IZ1TNL & IW1AYD

2012-01-06T20:51:00.002+01:00

WAEDC RTTY 2011 is gone

2011-11-15T00:18:00.001+01:00

To: 3830@contesting.com
cc: iw1ayd@gmail.com
From: iw1ayd@gmail.com
Subject: WAE RTTY IW1AYD Single Op HP

                    WAE DX Contest, RTTY

Call: IW1AYD
Operator(s): IW1AYD
Station: IW1AYD

Class: Single Op HP
QTH: Bra
Operating Time (hrs): 32
Radios: SO2R

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Pts   QTCs  Mults
-------------------------------
   80:   44    44     0   104
   40:  353   353   180   192
   20:  218   218   320   132
   15:  214   214    90   140
   10:  277   277   400   122
-------------------------------
Total: 1106  1106   890   690  Total Score = 1,453,140

Club: Rhein Ruhr DX Association

Comments:

TU to all for this great contest.

Well, several technical problems in the first bunch of hours from the start
made uneasy to fully operate the contest as I planned, SO2R on a single PC.
Anyway I was lucky to have had the possibility to resurrect half of the station
and to work quite flawlessly with it. Also much more lucky to solve some other
problems, "where is that damned mouse(!)", that plague any station rebuilt on
the fly. Those small ferrite cores are really the cure to stop quite every lazy
mouse and more.
I was much more lucky to find a bunch of nice peoples that keep up answering
several times on the noisy 40 e 80 meters.
The second night I almost sleep due to this.

Great contest, nice peoples and a lot of lessons to learn: what's better?
I liked a lot to QTC formula and as Don AA5AU last year caught me quite unable
to work out a QTC transfer, this year I have gone back to school before the
WAE.  I have had interesting evenings of simulations, both RX & TX of QTC's. It
was easy as I was also testing new toys and macros for the SO2R. Happy to have
had an examination by Don again and that everything seems to be gone on the
right way. Don would you check please?

This year also I went in a QTC exchange with somebody really in trouble with
QTC's and I was really happy to stop it all  and try with him in another way.
We succeeded! Great thing learning together. So my SO2R HP faults went on as a
gain for another guy at last, that's great for me.

The prop wasn't so good as it was for the WPX RTTY and for the CQWW SSB. It
maybe that the number of operators on air wasn't so large as then. But it was
much better than for the Makrothen, the second half of this last was a
nightmare on highers bands. The end was on 40m, with peoples exchanging QTC
until late.

BTW in the two fields of the I don't like QTC's and I like QTC I will stay in
second one I like a lot this mechanism. Even if the post contest work is more
unpleasant.

TU to the WAEDC staff for the effort to come, now we have to wait almost a year
to have again ours half of the fun.

                      TU ALL & 73 de iw1ayd Salvo

Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/

Makrothen RTTY is gone, tomorrow WAEDC RTTY

2011-11-10T23:35:00.001+01:00

IT WAS FUN!

Yes, I was operating from the IQ1RY premises as SO2R, first time in my life. As I already stated it was a lot fun.

Now I will try to replicate all this in the WAE, something more heavy to, isn't it?

For sure it is more heavy, 36 Hours as SO2R instead of 24, the need to make the right choices against contest timings, propagation, log grow up and much more things that are to be strategically and tactically to be considered. My elmers already settled me up and loaded of great ideas and suggestion, now it will be my time with some attention, horse powering and my ingenuity.

CU all there in the WAEDC RTTY 2011

73 de iw1ayd Salvo

45th ed. A. Volta Contest MO plaque IQ1RY

2011-08-03T14:16:00.001+02:00


Subject:	[RTTY] 45th ed. A. Volta Contest MO plaque IQ1RY
From:	Salvatore Irato
Date:	Wed, 3 Aug 2011 13:25:34 +0200

The recent happenings have cluttered my desk a little bit. I was forgetting a serious thing that I would like to share with you all, as several of you where there on air: I know! All my personal thanks and also thanks from the whole IQ1RY team to the A. Volta DX Committee. We have just received the plaque as IQ1RY is the winner in the MO class of the 45th edition of the A. Volta RTTY Contest for the year 2011. Many thanks to the group of the organizers and particularly to I2DMI and IK2LOL. Think about: The 2011 of the Volta contest was played in between May 14th and 15th; The log deadline was on June 30th; Almost 15-18 days after the deadline the results were published on the Volta Contest web; On 29th of July I have had the plaque on hands, made it, shipped it to ours address and moved it to the club facilities. Now it’s standing near the 2010 plaque inside the ARI Bra club premises! What’s better? Nothing, may I say. Now let me say some TU as I have to do. TU I2DMI, from the whole IQ1RY team and particularly from IK1HXN, Mario, and myself. TU also to all of you that with yours time and patience, together with us, made this result, for the second year, possible and enjoyed with us the whole 45th ed. Volta Contest. CU all next year!. Not to forget also the N1MM team of developers that with passion and knowledge made a so big numbers crunching possible in a handful of days. Tu John, K3CT, your personal effort was invaluable. 73 de iw1ayd Salvo _______________________________________________ RTTY mailing list RTTY@contesting.com http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rtty

Digital DXCC or ARRL Board of Directors, respectfully: have my strong disagreement

2011-08-03T12:28:00.001+02:00


Subject:	[RTTY] Digital DXCC or ARRL Board of Directors, respectfully: have my strong disagreement
From:	iw1ayd
Reply-to:
Date:	Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:32:16 +0200
List-post:

Hi to all.

Just to read the doc abou and not my personal opinion go there:

http://www.arrl.org/files/file/About%20ARRL/Board%20Meetings/2011%20Second%20MeetingMinutes%281%29.pdf

( Take care of the URL line fragmenting and about the dead space
representation as %20 )

Abstract from "Minutes of the 2011 Second Meeting - ARRL Board of
Directors - July 15-16. 2011"

29. On motion of Mr. Fenstermaker, seconded by Mr. Edgar, the following
resolution was ADOPTED:
WHEREAS the DX Advisory Committee (DXAC) was charged to investigate many
aspects of the ARRL DX program; and
WHEREAS Amateur Radio technology has advanced to include many variations
of digital communication; and
WHEREAS the DXAC has recommended changing the DXCC Award category from
RTTY to Digital or RTTY/Digital or Digital Mixed; and
WHEREAS the Programs & Services Committee (PSC) deliberated this change
and, along with ARRL staff believe the best revised name for this award
is Digital DXCC, and
WHEREAS, the ARRL thanks the DXAC for its work on this name change;
Therefore, it is RESOLVED that the ARRL Board accepts the recommendation
of the PSC to change the title of the RTTY DXCC Award to the DIGITAL
DXCC Award.

What to say, there are no reasons nor facts by any means about the
decision taken inside that document, as seen here in the abstract.
The phrase " WHEREAS Amateur Radio technology has advanced to include
many variations of digital communication ...", tells by itself all.
Technology have changed a lot since the radio was only used for CW,
sparking or funk (DL), in the meantime, since than and until quite now,
there weren't changes in the radio technologies, accordingly to this
2011 sentence: unbelievable.

So, RTTY was RTTY, Phone was Phone and CW was CW. Now, 2011, the
silliest and subtle discovery that whatever is not Phone or CW must be
called Digital, like several appliances we have on hands or at home. So
CW, a digital mode by default and by any mean, will remain unDigital as
Phone, they couldn't could not be assimilated. RTTY, that by itself
haven't any remarkable nor visible soul as Phone o CW, instead will be
fully assimilated. Yes like the Star Trek saga, "Any resistance will be
futile ...". In the movie that was a nice characterization, now it is
only an awful envision at best.

Instead to clearly change anything, i.e. adding a Digital DXCC award -
yes why not, now we are all assimilated as Digital Borg. Worst, leaving
out more than half of the world that is already digital since than. The
sacred soul of CW and its big weapons. Playing between presence or
absence of a single signal and coding signs accordingly mean enough
digital to my, any(?), eyes and my ears, but I would not start a
religious discussion there. All the old DEC self instruction tapes have
already made this point strong enough in the NRZ signals chapter, almost
35 years ago (just the clock/timing recovering may seems to gets out of
the picture ... fuzzy or not fuzzy). Well done, another foot in the
grave and nobody know how many of those we have to spare.

Nemo propheta in patria.

73 de iw1ayd Salvo

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NAQP RTTY Juk 2011 IW1AYD & IZ1TNL

2011-07-26T23:28:00.002+02:00

North American QSO Party, RTTY - July

Call: IW1AYD
Operator(s): IZ1TNL IW1AYD
Station: IW1AYD

Class: M/2 LP
QTH: Bra (CN)
Operating Time (hrs): 12

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Mults
-------------------
   80:           
   40:   81    32
   20:  283    50
   15:           
   10:           
-------------------
Total:  364    82  Total Score = 30,576

Club: 

Team: 

Comments:

Great time. IZ1TNL was also happy  about her first experience, both of
contesting and contesting with her husband. I wouldnâ??t ask she what was more
heavy. Unfortunately the propagation wasnâ??t so good on 15m, 40m and 80m and
at last absent on 10m. As the 20m band, with  five elements at 30m high, was
pretty well workable and open until late we resolved to stay there still
barefoot. The RUN routine went quite flawless but not before almost 21 UTC.
Prior to this time we experienced a lot, really a lot, of EU calls due to the
DMC contest running  together with NAQP. A nightmare. After the first 15
minutes, since the NAQP start, we added a macro with â??HI NAQP NAQP ONLY NA
SORRY DE IW1AYD NAQP CQâ??. Having a â??NAQP CALL CALL CQâ?? in the automated
CQ doesnâ??t solved the question so when any call was thrown in by out of the
NA call signs we fired the added macro and continued the NAQP CQing. So, we
interleaved the new macro with the RUN CQ as one EU call was popping up in
between every two NA calls. This happened quite half of the time for 2 to 3
hours. Sorry for that but we couldnâ??t afford a contest in a contest logging
practice. It was a good practice to keep ourselves calm and motivated to work
on our objectives. We hope not to have been too much rude with all those other
friends. A simple read of the events/contest calendar may have solved this
issue, but no way to make it simple. A more simple look at the NAQP instead of
TEST or even DMC string may have solved at all this issue, but again no way.
A handful of US operators went up with out of contest QSO style answers in
between ours RUN and this was quite interesting also, as itâ??s not so often
that a EU station went so cherished by any US stations. It was a pleasure for
us and clearly a more big pleasure for ours correspondent. So we stopped the
contesting style RUN to have some form of  fast QSOâ??s. Sorry to have been
late for somebody out there. But beading the happiness of somebody about a QSO
with a simple IW1 call is a pleasure. For example having a great time with a
dipole under the roof to make a QSO with EU isnâ??t a every day job, we all
need to remember this. Yes, 20m during the NAQP went very well, for sure.
We struggled on 15m and 80m calling running stations but there was nothing to
do at all. Lately at our local night and until the end of the NAQP tournament
we have had also something interesting to do on 40m. But not so much unluckily.
May be this season marked its hole about.
Having  to train another operator, IZ1TNL my wife, was a pleasant job in the
contest. Sometimes I was tempted to be a little bit rude remarking some points,
but she managed increasingly well the radio that all went  smoothly and we had a
good time practicing with all those needed tasks in a contest. Well the post
contest tasks are another history.
First radio used was a IC-7600, running quite hot but very well performing,
software was N1MM, plenty of macros, all worked pretty well. We have had a
really hot WX here, so it was a pleasure not to have the PAâ??s running nearby.
Instead of those the air conditioner have done a great job, but only for
ourselves, sorry.

           73 de IZ1TNL Simonetta and IW1AYD Salvo

DL-DX RTTY Contest IQ1RY Team

2011-07-26T23:27:00.000+02:00

DL-DX RTTY Contest

Call: IQ1RY
Operator(s): IK1HXN, I1BEP, SWL_FEDERICO, IW1FNW, IW1AYD
Station: IQ1RY

Class: M/M HP
QTH: Bra, CN
Operating Time (hrs): 24

Summary:
 Band  QSOs   Pts   Mults
--------------------------
   80:  103   1157    30
   40:  334   3951    12
   20:  511   6189    89
   15:  299   3518    73
   10:   96   1036    30
--------------------------
Total: 1343  15851   270  Total Score = 4,279,770

Club: 

Comments:

What a great time!
This year the DL-DX was this: a great time contesting, full of friends
everywhere, thanks to all for all for the Qâ??s!
 
