3V - TUNISIA

AF - CQ Zone 33

ITU Zone 37

JM55hu

 

 

 

 

SUPPORTERS

 

 

 
  3V8SS - CQ WW DX CW 2023 - SOAB LP

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Operating time  : 37h20

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160    42   5  21   0     120  2.86

   80   447  12  52  18    1337  2.99

   40  1015  21  76  22    3031  2.99

   20  1102  23  76  16    3292  2.99

   15  1227  27  75  18    3669  2.99

   10  1241  26  86  21    3707  2.99

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  5074 114 386  95   15156  2.99

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 7 578 000

 
     

 

  3V8SF - ARRL DX Contest 2023 - SOSB-80 LP

 

Contest         : ARRL International DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SF

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : DX

Operating time  : 6h27

 

 BAND   QSO S/P DUP  POINTS   AVG

----------------------------------

  160     0   0   0       0  0.00

   80   342  42   7    1026  3.00

   40     0   0   0       0  0.00

   20     0   0   0       0  0.00

   15     0   0   0       0  0.00

   10     0   0   0       0  0.00

----------------------------------

TOTAL   342  42   7    1026  3.00

==================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 43 092

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQWW 160 CW 2023 - SO LP

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide 160-meter Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SF

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : Single band (SB) 160 m

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Operating time  : 11h47

 

 BAND   QSO DUP DXC S/P  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160   273  16  48   0    2720  9.96

--------------------------------------

TOTAL   273  16  48   0    2720  9.96

======================================

        TOTAL SCORE : 130 560

 
     

 

  3V8SS - Russian DX Contest 2022 - SOAB LP CW

 

Contest         : Russian DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : DX

Locator         : JM54HU

Operating time  : 19h18

 

 BAND   QSO DUP DXC OBL  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160    23   0  10   8     155  6.74

   80   117   0  25  31     850  7.26

   40   260   2  38  43    1860  7.15

   20   511  11  56  68    3828  7.49

   15   539   7  47  67    4301  7.98

   10   236   2  20  54    2183  9.25

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  1686  22 196 271   13177  7.82

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 6 153 659

 
     

 

  3V8SF - CQ WW 160 CW 2022 - SO LP

 

TX: 16m T-Antenna 32 radials

RX: JA BOG (80m) - NA Bev (320m)

Contest Audio Log

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide 160-meter Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SF

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : Single band (SB) 160 m

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Operating time  : 19h34

 

 BAND   QSO DUP DXC S/P  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160   782  51  51   8    7815  9.99

--------------------------------------

TOTAL   782  51  51   8    7815  9.99

======================================

        TOTAL SCORE : 461 085

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WPX CW 2021 - SOAB LP (TB-WIRE)

 

For the first time, I relied on my "3V8SS RBN" to deliver spots. The node is located 130km south of 3V8SS Station. It uses the two receivers of a RedPitaya device; DXE preamp at the bottom of a 4m vertical for the highbands and a 17m toploaded vertical for 40/80/160. The RBN generated over 109'000 spots during the contest!

Spots from VE7CC were filtered to exclusively show 3V8SS RBN ones in DXLog. That delivered spots with high frequency accuracy of stations with (relatively) high possibility to work from 3V8SS station.

I was surprised the RBN delivered a lot of spots - on all bands - that I can't even hear in 3V8SS Station equipped with a tribander, 2-phased verticals for 40 and an inv-L for 80/160. The noise level is certainly lower at the RBN location but I think that's more related to going "just a bit" further south.

RBN vs Log Analysis using Tableau

I prepared the set up for a 2BSIQ operation. One mistake that I didn't consider is the SN that has to be sent to stations I worked that has to be locked. That rendered 2BSIQ less productive and I had to send a different SN to stations whenever a I loose synchronization.

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : Tribander/Single Element

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 36h00

 

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------

  160     6   0    1      36  6.00

   80   164   1   78     984  6.00

   40   387   9  191    2314  5.98

   20  1156  28  400    3456  2.99

   15   544  10  150    1628  2.99

   10   525  10   57    1575  3.00

-----------------------------------

TOTAL  2782  58  877    9993  3.59

===================================

      TOTAL SCORE : 8 763 861

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WPX SSB 2021 - MS LP (TB-WIRE)

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : SSB

Category        : Multi Operators/Single Transmitter

Overlay         : Tribander/Single Element

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operators       : 3V1B KF5EYY

Operating time  : 48h00

 

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------

  160     0   0    0       0  0.00

   80    95   0   47     564  5.94

   40   220   5  134    1312  5.96

   20  1459  31  472    4372  3.00

   15   277   2  112     810  2.92

   10     9   0    6      23  2.56

-----------------------------------

TOTAL  2060  38  771    7081  3.44

===================================

      TOTAL SCORE : 5 459 451

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WPX RTTY 2021 - SO LP (TB-WIRE)

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : RTTY

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : Tribander/Single Element

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  :

Locator         :

Operating time  : 29h59

 

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------

   80   109   2   56     654  6.00

   40   329   5  187    1974  6.00

   20   593  11  206    1776  2.99

   15   276   7  118     807  2.99

   10     1   1    1      17  2.43

-----------------------------------

TOTAL  1308  26  568    5228  4.00

===================================

      TOTAL SCORE : 2 969 504

 
     

 

  3V8SF - CQ WW 160 CW 2021 - SO LP

 

My experimentation with BOG antennas didn't confirm it to be a DX antenna on 160. I decided to put up a new beverage for JA direction instead. It was 214m long and 1m high. I finished installation on Friday morning and didn't have the chance to confirm its performance especially on these times of bad condx on 160.

From the contest experience, it had a good pattern and managed to produce clear signals. I managed to hear few JAs.

For NA direction, I kept relying on my 260m-long beverage.

A thunder storm over Cyprus made RXing a bit challenging. A thought to the Syrian refugees in Idlib who got floods in their camps rendering their lives more miserable.

The band was clearly in bad shape here. Very few NAs heard and worked. Congrats to N0FW who managed to pick up my 100W signal among the crowd!

This year's score is less than half of last year's one! The contest remains a great fun, though!

Contest Audio Log

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide 160-meter Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SF

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : Single band (SB) 160 m

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Operating time  : 23h35

 

 BAND   QSO DUP DXC S/P  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160   760  42  49   4    7595  9.99

--------------------------------------

TOTAL   760  42  49   4    7595  9.99

======================================

        TOTAL SCORE : 402 535

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WW CW 2020 - SOAB LP

 

I would roughly estimate I went 2BSIQ for 20% of the contest. Too many ideas in mind now to improve the ergonomics for smoother runs.

The LBS Filters were great! I was using a headset and an earphone for listening on separate ears, hi! Coax cables were changed manually since no antenna switcher. I made the RX loop bigger for 160, it helped but I still need to listen to another layer of calling stations.

Preparations worked well allowing me to have absolutely no need to sleep the first 24 hours and very minor hallucinations at the last 6 hours. The 3 hours I slept were not mandatory, I only seized the opportunity the bands weren't productive at all.

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Locator         :

Operating time  : 45h00

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160   105   5  29   5     315  3.00

   80   836  12  53  25    2504  3.00

   40  1185  20  63  32    3553  3.00

   20  1311  19  62  13    3929  3.00

   15  1302  25  72  27    3898  2.99

   10   301  14  40   3     891  2.96

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  5040  95 319 105   15090  2.99

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 6 247 260

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WW SSB 2020 - SOAB LP

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Locator         :

Operating time  : 38h50

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160    53   4  21   4     159  3.00

   80   297   7  44   4     887  2.99

   40   601  15  58  15    1803  3.00

   20  1466  15  65  31    4386  2.99

   15   520  19  67   7    1538  2.96

   10    85   9  27   0     249  2.93

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  3022  69 282  61    9022  2.99

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 3 166 722

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WW RTTY 2020 - SOAB LP

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : RTTY

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Operating time  : 37h00

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP S/P  POINTS   AVG

------------------------------------------

   80   234   8  41   4  13     701  3.00

   40   453  14  54  13  17    1357  3.00

   20   957  17  64  23  32    2870  3.00

   15   219  19  45   1   2     653  2.98

   10   151   6  25   2   0     452  2.99

------------------------------------------

TOTAL  2014  64 229  43  64    6033  3.00

==========================================

         TOTAL SCORE : 2 153 781

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WPX CW 2020 - SOAB LP

 

What an exciting contest! My best score in WPX CW!

10m delivered solid signals all daylight long especially from EU but worked 20 JAs as well.

20m was amazing since I was working JAs and NA in the same time, both loud!

The magnetic loop helped a LOT on 40m and managed to have some good runs there.

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : TB-WIRES

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 36h00

 

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------

  160    10   0    3      60  6.00

   80    62   0   30     372  6.00

   40   440   5  152    2640  6.00

   20   966   7  310    2898  3.00

   15   590   5  132    1770  3.00

   10   812  14  189    2436  3.00

-----------------------------------

TOTAL  2880  31  816   10176  3.53

===================================

      TOTAL SCORE : 8 303 616

 
     

 

  3V8SF - CQ WW 160 CW 2020 - SO LP

 

Few days before the contest, I put up a new 170m-long beverage to Japan. This beverage was passing 10m away from the TX antenna and I figured out the day of the contest that it re-radiates when I'm transmitting. I didn't have time to automate RX antenna isolation during TX (I though radios do that by default!).

Second night was better than first night with some nice openings to North America. Surprisingly no JA was worked or heard although a DS station was easily worked.

Contest Audio Log

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide 160-meter Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SF

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : Single band (SB) 160 m

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Locator         : JM54IQ

Operating time  : 25h37

 

 BAND   QSO DUP DXC S/P  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160  1062  70  65  28   10600  9.98

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  1062  70  65  28   10600  9.98

======================================

        TOTAL SCORE : 985 800

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WW CW 2019 - SOAB LP

 

The new loop helped a lot in Low Bands RXing. 80m in excellent shape on first night. JA and NA signals were as strong as EU signals on high bands. Strange propagation conditions.

80-Meter Receiving Loop built and tuned for the contest

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : Tribander/Single Element

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Operating time  : 40h20

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160   173   8  42   5     509  2.94

   80   843  12  62  17    2515  2.98

   40  1001  22  79  13    2987  2.98

   20  1788  30  93  51    5328  2.98

   15   488  25  68   8    1427  2.92

   10    75   7  23   0     217  2.89

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  4368 104 367  94   12983  2.97

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 6 114 993

 
     

 

  3V8SS - WAEDC CW 2019 - SOAB LP

 

Aid El-Edha this year falls on Sunday of WAEDC CW. That had somehow disturbed the operating plan.

Low bands were very noisy.

 

Contest         : Worked All Europe DX-Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 33h12

 

 BAND   QSO DUP MLTS   QTC  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------------

   80   150   0   33    60     210  1.00

   40   441   4   38   220     659  1.00

   20   722  14   41   710    1430  1.00

   15   403   2   36   350     753  1.00

   10   287   2   34   140     427  1.00

-----------------------------------------

TOTAL  2003  22  468  1480    3479  1.74

=========================================

         TOTAL SCORE : 1 628 172

 
     

 

  3V8SS - IARU HF CHAMP. 2019 - SOAB LP MIXED

 

Spent the first hour running 25W due to power supply issue later fixed. Saturday's propagation clearly better than on Sunday. Noisy low bands. Tough SSB operation.

 

Contest         : IARU HF World Championships

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : MIXED

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 37

Operating time  : 20h30

 

 BAND    CW   SSB ITU  HQ  POINTS   AVG

----------------------------------------

  160     0     0   0   0       0  0.00

   80   142     0  10  16     640  4.51

   40   286     2  13  14    1356  4.71

   20   750    38  18  22    3816  4.84

   15   416     3  11  17    2013  4.80

   10   376    71   9  15    2113  4.73

----------------------------------------

TOTAL  1970   114  61  84    9938  4.77

========================================

        TOTAL SCORE : 1 441 010

 
     

 

  3V8SF - CQ 160 CW 2018 - SO LP

 

First night was terrible but condx later improved on the second night. I did some very successful S&Ps with North America right after my SR. It was easy working some States and Caribbean stations with 100W.

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide 160-meter Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SF

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : Single band (SB) 160 m

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Locator         :

Operating time  : 23h51

 

 BAND   QSO DUP DXC S/P  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160   868  58  65  17    8620  9.93

--------------------------------------

TOTAL   868  58  65  17    8620  9.93

======================================

        TOTAL SCORE : 706 840

 
     

 

  3V8SF - CQ WW CW 2018 - SOSB 160 LP

 

Since I set up 3V8SF station for 160m operation  2 months ago and I started chasing DXCCs and US States, activity on 160m CW was low. People seem to prefer FT8, something that I religiously refuse.

I decided to play SOSB-160 in this year's WW CW instead of my preferred SOAB LP category to further assess TX/RX antennas performance and boost my DXCC/WAS count.

Propagation at this end was nice on Friday night but turned to be bad on Saturday and Sunday nights (Only 1 JA in log!). I enjoyed following realtime scores of SOAB HP race during long CQs.

I could only manage to work D41CV right after the contest as requested to Girts through Whatsapp. And guess who did the QSO? CT1BOH just finishing 48 hours to break the world record!

Thanks José and congrats!

 

Contest Audio Log

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SF

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : Single band (SB) 160 m

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Operating time  : 24h14

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160   839  16  61  60    2499  2.98

   80     0   0   0   0       0  0.00

   40     0   0   0   0       0  0.00

   20     0   0   0   0       0  0.00

   15     0   0   0   0       0  0.00

   10     0   0   0   0       0  0.00

--------------------------------------

TOTAL   839  16  61  60    2499  2.98

======================================

        TOTAL SCORE : 192 423

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WPX CW 2018 - SOAB LP (T)

 

Not easy contesting while fasting even for an SO1R effort.. Family dinners costed me some valuable greyline QSOs.. 20m was amazing on Saturday night.. Tough low bands..

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : Tribander/Single Element

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 34h58

 

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------

  160     4   0    1      24  6.00

   80   142   1   75     844  5.94

   40   263   4  124    1578  6.00

   20  1263  18  456    3774  2.99

   15   320   1   60     956  2.99

   10   275   0   36     822  2.99

-----------------------------------

TOTAL  2267  24  752    7998  3.53

===================================

      TOTAL SCORE : 6 014 496

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WPX SSB 2018 - SOAB LP (T)

 

That was one of the hardest contests I did given the poor propagation conditions. MUF according to Gibilmanna ionosonde rarely exceeded 21Megs during the weekend although south-north propagation on 10m was possible (FR4QT and 7Q7EI were loud). In such conditions, for a low power station, every QSO on low bands should worth triple points not only double! A bit over two hundred QSOs was all I managed to do on 80 and 40 combined using an inverted-L with elevated radials and 2 phased verticals. The receiving loop I recently added helped with some stations on 80.

On Sunday at 0700z, power went down in the area (they said it is a planned shutdown for maintenance). That remained till 1300z thus loosing the best hour rates of the contest.

