Contesting, Dxing, and Ham Radio in general
HF Frequencies for Haiti Return to Normal Use (Jan 24, 2010) — Considering the improving communications situation in Haiti, Dr Cesar Pio Santos, HR2P, IARU Region 2 EMCOR, announced the release of HF frequencies, including 7.045 and 3.720 MHz, for normal use. “We thank the world radio amateur community for their support in keeping these frequencies clear during the past days.”
{credit: ARRL}
Back in March 2009 I made a blog post about the use of CW skimmer software during dxpeditions. My original blog post is here
Today, I was contacted by several members of the ZL7T dxpedition about this blog post. My only intent of this blog post was to get discussion going about the use CW skimmer type software at a time when this software was relativly new. The post was NOT a attack on the ZL7T dxpedition who I thought did an admirable job, but only an attempt to get discussion about cw skimmer software. I gathered my information from the ZL7T website here which was apparently not clear enough that their screenshots of the Spectrum Laboratory software were not made from the dxpedition site, but at a pilot station ZL2IFB on the mainland of NZ used the software to monitor the pileups. I offered the ZL7T team my heartfelt apologies and as I promised them in my e-mail responses, I am going to post their comments to me verbatim so that there are no futhur misunderstandings. 73, Jack K4SAC
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My verbatim reply to them:
I apologize if my blog post offended you. It certainly was not meant to be “slander” or “insulting” but just a discussion point on a new type of software and its use during a dxpedition.
I was contacted by Mark Sullivan and I approved his comments as I will the other operators from your team even given the rude comments I have received even though the copy on your own web site http://www.zl7t.com/html/off_air.html reads as if the team was using the Spectrum Laboratory software during the dxpedition.
You and your team did an excellent job and if I mis-represented your effort, I sincerely apologize and hope that you and your team will accept my heartfelt apologies.
My only interest was to get conversation going about the new (new at the time) skimmer type software and it’s use during dxpeditions , not in personally attacking you or your team.
As I told Mark, I am editing the blog post to include all of your comments in the interest of fairness as I wasn’t attacking your or your team at all. I thought you guys did a remarkable job.
Again my sincere and heartfelt apologies to the whole ZL7T team.
73, Jack K4SAC
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“I have just come across your blog entry. As a member of the ZL7T dxpedition I would like to point out that we did not use any Skimmer type or any other software to aid in managing pileups. It was all done by the computer between the ops ears. Those images were generated by our webmaster Gary Zl2IFB from his QTH in New Zealand.”
Regards
Mark Sullivan ZL3AB
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As one of the organisers of the ZL7T dxpedition I can assure k4sac and everyone else that the comments regarding skimmer or other software type pileup operating aids used on this dxpedition are just like a full toilet ZL2AAA
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ZL7T did not use any such “skimmer software”… But as the Pilot station for ZL7T and I was able to filter messages to the team on the Islands, pass the important on to the team. I also fielded dozens of requests about not being in the log etc. Propagation reports, cluster spots…all done with computers via the internet. QSOs were loaded up to the ARRL Log of the World..so this is not “Dxpedition Computer enhancement”? The fact that most of the call signs logged gained the “spot” from their computer… Is there not a computer in every modern “ham shack”? Do you really want to go back down memory lane, and have only paper logs only for DXpedtions? Get real and grow up I say-Duncan McMahon
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Hi guys n galls. I was also a member of the ZL7T DXpedition and can confirm as Mark says, we did not use any electronic skimmer. The CW ops (Both named John) had an inbuilt skimmer between the ears far superior to any electronic item. The frames shown are from our ZL7T web site and were generated in New Zealand and put on the site just for interest.
However, I would see no problem with using an electronic skimmer to speed up the qso rate.
Pse go to our web site and read up on the freindly DXpedition that suceeded in getting many non DXers on the air as well as satifying the serious DXers.
Mike ZL2CC
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Hi Jack,
Your uplifting comments about the ZL7T operation have been bought to my attention. They are totally unfounded and untrue, as one of the CW operators of the DXpedition I find your blog insulting and totally lacking any ham spirit.