The major thanks have to be for the several Wâ??s and JAâ??s operators that
tirelessly have had the patience to overcome the not so good prop. They have
had signals small than usual, sometime it was somewhat tricky to decode those
not so well sounding tones. 

The EU wall was quite every time present, at least for the first 12 hours
period, sorry for who didnâ??t come out from any hole to us. 
The 80m and 40m bands didnâ??t worked as for the 2010, more noise and not too
much signals. This was quite expected.

There was a large band signal well placed on almost 21.080 MHz to 21.105 MHz
lately in the morning, radar?. Several of us tried to move out of the mud in
the upper band slice, but it was near the end of contest and not anybody get
it. The already diminishing traffic heavily suffered from this QRM, at least
from this side. That time, plain daylight, the 40m bands still worked for EU
Qâ??s, another load of DL's!

The 10m band went largely opened the first day afternoon. But, as a personal
opinion, not so many have made a trip so long out of a small a bunch of
operators or the skip was quite short also there. Well, better now than years
before.
A lot of I station not so far away from us where listened and contacted on 20m
and 15m, more from ours East than from ours South, some sort of short and
strong skip was also there.

The 7600 again well outperformed the 756PROIII in several aspects, the tricks
of the CAT commands inside the N1MM macros saved our pours fingers and souls
switching filters and the TPF in and out. This last was not so often useful as
it is a somewhat wider than the one on the PROIII, noisy bands made it
sometimes unusable. The 200Hz tricks that Don AA5AU suggested some time ago
helped and give us some relief, but not every time. 
The N1MM in was great as usual. MMTTY greatest features, filters, worked well,
apart from the switching time â?¦ a second MMTTY window with a different filter
setup may help with the more elusive signals already in view. Not anybody get
into the tights filters needed for weak and faded signals. BTW several peoples
seems that doesn't have NET on or never checked out for any RX to TX
difference. It's quite usual and well expected, time to time it could happen.

TNX to the organizers of this every time nice contest, also for all their
efforts that doesn't end now. They will have just from now their time! 

Well, CU all in the 2011 results and than in the 2012 for the DL-DX!

               73 de iw1ayd, Salvo: one of the IQ1RY Team.

A. VOLTA RTTY Contest 2011 - IQ1RY team

2011-07-26T23:25:00.000+02:00

Well: we win our category!

...

Volta RTTY DX Contest

Call: IQ1RY
Operator(s): IK1HXN, IW1AYD, IZ1LBG, I1BEP, YV5JDT/I1
Station: IQ1RY

Class: M/S HP
QTH: BRA
Operating Time (hrs): 22

Summary:
 Band  QSOs   Pts   Mults
--------------------------
   80:   53    428    22
   40:  265   2785    49
   20:  485   7265    77
   15:  193   3307    64
   10:    5     65     4
--------------------------
Total: 1001  13850   217  Total Score = 3,036,183,150

Club: 

Comments:

We had a blast, well we have had three (tens) or more blasts, during the whole
Volta contest and some more after since we get an helping hand from K3CT. 
What we have done this time at the Volta RTTY Contest  will be written in our
history for years here at IQ1RY. First of all: we enjoyed a lot any single
contact, thanks to all. The Volta is one of the nicest contest from our
standpoint  and we enjoy participating it from here. Itâ??s a unique RTTY
business and the operators are consciousness and highly motivated about. We
operated, well we hardly tried to operate,  during the event in five OM,  two
in charge for the whole contest operating time and three as welcomed guest
operators. The major part of the contest went on as pure adrenaline, well
sometime it was too much quite to be dead on.
We started putting in front of the operating position the last year plaque we
won as IQ1RY in MULTI ALL BANDS. It was the right memento to all the operators
in charge over time. Things started  smoothly  reaching levels  of pure
enjoyment as the local evening was coming. At night one of the blast was the
20m band fully open, as it was for the ARI International DX contest the week
before.  But something was better than then.  The 40m and 80m bands donâ??t
went abruptly closed, some more appreciable contacts on those band continued
well into ours night time, with the 20m band still working and 15m, well, so
so. 
A big loud software bang. At almost the 04Z AM local, 02 UTC, the logger
reached over 900 QSO and went screaming about a runtime error. We werenâ??t
able to make a workaround to this until 08Z AM. In the meantime we have had
some contacts,  during trying and troubleshooting  the mess. All those
contacts, counting on two hands, where recovered but we furnished some
duplicated numbers. Sorry for that, but we hope that this would not have any
consequence. 
After all we restarted one logger, it was almost the 80th I think,  and gained
the ability to log contacts without problems. That was done with a workaround
and we knew that we will have to do a heavy work in the post-contest to
reassemble the whole contacts data base. We have now done it, successfully we
think.
As the contest ended we asked for any help from the N1MM development team.  Oh
men, to make short a very long story. We had our last series of blasts after
the contest. But we are really lucky as we meet highly motivated and
professional peoples over there. Particularly instrumental for the solution we
had was John K3CT, TU John! You deserve all yours gratefully thanks.
Now Volta operations time for the 2011 is gone and we should be able to send
our results. WOW! What a bunch of blasts! Itâ??s radio, itâ??s ours world.
   CU in contest!
              73 from the whole IQ1RY RTTY team

GREAT! IQ1RY 3rd WW 2nd EU 1st Italy MSHP call of the 2011 ARRL RTTY Roundup

2011-05-04T21:45:00.001+02:00

TU Mario IK1HXN, TU Filippo IZ1LBG, TU Renato I1DEP. TU to all the IQ1RY team that is working for those results.
But last but not least TU all, hope to CUAGN in other contests!

73 de iw1ayd Salvo

This is an abstract from the whole PDF.

2011 ARRL RTTY Roundup Results
By Jay Townsend, WS7I ws7I@arrl.net

Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability. - John Wooden

This year in the Multioperator, Low Power category it was HI3A taking the honors. The KP2D group
can‟t seem to shake the second-place jitters and took it again this year. Then it was the Europeans with a bunch of new faces in the Top Ten. UT7E was third. OH8KTN was in fourth and IW1QN fifth.
The big change this year was in the Multioperator, High Power category with what is usually an
all-European-dominated group. Hector, XE2K with just packet assistance won top honors this year.
OL8M operated by Pavel, OK1DRQ was in second place. Closely following Pavel was the IQ1RY group in third place. They related, “It was a first for us and we went through this learning the magic of the things.”
In the 2011 RTTY Roundup there was one new Continental Record set along with 35 new Country
records. There was not as much action here as propagation was difficult at times to many parts of
the world. No doubt next
year will likely be better.

Top DX Scores Multi-Operator Low Power
HI3A            111,647
KP2D           91,266
UT7E           68,150
OH8KTN      61,143
IW1QN        51,600
EA2DKF      49,808
OM3KWZ    33,540
UT8EL         32,116
YO5KUC     30,912
DF9ZP         30,108
High Power
XE2K           167,918
OL8M          154,580
IQ1RY         150,040
OK1DVM     146,816
ED1R           139,934
UW4I           139,411
OH8A          133,340
IT9BLB        128,344
UZ2I            120,310
PI4DX          98,197

Abbandonato - 150th country reached on LoTW by IW1AYD, TNX to all!

2011-04-04T12:18:00.004+02:00

Il DXCC RTTY Award NON esiste più. E' diventato DXCC Digital Award: se lo possono tenere.
Non viene più perseguito dal sottoscritto. I miei log verranno comunque caricati su LoTW, ma ormai senza più scopo o interesse personale.

Scelta pessama. Impostazione da venditore di fumo della ARRL.

    Salvo

Ovviamente SOLO RTTY o comunque data modes, qualcuno anche in WSJT e PSK31 con il dipolaccio multibanda sotto il tetto e /QRP.
Solo RTTY chiederete? Si, rispondo, perché esiste altro?

Obviusly only RTTY, some also in other data modes, WSJT or PSK31 with only a multiband dipole under the roof and /QRP.
Someone would ask why only RTTY? Yes, I answer, is there something different?

Many TNX to IZ1TNL and her patience and efforts supporting this strange Husband.

          73 de iw1ayd Salvo

Award Credits: Selected: 150 Applied for: 0 Awarded: 0 Total: 150
Key:    Selected · Applied

Entity	RTTY
AFGHANISTAN	T6AF
ALAND ISLAND	OH0/PA0VHA
ALASKA	AL9A
ANGOLA	D2QMN
ANTARCTICA	DP0GVN
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA	V21ZG
ARGENTINA	LV5V
ARUBA	P49X
ASIATIC RUSSIA	RA9SC
AUSTRALIA	VK6IR
AUSTRIA	OE3EPW
AZERBAIJAN	4J9M
AZORES	CU3/F5LMJ/P
BALEARIC ISLAND	EA6TS
BARBADOS	8P9NX
BELARUS	EU7SA
BELGIUM	OQ0A
BELIZE	V31YN
BERMUDA	VP9/K3TRM
BHUTAN	A52RY
BOLIVIA	CP6/DF9GR
BONAIRE,CURACAO (NETH ANTILLES) (DELETED)	PJ2MI
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA	E78CB
BOTSWANA	A25DF
BRAZIL	PY3KN
BULGARIA	LZ2BE
CAMBODIA	XU7XRO
CANADA	VY2SS
CANARY ISLAND	EA8BEX
CAPE VERDE	D4C
CHAGOS ISLAND	VQ9LA
COLOMBIA	HK6DOS
CORSICA	TK1CX
COSTA RICA	TI2HAS
CRETE	SV9COL
CROATIA	9A2009OS
CYPRUS	5B4AHI
CZECH REPUBLIC	OK5ZH
DENMARK	OZ4ADP
DESECHEO ISLAND	K5D
DJIBOUTI	J28KO
DODECANESE	SV5/DL3DRN
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC	HI8LAM
EAST MALAYSIA	9M6XRO
EGYPT	SU1KM
ENGLAND	G0ORC
ESTONIA	ES7ABD/2
EUROPEAN RUSSIA	UA1TAN
FAROE ISLANDS	OY4TN
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY	DL6UNF
FINLAND	OH2LU
FRANCE	F1IWH
FRENCH GUIANA	FY5LH
GABON	TR8CA
GLORIOSO ISLAND	FT5GA
GREECE	SV2HRS
GREENLAND	OX3DB
GRENADA	J39BS
GUAM	KH2L
GUANTANAMO BAY	KG4SS
GUERNSEY	GU0SUP
GUINEA-BISSAU	J5UAP
HAITI	HH4/AF4Z
HAWAII	KH6MB
HUNGARY	HA5VZ
ICELAND	TF3PPN
INDIA	VU2NKS
INDONESIA	YB4IR
IRAQ	YI1RAZ
IRELAND	EI4GXB
ISLE OF MAN	MD0CCE
ISRAEL	4Z4DX
ITALY	I5RFD
JAPAN	JI4POR
JERSEY	MJ0SIT
KAZAKHSTAN	UN1L
KENYA	5Z0H
KERMADEC ISLAND	ZL8X
LATVIA	YL2KF
LESOTHO	7P8OK
LITHUANIA	LY/ES2DY
LUXEMBOURG	LX1CW
MACAO	XX9TLX
MACEDONIA	Z36W
MADAGASCAR	5R8KD
MADEIRA ISLANDS	CT3AS
MALDIVES	8Q7LR
MALTA	9H3TK
MARKET REEF	OJ0J
MARTINIQUE	FM5CD
MAURITIUS ISLAND	3B8/SP2FUD
MEXICO	XE3RR
MOLDOVA	ER0WW
MONTENEGRO	4O4A
MOROCCO	CN8KD
MOZAMBIQUE	C91TX
NETHERLANDS	PA4JB
NEW ZEALAND	ZL3RG
NIGERIA	5N0OCH
NORTHERN IRELAND	2I0SAI
NORWAY	LA5HPA
OMAN	A45XR
PALESTINE	E4X
PANAMA	HP1/IZ6BRN
PARAGUAY	ZP5CGL
POLAND	SP9FT
PORTUGAL	CT1EAT
PUERTO RICO	KP4ED
QATAR	A71EM
REPUBLIC OF KOREA	HL2DYS
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA	ZS2EZ
REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO	TN5SN
REUNION ISLAND	FR5MV
ROMANIA	YO2RLC
RWANDA	9X0TL
SABA & ST EUSTATIUS	PJ6A
SAINT BARTHELEMY	TO7ZG
SAINT PIERRE & MIQUELON	FP/W6HGF
SARDINIA	IM0QMA
SAUDI ARABIA	HZ1PS
SCOTLAND	GB1OL
SENEGAL	6W2SC
SERBIA	YT2U
SINT MAARTEN	PJ7E
SLOVAK REPUBLIC	OM5TX
SLOVENIA	S52RA
SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS	DT8A
SOV MILITARY ORDER OF MALTA	1A0KM
SPAIN	EA4AFA
SUDAN	ST2AR
SURINAME	PZ5RA
SWAZILAND	3DA0VA
SWEDEN	SA5AEL
SWITZERLAND	HB9DHG
TAJIKISTAN	EY8MM
THAILAND	E21YDP
TOGO	5V7TT
TUNISIA	TS7C
TURKEY	TA2ZAF
U K BASES ON CYPRUS	ZC4LI
UGANDA	5X1NH
UKRAINE	UU3JC
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES	A61BK
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA	AA3B
US VIRGIN ISLANDS	NP2KW
UZBEKISTAN	UK8AKK
VENEZUELA	YV5AAX
WALES	MW0CRI
WEST MALAYSIA	9M2NNM
WESTERN SAHARA	S04R