 

Contest Audio Log

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : Tribander/Single Element

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Locator         : JM55HU

Operating time  : 31h37

 

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------

  160     0   0    0       0  0.00

   80   120   1   73     716  5.97

   40   106   0   38     620  5.85

   20  1083  13  450    3243  2.99

   15   153   0   62     440  2.88

   10     3   0    3       5  1.67

-----------------------------------

TOTAL  1465  14  626    5024  3.43

===================================

      TOTAL SCORE : 3 145 024

 
     

 

  3V8SS - RDXC 2018 - SOAB CW LP

 

Contest         : Russian DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : DX

Locator         : JM55HU

Operating time  : 22h32

 

 BAND   QSO DXC OBL  POINTS   AVG

----------------------------------

  160    95  27  17     580  6.11

   80   362  45  40    2195  6.06

   40   337  48  38    2060  6.11

   20   673  54  55    4341  6.45

   15   395  44  50    3033  7.68

   10     8   4   3      70  8.75

----------------------------------

TOTAL  1870 222 203   12279  6.57

==================================

     TOTAL SCORE : 5 218 575

 
     

 

  3V8CB - CQWW 160 CW 2018 - SO LP

 

During this contest, we did experiment the K9AY Receiving Loop made by Ahmed 3V/KG5OUE. The loop worked well nulling noise. The switching system worked flawlessly. Further improvements are planned especially with making the loop further away from the transmitting antenna.

Contest Audio Log

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide 160-meter Contest

Callsign        : 3V8CB

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : Single band (SB) 160 m

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Locator         :

Operating time  : 19h33

 

 BAND   QSO DUP DXC S/P  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160   823  43  55   1    8215  9.98

--------------------------------------

TOTAL   823  43  55   1    8215  9.98

======================================

        TOTAL SCORE : 460 040

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WW CW 2017 - SOAB LP

 

An undetected frequency shift of 0.15 Khz on the radio led to the first 5 hours to be miserable. Once the issue is sorted out, I felt more determined to finish the contest as better as I can.

I almost used one radio in this year's contest. 2BSIQ really requires a proper set up and a good preparation.

The recently installed vertical for 80m with 4 elevated radials worked perfectly over the inv-V.

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Operating time  : 45h00

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160   119   6  34   3     349  2.93

   80  1001  15  66  27    2988  2.99

   40  1013  21  70  17    3023  2.98

   20  1262  22  70  22    3765  2.98

   15   883  19  69  13    2623  2.97

   10     3   2  2   0       9   3.00

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  4281  85 311  82   12757  2.98

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 5 051 772

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WW SSB 2017 - M/S LP

 

It was nice to have Ludo HB9EOU with us again! Two days before the contest we put in place a 5 elements 15m yagi and w vertical for 80. The yagi performed well but still not high enough. 80m vertical collapsed after during the first contest night and had to be fixed and relocated.

Propagation wasn't very bad, low bands were tough though!

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Multi - Single (MS)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Operating time  : 48h00

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160    41   5  21   0     121  2.95

   80   245   9  56   5     723  2.95

   40   259  16  71   1     765  2.95

   20   656  27  87   5    1952  2.98

   15   933  30 104  26    2769  2.97

   10   229  21  62   4     662  2.89

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  2363 108 401  41    6992  2.96

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 3 558 928

 

Operators: KF5EYY, HB9EOU, KG5OUE, KD2LQM

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WPX CW 2017 - SOAB LP

 

Ramadhan this year started on Saturday. It was a little bit difficult contesting without coffee but good without too much food!

The first day was great with 20m open almost all the day and Sporadic E short skip on 10 that generated 196 QSOs. Then everything just disappeared after the geomagnetic storm on Sunday leading to no propagation on 15 and 10. P33W was the only signal on 15m waterfall.

Log Analysis by SH5

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 36h00

 

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------

  160    20   0    4     120  6.00

   80   134   1   53     804  6.00

   40   371   8  166    2218  5.98

   20  1294  38  348    3877  3.00

   15   280   3   97     837  2.99

   10   196   5   68     586  2.99

-----------------------------------

TOTAL  2295  55  736    8442  3.68

===================================

      TOTAL SCORE : 6 213 312

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WPX SSB 2017 - M/S LP

 

Ludo HB9EOU has arrived Thurday noon to Monastir Airport. The rest of the team composed of Ahmed 3V/KG5OUE, Oussama 3V/KD2LQM and Ali 3V/F4HJD joined us Friday afternoon after we finished setting up an Inv-L for 80m. Ali networked the laptops. By 10pm local time, the station was ready with 1 Run and 1 Support radios.

The first four hours were terrible with almost 60 QSOs in total. We figured out later that RUN radio has some TX issues that necessitated settings reset to be sorted out.

As expected, 20m was the main band where 67% of the QSOs were made. 15m was tough, we barely could have some few minutes runs.

Low bands were better on second and third night.

Thanks to the team for the great effort and fun time!

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Multi Op - Single Transmitter (MS)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 48h00

 

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------

  160    15   0    6      90  6.00

   80   186   3   72    1108  5.96

   40   304   6  125    1792  5.89

   20  1169  26  459    3487  2.98

   15    78   0   66     222  2.85

   10     2   0    2       2  1.00

-----------------------------------

TOTAL  1754  35  730    6701  3.82

===================================

      TOTAL SCORE : 4 891 730

 
     

 

  3V8SS - RDXC 2017 - SOAB CW LP

 

I used DXLog.net in this year's RDXC. Two keyboards were plugged into the same laptop. Scenarios weren't well examined before the contest so I maintained audio from the two radios split between both ears and did manual CQing.

 

Contest         : Russian DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 23h30

 

 BAND   SSB    CW  DXC OBL  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------------

  160     0    73   23  18     480  6.57

   80     0   366   42  47    2285  6.24

   40     0   398   50  42    2475  6.21

   20     0   729   54  61    4730  6.48

   15     0   332   40  47    2430  7.31

   10     0     7    4   4      35  5.00

------------------------------------------

TOTAL     0  1905  213 215   12435  6.52

==========================================

          TOTAL SCORE : 5 322 180

 
     

 

  3V8CB - CQWW 160 CW 2017 - SO LP

 

This contest was intended to be the opportunity to set up and try the inverted-L antenna for transmitting and the beverage for receiving. The only location with a license where this can be installed is the camping center of Borj Cedria where 3V8CB club station is.

The installation team is composed of myself, Ahmad 3V/KG5EOU and Ali 3V/F4HJD with support from Majdi 3V8CB. 

The Inverted-L was a 1/4 wave 40m long wire, with about 20m of vertical part and the rest is almost horizontal. The antenna is installed with 12 radials laid on the ground (2 radials 40m long, 10 radials 10m long) connected to a good grounding system.

The beverage is a 260m beverage installed at 2.2m high and beaming North America (Audio clips of beverage performance here).

Condx weren't that good during the contest. Only 6 States/Province were worked.

Contest Audio Log

Contest         : CQ World Wide 160-meter Contest

Callsign        : 3V8CB

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : Single band (SB) 160 m

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Locator         :

Operating time  : 23h55

 

 BAND   QSO DUP DXC S/P  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160   872  57  46   6    8715  9.99

--------------------------------------

TOTAL   872  57  46   6    8715  9.99

======================================

        TOTAL SCORE : 453 180

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WW CW 2016 - SOAB LP

 

SO2R Operation was never as easy and enjoyable as it was in this year’s WW CW. After manually switching antennas between filters and radios for almost each band change during WW SSB, Filipe CT1ILT was very kind helping with a 6x2 antenna switching system (See ct1ilt.com/switches).

The system, wired and boxed by Ahmed 3V/KG5OUE one week before the contest, worked perfectly and flawlessly. We did a mistake by using a plastic enclosure, but then an Aluminium cover connected to ground completely killed any cross radios interference.

We gathered in Nov 19th weekend to also do some further preparations in 3V8SS station; myself and Ali 3V/F4HJD replaced the balun of the inv-V for 80/160 and brought it a bit higher (it wasn’t very bad that we didn’t split it in two inv-V’s although that would enable more flexibility). We also put up a K9AY which I think worked well especially on 40 and 80. The radio doesn’t have an RX antenna jack, I had to manually switch. The K9AY coax took the 6th input to the 6x2 close to the 80/160 connector.

I was lazy to re-configure DXLog to work with both radios and the SO2R box (Used for audio switching) and that was a big mistake. Copying calls from R1 and R2 on each ear was didn’t allow dual CQing to be very efficient. By the end of the contest, I was focusing on one radio only. I was so tired to handle the interference from using TS-450S 500Hz CW filter.

I used two Wintest copies installed in two networked computers. The SO2R Box was connected to R1 Computer. It wasn’t possible to modify scenarios to allow for the Dual CQing required audio switching.

I did non-stop 48 hours operation this time. By 15h00z Sunday hallucinations started and I had to explain to myself from time to time that I’m in a radio game and these station are calling me to be in my log NOT to loan money from me or to come to my house, hi!

Conditions on Sunday were better than in Saturday. 10m was closed all the weekend, only 4 QSOs were made.

I’m very satisfied with the contest results although multipliers count still below the required.

Log Analysis by SH5

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Locator         :

Operating time  : 47h26

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160   211   6  39   3     625  2.96

   80  1001  14  70  34    2987  2.98

   40  1135  20  78  23    3381  2.98

   20  1777  28  88  36    5304  2.98

   15   774  22  68  19    2304  2.98

   10     4   3   3   0      10  2.50

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  4902  93 346 115   14611  2.98

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 6 414 229

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WW SSB 2016 - SOAB LP

 

All signs were telling me; my previous personal records won’t be broken in this year’s WW SSB despite the recent improvements on the station’s setup. Use of a second radio is more efficient now with the lined up LBS filters and triplexer (manual coax switching). A new antenna installed for 160m band. A second computer was used with a separate keyboard for dual CQing…

Apart from propagation indexes, the weather satellite map was showing lightning approaching Sousse city which means an awful low bands operation.

Contest start on 40 and 80 was slow and I can tell, I had to wait 20 minutes to make the second QSO!!

After sunrise, the conditions on high bands were less bad than expected. The curve against 2015 objective showed that I’m more or less following last year’s performance. Day 1 ended up with 2.2 kQSOs.

I got 3 hours of sleep at midnight dreaming of more than 2000 Qs next day but conditions were bad enough to widen the gap against 2015 numbers. This year’s score is 24% less than last year. I got a unique JA station in my log!! (vs 240 last year and 160 in 2012). The MUF plot by a close ionosonde did barely exceed 28 MHz for a short time and was below 21 MHz most of the time (Day 2).

On Day 1, only few S&P Qs were made on 10. On Sunday, I heard quiet few EUs and decided to start a run for the short skip. A pileup kicked off! Signals were extremely weak in an extremely quiet band but readable enough to log QSOs.

My 45-hours contest operation was comfortable. I didn’t feel any ‘strong’ need to sleep. Storing sleep remains a theory but for me it is proven by experience. Getting 8.5 hours of sleep in each of the 7 nights preceding the contest helped a lot. (On Friday night I could only sleep one hour after a stressful working day and 130 km drive to Sousse).

I appreciate everyone’s band moves which worked at 90%. Thanks to CT1ILT, N6TV, 3V/F4HJD, 3V/KG5OUE for the help and support.

 

Log Analysis by SH5

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Locator         :

Operating time  : 42h56

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160    57   5  25   1     169  2.96

   80   374  11  55   4    1100  2.94

   40   447  15  65  10    1313  2.94

   20  1279  23  81  11    3817  2.98

   15  1071  25  85  13    3183  2.97

   10   479  15  65   1    1413  2.95

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  3707  94 376  40   10995  2.97

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 5 167 650

 
     

 

  3V8SS - WAEDC CW 2016 - SOAB LP

 

Contest         : Worked All Europe DX-Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 34h44

 

 BAND   QSO DUP MLTS   QTC  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------------

   80   206   1   42    10     216  1.00

   40   432   1   44   140     572  1.00

   20   684   1   49   730    1414  1.00

   15   517   4   44   520    1037  1.00

   10   482   1   41   290     772  1.00

-----------------------------------------

TOTAL  2321   8  568  1690    4011  1.73

=========================================

         TOTAL SCORE : 2 278 248

 
     

 

  3V8SS - IARU HF CHAMPIONSHIP 2016 - SOAB LP

 

Contest         : IARU HF World Championships

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : MIXED

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 37

Operating time  : 21h45

 

 BAND   SSB    CW ITU  HQ  POINTS   AVG

----------------------------------------

  160     0     0   0   0       0  0.00

   80     0   136   8  10     632  4.65

   40    17   204  12  15    1021  4.62

   20   136   580  18  14    3468  4.84

   15   279   401  10  30    3152  4.64

   10   120   378   7  16    2370  4.76

----------------------------------------

TOTAL   552  1699  55  85   10643  4.73

========================================

        TOTAL SCORE : 1 490 020

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WPX CW 2016 - SOAB LP

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 35h27

 

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------

  160     0   0    0       0  0.00

   80   146   0   62     872  5.97

   40   551   4  219    3298  5.99

   20   978  11  339    2932  3.00

   15   601   9  166    1795  2.99

   10    11   0    2      33  3.00

-----------------------------------

TOTAL  2287  24  788    8930  3.90

===================================

      TOTAL SCORE : 7 036 840

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WPX SSB 2016 - SOAB LP

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : Tribander/Single Element

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 35h01

 

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------

  160     0   0    0       0  0.00

   80    41   1   13     242  5.90

   40   173   1  127    1026  5.93

   20   996   7  342    2970  2.98

   15   856   7  366    2550  2.98

   10    35   0   32      99  2.83

-----------------------------------

TOTAL  2101  16  880    6887  3.28

===================================

      TOTAL SCORE : 6 060 560

 
     

 

  3V8SS - RDXC 2016 - SOAB LP MIX

 

I failed to fix the CW delay from the SO2R so I almost did single radio operation. Very frustrating first hour with logging errors and wrong switch between radios. It took me 45 minutes to get things back to normal.

Thanks to my good friend Juan EA8RM for the nice competition.

Contest         : Russian DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : MIXED

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 24h00

 

 BAND   SSB    CW  DXC OBL  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------------

  160     0    64  24  10     390  6.09

   80     0   258  51  25    1516  5.88

   40   100   293  57  47    2521  6.41

   20    45   594  66  55    4180  6.54

   15    66   370  58  59    3359  7.70

   10     0    27  10  13     224  8.30

-----------------------------------------

TOTAL   211  1606 266 209   12190  6.71

=========================================

          TOTAL SCORE : 5 790 250

 
     

 

  3V8SS - ARRL DX CW 2016 - SOAB LP

 

Few days before the contest, I have set my SDR IQ to monitor high bands using the tribander at 3V8SS location beaming to NA. It was clear; bands won't be in good shape (Confirmed by the A/K indexes).