73 John ZL1BYZ.
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Jack… You are incorrect. CW Skimmer was never used at ZL7T. Our Pilot Gary, ZL2IFB on the mainland of NZ used it to monitor some of our pileups and he was 550 miles away and not on Chatham. The graphics were reproduced for our website and writeup after we returned. It would be nice if you corrected your error in your blog.
73, Lee Jennings ZL2AL
ZL7T DXpedition leader
One of the things I love about ham radio is the depth and breath of the hobby. There are many facets of the hobby, that there should be something for just about any taste. I am going to start taking a look at different modes in the hobby.
If you look, you can find a contest almost every weekend of the year. Some of the contests use digital modes. If you are tired of the traditional CW or SSB or RTTY modes, the digital modes can give you an opportunity to experience a different side of ham radio and contesting. You can also qualify for different awards!
This post is going to focus on a digital mode called Hellschreiber.
Hellschreiber, or Hell, is a method of sending and receiving text using facsimile technology. As the words are decoded, they are not “decoded” in the sense of PSK31 or RTTY, but rather are painted on the screen.
Many people think Hellschreiber is a new mode, born out of the digital era, but in fact Hellschreiber was patented in 1929 by a German engineer named Rudolph Hell. Landline press machines used Hell up until the 1980’s.
Hell was actually used during the Spanish Civil War(1933) by the Germans and during WWII it was used in portable military installations.
There are several different modes of Hell, but the most popular one is Feld-Hell. Feld-Hell is a single-tone, on-off keyed system with 122.5 dots/second, or about a 35 WPM text rate. FH has a narrow bandwidth of about 75 Hz.
Screenshot of Feld Hell
Randy K7AGE has a good YouTube video that explains Hellschreiber.
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR-EmyEBVqA]
N4QLB posted this YouTube tribute to Rudolph Hell.
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bD9NHVe8NcU]
So now you are interested in trying out this interesting mode? Well all you need is a pc and a interface to your radio.
There are several places you can purchase an interface for your radio:
Digital Interface
As far as software, there are a few different software packages out there that support Hell.
Feld-Hell is classified as J2B and can be sent over CW or phone frequencies. However there are some “suggested” frequencies to make it easier to find people
SATERN is currently engaged in communications for the Haiti earthquake. Check out 14.265 and 7.265
On Tuesday, January 12 at 4:53 PM Haiti time (2153 UTC), a magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit 10 miles (15 kilometers) west of Port-au-Prince, the island nation’s capital. Communications in and out of Haiti have been disrupted. No word has been received as of yet from any of Haitian Amateur Radio operators. The ARRL encourages US amateurs to be aware of the emergency operations on the following frequencies: 7.045 and 3.720 MHz (IARU Region 2 nets), 14.265, 7.265 and 3.977 MHz (SATERN nets), and 14.300 MHz (Intercontinental Assistance and Traffic Net); the International Radio Emergency Support Coalition (IRESC) is also active on EchoLink node 278173.
IARU Region 2 Area C Emergency Coordinator, Arnie Coro, CO2KK, is coordinating a multi-national response by hams. There are organized nets on 7.045 and 3.720 MHz; amateurs are asked to monitor the frequencies, but to also keep them clear of non-essential traffic. Amateur Radio operators should also be aware that emergency traffic pertaining to the Haitian earthquake is expected on the SATERN frequencies of 14.265 MHz, 7.265 MHz and 3977 MHz, according to SATERN’s leader, Major Pat McPherson. The Salvation Army is accepting health and welfare traffic requests on its Web site.
“As late as 9:45 PM local time (0245 UTC), we have not been able to contact any amateur or emergency services stations in Haiti,” Coro said in an e-mail. “Amateurs from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Venezuela are monitoring the 40 meter band frequency. We are still keeping watch on 7.045 MHz, hoping that someone in Haiti may have access to a transceiver and at least a car battery to run it,” but so far, no HH stations have checked in. Tuesday’s quake was felt in the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, and in Eastern Cuba, but no major damage was reported in either place.
The January 13 edition of The Daily DX reported that the Rev John Henault, HH6JH, made contact late Wednesday morning with the Intercontinental Assistance and Traffic Net (IATN) on 14.300 MHz; this is the IARU Global Center of Activity frequency for emergency communications. He said that he was safe, but had no power and no phone service. He was operating on battery power and hoping to get a generator running later in the day. The edition also noted that Pierre Petry, HH2/HB9AMO — who was in Cap Haitien (about 140 km north of Port-au-Prince) is “okay”; Petry is in Haiti working for the United Nations World Food Program. Later today, he will be traveling to the capital.
