If you need St. Paul Island he is on 50.105.6 CW. He peaks at S5 on my measely antenna and I worked him first call with 100W. Also on 15M – 21.016.
73,
Pat, NG1G
Author: Pat, NG1G
2012 WPX RTTY Results
I’m beginning to wonder if maybe I’m the first guy to receive my paper copy of July’s CQ magazine (although Rick, KI1G already had his electronic version – makes me think I should add that to my subscription). Here are the results – I’m sorry if I miss any call signs:
SOAB HP –
W1BYH with 800,496, #6 in the #1 call area, also #1 Tribander/Single Element in the #1 call area
NA1QP (op. W1CTN) with 398,246, #10 in the #1 call area, and #4 Tribander/Single Element in the #1 call area
KA1GEU with 267,288, #13 in the #1 call area, also #6 Tribander/Single Element in the #1 call area
SOSB HP (7 mHz) – K6ND/1 with 59,664, #1 in the #1 call area
SOSB HP (21 mHz) – KN6DV/1 (op. K6ND) with 2,253,537, #1 in the #1 call area, also #1 Tribander/Single Element in the #1 call area
SOAB LP – KS1J with 101,904, #13 in the #1 call area
QRP AB – KO1H with 2,448, #1 in the #1 call area
M2 – NG1G (@W1AN) with 6,963,268, #1 NA and #8 world
Club – CTRI finished #6 in the US out of 41 clubs (and 20th in the world out of 93 total), and with only 9 entries we had a total of 10,854,589 points. The top 5 US clubs had between 15 and 47 entrants, so I’d say we did pretty darned well! We were right below the “biggies” – PVRC, NCCC, YCCC, SMC, and FRC.
Congrats to everyone on a great CTRI showing!
73,
Pat, NG1G
DL-DX RTTY Contest This Weekend
For those of you who’d like to keep up with your RTTY skills, the DL-DX RTTY Contest is a fun way to do it. It’s very popular, which means lots of activity and maybe even a chance to work a rare band/mode-country. Running only 24 hours, it starts at 1100Z Saturday and ends at 1059Z Sunday.
You can check out the particulars at WA7BNM’s contest calendar web site: http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/weeklycont.php?mode=custom&week=current#4099
I hope to hear some CTRI members this weekend!
73,
Pat, NG1G
Boxboro Food for Thought
I thought I would recap my comments from Saturday’s meeting regarding Boxboro. Tom Walsh, K1TW, called me last week to discuss our club’s plans for Boxboro and to see what the convention committee can do for us. Tom, as some of you may remember, was the convention’s volunteer coordinator before he left for CA in 2007. He’s back in New England and taking over the reins once again.
As it does every year, the convention needs volunteers in order to run smoothly and get everything done. This year, as in years past, they are asking for volunteers to contribute two hours of their time to activities like ticket selling/taking, hleping with the forums, doing odd jobs, or counting money (no, you don’t get to keep any of it). The majority of the need is with ticketing, and the busiest time slots are Saturday and Sunday mornings from 8 am – 12 am, but can start as early as 7 am. The work is fun and easy, and goes by very quickly if you take an early time slot. If you’d like to volunteer some time please let me know. We already have 7 volunteers, so it looks like CTRI will lead the way again this year! The sooner we give him names the better, because we get first pick at time slots.
Tom also mentioned that with the WRTC occurring in New England, he thinks the convention is in a good position to help advertise it and increase interest, and if done correctly, the convention will benefit as well. What he wants to know is what we as contesters think the convention could do to help publicize the WRTC, and how we might be able to do that while increasing interest in the convention as well. If you’d give this some thought and pass along your ideas to me I’ll make sure Tom gets them. Thanks in advance.
As if that weren’t enough to stimulate your brain, Tom also wants to know what the convention can do to help publicize CTRI. This could take the form of supporting a forum, or providing a booth in the exhibitor’s hall as in years past, etc. Our continued strong support of the convention has not gone unnoticed, so if you can think of anything you’d like to see them do for us, please pass it along.
I think the big message here is that, as has been said many times, we are recognized and appreciated not only for what we’ve done within the sphere of contesting, but also for what we’ve done to help make the convention the success it has been over the years. Again we’re being given an opportunity to make ourselves heard and known better, so I’m asking that everyone take a few minutes to come up with some ideas. All hams in New England will benefit if we do.
73,
Pat, NG1G
LoTW Instructions Addendum
Here are the instructions for adding a location and uploading a file to LoTW.
73,
Pat, NG1G
Addendum to How to Create a 1×1 Call Sign Certificate for LoTW
1×1 Call Sign Cabrillo Files
Gents,
Please submit to me the Cabrillo file(s) from your operations under your 1×1 call signs as soon as possible. Importing the data into a spreadsheet is slightly labor-intensive, and I’d like to be able to have it all done before the 1st of June.
If recent QSL card deliveries are any indication, we might have well over 100 requests in total. As of today I have 28 requests, including one certificate request (based on only one QSO!), and I know other members are receiving cards directly.