I took the opportunity of this contest to test my KF5EYY SO2R, I recently designed and built, for Dual CQing. I selected the Advanced SO2R feature in Wintest and created a new scenario well customised for such kind of low rate operation and the set up I dispose. I lined up the CT-37HF Tribander to Radio 1 and the Spiderbeam (lower height, less performance) to Radio 2. Radio 1 was always set on the band with the expected higher rates. The problem I faced is with Wintest delaying CW to Radio 2. The delay is estimated to 2 seconds from pushing any TX key. This has confused people and made the operation not very productive. I did play with all configuration windows but the problem still exist. Further investigation is required (anyone's input is welcome!).

3V8SS setup with the SO2R under the LCD

Apart from this, the device was solid and working smoothly either in RUN/S&P or Dual CQ. It has saved me from a shameful score, hi!

No BPFs were installed (I don't have them!). The effect is only distorted CW signals on Radio 2 telling me someone is calling. Radio 1 was totally sealed against RFI.

The first night made me desperate that any big propagation improvement can occur. A single QSO on 80 was made on first day and 10 on the second. 10m was open for 3 hours on Saturday but not a single QSO was made on Sunday. 20 and 15 were the best with solid and loud signals. Some QRP stations were worked easily.

The results aren't bad in these conditions and a Station-QSO average distance of 7656 kilometers :)

 

Contest         : ARRL International DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : DX

Operating time  : 26h55

 

 BAND   QSO S/P DUP  POINTS   AVG

----------------------------------

  160     0   0   0       0  0.00

   80    11   9   0      33  3.00

   40   342  40   6    1026  3.00

   20   328  46   5     984  3.00

   15   499  54   7    1494  2.99

   10   124  28   6     372  3.00

----------------------------------

TOTAL  1304 177  24    3909  3.00

==================================

      TOTAL SCORE : 691 893

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WW CW 2015 - SOAB LP

 

This year’s score is pretty close to 2013 score from 3V8BB station well equipped with monobanders and good radios. At 3V8SS, a tribander has been used along with a 40m GP and an Inv-V for 80/160. Both were re-fixed for better performance on CW legs one week ago. Radios? A single TS450s with 500Hz CW filter, poor dynamic range! Far from being the best radio for such event!

Preparation for the contest also included shifting the “go-to-bed” hour gradually from 00 to about 21. This has enabled me (for the first time) to have 4 hours sleep before contest start and more than 45 hours of operation.

At H-23, I made QSO number 3000. Low bands were very generous this time. However, propagation was behaving strangely on high bands. 10m was very selective and expected close to at any time. Strange that 15 and 20 close almost at the same time.

 

Log Analysis by SH5

3V8SS_EA8RM Signal Comparision

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Operating time  : 44h59

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160    63   6  28   3     183  2.90

   80   546  11  55   9    1626  2.98

   40  1271  29  75  32    3791  2.98

   20  1157  26  78  25    3451  2.98

   15  1298  25  82  13    3872  2.98

   10   588  19  59  17    1748  2.97

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  4923 116 377  99   14671  2.98

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 7 232 803

 

Final Results - SOAB LP

Rank

Call

Score

QSOs

Zn

Cty

Hours

Operator

1

V26K

8,948,736 

6,247 

136 

440 

43.7

AA3B

2

P40W

7,842,380 

4,949 

139 

417 

43.7

W2GD

3

9K2HN

6,924,192 

4,993 

109 

389 

40.4

9K2RR

4

3V8SS

6,819,594 

4,840 

117 

372 

46.3

KF5EYY

5

KP3Z

6,805,253 

4,838 

133 

448 

45.1

NP4Z

6

VY2ZM

6,335,196 

3,828 

145 

491 

43.0

K1ZM

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WW SSB 2015 - SOAB LP

 

Failed to have some sleep before the contest and made the silly mistake of forgetting the clock alarm end of Day 1! Damage was -fortunately!!- limited to 2 extra hours of sleep!

After a very slow start on low bands, high bands were outstanding. I've been using a Tribander, GP for 40 and Inv-V for 80. Radios: nothing other than a an old TS-450S and an older FT-890.

Contest selfie with my lovely wife after brining me food

The weekend before, I made a small device for sharing audio from the two radios into headset with possibility of one radio selection. I do not have RF Filters but some band combinations allowed for simultaneous radio operation. 14 valuable mults were catched on the second radio! I missed mult chasing party end of Day 2 since high bands closed relatively early and my signals couldn't get through.

The best 60-minute rate was 272Q/h. I had several 15-minutes with more than 300Q/h. Huge activity on the bands, I was always struggling to find a 'clear' room.

This score is a personal record for me and breaks the record of Zone 33 in this category. Thanks to each and everyone for the QSOs and band moves!!

 

Log Analysis by SH5

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : Tribander/Single Element

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Locator         :

Operating time  : 38h24

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160     2   2   2   0       4  2.00

   80   173   9  47   0     507  2.93

   40   475  17  69   4    1415  2.98

   20  1003  21  77   6    2987  2.98

   15  1403  25 101   4    4181  2.98

   10  1494  29 100   9    4444  2.97

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  4550 103 396  23   13538  2.98

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 6 755 462

 

Final Results - SOAB LP

Rank

Call

Score

QSOs

Zn

Cty

Hours

Operator

1

TO2A

7,035,756 

4,602 

121 

425 

42.4

N6KT

2

3V8SS

6,408,158 

4,464 

103 

396 

38.6

KF5EYY

3

KP3Z

6,138,341 

5,109 

122 

395 

39.8

 

4

VE3DZ

5,727,392 

3,469 

135 

479 

40.4

 

5

NP2X

5,452,457 

4,989 

110 

369 

42.4

 

 
     

 

  3V8SS - WAEDC SSB 2015 - SOAB LP

 

Conditions were bad due to solar storm. 10m was closed all contest long. On Saturday afternoon I discovered by pure chance a sudden opening that was very short but allowed for 80 QSOs.

 

Contest         : Worked All Europe DX-Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 28h50

 

 BAND   QSO DUP MLTS   QTC  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------------

   80    68   0   28    14      82  1.00

   40   221   1   43    80     301  1.00

   20  1054   5   51  1281    2335  1.00

   15   233   3   37   152     385  1.00

   10    80   0   16     0      80  1.00

-----------------------------------------

TOTAL  1656   9  449  1527    3183  1.92

=========================================

         TOTAL SCORE : 1 429 167

 

Final Results - SOAB LP

Place

Callsign

QSOs

Multi

QTCs

Total Score

1

7Z1SJ

1 969

512

1 717

1 887 232

2

P3F

2 033

453

2 041

1 845 522

3

3V8SS

1 638

441

1 525

1 394 883

4

4X0T

1 495

459

1 444

1 349 001

5

EA8RM

1 611

393

1 589

1 257 600

 
     

 

  3V8SS - WAEDC CW 2015 - SOAB LP

 

Contest         : Worked All Europe DX-Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 31h26

 

 BAND   QSO DUP MLTS   QTC  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------------

   80    90   0   28     0      90  1.00

   40   231   2   35     0     230  1.00

   20   696   5   46     0     696  1.00

   15   417   4   42     0     417  1.00

   10   240   1   32     0     240  1.00

-----------------------------------------

TOTAL  1674  12  457  1549    1673  1.00

=========================================

          TOTAL SCORE : 1 472 454

 

Final Results - SOAB LP

Place

Callsign

QSOs

Multi

QTCs

Total Score

1

CR3L

1 787

528

1 803

1 895 520

2

R8CT

1 698

482

1 730

1 652 296

3

NP4Z

1 584

474

1 621

1 519 170

4

3V8SS

1 631

455

1 548

1 446 445

5

PY1NX

1 492

473

1 518

1 423 730

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WPX CW 2015 - M/S-LP

 

It was a great pleasure doing this contest as Multi/Single with my friend Jun JH4RHF. I first met Jun in Kerkennah Islands during TS7N 2003 DXPedition then in Boston during WRTC 2014.

Myself and Jun JH4RHF contesting

Jun brought his Elecraft K3 and used it for the first time in a contest. The radio is just amazing. Honestly, I don't know how I'm going to do contesting in the future with the old radios I have in the station (!!).

A second radio was set up with the Spiderbeam lined up for multipliers. We didn't use that too much.

Our target was 4500, 10m continued in it's strange shape.

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Multi Op - Single Transmitter (MS)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 47h59

 

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------

  160     0   0    0       0  0.00

   80    91   0   40     546  6.00

   40   474   0  205    2838  5.99

   20  1562   5  369    4681  3.00

   15  1564   5  442    4677  2.99

   10   451   0   81    1351  3.00

-----------------------------------

TOTAL  4142  10 1137   14093  3.40

===================================

     TOTAL SCORE : 16 023 741

 

Final Results - Multi/Single LP

Rank

Call

Score

QSOs

WPX

Hours

Operator(s)

1

3V8SS

14,577,216

3,982

1,104

48.0

JH4RHF KF5EYY

2

P4/N4QS

7,073,808

2,248

888

46.8

N4QS NU4N

3

HS0ZIA

5,235,307

2,115

883

48.0

HS0ZIA HS0ZKX

4

W0DLE

4,596,948

2,125

894

45.7

W0DLE N0OJ..

5

BY8DX

4,102,126

1,931

791

47.8

BA8AG BA8CY..

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WPX SSB 2015 - SOAB-LP

 

Heavy winds were blowing on Sousse Friday night let me reckon that the antennas won't withstand until the end of the contest. I spent a long time on the roof thinking about possible scenarios then decided to go and sleep and wish things will go OK.

Contest start was very bad. Couldn't manage to do the usual north american pileup the first hour. Signals don't get through with 100W. So I decided to jump a couple of hours and start at 3 local time for low bands which were -also - disappointing.

High bands were amazing. Condx were promising and I led me to put the world LP record in mind, however, "winds don't blow as the boats' wish", says the Arabic proverb. Propagation towards USA was surprisingly bad! I was looking at MUF maps which confirmed that. Central/South American stations were heard like local AM broadcast, but looks like a big wall is built on the US or that US hams decided to boycott the contest and go fishing!!

I estimated the result loss by 200 WPXs. That doesn't prevent me from being very happy with the earned 10m points! Many thanks goes to my fiancé for the support, meal and cake brought during the contest! (When I used to read contest stories before, I found it strange that people say "thanks to my wife for letting me doing this contest"! Now that I'm 2 months away from my wedding, I strongly feel the need to make special mentions in my contest stories in the hope that I won't find much restrictions in my next one, hihi!)

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : Tribander/Single Element

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 35h52

 

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------

  160     0   0    0       0  0.00

   80    38   0   17     224  5.89

   40   265   1  150    1574  5.94

   20   779   4  188    2327  2.99

   15  1370   6  396    4090  2.99

   10   696   0  256    2060  2.96

-----------------------------------

TOTAL  3148  11 1007   10275  3.26

===================================

     TOTAL SCORE : 10 346 925

 

Final Results - SOAB LP

Rank

Call

Score

QSOs

WPX

Hours

Operator

1

FY5FY

17,380,143

4,337

1,251

36.0

 

2

ZF2DX

13,607,355

4,159

1,185

35.8

 

3

EB8AH

12,715,682

3,545

1,106

35.9

OH6RX

4

WP2Z

11,949,210

3,915

1,170

35.9

K9VV

5

WP4X

11,748,755

3,789

1,115

36.0

NP4Z

6

PY1NX

10,637,925

3,278

1,095

35.2

 

7

3V8SS

9,856,342

3,069

997

35.8

KF5EYY

 

 
     

 

  3V8SS - Russian DX Contest 2015 - SOAB-MIXED-LP

 

Nice competition with my friend Juan EA8RM ended up with 20 QSOs difference scores.

The outcome isn't too far from the one realized two years ago from 3V8BB using monobanders and amplifiers.

GW4BLE Recording - 2015-Mar-21 21:12 40M

Contest         : Russian DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : MIXED

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : DX

Operating time  : 22h37

 

 BAND   SSB    CW  DXC OBL  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------------

  160     0     0   0   0       0  0.00

   80     1   216  40  28    1336  6.16

   40   193   163  53  40    2129  5.98

   20   243   347  55  57    3984  6.75

   15   197   299  61  59    3290  6.63

   10    95   358  55  64    3794  8.38

-----------------------------------------

TOTAL   729  1383 264 248   14533  6.88

=========================================

          TOTAL SCORE : 7 440 896

 
     

 

  3V8SS - ARRL DX SSB 2015 - M/S -LP

 

Last year we participated in ARRL SSB DX Contest as MS from 3V8BB. The team included myself and Ali 3V/F4HJD (Tunisian Op having a French license). This year, we continued this tradition, we had Ahmed with us, a 19-years-old Tunisian student and an active ARAT Member. For Ahmed, this was the first contest ever. Ahmed did very well in this contest and showed a great ability in managing pile ups under severe band conditions.

We were able to put together two networked computers and run two radios (Run & Mult). Interference occurs in one bands combination but it's acceptable at 100W.

During the contest, we were pleased to have a first visit from Hsan 3V/PA3BRH and his family and a second visit from Dmitro UA6UA and Alex UT5UAS who brought an antenna analyzer which allowed us to make necessary measurements and adjustments on the antennas.

 

Contest         : ARRL International DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Multi Op - Single Transmitter (MS)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : DX

Operating time  : 31h02

 

 BAND   QSO S/P DUP  POINTS   AVG

----------------------------------

  160     0   0   0       0  0.00

   80     4   3   0      12  3.00

   40   195  33   2     582  2.98

   20   354  47  32    1056  2.98

   15   344  48   4    1026  2.98

   10   814  47  12    2433  2.99

----------------------------------

TOTAL  1711 178  50    5109  2.99

==================================

      TOTAL SCORE : 909 402

 

Operators       : F4HJD, 3V8CB, KF5EYY

 
     

 

  3V8SS - ARRL DX CW 2015 - SOAB-LP

 
Contest Audio Log

 

Contest         : ARRL International DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : DX

Operating time  : 24h38

 

 BAND   QSO S/P DUP  POINTS   AVG

----------------------------------

  160     0   0   0       0  0.00

   80    48  18   0     144  3.00

   40   327  45   3     981  3.00

   20   290  48   2     870  3.00

   15   425  51   5    1275  3.00

   10   368  50   3    1101  2.99

----------------------------------

TOTAL  1458 212  13    4371  3.00

==================================

      TOTAL SCORE : 926 652

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WW CW 2014 - SOSB-15-LP

 

Amazing contest activity! 15m was busy up to 21.150! 26 hours is all the opening time allowed on this band from this location.

I lost 45 minutes of valuable early hours trying to figure out the bad keying issue on the FT-857, later appeared to be the CAT cable!

The FT-857 is definitely not a contest radio, more than 3 stations calling at once and you're stuck!

Seven Zones were missed (01, 06, 07, 12, 29, 31 and 34). The Spiderbeam and the CT-37HF were used pointing to different locations (no simultaneous TXing), mainly to North/Central America and S.East Asia/Oceania attempting to catch up the hard mults, sometimes with interleaving CQs.