CQ Worldwide DX Contest, RTTY 2010

2011-03-28T18:46:00.001+02:00


Subject:	[3830] CQ WW RTTY IQ1RY M/2 HP


Date:	Tue, 28 Sep 2010 15:22:17 -0700

CQ Worldwide DX Contest, RTTY

Call: IQ1RY
Operator(s): IK1HXN, IK1SPR, IK1RQT, IZ1LBG, IW1AYD, IW1QN, I1BEP, IW1FNW.
Station: IQ1RY

Class: M/2 HP
QTH: Bra (CN)
Operating Time (hrs): 48

Summary:
 Band  QSOs  Pts   State/Prov  DX   Zones
------------------------------------------
   80:  586  1204       21      63    16
   40: 1008  2476       51      88    30
   20: 1152  2918       55      95    33
   15:  713  1922       52      85    36
   10:   32    83        0      14    11
------------------------------------------
Total: 3501  8603      179     345   126  Total Score = 5,591,950

Club: 

Comments:

So, the Game of the games it's over for this year. 
We went trough all the CQ WW RTTY with more and more happiness and enjoined all
the aspects of the competition, ending so happy that we feel astonished how well
it went for us and ours new M/2 setup. 
Many thanks to everybody we meet on air and to everybody tried to meet us,
sometimes it was really difficult to respond in the worse QRM we watched and
listened, the crowd was terrible time to time. 
Somebody have had so much patience, tnx.

This was the first year for IQ1RY as Multi Operator Two transmitters. 
 
The operators have gained the chairs time by time to increase theirs experience
and move onto the new setup just done for this M/2 roundup in CQWW.

Everybody learned his lesson and we hope to share all of those â??on the jobâ??
training experiences as soon as possible and quite formally, just not to loose
any possible way to improve. 

We have had a simple target: manning this new setup of IQ1RY to make ours best
in the contest and to reach at least 3400 QSOs. 
This was ours target and we, thanks anybody out there helped us to reach this
goal. 
In the meantime we have had some technical problems, all was solved in a hurry:
we had 3 power mains shutdown events, one transceiver abruptly gone, a PA
suddenly switched out, several trains trespassing on the nearby railway.

Last but not least, as we went over 3400 QSOs, we decided to share all together
the deserved, tu IK1RQT prize a bottle of Ferrari brut that was quickly opened
and shared at the end of the airtime. 

At the end we all have had a safe trip to ours homes, still having in the ears
the RTTY sound and all those friend callsigns we meet on air.

We hope to meet again soon will all those OM and others there and on air: just
to have such a big fun as this.

Special congrats to IK4MPG, IT9BLP and DQ4W team.

IQ1RY operators: IK1HXN, IK1SPR, IK1RQT, IZ1LBG, IW1AYD, IW1QN, I1BEP, IW1FNW.

 
73 de IQ1RY


Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/

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CQWW WPX SSB - 3830

2011-03-28T18:42:00.001+02:00

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2011 08:28:16 -0700
Subject: [3830] WPX SSB IQ1RY M/2 HP

Call: IQ1RY
Operator(s): I1BEP IK1HXN IK1RQT IZ1LBG IW1AYD IW1ARB IW1FNW IV3ZXQ IV3BSY IK1SPR
Station: IQ1RY

Class: M/2 HP
QTH: Bra
Operating Time (hrs): 48

Summary:
 Band  QSOs
------------
  160:  122
   80:  604
   40: 1220
   20: 1270
   15: 1332
   10:  143
------------
Total: 4691  Prefixes = 1443  Total Score = 17,236,635

Club: Rhein Ruhr DX Association

Comments:

Happy days, we went through the whole WPX enjoying each single contacts and the
whole mess we work together. The prop was really strange and changing on every
hour much more than before. 

Thanks to all contacted us, some more thanks to who have had the patience to
come through some heavy walls that we experienced time to time. Sometime it was
really hard to listen from this side, but all went in a friendly way.

Another thing we recognized is a lot of dupe, may be in the statistical view
are those are well numbered, but the view is that not only from ours site it
was hard to listen.

All went almost flawlessly since the first time through the whole contest, some
episodes, Qâ€™s are quite remarkable, HH in the last five minutes was the candy
over a great and sweet cake.

We were honored by two guest operators, Maurizio IV3ZXQ  and Alberto IV3BSY.
The tradition of IQ1RY, to have guest operators for ant phone or RTTY multiop
contest was continued with such a good guys. Theirs efforts for the whole
contest duration was invaluable. 

The 20m band open until early local night and a somewhat open 10m bands may
seeded a change in tactics and strategy for the next times. We hope that ours
move  in and out the bands during the WPX time went done accordingly to those
changes we are facing. Stations more South than us really appreciated much
better the 10m band.

A fast points and log examination has given us a big pleasure, as we went
working all together and the results compared to ours oldest targets are better
than before. It's nice and well done from ours standpoint.

Chapeau for the big stations we listened and recognized as some of our best
friends worked the WPX from there. We never forget to practice learning from
those.

It was a nice WPX 2011, see you all with IQ1RY in the next contests.

Flavio IK1SPR

Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.hornucopia.com/3830score/

Fom SJ2W Contest Station - it tells all by itself!!!

2011-03-28T15:50:00.000+02:00

DL-DX 2010 1st place WW for M/S Multi oper. Single TX - IK1HXN e IW1AYD

2011-03-28T10:40:00.012+02:00

We win again, thanks to all the participants and to our work.
I learned again several lessons during this fun job: TU MARIO IK1HXN CU IN CONTEST!

With:

73 de iw1ayd Salvo

In between

2011-03-28T10:40:00.009+02:00

We went to the Italian CTU.

IR1ITA activation: 150th birthday of Italy as a nation. Sponsored by IQ1RY team and IK1SPR.

IW1EGO is dismantling his actual antenna farm and rebuilding a new one.

... and maybe several other thing that I am forgotting.

73 de iw1ayd

IQ1RY WW MO win in the 2010 VOLTA RTTY Contest

2010-12-23T09:53:00.011+01:00

Manned by Mario IK1HXN & Salvo IW1AYD, the club station by the ARI section of Bra wins the 2010 edition of the VOLTA RTTY Contest. As WW-MO winners Mario and Salvo wish to thanks all the VOLTA Contest entrants. We are proud of this result together with all the OMs and YLs that are around IQ1RY.

The record from the VOLTA site is:

WORLD WINNERS

CLASS

CALL

CTY

CAT

QSO

PTS

M10

M15

M20

M40

M80

E-M

T-M

SCORE

WW-MO

IQ1RY

744

8674

210

1.355.225.760

All this was done not only and alone by ours effort. We went there having the support from the whole group of HAMs that work each day for the club station. From the simplest job or task well accomplished to the more technical ones we have to thanks everybody of theirs respective work and effort. What we, manning IQ1RY for the VOLTA Contest, have done was enabled by the efforts of the whole group of HAMs here living and working since than.

TU dear fellows and friends from Bra and the neighborhoods villages and cities.

(bell) HOPE CUAGN (bell)

73 and best wishes from the whole IQ1RY team

VOLTA & DL-DX RTTY Contest IQ1RY team

2010-12-23T09:29:00.013+01:00

A SDR full blown layout V 1.1 - alternative and choices

2010-08-25T20:06:00.001+02:00

From FT-9000 group - Re: Flex-500A

2010-08-25T13:52:00.003+02:00

You are right Daniel, at all.

The 1K-FA it's really touchy when driven without ALC. I have some experience driving it also with the PROIII and the FT-950, with the respective ALC well connected and it works more easily for sure.

I could confirm and say as mine yours words and opinions from my side.

I gained some compromise setups band by band after all my intense usage with my poor dipoles in a restricted town shack with a condo roof for aerials. It's not easy and during contest, at night, ... those happenings that you could easily leaved me so disgruntled that I was ready just for the bed.

As I reached a good compromise, with the driver left a 50% and the main power output control done via the TX gain with heavy steps, I never tried, for example, a software utility called DDutil by K5FR. It could be, if you have any interest or just curiosity about, interesting to have a look here:

http://k5fr.com/ddutilwiki/index.php?title=Linear_Amplifier_Management

This is not to convince you to get back on FLEX, but just to say that yours problem isn't only yours. As somebody other have a managed to find out a solution.

Actually all the major players are using a SDR core well surrounded by more traditional layout for ours toys. All this is more perfectible over time and with some investment. Also I hope that the market would permit to gain for us the ability to use ours best traditional setups with all the needed and seamless useful new features. The time will tell all to us.

By now I would still continue to use my beloved FLEX, brought by me, and a guXX brought in by another operator for the multi single club station IQ1RY. Those vacuum tubes are steady as a rock and not touchy at all when driven even at full legal power for limited test purposes. At home I will stay more low, as US legal power will light neighborhoods lights and would illegal here. RTTY at 300/400W it's mine limit, 500W is the Italian hamradio operator limit for any class, not mobile.
You know Daniel it's kind alike the food: each one, name one, have it's way to be better cooked around the seasons of the year not only by it's nature and kind. Flavor are different each time.

Next time you will operate a FLEX I hope to be by myself operating a FT-9000 and my 1K-FA. It would be a real pleasure IMHO. I just have to find where are all mi mics, anyway one the right will suffice ... If I just could remember where I stored all of those. ;-)

73 de iw1ayd Salvo

on response of ---

Re: [FTdx-9000] Re: Flex-500A

Thank you so much for your input. I read all that you wrote with great interest.
I am happy to hear that the SDR platform has worked well for you. One of my
greatest problems with the Flex-5000A set up is the lack of an ALC circuit. I
have an SPE Expert linear which is VERY "touchy" in terms of input wattage. When
there is an ALC circuit, it works like a charm, but without it, I find the
linear constantly shutting down with one fault or another. I have tried several
approaches. I may try one of the other Flex radios again in the future, perhaps
the even the next generation. They are always updating and upgrading. I am sure
that there will be other Flex platforms which will be a bit less clumsy. Their
panoramic display is 2nd to none. Hopefully Yaesu and Icom will come up with a
panoramic display like the Flex.

