Showing posts with label cqww. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cqww. Show all posts

28 Oct 2023

CQWW SSB

This is the biggest contest in the world. At one time, I used to be very keen on this as a way of working some new DXCC countries. I have never submitted a score. These days I just take a peek, and give it a miss. It is on all weekend.

24 Oct 2023

CQWW SSB contest this weekend

This is this weekend (October 28/29th). It is the biggest contest on the planet with 35000 people taking part over the SSB and CW contests. 

Exchanges are just report and CQ zone. For example, in the UK, this might be "5914". There is no need to submit an entry, Just come on to work a few more countries. The contest runs all weekend. Exchanges usually take a few seconds only.

At one time (when my voice was OK!) I used to enjoy this contest and have pages filled in the logbook even with 2.5W. I even worked the USA on SSB handheld with the FT817 whip indoors on the bed!

These days, I often forget.

See https://www.cqww.com/

24 Sept 2023

CQWW contests

Today is the CQWW RTTY contest. The SSB contest (the biggest in the world) is at the end of October and the CW contest at the end of November. 

As my voice is poor, I do not get the same pleasure I used to get in the SSB contest. Also, I frequently forget!  

Even if you are not a great contest fan (I am not!), it is a great opportunity to work some more countries. Exchange is, I think, report and CQ zone if you are outside of the USA. For example, if in the UK, 5914. Of course, there is no need to submit a contest entry. I have never submitted an entry to CQWW.

26 Nov 2022

CQWW CW contest

This weekend is the CW leg of the CQWW contest. This is all weekend and we can expect the HF bands to be very busy.

30 Oct 2022

CQWW SSB contest

This weekend is the SSB leg of the biggest contest in the world. I may give it a try later. 

The CW leg is at the end of November. These are 48 hour contests and a good chance to work new stations and countries.

One good thing was this showed my 10m coax plug as intermittent. I have now fixed this and gone on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF TX WSPR beacon. 

The photo shows activity on 10m SSB - busy!! With my poor voice, I find this much harder these days.

See https://www.cqww.com/ .

31 Oct 2021

CQWW SSB contest


I had a peep on 10m SSB and there was plenty of activity as the photo shows. Without trying I worked VP9I which may be a new country with my 10W SSB on 10m. It is certainly a new country in the 21st century.  After 5 minutes I had had enough!! 

30 Oct 2021

CQWW contest and 10m

This afternoon I went on 10m SSB expecting it to be filled with CQWW contest stations. I copied none, so I QSYed to 20m. There were plenty. This morning I tried 10m SSB and there were a few stations on. It was not exactly busy.

Today on 10m FT8 RX I have spotted 310 stations from all over including 3 USA stations in the last 30 minutes. OK, it may just be conditions and the band may be very busy later.  I hope this isn't a sign of the times in the hobby with stations coming on FT8 just to work DX and then going to sleep again until their software alerts them to a new country!

29 Oct 2021

Reminder: CQWW SSB contest this weekend

All weekend is the CQWW SSB contest. Activity is usually very high. I have never submitted a log, but enjoy going on for a while to work a few new countries and states. Because of my voice, I shall be unable to be on for long.

See www.cqww.com

26 Oct 2021

CQ WW DX SSB contest

This weekend is the CQWW DX contest SSB leg. In years gone by, I filled pages in my logbook with QSOs, but since my stroke it has been far harder. This year, 10m should be pretty good after poor conditions for several years. I hope to pop on to work a few stations, although I never submit a contest log. Many times I forget it is on! It runs all weekend and usually the HF bands are buzzing.

See https://www.cqww.com/ .

26 Sept 2021

10m in the months ahead

10m should get better every year until about 2025. The famous CQWW SSB contest is at the end of October and I expect this will be the first autumn for several years when we will consistently have USA and Canadian stations romping in on 10m SSB. 

When conditions are good, I have worked USA SSB stations with 2.5W from indoors with just a whip!

10m (28MHz) remains one of my favourite bands. At dead of night and in the quiet solar years, it acts more like a VHF band. In the Es season it is good for DX up to 1500km often, and occasionally much further. In the better years there is worldwide DX via F layer. Antennas can be small and simple. Often QRP only is needed.

