And finally spent the CQ WPX SSB 2011 edition. As planned as part of the team participated Multi-Single (M / S) of LQ5H with Victor (LU3HS) and Alejandro (LW7HT) . It was a novel experience for me in many ways. Operating in teams as part of a M / S, HP operation, access a competitive season in teams, first used the N1MM under competitive conditions, opportunity to participate competitively in 15/160 meters and up to first participation in a CQ WPX. All these factors also are not familiar with any of the equipment used. Many simultaneous innovations are a little overwhelming, but I was able to draw many conclusions as to any similar operation in the future if it is given as to apply to my station and the strategies they use Single mode Operator. As in all learning takes something that went as expected, what went not as expected and what was a surprise either way. 
In summary of the operation was claimed at 1906M790 with a total score 4032450 (still untreated). Both QSO rates as the scores are totally out of scale of my previous experience, I suppose due to a combination of factors but certainly dominated by the experience of station operators, infrastructure and use LQ5H HP.
PLANNING. generally has paid me to spend some time planning for the contests, see what it looks like the spread, trying to decide which category to participate, study carefully the rules and generally prepare the station with some trials, the majority of this planning is in previous posts in this blog. But of course I had no idea how to plan an operation M / S. As I was not really sure until a week before if the transaction would materialize LQ5H did some preliminary preparation to compete in SO SB 10 Mts QRP so had some idea of \u200b\u200bwhat to expect the spread. However, the operation M / S is all band by nature, I decided then to take the contact profiles of CQ WPX SSB 2010 available on the site analysis of CQ WW WPX of EI6DX and assume the proportions for each band (not necessarily the absolute numbers) would be maintained. A second aspect was to see how they could contribute more effectively to teamwork, certainly my ability to sustain rates of contacts is well below that of Victor and Alexander, so my contribution without impairing the performance of the radio station would necessarily be at times marginal. So I proposed the idea of \u200b\u200bestablishing an operation where one hand the team did run to the main station while watching the rule of a single transmitter on the air time, with a second station could work in their focus on getting LP multiplier marginal bands that transaction. The regulation allows 10 band changes per hour, or a short break from run to work a multiplier would add a maximum of 5 multipliers per hour. Sounds like a modest figure, but if you're consistent you can add around 200 multipliers, with 2000 QSOs and an average score of 2.8 points / QSO that represents a potential point 1M (2000 x 2.8 QSO Points / QSO x 200 Mult ), the argument has merit in the paper and significant holes in practice but in the preliminaries seemed like a good idea (although I have to admit that neither Victor nor Alexander were especially excited about it.) The planning took into account first then Run station and a station Hunt (Hunter) operating in two teams and the second on a marginal basis (equipment, bands and antennas) for the first condition with no interference. Generally called "hunter" to the second station rather than "multiplier" because in reality the CQ WPX regulation does not limit the type of contact to be made, only the number of band changes, presumably having spent a few changes band only for something "worth" such as a new multiplier. The boundary conditions were such that if the station was operating on 10/15/20 Run Hunt could operate in 40/80/160 or vice versa; marginally could operate on 15 meters with the Hunt using the 40-meter antenna provided The Run was not on 15 meters at that time, another good idea on paper that does not walk at all well in practice for several reasons. The result of the plan can be seen in the figure.
Victor and Alexander had a much more experiential approach to setting a little planning what became the operation in practice, a mixture of a preliminary plan but heavily influenced by the actual results and performance of the bands could be observed . In a preliminary to the contest were observed propagation indicators strongly consistent with good propagation in higher bands (R> 100), so the plan could be described as Run in 15 and 10 meters during the day, 20 40 meters at night. 80 and 160 meters to be reviewed periodically to see if they could provide multipliers. PROPAGATION AND COMPETITION propagation behaved a little differently than expected, 10 meters had better performance than 15 and 20 meters perform better than 40 meters. 80 meters was marginal at best and 160 meters do not exist. In a couple of opportunities he tried to pass regional contacts (PY / LU / CE) to 160 meters but the attempt failed in all cases; 80 meters provided only a few regional contacts (although most were multipliers). The pattern of contacts per band can be seen in figure herein, which show that 10 
