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Field Day 2011

 

Field Day 2011

Filed in Contests on Jun.28, 2011

Results for Field Day 2011:

For Field Day 2011, I had some slightly different goals than in the past:

  1. Incorporate CW contacts into the mix
  2. Incorporate PSK/Digital Contacts into the mix
  3. Concentrate on working maximum number of stations, regardless of sections worked
  4. Operate Off of Battery Power, to provide relief from generator occasionally
  5. Get 43′ Dipole working on 160 – 10 meters

I accomplished all of these goals, with the exception of #2.
While I had the digital interface hooked up (I believe correctly), I was never able to get anyone to talk with me on PSK-31 prior to Field Day Operations starting. So I gave up on that aspect. I’ll debug the operational/technical problem at home.

I don’t know if better propagation resulted in more sections worked, or better antennas (43′ vertical for most contacts this year), or just the fact that I was calling everyone I heard.


 

It’s strange that I couldn’t work some of the 7th call area this year.  I tried on my vertical and my doublet, but could only hear normal rag-chews on 80 meters this year. I don’t know why that was different this time.

For the CW contacts, I realized that almost all FieldDay participants are operating at over 20 words per minute. Since I can only copy about 15 wpm comfortably, I decided to use a computer decoder to help out with the faster speeds. It’s not 100% effective, but sure gives a nice warm, fuzzy feeling that you won’t be left stammering when an operator asks you to repeat your section at 30 WPM.

I used the MRP-40 program for CW decoding. It worked pretty well when it was receiving only. It would automatically track the code speed and decode even fairly weak signals. But when I transmitted, because I was only sending at 15 wpm, it would search for my speed (from my sidetone) while I was sending, then it would take several (maybe 5 – 10) seconds to lock back onto the other guy at 25 wpm that he was sending. So I got pretty good at recognizing the requests for repeats:
AGN?
SEC?
NR?


 

So my method was to tune into a station calling CQ, and wait for someone to respond to him (if it wasn’t too long). Then I could note his section and class. Next time he sent a CQ, I would answer, and be able to follow the exchange because I knew what to expect. Occasionally, I would have to resend my class or section, or even my call; but it worked pretty well. There were even a few operators who would slow down for me when they saw that I was replying at a lower speed. That was nice. Sometimes, I took a chance and answered a CQ without the prep if the guy on the other end was only going 20 wpm or so. The exchange was standard enough that I could muddle through it.

For Item # 5, Getting the 43′ Vertical working on 160 – 10 meters, I have a previous post that covers the technical details about that.  In addition, I abandoned trying to make the coax do double duty as RF and DC transport. I removed the RF choke I had been having problems with, because testing it with the antenna analyzer showed that it had low impedance at RF frequencies that would cause problems. So I wired in an F connector and ran the +/- 12 volts to the relays over a separate RG-59 cable. That worked great.


 

For Goal # 4, I used a Marine Deep Cycle Battery and a cheap 12 volt charger from Harbor Freight. When the generator was running, it would charge the battery, when it stopped, the battery continued to supply power to the radio. Nice…


 

Finally, a word about my CW paddles. I don’t know if it is because I don’t use them much, but they seemed very touchy on their adjustments. Sometimes when I would press on one side or the other, a Di or Dah would come out (most of the time), but sometimes it didn’t make contact. Maybe because of temperature fluctuations, I had to readjust the paddles maybe 3-4 times per day to keep them working.  Not too happy with that.



Sections Worked:


QSO Points:


 

Graph of Activity:


 

Activity 2011

 Stations Worked:

     Call Used: WB0SMX  Class: 1B                  ARRL Section: AZ

40   PH    2011/06/25  18:13:46  N6R        11A    SB
40   PH    2011/06/25  18:21:49  W6ZE       6A     ORG
40   PH    2011/06/25  18:23:57  N0SRF      3A     CO
40   PH    2011/06/25  18:26:13  WB6ZQZ     2A     SJV
40   PH    2011/06/25  18:29:07  W7DRC      3A     UT
40   PH    2011/06/25  18:31:14  K6SEE      6A     SDG
40   PH    2011/06/25  18:32:33  WA6KEK     2A     SJV
40   PH    2011/06/25  18:33:32  KC5ORO     2A     NM
40   PH    2011/06/25  18:35:24  NI6IW      3D     SDG
40   PH    2011/06/25  18:36:25  N6KRV      6A     SJV
40   PH    2011/06/25  18:39:09  KX7YT      1D     OR
40   PH    2011/06/25  18:43:26  K6SOA      3A     ORG
40   PH    2011/06/25  18:47:18  KI6FGV     1E     LAX
40   PH    2011/06/25  18:48:10  K6NDG      1E     SDG
40   PH    2011/06/25  18:49:30  N0BRC      2A     SF
40   PH    2011/06/25  18:50:12  K6QM       4A     SDG
40   PH    2011/06/25  18:56:29  WK6O       2A     ORG
20   PH    2011/06/25  19:10:14  KK7PR      2A     OR
20   PH    2011/06/25  19:11:16  VE7CVA     4F     BC
20   PH    2011/06/25  19:17:06  AB6S       1B     EB
20   PH    2011/06/25  19:18:36  W6ARA      4A     SCV
20   PH    2011/06/25  19:20:06  K6BW       2A     SF
20   PH    2011/06/25  19:21:57  K3PZN      9A     MDC
20   PH    2011/06/25  19:24:53  N7TT       1D     WWA
20   PH    2011/06/25  19:26:32  AK9D       4A     MO
20   PH    2011/06/25  19:35:58  W4IT       1A     SC
20   PH    2011/06/25  19:40:25  K8BF       4A     OH
20   PH    2011/06/25  19:44:19  K5HAB      4A     NM
20   PH    2011/06/25  19:47:21  K4LRG      5A     VA
20   PH    2011/06/25  19:51:07  K6PV       2A     LAX
20   PH    2011/06/25  19:55:49  N6NA       3A     SV
20   PH    2011/06/25  19:59:18  W6KB       3A     SF
20   PH    2011/06/25  20:03:44  N0UA       3A     CO
15   PH    2011/06/25  20:07:32  N7IG       2A     WWA
15   PH    2011/06/25  20:09:42  W7VNE      2A     MT
15   PH    2011/06/25  20:10:41  W7AIA      3A     WWA
15   PH    2011/06/25  20:13:05  W6ARA      4A     SCV
15   PH    2011/06/25  20:14:14  W0ICT      1A     KS
15   PH    2011/06/25  20:20:10  W7ED       2A     MT
15   PH    2011/06/25  20:22:36  W0ZWY      2A     SD
15   PH    2011/06/25  20:37:17  W4DXA      3E     SC
15   CW    2011/06/25  21:03:32  W7IVM      5A     UT
15   CW    2011/06/25  21:13:31  W5CT       1E     STX
15   CW    2011/06/25  21:16:05  W6KB       3A     SF
15   CW    2011/06/25  21:18:51  W5UR       4A     NM
15   CW    2011/06/25  21:24:46  W7VE       1A     WWA
15   CW    2011/06/25  21:28:38  W9DC       1A     SC
15   CW    2011/06/25  21:35:52  K4RAN      3A     AL
15   CW    2011/06/25  21:41:47  K9CT       1B     IL
15   CW    2011/06/25  21:53:03  W0GG       2A     CO
15   CW    2011/06/25  21:55:58  W5NOR      2A     OK
15   CW    2011/06/25  21:59:30  W0NT       13E    CO
15   CW    2011/06/25  22:03:08  WC7Q       1B     EWA
15   CW    2011/06/25  22:08:06  N7OU       1B     WWA
15   CW    2011/06/25  22:10:52  KF0UR      2E     CO
15   CW    2011/06/25  22:14:02  AE6C       1A     SV
15   CW    2011/06/25  22:16:14  W7PX       2A     MT
15   CW    2011/06/25  22:21:10  K6PV       2A     LAX
15   CW    2011/06/25  22:24:08  WC4EM      2A     WCF
15   CW    2011/06/25  22:30:55  NF8J       1D     MI
15   CW    2011/06/25  22:43:23  N4WO       3A     NFL
15   CW    2011/06/25  22:57:09  W9CA       3A     IL
15   CW    2011/06/25  23:00:21  N7KN       3A     EWA
15   CW    2011/06/25  23:04:35  W4CAE      7A     SC
15   CW    2011/06/25  23:06:44  K6SA       2A     SCV
15   CW    2011/06/25  23:10:26  K3WW       1D     EPA
15   CW    2011/06/25  23:18:26  W7PIG      3A     WWA
15   CW    2011/06/25  23:26:04  K4TS       8A     VA
15   CW    2011/06/25  23:31:22  K7LED      6A     WWA
15   CW    2011/06/25  23:41:39  KC4RTK     4A     SFL