S&P was mostly fruitful. On Day 2, I was planning to do a thorough S&P job in the last opening hour (around 19z), but the band close extremely quickly (within half an hour at 18z).

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : Single band (SB) 15 m

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Operating time  : 25h13

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160     0   0   0   0       0  0.00

   80     0   0   0   0       0  0.00

   40     0   0   0   0       0  0.00

   20     0   0   0   0       0  0.00

   15  1986  33 110  63    5928  2.98

   10     0   0   0   0       0  0.00

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  1986  33 110  63    5928  2.98

======================================

        TOTAL SCORE : 847 704

 
     

 

  3V8BB - CQ WPX SSB 2014 - SOAB-HP

 

I was informed few days before the contest that Hrane YT1AD won't make it to Tunisia for a SO operation and I had few time to make new plans.. Decision to go for an HP operation was taking few hours prior to contest start. My favorite category was always SOAB-LP but imagining the QRM in such events led me to HP!

The challenge I set for me was to make same/better than Hrane's last year score of 15m points and be first in Africa. Writing the objectives in a sheet of paper placed in front of me is always positive!

The set-up still need improvement here in terms of automation and ergonomics; I used a couple of TS-870 with an amplifier lined up on the RUN station. No filters were available but RFI to the MULT station was really negligeable.

The first hours was terrible with only 55 QSOs on 20 and 40. European QRM wall made it impossible to work on low bands or even to find a relatively clear QRG... Splatter signals were all over the bands, the CC may need to do more here.

High bands were in good shape but not as good as expected. My operating hours were scheduled based on my rest obligations rather than 6-Point-bands openings. However, I pushed hard to get the maximum out of them.

I'm happy that I could manage - and for the first time ever - to stick to the pre-defined operating plan as a learnt lesson from my previous operations.

I started using the second radio late on Saturday afternoon and that brought Twenty three valuable mults to the score. Moves were quicker and more efficient this time.

 

Log Analysis by SH5

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8BB

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : High Power (HP)

Operating time  : 36h00

 

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------

  160     1   0    0       6  6.00

   80    41   0   20     246  6.00

   40   433   1  179    2584  5.97

   20   937   3  365    2797  2.99

   15  1019   1  327    3043  2.99

   10  1280   3  359    3805  2.97

-----------------------------------

TOTAL  3711   8 1250   12481  3.36

===================================

     TOTAL SCORE : 15 601 250

 

Official Results: 7th Place WW, 1st AF (See Plaque)

 
     

 

  3V8BB - Russian DX Contest 2014 - SOAB-SSB-LP

 

Second attempt to break the world record in SOAB-SSB-LP Catergory, this time was successful after score reduction bringing my 2011 score below the 4.4 million threshold set by LZ9W.

It was a nice opportunity for SO2R SSB operation. I'm amazed with the things I can do with this device despite it's not the "last fashion". 72 QSOs were made on second radio for rare mults or when rates go down.

 

Contest         : Russian DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8BB

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : DX

Operating time  : 22h15

 

 BAND   QSO DUP DXC OBL  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160    23   1  17   2     122  5.30

   80    65   0  26  18     442  6.80

   40   273   1  41  40    1720  6.30

   20   494   1  53  54    3218  6.51

   15   511   1  58  64    3498  6.85

   10   431   0  56  55    3170  7.35

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  1797   4 251 233   12170  6.77

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 5 890 280

 
     

 

  3V8BB - ARRL DX Contest SSB 2014 - M/S HP

 

It wasn't in my plans to make a serious ARRL SSB participation this year, but a call from Ali 3V8ESG suggesting me to do an M/S operation changed my mind.

Ali is a Communication engineering student and he's the chief operator of 3V8ESG ARAT Club in his school. Ali has became very enthusiastic to the hobby and actively contributed in a lot of ARAT trainings and activities.

Ali 3V8ESG excited with big W/VE pileups!

Operating M/S with Ali in his first contest operation was really fun and I'm sure he learnt a lot from this experience. I tried to coach him before and during the contest on how to predict propagation, contest strategy and band changes, operating hints and tips... I think a new 3V contester is about to be born!

The contest was great with a big activity on the bands. All mults were worked except for YT and NU.

Propagation was better on Saturday. Low bands were deceiving; especially 80 and 160 with a low S/N ratio - No QSO made on 160!

This contest was a good opportunity for me to prepare for Boston WRTC in terms of managing pileups. I'm getting very excited seeing the event approaching very quickly. I hope I'll meet you guys soon over there "insh'Allah"!

 

Contest         : ARRL International DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8BB

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Multi Operator - Single Transmitter (MS)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : High Power (HP)

Operators       : KF5EYY, 3V8ESG

Operating time  : 39h46

 

 BAND   QSO S/P DUP  POINTS   AVG

----------------------------------

  160     0   0   0       0  0.00

   80    28  13   0      84  3.00

   40   568  49   7    1701  2.99

   20  1328  61  17    3969  2.99

   15   977  59   6    2919  2.99

   10  1100  59  18    3294  2.99

----------------------------------

TOTAL  4001 241  48   11967  2.99

==================================

     TOTAL SCORE : 2 884 047

 
     

 

  3V8BB - ARRL DX Contest CW 2014 - SOAB HP

 

Score and QSO number this year were well below expectations. First night was promising but less activity was experienced in the second night. 80 and 160 were extremely noisy and untouchable! 20m never closed the first 24 hours and high bands were live!

From 8 to 12 is a dead period here towards W/VE. On Saturday and while I was making some experiments, the SO2R device started to behave very strangely (continuous tune instead of CW signal,...). It took me some time to figure out the problem and realize that; if it did work HP without filters, that shouldn’t be valid in all frequencies. So I switched off the device and continued to use a single radio.

FT870 is definitely not the best radio for CW and I should consider better setup. A lot of dupes and non-contest “long” QSOs slowed down the rates.

Another “confirmed” learnt lesson; not getting very excited before the contest is the KEY for you to be able to take few hours rest before it starts.

 

Contest Audio Log

 

Contest         : ARRL International DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8BB

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : High Power (HP)

Zone/State/...  : DX

Locator         :

Operating time  : 27h23

 

 BAND   QSO S/P DUP  POINTS   AVG

----------------------------------

  160     7   5   0      21  3.00

   80    55  21   0     165  3.00

   40   773  58   7    2319  3.00

   20   752  57  12    2256  3.00

   15   579  56   4    1737  3.00

   10   754  58  15    2262  3.00

----------------------------------

TOTAL  2920 255  38    8760  3.00

==================================

     TOTAL SCORE : 2 233 800

 
     

 

  3V8BB - CQ WW 160 CW 2014 - SO HP

 

Weekend nights were raining in Tunis and the band was so noisy... Using the TX inverted-V for listening made me a real "deaf"!

Having an RX Antenna for this contest was a learnt lesson from last year's participation... Now it's a must without it I won't operate WW 160!

Most of the QSOs were done in the first night then condx went down in the second night... The band was far from being open... 96% of the QSOs were with Europe... 14 W/VE stations worked compared to over 140 last year...

I had to drive 300km back home so I didn't feel so motivated to operate the third night with 20 Q/h rate!

 

Contest Audio Log

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide 160-meter Contest

Callsign        : 3V8BB

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : Single band (SB) 160 m

Class           : High Power (HP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Operating time  : 17h11

 

 BAND   QSO DUP DXC S/P  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160   847  11  52  11    8455  9.98

--------------------------------------

TOTAL   847  11  52  11    8455  9.98

======================================

        TOTAL SCORE : 532 665

 
     

 

  3V8BB - CQ WW CW 2013 - SOAB LP

 

What a contest! Everything was well prepared however, not being able to rest before the contest badly affected my readiness especially after a tiring working day and the 300km drive from Sfax.

The station was ready for SO2R. As the pileups were never ending till the last hour, only 5 moves were done using Radio 2. The multiplier number is therefore low and many DXCCs were missed.

Concentration and tire management is something I should work on, at the end of the contest it was very hard for me to copy stations despite the loud signals coming in.

Propagation conditions were very good; 80m a bit noisy, 40m amazingly nice, high bands close relatively early.

 

Best 1-hour rate: 182 QSO/h

 

Log Analysis by SH5

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8BB

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Operating time  : 38h58

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160   141   7  36   3     417  2.96

   80   563  12  56  11    1683  2.99

   40  1433  25  80  28    4280  2.99

   20   643  23  73  13    1917  2.98

   15  1179  27  78  14    3520  2.99

   10  1009  21  76  12    3007  2.98

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  4968 115 399  81   14824  2.98

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 7 619 536

 
     

 

  3V7A - CQ WW SSB 2013 - M/S HP

 

Plan has been made with Hrane YT1AD for an MS Operation from 3V8BB during CQ WW SSB this year. Due to operators unavailability, we were about to drop the idea and go for two SB operations. However, I wanted to give MS another try and called my friend Andy RA9CKQ to join us. That was just one week before the contest. It took him one day to revert back to me saying that he's able to make it to Tunis.

The team was composed of Hrane YT1AD, Andy RA9CKQ and myself KF5EYY only. This wasn't enough but will allow everybody a plenty of operating hours.

We set up two stations; one for Run and one for chasing mults. Like in every year, station maintenance never ends; problems with rotators, antennas, transceiver...

Our targets for this operations were to make 8000 QSOs and to be in Top 3; The first is relatively under our control, the second........unfortunately not! :)

Conditions were very good; we all enjoyed beautiful runs!

 

Watch contest video here.

 

Log Analysis by SH5

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V7A

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Multi Op - Single Transmitter (MS)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : High Power (HP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Locator         : JM56LL

Operating time  : 48h00

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160   179   8  46   2     527  2.94

   80   518  14  72   6    1538  2.97

   40  1273  30 101  18    3793  2.98

   20  2507  38 133  29    7483  2.98

   15  1368  35 129  29    4069  2.97

   10  2425  38 136  21    7214  2.97

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  8270 163 617 105   24624  2.98

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 19 206 720

 
     

 

  3V8BB - WAEDC CW 2013 - SOAB LP

 

For the fourth consecutive time, a major contest falls in a holidays period. Fortunately the Aid El Fitr was announced to be on Thursday -
according to the lunar year. I had enough time to visit relatives and eat the special food made for the event, hi!

I left to Tunis on Friday morning trying to have as much time as I can
for the setup. SO2R testing was the primary goal of this contest participation. Using it for the first time ever from a Tunisian station and by a Tunisian operator was my personal dream and challenge for many years!

I plugged all connections to the SO2R device and made the first tests...
all works perfectly!

SO2R device by Array Solutions was slightly modified (by someone) that get rid of the control box and allowed control bottons to be on the front side of the I/O box.

Ash KF5EYY with SO2R Setup

CW signals were generated by a single CW interface (the only one I have). As no LPT connection is available on my laptop, radio selection is made manually.

WAEDC CW is a perfect contest for someone who wishes to try SO2R. The activity is not as high as a CQWW contest. Moreover, the QTC sending time on one radio is a perfect time to listen to the second radio.

I would suggest to WinTest author to consider changing the QTC Window to be similar to the other Wintest Windows allowing Second radio QSO logging to be possible while sending QTCs.

Otherwise, Wintest remains my prefered logging software that I would
recommend to anybody interested in contesting.

3V8BB was equiped with one antenna switcher; one antenna coax have always to be disconnected from the switching device and connected to the second radio depending on bands propagation.

In total, 22 QSOs on the second radio were made including some 'excellent and quick multiplier moves'. SO2R gave me a great flexibility arranging for QSYs and checking openings... It brought my contesting pleasure to another excitement level!

 

Contest         : Worked All Europe DX-Contest

Callsign        : 3V8BB

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 30h12

 

 BAND   QSO DUP MLTS   QTC  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------------

   80   177   0   35    50     226  0.99

   40   452   1   43   320     770  1.00

   20   385   1   41   320     704  1.00

   15   523   1   41   700    1223  1.00

   10   327   0   33    90     417  1.00

-----------------------------------------

TOTAL  1864   3  499  1480    3340  1.79

=========================================

         TOTAL SCORE : 1 666 660

 
     

 

  3V8BB - CQ WPX CW 2013 - SOAB LP

 

I never imagined condx will be that bad although the begining of the contest was promising with sustained pileups on 40 and 20. The first daylight hours revealed the truth with a clearly noticed decline in propagation conditions... Quick glance at Spaceweather.com gave more explanation: "Earth's magnetic field is still reverberating from a CME strike on May 24th. The glancing blow around 1800 UT sparked at least three episodes of polar geomagnetic storming (Kp=5) on May 24-25"...

Not only this, daylight also revealed another truth; all the QSOs I made on 20 were from the back of my antenna which, again, stuck beaming to south!

I was planning to make as much operating hours as I can in Day 1 so I can leave back home (250km far) early on Sunday, but... God's plans were different!

I allowed myself to take breaks knowing that Day 2 can NEVER be worse! Indeed, 40m remained good, 80m was too noisy with low activity. The back of my 20m antenna brought me few more QSOs.
15 and 10 were "back to life" but still disapointing!

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8BB

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 30h22

 

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------

  160    21   0    3     126  6.00

   80   171   1   63    1026  6.00

   40   695   0  334    4166  5.99

   20   433   1  160    1297  3.00

   15   489   1  105    1465  3.00

   10   258   0   30     774  3.00

-----------------------------------

TOTAL  2067   3  695    8854  4.28

===================================

      TOTAL SCORE : 6 153 530

 
     

 

  3V8BB - RDXC 2013 - SOAB MIXED HP

 

Contest         : Russian DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8BB

Mode            : MIXED

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : High Power (HP)

Zone/State/...  : DX

Operating time  : 22h36

 

 BAND   SSB    CW DUP DXC OBL  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------------

  160     3   107   0  29  18     700  6.36

   80    40   242   0  39  32    1810  6.42

   40   220   304   0  48  47    3265  6.23

   20   123   336   0  48  50    3040  6.62

   15   389   402   1  60  64    5509  6.96

   10   165   289   3  53  52    3331  7.34

--------------------------------------------

TOTAL   940  1680   4 277 263   17655  6.74

============================================

          TOTAL SCORE : 9 533 700

 
     

 

  3V8BB - ARRL DX CW 2013 - SOAB HP

 

The contest started very well on my side with 100+Q/h on 40 and 80 (which was very noisy).

From 7z to 12z, I was jobless after 40m closure. 20m opened late towards W/VE and I only could start real runs after 12z. In the meantime, I went to walk around and take some fresh air. I was surprised seeing 20m antenna beaming to east, I remember I pointed them all to W/WE before the contest start. I went back to shack, examined the rotor control unit: the antenna is stuck to East! No chance to go up and repair; I'm not so courageous and I fear heights! Fortunately, the Pro-67 is there with its 3 Elements for 20.

I spent few time on 20 then quickly moved to 15. I stayed there for more than 2 hours as I never imagined 10m would be open. I QSYed to 10 at 15z to realized how wrong I was! No problem, there's still a lot to grab! Pile-ups were tremendous and I made my best CW Rate ever; 183 QSOs in 1 hour!

