheated though, as I was running 10 watts. HI!

73, George NC5G
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Re: ARRL 10-m contest

Phil Anderson
Hey Wayne, George and all too,

Did about the same. Ordered the K3 five weeks ago, got it in about ten
days, built and aligned in ten hours, got on the 10-meter  CW contest
and made 60 contacts with 25% DX, using my K3 and a SteppIR vertical
with the antenna set at 3/4-wavelength for 10-meters. Great Combo. What
fun! Wish I'd had the full weekend but still fun for a short run.

Uncle Phil, W0XI, Lawrence KS

>
>


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Re: ARRL 10-m contest

James Bennett
In reply to this post by wayne burdick
Kind of a similar situation here in Folsom. Christmas activities and other family “stuff” kept me away from the contest for all but a few hours. My goal, using the K3 @ 5 watts along with my P3, was to search & pounce for as many different states as possible - I’m trying to get WAS QRP. A total of 66 QSO’s in 34 states, plus 5W1SA (Samoa), EA8AV (Canary Islands), KP2Q (Virgin Islands), and WP4C (Puerto Rico). Heard lots more DX stations but didn’t attempt to work them, as states were my main goal. Although I did hear a station from Algeria (7X7?? - can’t remember the whole call) but he was also search & pounce so I didn’t get a chance to call him - arrghhhhhh. Not too bad for QRP and a stealthy doublet antenna strung through the redwood trees. Darn CC&R/HOA crud!

If I worked you in the contest - many thanks and you’ll probably be getting a QSL and an SASE from me if you don’t participate in LoTW!

73, Jim / W6JHB



> On   Monday, Dec 15, 2014, at  Monday, 7:58 AM, Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> I only had an hour or so of contest time, but the band was in great shape and I worked everyone I called in both SSB and CW mode (35 QSOs in 19 states).
>
> Just to make it more challenging, I kept power set to 5.0 watts, and used my 6-meter antenna exclusively (not a typo--yes, this was on 10 meters). It's a pair of 6-meter hamsticks forming a dipole, supported by a push-up mast at about 20'. It's fed with LMR400 coax, then connected to the K3, which has a KAT3 ATU. The ATU can tune this antenna on 20-6 meters. While it certainly isn't very efficient on bands below 6 meters, it was good enough to have some fun in the contest.
>
> I was using the latest K3 firmware (rev. 5.01), which has excellent QSK audio characteristics as reported by those using this  field-test release.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

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Re: ARRL 10-m contest

Scott Simpson
I received my PX3 a week or so ago and it was impressive to see how the
contest looked on it:

200kHz of SSB: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH9JX5fyLnc
100kHz of CW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8S-7MYpTcI


scott
[hidden email]

On Mon, Dec 15, 2014 at 12:34 PM, James Bennett <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> Kind of a similar situation here in Folsom. Christmas activities and other
> family “stuff” kept me away from the contest for all but a few hours. My
> goal, using the K3 @ 5 watts along with my P3, was to search & pounce for
> as many different states as possible - I’m trying to get WAS QRP. A total
> of 66 QSO’s in 34 states, plus 5W1SA (Samoa), EA8AV (Canary Islands), KP2Q
> (Virgin Islands), and WP4C (Puerto Rico). Heard lots more DX stations but
> didn’t attempt to work them, as states were my main goal. Although I did
> hear a station from Algeria (7X7?? - can’t remember the whole call) but he
> was also search & pounce so I didn’t get a chance to call him - arrghhhhhh.
> Not too bad for QRP and a stealthy doublet antenna strung through the
> redwood trees. Darn CC&R/HOA crud!
>
> If I worked you in the contest - many thanks and you’ll probably be
> getting a QSL and an SASE from me if you don’t participate in LoTW!
>
> 73, Jim / W6JHB
>
>
>
> > On   Monday, Dec 15, 2014, at  Monday, 7:58 AM, Wayne Burdick <
> [hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I only had an hour or so of contest time, but the band was in great
> shape and I worked everyone I called in both SSB and CW mode (35 QSOs in 19
> states).
> >
> > Just to make it more challenging, I kept power set to 5.0 watts, and
> used my 6-meter antenna exclusively (not a typo--yes, this was on 10
> meters). It's a pair of 6-meter hamsticks forming a dipole, supported by a
> push-up mast at about 20'. It's fed with LMR400 coax, then connected to the
> K3, which has a KAT3 ATU. The ATU can tune this antenna on 20-6 meters.
> While it certainly isn't very efficient on bands below 6 meters, it was
> good enough to have some fun in the contest.
> >
> > I was using the latest K3 firmware (rev. 5.01), which has excellent QSK
> audio characteristics as reported by those using this  field-test release.
> >
> > 73,
> > Wayne
> > N6KR
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
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Re: ARRL 10-m contest

Elecraft mailing list
In reply to this post by wayne burdick
I used my KX3 and KXPA100 for the 14 hours I was on. I recently had gone  
through the rx sideband nulling procedure and really enjoyed single-signal  
reception. The amp got pretty hot...it definitely needs external cooling of
some  sort. I didn't take any PA temp readings, but the heatsink was  
uncomfortable to touch during long spells of "running" at 100W output.
 