15   CW    2011/06/25  23:51:30  N6MQL      2A     SV
15   CW    2011/06/26  00:05:25  W4TA       5A     WCF
15   CW    2011/06/26  00:07:25  K4QPL      1E     NC
15   CW    2011/06/26  00:14:17  K2BR       5F     SNJ
15   PH    2011/06/26  00:33:52  W1UR       2A     NH
15   PH    2011/06/26  00:36:10  W1OP       3A     RI
15   PH    2011/06/26  00:39:29  W3AO       25A    MDC
15   PH    2011/06/26  00:45:01  W1AW       4F     CT
15   PH    2011/06/26  00:46:18  K4FC       7A     NFL
15   PH    2011/06/26  00:49:53  WD4UM      2A     GA
15   PH    2011/06/26  00:51:13  KC0VFO     1E     CO
15   PH    2011/06/26  00:53:12  K1R        5A     NH
15   PH    2011/06/26  00:54:53  N4VG       1A     AL
15   PH    2011/06/26  00:56:21  W3VPJ      2E     EPA
15   PH    2011/06/26  00:57:19  W4FLO      1A     TN
15   PH    2011/06/26  00:59:40  K4HH       5A     KY
15   PH    2011/06/26  01:04:36  W1NVT      2A     VT
15   PH    2011/06/26  01:11:55  W2RDX      2A     WNY
15   PH    2011/06/26  01:13:08  KH6RS      1A     PAC
15   PH    2011/06/26  01:21:27  W3KWH      3E     WPA
15   PH    2011/06/26  01:22:30  K5DX       1A     STX
15   PH    2011/06/26  01:24:24  VE3MIS     10A    ON
15   PH    2011/06/26  01:26:06  KA0FPJ     1B     CO
15   PH    2011/06/26  01:30:49  W8VPV      5A     OH
15   PH    2011/06/26  01:33:20  AC5O       1D     LA
15   PH    2011/06/26  01:35:06  KC9PQA     2D     IN
15   PH    2011/06/26  01:37:12  N4WZ       3A     SFL
15   PH    2011/06/26  01:39:41  W4UAL      3E     AL
15   PH    2011/06/26  01:48:59  K8ARC      2A     MI
15   PH    2011/06/26  01:49:58  NA5NN      3A     MS
15   PH    2011/06/26  01:51:06  N9AKR      1D     IL
15   PH    2011/06/26  01:59:34  K5TYR      2A     NTX
15   CW    2011/06/26  03:03:24  WS4Y       2A     KS
20   CW    2011/06/26  03:27:59  N7OU       1B     WWA
20   CW    2011/06/26  03:32:15  K2NJ       2E     NNJ
20   CW    2011/06/26  03:35:45  W6AEA      1D     EWA
20   CW    2011/06/26  03:38:48  W1HP       2A     EMA
20   CW    2011/06/26  03:40:30  WC7Q       1B     EWA
20   CW    2011/06/26  03:44:47  W9LO       5A     WI
20   CW    2011/06/26  03:49:05  K7CEM      5F     WWA
20   CW    2011/06/26  03:51:55  K0HB       1E     MN
20   CW    2011/06/26  03:54:49  AA3B       1E     EPA
20   CW    2011/06/26  03:56:31  W3AO       25A    MDC
20   CW    2011/06/26  03:58:19  AI5M       1A     STX
20   CW    2011/06/26  04:02:08  N3VZ       2A     EPA
20   CW    2011/06/26  04:04:18  W0SRC      3A     MO
20   CW    2011/06/26  04:07:05  K5DB       1D     AR
20   CW    2011/06/26  04:14:39  N4WZ       3A     SFL
20   CW    2011/06/26  04:20:41  W8CCI      3E     OH
20   CW    2011/06/26  04:24:23  KE3Q       25A    MDC
20   CW    2011/06/26  04:26:05  W8KA       1D     SB
40   CW    2011/06/26  04:36:22  K0KKV      3A     NE
40   CW    2011/06/26  04:40:29  K4XY       4A     VA
40   CW    2011/06/26  04:44:26  K0DU       1D     CO
40   CW    2011/06/26  04:46:51  W0NT       13E    CO
40   CW    2011/06/26  04:49:52  W0QE       1D     CO
40   CW    2011/06/26  04:57:37  W7FLY      3E     WWA
40   CW    2011/06/26  05:01:05  W7AQ       4A     EWA
40   CW    2011/06/26  05:06:05  W9LO       5A     WI
40   CW    2011/06/26  05:11:28  K7EUG      2A     OR
40   CW    2011/06/26  05:16:04  KF0UR      2E     CO
40   CW    2011/06/26  05:19:40  AC0C       1D     KS
40   CW    2011/06/26  05:21:55  W0GG       2A     CO
40   CW    2011/06/26  05:24:45  W7POE      1A     MT
40   CW    2011/06/26  05:27:10  W6ARA      4A     SCV
40   CW    2011/06/26  05:30:21  NE7D       2B     OR
40   CW    2011/06/26  05:33:00  AF7Z       1E     UT
80   CW    2011/06/26  05:43:54  K7UM       4A     UT
40   PH    2011/06/26  14:34:17  KU6S       5A     EB
40   PH    2011/06/26  14:35:03  KE7NO      1B     MT
40   PH    2011/06/26  14:36:28  N0KGM      1F     UT
40   PH    2011/06/26  14:38:03  K7UB       4A     UT
