Ham Radio is Fun! Enjoying it since 1997!
ARRL DX Contest, SSB
Call: W5WZ
Operator(s): WM5H K5ER W5WZ
Station: W5WZ
Class: M/2 HP
QTH: LA
Operating Time (hrs): 37:20
Summary:
Band QSOs Mults
——————-
160: 11 10
80: 100 51
40: 237 72
20: 732 98
15: 252 70
10: 69 20
——————-
Total: 1401 321 Total Score = 1,302,939
So you have your shiny whiz-bang contest logging software installed and configured to interface properly between your computer and your radio. That’s a great step toward an integrated ham station, as far as logging the time, date, mode, frequency, callsign worked, and the contest exchange are concerned. Much faster than pen and paper! But, is that the end of the usefulness of software in the ham shack? No way! There are countless software tools available that fill various niche needs. I’ll introduce one of my favorite pieces of ancillary software in this article.
It’s no secret; I really enjoy HF contesting. To me, there isn’t anything else quite like running stations at rates greater than 125 QSOs/hour. In many contests, whether single-op or multi-op, the log will have hundreds, if not thousands of QSOs. A deep-dive analysis of the log can provide insight into propagation patterns, timing of band changes, and even antenna azmituth to the maximum amount of QSOs. The intent of the analysis is always to improve future contest scores. Many software tools are available that provide detailed analysis of contest logs, but most only output page upon page of data in text tables, which are useful, but get downright boring to comb through to extract and interpret the real meat.
A few years ago, I learned about a software tool that is the cat’s meow. The tool is called “SH5 Contest Log Analyzer.” SH5 is fast and easy to use contest log analyzer which creates a variety of statistics in HTML format (WEB pages) from the Cabrillo format log generated by any contest loggers (N1MM Logger+, Win-Test, Writelog, TR4W and others). Reports may be viewed with any Internet browser, such as Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera or Internet Explorer. The program also allows you to upload this data to your WEB site for public access and to create an archive of your contest results.
You’ll find the SH5 website at: https://sites.google.com/site/sh5analyzer/
I invite you to check out the reports I’ve generated using SH5 by visiting my contest log and performance archives online at http://w5wz.com/sh5/w5wz/ Go find my log and reports for a contest that you’ve participated in. See if we changed bands at about the same times. Did I leave the band too soon? Too late? These are the kinds of questions to ask, and a tool such as SH5 can help answer.
See you in the pileups!
73, Scott W5WZ
TIP #1: Sometimes you may wish to operate in a contest, but find there isn’t much activity on the air for that specific contest, yet the bands are full of participants in other contests. No problem! Learn what they need for their exchange and give it to them, and get them to give you what you need for your contest exchange. You log what you need and submit your log for the contest that you want to enter. As a courtesy, also submit your log to the other contest(s) as a check-log.
TIP #2: Remember when Mama told you “sit up straight”? Well, she was right! You’ll be able to focus better and have more energy when operating. In fact, studies suggest that sitting or standing up straight and tall can give you an added boost of confidence. If that equates to 5 more QSOs per hour in the log, then it’s worth it!
TIP # 3: Logging software: Regardless of which software you prefer, make it your goal to become an expert at using it! Learn to squeeze every bit of performance out of it. Learn to leverage all the specific operating aids to the biggest advantage. When you become expert, then the layer of software doesn’t intimidate you, or isolate you from the radio; rather it melds with you to the radio.
TIP # 4: Last, when mentioning software logging programs, think about the way you type. Are you a “hunt and peck” typist? Do you have to watch your fingers as you type? If you answer yes to either of those questions, you’ve got room to improve your contest score! Learn to touch type. It will free your eyes and your mind to do other score-building tasks during the contest.
73, W5WZ
Sweeps CW was so much fun, I decided to play CW for a bit this weekend too. Heard KA5M work a CQing station right ahead of me on Saturday, don’t know if Marsh heard me.
CQ WW CW Single Op Assisted High Power
Band QSOs Pts ZN Cty Pt/Q
1.8 6 14 4 6 2.3
3.5 57 150 13 30 2.6
7 178 505 21 63 2.8
14 306 811 27 95 2.7
21 137 377 22 66 2.8
28 21 63 5 7 3.0
Total 705 1920 92 267 2.7
Score: 689,280
ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, SSB
Call: W5WZ
Operator(s): W5WZ KN5O K5ER WM5H WA5VQP
Station: W5WZClass: Multi-Op HP
QTH: LA
Operating Time (hrs): 23:58Summary:
Band QSOs
————
160: 0
80: 269
40: 839
20: 655
15: 104
10: 0
————
Total: 1867 Sections = 83 Total Score = 309,922Club: Louisiana Contest Club
Comments:
This year the LCC members opted to go to W5WZ’s QTH for our annual SS SSB Contest get together. Previously we have run as W5RU(@KN5O).
This time of year, WX can be an issue for us. Fortunately a cold front passed though our area just prior to the start of the contest, so we had excellent WX conditions (no thunderstorms to deal with). Additionally, we didn’t have any computer and/or antenna radio equipment problems, so it was “all good.”
We started off on 20m and 15m and noticed that our 20m performance dropped off earlier than usual, forcing us to move to 40m and 80m sooner than we have in the past. However we were able to put 82 sections in the log after about 6 hours of operation, missing only NL. By 1AM (when we usually take our first break), we had nearly 1100 Qs in the log – good but not as good as we have had
in the past.On Sunday, the rate was substantially down from years past. We did the best we could in trying to run, but it was somewhat disappointing. Conditions are obviously deteriorating. All that being said, we were able to work VO1KVT for our last mult early Sunday morning. He had a pretty good pileup and managed it well. After putting him in the log, we just had to settle down and run as best we could.