meters dominated much of both days and 20 meters (contacts with more modest rates) much of the first night, the second night there was no operation. 40 meters provided a few contacts on both nights (mostly multipliers) as did 15 meters immediately above. In fact both had plenty of interesting stations, but the propagation conditions were difficult to work (even with HP!). Example can be seen as the 1600Z the first day a band change to 15 meters (tempted by what was heard) resulted in a drastic fall in the rate of contacts. It is also visible that the spread or the number of competitors (or both) were better the first day than the second. The behavior of multipliers was not too different (see figure) 
which show that the contribution of multipliers 15 and 40 meters was in relative terms, slightly higher than its supply of contacts. A comparative purposes only taking 10 meter operation the score would have been 1149M421 with something less than 1.4M of points (according to the reflector 3830 that would have been on or around 5th or 6th place to SOSB 10M WW HP), obviously we do not operate the OS and the operation took more hours than those used on 10 meters but is to give an idea of \u200b\u200bhow important it was 10 meters participation. Regarding the origin of the participants 75% of contacts took place with 9 countries (47% K , DL 8%, PY 4%, 3% EA, JA 3% 3% I, VE 2% F 2% LU 2%). Meanwhile, 55 countries contributed their prefixes, but represented less than 5% of contacts. A total of 91 entities worked so we were very close to the DXCC's in a couple of nights. From the standpoint of multipliers 15 states provided 75% of them (36% K , DL 8% 4% PY, I 4%, JA 4%, 3% EA, LU 3% 2% VE, PA 2 %, 2% UA, BY 2% F 2% 2% UA9, G 1% 1% ON ) the situation is similar to the case of contacts but the list is a little more extensive to include also China, Russia, UK and other European countries. NOTES FROM OPERATING The operation of a complex competition in a mode M / S has many facets that it is difficult to organize for me to draw conclusions, not I'm sure even my ability to analyze these findings. But let's start with the basics, the final result claimed 1906M790 with a total score 4032450. This is slightly more than 1200 contacts and 600 with 23 hours for the first day (51 QSO / Hr and 27 Mult / Hr) while nearly 600 more than 160 contacts and multipliers with 15 hours of operation (37 QSO / Hr and 11 Mult / Hr) from the second or the first day was clearly better than the second, by a wide margin. I have no comparison or reference elements to make possible reasons for sure. My impression is that in every big competition operates an effect of "exhaustion of the competitive space" (difficult name to refer to the seasons begin to repeat). The spread can certainly play a role. I think some measure of competitive strategy and fatigue meets a role too. The accumulated points and multipliers tell a similar story (see chart below) 
. In the early hours of the project QSO number grew substantially but did not multiplying as fast. Then ironed on QSO activity but remained a rhythm in the multipliers for the whole first night ( 208M187). Around 1500Z began a good pace as both QSO Multipliers. The second night was not operated, and resumed activity 1300Z until the end of the contest where both contact rate and the multiplier was interesting but less than the previous day. The parallel strategy to manage a station did not hunt big results during the first night, in LP and the assumption of non-interference with the main run multiplier rate was limited by the statutory maximum for the first 3 hours (15 multipliers) but then was limited by propagation and availability of stations. The Hunt was mostly overnight in 40 mts and 15 mts something, the first very noisy and a lot of power stations to work on LP and the second is not too open. Technical problems (detailed below) was arrested this mode at 1100Z and recently resumed with many limitations of antenna at 1800Z but with very poor performance. Additionally, the band changes using for this purpose in a couple of times restricted the operational capacity of the run by not allowing change band agility necessary when conditions changed. Hunt mode is hardly used as was originally intended for the second day, however we had an opportunity to exercise as a pilot to operate SO2V which showed signs of being interesting to work on the transition between changes of propagation. For example, on Sunday morning as 15 meters offered a rate of run-off and multiplier some individual stations were worked on 10 meters. Basically took advantage of the sub-receiver Yaesu FT1000MP to listen on the alternative band and verify if the contact was interesting (dupe, multiplier, etc) so once done run the operator could "jump" to work it briefly. Mode requires some technical work to take advantage but showed some potential, even more than Hunt season at least in the configuration used. The distribution of results was a point that I am anxious because I did not know the dynamics of an M / S, it turned out that Victor had an approx. 50% of both contacts and multipliers, Alejandro 30% of contacts and multipliers until I had an approx. 20% of both. Mode "hunt" 127M90 provided the final result (about 500000), well beyond the expected potential and ended up resulting in a little over 10% of the score, the only thing that was of good is that it was something for nothing because he did not stop the run to make this work in almost anything. QSO rates (see figure) shows the dynamics of the different bands. 