The bands close very early, I went back to 15 at 17z then to 20. Bands don’t look to be in good shape!

At 22z I decided to take 1-hour nap to be ready for another low bands round. My phone failed to wake me up, shame! I slept for 4 hours; fortunately, the couch is not comfortable enough for more! J

Struggled to get some mults on the extremely noisy 160.

Conditions were much better on the high bands compared with Saturday. 10m was wonderful, I made nice 100+ hour rates. Then, something strange started to happen; tens of dupes sneak to my log! I really cannot explain what happened! All together! “Hey guys, I didn’t lose my log to call me again!” That was a bit frustrating and was slowing my rate and I decided not to put them in log anymore.

Nevertheless, as always, I was thrilled working W/WE Stations; as if they’re lined up in a queue and they come one by one! All stations can be worked; I do have some QRP stations in the log! Thank you for the extremely professional operating behavior!

 - Paths range from 6000 to 11000km.

 - Six Bands Stations: K1FWE, K1LZ, K3LR, N3RR, N8DE, NQ4I, NY4A, VE3JM, W3LPL, W5RU, WK1Q

 - Not worked mults: YT, NT, NU

 

Contest Audio Log

 

Contest         : ARRL International DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8BB

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : High Power (HP)

Operating time  : 32h19

 

 BAND   QSO S/P DUP  POINTS   AVG

----------------------------------

  160    22  12   0      66  3.00

   80   322  44   6     966  3.00

   40   846  54   4    2538  3.00

   20   504  54   4    1512  3.00

   15   626  53   3    1869  2.99

   10   813  50  23    2439  3.00

----------------------------------

TOTAL  3133 267  40    9390  3.00

==================================

     TOTAL SCORE : 2 507 130

 

Official Results: 17th Place WW, 2nd AF

Link to ARRL Results Database

 
     

 

  3V8BB - CQWW 160 CW 2013 - SO HP

 

The band was fine on first night with nice opening to US! then it became more noisy, QSBying and signal were getting weaker in the following nights.

I'm happy with the 147 W/K stations in my log but also disapointed not to work EA8, TF, JA and any South American Station! Looking at DR1A posting to 3830 talking about worked DXCCs deepened my deception - Great job guys! :)

Inverted-V for 160 at sunset

Here is what Steve KV4FZ wrote me after the contest:

"Ash,  You had a very good signal here on 160 in the West Indies and I called you for hours along with many South American stations with no reply...not even a QRZ or partial.  I would go a few KHz down from your frequency, put out a single CQ and have a European pile up calling me with many Zone 20 and Zone 19 contacts as well.  I think by the fact that my calls were answered by repeater CQ's that you may have a null receiving in my direction and that of South America.  Since your transmitting signal was so very good I am interested what you might have been using on receive as you were not hearing the many South Americans (PY, LU, HK,CX, CE, PJ2), and other Caribbean stations like myself calling you without results.."

 

I only S&Pied at the end of contest but this doesn't really brought me a lot.

Something to consider for the future: RX Antenna!

Log Analysis by SH5

Contest         : CQ World Wide 160-meter Contest

Callsign        : 3V8BB

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : Single band (SB) 160 m

Class           : High Power (HP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Operating time  : 25h33

 

 BAND   QSO DUP DXC S/P  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160  1401  15  59  32   13995  9.99

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  1401  15  59  32   13995  9.99

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 1 273 545

 

Official Results: 3rd Place WW, 1st AF

http://www.cq160.com/cq1602013/160M%20Results%20CQ%20Aug13.pdf

 
     

 

  3V8BB - CQWW CW 2012 - SOAB LP

 

Murphy was here for CQ WW CW. I prepared EVERYTHING for this contest and I slept a bit, then my stomach started behaving strangely and I vomited every half an hour. I went to a nearby pharmacy, got some medicine but in vain. The situation went worse, I was obliged to drive back home.

I couldn’t leave the bed on Day 1. After all the medicines I had, I could feel better on Day 2. So I went back to the club, made 1580 QSOs in 12hours from 0800 tp 2000. Rates reached 160Q in one hour. Pileups were huge!

I tried to give some points to Low Bands contesters, untouchable! :)

Contest Audio Log

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8BB

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 12h01

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160    15   4  12   1      45  3.00

   80     7   3   7   0      21  3.00

   40    28   4  19   0      84  3.00

   20   254  15  52   2     750  2.95

   15   604  20  68   5    1794  2.97

   10   673  21  66   1    1999  2.97

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  1581  67 224   9    4693  2.97

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 1 365 663

 
     

 

  3V8BB - CQWW SSB 2012 - SOAB LP

 

Three years ago, CQWW CW started the night of the Aid El Kebir (One of the two islamic ceremonies). DJ7IK was my guest and he celebrated the event with me and my family. At that time It wasn't easy to convaince them that I need to depart to 3V8SS (130km north) the day of the Aid to continue preparations and to take part in the contest starting that night!

This year's CQWW SSB came ALSO the night the Aid. I had YT1AD with me at home. However, it was easier to convaince my family. I think that they started realizing what's wrong with my priorities ranking! :) Too bad, I confess!

Plan was to operate MS with YT1AD and Mirko DJ1AA visiting Tunisia, however, for family commitments, Mirko chose to stay in Monastir.
Operating MS with 2 operators wasn't the best idea and it would be tough to bring additional points to my WRTC Points. Hrane was too kind and gave me the chance to operate SO. Not too much thinking, my prefered category... SOAB-LP!

Hrane operated SB-160 as 3V8CB.

The contest was fabulous with tremendous activity! I didn't feel any need to sleep but I chose to do it for a more confortable operation.
I'm not so happy with 10m, I don't know what's wrong with it. 1000 QSOs was the least I could expect on this band!

Log Analysis by SH5

UBN File

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8BB

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Locator         : JM65ER

Operating time  : 43

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160    28   4  19   0      79  2.82

   80   236   7  43   1     706  2.99

   40   776  17  62   7    2322  2.99

   20  1033  20  79   2    3089  2.99

   15  1173  26  81   7    3503  2.99

   10  1005  25  85   8    2962  2.95

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  4251  99 369  25   12661  2.98

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 5 925 348

 

Official Results: 3rd Place WW, 2nd AF

http://www.cqww.com/results/2012_cq_ww_dx_ssb_results.pdf

 
     

 

  3V8BB - WAEDC SSB 2012 - SOAB HP

 

Weather in Tunisia started to be unstable with varying temperatures accross the day hours and week days; suitable conditions to get a rheum!

I got as much medicines as I could trying to recover before the contest, but I quickly forgot about malaise when pileups kicked off!

I tried to well manage between pileups and QTCs giving priority to QSOs at the begining of the contest and to QTC at the end. I'm not sure I succeeded as I ended up with over 400 un-sent QTCs! I struggled trying to find those who can make me a faver and take them! :)

Popagation was good on Day 1, with a noisy 80m! Day 2 was the worst surprise with a dead 10m and unusual low signals from Europe on the other bands! So, I prefered to stop the contest at 17z and go home to get ready for a busy Monday!

Congrats for V55V, EF8R (EA8CAC) and CR3L for the great job! Thanks for everyone for making this contest a pleasant event!

Contest         : Worked All Europe DX-Contest

Callsign        : 3V8BB

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : High Power (HP)

Operating time  : 29h08

 

 BAND   QSO DUP MLTS   QTC  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------------

   80   164   3   31    60     224  1.00

   40   508   1   44   512    1019  1.00

   20   978   3   45   770    1747  1.00

   15   669   0   39   653    1322  1.00

   10   294   0   27   215     509  1.00

-----------------------------------------

TOTAL  2613   7  478  2210    4821  1.85

=========================================

         TOTAL SCORE : 2 304 438

 

Official Results: 4th Place WW, 2nd AF

http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/contest/waedc/en/2012/ssb/

 
     

 

  3V8BB - IARU HF CHAMPIONSHIP 2012 - SOAB HP

 

Going to 3V8BB QTH on Saturday morning, I was listening to the newsreader in a local FM station announcing the weather predictions; "Temperature will reach its maximum today at noon with 42°C!!" (...humm, when contest starts!) "and cold winds will blow Sunday afternoon deacreasing temperature" (...after the end of the contest!!).
Fortunately, I was "armed" with an air blower placed at 1m from me, blowing at full speed! And in my mind I was saying "Ash, no pain, no gain!"

This year's IARU HF participation is my first attempt with SO-HP Operation. I had the chance to work HP in MS Category but never as Single Op! Competing with BIG guns was something I was thinking of before the contest. I was taking things seriously (than it should be!) and that was a little bit stressful for me. Added to that a VOX that messed up in the first 30 minutes... panic... not really best contest start!
Little by little, pileups are there and I started forgetting about score and temperature, just enjoyed running!

Propagation was bad on Satuday and slightly improved on Sunday.

The QSO number looks interesting to me but the Multiplier score is "shameful" :) and that's quite normal as I didn't think about SO2R Setup; a learnt lesson for the upcoming contests!

 

Contest         : IARU HF World Championships

Callsign        : 3V8BB

Mode            : MIXED

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : High Power (HP)

Zone/State/...  : 37

Operating time  : 23h15

 

 BAND   SSB    CW ITU  HQ  POINTS   AVG

----------------------------------------

  160    21    62   6  15     333  4.01

   80   104    84   9  20     816  4.34

   40   457    85  20  24    2554  4.71

   20   641   180  23  21    3963  4.83

   15   907   166  26  26    5205  4.85

   10   413    89  13  21    2296  4.57

----------------------------------------

TOTAL  2543   666  97 127   15167  4.73

========================================

        TOTAL SCORE : 3 397 408

Log Analysis by SH5

 

Official Results: 7th Place WW, 1st AF

http://www.arrl.org/files/file/ContestResults/2012/2012-IARU-Web.pdf

 
     

 

  3V8BB - CQ WPX CW 2012 - SOAB LP

 

Hrane YT1AD was so kind and left me the chair to operate CQ WPX CW from 3V8BB.

I arrived to the club on Friday afternoon and made all the necessary to set up the FT857, CW Interface and test the antenna system. All is working perfectly!

 

Day 1 Sunrise from 3V8BB shack

Contest planning was focusing on 6-point bands and considered short sleeping periods spread all over the 48 hour contest time. I was also planned to quite 5 hours before the end of the contest to get enough rest for Monday.

The bands were widely open and signals were generally loud.

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8BB

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 35h01

 

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------

  160    22   0    4     132  6.00

   80   115   0   35     690  6.00

   40   523   2  271    3138  6.00

   20   589   2  158    1764  2.99

   15   912   3  245    2728  2.99

   10   549   1  138    1645  3.00

-----------------------------------

TOTAL  2710   8  851   10097  3.73

===================================

      TOTAL SCORE : 8 592 547

Log Analysis by SH5

 

Operating on 15m

 

Official Results: 2nd Place WW, 1st AF

UBN File

 
     

 

  3V8BB - CQ WPX SSB 2012 - MS HP

 

Thanks to Hrane YT1AD for allowing me to be a member of his M/S Team operating from 3V8BB.

The team was composed of Hrane YT1AD, Simo YT3M, Zlatko Z30A and me.

Me and Hrane were working the day shift. Pileups never end however conditions on the high bands were moderate and very noisy.

We ended up the contest with 29,170,908 points. Congrats to 5D5A and P33W for the great job!

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8BB

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Multi Operator-Single Transmitter (MS)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : High Power (HP)

Zone/State/...  : DX

Operating time  : 47h57

 

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------

  160    58   0   11     344  5.93

   80   368   1  207    2188  5.95

   40  1261  14  331    7531  5.97

   20  1275   5  208    3811  2.99

   15  1766   9  424    5270  2.98

   10   552   0  224    1627  2.95

-----------------------------------

TOTAL  5280  29 1405   20771  3.93

===================================

     TOTAL SCORE : 29 183 255

 
     

 

  3V8SS - RDXC 2012 - SOAB-MIX-LP

 

What a nice weather on Saturday morning over here! I started the day early by a long walk on Sousse beach enjoying the turquoise blue sea and lovely weather. Nothing would prevent me from spending the day there but a contest!

After last year's first place World as SOAB-SSB-LP, I decided to take part in MIX mode as condx is poor and my antenna system for low bands needs upgrading. So the idea was to focus on SSB for High bands and CW for low bands.

I made some nice runs on SSB at the begining of the contest; I was surprised that I was exceeding CN2R by 1 QSO after 2 operating hours (354 vs 353!). but I later made people struggle to have a CW QSO with me due to tire.

QSO with CN2R on 20m:

I was hoping 10m will make a surprise just before the end of the contest, however, it was disappointing.

This year's score slightly exceeds the World Record for MIX-LP Category set by SU9NC back in 2003. I hope log checking will not grab the 300k points difference!

Log Analysis by SH5

 

Contest         : Russian DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : MIXED

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : DX

Operating time  : 22h39

 

 BAND   SSB    CW DUP DXC OBL  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------------

  160     0    33   0  20   4     185  5.61

   80     5   231   1  42  28    1410  5.97

   40    59   270   0  49  30    2010  6.11

   20   531   258   1  63  58    5207  6.60

   15   482   263   1  75  65    5488  7.37

   10    17     7   0  16   0     112  4.67

--------------------------------------------

TOTAL  1094  1062   3 265 185   14412  6.68

============================================

          TOTAL SCORE : 6 485 400

 

Official Results:

  1 LY1R        1725  11061  257 222   5298219
  2 3V8SS       2023  12095  257 175   5225040
  3 YL2TB        919   6918  223 228   3120018
  4 MJ0CFW      1279   6463  253 164   2695071
  5 7Z1SJ       1156   6287  204 161   2294755

 
     

 

  3V8SS - ARRL DX CONTEST CW 2012 - SOAB LP

 

10m band was disappointing with 1-hour opening on Day 1 and very short opening on Day 2. I missed 20m opening in Day 1 due to some commitments.

 

Contest         : ARRL International DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 25h44

 

 BAND   QSO S/P DUP  POINTS   AVG

----------------------------------

  160     0   0   0       0  0.00

   80   101  23   0     303  3.00

   40   420  46   1    1260  3.00

   20   296  47   0     888  3.00

   15   521  49   3    1557  2.99

   10   103  22   0     309  3.00

----------------------------------

TOTAL  1441 187   4    4317  3.00

==================================

      TOTAL SCORE : 807 279

 

Official Results: 15th Place WW, 4th AF

http://www.arrl.org/results-database?event_id=34455

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WW CW 2011 - SOAB LP

 

This year's CQWW CW Contest witnessed my second participation as SO. My first try was back in 2008 finished happy with 123 QSOs as a new comer to CW. The year after, I operated the Multiplier station with 3V3S Crew (M/S LP). In 2010, I was glad leaving the chair for Andy RA9CKQ for his 3V3A Activity.