40   PH    2011/06/26  14:39:07  W6ARA      4A     SCV
40   PH    2011/06/26  14:42:42  W7IVM      5A     UT
40   CW    2011/06/26  14:50:27  K6NV       2A     SV
40   CW    2011/06/26  14:52:54  W8KA       1D     SB
40   CW    2011/06/26  14:57:50  W6GRV      1D     LAX
40   CW    2011/06/26  14:59:47  K6PV       2A     LAX
40   CW    2011/06/26  15:01:59  KR5NM      2A     NM
40   CW    2011/06/26  15:26:38  K0IIT      2A     CO
40   CW    2011/06/26  15:32:14  K6TS       2A     EB
40   CW    2011/06/26  15:33:37  K6EI       7A     SCV
40   CW    2011/06/26  15:35:57  W6UW       2A     SCV
40   CW    2011/06/26  15:40:40  K0RV       3A     CO
40   CW    2011/06/26  15:43:17  WA9STI     2B     SJV
40   CW    2011/06/26  15:47:18  W6T        2A     SCV
15   CW    2011/06/26  15:53:03  K7UXO      2A     MT
15   CW    2011/06/26  16:03:42  N5JB       1A     NTX
20   CW    2011/06/26  16:13:00  K9YA       1A     IL
20   CW    2011/06/26  16:13:55  W5UR       4A     NM
20   CW    2011/06/26  16:17:16  K8MP       1D     OH
20   CW    2011/06/26  16:22:19  N7LE       3A     OR
20   CW    2011/06/26  16:25:26  VE6KZ      1B     AB
20   CW    2011/06/26  16:32:31  N2NNY      3A     NNY
20   CW    2011/06/26  16:34:08  K5NRH      4A     NTX
20   CW    2011/06/26  16:41:12  W1NY       7A     WMA
20   CW    2011/06/26  16:44:32  W6CUS      3A     EB
20   CW    2011/06/26  16:45:51  W7R        2A     WWA
20   CW    2011/06/26  16:48:36  N8SL       3A     MI
20   CW    2011/06/26  16:50:23  W7OTV      4A     OR
20   CW    2011/06/26  16:55:55  W7SAA      8A     OR
20   CW    2011/06/26  16:58:50  KK7S       1D     WWA
20   CW    2011/06/26  17:00:18  W7FLY      3E     WWA
20   CW    2011/06/26  17:02:42  KL7AA      3A     AK
20   CW    2011/06/26  17:06:49  K6KQV      1E     SCV
20   CW    2011/06/26  17:09:40  W7POE      1A     MT
20   CW    2011/06/26  17:13:18  K0BO       5A     CO
20   CW    2011/06/26  17:16:10  K7GS       1D     EWA
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:24:47  W9ZL       2A     WI
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:27:28  W9HB       1E     WI
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:28:59  W0QE       1D     CO
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:33:18  N0HR       1D     IA
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:37:15  W0AK       2A     IA
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:39:34  W9MVA      3A     WI
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:41:02  VE3KP      1E     ON
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:55:03  W2ORC      2F     WNY
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:57:21  W2RDX      2A     WNY
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:58:22  N0MA       3A     IA
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:59:46  KF0UR      2E     CO

Natural Power QSOs:

     Call Used: WB0SMX  Class: 1B                  ARRL Section: AZ

10   CW    2011/06/26  17:24:47  W9ZL       2A     WI
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:27:28  W9HB       1E     WI
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:28:59  W0QE       1D     CO
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:33:18  N0HR       1D     IA
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:37:15  W0AK       2A     IA
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:39:34  W9MVA      3A     WI
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:41:02  VE3KP      1E     ON
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:55:03  W2ORC      2F     WNY
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:57:21  W2RDX      2A     WNY
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:58:22  N0MA       3A     IA
10   CW    2011/06/26  17:59:46  KF0UR      2E     CO

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