Well, thanks so much for sharing your experience!

Daniel -- W3DCB

From TS590 yahoo group - Re: Extra Filter Slots?

2010-08-25T11:10:00.003+02:00

Hello to all.

I would associate my opinion with the same from Peter - HB9PJT.
Clear points Peter. Also the last one it's clever: " We will see".

One more point that I would give for discussion is that, citing the FLEX software and hardware architecture, a big enhancement in the filter shape occurs with bigger buffers. I mean those buffers in the DSP processor, as far as I know. This seems quite independent from the DSP algorithms used. I just leave the standard one offered by default.
What I mean is that when I choose inside POWERSDR(tm) smallest buffers. As to decrease latency inside those buffers, let's say a 512 bytes buffer size. The filter shape degrades by any mean. RTTY signal nearby 100/300 Hz from a 230Hz filter leaks visibly on MMTTY waterfall. There is also the associated audible signal in the speaker. With bigger buffers, let's say 2048 byte, there is a perfect shaped effect with the same IF filter. No nearby signals at all.
In RTTY or any other digital modes that is not CW I don't think that those IF buffers need to be so tight.
And there are several other aspects to benefit the filter shape and the whole IF circuitry response, as peter wrote. I could associate also MMTTY BF processing after all.
I have no doubt that as it's done by me manually, with the simplest cause and effects process, it could be done flawless and better by the firmware. This last would be made, i hope, around a drill down processing of all the choices involved in. But there is also marketing.

Nonetheless, as this will be firmware controlled inside a 590 there is the possibility that something could go wrong. We have a lot of transceivers that looks really interesting but that are at least poor in real world performance. Not to say that some of those are good as door stop from perspective to perspective. By any means a single button action, a mode change to an AGC set, have several things to set and reset, code & data flow. I hope that there was no the wrong approach during the development of this so hoped and nice looking RTX. "We will see".

The famous and over speak K3 have had and could have several changes on it's firmware. But the habit about is that everything is well done at any time and for any season. More a mental habit and perception than a real issue as for everyone other builder on the market.

Lastly, SDR are the answer for today needs. But there are strengths ans weakness as usual. Different words than in the analog world but same final problems. Not speaking about the void of software and human interfaces. What we see is that all the commercial builders are, for the greater parts of the work done, approaching the soft way to SDR. But this is another story.

73 de iw1ayd Salvo

Just a great app SDR Console by HB9DRV Simon

2010-08-24T20:54:00.003+02:00

Not just for the graphical integrated GUI idea but fo a lot more thing inside out.

A SDR full blown layout

2010-08-24T20:30:00.000+02:00

Re: Flex-5000A

2010-08-24T00:13:00.000+02:00

Hi all.
Not to be silly but just to trow in my 2 cents. Well, it's a bigger 44 cents coin at the end.
Sorry for the rather long message, I hope it's clearly readable due by my poor English.

Unfortunately I don't own any flavor of the FT-9000. It's quite out my target, well several of my targets. Nonetheless I am here and with other groups/mail to read the several interesting thing that come out every day.

My experience on FLEX is really positive. Mine activities are centered around RTTY, both Contesting and DX chasing. I like also to have real QSO kbd to kbd or simply air checks with this or any other digital mode. No ROS.
I have to admit that before of this radio I get almost acquainted with non SDR radios in half the time. The SDR took a lot of time just because there are so many switch, buttons and lists of values that I have had my time to get it running as smooth as I like. My latest try was with a FT-897 and is 300 Hz filter, just after reselling an FT-450. All went working in some hours, perhaps spreading the efforts over days. But nothing compared to the pure joy of the FLEX.

I am using a dedicated and protected PC with W7 32bit(!) for the POWERSDR(tm)radio application with a FLEX-3000. The software environment is completed by N1MM with MMTY or alternatively with MMSSTV, WSPR, WSJT. Last but not least Tmate help me a lot with the VFO fiddling.
I have had hard times running the HRD-DM780-LOGGER trio, virtual serial port emulation is quite a nightmare. Now it is solved with mini deluxe, a stretched application that emulate HRD and permit to DM780 and the LOGGER to run flawlessly. The HRD Logger is still the main logger, with HRD utils it help me a lot sorting all electronic QSL activities.
As a result s 26", 16:9, monitor is fully crowded mainly by the N1MM bits and pieces together with POWERSDR(tm).
This screen is my radio and my radio is on this screen.
Filtering and bandpass commanding is written inside CAT commands within the digital set of macro for the N1MM digital window: no radio touching is needed, all the operations are driven by the N1MM windows in focus. Quite the same thing went done before the advent of the FLEX, for filters and some other controls, with the PROIII/FT-950. Well, not all together, some in the N1MM and some in DM780, as needed by the different activities.

I have done several RTTY contests from my small pistol shack, helped by a 1K-FA, the Tmate USB device, a trackball instead of a mouse and a multiband V shaped rigid trapped dipole by Create.

I have also done, as with some new release the FLEX went more stable, some contesting from the biggest than mine shack of ours club, IQ1RY: astonishing!!!
This is a quite good DX site, not so far away and not so exotic, from here. The aerial and some other piece of the facility could be seen on and from ww.qrz.com

The FLEX 3000 is at least a good radio. I have have in view the band as I need. All is commanded via the N1MM macro buttons set. All is done almost via a mouse, seldom with the keyboard when not in a chit chat QSO. I just need to find a free spot, if there is one of course, to start a RUN session. Save the current QRG, look at the cluster when permitted or to the band in the panadapter to check out who is there to have a QSO more. He would be a multiplier, luckily, or simply another RUNner just to improve the rate.
By this time not SDR software is almost integrated by CAT and virtual and physical serial ports. 1K-FA frequency/bands control was done routing the virtual serial port CAT also inside a physical port, by the way.

During DX chasing it's almost the same. After getting the TX QRG of the DX stations it's just a matter of finding in a "view and click" a free spot UP to start calling. Having also the idea on whats going on even on my TX QRG and not only on the DX receiving QRG. This is similar to the double set of filters applied to the RX and TX QRGs VFO for YAESU. A different beast of what ICOM does.

Tight filters are really tight with bigger software buffers. I couldn't cry too much about my old and trusted couple of PROIII with theirs one shot TPF. Nor with the nice filters of the FT-950.

One thing that I have done is to retain the FSK style operations also in AFSK. The radio will be set dead on the RTTY tones, inside the RTTY filter, not clicking-clacking the mouse to get on the RTTY mouse inside the band pass. This is as FSK fixed radio must be used not AFSK ones. There is also a TX filter for RTTY, tight enough not to spread or spit everywhere unwanted tones. BTW I am running lower tones, mark is 1445 Hz. More pleasant to listen hour after hour, IMO.

Another thing that I was doing is to enforce the whole setup environment as to use N1MM any activity, QSO & Contesting. I have learned, over time, a good knowledge of the N1MM environment. Forcing myself to use it anyway since the start of this SDR adventure. I have not to say again that I was maxed out to do this by the first unfruitful bunch of approaches with virtual serial port and the SDR. Things that someone others seems not to have had. The change from DX and QSO activities to the Contest activity "desk", of that time, I simple switch over the related macro sets. Then I engrave it in the database reload information. Each one of these is cooked as needed and will come alone up in the deprecated case there is any application shutdown. Those sets are for the input window. Digital modes macro with filters and general RTTY sentences are the same whiting the digital mode windows.

Now I am quite a "satisfied customer", but still asking myself if there is the the real need to change anything out of the main antenna, something of a lack here in a dense urban area, to improve the general setup and, of course, the performances. I still look at mine other radios with pleasure and joy, PROIII, FT-950 and TS-870. I already get rid of several more new ICs and some older FTs (MP). I would also consider a Ft-9000 and is “smaller” brother the FT-5000.
I will need something to fill in the portable operation hole. But no way since now, there isn't the right piece of hardware out now. Owning FT-897/857, IC-703, and TS-480, for portable activities, doesn't help too much, also with 500 Hz or 300 Hz filters (remember RTTY!). I see to buy a portable PC to have smooth operations with the 3000 another nightmare that I wouldn't like to start by now. May be the 1500 should be a good starting point, but ... by now I have other priorities. I am in view also for the HPSDR project, the mercury standalone board. Actually it lacks the software facilities side, no CAT, no serials, in one one a good experiment but not to much a radio for the everyday use.

May be there are several aspects on witch I get so acquainted and that I even forgot to write all down here. ALC, RTTY TX filter and so on. There could be possible bunch of issues on some of these forgotten things but those last are quite working/solved here. At least I was lucky to find out the mix and max of related adjustments, for now.

73 de iw1ayd Salvo

All started here OpenHDSR

2010-08-04T09:02:00.002+02:00

Well, the software side discussion is very interesting.
I should vote, speaking from the usability side, that I would prefer a
two folded model, Client - Server. Both to run on the same PC, as Piece
of Computer, or not, as the X-11. Yes sometimes they comeback.

It is a long message and I am not writing in my native language, thanks
in advance for yours patience.

What I mean thinking since now to a fully digital integrated model
containing the GUI down to the SDR HW, is that we need some strong
pivot points to be able to make the grow of ours child much more a model
build up than a blob up of him.

A premise. For some time to come we would need a strong interfacing
between ours currents variegated data application, even for the CW and
for phone. But after that first time, some "years" to come, we would
have such as N1MM application and all the things around that models well
integrated inside a single GUI. An not only it, let me envision the
whole plethora of applications that would have big advantages using the
SDR worlds to come: digital modes from RTTY, PSK, up to packet modes
framing to others. Embedded data/voice modes could have then their
times. The intrinsics of SDR could be a big advantage for all those
things, well resident inside ours small "audio" channels or even with
smallest bandwidth. BTW, also some bigger bandwidth modes now to come
could have some advantage by ours work, as it was before.

The future, right into and between this future and ours now-today we
should have an interim periods well extended or not. Today needs are
quite well depicted inside POWERSDR(TM). A strong user GUI, able to
spawn several homework, and not only, projects. A great CAT setup, able
to match ours current programs, logger and so on. But a monolithic
design, like POWERSDR(TM) is, isn't the beast approach to grow up to the
time and to more sophisticate hardware as we could have. The
expensivenes of this HW is another story.

A set of simple and high repetitive operationa could be run on
specialized hardware, this is part the radio in SDR. Perseus and other
commercial or now HW clearly demonstrated this. It could be done with a
FPGA, but it also could need some more power ... a 2004 QEX article
featuring a digital radio board with some integrated "mini"CPU could be
useful. Here will be the data manipulation and it will receive commands
and controls for this lowest level functions, not too much complex
commands and controls I think

A set of not so repetitive functions, all equals to the each one before
and after, more math intensive and user commands prone could reside in
a so called Server. This would have a specialized high speed low
arbitration headache/overhead "bus" with the SDR HW module. It also have
to drive, somewhat flawlessly, another "bus" to single or multiple GUI.
For X-11 this was the Client and here you have had the control for the
mouse. A well known set of casual movements and repetitive functions
mixed together. The order of the function wasn't casual but ordered as
by "sets of functions" instated by places, movements and so on geometry
recognition. Even at some meaningless looping states of theClient the
mouse was still responsive and working as to give the right "command and
control" sensation to the user.
The GUI or Server must have interfaces to the Server, a seam;es
communication interface for data, commands and controls. Multiple GUI
Server application both residing on the same user machine could
interact, limited by hardware capacity with the Client. The master data
processing, RF to numeric - SDR HW, would be still unaffected by this as
it resides on the "radio" and is working to the, let me say, 100 fold
the GUI ability to use this data. It's a matter of fact, nobody could
drive at the right speed. push it up and use it as it is needed.

The whole picture ... let me try to make a picture in words ... not so
easy but feasible with yours patience.