The UN’s 9000 peacekeepers in Haiti — many of whom are from Brazil — were distracted from aid efforts by their own tragedy: Many spent the night hunting for survivors in the ruins of their headquarters. “It would appear that everyone who was in the building, including my friend Hedi Annabi, the United Nations’ Secretary General’s special envoy, and everyone with him and around him, are dead,” French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Wednesday, speaking on French radio. UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy would not confirm that Annabi was dead, but said he was among more than 100 people missing in the rubble of its headquarters. He said only about 10 people had been pulled out, many of them badly injured. Fewer than five bodies had been pulled from the rubble, he said. The United Nations said the capital’s main airport was “fully operational” and that relief flights would begin on Wednesday, January 13.
The situation in Haiti is still chaotic. More information will be posted as soon as possible. Information is being validated and shared between many amateur groups and news sources as it unfolds.
(credit ARRL website)
This weeks contest spotlight : NCCC Ladder Competition
The Northern California Contest Club sponsers the NCCC Ladder. The NCCC ladder is a 30 minute contest. You can find the current schedule here and the rules here.
There is a score calculating program located here.
Because of the short duration, time synchronization with WWV is essential.
You can only use 20,40, and 80 meters spreading 30-45khz from the edge of the bands.
The exchange is serial #, name, state/province.
Dupes allowed after one intervening QSO on same band or back-to-back with band change.
Post to the 3830 reflector via the 3830 submittal web page for the NS Ladder Competition and submit your logs by Sunday night following contest; deadline is one week.
Special prizes, probably CA wine, to the leaders in our four divisions. Your 9 highest scores out of 14 total events count toward the award in all except the Newcomers Division, which is restricted to those who have not entered NS Ladder in the past three years. NS Ladder X prize to the first station with 3000 or more points in a single half hour Ladder session (courtesy, K6VVA).
Divisions:
First time contestants can read the tips here.
That is this week’s contest spotlight, if you have a contest you would like spotlighted send an e-mail to k4sac (at) att.net
73, Jack K4SAC
Looks like our effort (NW4T) wasnt too bad considering the temperarture was cold and we were in a tobacco barn freezing…..
NW4T (WA4IJQ, AA4RL, and K4SAC-ops)
Call QSOs Sec Cntry hr Score Club
All M/S LP
VE2OJ(@VA2BW) 1082 77 23 224,200
VE3MGY 724 73 17 16.0 132,750 CCO
NE4S 615 72 11 19H 105,327 SECC
W3WH 388 68 9 12 61,831 Wireless Association
AD8J 418 60 5 8.5 56,166 Allegheny Valley Rad
N1WR 285 56 18 7 46,620 PVRC
NW4T 304 64 9 46,355 KCG
VE3FRX 256 61 16 10 42,885 CCO
K4EDI 293 58 11 42,711 TCG
N6PE 229 70 8 37,596 SCCC
K8GT 224 53 4 7.6 26,220 MRRC
N3ZA 165 47 15 8 22,875 FRC
KM6I 125 41 4 6 10,373 NCCC
K6JEB 77 157 33 6:07 5,338 NCCC
AL2F 57 54 3 5 4,305
K6VVA 50 29 3 ~ 3,488 NCCC
There is a new feature on the blog, which I hope is an useful addition. If you look to the left column, I have added a widget that has the upcoming contest dates. These dates are courtesy of WA7BNM Bruce Horn’s website
If you click the link, it will expand the link and give you the times of the contest in UTC.
I hope this is a useful addition to the blog.
73, Jack K4SAC
Fast Tube by Casper
Nice contest station, cool video. If anyone knows of anymore contest station videos comment and I will post links here!
73, Jack K4SAC
While surfing the WWW looking for more links to add to my contesting blog, I came across an excellent resource by CT1BOH, Jose.
Jose has created an excellent resource of CQ WW history from 1940 to present, in PDF format.
You can find his website here
Jose obviously put a lot of time and effort into creating this resource and I just want to give a shout out to Jose for providing this information to contesters.
Great job Jose!
73, de K4SAC
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