If anyone has questions on what exactly I need, or how to export the data, please let me know and I’ll be happy to help. Same goes for signing/uploading logs to LoTW. As soon as I can rectify my inability to include media files in my posts, I’ll upload the instructions for everyone to use. That should happen Saturday after the meeting.
Thanks for your cooperation.
73,
Pat, NG1G
LoTW Certificate Info!!!
Hey guys,
For those of you who are adding your 1×1 call sign QSOs into LoTW, remember that after you receive the certificate for the 1×1 call, you’ll need to create a new location in the TQSL program for the 1×1 call. That’s how you enable the 1×1 call’s certificate to be used to sign .adi files. I did not make that clear when I wrote up my instructions, and I should have.
If you already happened to upload your QSOs to LoTW and inadvertently signed the .adi file with your home call’s certificate, have no fear. All that does I think is put those QSOs under the wrong call, which means they’ll never be QSL’d. To fix the problem you just need to add the location for the 1×1 call in the TQSL program, re-sign the .adi file with the new location you created (which will use the 1×1 call’s certificate), and upload it to LoTW.
If anyone encounters difficulty or would like me to write up a quick instruction on how to do that I’d be happy to help or put that together. You can post your question here or email me at ng1gATverizonDOTnet
73,
Pat, NG1G
NEQP and Special Event
Only a few hours until NEQP starts! Is everyone ready?
I checked on how many members have added their 1×1 call signs to their qrz.com page and it’s only a few. It’s easy to do, and it would be great if everyone would do it, that way stations you work can get all the info they need right there. You might also want to let them know when you expect to be uploading your LoTW data (assuming you use LoTW).
Here are the instructions for adding the 1×1 call to your database: You will need to request that the qrz.com admin people add it. On qrz.com Under the “Contact” menu is “Help Desk”. Click on that and then click on “Contact the Administrators”. You’ll need to fill out the identifying information and then tell them that you would like whatever your 1×1 call is added to your database for the period of May 1-May 15, 2012, and what SE the 1×1 call is for. You’ll get an email back shortly telling you they received your request, and then usually within 20 minutes they will send another email telling you they made the change. Then you can log in to qrz.com, search for your 1×1 call sign, and then, using the “Edit” menu, add the Special Event info to the page.
Since there is no information on wa1rr.org regarding the Special Event, I would not send people there. I’d send them to your qrz.com site, and you should have S/E and QSL information for them there. You can use my page (K1W) as a guide if you want, just make sure you let them know to QSL via NG1G. Editing your “home call” qrz.com page with NEQP and SE info would be a good thing to do as well, check out my NG1G page.
Have fun!
73,
Pat, NG1G/K1W
1X1 SE LoTW and qrz.com Page
I think I forgot to ask everyone using a 1×1 call sign if they are on LoTW. This is important for people to know if they need to confirm a QSO with you and don’t want to send a QSL card.
It’s last minute but will anyone who DOES NOT have a LoTW account or DOES NOT intend to upload their QSO data to LoTW please let me know here? That way I can let people know who is using it.
As for qrz.com, it would be great if everyone could edit their page to include information about the 1×1 SE operation. Below I have included what I wrote on my page, which you can use as a guide if you’d like to make it easy on yourself. Please make sure you edit the QSL info to specify MY call sign (NG1G) as the QSL address.
<pre>
CTRI 1×1 Special Event Information
I will be using the call sign K1W during this event. ***QSL to NG1G ONLY*** You can also look up any of our members’ 1×1 call signs on http://www.1x1callsigns.org/
Between May 1-15, 2012 the CTRI Contest Group will celebrate its 20th anniversary with 26 1×1 Special Event call signs. Operation will also coincide with the New England QSO Party, May 5-6. Club members will operate from Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Vermont, on various frequencies and modes. Work 10 call signs for the certificate. Send QSL card or log info plus large SASE and $2 to defray the cost of certificate. Submissions must be postmarked not later than June 1, 2012.
The following call signs will be activated: CT – K1C, K1Q, K1R, K1T, N1M, N1Q, W1A; RI – K1B, K1D, K1G, K1J, K1K, K1L, K1O, K1U, K1W, N1H, N1R, W1M, W1R, W1W, W1Y; MA – K1N, K1V, W1B; VT – K1M. All RI counties and several from CT and MA will be activated, as will Chittendon County in Vermont.
The CTRI Contest Group was formed by members of the South Coast Wireless Society who were interested in pursuing the radiosport aspect of amateur radio. From a core group of only a few hams, CTRI now has 25 or so active members who have made a substantial name for themselves as single-operator and multi-operator entries in many contests, including #1 World, #1 North America, and #1 US. Our list of accomplishments also include several North American and US records for various contests, in QRP, Low Power, High Power, and Multi-Op categories.
Over the years our club has been very active in supporting the ham and non-ham community, to include tower and antenna work, emergency communications, volunteer support for the New England Convention, presentations to local clubs, and other commemorative special event stations.
Please take the time to get on the air and work our members, especially during the New England QSO Party (www.neqp.org). It’s a fun contest even for non-contesters, and a great opportunity to work some fairly rare states and counties on various bands.