- Ours waves - the RF environment -

> HW BOX - damned good for RF, Sherwood and other teach here, and fast
for data I/O translation or transliteration - HBOX - What inside? A big
enough FPGA < <> fast lane, just 2 users, minimal control - on off start
stop check OK or NG - timing well knows - small set of commands and
controls, almost machine generated, on separated lanes (or much faster) >

> Client BOX - CBOX - damned good to communicate and pre/post process
data forth and back - CBOX dedicated computing platform - some sort of
general purpose CPU helped by more specialized data mangling machine
(integrated on the same die why not), user command tags translation in
atomic commands to himself and to the HW SDR < <> seamless standard lane, multiuser, slow data flow, delay
and congestion treatments, big commands and controls almost user
generated - timing well known >

Server BOX - SBOX general purpose computing box/platform - display, user
commands tags (just another set of outer world translation table, serial
interfaced to outer worlds (loggers, CAT, Pkt Clu., PA?, unatomized
commands and controls ) {great effort to translate those to CBOX "and to
HBOX", strict control over it, internal translation routine} interfaces
to plugin digital modules, any current or viable/future digital modes {a
different set of more atomized command tags, each module must be SBOX
aware, SBOX libraries - well know} - responsiveness timing well known

Well I don't clearly stated, by the language, by expressions or by
space, all my view, but that's all for now, I made enought noise. Since
we have to think a picture like this, call it Jeff or Jim, it would be
better to make it step by step from the start. Even making all
monolithically, but having well in mind that there will be a place or
two to folds and cuts. Just to be ready for the "next generation"
software we need and that even this will not be the last. There is a lot
more to write or state but I think this should be enough, i.e. not to
speak only of perils and frills about compilers. I don't hate compilers
but any of it don't gain enough point to make a match, it seems.

Sorry for the waste of bandwidth , but my hope is to be somewhat useful
and not only to clarify it by myself, HI. If I am wrong somebody would
correct me, as for example with X-11, I am working from memory. If it
mean nothing to you forget about.

73 de iw1ayd Salvo

44th A. Volta RTTY Contest

2010-07-30T09:57:00.004+02:00

IQ1RY
Is the winning call in the category MO-WW
1st place World Wide Multi Operator WW MO
Higher WW score

Test was from 12:00 GMT Saturday May 8, 2010 until 12:00 GMT Sunday May 9, 2010. On 3,5 - 7 - 14 -21 - 28 MHz Amateur bands.

Thanks to all the participants, it was a big pleasure during the event to be there and a nice surprise a so good result. IQ1RY at the date was manned by IK1NHX Mario e IW1AYD Salvo.

Final results were published for the 44th edition of the RTTY Contest "A. Volta", all was published on 25th July.

This achievement make really happy and proud of it the operators of the Bra ARI Section, we would like to thank all participants, organizers and why not also the propagation, as it was poor but gladly workable at least.

A lot of peoples make remarkable results all over the world, it was a pleasure to compete bot directly and indirectly with al those OM's. Each time we went reading numbers we where much pushed to do better, quite a marvel on these days of poor propagation.

Now we need to name the authors of this little and not arming crime, namely the two that many of you had the patience to work, soon learned:

Mario IK1HNX e Salvo IW1AYD

But the list does not stop there. Those two individually went on operate IQ1RY. But in addition to the operators of the moment, each OM section of the Section has collaborated in various ways and with their experience to the achievement of this nice result.
The two of us alone couldn't even think to participate so well doing and, least of all, to win without the support of the entire section of Bra. The setup and the care for the whole infrastructure has clearly shown again as a winning element.

Pleased and very happy to have participated in this 44th edition of the Volta RTTY Contest, we hope to see all of you in the 45th, all together again. Wishing to the Volta Contest his year by year partecipants and his staff the longest and fruitful continuation.

Just to remember the Volta RTTY Contest is one of the oldest events on air.

IQ1RY, the ARI Bra will be pleased to put its air operators in several other contests and other ways in addition to RTTY.

BTW we operated a station made around "standard" items owned by us or borrowed for the event. Almost all are well know by anybody of us, for example the RTX chain was built whit a IC-756PROII, a MicroHam MultiKeyer II and a ACOM 2000.
After this contest we started to use SDR, FLEX-3000 for the records and we appreciated a lot. We would stay on the SDR, and is proper setup for RTTY, for the next events. The PROIII will have a well deserved place in ours hearth and minding.

So, no more talk and, to all, be ready for the next Contest: CU on air!

http://www.aribra.it

73 de IQ1RY ARI sezione di Bra
(manned by IK1HNX Mario, IW1AYD Salvo)

2010-07-25T21:12:00.000+02:00

DL-DX RTTY Contest IQ1RY team

2010-07-19T11:46:00.004+02:00

First full weekend in July 2010, starts Saturday 11:00 UTC, ends 10:59 UTC Sunday (24 hours).

IQ1RY

Argomenti

Come ci siamo messi in moto per il DLDX Contest, le fasi preparatorie e le tecniche adottate.

La prima

Pre contest

Come sono andate le cose in corso, impressioni, le operazioni

Il contest

Elementi del contest

Considerazioni e analisi situazione

Elementi del contest

Lezioni apprese

L’ultima

La prima

All’inizio di tutto questo commento, speriamo di aver messo in campo un buon punteggio per il blasone di IQ1RY, la squadra degli operatori ne è uscita felice e serena. Non solo per il punteggio. Ma per l'elevata capacità funzionale di tutto l'ambiente in cui si sono svolte le operazioni, dagli impianti di IQ1RY, ai locali, al setup e al tempo operativo vero e proprio passato insieme. Insieme non solo noi come operatori, ovvero la squadra di questa occasione, ma tutta la comunità intorno alla sezione di Bra e a IQ1RY, in quanto uno è in necessità di ogni altro. Noi, IQ1RY, può solo sperare di far meglio nei prossimi contest, abbiamo buoni margini e mica solo in RTTY.

Prima d’iniziare la vostra fatica di lettori, lasciateci dire una cosa, molto importante e assoluta.

“Vorremmo farlo di nuovo: SI! “

Pre contest

Intorno alle 12:00 locali del sabato 3 Luglio 2010, quindi le 10:00 UTC siamo arrivati alla Sezione ARI di Bra, due operatori per il team DLDX: Mario IK1HXN e Salvo IW1AYD. Esperienze diverse e il comune piacere di operare in RTTY.

Un primo sguardo ci ha rivelato che si dovevano riconnettere le apparecchiature e riorganizzare i collegamenti e il posizionamento delle stesse. Niente di male. Tutti i componenti e i dispositivi di cui si aveva bisogno erano già in loco, preparati e ben collaudati, anche se in breve tempo, la sera del 26 giugno.
Solo il PA aggiuntivo doveva essere rimesso in sede, abbiamo optato per usare lo 1K-FA come PA secondario, non ha dimostrato buona tenuta, tornando a bassa potenza in un minuto o due di operazioni simulate nel corso della serata. Inoltre è urlava come tutti i diavoli dell'inferno, cercando di spingere l’aria già surriscaldata e con una percentuale elevata d’umidità della nostra estate italiana. Mario IK1HXN ha messo in posizione il proprio RAKE 174, che si è dimostrato ottimo, otteniamo facilmente 700/800 Watt, ridotti poi a 500W, limite legale.
Prime operazioni collegare il PC a Internet e fermare l'Anti Virus , collegare il Tmate alla porta USB e proseguire con la sequenza d’avvio:

1. OS, Win7 Ultimate 32 bit con tastiera americana internazionale e un semplice, cablato, mouse

2. FLEX-3000 accesa e funzionante

3. Caricamento FLEX-RADIO driver e verifica connessione FLEX-3000

4. Vcom driver per le porte seriali virtuali

a. COM2 per FLEX CAT insieme

b. COM3 per i segnali PTT per l'applicazione radio

c. COM4 uno splitter ripetuto porta CAT per le interconnessioni multiple con applicazione COM2

5. Avvio applicazione PowerSDR™ e START vero e proprio, un confortante noise floor è apparso sul panavate, antenne già connesse

6. Partenza di N1MM, compreso DXCluster, collegamento radio (COM4), tutte le finestre si mostrano regolari e funzionanti (configurato in precedenza)

7. Lancio applicazione TMate, COM4, sintonia di PowerSDR™, rispondenza QRG N1MM, Tmate e PowerSDR™

Prove di sintonia PA in TX, perfette, grazie alla solita tabellina preparata dal previdente Mario.

Naturalmente il tempo trascorreva e l’ora d’inizio del contest si avvicinava, ma avenamo ancora alcune cose da fare. Una delle più importanti, data l’estrema calura estiva, è stata quella di mettere in moto il condizionatore. Circa 30 ° C con una percentuale di umidità molto elevato esterni e la comodità di averlo ci hanno fatto ben pensare d’utilizzarlo sfruttandone i benefici.

Durante le prove di sintonia abbiamo verificati i livelli di pilotaggio sia dei segnali di TX che del tune. FLEX-3000 non ha connessioni per ALC. Occorre quindi verificare il pilotaggio del PA e trovare un setup ottimale tra Pout e TX gain della radio. Pout scala da 0 a 100, simula la potenza in uscita da 0 a 100W, mentre TX gain regola i livelli di BF modulante a scatti tra -40 DB e +40DB. Abbiamo verificato che non vi erano discrepanze di livello di pilotaggio e del PA per nessuna della bande da usarsi e stabiliti i livelli medi e i delta di variazione possibile. Molto più semplice a farsi che ha dirsi. Non vi è stato bisogno di trascrizioni tabellari dei dati e l’insieme si è dimostrato solido e stabile durante tutte le operazioni poi svolte.

Altro tempo lo abbiamo riservato per la modifica dei filtri di IF della FLEX-3000. Lo schema di regolazioni adottato, per le operazioni di DX chasing e in contest, non ha impatto sulle definizioni dei filtri di POWERSDR. Vengono usate della macro di N1MM che, tramite comandi CAT, eseguono il setup dei filtri di media variabili di POWERSDR.

Dentro le macro aggiuntive di N1MM, quelle relative alla Digital Window, vengono immagazzinate le sequenze di comandi CAT per i diversi filtri. Invece di mandare testo in trasmissione si mandano comandi alla radio. Molto conveniente e pratico durante le operazioni. Nello specifico l’ambiente di N1MM per il call di IQ1RY è stato reinstallato da zero sul PC in uso, lo stesso adibito alla normale operatività RTTY dagli operatori del TEAM. Per riportare le macro standard dell’utente sono stati copiati i relativi file nel nuovo ambiente. I filtri erano quindi ottimizzati per l’uso in DX Chasing, 2800Hz, 1500Hz, 800Hz e 200Hz. I filtri sono semplici macro per la modalità DATI L di PowerSDR™, si regolano larghezza di banda IF e IF shift, quest'ultimo solo se necessario. Abbiamo modificato i filtri e lavorato con 2800 Hz e IF shift intorno a 1500 Hz, 800Hz 500Hz e 220Hz. L'IF shift è stato utilizzato solo nel filtro più largo per impostarne il valore corretto, se necessario, anche per gli altri. Spostando a mano IF shift lo si riporta al valore nominale per i filtri reimpostati da N1MM, non obbligando l’operatore a ritornare su PWSDR per reinquadrare il dato.

Allo stesso modo, ma con una regolazione di MMTY, abbiamo impostato il notch, questa volta di BF, al corretto valore per lavorare in mezzo ai due toni, Mark e Space. Una trovata utile per simulare un Twin Peak Filter, passivo in questo caso e non attivo come su ICOM. Il notch in mezzo ai filtri elimina, verso il decoder RTTY, un’ulteriore parte di rumore o di segnali indesiderati. Come in transceiver commerciali lavora in BF. Possiamo solo sperare che FLEX-RADIO possa implementare un filtro IF apposito con due Filtri separati di 170Hz e larghi poche decine di Hz. Dovrebbe essere possibile con la giusta ampiezza di banda e i giusti algoritmi di filtri per il DSP software. In definitiva si tratterebbe in una direzione voluta da molti. Ma purtroppo, al momento, compresa da pochi.

Altre note sul setup dell’ambiente software riguardano MMTTY, usato con i toni bassi e demodulatore FIR mentre si è mantenuto, per più che ovvie ragioni, il filtro in trasmissione per POWERSDR.