After my good results in the SSB Legs, I was preparing well in advance for another personal achievment in the CW Leg especially with the bands being in a good shape. Preparations convered daily CW Training on Morse Runner, previous years' logs' analysis, and the most important; testing a new gun for the fight.... the FT-857 from Yeasu!!

What triggered this idea is the fact that club's TS-450s has only a 500Hz built-in filter for CW which make any LP station struggle due to the adjuscent stations. So I took my FT857 and came to Sousse the weekend preceeding the contest to try its DSP Feature! I quickly made the decision; This is it!

By the same occasion, I repaired my 160/80 GP after loosing 3m from its total lenght making it unresonnant on 160... Few mults on top band would be highly valuable!

I came to the station on Friday morning; checked my setup, got on the air, all works perfectly!
Afterwards, I went to look around in my lovely city; it's always nice and peaceful!
Back to the Radio club for rest. I was glad having a 3 hours nap just before the contest. I don't remember how I could overcome my excitement, but I did it anyway!!

Operating half an hour prior to contest start put me on the cluster and on bandmaps and generated pileups since the begining. I quickly realized how great the Yeasu's DSP Filter is! I felt as if I'm the only one on the band with no adjuscent station in my headset!

In fact, FT-857 has 3 filters; 60, 120 and 240Hz. During this contest, I always started with 240Hz and then narrow it when the pileup grows up to reduce the number of heard stations. I know it'll prevent me to hear station that are not calling on my exact QRG, but this brought the pileup to a manageable level for me.

QSO rate was exceeded 100 per hour in most of the contest hours, peaking 128. It's not the best I could do, but poeple were NOT listening in and they just keep QRMing making things going slow and too tough to handle. I was sometimes obliged to change the frequency!!

Condx were fabulous in ALL bands! I did run all the time and only S&P twice during band change. Mutipliers figure might be better.

Chair time was limited to 36 hours as I slept a lot (4.5 hours) and had to leave early back to capital Tunis as Monday is a working day for me.
I failed to reach my set objective of 4000 QSOs but I'm happy with the result setting my personal threshold high for upcoming events "inshallah".

 

Log Analysis by SH5
 

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Operating time  : 35h40

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160    62   6  27   0     180  2.90

   80   259   7  46   0     771  2.98

   40   504  16  52   0    1502  2.98

   20   784  20  67   4    2334  2.98

   15   930  23  84   1    2770  2.98

   10   877  24  68   1    2615  2.98

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  3416  96 344   6   10172  2.98

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 4 475 680

 

Official Results: 13th Place WW, 3rd AF

UBN File - CQ Magazine Article

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WW SSB 2011 - SOAB LP

 

Being in Moscow for a 5-days-business trip continued until one day before this year's CQWW Contest prevented me from taking enough rest for the event. What an excitement being in the old Soviet capital!

I had the chance to meet my friend Andrey RA9CKQ, Valery R5GA and Dima RA9USU... Thanks guys for coming to see me!
I also was pleased to meet Pavel RU5A how made my 30-minutes operation from his office Station possible! I was operating as RA/KF5EYY and made 60 QSOs.

With RU5A in Mosocw 2 days before the contest

With RU5A in Mosocw 2 days before the contest

Friday was a busy day at office. I finished work at 17h then I decided to visit TS2A (3V8BB) guys in Hammamet inspite of tire. I had a nice contest chat with Hrane YT1AD, Dragan YT3W and Dima RA9USU that I met a couple of days ago in UA3.

I was lucky having 4 hours sleeping on Friday night and thanks to my mobile who failed to wake me up before the contest.
I started my operation at 0230z with the usual (for me) low QSO rates on 40.

A quick look on 20 showed a bench of nice DX Catches (KH6, FO0M, ZL, etc.). It wasn't so difficult to grab them all.
I continued switching between CQing on 40 and S&P on 20 till about half an hour before sunrise!

I made about an hour on 20, then a quick move to 15 before joining the rest of the world on 10 and found the party already started!
What an awesome 10m! Great opening towards far east in the morning and towards Americas in the afternoon. Pile-ups were huge and difficult to manage sometimes.

I could break last year's score well before the end of Day 1, then realized that I completely forgot about sleeping unlike what has been expected due to my busy week... However, I prefered going to bed for another 4 hours as I didn't rely a lot on low bands. My antenna system for 80 and 40 needs full revamping. I should also think about another solution for 160 after having my vertical partly broken and de-tuned.

Best QSO Rates:
230 QSOs during one hour (personal record)
130 QSOs during 30 minutes
52 QSOs during 10 minutes

 

Log Analysis by SH5
 

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Operating time  : 31h11

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160     0   0   0   0       0  0.00

   80    42   5  27   0     122  2.90

   40   194   9  42   0     580  2.99

   20   638  24  78   2    1900  2.98

   15  1190  27  83   2    3547  2.98

   10  1744  28  89   5    5193  2.98

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  3808  93 319   9   11342  2.98

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 4 672 904

 

Official Results: 3rd Place WW, 2nd AF

CQ Magazine Article

 
     

 

  3V8SS - WAEDC SSB 2011 - SOAB LP

 

I went to Sousse on Friday aftrenoon after 2 hour driving from Sfax. I had a short tour around and a coffee in touristic El Kantaoui Port, then I went to the club to start preparations.
My idea was to make an audio recording of the whole contest from a remote SDR located in NL. This will allow checking propagation on the other side and see how can I "optimize" the pileups in the future operations.
Recording the streaming audio from the Java application required having a special software. I found a great one called SoundTap and I was testing it during the week before and worked perfectly.

Audio from OE4RLC SDR - 20m band - One day before the contest

 

 

However, audio streaming in the club was always interrupted after a couple of minutes. Then I realize that internet connection is not stable. Nothing to do with that, I forgot about the idea!

Radio propagation was bad and I was surprised getting "unusual" signal levels from Europe. A quick look at http://dx.qsl.net/propagation/ Website showed a G2 Level Geomagnetic Storm and an R1 Radio blackout. Now it's clear!
I made some good runs on 20m. 15m was open for about 2 hours or so during the day. I made quick QSYs to 10m to check any sudden opening; it was the desert there!
Due to hot weather and some commitments, I could only make 21 operating hours out of 36.

 

Contest         : Worked All Europe DX-Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 20h37

 

 BAND   QSO DUP MLTS   QTC  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------------

   80    20   0   11     0      20  1.00

   40   199   0   35   197     396  1.00

   20   888   2   45   831    1719  1.00

   15   308   0   28   258     566  1.00

   10     1   0    1     0       1  1.00

-----------------------------------------

TOTAL  1416   2  297  1286    2702  1.91

=========================================

          TOTAL SCORE : 802 494

 
     

 

  3V8SS - WAEDC CW 2011 - SOAB LP

 

For the second consecutive time, WAEDC CW came during the holy month of Ramadhan. Fasting made the contest really tough and I lost some best-rate hours when I felt obliged to close my eyes and have a nap.

Guests I found when I came to the club...

The objective was to make 2000 Qs and/or 2 million points, however, this wasn't reachable as the strategy and plannning weren't properly set. I finished up the contest with about 440 QTCs that were left un-sold. Neglecting QTCs and maximizing QSOs at the begining of the contest wasn't the best approach.

Thanks for Marijan 9A1MB who is visiting Tunisia for his visit to 3V8SS Radio Club on Friday morning and for helping me installing the Windom antenna for 80.0.

 

Contest         : Worked All Europe DX-Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 21h27

 

 BAND   QSO DUP MLTS   QTC  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------------

   80    56   1   23     0      56  1.00

   40   273   0   38   110     383  1.00

   20   522   0   40   539    1061  1.00

   15   461   0   40   431     892  1.00

   10   309   0   36   100     409  1.00

-----------------------------------------

TOTAL  1621   1  438  1180    2801  1.73

=========================================

         TOTAL SCORE : 1 226 838

 

Best QSO Rate during 1-Hour: 124 QSO/h

 
     

 

  3V8SS - IARU HF CHAMP. 2011 - SOAB MIXED LP

 

Contest         : IARU HF World Championships

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : MIXED

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : ---

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 37

Operating time  : 13h01

 

 BAND   SSB    CW ITU  HQ  POINTS   AVG

----------------------------------------

  160     0     0   0   0       0  0.00

   80     0     0   0   0       0  0.00

   40     2    70   8   9     320  4.44

   20   342   478  19  13    4002  4.88

   15   138   204  16  15    1520  4.44

   10   221   113   6  17    1574  4.71

----------------------------------------

TOTAL   703   865  49  54    7416  4.73

========================================

         TOTAL SCORE : 763 848

 

Official Results:

QSO

Mults

Score

World

Africa

1,534

95

682,195

17

1

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WPX CW 2011 - SOAB LP

 

Conditions were so bad compared to the SSB leg of CQ WPX Contest. I couldn't make the usual W/VE run on 15 neither on 20. However, JA was workable all over the day. Condx was slightly better on Day 2.

I only could operate 28 hours due to interfering stuff. WPXs were few as I only S&P for half an hour.

Only one QSO was made on 80 using the 40m GP as the 80/160 antenna is not yet connected to the new shack.

 

Best Hour Rate: 120 QSO/h

 

Log Analysis by SH5

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : Tribander/Single Element

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 28h18

 

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------

  160     0   0    0       0  0.00

   80     1   0    0       6  6.00

   40   325   0  130    1936  5.96

   20   823   0  302    2459  2.99

   15   649   0  208    1943  2.99

   10   370   0   59    1110  3.00

-----------------------------------

TOTAL  2168   0  699    7454  3.44

===================================

      TOTAL SCORE : 5 210 346

 

Official Results: 2nd Place WW, 1st AF

 

 

  3V8SS - CQ WPX SSB 2011 - SOAB LP

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : Tribander/Single Element

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 32h18

 

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------

  160     0   0    0       0  0.00

   80    50   0   18     291  5.82

   40   222   0  129    1314  5.92

   20   756   0  225    2262  2.99

   15  1179   0  487    3511  2.98

   10   162   0   87     445  2.75

-----------------------------------

TOTAL  2369   0  946    7823  3.30

===================================

      TOTAL SCORE : 7 400 558

 

Official Results:

1st Place AFRICA, 3rd Place WORLD

 
     

 

  3V8SS - RDXC 2011 - SOAB SSB LP

 

This is the kind of contests I admire; a lot of activity but LP stations can find their places in the bands... I can clearly "see" openings to far away areas (JA, W/VE, etc.) and manage pile-ups accordingly. This is not possible during CQ Contests for exemple where finding a free QRG becomes a dream!

After being second worldwide in last year's contest (SOAB LP SSB), the objective for this year is to occupy the first place. Breaking the record was my second objective. My claimed score breaks the record set by LZ9W back in 2004 (4444440 pts). Let's cross the fingers so that the cross checking will go ok! :-)

Log Analysis by SH5
 

Contest         : Russian DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : DX

Operating time  : 22h05

 

 BAND   QSO DUP DXC OBL  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160     0   0   0   0       0  0.00

   80    87   0  34   6     463  5.32

   40   333   1  54  44    2121  6.37

   20   447   0  57  55    3024  6.77

   15   621   2  65  65    4390  7.07

   10   106   0  14  32     963  9.08

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  1594   3 224 202   10961  6.88

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 4 669 386

 

Official Results:

CALL QSO DXCC OBL TOTAL
3V8SS 1519 217 199 4048512
EK3HM 1322 194 166 3000600
UY7MM 1004 204 188 2212448
HA3DX 1431 187 178 2955040
UR4U 847 198 158 1760064

UBN File

 
     

 

  3V8SS - ARRL DX Contest SSB 2011 - SOAB LP

 

My participation in the SSB leg of ARRL DX Contest was mainly for having more points in the qualification race to WRTC2014. As I have many things interfering here, 9-hours was all the time I could afford to this contest.
The big surprise was 10m! This contest witnessed my first QSO ever with W/VE on 10. On Satuday, I tried a quick move to 10 with K5ZD but nothing heard. However, Sunday showed a fantastic opening to NA. I was astonished seeing all these poeple calling me on 10.
I wonder what's happening on 20! I was calling for several minutes but in vain, except some few QSOs that never generated a pileup. Probably the time is not well chosen but also W/VE Stations weren't as loud as during few weeks ago.
Thanks to everyone for calling me. Again, what a disciplined W/VE Operators! You brought the pileup to an ultimate joy thanks to your excellent operating behavior!
 

Contest         : ARRL International DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : DX

Operating time  : 8h31

 

 BAND   QSO  S/P DUP  POINTS  AVG

----------------------------------

  160     0    0   0       0 0.00

   80     5    4   0      15 3.00

   40   108   29   1     324 3.00

   20    25   17   0      75 3.00

   15   416   47   1    1248 3.00

   10   186   27   2     558 3.00

----------------------------------

TOTAL   740  124   4    2220 3.00

==================================

      TOTAL SCORE : 275 280

 
     

 

  3V8SS - ARRL DX Contest CW 2011 - SOAB LP

 

Contest         : ARRL International DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 3h49

 

 BAND   QSO S/P DUP  POINTS   AVG

----------------------------------

  160     0   0   0       0  0.00

   80     0   0   0       0  0.00

   40    25  16   0      75  3.00

   20    46  20   0     138  3.00

   15   138  32   1     414  3.00

   10     0   0   0       0  0.00

----------------------------------

TOTAL   209  68   1     627  3.00

==================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 42 636

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WW 160 CW CONTEST 2011 - SO LP

 

This is my first contest after the revolution of the brave Tunisian people. The situation is getting much better over here but we still have a curfew starting 21z.
For me, this contest is a discovering opportunity of Top Band. I never gave it such amount of time.

I prepared everything to have a full night time contest operation in order to better understand the propagation on 160. Thanks to Al 4L5A, Gunter DJ9CB and Andy DJ7IK for all discussions and advices regarding contesting on 160. That was very helpful.

One thing that I missed is a dedicated RX antenna. Using 160m GP, the noise level was high. The only solution I found is to use the 40m GP for noise attenuation. Even that this antenna can't hear well, many stations couldn't be copied through the noise without it.

Glad to work some DX  on 160 (A7, HZ, W1, etc.)!

 

Map of worked stations

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide 160-meter Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : Single band (SB) 160 m

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Operating time  : 19h18

 

 BAND   QSO DUP DXC S/P  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160   620  15  53   7    6185  9.98

--------------------------------------

TOTAL   620  15  53   7    6185  9.98

======================================

        TOTAL SCORE : 371 100

 
     

 

  3V8SS - ARRL RU 2011 - SOAB LP

 

Contest         : ARRL RTTY Round-Up

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : RTTY

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : DX

Operating time  : 14h00

 

 MODE   QSO S/P DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

   80    35   0   4   0      35  1.00

   40   170   0  26   1     170  1.00

   20   122   4   4   0     122  1.00

   15   113  17   7   1     113  1.00

   10     2   0   0   0       2  1.00

--------------------------------------

TOTAL   442  21  41   2     442  1.00

======================================

         TOTAL SCORE : 27 404

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQWW SSB 2010 - SOAB LP

 

Another time, the "sleep storing" theory proves its efficiency even if it remained a theory and couldn't be proved scientifically. For the whole week proceeding the contest, I was having enough sleeping hours (more than needed sometimes) and this gave good results during the contest in terms of concentration and allowed me to forget about sleeping (for a long while!).