The KX3 is an outstanding performer, even if QSK isn't as quiet as the K3  
with FW 5.01 :~)
 
73, Bert, N4CW
 
 
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Re: ARRL 10-m contest

Elecraft mailing list
 After reading Burt N4CW comment ... I have a 3" muffin fan laying on top of my KXPA100. I use a series resistor in the 12v source and the fan runs at reduced speed all the time. Receiver noise  masks the fan noise and I can run RTTY , PSK etc non stop with a "cool to touch" heat sink. I have been very active chasing the ARRL Centennial stations, so considerable RTTY and a bit of PSK31.

  Been a ham 59years and the this was first 10m SSB contest I ever participated in. Also first time I ever used the N1MM logger+. I had a good time using non-resonate 80m and 40m dipoles and the KXPA100 driven by my K3/10.

  73  Bill  K0AWU
      From: Bert via Elecraft <[hidden email]>
 To: [hidden email]
 Sent: Monday, December 15, 2014 1:35 PM
 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ARRL 10-m contest
   
I used my KX3 and KXPA100 for the 14 hours I was on. I recently had gone 
through the rx sideband nulling procedure and really enjoyed single-signal 
reception. The amp got pretty hot...it definitely needs external cooling of
some  sort. I didn't take any PA temp readings, but the heatsink was 
uncomfortable to touch during long spells of "running" at 100W output.
 
The KX3 is an outstanding performer, even if QSK isn't as quiet as the K3 
with FW 5.01 :~)
 
73, Bert, N4CW
 
 
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Fwd: ARRL 10-m contest

Gerry Hull
In reply to this post by wayne burdick
Hey Wayne et al,

I used the K3 and K3/0 mini combo along with the RRC boxes to operate the
ARRL 10m contest remote from K2LE's contest station in Vermont.

Wayne, I was interested in your QSK comments.  I was using QSK on the
remote, and it was working pretty well.

I notice, however, two strange things with QSK, both remote and local...

At any speed, if I engage the RIT or go split, the QSK sounds very
different.
At 40wpm and above, the sidetone is not clean -- it seems to clip.  I know,
however, that the generated CW is just fine.

Is this something that the beta firmware will take care of?

BTW, for those of you who are contemplating CW contesting remotely using
the K3+RemoteRig, you can be rest assured that it performs
flawlessly.  Latency is not an issue.  Here's a snapshot of my rate
analysis for the contest:

The best 60 minute rate was 196/hour from 1249 to 1348
The best 30 minute rate was 220/hour from 1319 to 1348
The best 10 minute rate was 270/hour from 1330 to 1339

The best 1 minute rates were:
 6 QSOs/minute    4 times.
 5 QSOs/minute    9 times.
 4 QSOs/minute   74 times.
 3 QSOs/minute  143 times.
 2 QSOs/minute  172 times.
 1 QSOs/minute  167 times.

So, remote is exactly like being there!  In this operation, K2LE station
end is 1.5Mbps DSL, my end 105Mbps cable.

73.

Gerry Hull, W1VE   | Hancock, NH USA
AKA: VE1RM | VY2CDX | VO1CDX | 6Y6C | 8P9RM
<http://www.yccc.org> <http://www.yccc.org/>
<http://www.facebook.com/gerryhull>
<https://plus.google.com/+GerryHull/posts>     <http://www.twitter.com/w1ve>

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
Date: Mon, Dec 15, 2014 at 10:58 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] ARRL 10-m contest
To: Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]>

Hi all,

I only had an hour or so of contest time, but the band was in great shape
and I worked everyone I called in both SSB and CW mode (35 QSOs in 19
states).

Just to make it more challenging, I kept power set to 5.0 watts, and used
my 6-meter antenna exclusively (not a typo--yes, this was on 10 meters).
It's a pair of 6-meter hamsticks forming a dipole, supported by a push-up
mast at about 20'. It's fed with LMR400 coax, then connected to the K3,
which has a KAT3 ATU. The ATU can tune this antenna on 20-6 meters. While
it certainly isn't very efficient on bands below 6 meters, it was good
enough to have some fun in the contest.

I was using the latest K3 firmware (rev. 5.01), which has excellent QSK
audio characteristics as reported by those using this  field-test release.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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