I filtri di IF di cui dipsone POWERSDR, NON hanno ringing, niente barattolini di latta dentro la radio. Ma, dato l’uso intensivo della radio in contest e in DX chasing si preferiscono i toni bassi, 1445 Hz di Mark in DATA-LSB. Questo migliora notevolmente i più probabili elementi che contribuiscono alla fatica d’ascolto, anche se poi, finito il contest, i campanellini si sentono lo stesso per un po’, mai provato?

Dato che si è optato per i toni bassi, low tones, in TX su MMTTY bisogna forzare il parametro di NET, appunto per garantire che i toni in TX seguano quanto impostato in RX. A questo punto si apre il solito capitolo relativo a un problema di cui pochi di noi si rendono conto: i toni bassi, sotto i canonici 2125Hz di mark, comportano intermodulazione nei diversi stadi di BF delle nostre radio e quindi spurie notevoli nella banda di 3KHz. Ovvero, dato che TUTTI i nostri ricetrasmettitori, ma proprio tutti, usano in TX i filtri di maggior larghezza disponibili per lo stesso tipo di trasmissione o simili, quando si vanno a iniettare due toni audio si generano prodotti d’intermodulazione che vengono trasmessi in aria per quanto è larga la banda del filtro in TX. Ecco perché, semplicemente, NON si devono sintonizzare segnali nei primi 1800/2000Hz dei 3 KHz medi visibili in un waterfall, sia sapendolo che non sapendolo. FLEX-RADIO dispone di un meccanismo molto interessante e UNICO, i filtri in TX, stringendo opportunamente la banda passante in TX si evitano interferenze e si esce con un segnale pulito e ottimale, sempreché comunque non si usino livelli di TX BF troppo elevati. A questo punto si dovrebbe aver ben compreso che la FLEX-3000 esce in TX RTTY in AFSK, è una caratteristica insita nel fatto che sia una SDR. Uscire in low tones in FSK comporta comunque buoni parte dei problemi accennati. Terminata anche questa verifica per il filtro di media in TX siamo pronti per il contest.

MMTTY nonostante sia parecchio datato e solo di recente rimesso in auge per i nuovi sistemi operativi windows che hanno stravolto la gestione delle interfacce audio si è comportato bene se non benissimo e NON ha rivale alcuno. Sia per interfacci abilità che per caratteristiche di buon e affidabile funzionamento.

Un minimo di accordi per le strategie e le modalità operative, i cambi banda e le antenne e … pronti: via!

Il Contest

Alle 10:55 UTC eravamo pronti e seduti nelle rispettive posizioni operative, il primo a muoversi è stato IW1AYD Salvo, Mario IK1HXN era pronto come l'operatore di controllo in partenza. Posso dire che questo era solo perché al Contest VOLTA RTTY era stata … la volta, scusate il gioco di parole, di Mario dare avvio delle operazioni. Così come è, di gran lunga, l'operatore più esperto del nostro micro team.

Il primo periodo operativo è stato stabilito in 20m, facile in questa stagione, con la “buona” propagazione (meglio dire con la banda aperta, in quanto a bontà, beh ne potremmo ridire) in atto e con l’elevato numero di stazioni osservate in riscaldamento nel panadapter della 3000. Trafficando qua è la con il Tmate, manopola di sintonia, si notava una notevole attività di riscaldamento, tenuta di posizioni, insomma il gioco si faceva intenso. Ottime premesse per un contest.

Ma, il bello doveva ancora venire, da una buona attività siamo passati ad osservare un muro di segnali …

Alle 11:00 abbiamo iniziato a chiamare “CQ DLDX de IQ1RY IQ1RY CQ”. Il nostro primo contatto è stato dopo pochi secondi, poi, sempre in RUN, non ci siamo più fermati. Diversi altri OM ci hanno chiamato, tutti in sequenza, diverse volte sovrapponendosi. Abbiamo aperto e chiuso ogni QSO velocemente per quanto abbiamo potuto, il rate, tasso dei contatti, è schizzato verso valori molto alti da subito. L’adrenalina di conseguenza, ma nonostante tutto questo non vi erano call nello stack dei digital call. Stranamente, ma indubbiamente e di gran lunga funzionalmente al traffico ascoltato, il nostro logger non ha iniziato a raccogliere le chiamate in stack di chiamate. In ogni caso su base uno a uno, senza grab automatico dal call stack, il flusso delle operazioni ha continuato ad essere sostenuto fino a raggiungere e mantenere l'obiettivo che abbiamo fissato nel logger, 56 QSO all'ora. Di rutta calma e tranquillità quindi. Operazioni continue, si diceva, ma con diverse richieste di QRZ e o QSO iniziati con HISCALL??. Cercando di forzare le risposte dal rumore e dai diversi naturali accavallamenti. Almeno uno su tre QSO si sono svolti con queste pratiche e hanno avuto comunque riuscita ottimale. Faticoso, ma impossibile da eliminare come molti sanno. In altri termini abbiamo lavorato per riportare quanti più QSO possibili out of the mud, mantenendo la posizione in quello che visibilmente, dal panadapter, sembrava il profilo di una sempre di templi tailandesi ininterrotta. Abbiamo operato con calma e compostezza cercando di tira fuori il massimo sin dall’inizio.

Al almeno uno su tre QSO è stato avviato con un QRZ o dei punti interrogativi nella risposta al supposto corrispondente per diverso tempo. Come diversi sanno e altri vorranno apprendere nulla di diverso si pu’ fare. Devi rimanere lì, mantenendo la posizione, continuando ad operare. Dopo un’ora o poco meno, cambio d’operatore e Mario ha ottenuto il posto di comando, sedendosi epr la prima volta di fronte ad una SDR in Contest. Ha cominciato a usare i giocattoli, a gestire l’intero trenino SDR/DSP/logger/PC in contest e con la prospettiva di essere l'operatore in carica per un po'. La sua espressione è diventata via via più sorridente e tranquilla, ogni preoccupazione circa l'ambiente SDR si è andata sciogliendo come neve al sole. Non che Mario non ne avesse d’esperienza in contest, ma una radio nuova, di qualsiasi tipo, solo provata in ambiente non Contest o di pile up, può nascondere delle pecche, oggettive o soggettivi, che in questa occasione non possono non saltare fuori. La FLEX-3000 si è comportata bene, segnali puliti, nessuna intermodulazione, quando vi erano pigolii venivano demodulati, grazie anche a MMTTY, in modo egregio. Questo anche sulle ben visibili curve di segnali ben più forti. Il vantaggio è stato evidenti, non li si sentiva, quanto li si vedeva. Diverse volte abbiamo pizzicato interessanti moltiplicatori in piena curva di una delle due bande laterali di stazioni molto più forti. Con calma e pazienza. Vedere i segnali, oltre che sentirli, aiuta molto. La visualizzazione dei filtri in TX e in RX consente la sintonia sia con Tmate che con il mouse, molto veloci ed efficaci.

Ricordate che fuori della shack vi erano 30 ° C, a quel punto il panadapter era a una temperatura molto più elevata, ma le operazioni sono continuate infilando un call dopo l’altro nel nostro cesto.

Durante tutto il contest abbiamo avuto diversi momenti di attività in RUN e in S&P, alternandoli a seconda delle condizioni generali e momentanee, delle scelte di strategia e delle possibilità reali di traffico. Vi sono stati momenti intensi sia belli che brutti. Di uno di questi, in particolare, se ne parlerà poco più avanti, così come ne abbiamo avuta notizia a contest terminato.

Personalmente, data la mia limitata esperienza, ogni momento del contest è stato interessante, come sempre. In particolare i 10m sono stati una più che gradita sorpresa, nonostante la propagazione piuttosto strana, la quantità d’alluminio sul traliccio si è fatta notare. Una lama tagliente e fine che ci è stata utile verso Nord/Nord-Est. Domenica mattina, in particolare, vi erano presenti diversi paesi scandinavi, qualche OM URRS o ex-URRS, ma non GB, EA o CT.

In linea generale vi sono stati relativamente pochi contatti con OM U/R.

In 15m è stata una sorpresa collegare diversi OE e HB, un avvenimento inusuale e strano.

In 20m è stato bello il tempo trascorso, nella prima mattinata appena dopo il sorgere del sole, quando hanno cominciato a farsi presenti JA e VK, non senza qualche W. Qui si è svolto un episodio interessante di quelli che piace ricordare. A un certo punto tra un JA e altri ci ha chiamati un W. Qui si, appunto, è svolto un intermezzo divertente, il nostro corrispondente W ha chiamato e abbiamo rimandato a "670 670". Lui, come da copione, ci ha reinviato il suo numero per noi e, inusualmente, una seconda linea con "WOW 670". L'operatore di IQ1RY doveva a quanto punto rispondere con "TU ... CQ" chiudendo a log il collegamento, ma ha anche aggiunto una riga "WOT IT'S A SDR IT WORKS!". Il concetto esplicito è che con “WOW 670”, dove il W intendeva notare un bel numero di QSO svolti, ha avuto da noi risposta con la presenza di una radio che ha migliorato notevolmente le capacità, già ottime, della stazione della Sezione ARI di Bra: la FLEX-3000 si è dimostrata di gran lunga più che un ottimo ricetrasmettitore adatto e ben utilizzabile in Contest RTTY. Una specie di arma segreta, per ora, che con qualche miglioria SW e una maggior integrazione dei diversi applicativi corre il rischio di diventare una piattaforma unica e di riferimento.

Certo, qualcuno aggiungerà commentando a voce, come arma segreta ne ha tutte le caratteristiche di complessità e inaffidabilità. È vero, ad un primo approccio, essendo un insieme assolutamente diverso da altri lascia quest’impressione. È la solita questione di metrica e di somme tra pere e mele, proprietà associative e dissociative. A noi non ha riservato nessuno scherzo, anche perché si era stabilizzata in precedenza ogni configurazione ed eravamo comunque pronti a intervenire nel caso. Con questo non diventa più facile eseguirne il setup, ma consideriamo che a differenza di una radio per la quale il setup senza strumenti seri non può essere fatto, con la SDR il setup della radio è automatico. Resta il setup del PC e dei programmi e qui le differenze si notano, ma è un altro campo, non il solito in cui molti di noi sono abituati ad agire. Occorre cambiare e studiare di nuovo, ma non è il fondamento del nostro hobby?

Tutto è comportato molto bene senza intoppi e senza problemi, la FLEX-3000 che è stata il nucleo del programma di installazione tutto è davvero una meraviglia. Ogni volta che è servita ha dimostrato un ottima resistenza, ben oltre i propri numeri, agli attacchi e alle marea di segnali, raccogliendo qualsiasi segnale basso che si possa essere visto o ascoltato nel “normale” “caos ordinato” di un contest RTTY. Come già prima indicato, bisogna essere pronti a vedere e non solo ad ascoltare i segnali, essere consapevoli del fatto che se qualcuno ha spento l'audio si può farne a meno e continuare a operare "in vista".
Questo significa, a sua volta, che l'operatore può vedere l'intero scenario di quello che sta succedendo, vedere cosa si avvicina dai lati per esempio, vedere bolle intense d’attività e spazi liberi, segnali più bassi e segali sulla bande laterali si altri più ampi o forti. E per tutto questo, riteniamo, ne vale la pena di faticare per mettere in pista questa nuova tecnologia, così come nel vale la pena di mantenere apparecchiature costruite non recentemente.

Abbiamo esaminato diversi segnali, grandi e piccoli, che ci sono apparsi qua e là, anche incastrati tra di loro. Diversi segnali particolarmente critici sono stati demodulati con successo, usando i parametri più adatti di MMTTY più già inseriti in userpara.ini. passando anche qui con un semplice click di mouse da filtri larghi standard a filtri stretti per diminuire il rumore al demodulatore FIR.

Ci siamo divertiti, non essendoci bottoni da toccare, a settare e modificare i filtri di IF da macro opportunamente configurate. A fare la sintonia con il mouse oltre che con la manopola aggiuntiva Tmate.