73,
Pat, NG1G
</pre>
Sound Card Swap
I’m trying to set up my computer to run RTTY on two rigs using two sound cards. I got a hold of two cheap identical SB0401 Soundblaster 24-bit (PCI) cards but discovered after trying to install them that I can’t have two of the same cards in the computer.
Is there anyone who has a cheap PCI sound card (a non-Soundblaster type) who’d be willing to swap theirs for my extra one? I tested it in my computer by itself and it worked fine, I just can’t get both cards to work together.
Also, does anyone have a USB to serial adapter they don’t want and are willing to sell cheap?
73,
Pat, NG1G
BARTG RTTY Contest
The BARTG RTTY contest starts this evening at 10 pm local time and goes until Sunday at 10 pm local time. This contest is a fun one and has been gaining popularity as the mode gains followers.
The rules are simple but the exchange contains an RST, serial number, and the time (4-digit).
Here is what I will be using for messages within N1MM – Chuck, KA1CQR had asked me to post some for discussion.
<pre>
F1 CQ,{TX}{ENTER}CQ NG1G NG1G TEST {RX}
F2 Run Exch,{TX}{ENTER}! 599 {EXCH} {EXCH} {TIME2} {TIME2} {RX}
F3 Run End,{TX}{ENTER}TU NG1G {RX}
F4 {MYCALL},{TX}* {RX}
F5 His Call,{TX}!{RX}
F6 TU Now…,{TX}{ENTER}{LOGTHENPOP} TU NOW… ! 599 {EXCH} {EXCH} {TIME2} {TIME2} {RX}
F7 Serial #,{TX}{ENTER}{EXCH} {EXCH} {RX}
F8 Time, {TX}{ENTER}{TIME2} {TIME2} {RX}
F9 Agn?,{TX}{ENTER}AGN? {RX}
F10 Number?,{TX}{ENTER}NR? {RX}
F11 Time?,{TX}{ENTER}TIME? {RX}
F12 Wipe,{WIPE}
F1 CQ,{TX}{ENTER}CQ NG1G NG1G TEST {RX}
F2 S&&P Exch,{TX}{ENTER}599 {EXCH} {EXCH} {TIME2} {TIME2} {RX}
F3 S&&P TU,{TX}! TU {RX}
F4 S&&P Call Him,{TX}{ENTER}* {RX}
F5 His Call,{TX}!{RX}
F6 {MYCALL},{TX}* {RX}
F7 Serial #,{TX}{ENTER}{EXCH} {EXCH} {RX}
F8 Time, {TX}{ENTER}{TIME2} {TIME2} {RX}
F9 Agn?,{TX}{ENTER}AGN? {RX}
F10 Number?,{TX}{ENTER}NR? {RX}
F11 Time?,{TX}{ENTER}TIME? {RX}
F12 Wipe,{WIPE}
</pre>
Each person should tailor his messages to his needs, of course. I send my info twice because my station is a little pistol and I know that unless conditions are good I get a lot of requests for fills. Plus, as we discussed at the last meeting, RTTY doesn’t have error correction, so without other data to compare to, if you send a serial number and time once the other station has no way to know with any reliability if that’s actually what you sent. If you send two serial numbers and time and they are dissimilar, at least the other op knows to ask for a fill.
I wrote these on the fly today, since I didn’t have one for N1MM yet. I may adjust depending on conditions, etc. Remember, at www.rttycontesting.com there are suggestions for RTTY messages for Writelog, and a link to a message length calculator that you may find helpful. The N1MM web site also contains macro files but I find them to be lengthy. They’re a good start though.
I welcome any suggestions or questions.
73,
Pat, NG1G
LoTW Certificates for 1×1 Call Signs
Today I received my .TQ6 file from the ARRL, one business day after requesting it. I followed my instructions and decided to clarify two points. I’ve created a .pdf file which I have found to be impossible to attach to this post, but it’s in the files section of the Dashboard. Incidentally, I used the method of double-clicking on the .TQ6 file to install the certificate – it was automatic after that except for pressing “OK” to acknowledge the process after it completed. If anyone finds any inaccuracies in my instructions please let me know.
73,
Pat, NG1G
Would someone please explain how to link to a file within a post? I don’t think I’ve managed to do it yet and that should be an easy thing to do. It certainly is one we should know how to do.
Happy Birthday, Heinrich Hertz!
I saw on Google today that it’s Heinrich Hertz’s 155th birthday. I think Google could have done a better job with their graphic, but it’s nice that they remembered him. We hams of course use his name every day (to the dismay of some old-timers).
Pat, NG1G
WPX RTTY @NP3U – Why 2013?
It seems that 2013 *will* be the right year to go, according to the most recent predictions. A record-breaking effort will have a great chance of remaining unbroken, at least until the next cycle.
See http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/predict.shtml
73,
Pat, NG1G
ARRL DX CW Certificate Received!
Believe it or not, I, a ham who is not a CW operator, received today a certificate for 1st place in the 2011 ARRL DX CW contest, Single-op, Assisted, Low Power, RI. There were two entries from RI. Apparently I had a 50/50 chance!
They’ll give these certificates to just about anybody, won’t they?
73,
Pat, NG1G