See https://www.cqww.com/ .

See also https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/10m-operation .

6 Dec 2020

Missed again! - CQWW SSB

Many years ago, I used to really enjoy this contest. Working on 10m SSB it was possible to work many stations. Since my voice was adversely affected by my stroke, it has been harder. It is even harder still if you do as I did and totally forgot it was on! 

The last weekend in October should have been in my diary. Mind you, on 10m with an indoor loop at this part of the solar cycle it would have been hard work. Maybe next year?

The rules for the 2020 contests (SSB and CW) are attached, even though these have passed.

https://www.cqww.com/rules.htm

29 Oct 2019

CQWW SSB contest - doh!

Last weekend was the CQWW SSB contest. I forgot! Although I do not enter a log, the bands are usually busy, so this is usually a good chance to work a few stations. Of course it helps to remember the contest is on! It is surprising how bands like 10m spring into life proving it is often low activity rather than conditions that is the problem.

In past CQWW SSB contests it is often possible to fill pages in the log with 10m QRP SSB QSOs.

29 Oct 2017

CQWW SSB contest

There were a few South Americans coming through on 10m SSB earlier and I worked EF8R in the Canary Is whilst using my 5W on 10m SSB. To be honest, these days my voice is not up to SSB contests, so I returned to 10m FT8 digital .

28 Oct 2017

CQWW Contest and 10m FT8

Looking this afternoon on 10m SSB, I heard nothing at all, whereas 20m was very busy with contest stations. I'll look again tomorrow.

Sorry, but I have no interest in contest exchanges on 20m SSB. In the meantime, I have gone back to 10m FT8 RX.  Perhaps all the keen 10m operators have moved to FT8?

UPDATE 1534z: So, most think 10m is dead and have moved to lower bands for the CQWW SSB contest. Meanwhile, plenty of DX on 10m FT8 as the photo shows.

UPDATE 1558z: More South Americans and best 10m FT8 DX (currently) LU7DAF (11197km).

27 Oct 2017

CQWW SSB

Just in case you missed my earlier reminder, this weekend is the CQWW SSB contest. Although I am unable to join in as I once could, this is always a chance to work some new countries, even if you do not submit a score - I never have. Funny how bands which seemed "dead" come alive.

24 Oct 2017

CQWW SSB Contest

A reminder that the BIG one is next weekend. Before my stroke I used to fill pages of my logbooks with 10m SSB contest exchanges. Nowadays my voice is not too good, so I tend to be on far less. This is a good chance to work new countries. I have yet to send in an entry!

Best days for QRP tends to be Sunday as most "big guns" have worked lots by then and are scraping around for points.

See https://www.cqww.com/

29 Oct 2016

CQWW SSB - too hard these days

In years gone by (before my stroke) I enjoyed this contest as a way of working new countries. Sadly, these days my voice is too poor. When I give my callsign it is a real strain and I am not quick enough. Sadly, I think my days with CQWW are now past.

10m was not as busy as the last few years: I heard several EA8s working stings of Europeans, but I was just too slow.

Looking back on the blog, I see I gave up on CQWW last year because of my poor voice.

27 Oct 2016

CQWW DX contest this weekend (SSB)

As many of you know, I am not a great contest person, but CQWW is "special" as bands that seem dead suddenly spring into life. This weekend is the SSB leg. As we have grandchildren, I shall miss a great deal of this. Even if you do not like contests, it is a chance to enjoy the increased activity, especially on the higher HF bands.  It runs all weekend.

See http://www.cqww.com/rules.htm .

27 Nov 2015

CQWW CW this weekend

Usually I don't do this contest as CW is often sent at breakneck speed, but the CQWW CW contest is on this weekend. If you enjoy CW and contests, this one may be for you?

25 Oct 2015

CQWW SSB contest

10m is filled with contest stations from across the Atlantic. After a quick contest exchange with a Canadian station (worked with 5W SSB), I have gone back to 10m WSPR instead. With my poor voice, an HF contest was just too much hard work! In the past I have filled pages in the logbook in CQWW SSB, but I know I can work these stations if I persevere, even with 5W, so I decided to give it a miss.

Currently I am on 10m and 6m WSPR.