All-in-all, we had a good time and are satisfied with our performance. We had lots of food and snacks and a good time was had by all. Many thanks to Scott (W5WZ) and his wife Sharon (KW5MOM) for allowing us to invade their home.
We want to thank everyone for the Qs and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
And, on a very positive note, we noticed large numbers of Checks in the past 2 year. The new hams ARE getting on the air!
For W5WZ and the LCC members-
Ted KN5O, Mark K5ER, Bobby WM5H, Shawn WA5VQP and Scott, W5WZ
I’ve recently returned from my 5th trip to K8AZ near Cleveland, OH, to participate in CQ WW SSB in a M/S effort. Tom’s station is superb, and the complexity of the antenna switching continues to amaze me.
Every time I return home to W5WZ, however, I’m fired up about ham radio again. This year, I’ll soon be hosting a Multi-op group for ARRL SS SSB. I’ve just build a two-transmitter interlock, and have a 3rd receiver ready for Section hunting duty.
While searching for more good info, I ran across a 21-year old article from WM2C. I enjoyed it, and thought it is worthwhile to share. Multi-Single Rules and Strategies
73, Scott W5WZ
In early June, NN1N contact me and K5ER to offer the opportunity to organize a distributed multi-multi as NU1AW/5 for the IARU contest. Of course we said YES!
Here is the summary!
IARU HF World Championship
Call: NU1AW/5
Operator(s): WM5H W5WZ W5LA K5ER KV8S KA5M KG5VK KN5O NO5W K2FF K5YG W5XU N5HZ KG5HVO
Station: NU1AW/5
Class: Headquarters HP
QTH: LA
Operating Time (hrs): 24
Summary:
Band CW Qs Ph Qs Zones HQ Mults
————————————-
160: 63 0 7 3
80: 326 2 15 14
40: 741 530 26 47
20: 1101 1079 40 54
15: 436 393 22 18
10: 61 82 4 2
————————————-
Total: 2728 2086 114 138 Total Score = 3,652,488
Grand Total Qs: 4814
Club: Louisiana Contest Club
Comments:
Our first time ever distributed multi-multi operation. We used an online scheduling tool to manages the host station band/mode time slots. View the schedule here: http://w5wz.com/nu1aw/
Three host stations with 14 operators
Ops at W5WZ: WM5H W5WZ W5LA K5ER KV8S
3 transmitters
Ops at KA5M: KA5M KG5VK
1 transmitter
Ops at KN5O: KN5O NO5W K2FF K5YG W5XU N5HZ KG5HVO
2 transmitters
Here’s an animation of the 24-hour contest log in just 4.5 minutes!
You can also find a complete summary of our results, compiled by SH5, stored permanently on my website at: http://w5wz.com/sh5/w5wz/2017/2017_iaru-hf_nu1aw_5/ Feel free to share this link freely or use the data as you see fit, provided you give credit to SH5 and W5WZ.com for hosting those results.
Call: W5WZ
Operator(s): W5WZ
Station: W5WZ
Class: SOAB HP
QTH: LA
Operating Time (hrs): 22:37
Location: USA
Radios: SO2R
| Summary: Compare Scores | |||||
| Band | QSOs | ||||
| 160: | 0 | ||||
| 80: | 61 | ||||
| 40: | 504 | ||||
| 20: | 1017 | ||||
| 15: | 110 | ||||
| 10: | 0 | ||||
| Total: | 1692 | Prefixes | 560 | Total Score | 1,551,200 |
Club: Louisiana Contest Club
SH5 Contest Log Analysis here
Call: W5WZ
Operator(s): W5WZ
Station: W5WZ
Class: SO Mixed HP
QTH: OUAC
Operating Time (hrs): 12:00
Location: In State/Province
Radios: SO2R
| Summary: Compare Scores | ||||||
| Band | CW-Dig Qs | Ph Qs | CW-Dig Mults | Ph Mults | ||
| 160: | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 80: | 24 | 0 | 15 | 0 | ||
| 40: | 42 | 29 | 27 | 15 | ||
| 20: | 49 | 500 | 30 | 68 | ||
| 15: | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||
| 10: | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 6: | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2: | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total: | 117 | 530 | 74 | 84 | Total Score | 240,576 |
Club: Louisiana Contest Club
| Comments: [email] 2017-03-30 17:36:49 |
| 12 hour effort. Participation was disappointing. Many of the QSOs were with DX in the Russian DX contest. I configured my function keys to send the serial # in CW mode, and in voice mode I just told them the qso number, even though I was not capturing serial numbers in my log. –73, Scott W5WZ |
What is it that can cause a man to desire to drive solo for 16 hours and 1,100 miles, then sit in a chair for 48 hours, and then drive solo for the 16 hour 1,100 mile return trip ? ARRL DX SSB contest, of course!
Once again W5WZ will be a guest operator at K8AZ near Cleveland, Ohio. This will be my fourth time to join the group for a contest at Tom’s excellent station.
Stay tuned for a summary of the weekend!
Band QSOs Mults
160: 43 30
80: 180 66
40: 380 92
20: 1213 101
15: 277 66
10: 116 25
Total: 2209 380 Total Score 2,495,460