In the first two hours of competition the rate was really high, indeed unsurpassed in the rest of the competition, amesetandose at a much lower level then it opened up to 15 meters in the morning the next day. The rate between 15 and 10 meters was really high to decay into the night. The second night, as already said is not operated, to continue the next day (1300Z onwards) is first S & P traded mostly on 15 meters until it opened 10 meters and was in that band until the end the competition. As noted by many participants was 15 meters but the conditions were difficult so good pace was not reached at any time. The average rate for the entire contest was 45 QSO / Hr , being a little higher the first day ( 51 QSO / Hr ) and the next lowest (37 QSO / Hr .) Long rates are higher than I get in my individual holdings, but with a much more powerful station and well mounted than mine. Personally I'm sure I've broken the average rate on the first day and stayed on the average in the second, the rate as measured by meaningless N1MM because the bulk of the time I was doing S & P in the hunt. But I gladly hold for a few minutes of Sunday rate 172 QSO / Hr which is higher by 5% to the best I've found in SSB contests (CQ WW) which of course makes me very happy. I think they could have obtained better results with a more elaborate planning shifts that have prevented us to be the three operators throughout the first night and indeed all with very little sleep to begin the second night that became untenable to continue without rest . One can only speculate what was the impact on the outcome of the nearly 10 hours of non-operation, assuming that the 2nd night had given up 60% of the first (to take into account the general slump that was the 2nd day) had surrendered in 100M60 environment, the contact itself may not mean much in terms of score but additional multipliers would have meant something else of 300000 points in the final score is an attractive figure to see if you can work the shift planning so as not to lose it. STATION NOTES Victoria Station is actually very well placed, not in vain was the winner of Argentina in the last CQ WPX SSB SO SB 2010 in category HP 10 Mts as well as many Other outstanding performances in international competitions. The station we started with was a Yaesu FT-1000MP as main station (run) and an Icom 756 as secondary station (hunt), in fact never operated simultaneously as explained earlier. The antennas were a JVP 20-15-10 for Mts, a KLM to 40 and a Force 12 for 80 Mts. In addition to two separate dipoles for 80 and 160 Mts. The line used was a Dentron MLA 2500. And I say that was started with this configuration because at 1100Z the ICOM 756 was apparently unavailable to their end CRT, probably due to the proximity of antennas and HP running very close. After several hours I replaced it with my ICOM 706 but his performance was terrible because they do not have antenna tuner not allowed to use the antenna 15 meters 40 meters (I took my MFJ tuner, only to discover that I was not); I worked mostly regional stations (low proportion of multipliers) in 40 mts until the opening night, but even then not brought large numbers. For its part, the station using the antenna run JVP remained so could not be used mts 10-15-20. Completed the configuration a "parrot" MFJ brand hardware. As expected it is very difficult to get used to brand new equipment in one contest, although the basic operation is a fast learner you can not get the juice to the many functions that have the equipment when you need to resolve situations in a few seconds during the competition, the result is that teams are vastly sub- used. Moreover, it is inevitable some fear of "breaking" something, especially in the linear adjustment that Victor depended on to do so. He did, indeed, whenever it was necessary. I could see in action the dark side of HP, especially in 20 mts interaction with computers (COR activated, but in the opposite direction) as well as on the PC was at times annoying (the PC tended to lose the keyboard, and sometimes to bury). While the N1MM configured to take advantage of CAT and facilities bandplan (M / S is assisted by implication) the CAT team does not walk run reliably and in particular almost never did when not operating in 20 mts. Hunt at the station was almost impossible to use the PC when operating the Run in 20 meters too. I can only speculate what happened to ITV in the neighborhood, but I suspect it should not have gone well. It is actually a multiple interaction and I suspect a lot of work can lead despulgar between antennas close together, lots of power with better or worse ratings and the mere fact that there are a lot of power spinning. Another drawback, more operational, HP is "nailed" a lot of operating frequency, mainly because with each move must touch the line and ensure proper fit, so it ends up resulting in one try not to move too. Around 1900Z second straight day out of service Dentron, Victor was replaced first by a "made in home" is impressive and then a Henry Radio 2K Ultra , either actually paid to the full and final the competition managed to put back into service in Dentron. A separate consideration is the use of N1MM, as I have been reflecting my own station contester migrated to that platform and carried out tests and simulations. But in fact had not used it in competition so I was very interested in doing. The Run Configuration / Hunt required to have two instances of N1MM network (local and remote) so it had to despulgar as set, the manual information is extensive but in some sections a little confusing. I could with a little work to operate the additional node in my first season and then in the LQ5H. The main machine was an HP All-in-One remote while the HP Mini netbook. It really works very well in that setting, but the interface is more ergonomic course on a large screen in a small. The second thing of interest was the bandplan test (CAT) which is also wonderful, but during the first day could not be used because the CAT station Behaved erratically Run (Dark Side of PH) and season Hunt did not have the ICOM cable to operate CAT 756. Just when I installed the 706 ICOM CAT put into operation in integrated with the Cluster by bandplan and works great. However, in the Run the CAT continued to operate erratically and only he could give something useful for the S & P on 15 meters on Sunday morning. Moreover, the Hunt was not