I enjoyed working the ARRL Sweepstakes again this year. I operated in both CW and Phone this year. My major effort was in CW, where I managed a personal high score, finally breaking the 100K point barrier. For several years I have been wishing I was involved with a Club that could use my scores... Continue Reading →
ARRL Sweepstakes CW (SSCW) 2014
Here we go again. Time for ARRL Sweepstakes CW (SSCW) 2014. Same plan as always - main objective is to get a personal high score. Secondary objective is to get that elusive "clean sweep" - all US and Canada Sections in one weekend. I have been within 1 or 2 sections the last several years,... Continue Reading →
November Sweepstakes: Is this the year?
I have been operating in the ARRL CW November Sweepstakes for several years. It is the ultimate contest - long exchange, many stations active, and a fast pace. If you like contesting, there are many enjoyable contests, but this one is special in my book. One thing that continues to elude me in ARRL CWSS... Continue Reading →
Sweepstakes Results for 2012
Well I kept up the time-honored tradition of missing 1 or 2 Sections in the CW SS contest this year. Had about 575 QSOs (a personal best) and all but 2 Sections - MB and NNY. I never had trouble with a New York section before. I guess the monster storm Sandy may have been... Continue Reading →
ARRL CWSS 2012 – Preparation
Well, hurricane Sandy did no damage to my Chesapeake Bayside QTH. I am thankful for that and I wish a quick recovery to those that were ravaged by this nasty storm. The winds did leave one of my antennas needing attention. The winds pulled my anchor for the center of my ZS6BKW antenna out of ... Continue Reading →
20 Meter Colinear Antenna Project
I like to try a new antenna every year for one of my favorite contests. A year or two ago I had great hopes for a 20 meter Colinear wire antenna in the ARRL CW Sweepstakes. I ran out of time and threw one together quickly. It did not do much for me, but I... Continue Reading →
VA QSO Party 2012
Had a great time working the annual VA QSO party. This year I spent half my time from my fixed location in Lancaster county (LAN). Then I went mobile to attempt to provide contacts from several hard-to-find Counties in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula regions of Virginia. The mobile operation included about 10 Counties... Continue Reading →
K2 PTT-line is Tied to Key Line – AGAIN!
As I found out before, the Elecraft K2 uses the same signal line for PTT input and for one of the Key lines (dit I think). This is a royal pain when integrating into a more complex arrangement such as a computer controlled station, or an SO2R contest station. In these configurations, you are likely... Continue Reading →
ARRL CW Sweepstakes 2011 – The Contest
I worked CWSS again, one of the few contests I try to work every year. It's complicated exchange makes it a real challenge and the activity level is amazing. Band conditions were good this year, with 10 and 15 meters having long openings. I worked SO2R this year with an Elecraft K2 as my primary... Continue Reading →
ARRL CW Sweepstakes 2011 Diary – Preparation
Preparing for CWSS this year mainly consisted of antenna work and integration of the SO2R (Single Operator Two Radio) setup in the Shack. I use mostly wire antennas (no Yagis) but one, a "Fan Dipole" (one design example found here) for 80/40 meters had been hanging for several years. I took it down to check... Continue Reading →
Kg3v Ham Radio Blog 