Weekend doings

On the bands this coming weekend:

Contests: 

 Croatian CW Contest - https://www.hamradio.hr/9a-dx-contest/

ARRL Rookie Roundup, CW - http://www.arrl.org/rookie-roundup

Special Events:

12/16/2023 | Christmas in Bethlehem New Mexico

Dec 16-Dec 23, 1400Z-0600Z, KC5OUR, Belen, NM. Valencia County ARA. 28.383 21.283 14.283 7.183. QSL. VCARA, P. O. Box 268, Peralta, NM 87042. kc5our@arrl.net

12/16/2023 | Edwin Howard Armstrong Commemoration special event

Dec 16-Dec 18, 0000Z-2359Z, W4A, Bluff City, TN. N9EN. 3.540 7.040 14.040 21.040. QSL. Brad Anbro, 1118 WALNUT GROVE RD, Bluff City, TN 37618. Operating all bands from 160 to 10 meters, including the 12, 17 and 30 meter WARC bands. CW-only operation. n9en@live.com

The Rookie Roundups are an excellent vehicle to get the newly licensed in your club or organization on the air. This weekend is the CW event, but there are two more each year - another for SSB and another for RTTY (digital). These are a great way to mentor newcomers into good operating habits and to dispel any microphone or key fright that they might have.

The South Plainfield Amateur Radio Club had a bunch of Rookies a few years back and they placed well enough in the results to earn a certificate of recognition from the ARRL. I know it made a lasting impression on them as they are still active, years later.

Last night was the 80 Meter QRP Fox Hunt. I had a commitment and was not able to participate, and I know that I risk boring some of you with talking about these as much as I do- but if you're not participating .......why not? 

My participation has helped me immensely in breaking up DX pileups. The Fox Hunts are a lot like DXpeditions in a way, as different Foxes handle the pileups in different ways. Once you get used to them, it will help you when working that next elusive island or country.

Most Foxes work split, which in and of itself is pretty standard.  But the way a Fox or a DXpedition can handle split operation can differ. Some just go up to listen a kHz or two in frequency and never vary. To work these, you have to first ascertain that they're listening to just one frequency. If they are, it's not a good idea to zero beat that frequency and call there. Unless the quarry has their filters adjusted to the tightest they can be, you're way better off moving from that listening frequency just the tiniest bit. This will affect the tone of your signal and will make it stand out from the others. If he notices the difference in your signal amongst the cacophony of all the others, you've just given yourself an advantage. This is the same approach to take when working a DXpedition that decides to eschew split operating altogether and instead goes simplex.  In DX hunting, this is kind of rare, but it does happen.

Others who work split like to move around. They may start listening at a frequency, work someone and then move up a tiny bit to listen for the next calling station. They repeat this for a bit, moving up each time after working someone until they reach a certain point - maybe as far as 3 or 4 kHz up. Then, they may go back to where they first started, or they may work their way down to where they first started, lowering their listening frequency after each QSO, until they arrive back at "Point A". It's your job to figure this our, anticipate where they'll be listening next and get in their log. 

It's not as hard as it seems, but it might not be easy as falling off a log either. But nothing worthwhile ever really comes easy, does it? And if it does come easy, it will make you appreciate that contact all the more.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!