The targets for this contest were 2000 QSOs and/or 2 million points. The target for DXCCs was 300. Special care, time & effort were given to DX chasing by S&P. I had nice catches (S7, OX, HC8, 8R, etc.). That was great working new ones!

As my Spiderbeam rotator is not functional anymore, I was running up to the roof (2 floors) to turn it manually and then down to the shack... I can't remember how many times I did this, it was fun and it was "real" radio sport! :)

Conditions were excellent on high bands, with amazing 10m; but 40/80/160 were very crowded and very noisy. Seems like people are pushing huge power out of their antennas. It was unavoidable sometimes to work out of the bands.

I gave a first ever serious try this time to 160. It was too hard to work on but it gave me some precious multis! My 100 watts didn't allow me to call CQ on top band, I only S&P and call several times to let people recognize my call.

At final, this is my best contest ever! I'm very excited with what has been done. Thanks for everyone who called me!

 

Best 10 minutes Rate: 300 QSO/h

Best 60 minutes Rate: 225 QSO/h (personal record)

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : 33

Operating time  : 28h00

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG

--------------------------------------

  160    21   3  16   1      63  3.00

   80   169   7  40   0     497  2.94

   40   311  13  52   0     929  2.99

   20   586  18  67   2    1742  2.97

   15   623  27  83   5    1835  2.95

   10   345  23  59   0     985  2.86

--------------------------------------

TOTAL  2055  91 317   8    6051  2.94

======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 2 468 808

 

Log analysis by SH5 Software

 

OFFICIAL RESULTS:

6th Place World Wide - CQ MAGAZINE Article

UBN File

 
     

 

  3V8SS - WAEDC SSB 2010 - SOAB LP

 

It was "Aid El Fitr" (one of the two Islamic ceremonies) here on Friday. I normally spend it with my family and visiting relatives. However, an addicted contester don't allow himself not to be on radio when bands are burning during a contest! So, I visited all my relatives during the morning then traveled back to Sousse city then directly to the radio club.

It was raining on Thursday... I had a look on the weather satellite maps... no rain is expected anymore... Low bands should be ok with zero sunspots and zero lightning.

I tried to optimize the operating time between operating and rest taken into account propagation conditions as I enjoy "comfortable" operation. 15 and 10 were dead on DAY 1, but 15 was slightly opened on DAY 2. Most of the effort was put on 20.

 

Contest         : Worked All Europe DX-Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : PHONE

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 21h47

 

 BAND   QSO DUP MLTS   QTC  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------------

   80   215   0   39    50     264  1.00

   40   471   1   45   352     820  0.99

   20   752   1   40   870    1621  1.00

   15    75   0   21   140     215  1.00

   10     0   0    0     0       0  0.00

-----------------------------------------

TOTAL  1513   2  413  1412    2920  1.93

=========================================

         TOTAL SCORE : 1 205 960

 

OFFICIAL RESULTS:

Place Callsign QSOs Multi QTCs  Score
1 RG9A 1560 420 1583 1320060
2 9Y4W 1769 373 1716 1299905
3 3V8SS 1490 411 1412 1192722
4 4X0T 1576 375 1427 1126125
5 HI3TEJ 1649 346 1368 1043882
 
     

 

  3V8SS - WAEDC CW 2010 - SOAB LP

 

This was a "Ramadhan Style" contest operation. As we're fasting during daytime, it was a good opportunity to put some effort at night on low bands (and get more multipliers' weight!).

I'm satisfied with the score I made... I think I did well especially that no caffeine was feeding my brain to stay awake at daytime! :)

 

Contest         : Worked All Europe DX-Contest

Callsign        : 3V8SS

Mode            : CW

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Operating time  : 26h41

 

 BAND   QSO DUP MLTS   QTC  POINTS   AVG

-----------------------------------------

   80   120   0   23    20     139  0.99

   40   335   0   35   150     482  0.99

   20   571   0   36   657    1226  1.00

   15   222   0   25   460     680  0.99

   10   193   0   27    40     233  1.00

-----------------------------------------

TOTAL  1441   0  373  1327    2760  1.92 =========================================

         TOTAL SCORE : 1 029 480

 

OFFICIAL RESULTS:

Place Callsign QSOs Multi QTCs  Score
1 D4C 1987 487 1987 1935338
2 RG9A 1681 441 1735 1506456
3 3V8SS 1375 363 1317 977196
4 TA2/DL2JRM 1438 344 1370 965952
5 RA9AP 1397 338 1398 944710
 
     

 

  3V8HQ - IARU HF CHAMPIONSHIP 2010 - SOAB MIX LP

 

I got the license for the special call two days before the contest. I thought about having more than one station QRV in 3V8SS QTH, however, this wasn't possible due to operators availability and lack of equipment (especially antennas). So the idea was to have 3V8HQ active for the first time ever in IARU Contest, even with one station/one operator (and low power!).

The goal was to make as much QSOs as possible to maximize score, but also to train in how to maintain a high QSO rates in both SSB and CW. Moreover, it's my first experience with mixed mode. I can see now how mode switching be benefic for mind rest.

The improvement in my CW operating skills is clear from a contest to another. In this contest, I could reach a rate 97 QSOs/h in CW. Callsign recognition from the first call became more frequent and I'm more able to concentrate for a long time.

Some pile-ups were never ending despite that DX Cluster is not allowed.

The WRTC 2010 was held during the IARU HF Championship this year. It was exciting for me to call contesters taking part in this radio sport marathon.

 

Contest         : IARU HF World Championships

Callsign        : 3V8HQ

Mode            : MIXED

Category        : Single Operator (SO)

Overlay         : Headquarters

Band(s)         : All bands (AB)

Class           : Low Power (LP)

Zone/State/...  : CAST

Operating time  : 19h10

 

 BAND   SSB    CW ITU  HQ  POINTS   AVG

----------------------------------------

  160     0     0   0   0       0  0.00

   80     2    21   3   8      79  3.43

   40    18   122   9  16     624  4.46

   20   580   406  21  32    4706  4.77

   15   221   278  12  23    2335  4.68

   10    31    28   5   8     247  4.19

----------------------------------------

TOTAL   852   855  50  87    7991  4.68

========================================

        TOTAL SCORE : 1 094 767

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WPX CW 2010 - SOAB LP

 

Taking part in this year's WPX CW contest wouldn't be possible if I couldn't reduce the side tone volume in my headset. As this adjustment wasn't possible from the front controls, I was obliged to open the TS450S and adjust a variable resistance inside it.
No rest was possible before the contest; I spent the 4 days preceding the contest in the Tunisian desert for business. I arrived back home 1 hour before the contest starts. I was tired during the whole contest and I only could make 26 hours. Night operation was so difficult to me. Only few QSOs were made on the low bands. It was raining on Night 2 and noise level was high on 40 and 80 due to thunderstorms.
10m band was continuously open
. No major DX was noticed on the bands. Pileup was mainly by European or Russian stations.
I'm satisfied with the score I achieved, however I surely could make much better.

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest
Callsign        : 3V8SS
Mode            : CW
Category        : Single Operator (SO)
Overlay         : ---
Band(s)         : All bands (AB)
Class           : Low Power (LP)
Zone/State/...  :
Locator         :
Operating time  : 25h25

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG
-----------------------------------
  160     0   0    0       0  0.00
   80    58   0   14     348  6.00
   40   153   0   40     912  5.96
   20   476   1  236    1423  2.99
   15   223   0   83     669  3.00
   10   237   0   48     711  3.00
-----------------------------------
TOTAL  1147   1  421    4063  3.54 ===================================
      TOTAL SCORE : 1 710 523

 

Log analysis by SH5 Software

 
     

 

  3V8SS - CQ WPX SSB 2010 - SOAB LP

 

The score I achieved this year is about 3 times the one of last year thanks to the new equipment I used (sponored by 3V3S team). The verticals for 80 and 40 worked well. I had a problem with my spiderbeam obliged me to keep it at low height and limited its rotation to only about +/- 30 degrees from the north. I wasn't able to exactly beam to America or Japan. I sometimes used the 1/4 Wave Vertical for south America and US contacts.

I enjoyed the 30hours spent in this contest. Thanks to EVERYONE who called me!

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest
Callsign        : 3V8SS
Mode            : PHONE
Category        : Single Operator (SO) Assisted
Band(s)         : All bands (AB)
Class           : Low Power (LP)
Operating time  : 30h29

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG
-----------------------------------
  160     0   0    0       0  0.00
   80   126   0  110     752  5.97
   40   266   0  115    1584  5.95
   20   759   1  270    2262  2.98
   15   421   0  191    1233  2.93
   10     5   0    5      11  2.20
-----------------------------------
TOTAL  1577   1  691    5842  3.70
===================================
      TOTAL SCORE : 4 036 822

 

Log analysis by SH5 Software

 

Results:

#1 TUNISIA - #1 AFRICA - #2 WORLD

 

 

  3V8SS - RUSSIAN DX CONTEST 2010 - SOAB SSB LP

 

Contest         : Russian DX Contest
Callsign        : 3V8SS
Mode            : PHONE
Category        : Single Operator (SO)
Overlay         : ---
Band(s)         : All bands (AB)
Class           : Low Power (LP)
Zone/State/...  : DX
Locator         :
Operating time  : 19h09

 

 BAND   QSO DUP DXC OBL  POINTS   AVG
--------------------------------------
  160     0   0   0   0       0  0.00
   80    63   0  22   7     356  5.65
   40   211   0  41  33    1358  6.44
   20   505   0  51  50    3246  6.43
   15   584   1  53  54    3894  6.67
   10     2   0   1   0      10  5.00
--------------------------------------
TOTAL  1365   1 168 144    8864  6.49
======================================

       TOTAL SCORE : 2 765 568

 

Log analysis by SH5 Software

 

Official Results:

CALL

QSO

DXCC

OBL

TOTAL

YO3CZW

1245

173

180

2736809

3V8SS

1283

168

138

2340594

E74AA

1045

149

180

2098691

UZ7M

861

139

182

1801131

LY4D

983

166

179

1795380

 

 
     

 

 

3V8SS - ARRL RTTY RU 2010 - SOAB LP

 

I used Wintest v4 coupled to MMTTY and it worked perfectly. I really loved all the features and especilly call/SN recognition and automatic input into log. Operating is very easy using keyboard or mouse.
Bands were so crowded (comparable to CQWW RTTY) especially on 40 and 20 with minor activity on 15 and a dead 10m.

 

Contest         : ARRL RTTY Round-Up
Callsign        : 3V8SS
Mode            : RTTY
Category        : Single Operator (SO) Assisted
Overlay         : ---
Band(s)         : All bands (AB)
Class           : Low Power (LP)
Zone/State/...  : DX
Locator         :
Operating time  : 13h46

 

 MODE   QSO S/P DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG
--------------------------------------
   80    90   1   1   0      90  1.00
   40   157   1  32   1     157  1.00
   20   257  19  10   0     257  1.00
   15    11   0   1   0      11  1.00
   10     0   0   0   0       0  0.00
--------------------------------------
TOTAL   515  21  44   1     515  1.00 ======================================
         TOTAL SCORE : 33 475

 
     

 

 

3V3S - CQWW CW 2009 - M/S LP

 

Preparations for the activity started 3 months before with Andy DJ7IK (Team Leader) in order to organize a DXPedition consisting of 5 German amateurs to activate 3V8SS and to take part in CQWW CW Contest. Special call was allocated to the event (3V3S). We took part in the contest as M/S LP Category. We we're using 3 stations (One running and 2 Multiplier stations). I was operating only from Multiplier Stations.

 


Me & Andy DJ7IK in Multiplier Stations

Here below our results:

Band  QSOs  Zones  Countries
------------------------------
  160:   50     7       41
   80:  789    12       68
   40: 1482    28       93
   20: 1355    36      113
   15:  439    30       85
   10:  240     7       29
------------------------------
Total: 4355    12      429 
Total Score = 7,099,119


Antennas used (sponsored by the german team):
 - Spiderbeam for 20m-10m
 - Vertical 40m GP
 - Vertical 80m/160m GP

 

For more information, please visit 3V3S website at http://3v3s.tk

 
     

 

 

3V8SS - CQWW SSB CONTEST 2009 - SO15 LP

 

"Remembering C6APR operation by  Pete W2GJ, Ed K3IXD, Randy K4QO and Dallas W3PP"
 

Results: See Checking Report


Propagation on 15m band was amazing with some sunspots that made the world happy!
As planned, I run both days' full daytime hours (from 6z to 19z). I was spotted many times and Europe pile-ups are always here. I reached 240 QSO/h during 10 minutes in which I made 40 QSOs! Very Exciting!
Three 3V-stations were on the air during this contest; Me @ 3V8SS, Bilel @ 3V8SF (SO-20) and TS9A Team @ 3V8BB.
Only my home made Quarter Wavelenght Vertical was used during this operation. I'm still proud of it! :) Many reported that my signal was booming in Europe and the States.  JA's were nicely heard at the first hours of the morning, however not easily workable! It was a great pleasure working W6, HI, VK4.
I was so optimistic to fix the target at 1000 QSOs but conditions allowed much more... I finished with 1573 QSOs which is a record for me! Thanks God!

 

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest
Callsign        : 3V8SS
Mode            : PHONE
Category        : Single Operator (SO) Assisted
Band(s)         : Single band (SB) 15 m
Class           : Low Power (LP)
Zone/State/...  : 33
Operating time  : 23h37
 
 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG
--------------------------------------
  160   
   80 
   40
   20
   15  1573  27  95  15    4678  2.97
   10
--------------------------------------
TOTAL  1573  27  95  15    4678  2.97
======================================
        TOTAL SCORE : 570 716

 

QSO RATES:
Best 10 Minutes: 40 QSOs (240 QSO/h)
Best 1 Hour: 163 QSO (163 QSO/h)

Audio Recording of CN2R:

Contest Log uploaded to LotW.

 
     

 

 

3V8SS - CQWW RTTY CONTEST 2009 - SO15 LP

 

It was planned that I'll take part in this contest as SOAB (LP of course because HP is not allowed in 3V-Land). I started operating in all bands, but then I realized that, with such an antenna for 20/40/80 I will not have a good ranking in AB Category... So, in the second day I decided to keep focus on 15m only. The band was nicely open (especially Day 2). There was a surprising short opening to JA in the morning.
I experienced the SB operation for the first time and I really enjoyed "extreme" S&P and detailed band scanning. I got some wonderful catches like DP1POL (Antarctica), FT5GO Glorioso DXPedition, KG6DX (Guam).
Being the only station to give 3V Multiplier greatly helped me.
The software I used is MixW 2.19 (See Screenshot of the QSO with KG6DX). Audio Cable with ACC2 Connector kindly offered by Lars, DF1LON.