Elementi del contest

Siccome ogni cosa non procede sempre come noi si vorrebbe. Dobbiamo segnalare un inconveniente fatto presente a tutto il mondo da FO8RZ in cui IQ1RY è coinvolta. FO8RZ, Phil, ci ha segnalati sulla mail-list 3830 come una stazione che non ascolta prima di chiamare. Peccato, se lo avessimo sentito l‘ avremmo collegato mettendoci a log reciprocamente molto volentieri. Noi purtroppo non l’abbiamo ne visto ne sentito e solo dopo il contest, leggendo il suo report su 3830, ci siamo resi conto che qualcosa non aveva funzionato per il verso giusto. Peccato era ed è un buon moltiplicatore. Speriamo d’incontrarci nuovamente in migliori condizioni Phil. Saremo ben felice di mettere a log i reciproci call sign. Au revoir Phil.

Abbiamo letto in modo interessato un altro commento su 3830, quello degli operatori di Z37M. Addirittura ci fanno i complimenti per l’attività svolta. Siamo molto vicini come punteggio non ufficiale, claimed, tutto è ancora possibile, ma ringraziamo e a nostra volta ci complimentiamo di buon cuore. Specie per le modalità con cui il nominativo di Z37M ha operato. Riuscire a sviluppare l’esperienza di nuovi operatori in contest è un ottimo traguardo e migliora la qualità generale delle operazioni. Ci aspettiamo quindi di ritrovare gli amici di Z37M sempre più spesso e sempre meglio. Il loro report è stato per noi sprone e pungolo durante il contest. Ben fatto OM.

Durante lo svolgersi del contest vi sono stati diversi momenti difficili con ripetuti AGN AGN, anche Z37M lo ha notato e trascritto nel suo soapbox

Dopo anni di contest, chi più e chi meno, abbiamo lavorato per la prima volta senza TPF. Ci siamo sentiti un po’ orfani, sulle prime, ma l’ambiente ben preparato dei filtri di POWERSDR e del notch “passivo “ di MMTY non ce l’hanno fatto rimpiangere più di tanto. Avere tutto a disposizione in un click di mouse è davvero comodo oltre che funzionale. Anche i diversi OM intervenuti durante le operazioni hanno apprezzato l’agilità con la quale ci si muoveva tra i diversi filtri nelle diverse fasi operative. Questo principio potrebbe essere utilizzato con qualsiasi programma disponga di sufficienti bottoni per le macro e della capacità d’inviare comandi CAT ai diversi RTX. Con il programma appropriato anche le ultime radio ICOM possono riguadagnare la semplice ingenuità del buon vecchio 756PROIII, un solo bottone per inserire TPF e filtro stretto in RTTY. Invece dell’assurda sequenza ora necessaria di 2 o più tasti in sequenza.

Sempre grazie alle macro, al Tmate e al mouse, NON abbiamo notato la mancanza delle manopole sulla radio,”le vere radio hanno le manopole e i bottoni” ci ha lasciati del tutto indifferenti. Anche chi doi ha toccato per la prima volta in vita sua una SDR.

Il FLEX-3000 è stato molto ben fatto non secondo a nessuno, il rastrello 174 ci ha dato un segnale solido e pulito, le antenne, YAGI e dipoli per le bande inferiori, ha lavorato molto bene così come tutto il lavoro fatto da altri colleghi qui da mantenere. Tutte le strutture di altre cose e utility uscì senza problemi unico, con qualsiasi mezzo OM altri BRA ARI che mantengono al presente meritano un grazie grande per noi due che godeva questo concorso. Ci auguriamo, come Z37M per acquisire nuovi operatori e nuova linfa, all'interno di un gruppo di amici.

Lezioni apprese

Ogni cosa è filata per il verso migliore, nessun intoppo particolare.

Qualche disguido sull’interfaccia del logger, meglio lasciarsi guidare che forzarne il data entry.

Fantastica, come sempre, la posizione di IQ1RY e il parco antenne. La sistemazione, già provata è stata ottima pure quella, persino il condizionatore … si suppone per le apparecchiature e non per gli operatori, nevvero.

Il setup di tutte le funzioni da N1MM, il logger si è rivelato vincente, controllo sintonia, cluster, macro messaggi e macro di comando radio, tutto insieme ha alleviato le fatiche dell’operare mantenendo un interfaccia coesa, appiccicata tutta nella stessa applicazione e intuitiva.

Il resto lo ha fatto la radio a supporto della fantastica postazione di IQ1RY.

Operativamente diversi piccoli tratti e trucchi, scambio notevole d’informazioni tra i due operatori. Essendo solo in due non abbiamo avuto bisogno di un ruolino di marcia per le operazioni, ce la siamo cavata a braccio e speriamo con soddisfazione reciproca.

Diversi colleghi sono passati a trovarci, o per altre esigenze operative della sezione o per mera compagnia, non sappiamo bene che impressione gli hanno fatto quei due matti di fronte al cinemascope da 26”. Ma non sono andati via borbottando.

I colleghi ci hanno peraltro messo a disposizione tutta la loro disponibilità e avevano in settimana riportato a regime diversi elementi di primari a importanza, rotore compreso.

Il PA a transistor, 1K-FA, si è dimostrato molto sensibile al caldo, lo abbiamo quindi tenuto di scorta. Oltre a ridurre dopo poche chiamate la potenza aveva la tendenza a soffiare come un ossesso. Va bene, da specifiche, tenuto in half power e distante/defilato dalla postazione principale

Le buone e vecchie valvole si sono dimostrate molto più silenziose e affidabili, anche in versione manuale. Ottimo il RAKE di Mario usato in questa occasione: una sciccheria.

Non è facile portarsi a spasso SDR e PC preconfigurato, ma si può fare.

È necessario un video di grandi dimensioni per avere tutto sotto controllo, l’ipotesi di lavora con due video più piccoli non è stata provata. Deve comunque rimanere tutto sotto controllo di un solo mouse e del solo mouse. Video aggiuntivi di mera visualizzazione potrebbero essere utili per l’applicazione del PA, se il PA è fuori vista.

La FLEX-3000 viene descritta come sensibile ai campi di RF, lo scrivente ha diversi chocke su ingressi e uscita dei cavi di segnale, in una buon installazione come quella della sezione di Bra è andato tutto bene senza nessun ritorno.

La radio non ha connessione di ALC, poco male, tabellina e conoscenza delle apparecchiature hanno supplito più che in abbondanza a questa non mancanza. Certo non dover spingere oltre il limite ci ha aiutati da quel lato. La conoscenza delle proprie apparecchiature è fondamentale, idem per le proprie risorse di diverso genere..

La radio non fa FSK, abominio, abiura, sofferenze inenarrabili, acqua e sale sulle piaghe … macché, Mario se n’è reso conto a contest inoltrato e non credeva ai propri occhi. Usare un buon filtro in TX, cosa unicamente possibile per una SDR e la relativa interfaccia software, è mandatario. Altre apparecchiature minimizzano questo problema, non avendo un filtro stretto in TX, usando FSK. Ad una SDR, pur usando i toni bassi, elemento di notevole peggioramento dei prodotti d’intermodulazione in TX, ciò non serve, il proprio AFSK è al livello o molto migliore di diversi RTX in FSK.

Da non tralasciare che l’uso di toni bassi e l’assenza totale di ringing dei filtri SDR lascia gli anziani, come lo scrivente, molto meno rintronati dopo ore di contest. La fatica d’ascolto data dalle distorsioni audio e dai toni alti con il ringing dei filtri IF, anche per i DSP degli RTX tradizionali, è elevata. Qui, con SDR. È assente.

N1MM si è rivelato un sicuro elemento di successo, ha dalla sua un vantaggio particolare. È facilmente configurabile per l’utilizzo in QSO standard e DX oltre che per tutti i maggiori contest. Questo fa in modo che lo si possa approcciare per la normale attività RTTY. Come conseguenza si diventa via via più ferrati nell’uso dell’interfaccia fornita e nel modificarla, laddove il campo è lasciato all’utilizzatore, per renderla sia utile che facile da usare. Usarlo tutti i giorni aiuta ad usarlo via via meglio, specie in contest, dove per una proprio errore o tentennamento si perdono dei QSO. Usarlo tutti i giorni insieme alla propria radio consente di scoprire sempre nuovi e interessanti aspetti operativi, comuni tra radio e N1MM. Aspetti che poi diventano pane e companatico delle attività in contest.

Insomma, non si nasce imparati, ma con la giusta dose di diversi elementi si arriva da qualche parte, nel tempo.

L'ultima

A chiusura di tutto questo commento, speriamo di aver messo in campo un buon punteggio per il blasone di IQ1RY, la squadra degli operatori ne è uscita felice e serena. Non solo per il punteggio. Ma per l'elevata capacità funzionale di tutto l'ambiente in cui si sono svolte le operazioni, dagli impianti di IQ1RY, ai locali, al setup e al tempo operativo vero e proprio passato insieme. Insieme non solo noi come operatori, ovvero la squadra di questa occasione, ma tutta la comunità intorno alla sezione di Bra e a IQ1RY, in quanto uno è in necessità di ogni altro. Noi, IQ1RY, può solo sperare di far meglio nei prossimi contest, abbiamo buoni margini e mica solo in RTTY.

HPE CUAGN

73 de IQ1RY (il DL DX RTTY operators team)

DX IS ...

2010-07-18T12:14:00.005+02:00

... NOT SO FAR FROM ANY OF US.

73 de iw1ayd Salvo

Rules for Working DX

2010-07-18T12:05:00.000+02:00

After listening to the latest Dxpediton we thought it was time to reissue the DX Rules from 1997.

Rules for DXing or How to have more FUN on the Bands:

The DX MODE:

1. If you come upon a pileup, find the exact DX frequency and slowly tune up your KW right on his frequency. Take your time doing this as it has maximum effect this way. The longer you take, the better. It lets others know that YOU are going to call the DX.

2. If you cannot wait to find out the DX call sign, ask, "What is the DX call sign?" On CW send “DX?” Call?" Do NOT listen, this takes time. DO this repeatedly until someone gives you the DX call. This will show all others on frequency that you are serious about wanting to work this DX. This is called sharing.

3. When you find out the DX call, repeat your call over and over again on the DX frequency. Even if he is working split there is a chance he may be listening on his transmit

frequency.

4. When the DX says "ABC only"- Don't believe him. If he says " Europe only" - Don't believe him. If he says, "2's only" - Don't believe him. Keep giving your call "XYZ” !!...XYZ !! ...XYZ !! How Copy MARIO?" Make sure you use his name when you call him, he may think you are someone he knows. It must work as we hear it on bands all the time so it has to be effective. Don't pay attention to directional calls. When did any DX know what they wanted ? What matters most is what YOU want.

5. To get the DX to work other modes tell him you want to set up a schedule later which is convenient to you. You should wait until the pileup has built up to several hundred and just before the band is about to go out, then ask him to meet you on CW, PSK31, RTTY or SSB at a set time and frequency. Above all, make sure you tell him that YOU need him on these modes. This will endear you in the hearts of all on frequency, it shows that you can work more than one mode and are a

well-rounded amateur.

6. If you have worked the DX previously make sure you call him and tell him that he is stronger than the last 6 times you worked him this week. The DX station will want to know this. Others on frequency will respect you more, you will be recognized as a Big Gun DXer.

7. When you find a DX pileup, to bring your operating skills to a higher level and impress all those on frequency - Zero beat the DX send "QRL? Is this frequency in use?" This shows character and that you are truly a caring person.

8. When finally making the DX contact, give the DX some background about yourself, TX, RX, ANT, WX, how many children and grandchildren you have, where they went to college, what size bedroom slipper you wear, or any other items of interest to the DX. This shows that you are not just a 59 kind of guy.This is most effective when the band is just about to fold.