used as such in the 2nd day, but continued to be used bandplan to validate contacts with SO2V . The Info window gives very many integrated information on the status of all nodes (their rates, status, etc.) on the season rates in general, changes in band and other useful information. Has, as I assumed it would not?, A mechanism to enter the run plan and visually show how we are (from hour to hour, 10 minutes every 10 minutes) about this. Surprisingly, the learning curve not as steep as might be expected, and soon could handle the basics are quite fluently. I take as a theme to study and understand how to manage contests and data bases as well as the mechanism and rescore resync when using a multiple configuration, for now still operating in SO should have a 2nd machine to active by work as a backup timing (for a conventional backup would have to close the N1MM which may not be practical). Somehow I confirm that no one can participate Band All but one has a competitive allband settings, but I was disappointed to 160 meters could not be used (the noise level was majestic) had been considering for my own little season, even poor for that band but now has dropped considerably in priorities. HP adds that he doubts, in fact a very large number of contacts made with great difficulty probably would not have been possible with LP (not to mention QRP). It confirms the guidelines that can suck 400/600 QRP QSO, LP and HP 1000/1500 2000/2500 QSO QSO. There may be stations that exceed these criteria, but they are exceptional in one or more senses. I was not at all impressed by the kind of problems that have won the HP, I was even vaguely feel that given that the categorization of the competition does not penalize other modes such as LP, or QRP is not necessarily the best mode of operation the test with a method SO2V shown some potential for further exploration, to be the same team there is no restriction on antennas (if these are multi-band, as was the case). Requires a high-end equipment that has a sub-recipient, it would be possible through the use of a diplexer to implement something similar in SO2R but is not that easy. We must make a "Y" for ensure that the audio of the "search" is not bothering the operator who is doing the run (in the configuration used both operators listened to both receivers). The operation in M \u200b\u200b/ S has other aspects than pure ignorance and I had raised earlier. I think every competition require the contester, but also all their family, ultimately all end up dancing around times incomprehensible factors for non-participants as contact rates, spread and other factors equally erratic. This is enhanced several times if there is also several strange individuals hanging around the house entering, leaving and using their services (even, as in my case, receiving some visit). I left with the feeling that is not an easy issue to resolve and not be ignored. It is no coincidence, I now understand that many stations "multi" part from special locations, fully engaged or at least isolated from what may be the normal running of the area where they occur, not less issue to think.
CONCLUSIONS If I had to summarize (much) my conclusions would ... " all gain." But there is much to split hairs, even above partial conclusions set out in each of the previous sections. I stay with a growing acknowledgment that our geographical location is not conducive to participation "All band", that is really the discovery of gunpowder because there are numerous reports that examine in some depth are the ideal locations in the vicinity of 5000 km away from USA, Europe or Asia (in that order) and clearly We further than that. And this clearly is not the most competitive disadvantage from this point of view ( ARRL Intl DX or WAE are certainly even more skewed.) At least in the propagation conditions at this time of year a SB in 10 Mts appears to be a competitive alternative to more realistic (although the M / S is implicitly all band, talking about a type SO). I was disappointed of 15 meters, in particular because had toyed with the idea of \u200b\u200bputting a specific antenna and to have some attempt at SO SB 15 Mts, but what I saw was a spread less than 10 Mts, with greater demands on the station to hold a position with some competitiveness. I was very disappointed to 160 meters, did not expect a flood of contacts but did not expect any, in my station antenna for this band is an extraordinary effort and yet I can only aspire to a marginal settings, I'm not sure worth the effort. I was left with many doubts about the benefits of HP, and bring some advantages, especially in all-band category, but it has its "dark side" on issues between equipment, undesirable interactions, excessive RF floating around everywhere, and in general an operation that requires a lot more technical care than a LP (not to mention QRP). For example, my SO2R controller has no chance to operate well in an HP configuration. I was very impressed with the N1MM and integrated operation across multiple nodes as well as the integration of a cluster and CAT equipment, is a marvel. I think the planning of an operation M / S has opportunities for improvement over what we did, especially the organization shifts to allow for greater continuity. Also planning to do a better balance between the capacity to sustain a run of individual operators y el horario en que les tocará estar. Sospecho que las operaciones "ad-hoc" como estas tienen un límite en cuan organizadas pueden ser, despues de todo no es como las estaciones competitivas estables donde la repetición vá creando un contexto que puede ser percibido externamente como "organización" sin que necesariamente lo sea; pero sería importante tener alguna sesión previa (incluso de DX o pile-up convencional) para familiarizarse con los equipos antes del concurso. Hay, finalmente, oportunidad de mejoras por el entorno de 1000000 de puntos aproximadamente, lo que termina no siendo trivial de cara a una posición competitiva. También hay que plantearse si es realista una operación M/S intensa en una casa de familia; Victor's family showed a commendable willingness and patience, and I am very grateful for their hospitality, but at least to me it is difficult to abstract from the hassles that surely had to endure. Now we have to look at the following participation, which will almost certainly be Manchester Mineira CW DX in April. 
0 comments:
Post a Comment