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC  ST POINTS
-------------------------------
   80
   40
   20
   15  
478  21  64  14  1424
   10
-------------------------------
TOTAL  
478  21  64  14  1424
===============================
     TOTAL SCORE : 140 976

Learned lessons for future RTTY Contests:
 - Foresee the maximum number of Macros (for S&P, Pile-up...). Precise answer make you win time!
 - Foresee adequate additional cooling device for your TRX!

The whole log is submitted to contest commitee (Don't worry guys!) and only 15m will be considered.
It's also uploaded to LotW.

 
     

 

 

3V8SS - WAE DX CONTEST 2009 - SOAB SSB

 

WAEDC SSB this year came during the month of Ramadhan were Muslims fast. The challenge was to overcome thrust, fatigue and sleeping.
I red an article of Dick WC1M talking about Sleep Deprivation. A part of this article talk about getting enough sleep before contest or "storing sleep". I did this during the last two days before the contest and it gave good results!
Conditions on the bands were VERY poor! I relied on low bands but traffic was difficult. 80m disappointed me! It was too noisy! 20m is still my station's pet hate! Short opening Sunday on 15m then condition rapidly dropped down.

Contest         : Worked All Europe DX-Contest
Callsign        : 3V8SS
Mode            : PHONE
Category        : Single Operator (SO) Assisted
Overlay         : ---
Band(s)         : All bands (AB)
Class           : Low Power (LP)
Operating time  : 13h42
 
 BAND   QSO DUP MLTS   QTC  POINTS   AVG
-----------------------------------------
   80    22   0    7     0      22  1.00
   40   275   0   44   154     429  1.00
   20   148   0   28   168     316  1.00
   15   214   1   26   310     523  1.00
   10     0   0    0     0       0  0.00
-----------------------------------------
TOTAL   659   1  105   632    1290  1.96
=========================================
          TOTAL SCORE : 345 720

 
Dupes are not included in QSO counts neither avg calculations

 

Results:

 

RANK   QSO  MLTS   QTC  SCORE  
-------------------------------

 6     647  268   632   342772

 
     

 

 

3V8SS - WAE DX CONTEST 2009 - SOAB CW

 

My participation in this contest was just a training and preparation for CQ Contests. Temperature was so high in the shack. It was NEVER a comfortable operation. My average QSO rate was considerably improved during this contest and reached 60 QSOs per hour. No QTC was received/sent, this is what explains the low score.

Callsign        : 3V8SS
Mode            : CW
Category        : Single Operator (SO) Assisted
Overlay         : ---
Band(s)         : All bands (AB)
Class           : Low Power (LP)
Operating time  : 10h04

 

 BAND   QSO DUP MLTS   QTC  POINTS   AVG
-----------------------------------------
   80     0   0    0     0       0  0.00
   40     0   0    0     0       0  0.00
   20    99   0   22     0      99  1.00
   15   252   1   29     0     252  1.00
   10    90   0   23     0      90  1.00
-----------------------------------------
TOTAL   441   1 
 74     0     441  1.00
=========================================
          TOTAL SCORE : 65 268

 
     

 

 

3V8SS - CQ WPX CW CONTEST 2009 - SOAB LP

 

Before starting the contest, the target was 200 QSOs as it is my first serious participation in CW contests.
QSO rate was poor on saturday morning (around 16 QSO/h) but after miday, it exceeded 30 QSO/h and reached 44 QSO/h at 18z (it was the peak).
15 & 20m were the best! It was also great for me to get two digit numbers in the 10 meter column!
Over 250 QSOs were done on Saturday at 18h. After having a shower and a cup of milk, targets were re-set to 400 QSOs.
For the rest of the contest, QSO rate was varying from 10 to 30 QSO/h.
A QSO with 3V9A (YT1AD) was not possible without a notification SMS. The pile-up on his QRG was enormous! He was skilled enough to handle the 150 QSO/h! He told me later that this is his best result since he was activating 3V8BB. He made over 4600 QSOs!
Due to loss of concentration and being overcome with fatigue, I stopped the contest sunday on 18z with 563 QSOs in the log; much more than expected!

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest
Callsign        : 3V8SS
Mode            : CW
Category        : Single Operator (SO) Assisted
Overlay         : ---
Band(s)         : All bands (AB)
Class           : Low Power (LP)
Operating time  : 24h40

 

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG
-----------------------------------
  160     0   0    0       0  0.00
   80    41   0   18     246  6.00
   40   104   0   54     615  5.91
   20   176   1   93     522  2.97
   15   229   0  140     679  2.97
   10    13   0    6      37  2.85
-----------------------------------
TOTAL   563   1  311    2099  3.73
===================================
       TOTAL SCORE : 652 789

 

See my Activity over time.
Contest Log is posted to LotW.

 
     

 

 

3V8SS - CQ WPX SSB CONTEST 2009 - SOAB LP

 

RESULTS:

#1 in Tunisia, #5 in Africa, #14 in World
Log Checking Report
 

CQ WPX SSB this year was the first ever for me. I hadn't the opportunity before to take part in due to studies.
It was well prepared thanks to the RDXC which was one week before and allowed better understanding of the actual propagation conditions.
Using WinTest Software really helped me in this challenge especially that it was connected to the internet. I loved the band map feature.
I also used HamCap for propagation predition. Very accurate results!
I started operating at 11z after finishing with my job. It was a bit late for 15m but 20m "was money and most of the activity was there" as Al 4L5A expected!
Working on Low bands was so hard. In the second day, the expanded 40m was amazing and the expected QSO number on this band exceeded the targets.
Only one QSO was made on 10m with V55X. Both we use 100W!
A total operating time of 29h was performed. Here are my detailled results:
 

Contest         : CQ World Wide WPX Contest
Callsign        : 3V8SS
Mode            :
PHONE
Category        : Single Operator (SO)
Overlay         : ---
Band(s)         : All bands (AB)
Class           : Low Power (LP)
Operating time  : 2
9h

 

 BAND   QSO DUP  PFX  POINTS   AVG
-----------------------------------
  160     0   0    0       0  0.00
   80   
78   0   46     464  5.95
   40  
274   0  124    1640  5.99
   20  
347   0  217    1021  2.94
   15  
146   0   72     416  2.85
   10   
 1   0    1      1   1.00
-----------------------------------
TOTAL  
846   0  460    3542  4.19
===================================
       TOTAL SCORE : 1 629 320


I hoped spending more time for 80m at the third night, I was obliged to stop the activity at 19z.

CN2R Audio Recording: QSOs with CN2R
29-Mar-2009 00:56 SSB 7.067 (3V8SS QSO starts at 01:28)

 
     

 

 

3V8SS - RDXC 2009 - 3V8SS SOAB SSB LP

 

RESULTS:


Africa ranking: 1st/2
World Ranking: 10th/229
(Check RDXC Web) or Picture
UBN File

As expected, the Russian DX Contest was exceptional this year as it is the final qualifier for the 2010 World Radiosport Team Championships in Russia. Big activity on the bands.
Propagation was very bad "as expected". 10m band dead! 15m showed some slight openings but closes very soon.

 

3V8SS The day of the contest!

 

I made 21h40 of operating time during which I performed about 700 Q's and more than 1 million points! A good result for me comparing to the used antennas (Inverted-V and a Quater wavelenght Vertical).
For the first time in this contest, I was assisted by DX Cluster. This helped me finding new multipliers. I spotted my self only ONE time, just to check propagation, but it's a pity to find others spotting them selves continously.

 

BAND

QSO

QSO Pt

DXCC

Oblast

160

0

0

0

0

80

128

726

39

13

40

183

1149

39

28

20

257

1512

49

29

15

131

1088

19

29

10

0

0

0

0

TOTAL

692

4475

145

99

SCORE

4475 * (145 + 99) = 1'091'900

 

Operating time: 21h40

 
     

 

 

3V8SS - ARRL DX CONTEST 2009 - SOAB LP

 

Call: 3V8SS
Category: Single Operator
Power: Low Power
Band: All Band
Mode: CW
Country: Tunisia

 

BAND

QSO

QSO Pt

STATES/PROV

160

0

0

0

80

0

0

0

40

23

69

16

20

1

3

1

15

28

84

14

10

0

0

0

TOTAL

52

156

31

SCORE

4'836

 
     

 

 

3V8SS - CQ WW CW 2008 - SOAB LP

 

2008 CW Contest was my first ever contest using Morse Code. Bands were so crowded especially on the low bands. 10 & 15m were almost dead. The G5RV wasn't optimized to work on 20M. I concentrated on 40 and 80m bands. Here are my claimed results:
 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG
--------------------------------------
  160     0   0   0   0       0  0.00
   80    46   6  19   0     136  2.96
   40    41   4  17   0     123  3.00
   20    29   4  14   0      87  3.00
   15     7   5   7   0      19  2.71
   10     0   0   0   0       0  0.00
--------------------------------------
TOTAL   123  19  57   0     365  2.97
======================================
        TOTAL SCORE : 27 740


I worked only about 7 hours/48 and this is due to the quick loose of concentration. I must thank all the OMs with whom I made QSOs for their patience and for working QRS for me.

 

 
     

 

 

3V8SS - CQ WW SSB 2008 - MS LP

 

The CQ WW SSB DX Contest was finished and time is now to evaluate the work and compare with previous contest results.
It is known that the solar cycle is passing by its lowest level and it is not surprising to encounter very bad propagation conditions in most of the bands. Condition were poorer than in last year's contest.
'Apparently the skip was going right over our heads'
Moreover, if you didn't well prepared the contest, results will never be as you dream.
Only a G5RV was used during the contest. It worked good at 80, 40 and 15m bands but with an SWR of 1.5 on 20M.
Here are my claimed results:

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest
Callsign        : 3V8SS
Mode            : PHONE
Category        : Multi Operator - Single Transmitter (MS)
Overlay         : Radio club
Band(s)         : All bands (AB)
Class           : Low Power (LP)
Zone/State/...  : 33
Operating time  : 21h26 

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG
--------------------------------------
  160     0   0   0   0       0  0.00
   80    91   6  35   0     268  2.95
   40   152   7  34   1     454  2.99
   20   207  12  48   1     601  2.90
   15   141  17  38   1     395  2.80
   10     2   2   2   0       4  2.00
--------------------------------------
TOTAL   593  44 157   3    1722  2.90
======================================
        TOTAL SCORE : 346 122

 

The contest logging software is a registered copy of WinTest 3.17 which is an excellent contesting software and the best ever.

 
     

 

 

3V8SS - CQ WW SSB 2007 - MS LP

 

I participated with my friend Halim in the CQ WW SSB Contest 2007 from the scout radio club station 3V8SS in Sousse city, for two days (27-28 October). Here are our claimed scores:

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest
Callsign        : 3V8SS
Mode            : PHONE
Category        : Multi Operator-Single Transmitter (MS)
Overlay         : ---
Band(s)         : All bands (AB)
Class           : Low Power (LP)
Zone/State/...  : 33
Operating time  : 17h12

 

  BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG
--------------------------------------
  160     0   0   0   0       0  0.00
   80    26   4  19   0      78  3.00
   40    18   3   9   1      54  3.00
   20   322  14  57   8     948  2.94
   15   264  17  55   2     776  2.94
   10   134  13  40   1     382  2.85
--------------------------------------
TOTAL   764  51 180  12    2238  2.93
======================================
        TOTAL SCORE : 516 978

 

We really enjoyed participating in this big contest. We noted a nice opening on both 15 and 20m bands. Also some openings on 10m. The Low bands were extremely crowded.
We were using a KENWOOD TS-440 and a G5RV. Some problems appeared in the logging software (CT by K1EA) due to the change of summer time.

 
     

 

 

3V8SF - CQ WW SSB 2005 - MS LP

 

I took part in this contest in M/S Low Power operation with my friends in 3V8SF (Sfax City) using wire antennas.

Contest         : CQ World Wide DX Contest
Callsign        : 3V8SF
Mode            : PHONE
Category        : Multi Operator-Single Transmitter (MS)
Overlay         : ---
Band(s)         : All bands (AB)
Class           : Low Power (LP)
Zone/State/...  : 33
Locator         :
Operating time  : 29h13 

 

 BAND   QSO  CQ DXC DUP  POINTS   AVG
--------------------------------------
  160     0   0   0   0       0  0.00
   80   104  11  43   2     294  2.83
   40    45   9  28   2     133  2.96
   20   217  14  55   4     631  2.91
   15   245  17  57   3     703  2.87
   10   127   7  35   1     373  2.94
--------------------------------------
TOTAL   738  58 218  12    2134  2.89 ======================================
        TOTAL SCORE : 588 984

 

Operators : BILEL, ACHRAF, HAMMADI, AHMAD, MOURAD

 
     

 
  ABOUT ME
 

Name: Ashraf CHAABANE "Ash"

Date of birth: 19/12/1983

Nationality: Tunisian

Origin: Kerkennah Isl. AF-073

Job: Process Engineer

US Call: KF5EYY

WRTC2014 Competitor

Operated from: NR5M, TA1/KF5EYY, RA/KF5EYY, YU/3V8SS, G0/3V8SS, A71QND, LZ14IARU, LA/KF5EYY, K1U, CN2R, YB9/KF5EYY, PA/KF5EYY/P, JI3ZAG, DL/KF5EYY, HB9EOU, 4U1ITU, 7X7X, HZ1WRTC

E-Mail: ash.kf5eyy@gmail.com

 

 

3V8SF Radio Club

 

Call: 3V8SF
Location: Sfax, Tunisia
Locator: JM54ir
Antennas:
 - 17m Vertical 160m

 - 260m Beverage

 - 4SQ Receiving Array

QSL Manager: LX1NO

LotW: OK

 

 

 

3V8SS Radio Club

 

Call: 3V8SS
Location: Sousse City, Tunisia
Address: Maison de Scout Avenue Abou Jihed 4011 Hammam Sousse
Locator: JM55hu
LONG: 10.5941 E
LAT:
35.85662 N Google map
TRX:

KENWOOD TS450S

Antennas:
 - CT-37HF for 20/15/10m

 - Spiderbeam for 20m~10m
 - Vertical 40m GP
 - Vertical 80m/160m GP
QSL Manager: LX1NO

LotW: OK

 

 

 

3V8BB Radio Club

 

Call: 3V8BB (Inactive)
Location: Bir El Bay, Tunisia
Address: ISAJC POBox 2055

Bir El Bay, Tunis, Tunisia
Locator: JM65er
TRX:

KENWOOD TS2000

Antennas: View

 -160: Inverted-V

 - 80: Vertical

 - 40: 3 Elements @ 20m

 - 20: 4 Elements @ 20m

 - 15: 4 Elements @ 20m

 - 10: 4 Elements @ 20m

 - PRO-67

QSL Manager: LX1NO/Direct

LotW: OK

 
 
 
  2023 - Ashraf CHAABANE - 3V9A - TUNISIA