9. After you have worked the DX you will need the QSL route. Although this will be listed on the DX packet cluster, in ARRL & DX News Letters, and on the Internet, there is no reason for you to go to all the bother of reading these sources. You can just keep calling on the DX frequency..."What is the QSL Information?" If you don't get a reply with the information after 8 or 10 calls, keep it up, your persistence will payoff. There are plenty of other stations on frequency who are

waiting to work the DX who have read these publications and they willing and ready to help you.

Rules for THE FUN MODE

1. For a split operation, spend most of your day listening and transmitting on the DX sending frequency. On CW, if someone calls on the DX transmitting frequency, right away using your J-38 at 4 WPM, send VP...UG...NP ...UP. until you get it right. If the station continues to call on the DX frequency, then send LSD .. LIB ..LED... LID..until you get it right.

This has three benefits.

A. Others waiting to work the DX will be forever indebted to you for informing the offending station that the DX is working split.

B. The offending station will be grateful.

C. You will get some needed code practice to get you over that 5 WPM hump.

2. For those with CW and voice memory keyers this will be easy. All you have to do is program in "UP" and "LID". For the more advanced operators you can add "SPLIT" "YOU IDIOT, WORKING SPLIT " ...Using the memory keyers for your day's activity will save your voice. Should you happen by chance to have a QSO you will need it.

As always … Work'em First….. Confirm Later ….WFCL

73 Whitey, K1VV … “ UP UP UP ! “

FLEX startup links

2010-07-08T12:45:00.002+02:00

Hello dear friend,
nice to read from you.

I think, as with the FLEX-3000 is my base on this judgment, it is a wonderful radio, the 1500 I mean.
You will be happy to operate it and you will discovery how nice is ours windows on the HAM bands.

In the meantime have a check on yours PC, this not directly connected to HRD but useful.
Have here some pointers to those utilities. (direct links embedded here down)

A free deferred procedure calls
http://www.thesycon.de/eng/latency_check.shtml
(plenty of explanation about DPC on the same page)

And a tool for the USB by Microsoft, at FTDI Microsoft USBView - USB Connection Viewer

http://www.ftdichip.com/Resources/Utilities.htm

Also I don't know if you are connected to those lists, even without having the radio you could find interesting information from other users ... and pointer to the FLEX-RADIO Knowledge Base.
Those list are the officials FLEX-RADIO mail lists

http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexedge_flex-radio.biz

http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz

There you could find also pointers to mail list archives.

Also the HRD support forum have a lot of interesting info about the subject.

http://forums.ham-radio.ch/

This is a sample article from there

Flex-3000, PowerSDR: Use with PowerSDR's VAC? <http://forums.ham-radio.ch/showthread.php?t=18260&highlight=powersdr> ( I wrote also there HI ;->)

Remember you have to buy Virtual Audio Cable, VAC, to use digital modes audio redirection from FLEX to other programs

And, last but not least, on Yahoo there is a FLEX group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FlexRadio/

Now I have the station setup disrupted as I have used it for the DLDX Contest moving all the gears at ours Radio Club facilities, but next time (if you need) I could send a picture of the screen with DM780, Logbook and POWERSDR.

Have fun and be prepared to enjoy with the FLEX, in the hope that the wait time would be short and it will seem more than short!

Ciao & 73 de iw1ayd Salvo

Manuale d’autodisciplina e di tecniche operative radioamatoriali

2009-10-15T18:44:00.002+02:00

È distribuito, in ordine alfabetico, dal

www.iw1axr.eu
www.panniello.it
www.radiomateur.eu

Scritto da un mucchietto d'amici per se stessi e gli altri che ne vogliano approfittare.

73, Salvo IW1AYD

TPF IC-7600 IC-7700 IC-7200

2009-10-04T09:15:00.004+02:00

More info on the subject of the twin peak filter or TPF at:

http://www.panniello.it/?p=540

73, Salvo iw1ayd

Twin Peak Filters TPF

2009-09-06T22:39:00.007+02:00

Now the 7600, 7700 and 7200 TPF filters work in default mode as in the picture, simply awfull ...

... compared to this picture as it was before on the 756PROIII and worked like this ...

Better to stay on 756PROIII if you even tried FSK RTTY.

It's awful that they went back and reengineered the Twin Peak Filter so badly as now it is unusefull by default.

BTW to have it on such old way you may learn to fiddle the filter selection button two times to go tight and then two times again to go back on the largest filter.
Tight filter is OK for QSO with weak signals or during contests, large filter is useful for S&P and DX searching ... 1/1 button pushes with the 756PROIII to go forth and back; 3/3 button pushes with the newest radios. Not to speak, on the same new radios, about the badly displaced TPF button. TPF was a marvel, now is awful and ugly.

Have fun with the radio

73 de iw1ayd, Salvo

2009-07-09T22:46:00.000+02:00

da allora

2009-07-09T22:42:00.001+02:00

SO2R build up

2009-03-02T15:53:00.002+01:00

I would like to build up a SO2R station quite on the cheap. Cheap wouldn't mind to build up nothing or like but a small SO2R station for RTTY an maybe phone. Power class will be 100W initially, as I think that everything need a start.
The core will be a couple of transceiver, well tied on the air by the rigid dipole that I already own.
1) Create V shaped dipole for 40/20/15/10 - vertical steppir, the big with the addon for 80 meters, EH for 160 and optionally for 80 and 40;
2) RTX a 756PIII and a to be acquired 7600, or a 7400 that I already own for the start;
3) MK2R+ for the double radio control and lock in and lock out of the transceivers, maybe with a station master device added for rotor and antenna switching control;
4) single computer with 4 serial ports and N1MM software
5) several accessories and cables from power supplies
6) cables and cabling to string all together
7) furniture to use all that inside home

The only points with something already done are
1) Create dipole already working, trying to understand real world possibilities for the vertical or how to backup on EH
2) radios actually owned 756 and 7400
3) all to be done, acquisitions and so on
4) computer almost ready just to add two more serials and check it for RTX to PC communications
4more) software N1MM in self study and slowly on the job training via some contests
5) almost ready, maybe something like a new couple of watt meters, PS ready
6) will be done accordingly all others points
7) to be defined, starting from the actual base but seriously to be considered

Point #1 is the most declarative on the real world conditions for this build up, there will not be the space nor the way to build up a beam/full size dipole supported station. So I am not starting on the edge of the building and this set the point of arrive. NO way to change this.

7400 vs 7600, I would like to buy a second 756, could be possible as used or so on, but why to lost the possibility to try roof filters and more feature like self contained RTTY. By the way it's more easy to buy a radio, sigh!, than to put up a tower. So a start on 7400 or 7600 would be determined by when I will need a second transceiver. Probably I could afford a start in moths, middle summer, so the 7600 could be targeted for that data.

... to be continued ...

LOG book HRD-DM780

2009-02-10T22:47:00.003+01:00

http://www.hrdlog.net

2009-01-26T23:51:00.003+01:00

void

2009-01-26T13:09:00.004+01:00

void

Visto passare una sera sul cluster

2009-01-21T14:13:00.001+01:00

Idea per una QSL

2009-01-21T14:07:00.002+01:00

Questa e un'idea per la foto da mettere in una prossima QSL. Il soggetto non è proprio radioamatoriale,ma sempre d'antenne si tratta le montagne sono quelle intorno a Torino.

Numeri a colori

2008-12-25T12:39:00.004+01:00

funny picture

2008-11-14T20:55:00.001+01:00

more radio

2008-11-14T20:44:00.000+01:00

My 703 out of home

2008-11-14T20:42:00.000+01:00

beauty

2008-11-14T20:40:00.000+01:00

repair

2008-11-14T20:38:00.000+01:00

2008-11-14T20:33:00.000+01:00

FLEX-3000

2008-11-08T20:03:00.001+01:00

"Le pagine di Salvo, che non si possono spiegare"

2008-11-01T17:14:00.006+01:00

"Le pagine di Salvo,
che non si possono
spiegare"

08/10/00 13:51 +0200

"Le pagine di Salvo, che non si possono spiegare"

2008-11-01T17:07:00.002+01:00

Tweriarte

2008-11-01T15:48:00.001+01:00

Non è una nuova crisi è la solita grassazione

2008-11-01T15:35:00.001+01:00

di nuovo

Lo ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ripetono ripetono, ripetono, ripetono, ...

Oggidì

2008-11-01T15:30:00.003+01:00

"Le pagine di Salvo, che non si possono spiegare"

2008-10-14T13:21:00.001+02:00

Bigger than me

2008-10-14T13:15:00.001+02:00

ready, almost

cose, persone e animali

2008-10-02T09:25:00.000+02:00

era ieri o domani, ora è tardi

2008-09-17T20:03:00.001+02:00

Gi esseri umani non devono essere specializzati come gli insetti.

2008-09-17T20:03:00.000+02:00

some

2008-08-23T12:59:00.000+02:00

2008-07-26T19:22:00.000+02:00

2008-07-26T19:21:00.000+02:00

2008-07-26T19:20:00.000+02:00

2008-07-26T19:19:00.000+02:00

2008-07-26T19:18:00.000+02:00

2008-07-26T19:16:00.000+02:00

2008-07-26T19:14:00.000+02:00

2008-07-26T09:26:00.000+02:00

2008-07-26T09:23:00.000+02:00

2008-07-26T09:21:00.000+02:00

2008-07-26T09:20:00.000+02:00

2008-07-26T09:19:00.000+02:00

2008-07-26T09:17:00.000+02:00

2008-07-26T09:16:00.000+02:00

2008-07-26T09:15:00.000+02:00

2008-07-26T09:13:00.001+02:00

2008-07-26T09:13:00.000+02:00

2008-07-26T09:11:00.000+02:00

2008-07-26T09:10:00.000+02:00

2008-07-26T09:08:00.000+02:00

2008-07-26T09:06:00.000+02:00

2008-03-15T12:03:00.001+01:00

Today is a new old day

2008-01-04T10:07:00.000+01:00

2007-12-19T22:48:00.000+01:00

2007-12-19T22:47:00.001+01:00

today

2007-12-19T22:47:00.000+01:00

2007-12-19T22:45:00.000+01:00

Dan Bitx20

2007-12-19T22:14:00.000+01:00

2007-11-11T22:29:00.001+01:00

IW1AxR

2007-11-11T22:27:00.001+01:00

JUMA TRX2

2007-09-09T15:27:00.001+02:00

2007-06-29T00:19:00.001+02:00

2007-06-29T00:16:00.001+02:00

2007-06-28T23:02:00.000+02:00

From HPSDR -

2007-06-25T19:55:00.000+02:00

Some Glossary Definitions, gracefully grabbed from HPSDR

Since this website (*) and project (*) is attracting interested persons who are not Radio Amateurs and hams who may not be familiar with some of the technical jargon, here are a few words about what some of the mysterious acronyms, etc. may stand for.

Radio Amateurs ("hams") -- persons around the world interested in radio communications and do so without monetary compensation (hence as in sports, the term "amateur" as opposed to "professional" in the sense of not receiving money for what they do). For more information on this hobby/service, start with ... nothing more was here on the original site ... I understand that somebody doesn't wrote some url here ... forgotten ... let me try with one www.arrl.org That's just to have a sketched overview but not the whole wild bunch of pictures that comes from this undoubtedly wonderful hobby ( what stamps stand for? If I understand what the meaning of stamp is I could change this last sentence. an.)

(*) their website AN

One and one, much than two

2007-06-25T19:02:00.000+02:00

NOTES ON SDR

DRILL DOWN TO:
Setting Up the SDR-1000
for WSJT using VAC 4.03

Another great addition for info on several subjects
*to time he will change the page, keep any standalone url by itself

Today further drill down for N9VV site:
A (pdf comes from deutsch side)
B
C
D
E
F
G

2007-06-21T12:03:00.000+02:00

This my last ultraspeed personal computer. I plan to buy some others stuff like this to mike a VMS Cluster, CI and LAVC.

2007-06-20T18:57:00.001+02:00

Quote of the Day: An argument is the longest d...

2007-06-20T18:38:00.001+02:00

test

Quote of the Day:
An argument is the longest distance between two points of view.
--Dan Bennett

Aggha!

2007-06-20T18:34:00.001+02:00