After 1 QSO this morning, I gave up shouting knowing I could easily fill pages in the logbook. I shall leave this to others with better voices!
The photo shows 10m looking very busy earlier.
A reminder that the CQWW SSB contest is this weekend.
Even without an entry, it is a great chance to work new countries and US states. With HF conditions being excellent, now is a great chance to have fun.
In years past I have worked the USA with an indoor handheld with a base loaded whip on SSB with a few watts! I think this was 10m.
See https://cqww.com/ .
This was, perhaps, the biggest set of contests in the world. Even without submitting a score, it gave many a chance to work new countries and US states.
With the demise of CQ magazine, it is not clear what the situation is in 2024. Looking at the website, you could be forgiven for thinking it is still on. However, that information may have been put up ages ago, before the magazine closed.
This is one of my pet hates - not knowing the date the webpages were updated, but that is a different story.
If anyone can tell me if it is on or off, please let me know.
As I recall, CQ magazine has stopped. At one time the CQWW contests were perhaps the most popular in the world. Even without submitting an entry, it was a way to contact new countries. When my voice was good I used to fill pages in the logbook. In later years, it has become too hard for me.
With the demise of CQ, I wonder what is happening with these contests?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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/ .
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!
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
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/ .
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 .
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.
Every few weeks I take a peek at the narrowband activity on Oscar 100, the geosynchronous satellite. My own view is activity is patheticall...
